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PUMP PRICES SOAR TO P70/LITER IN PALAWAN By Alena Mae S. Flores TRAIN ROLL. Merchants (far left and above right) prepare their stocks of basic staple at the San Andres public market in Manila which are expected to increase prices under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. The Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau (below right), meanwhile, has lined up 13 gasoline stations in Mandaluyong and Pasig for inspection of fuel quality and quantity. Collecting the fuel samples is OIMB senior science research specialist Lovely Miranda. Ey Acasio, DoE Photo

MOTORISTS and other consumers in the provinces probably don’t have much sympathy for Metro Manila residents who are still groaning from at least eight increases in the prices of petroleum products over the last two months. Pump prices for premium gasoline just hit P70 a liter in El Nido, Palawan on Wednesday, with regular gasoline going from P64 to P67 a pop in Baguio City, diesel costing from P48 to just under P50 in Bohol, and kerosene crossing the P51 barrier elsewhere. Those prices are as much as P12 higher—for gasoline at least—than in gas stations across the National Capital Region, Manila Standard research showed. This developed as the Energy department has assured it will recommend the suspension of the excise tax on fuel for the second tranche of the tax reform package proposed by the government, once world oil prices hit the three-month average of $80 per barrel. Acting on a directive from Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the Department of Energy’s Oil Industry Management Bureau yesterday started a series of random inspection of fuel

DUBAI CRUDE OIL

$80/BARREL FOR 3 MONTHS

(TRIGGER PRICE FOR EXCISE TAX SUSPENSION)

$68.22/BARREL

AVERAGE PRICE (MARCH 18 - MAY 18) *SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

VOL. XXXII • NO. 98 • 3 SECTIONS 18 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY,, MAY 24, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Narco cops, soldiers next

Rody’s drug war targets scalawags in uniform By Vito Barcelo

HE government’s war on drugs will now focus on military and police personnel linked to the illegal narcotics trade, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday night.

CLOSER LOOK. President Rodrigo Duterte uses the binoculars to get a closer look at the fleet review of the Philippine Navy’s naval surface and air assets during their 20th anniversary at the bayside Coconut Palace on Tuesday. Malacañang Photo

Sotto’s slip shows on late night TV NEWLY elected Senate President Vicente Sotto III, only a day after he was chosen by majority of his colleagues to lead the chamber, quickly stood up to sweep aside criticisms on his leadership ability for the new post and the “Bayang Magiliw” slip. Next page

“Drugs destroy the nation, period. And the drug war will include the military and the police,” the President said in a speech during the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Navy. The President admitted that the government was partly to blame for failing to do complete background checks when recruiting military and police personnel. “There’s a number of them who are really corrupt and are really criminals, but who maneuvered somehow to get into the service,” Duterte said, vowing to get rid of those linked to drugs. The President has drawn intense criticism over his bloody drug war, which has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 suspected drug pushers and users. Metro Manila police chief Camilo Cascolan, meanwhile, urged residents to stay vigilant and continue to help the government and police in the campaign against crime, particularly in the ﬁght against drug trafﬁcking. Cascolan made the appeal after police in Pasay City killed a suspected drug pusher. Police said the suspect, Aries Lumanlan, 22, tried to shoot it out with them when he was about to be arrested in his house on 35 Saint Cecille Street, Maricaban, Pasay City. Cascolan said Lumanlan was a member of the Batang City Jail gang and was reputed to be a notorius drug pusher in the Next page neighborhood.

Du30’s daughter had Dengvaxia dose By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter Veronica, 14, and his grandchild Sabina, 11, were injected with the antidengue vaccine Dengvaxia under the controversial P3.5-billion school immunization program initiated by the Aquino administration, a top Palace ofﬁcial said Wednesday. The President’s daughter-in-law January also received a shot, said Special Assistant to the President Cristopher Go. Go said they are still ﬁnding out if the three members of the presiden-

tial family have experienced the negative effects of the vaccine. The Department of Health suspended the Dengvaxia program in December 2016 after its manufacturer, Sanofi, announced that the vaccine could increase the risk of severe dengue in people who had not contracted the disease in the past. As of May 15, 2018, 87 children vaccinated with Dengvaxia have died. Of these, 11 died of dengue, but the government has yet to establish that Dengvaxia caused the death of these children. Duterte has ordered the creation of an independent panel of experts to look into the controversy following conflicting official reports on deaths allegedly caused by Next page Dengvaxia.

SM CARES WINS INT’L AWARD. Marissa fernan, vice president of SM Prime Holdings, receives the ICSC Foundation Albert Sussman International Community Support Award from Scott Harris, ICSC managing director of Asia-Pacific at the awarding ceremonies in Las Vegas on May 20. The award recognized SM Prime’s pioneering housing project for survivors of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ SM Prime executive committee chairman Hans T. Sy spearheaded the SM Cares Housing Project in which a total of 1,000 shelter units were donated in areas heavily struck by the super typhoon in Central Visayas.

LRT1 fare hike fueled by greed, lawmakers fume By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Veronica Duterte

Marawi rehab: Mayor insists on bomb-clearing operations By Maricel V. Cruz, Joel E. Zurbano and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan REHABILITATION work on ground zero in the battle for Marawi City has yet to begin one year after the siege began, but could start next month after clearing operations are completed, the city’s mayor said Wednesday. In an interview with radio dzBB, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said the lives of his constituents were slowly returning to normal, except for 24 barangays that were at the center of the battle in which gov-

ernment troops fought to oust Maute group rebels. There, troops were still clearing the area of explosives and materiel, Gandamra said. Gandamra was at the rites to mark the ﬁrst anniversary of the Marawi siege that began May 23, 2017, and that ended ﬁve months later, on Oct. 23, 2017. He said he hopedd rehabilitation could begin in the main battle area by early June. In Congress, Lanao del Sur Rep. Mauyag Papandayan Jr., chairman of the House committee on Muslim affairs, criticized Task Force Bangon Marawi for its “vague” Next page rehabilitation plan.

A LAWMAKER on Wednesday described as “greedily insensitive and grossly unwarranted” the P5-to-P7 fare increase at the Light Rail Transit 1 being proposed by the Light Rail Manila Corporation. Rep. Carlos Zarate, a member of the Makabayan Bloc, said his group will oppose the proposal all the way. “This proposed fare hike will be an added burden to the public, and we must all oppose it,” Next page Zarate said.

News

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Congress revives national ID By Maricel V. Cruz

HE bicameral conference committee has approved a proposed law establishing a single, unified and streamlined national identification system.

which was co-authored by Nograles. The bill will be known as the proposed Act Establishing the Filipino Identification System or FilSys. On Tuesday night, the Bicameral panel reconciled the House and Senate versions of the proposed statute. The next steps will be the ratification of the measure and then its signing by President Rodrigo Duterte. Nograles said his committee had earlier proposed to allocate a P2-billion funding for FilSys. The FilSys card will be a machine-readable government card that will store multiple data about the card holder. Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the chairman of the House committee on danger-

ous drugs, said “the passage of the bill would help law enforcement agencies to arrest lawbreakers and those behind illegal activities, including banned substances.” Rep. Raneo Abu urged the Philippine Statistics Authority to immediately implement the national identification card system once President Rodrigo Duterte signs the bill into law. “This is very important in our fight against terrorism and other lawless elements. We expect the PSA to immediately implement this after the measure becomes law,” Abu said. “This will help interconnect the countless and redundant government IDs.”

Lawmakers praised the swift approval of the proposed national identification card system by the committee, which approved it on Tuesday night. Rep. Karlo Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said a systematic national ID system would boost the country’s campaign against terrorism, drug trafficking and other crimes. “On the first anniversary of the Marawi

siege, its very comforting to know that the government is on its way to enforcing a law that will augment our security mechanisms,” Nograles said. “The national ID system will help prevent another Marawi from happening.” In September 2017, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading its own version of the national ID system Act, specifically House Bill 6221,

Narco... From A1

Du30 imposes terms of total lifting of Kuwait work ban

The Metro Manila police chief praised the concerned citizen who had tipped off the police on Lumanlan’s whereabouts, saying this kind of coordination between the public and law enforcement would help the government win the war on drugs. On Tuesday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency opened the country’s first community-based reformation center designed to rehabilitate drug users in Sarangani, Mindanao. PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino spearheaded the inauguration of Balay Silangan Reformation Center or “house of hope,” a temporary shelter intended to reform drug offenders and to turn them into self-sufficient and law-abiding citizens, in Barangay Nagpan, Malungon town. “The Balay Silangan Reformation Center welcomes with open arms drug offenders who aspire a renewed life and have chosen to be on the side of the government rather than help peddle illegal drugs in the streets,” he said. According to PDEA, Malungon has recorded a total of 1,303 drug users who have surrendered to the authorities. Out of these, 100 would undergo the reformatory process at the center. “Balay Silangan is PDEA’s pilot harmreduction program. This will greatly help PDEA’s effort to clear 26,000 barangays in the country from illegal drugs by 2022, he said. “PDEA values life and we want the former drug offenders to have the opportunity to rehabilitate, to regain their dignity and place in our society,” he added. With Rio N. Araja

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Sotto’s... From A1 The 69-year-old former majority leader, interviewed on State of the Nation television program Tuesday with Jessica Soho, responded to his critics who raised issues including, but not limited to, his allegedly “politically incorrect” remarks and his long history in show business. Sotto, who took the top Senate post on Monday after 15 senators signed a draft resolution seeking the reorganization of the chamber’s leadership, urged his critics to look at his track record as senator, his perfect attendance and more than 100 bills he crafted which were passed. In another interview, this time with Rappler, Sotto stood up to the criticism of netizens about his faux pas on the country’s national anthem he mistakenly called “Bayang Magiliw” instead of the correct title “Lupang Hinirang.” He told Rappler: “They said that I plagiarized [an inspirational quote from Senator Robert F. Kennedy]? “Of course not. It was an inspirational message coming from a pastor that was used by the Americans, and if we use it and translate it into Tagalog, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not plagiarism, because if you think that’s plagiarism, then you must think that ‘Bayang Magiliw’ is plagiarized because it was originally in Spanish, and somebody changed it into English, and somebody translated it into Tagalog unofficially.

Du30’s... From A1 Former President Benigno Aquino III and other former government officials have been charged over the Dengvaxia fiasco. In Congress, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte hit the Health department for its failure to connect with the families of those who have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia. Villafuerte raised the issue during the House committee on appropriations’ deliberation Tuesday on the DoH’s proposed supplemental budget for medical aid for those who have been vaccinated. Health Undersecretary Rolando Domingo, who attended the hearing in behalf of Secretary Francisco Duque III, said there were already Dengvaxia fast lanes in public hospitals and in the regional offices, they had a Dengvaxia officer in charge of coordinating. Villafuerte said that while Congress is committed to appropriate funds to address the Dengvaxia mess, he expressed concerns that the assistance might not reach the ground at the proper time because of a disconnect between the DoH and the victims. When Domingo mentioned the Dengvax-

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte wants an assurance from Kuwait that the conditions under the agreement between the two countries will be met before he signs the total lifting of the deployment ban to that country. In his speech at the 120th founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy on Tuesday, Duterte said he had yet to agree to the total lifting of the deployment ban of Filipino workers to Kuwait. The ban was imposed following reports of the abuse of Filipino workers in Kuwait, including the killing of Joanna Demafelis, the domestic worker whose body was found in a freezer in an apartment previously occupied by her employers. But despite the partial lifting of the ban on the deployment of Filipino Workers in

Pump... From A1

stations to ensure the quality and quantity of petroleum products amid the current spiraling prices. “I hope it doesn’t go up any further,” a taxi driver named Antonio told ABS-CBN News in Baguio on Wednesday. “Drivers don’t earn anything anymore,” he added, noting that local cabbies didn’t feel the effect of taxi fare hikes implemented last March. “Fares are rising here because diesel prices are high too,” said June Aquino, a driver for a private firm, also from the country’s summer capital—where fuel must be trucked in from the lowlands. OIMB officials have previously noted that transport costs have jacked up pump prices in Baguio and other hard-to-reach areas. “Common sense dictates that the possible additional cost [for oil companies] should only be the transport cost,” OIMB Director Rino Abad also told ABS-CBN News. In Makati, “Shelly,” a public-school teacher who asked to hide her real name, told the Standard the only relief she could think of for the high oil prices—and thus the rising costs of other commodities—was to work even harder and earn more money. “For people like me who usually don’t get paid during the summer, we can only look for side jobs and sell stuff while waiting for classes to return, and with them our paychecks,” said Shelly, who teaches in an elementary school in Manila. But it has been a tortuous summer so far for Filipino consumers, as the following oil price hikes took effect since March: • May 22 – gasoline P1.60, diesel P1.15, kerosene P1 • May 15 – gasoline P1.10, diesel P1.20, kerosene P0.95 • May 1 – gasoline P0.85, diesel P0.70, kerosene P0.70 • April 24 – gasoline P0.40, diesel P0.65, kerosene P0.65 • April 17 – gasoline P0.35, diesel P0.55, kerosene P0.80 • April 3 – gasoline P0.90, diesel P1.00, ia hotline, Villafuerte said: “I have been calling but nobody was answering.” “What I am saying is, if you are targeting over 800,000 Dengvaxia beneficiaries, it is really hard. It is not just enough that you have a call or text hotline. The people need a hotline that that they can text and you will text them back,” Villafuerte said. In April 2016, the Philippines became the first country in the world to launch a mass anti-dengue inoculation program using Dengvaxia. The program was suspended after the vaccine manufacturer, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, admitted in November 2017 that children who have never had dengue but were given Dengvaxia shots have an increased risk of a severe case and hospitalization from the third year after immunization. Domingo said some 87 children out of the 891,000 vaccinees have already died. Duque on Wednesday said the P1.6 billion refund for the unused vaccines from Sanofi would benefit all Dengvaxia-affected recipients, including their families. “We deeply commend the members of the Appropriations Committee of House of Representatives, through the able and active leadership of Representative Carlos Nograles for the recent approval of the proposed medical funds intended for Dengvaxia recipients. The amount was

Kuwait, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday the Filipinos with contracts in that country could not yet return because of some problems. He said one problem was that some of the workers’ documents had expired. “And the processing of their papers will take time, Bello told the Senate commitee led by Senator Joel Villanueva. “And they will need some funds to get the documents needed, so I am asking the help of OWWA to assist our migrant workers who opted to go back to the Philippines but want to return to Kuwait.” Villanueva, meanwhile, said they would also look into reports that there is no proper monitoring system or database to monitor household service workers. Duterte said he was pleased that Kuwait had agreed to his conditions on the treatment of Filipino workers in that country, but added he was still waiting for Kuwait to guarantee that his demands would be met.

“I demanded that they be allowed to sleep seven hours guaranteed, no physical abuse, that their cellphones and passports are not confiscated, and they have a day off once a week,” Duterte said. Under the agreement, a 24/7 hot line would also be put up where Filipino workers could report abuses, and a special police unit would be up to respond to their complaints “So if these conditions are met, I’ll sign the total lifting of the ban,” Duterte said. Last week, Bello announced that the ban was lifted for household service workers and skilled workers as well as professionals. The lifting of the deployment ban to Kuwait was recommended by Special Envoy to Kuwait Abdullah Mama-o. He made the recommendation after a successful meeting with Kuwait officials to discuss the conditions of the thousands of workers who have been experiencing maltreatment form abusive employers.

kerosene P1.00 • March 27 – gasoline P1.15, diesel P1.10, kerosene P1.00 • March 6 – gasoline P0.50, diesel P0.30, kerosene P0.80 Oil prices worldwide have risen nearly 20 percent since January and topped $80 per barrel in intraday trading last Thursday for the first time since 2014, the DoE noted. Research from Reuters and figures from the statistics portal Numbeo also showed that in developing economies such as the Philippines, fuel costs eat up around 8 to 9 percent of an average person’s salary. That compares to just 1-2 percent in wealthy countries such as Japan or Australia. However, energy director Abad told reporters the existing excise taxes on fuel implemented since January this year under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act or Train will stay. “You cannot withdraw from that [first tranche]. It’s already there,” Abad said. “What is in the law, what you have implemented, it is already there unless you amend the law,” he added. Under the first tranche of the Train, oil prices went up by P2.65 per liter representing the excise tax and P0.32 per liter for the corresponding VAT totaling P2.97 per liter for gasoline. Diesel also went up by P2.50 per liter to reflect the excise tax and P0.30 per liter for the 12 percent VAT totaling P2.80 per liter. Under the second Train tranche, which will take effect starting January 2019, an additional P2 per liter excise tax will be implemented and P0.24 per liter representing VAT, totaling P2.24 per liter for both gasoline and diesel. Abad said this is the amount that will be suspended once the department issues the certification that the $80 per barrel threshold is breached and once the Finance department confirms the same. He said the department will take the average world oil prices from September to end November then submit the computation in the first week of December for certification whether it breached the threshold. Abad, however, warned that oil prices may continue to go up in the short-term or up to six months if the ongoing global oil scenario persists. In some retail outlets, gasoline prices

reached P60 per liter while diesel reached a high of P57 per liter. “If the recent events persist, for example, sanctions, the Venezuela ongoing economic and political crises, and, of course, the objective of the Opec especially the Saudi Arabia to really achieve the $80 per barrel crude oil price, then the indication will actually on the short-term lead towards the increases of price,” Abad said. He said world oil prices may also stabilize once other suppliers step in to cover the supply vacuum. “In cases like this, other suppliers will always look for that vacuum of the supply glut or the supply disruption. Depending on how fast they will react to that and supplement or complement the existing supply to cover the vacuum, then if that happens, the price will again stabilize,” he said. Abad urged said government is already looking at several mitigating measures including the promotion of demand-side management to mitigate the effect of the high oil prices to the public. Malacañang had earlier assured the public that measures will be in place to protect consumers from the incessant increase in oil prices, including the suspension of the excise tax on fuel once the trigger level of $80 per barrel becomes consistent for three months. “Excise taxes will be suspended if they [oil prices] reach a certain amount, if I’m not mistaken, $80,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said. Roque made this statement after the local oil industry announced on Monday that it has raised gasoline prices by P1.60 per liter, diesel by P1.15 per liter and kerosene by P1 per liter—the second week in a row when pump prices went up by more than P1 per liter. Data from the Senate committee on energy showed that from January to May, gasoline prices already increased by P8.07 per liter while diesel went up P8.95 per liter. Noting that Filipinos are already bearing the brunt of the price increases, Senate energy committee chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian warned that the administration must plan “in the event that crude prices reach the $100-per-barrel threshold in the global market.”

successfully refunded by the DoH from Sanofi Pasteur from the unused Dengvaxia vials,” he said. Some 81 percent of the funds will go to medical assistance, while 13 percent will be for public health management, Duque said. Human resource for health development would account for 6 percent, he said. The Health Assistance Fund, amounting to more than P900 millio, is intended for Dengvaxia recipients developing any illnesses who may need to be confined or who may seek consultation in any hospital. In terms of public health management, a total of 1,250 nurses will be hired for three months to focus on profiling, monitoring and disseminating information and coordinating all actions of those who have been vaccinated, including their parents, to all existing health facilities and at the same time, manning hotlines for public queries. In the affected regions of Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu Province, Duque said, 382 nurses will be hired as health education and promotion officers. “They will be deployed continuously until 2019 charged to the regular funds of the Health Department. They will be tasked to provide counseling, lectures, monitoring and following up of [the] concerns [of those who have received the vaccine].”

Marawi... From A1 Papandayan could not hide his ire when TFBM spokesman and Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Kristoffer James Purisima presented the rehabilitation plan before the House panel Wednesday. While the plan sounds good, Papandayan said it was not clear as to where the new infrastructure within the so-called “‘most-affected area”—such as market, promenade, and cultural center— would be built. The lawmaker particularly voiced concern over the possible displacement of local residents that the construction might cause. “Now if you are in Marawi, there are no vacant spaces there for these infrastructure unless you take the land of the people whose homes were destroyed,” said Papandayan. Purisima said the task force has discussed its plans with stakeholders and determined there would be minimal disruption to private property. “If there is a need to expand certain roads, for example, then we would undertake a process for that. But this is done in consultation with the stakeholders,” he said. Papandayan said widening roads is easy compared to finding actual spots for the planned market, promenade, and cultural center under the rehabilitation plan. Leftist lawmakers, meanwhile, called for the lifting of martial law and reparations for the

Poll tribunal sets recount of Iloilo ballots By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, will next month start the recount of the votes cast in Iloilo province for the vice presidential race in 2016. The PET is expected to complete next week its manual recount of the votes in Camarines Sur, one of the three pilot provinces covered by the election protest filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo. Marcos filed his protest on June 29 2016, claiming Robredo cheated in the automated polls in the May 2016 national elections. Robredo won the vice presidential race with 14,418,817 votes, or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes. The tribunal has ordered the retrieval of the ballots in 2,740 clustered precincts in Iloilo by the retrieval team led by lawyer Linuel Alindogan. The tribunal also ordered its ad hoc committee to set the schedule of the delivery of the ballot boxes and poll materials to the designated staging area. It required all city and municipal treasurers and election officers to deliver the ballot boxes to the PET retrieval team at the designated staging area at a warehouse in Jaro in Iloilo City. The PET also directed the Senate Electoral Tribunal to deliver to the venue of the recount the ballot boxes and election records from the municipalities of Oton, Barbara, Dumangas and Iloilo City. However, it was reported that the PET had already instructed its team not to include the ballot boxes from Iloilo City in the retrieval as it agreed with the contention of Robredo’s camp that the city was independent and not part of Iloilo province. The PET also set the security arrangement for the retrieval of the ballots and ordered the Iloilo Provincial Police Office to “provide adequate security and escorts when the ballot boxes are transported for delivery from municipalities and cities.” It likewise authorized the Philippine Postal Office as the official carrier for t Manila. The PET also approved the expenses for the retrieval of ballots from Iloilo totaling to P8,714,930.27.

LRT 1... From A1 He made his statement even as Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday said the Transport department and the LRT board might consider delaying the proposed increase in fares. Poe, head of the Senate committee on public services, said the department and the LRT could effect a staggered implementation of any fare hike to soften its impact on the poor commuters who have been hit by the adverse effect of the TRAIN law. “This could be considered while the discussions on suspending some portions of the TRAIN law are ongoing,” Poe said. Senator Bam Aquino said he welcomed Malacañang’s openness to the suspension of additional excise taxes in 2019, but described it as “too little, too late.” “The public is looking for a rollback of prices of petroleum products and other goods,” he said. Zarate said he saw no need for an LRT1 fare increase as the “annual MRT and LRT revenues outstrip operation expense.” For instance, he said, the MRT earned P2.2 billion on ticket sales and only spent P1.8 billion in operational expenses in 2014. On the other hand, the LRT earned P2.5 billion but only spent P1.03 billion for operational expenses in the same period. “Year in, year out, it is a fact that these companies are earning hefty profits, thus they should be made to absorb the supposed impact of TRAIN and not pass it on to the already overburdened and overtaxed riding public,” Zarate said.

people of Marawi. “Today [May 23] marks the first anniversary of the declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the Marawi siege. Within this one year, we have seen and received numerous accounts of people and communities in Mindanao being targeted for grave human rights violations,” ACT Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said. ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said schools are not free from harm in the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, saying that volunteer teachers in lumad schools, their students and the parents are alleged victims of harassment, threats, illegal arrests with trumped up charges and killings by the military. Citing data from the Save Ours Schools Network, Castro said 56 lumad schools have already been forced to cease operations due to intense militarization in their area. In the Palace, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said President Rodrigo Duterte would not be at rites to mark the first anniversary of the Marawi siege, and would rather attend the anniversary of the city’s liberation from extremists in October. In May last year, Maute group militants attacked Camp Ranao and occupied several buildings in the city, including Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, hospital and the city jail. They also occupied the main street and set fire to Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Ninoy Aquino School and Dansalan College. They also took a priest and several churchgoers hostage. With Vito Barcelo

News

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NYC quizzed on ‘unnecessary spending,’ hiring of consultants Rio N. Araja

PROTEST. Muslim groups in Manila gathered in Mendiola, Manila on May 23, and burned an effigy of President Rodrigo Duterte in a protest action to mark the first year anniversary of Marawi siege as they called on the government to lift martial law in Mindanao. Norman Cruz

Fratmen in Atio’s death transferred to MCJ T HE National Bureau of Investigation is set to transfer the 10 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity, who were indicted over the death of University of Sto. Tomas law student Horacio “Atio” Tomas Castillo III, on Wednesday. The move is in compliance with the commitment order issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali denying the urgent ex-parte motion ﬁled by the accused that they remain at the NBI citing their safety. The order dated May 22 directed the NBI to transfer within 48 hours accused Arvin A. Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Ralph Trangia, Robin Ramos, Jose Miguel Salamat, Danielle Hans Matthew and Marcelino Bagtang. “The transfer of Aegis Juris fraternity members to Manila City Jail is most likely today [Wednesday]. As soon as the documentation is completed and clearance is secured, the subjects will be immediately transferred to Manila City Jail in compliance with the Commitment Order of the Court,” NBI Public

Information Ofﬁce Chief Nicanor Suarez said in a statement. In his motion, Trangia said he and his father received death threats through calls and text message. He added that there were several posts on social media wanting him dead. While they do not underestimate the capability of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology who facilitates the local jails, Trangia said “the prison guards cannot ensure the security of each of the prisoners detained therein. That it would only take a paltry sum of money for anyone at the Manila City Jail to have accused killed inside the Manila City jail.” Other accused Hipe, Onofre, Salamat, Ramos, Bagtang also feared for their safety while Macabali, Rodrigo and Chan, in their separate motions, urged the court to take note of the number of detainees at

the Manila City Jail which has exceeded the maximum jail capacity. Aside from fear for their safety, they said they still enjoy the presumption of innocence and would like to continue their law studies. They added that several detainees at the Manila City Jail “are recidivists and habitual delinquents while others are incorrigible and hard-core criminals which would make their transfer to the said facility as detrimental to their personal growth and development being of frail age.” The prosecution opposed the separate motions of the accused saying that the NBI is not a regular detention facility and allowing them to stay will negatively be perceived “to be rendering favor and advantage…which is inconsistent with law, due process and fair play.” The prosecutors also argued that “fairness and equity dictate that the herein accused be similarly situated with the majority of persons under detention. There is no reason to take the case of the accused in isolation necessitating better treatment that the rest. It puts in quandary the very basis principle in Constitution that is the equal protection of the laws.”

THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the National Youth Commission for “unnecessary spending” on meals and snacks served in 112 unofficial meetings held in 2017 and for hiring consultants with incomplete documentation. The state auditors cautioned the NYC to “observe prudence in the use of government funds” saying food should be served only for office-related events. “We reviewed the petty cash vouchers and found out that of the total sample of 126 meetings and related activities held during the year, the total cost of P296,968.30 was used for payment of meals and snacks served, 112 of which with a total cost of P268,068.55 were considered not official,” CoA’s report read. According to CoA, the NYC must

submit a duly signed notice of meeting or ofﬁce order bearing the names of participants and the purpose so the commission determine whether or not an event is work-related. Under CoA Circular No. 2012-003, government ofﬁcials and employees were reminded to exercise the “diligence of a good father of a family” when spending taxpayers’ money with an admonition to consider the demands of good government. CoA challenged the NYC’s hiring of consultants despite non-submission of complete documentary requirements, and questioned why the hiring was done through negotiated procurement, and not through a public bidding. A breakdown of the NYC’s operating expenses showed consultancy services ballooned to P3.55 million in 2017 compared to just P874,400 in 2016 or a 306 percent increase.

Eco tracking tool launched to prevent another ‘Bora’ crisis By Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday said he has high hopes for the newly launched ecotourism tracking tool that would help monitor and evaluate activities in ecotourism sites to prevent another Boracay-like crisis. “I am conﬁdent the ETT will enable not just the DENR but all stakeholders to efﬁciently assess to which degree an ecotourism site is managed according to a set of sustainability indicators,” he said. “I have no doubt it will support proactive management of all ecotourism sites in the country,” he added. EET was developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau to help systemize the conservation and protection of ecotourism destinations

prone to environmental degradation. It was tasked to conduct a study that would determine the capacity of ecotourism sites, including the pollutionchallenged Boracay Island, which was ordered closed to tourists for six months since April 26. According to Cimatu, Boracay Island suffered from environmental degradation due to “lack of guidelines, standards or certiﬁcation mechanisms towards its effective management as an ecotourism area.” Meanwhile, the Labor department said hundreds of workers who were displaced by the rehabilitation of Boracay Island will receive ﬁnancial support of more than P4,000 a month for six months or equivalent to 50 percent of the prevailing minimum wage in the region, while retained workers will get at least 25 percent of their minimum wage.

SK WINNERS. Sangguniang Kabataan winners from different barangays in Quezon City listen during the Sangguninang Kabataan Mandatory Training at the UP National College of Public Administration in Diliman, Quezon City, May 23 2018. The mandatory training was ordered by the DILG. Among the five topics to be discussed during the training are Decentralization and Local Governance, SK History and Salient Features, Meetings and Resolutions, Planning and Budgeting, and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards. Manny Palmero

CA confirms NFA bids out supply of 250k MT Abas as chairman Rice buffer stock to Asian firms of Commission Bill on legislative franchise for miners OK’d on Elections By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE powerful Commission on Appointments on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Sheriff Abas as chairman of the Commission on Elections. Facing the hearing by the CA committee on constitutional commissions and offices, Abas insisted on the credibility of the 2016 presidential elections, which elected President Rodrigo Duterte. Abas also vowed that he would avoid the fate of Comelec chairpersons before him, such as Alfredo Benipayo, Jose Melo, and Andres Bautista, who failed to finish their terms for various reasons. “I will try my best, your honor, that I will not be like them who did not finish their terms),” said Abas is set to break many firsts in the Comelec. At 39, he will become the youngest Comelec chair aside from the first Comelec chairperson from Mindanao. He will serve as the Philippines’ first Muslim elections chief. Also, Abas is the first Comelec commissioner to become Comelec chair. Since he is a nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, Abss said he will inhibit in the event of a plebiscite for ratification of proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. A plebiscite would be held in the affected areas if Congress would pass the proposed measure that would create the Bangsamoro region. Abas issued this statement after he was questioned by Senator Risa Hontiveros during the confirmation hearing. “On BBL, citing my relation with my uncle, I will be totally hands off,” said Abas, who happens to be the nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal,” said Abas.

AT LEAST 21 companies from various Asian countries are expected to participate in the open tender bidding today, May 22, for the supply of 250,000 metric tons of white long grain 25 percent broken rice for the National Food Authority as the agency prepares food security stocks for the coming lean months. The Terms of Reference for this open tender importation initially speciﬁed that supply requirement is 200,000 MT of 25 percent broken rice and 50,000 MT of 15 percent broken rice. But this was revised, per advice of the NFA Council, via a Bid Bulletin issued May 15, to amend the required supply to 250,000 MT of 25 percent broken rice. Consequently the Approved Budget for the Contract was revised from P6.52 to P6.502 million or a reduction of P19.7 million. A total of 18 suppliers initially bought bid documents and 16 of them attended the pre-bidding conference held last May 8. As of May 21, three more suppliers

had bought bid documents. Interested suppliers can still buy bid documents until 9:30 a.m. (on May 22) and participate in the bidding. Opening of the Bids will be at 10 am on the same day. The NFA said the expected arrival of imported rice this month will immediately make its presence in the market with low-priced rice at P27 and P32 per kilo. This is expected to arrest the continuous increase in rice prices and help low-income and poor families cope better with their daily expenses. But to ensure that imported supply will be fresh stocks, the TOR speciﬁes that the rice should be “not more than four months old from the date of milling and harvested during the period November 2017 onwards only.” Mixing of freshly milled rice with aged rice (more than four months) shall not be allowed. And stocks should not be powdery, and free from sack-like odor and insect infestation.

CONFIRMED.

The Commission on Appointments on Wednesday, May 23, confirmed Sheriff Abas (standing) as Chairman of the Commission on Elections. At 39, Abas became the youngest Comelec chairman and the first Comelec chairman from Mindanao. Ey Acasio

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE joint House committees on natural resources and legislative franchises on Wednesday approved the measure requiring mining companies to secure legislative franchises before being allowed to operate. The committee, chaired by Representatives Arnel Ty of LPGMA party-list and Franz Alvarez of Palawan, respectively, approved the substitute bill, with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as one of the principal authors. This as Alvarez hailed the passage of the bill even as he earlier called for the “great” reorganization of the bureaucracy, saying Congress must require that operators of casinos, public transportation, as well as mining companies, secure a legislative franchise from it prior to their operations “to make

certain that the public’s interest will always be protected.” “By requiring mining firms to acquire a legislative franchise, the people, through their elected representatives, would be able to scrutinize the applicants, their capability and track record, in order to make sure that only responsible mining firms are allowed to operate in the country,” Alvarez said. In filing the bill, Alvarez said the Philippines is among the top five countries in the world in terms of minerals, with an estimated value of $ 1.4 trillion. In 2009201 some P650 billion worth of minerals were extracted in the country. But the mining industry is among the least contributors to the country’s wealth which only peaked at 1.63 percent in 2007. The present mining companies are not performing at par with the potential of the industry.

Australian nun told to leave PH in 30 days By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration ordered Australian nun Sister patricia Fox to leave the country within 30 days after her Motion for Reconsideration were turned down by the bureau. In a three-page order signed May 17, the BI Board of Commissioners denied with finality the MR filed by Fox’s lawyers which sought a reversal of the Board’s April 23 order forfeiting her visa and directing her to leave the country within 30 days. “This order is final and executory. We will not entertain any further Motion for Reconsideration,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente who chairs the Board, with BI Deputy Commissioners J. Tobias Javier and Marc Red Mariñas as members.

As a result, Morente said Fox, through her counsel, was sent a letter advising her of the steps needed for complying with the order to leave. BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval also clariﬁed that the complaint for deportation against Fox in engaging in political activities is still pending as it is separate from the Board’s action forfeiting her visa. “The pending resolution of the deportation complaint, Fox could still return to the country as a tourist after she leaves as she is not yet in the Bureau’s blacklist,” she said. The BI also dismissed Fox’s assertion that the Bureau forfeited her visa without due process and that allegations that she engaged in political activities were not backed with solid evidence.

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Besieged still

Falling from grace from leaving the country and his residence and other apartments that he owns were raided by the police confisFLORENCIO cating about 284 bags and suitcases, FIANZA many filled with cash and jewelry. It IN THE old days, politics was syn- is an unfolding political drama that onymous to public service. That was has caught the imagination of many at least what we were taught in school. Malaysians. But judging from what is going on not If Malaysia does end up sending only in this country but other places as Razak to jail, Malaysia will be joinwell, this may no longer be the case. ing three other countries and territoThere are still people who enter poli- ries in the region that have sent former tics wanting to do good but there are leaders to jail. The first is South Koothers who look at politics as a vehicle rea which sent four of its former presito gain power and wealth. dents to jail including its first female When this happens and the politi- President. A former president, Roh cian falls from grace, it is often pain- Moo-hyun, jumped to his death when ful, brutal and traumatic. an investigation was opened against For example, we are now witnessing him thereby avoiding the ignominy of this unfold in Malaysia. Former Prime going to jail. The common denominaMinister Najib Razak, the son of the tor of all these presidents going to jail second Prime Minister of Malaysia is corruption. Taiwan also has sent who ruled the country for almost ten two of its former presidents to jail. years, went down Thailand did senin a stunning detence two former feat in the hands of Prince Ministers coalition between to jail, the sibhis former mentor lings Thaksin It is often painful, and ally Mahathir and Yingluck brutal and traumatic. and jailed opposiShinawatra but tion leader Anwar both were able to Ibrahim. leave the country Now, there is a before their sengreat possibility that he will go to jail tences could be carried out which the amid allegations of corruption which military probably preferred than both also involves his wife, Rosmah Man- staying in the country where they can sor. Both of course are denying any create political mischief. Both are now wrong doing but now that he is out of living in exile. power, a lot of issues that were previWe here did send two of our former ously suppressed when Razak was in presidents to jail. Former President power about corruption and the murder Benigno Aquino III is currently being of a Mongolian model rumored to be investigated for various offenses which his mistress will now be investigated. could still lead to his eventual detenThe most serious of the charges is tion but President Duterte does not a missing US$4.5 billion allegedly seem so determined to send him to jail. laundered by 1Malaysia Development Mr. Aquino will be one lucky fellow. Berhad, a government unit set up by *** the Razak government in 2009. It has Those who follow the developments been alleged that a sizable portion of in the South China Sea are in anguish that amount found its way to the per- due to the stance taken by the adminsonal bank account of Razak. Razak’s istration of President Duterte in relaproblems are compounded by the un- tion to what China is doing. popularity of his wife who is apparIn spite of the country’s clear-cut ently fond of signature bags, expen- victory in our arbitral case before the sive suitcases and jewelry. Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Razak’s fall from grace was im- Duterte administration has not filed Turn to A5 mediate. He and his wife were barred

DUTY CALLS

EDNESDAY marked the ﬁrst anniversary of the start of the Marawi siege, which claimed more than 1,000 lives, affected 24 villages in the city, reduced to rubble 250 hectares of land and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents. It took the government a martial law declaration in Mindanao and five months to kill the leaders of the siege and quell the attack. A year on, however, the people remain besieged. According to the Red Cross, food supply is dwindling as efforts move from emergency response to early

recovery. Transition houses are not enough and thousands continue to languish in dire circumstances, with poor water, power and sanitation. Livelihood opportunities have reached only a portion of the number who actually need them. Worse, the threat lingers. The leaders of the siege may be dead but the possibility of new terrorists coming in, joining forces with local groups and recruiting impressionable and desperate young Muslims, remain present. Analysts warn that they can capitalize on the dissatisfaction of the people. These threats have an implication on the safety of the rehabilitation workers as well.

Finally, how will those handling the funds—the national government has earmarked P72 billion for the a rehabilitation program and numerous groups have pledged support to rebuild Marawi—be made accountable should they misuse the much-needed money? President Duterte said he did not go to Marawi on Wednesday because he did not wish to honor the terrorists. He would rather commemorate the liberation in October. But remembering that liberation five months from now will be more meaningful if the people also were made free from the ills that still bring them down to this day.

Seeking a better Customs bureau tainers and the audit of the supermarket chain Puregold, which allegedly was the recipient of the rest of the missing DANILO containers. To date, no audit has been SUAREZ done. The case has not been resolved. Under the present administration, THE integrity of the Bureau of Customs has been put into question be- one of the biggest controversies incause of several controversies. Cor- volving the BoC was the P6.4-billion ruption has been a perennial problem shabu shipment, which happened in of the agency. We are well aware of the May 2017, during the term of forincompetence, smuggling, and other mer Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon. While several personalities were corrupt practices at the bureau. Probably one of the biggest con- charged before the Department of Justroversies the BoC has faced in his- tice in relation to the shabu shipment, tory was the case of the missing 1,910 no Customs personnel was charged. shipping containers, which happened This issue resulted in the resignation under the nose of former Customs of Faeldon, who was later replaced by Commissioner Angelito Alvarez. The Commissioner Isidro Lapeña. Problems continued under the new containers, loaded with rice and releadership. On fined sugar, went March 23 this missing during year, 105 shipthe transshipping containers ment from the with P69 million Port of Manila to What is happening is worth of goods the Port of Batanjust unacceptable. were released gas between May from the Port of and June 2011. Manila despite The government an alert order lost potential preventing their revenues worth P240 million due to this large-scale release. Inside these containers were smuggling scheme. Several investiga- ceramic tiles and diapers from China, tions were conducted but were eventu- and other imported goods, which were ally stopped after the appointment of undervalued and misdeclared. As a then-Customs Commissioner Ruffy result of investigations, charges were Biazon. Charges were filed against filed against the owners, officials, and several brokers and officials of in- brokers of the involved corporations, volved companies. Some containers including the officials of Asian Terwere even recovered. However, to me, minals Inc., which released the containers. As reported by the BoC, these this did not mean closure. Two years after the incident, I filed a people “connived to secure the release resolution that called for the reopening of the containers from ATI premises of the investigation on the missing conTurn to A5

OVERSIGHT

Morocco’s women surfers ride out waves and harassment By Younes Boujabha MOROCCAN women surfers have become a common sight as they skim the waves off the coast of the capital, Rabat, but they still can face prejudice and harassment back on land. “It’s easier in the winter because the beaches are empty,” said surfer Meriem, 29, who, like most of the women surfers, wears a wetsuit. “In the summer we suffer a lot of harassment, that’s why we pay attention to what we wear.” The engineer, who took up the sport four years ago, said she’s lucky to have

grown up in a “tolerant” family. For many Moroccan women from conservative backgrounds, such activities are off limits. “Some families are ashamed that their daughters practise water sports,” said Jalal Medkouri, who runs the Rabat Surf Club on the capital’s popular Udayas beach. The gentle waves nearby are ideal for beginners, but nestled at the foot of the 12th century Kasbah and easily visible from the capital’s bustling touristic heart, the beach is far from discreet. Yet some club members say attitudes are changing.

First international women’s competition Rim Bechar, 28, said that when she began surfing four years ago, “it was a bit more difficult.” “At first, my father accompanied me whenever I wanted to surf,” she said. But now, “people are used to seeing young women in the water, it’s no longer a problem.” Today, she surfs alone, stays all day and goes home without problems, she said. Surfers first took to the waves off Morocco’s Atlantic Coast in the 1960s, at the popular seaside resort of Mehdia, Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion De facto Charter change is already under way BUSINESS CLASS RUDY ROMERO SINCE Day One of the incumbency of President Rodrigo Duterte, the rallying cry of the former Davao City mayor’s supporters has been Cha-Cha (Charter change). This was predictable, considering that one of the Duterte’s two principal campaign provinces was shift to the federalist form of government (the other provinces being the eradication of illegal drugs, crime and corruption within 60 days). A shift away from the present system of government—the presidential system—requires a revision of the 1987 Constitution. During the last 23 months the supporters of the Duterte administration have extended much effort, time and treasure in their effort to bring about Charter change. Every available forum, assembly, newspaper editorial and social media posting has been harnessed in supported of that effort. By names and leading personalities have been trothed our to convey the Cha-Cha for federation message. All of these efforts of the last 23 months have sought to create a national environment of “Charter change is this nation’s last hope.” I’ve got news for the hot-eyed proponents of Charter change. They can now stop their fervid agitation for Cha-Cha. It is already here; the changing of the Constitution is now under way. Change in the Basic Law takes place when a national referendum gives its assent to the new Constitution proposed by a Constitutional convention or a constituent assembly of the members of Congress or a People’s Initiative. The Charter changes that have taken place since July 1, 2016 have come into being without benefit of these Constitutional niceties. The earliest instances of de facto Cha-Cha were the blatant violations

of the Bill of Rights provisions of the Constitution, which lie at the heart of this country’s concept personal freedom and state benevolence. Individuals merely suspected of being socalled drug personalities are dragged out of their shanties, often in the middle of the night, by policemen unable to produce search warrants, and shot in streets or alleys or fields on the implausible pretext that they resisted arrest (nanlaban). No interrogation at a police station, no being held in jail pending arraignment, no trial no presumption of innocence, nothing. The Bill of Rights provisions of the Constitution has been amended de facto. The Cha-Cha has been effected not by the representatives of the Filipino peo-

Those who are advocating it can now lay down their arms and still their voices.

ple—either as constitutional convention delegates or as members of Congress—but by the Executive branch of the government acting through the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police. Another element of the Constitution that has likewise been changed de facto is the relationship between two of the three co-equal lawmakers of this country’s government. The last time I checked, the Philippines had the presidential form of government, but the way that Mr. Duterte has been barking instructions to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, this country may be regarded as having shifted to the parliamentary system of government with Mr. Duterte as the head of the ruling party in a

Philippine parliament. This de facto Constitution change has been possible by the unwillingness of the members of the so-called supermajority to stand up to a highly assertive President. With these kinds of Executive and Legislative postures, there is no need for a proposal seeking a shit from the presidential to the parliamentary form of government. But undoubtedly the most famous— more accurately, the most notorious— of de facto Constitutional change has been the removal of Maria Lourdes Sereno from the Chief Justiceship not by Congressional action—impeachment of the House of Representative and subsequent trial by the Senate— but by the Supreme Court itself acting on a Rule of Court-sanctioned petition filed by an official of the Executive Department. Effectively changing the wording of the Constitutional provision from “may” to “may also,” the Solicitor General contended that Chief Justice Sereno could be removed by a process other and impeachment proceeding. And so Jose Calida filed a quo warranto seeking to have the Chief Justice adjudged legally unqualified for the position she occupied. On May 11 the Supreme Court voted 8-6—with Maria Lourdes Sereno abstaining in favor of the Solicitor General’s petition. Incredibly, a Constitutional provision long accepted as the only way to remove a Supreme Court Justice was interpreted otherwise without benefit of action by the elected representatives of the Filipino people. Which brings me back to the opening paragraphs of this column. Those who are fervidly advocating Charter change can now lay down their arms and still their voices. There no longer is a need to agitate for the convening of a constitutional convention or for the congressional chambers covering themselves into a constituent assembly or for the holding of a people’s initiative. Cha-Cha is already under way.

Rare silk Koran helps preserve Afghanistan’s cultural heritage By Allison Jackson ONE of the only Korans ever made from silk fabric has been completed in Afghanistan—a feat its creators hope will help preserve the country’s centuries-old tradition of calligraphy. Each of the Islamic holy book’s 610 pages was produced by hand in a painstaking process that took a team of 38 calligraphers and artists specialising in miniatures nearly two years to finish. Bound in goat leather and weighing 8.6 kilograms (19 pounds), the Koran was produced by Afghan artisans, many of them trained at British foundation Turquoise Mountain in Kabul. “Our intention was to ensure that calligraphy does not die out in this country—writing is part of our culture,” Khwaja Qamaruddin Chishti, a 66-year-old master calligrapher, told AFP in a cramped office inside Turquoise Mountain’s labyrinthine mud-brick and wood-panelled complex. With the Koran considered a sacred text, calligraphy is highly venerated in Islam and Islamic art. “When it comes to art we cannot put a price on it. God has entrusted us with this work [the Koran]... and this means more to us than the financial aspect,” Chishti continued. Using a bamboo or reed ink pen, Chishti and his fellow calligraphers

Falling... From A4

any diplomatic protest of China’s continuing militarization of the South China Sea. In the words of the current United States Pacific Commander in Chief Admiral Harry Harris, China is now for all intents and purposes in control of the whole of the South China Sea and there is a need for the US to increase its military capability to be able to deal with the situation more forcefully. On our side, no one is more frustrated than Justice Antonio Carpio who has been urging the government to at least file a diplomatic protest to officially express our disagreement with

spent up to two days carefully copying Koranic verses onto a single page —sometimes longer if they made a mistake and had to start again. They used the Naskh script, a calligraphic style developed in early Islam to replace Kufic because it was easier to read and write. The decoration around the script, known as illumination, was more timeconsuming, each page taking more than a week to complete. A team of artists used paint made from natural materials, including ground lapis, gold and bronze, to recreate the delicate patterns popular during the Timurid dynasty in the 15th and 16th centuries in the western city of Herat. “All the colours we have used are from nature,” Mohammad Tamim Sahibzada, a master miniature artist who was responsible for creating the vibrant colours used in the Koran, told AFP. Sahibzada said working on silk fabric for the first time was challenging. The locally sourced material—all 305 metres (1,000 feet) of it—was treated in a solution made from the dried seeds of ispaghula, or psyllium, to stop the ink from spreading. ‘Very rare’ Turquoise Mountain began work in 2006 in Kabul with the aim of preserving ancient Afghan

craftsmanship, including ceramics, carpentry and calligraphy. It hopes the silk Koran will generate demand for more handmade Islamic religious texts that could create employment for its artisans and help finance the institute. “We will show it to other Islamic countries to see if it is possible to create job opportunities for graduates to work on another Koran,” said Abdul Waheed Khalili, the organisation’s Afghan director. For now it will be kept in a specially made hand-carved walnut wooden box to protect its delicate pages from the elements at Turquoise Mountain’s offices, which are in the restored Murad Khani, a historic commercial and residential area in Kabul’s oldest district. There Turquoise Mountain has trained thousands of artisans with the support of Britain’s Prince Charles, the British Council, and USAID. “The copying of the Koran onto silk is very rare,” country director Nathan Stroupe told AFP. He said the project has been “an amazing way to train our students at an incredibly high level in a very traditional type of work”. “If a Saudi prince or a book collector in London... was interested in it, we would be thinking in the $100,000 to $200,000 [price] range,” he added. AFP

what China is doing and avoid the appearance of acquiescing to the activities of China which might affect any legal actions that future governments would want to take. Another former official who is scratching his head is former National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, a former naval officer and a product of the US Naval Academy. He believes that the country is now in mortal danger due to the ability of China to threaten the whole country in a matter of minutes from its island bases in the South China Sea. Unfortunately for all other critics, the one person who matters most in this country has a different take of the situation. The President honestly believes that officially protesting Chi-

na’s actions might provoke a war that the country cannot win. Regardless of what we think with this argument, there is very little that anybody can do. No one in government is prepared to tell the President that this is not necessarily the case. The question is, why this belief? Since the President has not elaborated why he believes that a diplomatic protest against China will trigger war, we can only speculate on the real reasons. Perhaps, he and President Xi have a secret agreement. If so, he should convene the National Security Council to discuss the issue. No matter how wellmeaning the President is, sovereignty is bigger than any one person to be deciding all by himself without the benefit of informed counsel.

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Learning to nap in New York, the city that never sleeps By Laura Bonilla NEW York is the city that never sleeps, but arduous commutes, hellish hours and ultra-competitive jobs mean even the most wired of party animals or dedicated employees have to recharge their batteries. But instead of knocking back a coffee or quaffing an energy drink, a growing number of New Yorkers are opting for a quick nap during office hours. With affluent Americans increasingly health conscious—indulging in fads such as green juice, hot-house yoga and matcha tea—a few pay-for-sleep businesses are now offering customers a little shut-eye on the QT. Nap York is one. Opening three months ago in a three-story building near Penn Station, $12 buys patrons 30 minutes in a wooden sleep cabin, day or night. “We wanted to accommodate all the exhausted New Yorkers,” explains Stacy Veloric, the company’s marketing director. “It’s really hard to find peace and quiet within New York City.” The business opened with seven cabins, but demand quickly exceeded supply and they added 22 more. Soon there will also be hammocks on the roof, where half an hour’s kick-back will cost $15. The US sleep deficit is real. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of Americans sleep less than they should. Only 24 percent of New Yorkers get eight or more hours of sleep—nearly half get six or less, according to a statewide survey for Siena College. Lack of sleep causes moodiness, low productivity and poor concentration. It also costs the US economy up to $411 billion and the equivalent of 1.23-million working days a year, according to a Rand Corporation study in 2016. ‘I’m worth it’ Laura Li, a 28-year-old copy editor for a travel company, is someone who prefers a 35-minute kip to a coffee. Each week she pops along to YeloSpa, a luxurious, spa-style Fifth Avenue fixture opposite Trump Tower. Li steps into a hexagonal cockpit that looks straight out of a science fiction movie and lies on a bed suspended in a position of zero gravity, knees bent and feet elevated to lower the heart rate and induce sleep. Thirty-five minutes later, she’ll be woken by “a simulated sunrise,” explains Maya Daskalova, YeloSpa manager. The price? A dollar a minute, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40.

Seeking... From A4

without the necessary examination.” It is sad that through the years, the BoC’s credibility has been doubted by many. Smuggling and other corrupt practices continue to prevail and people are getting used to it, to the point that what is morally and legally reprehensible has become, through the years, accepted practice. This is unacceptable. The House Minority will file a resolution calling for the consideration to bring back the Societe Generale de Surveillance of Switzerland as a service provider of the BoC. The SGS is an international company offering inspection, verification, testing, and certification services worldwide. In 1986, this company was hired by the government, through a competitive bidding process, for the pre-shipment inspection and

Morocco... From A4

about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the capital. Residents say soldiers at a nearby French-American military base were the first to practise the sport there. A handful of enthusiasts, French and Moroccan, quickly nurtured the scene, travelling further south to the lesserknown beaches of Safi and Taghazout, which later gained popularity with surfers from around the world. The sport gradually gained Moroccan enthusiasts, including women. In September 2016, the country held its first international women’s surfing contest. ‘Provocative’ dress But mentalities differ from beach to beach. Despite efforts to improve the status of women in the North African country, attitudes have been slow to change. A United Nations study in 2017 found that nearly 72 percent of men and 78 percent of women think “women who dress provocatively deserve to be harassed.” The harassment women surfers can

“I come here specially on days where I have a lot of work—just to get more energy for the rest of the afternoon,” says Li. “I don’t drink coffee so if I feel tired there’s nothing I can really do, other than sleeping.” She may not have told colleagues that she naps during lunch, but has confessed to friends, who are baffled by the concept of paying to sleep. “They might think this is a waste of time or a waste of money,” she admitted. “As long as I can afford it, then it’s worth it. I just feel better afterward, that’s enough.” Daskalova has seen her clientele grow gradually and believes that cultural attitudes in America are changing. “Resetting you for the rest of the day is much better than crashing in your desk in the middle of work,” she says. Generational shift Who escapes to take a nap? Those who work long hours or live miles away and want time out before a night out. Pregnant women who are exhausted. Parents of babies suffering sleepless nights and party-goers who need a breather. In 2004, Christopher Lindholst created MetroNaps, a company that designs super-modern “energy pods” for quick naps. He installed several in the Empire State Building until security requirements kicked them out, then focused sales on companies, universities, hospitals and airports. Google and Nasa are among those who have bought his pods. “People’s attitudes changed dramatically in the last 15 years, there’s much more awareness of the importance of sleep and the benefit,” Lindholst says. But in a city with the longest working day in the States, travel time included, he thinks it will take a full generation to erase old stigmas about laziness. “We use the argument all the time that we are talking about a very short period of time, 10 to 20 minutes, essentially the same [as] a coffee break or in New York a smoke break,” he explained. One MetroNaps capsule lives in the SoHo offices of Thrive Global, a wellness startup founded by Arianna Huffington, author of bestselling 2016 tome “The Sleep Revolution” and a founder of The Huffington Post. Her book calls for an end to “the delusion that we need to burn out to succeed.” “We’re in the middle of a cultural shift, one in which more and more of us are taking steps to reclaim sleep,” she writes. AFP valuation of imported goods to enable Customs to collect the proper tariffs. However, the contract was terminated by former President Joseph Estrada. Several proposals to engage the services of SGS again were turned down during the succeeding administrations. Hence, we will be pushing for the BoC’s reconsideration of the services of SGS. Furthermore, we will push for the implementation of the Lateral Attrition Law, which would reward and penalize Customs collectors and officials based on their actual performance. If the current administration is serious about its fight against corruption, it should come up with ways to clean up the BoC, other than simply removing officials from their respective positions. I expect an intensified anti-smuggling campaign and stricter implementation of customs policies. Restoring the integrity of the BoC is a tough job but could be a great milestone of this administration. face in Morocco ranges from looks and comments to unwanted attempts at flirtation and attention from men. In Mehdia, however, surf instructor Mounir said it’s “no problem” for girls to surf. Last summer “we even saw girls in bikinis on the beach and the authorities didn’t say anything,” he said. Back at Udayas beach, popular with young men playing football, attitudes are more conservative. “Girls are often harassed by the boys,” Bechar said. “At first it wasn’t easy, so I decided to join a club.” The Rabat Surf Club now has more than 40 surfers, half of whom are girls, Medkouri said. “Parents encourage their children when they feel they are in good hands,” he said. Club surfing is particularly popular among girls because the group setting cuts harassment and eases the concerns of some families. Ikram, who also surfs there, said she hopes “all girls who were prevented by their father or brother from doing what they want will follow this path.” “Surfing makes you dynamic,” she said. AFP

News

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Prosecutors want arms amid killings of colleagues THE members of the National Prosecution Service have called for the adoption of stringent measures to protect government prosecutors, as they condemned the killing of their former colleague in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental last Tuesday. Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan, chief of the NPS, stressed the need for arming prosecutors to be able to defend themselves from attacks. “It is high time that a nationwide call to arm the NPS be made. That self-defense trainings and mechanisms be set in place to safeguard the very lives of these selfless public servants,” he said in a statement. Catalan cited the murder of former prosecutor Geronimo Marabe Jr. by four unidentified assailants, which he said was a cause for alarm and should be properly dealt with. “The recurring and frequency of the killings of prosecutors have raised serious concerns about their safety considering that the motives of the perpetrators are cryptic just like the manner of their attack, treacherous and bestial,” the prosecutor general said. The NPS listed Marabe, who reportedly served as prosecutor in drug cases against the Parojinog family, as the 14th prosecutor killed in the country over the last 26 years. “The figures do not lie. These blatant attacks have disturbingly escalated through the years. With each statistic more deliberate and brazen than the last; showing how these shameless perpetrators have become fearless of anything or anyone,” he noted. “Each death of a fallen prosecutors is a tragedy, that leaves a penetrating and pricking mark. A constant reminder that another brethren fell prey to these cowardly acts by assassins hiding in their dark masks of anonymity. These deaths are occupational hazards, the risk of violence that goes with the position,” he said. However, Catalan assured that prosecutors would not be intimated by the killings of their colleagues and they would continue to perform their duties under the law. “Make no mistake, the NPS shall stand its ground. These atrocities will never disable nor destroy this stable institution. We stand united and strong in these challenging times,” he vowed. Police said Marabe was traveling in Barangay 50th District when the assailants strafed his sport utility vehicle. He was declared dead on arrival at a hospital. Investigators have yet to determine the motive for the killing. Rey Requejo

Ex-NPA rebel leads gov’t troops to depot

CHOPPER JUMP. Members of the Philippine naval special operations group jump from a helicopter in a raid simulation during the 120th Philippine Navy anniversary celebration in Manila on Tuesday. AFP

Japanese tycoon’s lover puts fiscal in trouble By Rey E. Requejo

PROSECUTOR of Parañaque City may face administrative and criminal charges over leaked documents that landed in the hands of the paramour of a Japanese tycoon who was expelled from his gaming conglomerate by his own family for squandering company funds. City Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac was accused of bias and gross partiality by the family of Kazuo Okada after a resolution yet to be officially released by Paudac’s office was posted last week in the Instagram and Facebook accounts of Chloe Kim, known to be Okada’s Korean lover. Okada is facing multiple counts of estafa before the Parañaque Prosecutor’s Office for embezzling more than $10 million of Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment Inc. funds between early 2016 and June 2017. TRLEI is the owner and operator of the posh Okada Manila in Entertainment City, Parañaque, where Okada was its former chief executive officer before he was booted out by majority shareholders composed of

his wife and children. In a motion, TRLEI is demanding that Paudac inhibit himself from the cases being handled by his office due to the impression created by the release of advance copies to Mr. Okada that said release must have been for substantial monetary consideration considering the amounts in the estafa cases and the personalities involved. “As city prosecutor, [he] is expected to manifest such degree of impartiality which should not be tainted by scintilla of doubt,” TRLEI said. It added, “Resolutions purportedly disposing the captioned cases in favor of respondent Okada have apparently been leaked… as shown by the unlawful pub-

lication thereof in the Facebook and Instagram accounts of his close companion, Chloe Kim although said resolutions have not been officially released.” In her social media accounts of May 18, Kim posted photos of the dispositive and signature portions of the purported resolutions dismissing two estafa cases against Okada and other former officers of TRLEI. Said resolutions were not yet accessible to counsels of the Okada family as of May 21, 2018. Kim had caption on her photos which read: “Devils will go the hell soon! 2 estapa cases against Kazuo Okada of OkadaManila dismissed. Justice prevails.” “Kim already had a copy of, or had access to, the very same resolutions that complainant TRLEI’s counsel could not access from the Office of the City Prosecutor” last Monday, the motion said. “There is factual and legal basis to believe that City Prosecutor Paudac is biased and partial in favor of respondent Okada to the grave prejudice of complainant TRLEI,” it added,

Transport firms told: Do specific tasks or... By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives’ committee on transportation on Wednesday ordered government agencies involved in transportation to accomplish specific tasks the panel had recommended for them to do within five months or face budget cuts next year. Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, the panel’s chairperson, made the threat in an effort to prod the transport agencies to address the industry’s problems, giving special focus on road safety in view of the many fatal accidents in the past few months. Sarmiento, who attended the United Nations 82nd General Assembly Debate on Road Safety, said road crash fatalities have remained high in many countries, including the Philippines. “We already have a road safety crisis globally and locally. Road crashes have killed close to 1.3 million people worldwide every year. And in the Philippines, as of end of 2016, road crashes kill an average of 31 people a day,” he said. Sarmiento said these road accidents could have been prevented, but despite efforts to do

so, the number of victims has increased by 64 percent since 2006, or at 11,274 in 2016. “We need to give serious attention to this issue. Now more than ever, we need to strongly collaborate and bring everyone on board,” Sarmiento said. “We need the inputs and actions of the agencies and the private sector on issues on enforcement, formulation and coordination of road safety policies, ensuring quality drivers and roadworthy vehicles, conduct of investigations and emergency response and road safety education and observance of road safety events which can address the issue on a cultural level,” he added. In addition to road accidents, Sarmiento said the country faces various transportation problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible. At a hearing conducted Wednesday by Sarmiento’s panel, the lawmaker told undersecretaries of the Department of Transportation and heads of sectoral and attached agencies that Congress, through his committee, would want to give them one assignment per sector that needs no additional funding but will test if they can deliver reforms.

CACAO INDUSTRY. Leyte (1st Dist) Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez discusses with members of Region 8 Cacao Planters Association and representatives from Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Local Government Units, Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Trade and Industry on how to improve the cacao production in Eastern Visayas during the Region 8 Cacao Industry Meeting at Community Center in Tacloban City. Ver Noveno

DoJ to wrap up Rappler probe

SUSPECT NABBED. In a press conference at Camp Crame Wednesday, PNP PRO-A (Calabarzon) Regional Director Chief Supt. Guellermo Eleazar and PNP Chief Oscar Albayale present Wednesday the suspect identified as Crispin Pormal Corpin who they said was responsible for the murder of PO3 Don Carlo DC Mangui of Antipolo City, Rizal. Manny Palmero

THE Department of Justice is expected to end the preliminary investigation on the P133-million tax evasion complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against online news site Rappler Holdings Corp. officers by next month. Facing tax evasion raps are RHC president Maria A. Ressa and treasurer James C. Bitanga for violation of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax, and for deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in its annual income tax return and value-added tax returns for 2015. The respondents submitted their counter affidavits last May 7 while the BIR submitted on Tuesday their reply to Rappler’s counter-affidavit. Assistant State Prosecutor Zenamar Machacon-Caparros, who is handling the case has given the respondents until June 6 to file their rejoinder. Once the rejoinder has been filed,

Caparros could declare the case submitted for resolution. The preliminary investigation is being conducted over the complaint filed last March 8 by the BIR before the DoJ. The BIR, in its complaint against Rappler Holdings Corp. and its officers said it violated the National Internal Revenue Code by willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and for deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in its annual income tax return and value-added tax returns for 2015. “As consequence of its acts and omissions, the aggregate tax liability of RHC amounted to P133,841,305.75 broken down as follows: IT-P91,320,481.08 and VATP42,520,824.67,” read the complaint. BIR said investigation showed that RHC purchased common shares from Rappler Inc. worth P19, 245,975.00. Then, it issued and sold Philippine Depositary Receipts to two foreign firms worth P181, 658,758.67. PNA

KIDAPAWAN CITY—A former communist New People’s Army rebel who has earlier surrendered to government forces in North Cotabato led the military to an encampment where war materiel were recovered Tuesday. Jonaden Sicao, 22, of Magpet, North Cotabato, volunteered to lead Tuesday the troops in locating the items he hid more than a month after his surrender to government troops, according to military officials. Sicao surrendered to the military on April 4, saying he had lost trust in the communist movement and that he wanted to go back to school. Lt. Prolen Bonacua, Alpha company commander of 19th Infantry Battalion, said the items, which include one home-made grenade launcher and three Improvised Explosive Devices, were found in an abandoned NPA encampment in Barangay Kinarum, Magpet. In a related development: • For the first time, three former rebels of the NPA who recently surrendered confirmed that the civic action program launched by the military had been very effective in the fight against insurgency. “Keep it up, sustain your so-called Bayanihan civic action program because it is hurting the NPA,” said Ka Jelly in an exclusive interview with the Philippine News Agency in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday. Ka Jelly had been with the NPA for almost two decades before he and two of his comrades decided to surrender last May 18 to Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commanding general of the Joint Task Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which secures Metro Manila. Arrojado is a veteran military strategist in the AFP’s war on terror in Mindanao, particularly against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan, before he was assigned to his current position. Ka Jelly, whose testimony was corroborated by his comrades, Ka Kem and Ka Dodong, said they decided to surrender after realizing that they were fighting fellow Filipinos. During the interview, Ka Jelly said he considered the AFP’s civic action program a success “because it has been benefiting the people down to the grass root level, since the program includes free medical-dental treatment, food, shelter and other civic actions.” PNA

Ex-mayor faces graft case over agri equipment THE Ombudsman has filed a graft case against a former mayor of Aglipay, Quirino over the alleged unlawful purchase of agricultural equipment worth P2.79 million. The Ombudsman’s special panel for the fertilizer fund scam filed the case against former mayor Leonard Martin Sr. at the Sandiganyan for one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Others charged with Martin are former municipal treasurer Maritoni Eustaqio, municipal accountant’s office officerin-charge Gilvern Manzano, municipal supply officer Reynante Pastor, AgriComponent Corp. representative Elpideo Colobong Jr., and AGRICOMP head Elmer Baquiran. A bail of P30,000 has been recommended for each of the accused. In a related development: • The Ombudsman filed one count of graft before Sandiganbayan against former Tanay, Rizal Mayor Tomas Ricardo Tanjuatco, former members of the municipality’s Bids and Awards Committee Adorable Sunga, Godofredo Mariano, Nenita Vines, Yolanda Reyes, and Ruben Pendre in connection with the alleged fertilizer fund scam and recommended P30,000 bail each for their temporary liberty. The prosecution said Tanjuatco and his co-accused allegedly acted “with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence” in giving the contract to Feshan Philippines Inc. through direct contracting instead of public bidding for the purchase of 1,333 bottles of Bio Nature Liquid Organic Fertilizer worth P1.95 million in 2004. Ombudsman prosecutors alleged that between May 2004 and June 2006, Martin and his co-accused public officials conspired to enter into a contract with AGRICOMP through direct contracting. AGRICOMP bagged the contract is for supply of one Kubota Tractor 4WD Model 90000DT worth P2.09 million, one AGRICOMP Harrow Model 10x10 frame worth P180,000, two dumping trailer double tires at P220,000 each, a Multi Crop Thresher worth P121,000 and one set of maintenance tools valued at P59,000. Mariced V. Cruz

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

of information by the Transmission Customer, conduct of required studies, and approval of the capital expenditure projects by the Honorable Commission. Hence, it is beyond the control of the Transmission Network Provider.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pacific Center Building San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

TODAY

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2006 OPEN ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES RULES (OATS RULES)

MODULE D:

ERC CASE NO. 2017-010 RM

Applicant. x - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 22 December 2017 Petitioner National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed its Petition for the Adoption of the Proposed Amendments to the 2006 Open Access Transmission Services Rules (OATS Rules).

NATURE OF THE PETITION

MODULE E:

2. NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue comer BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City, where it may be served with notices, orders, resolutions and other issuances of this Honorable Commission through its Office of the General Counsel. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANS CO) pursuant to the EPIRA. 3. NGCP holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone system of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

(a)

The Transmission Customer shall collaborate with the Metering Service Provider on the conduct of testing, calibration and maintenance in a manner as prescribed by the PGC;

(b)

The Transmission Customer shall allow the Metering Service Provider to access the Metering Installation at all times;

(c)

The Transmission Customer shall provide the Metering Service Provider with a minimum spare for the said Metering Equipment, i.e., one (1) unit per set of instrument transformers and lightning arrester;

(d)

The Transmission Customer shall ensure that such Metering Equipment will be periodically tested and calibrated by the Metering Service Provider in a manner prescribed by the PGC. The Metering Service Provider shall be allowed to charge the Transmission Customer with the cost of such metering services until such time that the said cost forms part of the Metering Service Provider’s Metering Service Provider Charges (MSP Charges) computed pursuant to Rule F(AIII) of the OATS Rules;

BACKGROUND 4. On 11 February 2004, the Honorable Commission approved the OATS Rules which govern the services provided by, and outline the responsibilities of the Transmission Provider and the functions of the System Operator. The OATS Rules also set out the responsibilities of the Transmission Customers. 5. On 13 December 2006, the Honorable Commission adopted the 2006 Revised OATS Rules which contain the amendments and revisions to the provisions of the 2004 OATS Rules. 6. Considering that the 2006 Revised OATS Rules were adopted more than a decade ago, some of the provisions are no longer applicable and/or needs to be amended or updated. Hence, NGCP proposes to amend some provisions of the 2006 Revised OATS Rules and introduce new provisions in conformity with the provisions of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) Rules, the Philippine Grid Code (2016 Edition), the Feed In Tariff Rules, the Renewable Energy Act, and several resolutions and issuances of the Honorable Commission, the Grid Management Committee (GMC) and the Department of Energy (DOE).

(e)

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

NGCP proposes to amend Module B5 (Communication and SCADA Equipment Requirements) by deleting the provisions requiring the Transmission Customers to secure and provide telecommunication facilities since Communication and SCADA Equipment are Transmission Assets, hence, the responsibility of the Transmission Network Provider.

NGCP proposes to amend Module B13.2 on the requirement for direct connection of end-users to harmonize with the DOE’s “House Rules Governing the Review and Evaluation of Direct Connection Applications of Industrial, Commercial and Other Qualified Electricity End-Users, Economic Zones and Economic Enterprises.”

NGCP proposes to exclude from Module B13.4 the collection of non-refundable processing fee from the Transmission Customer since this fee is considered part of the regular operating cost of NGCP. NGCP proposes revisions in Module B14 on the manner of providing services for the conduct of System Impact Study (SIS), particularly Module B14.2 on the determination of whether SIS is necessary; deletion of Modules 14.7 and B14.8; and revision of Module B14.9 on the cost of the SIS. The modification is in line with ERC Resolution No. 18, Series of 2015.2 In the proposed amendment to Modules B14.2 and B14.7, the Transmission Network Provider is designated as the sole entity authorized to conduct an SIS with the option to engage a third party under its supervision and control and with full responsibility and accountability therefor. Further, the costs for the engagement by the Transmission Network Provider of the third party shall be borne by the Transmission Customer, except in cases where the SIS is conducted by the Transmission Network Provider, the costs thereof shall be deemed included in its operation expenses. NGCP proposes to include provisions in Module B15 on the review of the Facilities Study undertaken by the Transmission Network Provider pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 18, Series of 2015.3 In the proposed amendment, the Transmission Network Provider shall notify and direct the Transmission Customer to submit the necessary Facilities Study which may be conducted by either a Third Party Provider or Transmission Network Provider.

NGCP proposes to delete Module C4 (Available Transmission Capacity of Power Delivery Service), considering that the provision of available transmission capacity and the time period required of the Transmission Network Provider to provide such capacity is subject to a long process, i.e. submission

27) NGCP proposes that instead of a written process, a process flow chart is more efficient in describing the application process. 28) NGCP proposes to modify the Relevant Schedules and Additional Requirements for new or modified connection to the grid as follows:

The Transmission Customer shall be required to consistently cooperate with the Metering Service Provider for any compliance with the requirements of the PGC and WESM Rules; and

Prior to the execution of the Service Agreement: OATS Services

Schedule C

Connection Point Drawings

Schedule D

Asset Boundary Information

MODULE F:

Schedule E

Authorized Representatives

15) NGCP proposes the adoption of the following table as matrix of charges for the Transmission Customers:

Schedule F

Other Information

Any non-compliance of the Transmission Customer shall be subject to Rule A13 of the OATS Rules.

Additional Requirements: Each Transmission Customer shall provide the following supplemental data requirements:

Transmission Customer Generator Customer, incl. DER and ESS Grid Connected

Prior to Commissioning Date:

Load Customer

Embedded

Distribution Utility

GridConnected End-User

1. Detailed Planning Data; 2. Protection Arrangement and Settings; 3. Electrical Diagrams; 4. Safety Rules and Local Safety Instructions; 5. Metering Requirements; 6. Proposed Maintenance Program; 7. Test and Commissioning Procedures; and 8. Statement of Readiness to Connect.

Regulated PDS Charge

Applicable

N/A

Applicable

SO Charge

Applicable

MSP Charge

Applicable

Connection Charge

Applicable

N/A

Applicable

RST Charge

Applicable

N/A

Applicable

N/A

Applicable

N/A

Applicable

As Applicable: 1. Load Shedding and Curtailment Procedures; 2. Contingency Actions; and 3. Critical Event List.

Excluded

Stand-by Facility Charge

9. A copy of the 2017 Proposed Amendments to the OATS Rules, containing all proposed revisions, wordings, deletions and additions is hereto attached as Annex “A.”

Pass-through AS Charge Universal Charge FIT-All Charge

N/A

Applicable

GMC Charge

Applicable

16) NGCP also proposes three (3) new charges, as follows: a.

Stand-by Facility Charge. NGCP proposes to include a Stand-by Facility Charge payable by Load Customers with Embedded Generators. This is a fixed charge where the computation of charges is similar to the Connection Charge, considering that Load Customer with Embedded Generator utilizes the transmission facilities during the time that its Embedded Generator is out of service. These transmission facilities may be considered as Stand-by Facilities utilized by the said Load Customers even on an occasional basis.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, NGCP most respectfully prays that this Honorable Commission: . 1. EXERCISE its rule-making power under Section 37 of the EPlRA, and Rule 21 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure; and 2. APPROVE the proposed amendments to the 2006 OATS, after notice and public consultation. Petitioner prays for other relief deemed just and equitable under the premises. Quezon City for Pasig City, 18 December 2017. Finding the said Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, with the required fees having been paid, pursuant to Section 2, Rule 21 of the Energy Regulatory Commission’s 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure (2006 ERPP), the same is hereby set for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements and expository presentation on the following dates:

Fit-All Charge. FIT-All Charges, as defined in ERC’s Resolution No. 16, Series of 2010, shall be collected and remitted in accordance with the guidelines approved by the ERC. Further, the rate, which is expressed in P / kWh, shall be established and set by the ERC on an annual basis upon petition of the FIT-All Fund Administrator.

As an alternative, subject to the approval of the ERC, the Load Billing Determinant shall be the contracted demand as set forth in the Service Agreement or the previous year’s highest coincident peak demand of the Load Customer, whichever is higher. This coincident peak demand is the maximum of the 15-minute interval sum of the demand measured from all its metering points in a month.

For those periods of time when Grid Connected Generator Customers draw power from the Grid for their own use, the charges relevant to Grid-Connected End-Users shall apply; and

For Renewable Energy (RE), the transmission charges may be billed in Peso/kWh derived from Peso/kW charge and fixed monthly charges.

Venue

Hearing Coverage

6 August 2018 (Monday)

ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Jurisdictional and Expository Presentation (for Luzon Stakeholders)

Visayas Field Office St., Mary’s Drive, Banilad, Cebu City

Expository Presentation (for Visayas Stakeholders)

ERC Mindanao Field Office, Mintrade Bldg., Monteverde Ave. cor Sales St., 8000 Davao City

Expository Presentation (for Mindanao Stakeholders)

8 August 2018 (Wednesday) Nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) 9 August 2018 (Thursday) Nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

All interested parties are required to submit their comments on the petition on or before 20 July 2018 both in soft and hard copies. The hard copy shall be filed with the Commission’s Docket Section. On the other hand, the soft copy shall be sent via email to tariffs@erc.gov.ph. All comments must bear the proper case docket number for the instant case. The Commission shall cause the posting of the attached Notice of Proposed Rule-making as well as copies of the instant petition and all its annexes at its official website at www.erc.gov.ph. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners GLORIA VICTORIA. C. YAP-TARUC, ALFREDO J. NON and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 25th day of April 2018 in Pasig City.

18) Other proposals for Applicability of Charges under Module F1.2 of the proposed amendments are as follows: a.

Date and Time

Nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

GMC Charge. NGCP proposes that the ERC-approved expenditures of the GMC be recovered through the proposed GMC Charge. The proposal ensures transparency on the true cost of carrying out the functions of the GMC as well as to ensure equitable sharing of costs among all customers.

17) Billing Determinant. NGCP proposes that the noncoincident peak billing methodology be shifted to coincident peak billing (coincident peak of the Transmission Customer’s system), consistent with the Decision in ERB Case No. 2001-901 entitled “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of the Revised Unbundled Power Rates” dated 26 June 2002. In compliance with the said decision, NGCP respectfully manifests that it is now capable to provide the requirements for the coincident peak demand billing.

MODULE C: 9)

ANNEX A:

Standard Planning Data

MODULE A:

26) NGCP proposes for a mandatory pre-termination charges and shall be set out in the Service Agreement. The pre-termination charge is a charge levied when a Transmission Customer wants to terminate, ahead of time, the agreement with the Transmission Network Provider. This charge shall be computed based on the cost and other related expenses incurred by the Transmission Network Provider in terminating and disconnecting the Transmission Customer from the system.

Schedule B

8. The salient features of the proposed amendments to the 2006 OATS Rules are as follows:

NGCP proposes to delete Modules B2B.2 and B2B.3 governing Contribution in Aid of Construction (CIAC). In the proposed amendment, Module B2B.2 shall state that the Transmission Customer’s Connection Facilities that perform grid function shall be reclassified into Transmission Assets through a reclassification case. Thereafter, the Transmission Customer shall transfer the operation, control and ownership of the subject Connection Facilities to the Transmission Network Provider and the Transmission Network Provider shall pay the fair market price as agreed by the parties or, where no agreement can be reached, shall be determined by the ERC.

25) NGCP proposes to delete Module F(AV) 2 of the 2006 OATS Rules (Special Billing Provisions for System Impact and Facilities). This is pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 18, Series of 20156 which requires that the costs for the engagement by the NGCP of the third party shall be borne by the applicant or the prospective transmission customer. However, in cases where the NGCP shall conduct the SIS, the costs thereof shall be deemed included in its (NGCP) operation expenses.

Schedule A

(f)

7. Thus, this petition to initiate rule-making is being filed to seek the adoption of the proposed amendments to the 2006 OATS Rules.

24) NGCP proposes that the details of the Ancillary Services be referred to the Ancillary Services Procurement Plant (ASPP) and the Ancillary Services Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM), as updated and amended from time to time.

14) One of the major revisions in this module is in Module E11.3 where several conditions were enumerated for the ‘Meter Only’ billing scheme with reference to DOE Department Circular No. DC2016-05-0007.5 The conditions to be included in Module E11.3 are as follows:

THE PETITIONER

MODULE B:

23) NGCP proposes to remove the provisions on Interruption and Billing Adjustment (IBA) and Curtailment Billing Adjustment (CBA) found in Modules F(AVI) 1 of the 2006 OATS Rules. Pursuant to Article VIII of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates, the ERC, in NGCP’s 3rd Regulatory Period Final Determination on November 2010, adopted eight (8) indices on which NGCP’s performance will be measured. The IBA and ICA is already subsumed in three (3) indices adopted by the ERC, namely the System Interruption Severity Index, Frequency of Tripping, and System Availability.

13) NGCP proposes to delete Module D10 of the 2006 OATS Rules (Management of Energy Imbalance) since this provision is no longer applicable with the WESM in place.

1. This is a petition to adopt the proposed amendments to the 2006 Revised Rules, Terms and Conditions for the Provision of Open Access Transmission Service (OATS Rules) filed pursuant to Section 43 of Republic Act No. 9136 (EPIRA) and Rule 21 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

NGCP proposes to amend Module A8 (Creditworthiness) by: deleting “charge over asset” as a credit support and including letter of credit and surety bond as forms of additional credit support in Module A8.1; adding new provisions on credit support level for Prospective Transmission Customers and Connected Transmission Customers in Module A8.2, new provisions on credit support adjustment in Module A8.3; and revising the procedure on the application and replenishment of credit support in Module A8.4.

22) NGCP proposes to delete Module F(AIII) 5 of the 2006 OATS Rules which pertains to calculation of loss factor, since the loss factor has no effect on transmission charges.

12) NGCP proposes to delete module D8 of the 2006 OATS Rules (Alternative Ancillary Service Arrangement) in line with the requirement of the PGC GO 6.3.1.2 whereby NGCP as the SO shall be responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid AS.

In its Petition, NGCP alleged the following:

21) NGCP re-arranged the provisions in Annex FIV, Module F, or the provisions pertaining to the Connection Charges and Residual Sub-transmission Charges to provide clarity in the calculation of charges.

11) NGCP proposes to delete Modules D7.1 and D7.2 of the 2006 OATS Rules which require the System Operator to develop a yearly Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP) considering that the annual development of the ASPP may not be realistic due to a long approval process.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE-MAKING

NGCP proposes to modify Table A3.3 (“OATS Module applicability for different Transmission Customers”), specifying that all modules shall apply to all Participants, namely Transmission Network Provider, Metering Service Provider, System Operator, and Transmission Customers.

20) NGCP proposes for a 50/50 allocation of power delivery revenue between the Grid-Connected Generator and Load Customers as can be found in the formulae set out in Modules F(AI) 4.3 and 4.4.

10) NGCP proposes to delete Annex I, Module D of the 2006 OATS Rules which provides the re-dispatch procedures until the commencement date of the spot market. The proposal is in line with the fact that, with the WESM already in place, the dispatch/re-dispatch will be undertaken in accordance with the WESM Rules and applicable WESM Manuals and Department Circular No. DC2017-05-0009.4

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP),

19) NGCP proposes to amend Module F(AI)4 of the 2006 OATS Rules to adopt the demand-based proportion in the allocation of revenue requirement for the Customer Segments of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, which has been the practice since the Second Regulatory Period.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

1 2 3

4 5 6

Entitled “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage BackBone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes.” Entitled “A Resolution Adopting the Grid Management Committee’s Recommendations to Exempt Certain Power Plants from the Conduct of System Impact Study and Clarifying and Expanding the Requirementsjor a Thorough Conduct of Facilities Study.” Entitled “A Resolution Adopting the Grid Management Committee’s Recommendations to Exempt Certain Power Plants from the Conduct of System Impact Study and Clarifying and Expanding the Requirements for a Thorough Conduct of Facilities Study” Entitled”Declaring the Launch of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao and Providing for Transition Guidelines.” Entitled “Providing Policies for further improvements of the operations and metering installations of the Metering Services Providers (MSPs) in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and Retail Market” Entitled, “A Resolution Adopting the Grid Management Committee’s Recommendations to Exempt Certain Power Plants from the Conduct of System Impact Study and Clarifying and Expanding the Requirements for a Thorough Conduct of Facilities Study”

(MS-MAY 24 & JUNE 1, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Balasabas, 3 others share lead

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

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Sports PBA CAGE CLINICS. PBA players conduct a basketball camp for Davao del Sur kids as part of the pro league’s All-Stars festivities.

Cariño crowned Tour champ Rockets edge Dubs, level semis series at 2-2 SAN FRANCISCO—NBA regularseason wins leader Houston, powered by James Harden’s 30 points and 27 from Chris Paul, edged defending champion Golden State 95-92 Tuesday to level their semi-final playoff series at two wins each. The Rockets snapped Golden State’s record playoff home win streak at 16 games, the Warriors suffering their first loss since the 2016 NBA Finals, and took their first playoff win over the Warriors in eight all-time tries. “We know how hard it is to come back from 3-1,” Paul said. “When it’s winning time, you have got to suck it up. We knew we needed one here and we got it.” P.J. Tucker had 16 rebounds and Clint Capella grabbed 13 for the Rockets, who host game five of the best-of-seven Western Conference final Thursday in Houston. Paul hopes the title quest helps the Houston area take relief from a school shooting that saw a teen gunman kill 10 people, much the way the Houston Astros’ World Series baseball crown did last year after hurricane flooding. “Hopefully basketball can be a way for people to ease their minds, if only for a moment,” Paul said. The series winner will face either Cleveland or Boston in the NBA Finals starting May 31. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 28 points on 10-of-26 shooting while Kevin Durant added 27 points and 12 rebounds and Draymond Green had 11 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. The defeat marks the first time the Warriors, seeking a third crown in four seasons, have lost twice in a playoff series since Durant joined last season. “Now we’ve got to fight. This is now a real playoff-type experience,” Curry said. “We’re ready for it. The vibe in the locker room is really positive when it comes to what we need to correct to win game five.” Harden made 11-of-26 shots from the floor and Paul hit 10-of-20 to lift the Rockets, who closed the game on a 2510 run after falling behind 82-70. AFP

AGUIO CITY—A new cycling star is born.

Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s El Joshua Cariño fulfilled a cherished dream as he seized the 2018 Le Tour de Filipinas in dramatic fashion in front of an appreciative Wednesday afternoon crowd at the Burnham Park here. Cariño, 25, poured it all on what’s left in his tank in the homestretch of the backbreaking 154.65-km trek from Lingayen, Pangasinan, and finished a fighting third behind stage winner, Eritrean Metkel Eyob of Terengganu Cycling Team, in the decisive final stage of the annual road race copresented Air21, Cignal and Cargohaus Inc. But that proved enough as the Mangaldan (Pangasinan) native accumulated 12 hours, 25 minutes and 13 seconds to become just the third Filipino to rule the only International Cycling Unionsanctioned road race in the country after 7-Eleven standouts Baler Ravina (2012) and Mark Galedo (2014). “Napakasarap…parang hindi ako makapaniwala,” beamed Cariño. “Dati nanood lang ako sa mga foreigners, sa

mga Pinoy doon sa Kennon (Road). Ngayon ako na ‘yung pinapanood ng mga siklista. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na ako talaga ‘yung nanalo.” Cariño, who ruled Stage 3 last Tuesday, had ample reasons to feel so because he had to survive a last-ditch figthback from Eyob, who negotiated the decisive stage in just four hours, five minutes and 52 seconds and appeared on pulling off a come-from-behind victory. But Cariño refused to wilt under immense pressure as he tried to make up for lost time once he reached the fabled Lion’s Head, some eight kilometers to the finish, where dozens of local fans provided some needed energy. “Ang plano ko bago mag-Lion’s Head, aatake na ako kasi nakita ko ‘yung mga foreigners medyo nahihirapan na kaya doon ako tumira,” said Carino, whose 19-year-old brother, Daniel Ven, ran away with the Best Young Rider (under-23) award. “Kahit nahihirapan na ako, tiniis ko na lang dahil maraming mag Pilipino ang nagbibigay ng morale boost sa akin.” Carino’s teammate, Ronald Oranza finished third overall with a time of 12:27:49 while current national cham-

El Joschua Cariño

Lino Santos

pion Jan Paul Morales came in at fourth overall in 12:28:09 as the Navymen dominated practically on all fronts. The Navymen had a total clocking of 37 hours, 21 minutes and 41 seconds, more than seven minutes ahead of their 7-Eleven counterparts wound up second in the race. That somehow eased some pain they felt after Navy vital cog Junrey Navarra suffered a suspected pelvic injury after being hit by a race marshal in Umingan, Pangasinan, that negated him out of title contention.

King of Nations PH drifting lures world’s best THE Federal Tyres King of Nations ProSeries, the biggest and most highly anticipated international drifting championship in the world, will hold its Philippine Leg this weekend at the Clark International Raceway in Clark, Pampanga. Dubbed as the King of Nations Philippines 2018 (KONPH2018), which is sponsored by Federal Tyres, Autophile, Motul, Petron, PLDT, Fontana Leisure Park and PartsPro.ph, organized by BackStage Events and sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the Philippines, the event will see the best drifters from around the world including the Philippines compete against each other in the last round of the King of Nations Asia ProSeries 2018. Seeing action in the KONPH2018, which is also supported by Auto Plus, Clark International Speedway, Rota, NGK, Brembo, 10inch Lights and Sounds, NPPA Images, MAD Films, Kiss Juice, Voda Pure, Dole, DC PH and AAP with media partners AutoCar, autoindustriya. com, jamesdeakin.ph, Manila Times, Malaya, driven2ride, 2Ner Magazine and 9tro Group Philippines, are Charles Ng of Hong Kong; Daigo Saito of Japan; Keng Ptt of Thailand; Hirohide Tanaka of Japan; Nasser Almutairi of Kuwait; Keiichiro Kadekaru of Japan and Toni “HalfBreeds” Arakaki of Japan. They will compete against some of the finest professional Filipino talents, including Luis Gono, David Feliciano, Alex Perez, Atoy Llave, Jason Chuachoy, Audel Sison,

CAPTION HEAD. f dsjkfdjsf ksd.jfdsf sdkjf ksdfjsdf dsjfdsklf dskjfdsflds dskjf dsfjdsf sdfkjds fkjdsf dksjfds jLino Santos The King of Nations Philippines will see the best drifters from around the world including the Philippines compete against each other in the last round of the King of Nations Asia ProSeries 2018.

Alvan Fowlerr, Patrick Ng, Boodie Dabasol, Luis Sayson, John Boban, Norman Wycoco, Mark Bernardo, John Lazaga, Norman Agojo and Ralph Tan. Expected to dominate the tarmac are Charles Ng from Hong Kong, who is leading the Asia ProSeries, Daigo Saito from Japan, and Keng Ptt from Thailand. They were all in a tight battle in the recent King of Nations Round 3 and King of Asia Round 2, held at Pathum Thani in Thailand, while

Filipino pride will be bannered by the gutsy 19-year-old Luis Gono, veteran David Feliciano and king of bodykits Atoy Llave. The organizers have scheduled a competition for local drifting amateurs on Friday, while the Pros will see action on Saturday and Sunday, the 26th and 27th. Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. with an admission fee of P100. For more information, visit www.kingofnations.net and https:// web.facebook.com/BackStageEventsPH/.

Century Tuna all geared up for 1st full Ironman

Chris Paul

FROM three 5150 and three IRONMAN 70.3 events, Century Tuna puts up the ultimate test in endurance races in a test of physical strength and mental toughness— the first full Ironman on June 3 in Subic. One thousand and 278 brave triathletes have so far signed up for the punishing 3.8km swim-180km bike-42km run race, all aiming to at least complete the first-ever full triathlon in the country while showcasing the Filipino triathletes’ passion in the sport that has drawn thousands and thousands of regular campaigners, weekend runners and wannabes in each triathlon staging.

“Competing in a full triathlon requires a high level of commitment from the athletes to train for long, hard hours for at least five months. And Century Tuna is proud to be at the forefront of promoting health and fitness in the country,” said Greg Banzon, vice president and general manager of Century Pacific Food. “The expected scale and scope of attention the event will generate in the country and the global triathlon community gives us a very big stage to shout out our message of living a healthy lifestyle through proper diet and exercise.” The first full IRONMAN, organized

and produced by Sunrise Events, Inc. and presented by Alaska, Tourism Promotions Board and Department of Tourism, also serves as a fitting event for SEI’s 10th anniversary celebrations and a decade of Ironman staging in the country. Eight-hundred thirty three local triathletes banner the huge field in the centerpiece event which drew bets from 47 countries, including 78 each from China and Japan, 54 from the US, 47 from Singapore and 29 from Australia with Great Britain and Northern Ireland fielding in a combined 18-triathlete delegation and Korean sending in 16.

JERSON Balasabas charged back from an early mishap in one of the late flights with a cluster of birdies but fumbled with a closing bogey for a 67 and dropped to a four-way tie with Orlan Sumcad, Jobim Carlos and Joenard Rates at the start of the rich ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters at the Villamor Golf Club yesterday. Bracing for a long, arduous day after a bogey on No. 2 of the tight, tree-lined layout, Balasabas, who placed eighth here last year, quickly turned his faulty three-putt start into a fiery attack, rattling off seven birdies in the next 13 holes in the wind but missing grabbing the lead with that late-hole miscue after an errant drive. That slipped him instead to a crowded leaderboard that includes the power-hitting Sumcad, the young Carlos and the diminutive Rates, while unheralded Albin Engino carded a 68 for solo fifth, multi-titled Jay Bayron stood a shot farther back at 69 and veterans Rey Pagunsan, Mars Pucay and Gerald Rosales also shot 70s for joint seventh in the early going of the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI. “I really practiced a lot for this Masters and in preparation for the PGT Asia,” said Balasabas while putting premium on driving and putting in tackling a tricky course as Villamor. “You have to have a solid drive here and be able to make the putts,” added Balasabas, who hit 10 fairways and missed just three greens. Only four others were able to go under-par with 71s, including Keanu Jahns, Rene Menor, Arnold Villacencio and Japanese Eiichiro Hiyama, while Jhonnel Ababa, Art Arbole, Anthony Fernando, Elmer Salvador, Richard SInfuego and Dutch Guido Van der Valk matched par 72s, as the rest of the starting 108-player field struggled in hot condition in the morning and wavered in windy afternoon play.

2 swimmers make waves in PH games By Peter Atencio CEBU City—Eighteen-year-old swimmer Nicole Meah Pamintuan capped a one-woman show of force with a fifth gold medal to become one of the two most bemedalled athletes of the 9th Philippine National Games at the Cebu City Sports Center pool here. Pamintuan accounted for all of Sta. Rosa, Laguna’s five gold medals after she claimed her last in the women’s 200-meter freestyle in two minutes and 15.69 seconds. General Santos City bet Camilo Russel Owen dela Torre matched Pamintuan’s feat after he collected five gold medals in the men’s division on the final day of the swimming competition. “Sobrang saya. Kasi kahit nagkasakit ako, nakuha pa rin ang 5-of-5 na target,” said Pamintuan, who said she was rushed to the hospital last week following a bout with gastritis during training. A member of the national age-group team, Pamintuan said her condition somehow slowed her down, but this did not stop her from coming up with her best since last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Antique. At that time, Pamintuan an incoming 12th grader at La Salle Zobel, and last year’s junior division MVP in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines season, ended her stint with six golds, including a record-breaking feat in the 200-meter freestyle. But this time, Pamintuan said she felt heavy that her clocking was eight seconds off her best time in the Palarong Pambansa. This moved lowly Sta. Rosa from 21st place to 19th spot in the overall standings, dominated by host Cebu City and Baguio City. The 18-year-old Dela Torre, who is heading for college at the University of Perpetual Help-Las Pinas, finished his campaign for General Santos City with five golds after snaring the mints in the men’s 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter butterfly.

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

JG Summit allots P78.1b for 2018 capital spending By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE JG Summit Holdings Inc. said it will boost capital spending by 80 percent this year to P78.1 billion from P43.5 billion it spent in 2017, to support business expansion. JG Summit said in a presentation before analysts the 2018 capital expenditures would be primarily used to fund the expansion of its airline, property and petrochemical units. It said of the P78.1 billion, it budgeted P30.8 billion for the fleet expansion of airline unit Cebu Air Inc., P22 billion for the expansion of its petrochemical unit and P16.4 billion for land acquisition by property arm Robinsons Land Corp. The conglomerate said it also allocated P8 billion for the capacity expansion of manufacturing unit Universal Robina Corp. It said the balance would be used for the branch expansion of banking arm Robinsons Bank. JG Summit said it already spent P11 billion as of end-March. JG Summit said said Cebu Air was expected to maintain a conservative but flexible fleet expansion this year and would continue its digital transformation for increased productivity and enhanced customer experience. It said RLC would sustain its mall expansion and would look out for opportunities to explore new business formats such as warehouse land logistics facilities, dorm and shared office space and digital space. JG Summit Petrochemical will continue its ongoing engineering works for the naphtha cracker expansion, while Robinsons Bank will implement a P3-billion recapitalization plan in the second half to sustain growth, it said. JG Summit reported a 35.8-percent profit decline in the first quarter to P4.8 billion, on weaker earnings from petrochemicals and food businesses coupled with foreign exchange losses due to weaker peso. Core net income, which exclude non-operating and non-recurring items, amounted to P6.35 billion in the first quarter, also down 22.9 percent from P8.23 billion in the same period last year.

IN BRIEF Debt ratio rises to 56.2% of GDP

GOVERNMENT debt climbed to 56.2 percent of the gross domestic product as of end-March 2018 from 55.2 percent a year ago, as the country advanced its borrowing ahead of the projected triple adjustments in the Federal Reserve’s policy rate, the Finance Department said Wednesday. Data, however, showed the net debt-to-GDP ratio, which excludes the national government’s cash balance from the debt level, dropped from 40.1 percent to 39.6 percent. The Bureau of the Treasury issued P255.4 billion worth of treasury bonds in December 2017 at 4.625 percent to take advantage of favorable rates. Thus, domestic debt rose to 36.5 percent of GDP from 35.4 percent the year before, offsetting the decline in the external debt. Meanwhile, the debt-to-revenue ratio dropped to 268.6 percent as of end-March from 273.9 percent a year earlier, while the debt-to-expenditure ratio fell to 230 percent from 240.5 percent. Interest payments as percentage of GDP remained stable at 0.66 percent. Debt service as percentage of GDP declined from 1.48 percent to 1.38 percent. Julito G. Rada

MAP supports corporate tax cut

MORE business groups expressed their support to the government’s plan to reform the country’s corporate tax system and modernize the investment incentives under the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program. A report by the Strategy, Economics and Results Group of the Finance Department showed that ﬁve groups, including the Management Association of the Philippines, sent letters of support to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua for the proposed reforms comprising Package 2 of the CTRP. MAP said in a letter to Dominguez that it was supporting the need to rationalize and modernize the tax incentive system to make incentives timebound, performance-based and not excessively complex with too many different, even overlapping laws, rules and regulations. MAP president Ramoncito Fernandez said the group agreed with the Finance Department that Package 2 of the CTRP “will help the country become more competitive with the rest of the world by lowering corporate income taxes from the current 30 percent, the highest among our Asean peers.” It said Package 2 would create a positive impact on the economy. Julito G. Rada

Authorities seize P5.3-b fake goods

THE National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, led by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, said it confiscated P5.3 billion worth of fake and counterfeit goods in the first quarter, with cigarettes and cigarette production equipment accounting for the bulk. The first-quarter haul was more than half the total value of fake goods confiscated in 2017 and climbed 498 percent from P886 million worth of fake items that authorities seized in the same period in 2017. “The 2018 first-quarter seizure reflects a tripledigit growth from the comparable period last year and attests to IPOPHL and NCIPR’s unflagging efforts to stamp out the spread of counterfeit and pirated goods. This Q1 seizure does not even reflect yet the value seized by the Bureau of Customs which routinely impounds a substantial amount of fake goods from the country’s gateways. With this strong showing in enforcement of IP rights, we believe we can surpass the P8.2 billion in fake and counterfeit items gotten in 2017,” said IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago. Data from NCIPR showed that among the NCIPR enforcement agencies, the Philippine National Police confiscated the biggest value at 94 percent, or P5 billion in the first quarter. The National Bureau of Investigation contributed P209 million, while the Optical Media Board confiscated P103 million worth of goods. The Bureau of Customs has yet to submit its enforcement data. Othel V. Campos

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Meralco, FDC eye Ayala coal stake M FDC Utilities president and chief executive Juan Eugenio Roxas said. FDC Utilities owns a 405-MW coalERALCO ﬁred power plant at Phividec Industrial PowerGen Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Meralco PowerGen said it was also Corp., the power invited to look at Ayala’s coal assets. generation unit of Manila “We are aware [of the sale]…We were Electric Co., and FDC provided information by the ﬁnancial advisor, but we have not decided,” Utilities Inc., controlled Meralco PowerGen president Rogelio by Filinvest Development Singson said. Corp., are looking at the Meralco PowerGen previously parproposal of the Ayala Group ticipated in the bidding for the sale of the Philippine assets of AES Corp., but to sell 50 percent of its coal San Miguel Corp. emerged as the winning bidding. assets valued at $1 billion. Meralco PowerGen is hoping to put “We were invited to participate and FDC is considering it. We are up 3,000 megawatts of capacity to adlooking at the proposal of Ayala,” dress the power needs of the country.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Sources said AC Energy Inc., the energy arm of the Ayala Group, planned to sell as much as 50 percent of its thermal or coal energy assets by June. AC Energy’s entire power generation portfolio of 1,600 megawatts is valued at $2.6 billion (P135 billion), according to investment group CLSA. This implies that the sale of 50 percent of the coal assets will raise $1 billion for Ayala. Coal plants account for 80 percent of AC Energy’s total attributable power generation capacity. “AC Energy is currently in discussions with potential investors/partners for our thermal platform,” AC Energy president and chief executive Eric Francia said. AC Energy wants a portfolio of 50-percent renewable energy projects

and 50-percent thermal generation assets. Francia earlier said the company was looking to achieve the balanced generation mix by 2025. AC Energy said it would invest $30 million for a 50-percent ownership of UPC Renewables’ Australian business and would provide a $200-million facility to fund project equity. AC Energy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the joint venture investment would allow the company to participate in the Australian renewable projects. UPC Renewables Australia is developing the 1,000-MW Robbins Island and Jims Plain projects in North West Tasmania and the 600-MW New England Solar Farmnear Uralla in New South Wales.

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, May 23, 2018

EV CHARGING STATION. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (right) and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. president and chief executive Mutsuhiro Oshikiri unveil an electric vehicle quick charging station at the Board of Investments compound in Makati City in line with the government’s push to create an EV ecosystem in the Philippines. MMPC donated the quick charging facility to the Trade Department to complement its two Mitsubishi EVs—the I-Miev and the Outlander.

AMLC expands rules to include non-finance firms and professions By Julito G. Rada THE Anti-Money Laundering Council said it approved new guidelines that include the coverage of non-financial businesses and professions in the fight against dirty money and terrorism financing. The council said in a resolution dated May 9, it approved the adoption of the anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing guidelines for designated non-financial businesses and professions, or DNFBPs. It said the guidelines were based on Republic Act 10365, which included as covered persons jewelry dealers in precious stones and metals; company service providers who deliver fund/securities management services for other persons; and persons and entities who, as a business, provide services to organize, create and manage companies and arrangements. “The inclusion of DNFBPs as covered persons is something new to us. Businesses and professions that, until now, have played a marginal role in our fight against money laundering and terrorism financing, will find themselves heavily involved in it,” AMLC Secretariat executive director Mel Georgie Racela said in a statement. The guidelines for DNFBPs were patterned largely after the Casino Implementing Rules and Regulations, which the AMLC approved on Oct. 11, 2017. Republic Act 10927, approved on July 14, 2017, included casinos as covered persons under RA No. 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 and authorized the AMLC to adopt implementing rules and regulations. Both casinos and non-financial businesses and professions are considered DNFBPs by the Financial Action Task Force, the international policy-making body that sets standards and promotes effective implementation of measures to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Under the guidelines, the AMLC oversees compliance by DNFBPs with the provisions of the AMLA, as amended.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.3130

Japan

Yen

0.009019

0.4718

Pound

1.343700

70.2930

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127400

6.6647

Switzerland

Franc

1.007557

52.7083

Canada

Dollar

0.780214

40.8153

Singapore

Dollar

0.746826

39.0687

Australia

Dollar

0.757500

39.6271

Bahrain

Dinar

2.649287

138.5922

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.9494

Brunei

Dollar

0.744048

38.9234

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.031211

1.6327

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.2441

Euro

1.178000

61.6247

Korea

Won

0.000930

0.0487

China

Yuan

0.157099

8.2183

India

Rupee

0.014704

0.7692

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.252175

13.1920

New Zealand

Dollar

0.693200

36.2634

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033482

1.7515

Source: PDS Bridge

Business

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market tumbles; Globe, BPI drop T HE stock market slumped Wednesday after Donald Trump cast doubt on a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and appeared to hit out at a deal with China that averted a damaging trade war.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 85.73 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,560.47 on a value turnover of P5.9 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 116 to 66, with 55 issues unchanged. Globe Telecom Inc., the secondbiggest telecommunications ﬁrm, tumbled 5.5 percent to P1,542, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. shed 3.5 percent to P850. Bank of the Philippine Islands, the

third-largest lender in terms of assets, dropped 3.4 percent to P94, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty fell 2.4 percent to P971. The rest of Asian markets tumbled after Trump warned there was “a very substantial chance it won’t work out” when asked about next month’s landmark talks, adding they could be delayed or even called off if the North did not agree to give up its nuclear weapons. Tokyo ended 1.2 percent down, while Hong Kong returned from a one-day break to drop 1.3 percent and Shanghai shed 1.4 percent. Sydney slipped 0.2 percent, Singapore was one percent off and Wellington lost 0.7 percent. Taipei and Bangkok were all sharply down but Seoul was up 0.3 percent, while Jakarta also moved higher. Trump’s comments, following

of dollars of goods, and continue talks on a variety of trade issues. However, Trump said he was “not satisfied” with the status of the talks, fueling worries that the world’s top two economies could still slug out an economically painful trade war. “President Trump was keen to remind us overnight that the trade war is not about to leave the stage anytime soon,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. Just earlier in the day China had announced it would slash tariffs on auto imports to 15 percent from 25 percent, a move taken as a sign of easing frictions. “If you look at history, you find that geopolitics does rattle markets,” Vasu Menon, OCBC Bank vice president, told Bloomberg Television. “The markets are clearly quite nervous because we’ve had a good run and this is an excuse for the markets to take a breather.” With AFP

a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, come after Pyongyang last week denounced US demands for unilateral disarmament, throwing the Singapore gathering into uncertainty. The expected meeting, and the thawing of relations between the North and its rivals in recent months, has given markets hope that peace can be achieved on the Korean peninsula. The US president’s comments helped spark a reversal on Wall Street, where all three main indexes ended the day in negative territory. Adding to the selling were his comments on the weekend agreement to avert a trade war with China. World markets surged Monday after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said they had agreed to pull back from imposing threatened tariffs on billions

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.7 6,070 94 2,499,090 2.91 502,000 126 1,468,900 1.46 121,000 33.8 162,200 7 400 16.6 200 14.98 1,290,000 3.73 175,000 8.36 500 0.55 1,263,000 80.8 1,770,150 1.07 998,000 12.3 40,000 20.9 500 51.7 361,160 204 4,510 105.1 180 38 13,400 199 337,000 1,950 200 89 43,790 1.19 69,000

355,895 236,020,989.50 1,455,820 185,541,042 173,120 5,515,765 2,802 3,310 19,417,358 630,130 4,633 686,310 142,995,961 1,047,770 492,020 10,450 18,732,045 919,326 18,918 509,020 66,578,225 390,495 3,901,720 82,110

226,596 -81,468,022 -59,140,125 356,650 -1,923,626 -378,000 67,974,804.5) 24,640 13,388,729.5) 408,000 -4,908,093 -356,671.50 -

37.65 14.18 0.59 1.21 20.05 0.225 126 3 16.2 49.95 24 57 64.15 93 1.97 5.05 9.7 10.72 15.66 11.6 7.14 5.18 14.88 62.1 18.8 8.8 16.2 2.3 280 5.1 3.18 27 12.88 21 326.4 0.19 6.5 2.35 4.27 9.31 5.58 7.82 1.4 12.6 49.8 4.66 2.11 3.58 1.8 12.76 65.6 5.47 0.97 133.5 3.04 0.81

INDUSTRIAL 37.65 1,215,600 14.5 771,600 0.6 1,558,000 1.25 601,000 20.5 50,600 0.225 3,010,000 126 100 3.03 1,182,000 16.6 356,100 50 405,110 24 13,500 57 1,140 64.15 3,460 93 30 1.97 67,000 5.05 101,100 9.7 1,600 10.8 1,993,900 15.98 4,976,800 11.62 13,100 7.15 984,200 5.2 4,313,200 14.88 283,900 62.5 49,300 18.9 20,500 8.95 30,800 16.5 557,800 2.31 1,117,000 287 574,100 5.1 159,300 3.42 4,000 27.1 2,671,900 12.9 399,800 21.3 1,340,000 328 339,190 0.19 20,000 6.5 16,000 2.36 6,252,000 4.3 197,000 9.4 2,147,200 5.7 57,700 7.83 94,700 1.41 167,000 12.6 3,200 50.1 324,000 4.7 2,765,000 2.31 1,141,000 3.58 10,000 1.84 127,000 12.84 2,188,700 67.15 214,010 5.48 284,800 0.97 100,000 133.5 1,586,490 3.06 10,197,000 0.82 971,000

46,039,800 11,093,488 920,840 728,260 1,021,935 681,260 12,600 3,579,920 5,890,442 20,483,950 324,935 65,550 225,719 2,790 132,290 514,205 15,545 21,609,276 79,986,296 152,114 7,046,486 22,420,599 4,231,562 3,074,444.50 387,764 273,392 9,211,268 2,589,320 163,396,386 823,800 12,960 72,374,530 5,196,938 28,485,315 111,310,220 3,800 104,655 14,953,530 846,280 20,187,580 324,473 748,917 234,930 40,320 16,219,130 13,010,100 2,569,330 35,800 229,530 28,115,522 14,301,622 1,562,930 97,000 213,653,122 31,558,380 788,990

,658,514.9997) 494,380 1,770 12,100 60,700 56,500 -2,908,714 -33,060 -10,554,960 ,419,959.9997 -4,648 -3,421,864 2,650,194 1,112,720 -1,096,077.50 -95,773 2,811,738 -6,990 15,616,446 -21,714 6,227,170 604,056 -5,099,995 55,388,426 160,090 14,692,881 -640,802 -56,400 -1,260 -9,731,270 -2,553,400 -89,800 23,480 4,202,558 2,699,614.50 -16,798,393 618,810 -

0.26 62.55 13.12 0.98 0.75 0.74 953.5 6.34 10.3 7.64 0.212 1,014 6.71 59.75 5.06 5.35 0.62 4.26 21.6 0.63 4.84 0.039 1.15 3.24 145.2 2.56 885 1.63 534 263 0.241

0.25 62.15 12.96 0.95 0.67 0.7 935 6.22 10 7.5 0.211 971 6.2 56.65 5.01 5.34 0.59 4.24 21.35 0.6 4.73 0.038 1.11 3.19 141.3 2.56 850 1.62 531 257 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.25 520,000 62.55 1,012,330 12.98 5,912,400 0.95 66,000 0.68 48,029,000 0.7 4,568,000 950 323,010 6.22 1,251,800 10.28 3,732,700 7.5 1,500 0.211 660,000 971 97,450 6.2 7,000 58 2,550,050 5.06 7,400 5.35 1,000 0.62 426,000 4.26 300,000 21.45 4,429,400 0.62 2,919,000 4.75 29,863,000 0.038 1,300,000 1.14 343,000 3.22 1,280,000 142.1 193,220 2.56 149,000 850 568,220 1.62 13,000 534 120 263 6,190 0.222 14,890,000

130,150 63,213,752.50 76,836,374 62,930 33,585,410 3,235,560 304,251,200 7,848,837 37,973,302 11,292 139,270 95,878,755 44,312 147,150,625.50 37,169 5,342 252,640 1,276,370 95,003,980 1,807,540 142,473,000 49,700 382,080 4,103,770 27,646,591 381,440 490,269,605 21,070 63,950 1,593,390 3,405,410

-2,500 -33,401,448 -43,062,690 785,830 -32,155,660 -1,779,848 -365,548 4,514 -27,350,770 -1,449,787.50 -216,020 -2,976,120 3,150 7,007,340 787,450 8,487,759 -325,441,070 -707,260 -

7.28 1.04 14.3 0.83 42 3.53 4.88 5.96 0.455 1.09 0.99 0.238 0.42 31.35 0.65 0.124 1.63 1.28 1.18 4.77 0.75 0.445

7.21 1.02 13.52 0.82 41.1 3.33 4.78 5.93 0.44 1.06 0.97 0.234 0.42 30.75 0.62 0.119 1.57 1.26 1.09 4.62 0.69 0.425

17,233,263 5,053,160 142,088 846,380 257,607,600 908,000 2,629,930 101,642 4,383,200 51,060 263,040 2,815,590 4,200 4,069,910 36,220 41,050 9,034,090 1,001,370 5,765,650 74,487,010 119,533,000 2,654,000

-4,950,818 -230,080 -9,720,175 131,090 541,190 -2,277,200 20,790 4,700 857,380 -6,678,210 305,040 13,652,750 59,450 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

58.5 97.6 2.9 128 1.41 34.6 7.01 16.5 15.44 3.64 9.87 0.56 81.6 1.06 12.3 20.9 51.95 204 105.1 38 197.6 1,975 89 1.19

58.7 97.6 2.91 128 1.46 34.7 7.01 16.6 15.44 3.73 9.87 0.56 81.8 1.07 12.32 20.9 51.95 204.2 105.1 38 199 1,975 89.5 1.19

58.5 93 2.9 126 1.41 33.8 7 16.5 14.94 3.55 8.36 0.54 80.3 1.04 12.3 20.9 51.7 203.2 105.1 37.8 196.2 1,950 89 1.19

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 DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

38.3 14.56 0.61 1.23 20.05 0.23 126 3.02 16.76 51 24 58 67 93 1.97 5.09 9.95 11.04 16.24 11.6 7.2 5.2 15.18 62.9 19 8.81 16.9 2.36 285 5.17 3.18 27.2 13.16 21.4 328.8 0.19 6.9 2.36 4.3 9.59 5.7 7.95 1.4 12.6 51.5 4.75 2.15 3.58 1.81 13.1 66.95 5.48 0.97 135.7 3.07 0.81

38.5 14.56 0.61 1.25 20.5 0.233 126 3.06 16.76 51 24.4 58 67 93 2 5.13 9.95 11.04 16.24 11.8 7.2 5.24 15.18 62.9 19.5 8.97 16.94 2.36 287.4 5.19 3.42 27.2 13.16 21.75 329 0.19 6.9 2.43 4.39 9.59 5.81 7.95 1.41 12.6 51.5 4.75 2.34 3.58 1.85 13.1 67.6 5.5 0.97 135.8 3.15 0.83

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

0.26 62.45 13.1 0.98 0.75 0.73 953.5 6.34 10.2 7.64 0.211 1,007 6.71 59.75 5.01 5.34 0.62 4.26 21.5 0.6 4.75 0.039 1.12 3.22 145.2 2.56 884 1.63 531 260 0.241

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

7.27 1.02 13.52 0.83 41.9 3.44 4.88 5.96 0.445 1.06 0.99 0.238 0.42 31 0.62 0.12 1.62 1.27 1.15 4.71 0.74 0.44

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.52 2.64 19.58 2 3.3 37.95 1.14 9.55 0.78 6.4

0.53 2.88 19.6 2.03 3.3 37.95 1.14 9.9 0.8 6.47

0.51 2.48 19.28 1.99 3.3 36.85 1.1 9.5 0.77 6.35

0.52 2.65 19.56 2 3.3 37.45 1.12 9.66 0.8 6.41

6,516,000 22,736,000 7,225,000 158,000 2,000 8,697,900 2,306,000 119,400 49,000 2,314,700

3,362,510 61,347,110 140,779,648 315,830 6,600 325,017,025 2,551,020 1,154,717 37,820 14,833,256

-890,360 -657,020 ,249,884.0002 96,000 50,337,960 -41,799 -9,467,416

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN 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 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

15.34 26.9 1.33 0.46 0.046 12.82 5.39 11.82 0.056 88.9 8.9 7.4 7.51 2.13 17.9 1,632 5.69 300.4 3.92 2.06 83.2 13.02 0.113 1.38 3.69 15.7 4.52 1.03 26.55 0.54 4.18 6.22 2.99 8.9 11.86 9.7 2.96 132.1 5.96 1,370 1.1 0.38 47.65 89.5 7.15 2.24 1.24 0.45 4.82 0.86 11.4

15.7 27.2 1.4 0.46 0.047 12.82 5.39 11.98 0.058 89.2 8.9 7.4 7.98 2.13 20 1,662 5.69 306 3.92 2.09 83.2 13.02 0.113 1.38 3.75 15.78 4.7 1.03 26.8 0.54 4.32 6.44 3.02 9.2 11.88 9.7 2.96 132.1 5.97 1,395 1.14 0.385 47.7 89.9 7.2 2.24 1.24 0.45 4.82 0.86 11.4

15.3 26.9 1.32 0.445 0.046 12.82 5.39 11.72 0.054 88 8.8 7.18 7.5 2.12 17.8 1,542 5.6 299.6 3.89 2.04 81.6 13.02 0.113 1.37 3.52 15.66 4.52 1 26.1 0.5 4.18 6.06 2.99 8.89 11.86 9.4 2.9 131.8 5.8 1,340 1.05 0.37 47 88.6 7.15 2.16 1.18 0.435 4.77 0.84 10.86

SERVICES 15.3 27.2 1.38 0.45 0.047 12.82 5.39 11.8 0.054 88.2 8.8 7.29 7.98 2.12 18.4 1,542 5.61 306 3.9 2.04 82.3 13.02 0.113 1.38 3.69 15.66 4.52 1.01 26.3 0.5 4.18 6.25 3 9.2 11.88 9.4 2.9 131.8 5.81 1,374 1.07 0.385 47.7 89.8 7.15 2.17 1.18 0.44 4.78 0.84 11

25,100 18,100 32,000 4,850,000 4,800,000 1,700 100 9,434,200 8,930,000 110,980 20,600 1,200,700 19,700 4,000 200,000 78,530 114,500 4,670 875,000 23,000 1,258,910 1,000 710,000 153,000 300,000 11,500 1,155,000 29,000 515,600 22,000 46,000 4,735,400 329,000 16,491,000 4,400 800 20,000 5,970 497,500 131,775 12,939,000 470,000 842,300 69,750 65,600 982,000 3,622,000 7,770,000 2,276,000 1,991,000 5,454,500

386,638 490,400 43,530 2,192,650 220,900 21,794 539 111,437,780 493,630 9,831,518.50 181,290 8,698,421 147,922 8,510 3,732,178 122,542,050 642,566 1,418,006 3,419,080 47,450 103,392,835 13,020 80,230 210,270 1,111,510 180,586 5,283,430 29,200 13,666,695 11,080 192,650 29,619,923 986,010 149,507,047 52,222 7,550 58,630 788,122 2,918,759 179,881,980 14,199,890 178,250 40,079,825 6,261,271 469,180 2,145,130 4,348,790 3,430,950 10,872,790 1,683,320 60,389,104

-10,780 13,690 -9,040,606 22,000 -3,291,808 293,402 107,850 -80,582,265 -15,640 -4,566,239 -17,940.00 -188,580 5,663,870 2,373,688 -209,760 -61,937 128,092 3,472 -23,642,625 603,620 7,443,380 1,671,276.50 -142,420 -785,000 -39,600 932,449.9997) 204,900 770,546

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

0.0028 1.62 4.23 17.1 1.7 1.65 0.3 7.6 2.32 0.192 0.138 0.143 0.0085 1.45 4.9 1.2 0.51 0.92 0.013 0.012 2.01 5.3 12.8 29

0.003 1.63 4.23 18.76 1.7 1.7 0.3 7.6 2.36 0.192 0.139 0.143 0.0085 1.45 4.9 1.2 0.51 0.92 0.013 0.013 2.01 5.32 12.84 29.35

0.0028 1.61 4.19 17 1.6 1.63 0.3 7.25 2.3 0.18 0.137 0.142 0.0085 1.43 4.86 1.15 0.5 0.88 0.012 0.011 2.01 5.2 12.56 28.65

MINING & OIL 0.0029 1,173,000,000 1.62 1,790,000 4.19 124,000 17.9 5,300 1.6 55,000 1.65 1,354,000 0.3 10,000 7.3 7,600 2.36 1,582,000 0.188 2,700,000 0.137 2,070,000 0.142 400,000 0.0085 2,000,000 1.43 30,000 4.88 1,613,000 1.2 11,000 0.51 630,000 0.89 16,000 0.013 66,200,000 0.012 8,900,000 2.01 58,000 5.22 707,000 12.56 931,400 28.95 895,000

3,419,600 2,896,720 521,050 90,650 91,750 2,226,520 3,000 55,425 3,713,300 496,130 285,020 57,150 17,000 43,100 7,869,450 12,950 321,250 14,400 795,100 104,300 116,580 3,712,968 11,794,340 25,952,900

-2,900 38,640 -268,600 -463,400 -72,840 234,500 1,146,100 32,500 -1,060 -903,058 2,414,475

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

27.1 500 510 101 5.48 976 990 100 1.07 78.6 75.15 75.65 77 77

27.1 500 510 101.3 5.59 976 990 100 1.07 79.85 75.8 75.65 77 77

27 500 510 101 5.45 970.5 990 100 1.07 78.6 75.15 75.65 77 77

PREFERRED 27 100,500 500 690 510 20 101 7,500 5.59 12,300 970.5 180 990 2,000 100 5,600 1.07 1,000 79.85 2,700 75.8 22,000 75.65 13,400 77 15,570 77 15,400

2,713,520 345,000 10,200 757,545 67,368 174,745 1,980,000 560,000 1,070 213,590 1,657,200 1,013,710 1,198,890 1,185,800

0 -

LR WARRANT

2.61

2.75

2.61

WARRANTS 2.7 261,000

700,980

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.14 3.18

5.14 3.24

5 3.15

5.1 3.22

6,380,984 4,606,520

-67,600 -44,730

FIRST METRO ETF

118

118.3

116.6

3,275,390

301,737

59,951.60

NAME

PROPERTY 7.22 1.02 14.3 0.82 41.5 3.46 4.86 5.93 0.45 1.09 0.98 0.234 0.42 31 0.65 0.119 1.63 1.27 1.12 4.74 0.7 0.43

2,377,700 4,928,000 10,500 1,032,000 6,213,100 267,000 544,000 17,100 9,770,000 48,000 267,000 11,960,000 10,000 131,300 56,000 340,000 5,692,000 789,000 5,042,000 15,820,000 167,306,000 6,150,000

USD DMPL A1

10.18

TRADING SUMMARY

10.2

FINANCIAL

12,126,527

INDUSTRIAL

65,187,033

HOLDING FIRMS

125,628,148

PROPERTY

294,194,125

SERVICES

94,998,471

MINING & OIL

1,265,624,342

GRAND TOTAL

1,860,497,516

10.1

SME

1,266,300 1,444,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.6 27,900 10.1

DDS

5,900

VALUE 1,851.86 (down) 28.65 890,498,246.63 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,905.02 (down) 41.96 1,116,322,267.512 HOLDING FIRMS 7,381.05 (down) 132.17 1,656,115,408.028 PROPERTY 3,801.78 (down) 3.00 1,514.29 (down) 9.10 1,162,221,878.66 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,958.01 (down) 28.27 976,198,155.00 PSEI 7,560.47 (down) 85.73 64,624,318.415 All Shares Index 4,612.00 (down) 40.46 5,880,245,943.91 Gainers: 66; Losers: 116; Unchanged: 55; Total: 237

SLEx operator registered net profit of P723m in first quarter By Darwin G. Amojelar SOUTH Luzon Tollways Corp. said Wednesday net income in the first quarter of 2018 rose just 1 percent to P723.3 million from P712.81 year-onyear on higher maintenance costs. The tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. posted revenues of P1.47 billion in the first three months of the year, up 6 percent from P1.39 billion a year ago. “The continuous expansion of housing communities and consumer socio-economic activities in the South contributed to the increase in traffic volume,” SLTC said. “These developments enhanced the volume for class 1 vehicles. Traffic volume for Class 3 vehicles also went up mainly due to the thriving Calabarzon, the second most densely populated region after NCR, Batangas, in particular, has the second largest international seaport in Luzon,” it added. The company registered expenses of P386.14 million in the first quarter from P373.73 million in the same period last year. Earlier, SLTC said it would be spending P14.85 billion to extend South Luzon Expressway by more than 56 kilometers from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Tayabas, Quezon. The board of SLTC approved the implementation of all works for the SLEx Phase 2 Toll Road 4 project and the plan to negotiate with contractors for the engineering, procurement and construction contracts. The project is a 56.87-kilometer, four-lane road from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Tayabas/Lucena in Quezon. The project is divided into five sections. Section 1 covers Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Macban, Laguna (11.32 km); Macban, Laguna to San Pablo, Laguna (12.2 km); San Pablo, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon (7.5-km); Tiaong to Candelaria, Quezon (15 km) and Candelaria to Tayabas/Lucena, Quezon (10.93 km). SLTC said the project would reduce travel time along the 58-kilometer stretch between Sto. Tomas and Lucena from four hours to one hour.

PayMaya links with drugstore chain and LCC PAYMAYA Philippines Inc. has teamed up with Liberty Commercial Center Inc., which operates the largest network of malls, supermarkets and department stores in Bicol, and Rose Pharmacy to accept cashless payment. “We’re proud to be leading the charge toward a ‘Cashless Bicol’ with the introduction of PayMaya in our stores, the ﬁrst mobile-based QR payment system to be available for consumers in the Bicol region,” LCC Supermarket vice president for operations Christian Tan said. “We know that this will bring a better and more convenient experience to our customers and help encourage more digital transactions within the region,” Tan added. PayMaya QR will be available initially in over 70 branches of LCC Department Store, LCC Supermarket, LCC Market Savers, LCC Market Plus, LCC Store Plus, and LCC Expressmart across the Bicol region. “We congratulate our partners at LCC for being trailblazers in pushing for digital payments within their stores. With partners like LCC, we can all help achieve the government’s target of 20 percent of transactions going digital by the year 2020, especially as more cashless communities like Bicol go onboard with this mission all around the country,” PayMaya president and chief executive Orlando Vea said. PayMaya also teamed up with Rose Pharmacy for its QR payment. Initially, 130 branches of Rose Pharmacy around the country will have PayMaya QR as a payment option, with more stores to come in the coming months. This will allow customers to transact in-store using only their mobile phones with the PayMaya app installed. “Improving our in-store customer experience is a top priority for Rose Pharmacy, and this partnership with PLDT and PayMaya contributes to our commitment to bring our customers the beneﬁts and advantages of new technologies,” Rose Pharmacy chief executive Charlie Bettencourt said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Manila

Standard

TODAY

extrastory2000@gmail.com mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Former president slams corruption charges SEOUL―Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday deﬁantly described the corruption charges he faces as an “insult” at his ﬁrst court appearance since his arrest in March. The 76-year-old former CEO turned president―who served from 2008 to 2013―faces multiple charges including bribery, abuse of power, embezzlement, and tax evasion. The case against Lee means all four former South Korean presidents who are still alive have been charged or convicted for criminal offenses. TV footage showed Lee, wearing a dark blue suit with a badge with his inmate number “716” pinned to the lapel, being led into a courtroom in Seoul. He was uncuffed due to his advanced age. “I stand here broken-hearted,” Lee said in his opening statement. He has been charged with accepting a total of some 11 billion won ($10.2 million) in bribes between late 2007 when he was elected president and 2012, according to prosecutor documents. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Business/World

Venezuela expels US diplomats Literary giant C ARACAS―Venezuela ordered the expulsion of the top two US diplomats in the country Tuesday, charging it was the victim of a “political and ﬁnancial lynching” after Washington tightened the sanctions over Nicolas Maduro’s re-election.

Maduro announced the expulsions in a televised speech after being ofﬁcially proclaimed the winner of Sunday’s election in the South American nation mired in an acute economic crisis and facing growing international isolation. The vote was boycotted by the main opposition parties and widely condemned by the international community, including the United States, which denounced it as a “sham.” The Venezuelan president declared US charge d’affaires Todd Robinson and deputy head of mission Brian Naranjo “personae non gratae.” “They must leave the country in 48 hours in protest and in defense of the dignity of the Venezuelan homeland...

Enough of conspiracies!” he said. The United States immediately threatened to retaliate. A State Department official told AFP that Washington had “not received notification from the Venezuelan government through diplomatic channels,” but that if the expulsions were confirmed, “the United States may take appropriate reciprocal action.” In anticipation that Venezuela’s charge d’affaires in Washington, Carlos Ron, would be expelled, he was appointed vice minister of foreign affairs for North America. On Monday, President Donald Trump tightened the sanctions against Caracas, making it harder for the Maduro regime

to sell state assets. “I repudiate all the sanctions that are sought against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, because they harm it, they generate suffering for the people of Venezuela,” Maduro said in the speech. He promised to present “evidence” that both diplomats were engaged in a political, military and economic “conspiracy.” Robinson denied the allegations. “We strongly reject the accusations against me and against” Naranjo, he told journalists in the western city of Merida, promising to return there even despite Maduro expelling him. Washington and Caracas have not exchanged ambassadors since 2010, and relations between the two countries have been tense since the late leftist President Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s mentor, assumed power in 1999. The deeply unpopular Maduro was declared the winner with 68 percent of the vote, but with a record abstention rate. AFP

Pakistan buries teen killed in Texas shooting KARACHI―Hundreds mourned a Pakistani exchange student killed in a mass shooting at a Texas high school last week during her burial in Karachi Wednesday. Sabika Sheikh was among the 10 people gunned down at a high school in Santa Fe last Friday when a heavily armed student opened fire on classmates. Relatives sobbed and hugged as Sheikh’s remains arrived at her family home in a casket draped with a Pakistani flag. The body was then taken to a public meeting ground where hundreds gathered to say prayers and pay their respects before the burial at a nearby cemetery. “My daughter is a martyr and martyrs don’t die,” Sheikh’s father Abdul Aziz said after the prayers. Officials participating the ceremony labeled her killing an act of terrorism. “The whole nation stands by the Pakistani girl who was martyred in a terrorist attack in the US. May God give patience to her parents and family,” provincial governor Mohammad Zubair told reporters after the funeral. Hours earlier, a Pakistani honor guard escorted Sheikh’s casket off a plane at Karachi’s Jinnah International airport during a ceremony overseen by government officials and US consul John E. Warner. AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor

SWINGING AT SUNSET. In this photo taken on May 22, Afghan youths play on a swing at sunset on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif. AFP

N. Korea prepares nuclear site for demolition SEOUL―Invited foreign journalists gathered in North Korea Wednesday to witness the slated destruction of the reclusive regime’s nuclear test site, a high-proﬁle gesture on the road to a summit with the US that Donald Trump now says might not happen. In a surprise announcement, Pyongyang said earlier this month that it planned to “completely” destroy the Punggye-ri facility in the country’s northeast, a move welcomed by Washington and Seoul. Punggye-ri has been the site of all six of the North’s nuclear tests, the latest and by far the most powerful in September last year, which Pyongyang said was an H-bomb.

The demolition is due to take place sometime between Wednesday and Friday, depending on the weather. The North has portrayed the destruction on the test site as a goodwill gesture ahead of planned June 12 summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore. But doubts have since been cast by both sides on whether that potentially historic meeting will take place. Last week Pyongyang threatened to pull out if Washington pressed for its unilateral nuclear disarmament. Trump also said the meeting could be delayed as he met with South Korean leader Moon Jae-

in in Washington on Tuesday. “There are certain conditions we want to happen. I think we’ll get those conditions. And if we don’t, we won’t have the meeting,” he told reporters, without elaborating on what those conditions might be. Politically, Trump has invested heavily in the success of his meeting with Kim, and so privately most US ofﬁcials, as well as outside observers, believe it will go ahead. But as the date draws near, Trump’s divergence from his top aides, the differences between the two sides and these high stakes are coming into sharp relief. AFP

prices. The energy regulator defended the decision, saying it recognized the compelling need to adjust the FITAllowance “in order to avert any negative impact on the consumers who are actually subsidizing the growth of the RE industry through the FIT-Allowance Fund.” ERC granted the adjustment of the FIT-Allowance charge “to all on-grid end-users for an additional amount of P0.0590 per kWh from the P0.1249 per kWh current level.” The regulator, however, could have approved the agreement between Meralco and the competitive Solar Philippines Tarlac Corp. to sell electricity for just ₱2.9999/kWh, subject to a two-percent escalation. The rate is the cheapest offer from a solar plant and the lowest price among similar supply agreements. It is also signiﬁcantly lower compared with the existing FIT rates enjoyed by eligible solar power generators. SPTC could have begun supplying electricity at ₱2.9999/kWh as early as January 26, 2018, and consumers would have already enjoyed savings on electricity costs. Instead of expediting the approval of the agreement, the ERC prioritized the increase in the FIT-All rate to ₱0.2563/ kWh. Worse, the ERC recently approved a solar supply agreement with a tariff of ₱6.58/kWh, while ignoring the ₱2.9999/ kWh solar PSA of Meralco and SPTC. Other solar rates endorsed by the ERC are costlier. The regulator last year granted a feed-in tariff rate of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour to 16 solar projects

NEW YORK―Grand man of American letters Philip Roth, a fierce and prolific talent who achieved fame with the sexually explicit “Portnoy’s Complaint” in 1969, has died at 85. Roth’s literary agent, Andrew Wylie, told US media that the writer died Tuesday of congestive heart failure. The New Yorker magazine and the New York Times had both reported the death of Roth, who won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his acclaimed novel “American Pastoral”. Roth, who lived in New York and Connecticut, was best known for mining the Jewish-American experience in his more than 30 novels. Roth said he reached a turning point when he realized he could use his own world as literary raw material, be it his upbringing or the setting of his New Jersey home town. “You can’t invent out of nothing, or I can’t certainly,” he said in a 2011 documentary. “I need some reality, to rub two sticks of reality together to get a fire of reality.” But Roth’s giant stature on the postWorld War II literary scene stems from the universality of his message―in his own words: “I don’t write Jewish, I write American.” A contemporary of Don DeLillo, Saul Bellow and Norman Mailer, the late novelist was the doyen of a whole literary era. He won numerous US literary prizes including two National Book Awards, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, three PEN/Faulkner awards, and the Pulitzer Prize for fiction -- but the Nobel prize evaded him. He collected the Man Booker International Prize for lifetime achievement in fiction in 2011, followed the next year by Spain’s Prince of Asturias award for literature and in 2015, France presented Roth with the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor-a laurel the author called “a wonderful surprise.” His final novel “Nemesis,” about a 1944 polio epidemic, came out in 2010. Two years later, he stunned the literary world with the announcement that he would no longer write fiction. A prolific essayist and critic as well as a novelist, Roth long managed to sustain his literary output both in terms of quality as well as quantity, exemplified by his widely admired political trilogy― ”American Pastoral” (1997), “I Married a Communist” (1998) and “The Human Stain” (2000). AFP

Republic of the Philippines

Electricity prices are next to rise after FIT rate hike RENEWABLE energy provides clean fuel and are sustainable, unlike the traditional fossil sources. But most renewable energy sources have a cost that electricity consumers must bear in exchange for a clean environment. The Energy Regulatory Commission finally ruled on a long-standing petition of National Transmission Corp. to increase the current FeedIn Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) rate of ₱0.2563/kWh—actually higher than those initially calculated at ₱0.2481/ kWh or applied for at ₱0.22911/kWh. The prevailing FIT-All rate prior to the approval was ₱0.1830/kWh. The FIT-All is billed to and collected from all electricity consumers by Transco, and paid to FIT-eligible renewable energy developers. These RE developers are ensured a fixed rate per kWh, or FIT Rate, for the electricity generated by their projects over a period of 20 years. For solar energy projects, the current FIT rate is ₱8.68/kWh, subject to further escalation and adjustments that may be approved by the ERC. Most renewable energy sources clearly will increase the monthly billing charges of consumers. But the ERC could have mitigated the increase in the overall electricity rates, now at P10.0041 per kwh (from Manila Electric Co.) from a higher P10.5477 per kWh in April, had it considered other options that could actually lower the charges. The ERC, instead, chose to approve the increased FIT-All rate, increasing further the burden to consumers instead of finding ways to lower electricity

Philip Roth dead at 85

PROVINCE OF QUIRINO

Cabarroguis -oOoBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR Procurement of Thirty Four (34) Units Brand New Multi-Purpose Vehicles for various barangays Contract No. PB-GS-2018-007

as endorsed by the Energy Department under the second round of installation target. “We already completed the issuance of CoCs [certificate of compliance] for the solar power plants covered by the second round of FiT rate which is P8.69 per kWh,” ERC spokesman Rexie Digal earlier said. Consumer group unhappy The FIT-All rate has already stirred up a hornet’s nest. Consumer group Laban Konsyumer Inc. has sought the support of Meralco and all private distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to defer the implementation of the higher FIT Allowance, until all legal remedies are exhausted. “At the moment, we have not received the decision and shall exhaust all legal remedies such as filing of a motion for reconsideration and appeal. We have pending petitions in the ERC against Transco for over-recovery of at least P0.05 for the 2016 Fit Allowance, which was given due course and now subject to notice and hearing by the ERC,” said Laban Konsyumer president Victorio Dimagiba. “We assure the consumers that we shall fight it out to recover the overrecovery of almost P 0.08 per kWh in FIT Allowance or the approximate amount of P6 billion. We are likewise flagging the Commission on Audit to exercise its mandate to audit the collection of Fit Allowance by Transco,” said Dimagiba. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com business@manilastandard.net

May 24, 2018 The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino, through the Loan Proceeds from Landbank of the Philippines intends to apply the sum of P27,710,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for PB-GS-2018-007 Procurement of Thirty Four (34) Units Brand New Multi-Purpose Vehicles for various barangays. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino now invites bids Procurement of Thirty Four (34) Units Brand New MultiPurpose Vehicles for various barangays. Delivery of the Goods is required 60 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.

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”. 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. 5.

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. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from May 24, 2018 to June 14, 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.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 1, 2018, 3:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Building, Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before June 14, 2018, 2:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Building, 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. 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. 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

(MS-MAY 24, 2018)

(SGD) DENCIO A. PAGBILAO BAC Chairman

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

LocaL government units

thursday, may 24, 2018

Kalinga among top 7 provincial rice producers per DA awards By Dexter A. See

NEW LOOK.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay attends the general inspection of the Makati Public Safety Department at the South Cembo Covered Court, where around 1,000 PSD personnel dressed in their new blueand-gray uniforms were gathered on Saturday. The mayor exhorted the law enforcement deputies to strive for excellent performance, assuring them of the full support of her administration.

Better benefits for Makati PSD Guagua stresses role of ukulele in town history By Romeo Dizon GUAGUA, Pampanga—Local officials of this first-class municipality once again have recognized the ukulele, a four-stringed musical instrument, in giving them pride and dignity and livelihood for 85 percent of its residents over the last 110 years. The village of San Anton, billed as the ukulele and guitar capital of Philippines, was recognized for the first time during the town’s 428th Foundation Day called “Aldo Ning Balen Guagua” with the motto “Re-Awakening Consciousness Towards Reminiscence of the Town History.” The first Ukulele Festival, held last May 15, was not only recognized for its contribution to the wellbeing of the residents and community in general, but also aims to attract tourists both local and foreign alike, Mayor Dante Torres said. Guagua has 31 barangays, but San Antonio—since abbreviated to San Anton—is famous for its ukulele and guitar makers who have been patronized by local and foreign buyers for the past century and decade. Ukuleles trace their origin to Hawaii, and like the guitar is a member of the lute family of instruments. The ukulele industry here started in 1908 along Tramo St. in San Anton by the Bacani family, whose patriarch transferred the business to his son-in-law Angel Lumanog, who remains the prime brand of the instrument in the country. Bacani also produced the first commercial guitar in the Philippines. Torres said for the foundation day highlighted San Anton’s industry, and said the local government will “improve and enchant the industry” to make it more competitive in the world market, with potential buyers in Europe, North America, and the rest of the Asia Pacific. “We want more people to know about our industry,” he said.

By Joel E. Zurbano

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay has assured members of the city’s Public Safety Department of granting them better benefits in the coming days.

On Saturday, Binay attended the general inspection of the PSD at the South Cembo Covered Court where around 1,000 department personnel dressed in their new blue-and-gray uniforms were gathered. The mayor exhorted the law enforcement deputies to strive for excellent performance, assuring them of the full support of her administration. Aside from new uniforms, ongoing capability-building programs, and incentives being provided by the city government, Binay also vowed to push for the granting of hazard pay to PSD personnel. Also present at the assembly was new Makati City Police Station chief Senior Supt. Rogelio Simon, who called for

strong collaboration between the Makati Police and PSD. To date, PSD has 1,101 personnel consisting of 394 regular and 707 casual employees. The PSD personnel were responsible for the apprehension of more than 45, 000 erring motorists cited for various traffic violations in the city in the first quarter of the year. The PSD recorded a total of 45,199 traffic violations from January to March. Of these number, 10,846 citation tickets were issued for Disobedience to Traffic Control Signs and Signals; 7,331 for Disregarding Lane Markings; and 5,764 for Illegal Parking. More than 150, 000 erring motorists

were also cited for various traffic violations during the series of road safety and clearing operations conducted by the PSD in 2017. Because of these operations, the city government collected at least P47 million in fines. Meanwhile, Binay called on community leaders to do their part in the citywide campaign for safe and walkable streets, particularly by closely monitoring areas already cleared by the PSD teams and ensuring that these remain free of any obstruction. “Our efforts would be futile if the concerned barangay captains and other officials fail to perform their basic duty of maintaining clean and orderly streets in their respective jurisdictions,” Binay said. She reminded barangay officials that under the Local Government Code, they would be liable for negligence and dereliction of duty should they allow previously cleared areas to be blocked again by vehicles, objects and illegal structures.

BOOK SIGNING. Cambodian Ambassador Tuot Panha, Tarlac Heritage Foundation cofounder Isa Cojuangco Suntay, singer Kuh Ledesma, and Royal Thai Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Urawadee Sriphiromya (from left) watch as Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista signs a copy of the book commemorating the heroes of the Marawi siege, which marked its first anniversary Wednesday. Suntay also spoke at the ceremony launching the book (inset). Lino Santos

TABUK CITY—The province of Kalinga, dubbed as the rice granary of the North, was hailed as one of the top seven rice producers in the country by the Rice Achiever’s Awards of the Department of Agriculture. The RAA is a government program that recognizes provinces, municipalities/cities, and agricultural extension workers for their outstanding contribution to the country’s rice production and food self-sufficiency program. In 2017, Kalinga contributed as much as 173,292 metric tons or about 4.83 metric tons per hectare to the nation’s rice supply, up by 10.89 percent from 2016. The province was also able to expand its rice production from 33,059 hectares of rice farms in 2016 to 35,913 hectares in 2017. Kalinga posts a whopping 247% percent self-sufficiency in rice production, making it the top rice producer and trader in the region in 2017. Provincial Agriculturist Domingo Bakilan attributed Kalinga’s robust rice production to the utilization of new technologies in rice planting. This include technology transfer in the form of trainings for farmers, use of high-yielding hybrid rice and certified seeds in rice planting, high yielding technology adaption, and the utilization of precision planting and the rice crop manager system.

P30-m Tuba waterworks project set TUBA, Benguet—The municipal government is embarking on a multimillion-peso waterworks project that will guarantee sustainable water supply for the growing population in the town. Mayor Ignacio Rivera said that of the P30 million that will be invested by the local government for the improvement of the town’s waterworks system, an initial P8.4 million will be subjected to public bidding for the improvement of the potential water source, the impounding area and the initial pipelines for the system to be operational. “We are experiencing a significant increase in the number of people wanting to live in the municipality, especially in the town proper, that is why the local government is doing its best to make sure there is available supply of potable water for the people in the future even if the population will double or even triple in the coming years,” Rivera stressed. The mayor pointed out it is important for the municipal government to secure its sources of potable water supply so that residents can be supplied with sustained adequate water supply even if there is rapid increase in the town’s population brought about by the increasing economic activities in the locality with investors now setting their sights in areas outside Baguio city as their business areas. Dexter A. See

Compostela Valley, Basilan ‘high potential’ areas for rubber, cacao By Butch Gunio LOS BAñOS, Laguna—With the use of a geographic information system, experts have found that Compostela Valley and Basilan as high potential areas for planting rubber and cacao. A study conducted by Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan of the College of Forestry

Resources and Institute of Renewable and Natural Resources of University of the Philippines at Los Baños found the two provinces as potential areas for the commodities. The study, “Geographic information System –based inventory and sustainability for rubber and cacao in major production areas of the Philippines” is funded by

DENR lawyers lauded for passing Bar THIRTEEN lawyers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were honored Monday, four of them for outstanding academic achievement and the other nine for passing the 2017 Bar Examinations. Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu led the recognition rites during the flag raising at the DENR Central Office in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. “We have a very high batting average. Imagine nine out of 13 passed the bar,” Cimatu said, noting the lawyers were fresh law school graduates when they were hired by the department as legal researchers. “It only means that we have the best people here in DENR,” Cimatu said. The DENR lawyers passing the bar were Wendell Caoagas, Andrea Victoria Amog, Jiana Joselle

De Guzman, Fatima Angeli Tan, Lovely Grazette Quiben, Minette Sioson, Edna Francisco, Joseph Chrispher Torralba and Kris Rajiani Nagera. All nine are assigned to the Legal Affairs Service at the DENR Central Office. Cimatu likewise cited four other lawyers for outstanding academic achievement in their postgraduate programs, stressing their achievements are widely regarded by the department as “a significant push” to raise the quality of professionalism and competence being cultivated by the DENR management for its 16,000-strong workforce. The four include lawyer Amiel Ian Valdez (Summa Cum Laude), lawyer Ronnel Sopsop (Class Valedictorian), lawyer Arlyn Buduhan (Best Paper), lawyer Ismael Manaligod (With Honors) and lawyer Amiel Ian Valdez (Summa Cum Laude).

the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development. Compostela Valley recorded 29.8 percent of the area that has high potential for planting rubber, followed by North Cotabato with 20.8 percent. Zamboanga Sibugay, which currently has 66,484 hectares of plantation, has the largest

area planted with rubber. “This is followed by North Cotabato, with 59,387 hectares of land planted with rubber,” Bantayan told newsmen during the PCAARRD’s regular media conference for its researches in collaboration with other institutions held at DoST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center in this town.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu congratulates DENR employees who passed the 2017 Bar exams. In photo (from left) are lawyer Cesar Wendel Caoagas, Andrea Victoria Amog, Jiana Joselle de Guzman, Fatima Angeli Tan and Lovely Grazette Quiben.

Life

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

household

thursday, may 24, 2018

Design ideas for your home Paula de Guzman’s practical and playful living room has a variety of patterns, mixed textures and bold colors.

OME improvement enthusiasts, designers, and architects got a chance to learn various design ideas at the first SM Home Turnover Fair held at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura Premier.

The SM Home Design Team, led by SM Home assistant vice president Tom Castañeda, created lifestyle spaces that inspired new homeowners to design their own homes. “The official turnover of the keys to your new home is an exciting moment for any homeowner,” said Castañeda. “It’s the one time that you have your home in its care and pristine state— with the sky being the limit on how you decide to decorate your spaces.”

He said that after the turnover is “the best time to get professional advice on how to turn that bare space into the home of your dreams.” The SM Home Turnover Fair was a culmination of SM Home’s efforts to expand its role—going beyond being a store by offering homeowners inspirational living spaces that are functional, livable, and beautiful. During the event, top-notch architects Angelo Siochi and Marco Misa Torres

and top interior designer Tito villanueva highlighted space planning for compact space; while Leo Almeria, Lawrence Carlos, Carmen Lim-regala, and Greggy realeza Saliba gave great decorating tips and tricks to designing homes. young interior designers Iriss Mangio, Grace Moslares, Patricia Herbolario, Hannah Acab-Faustino, and Erika Uichanco shared the latest design trends and creative organizing ideas to condo living. During the event, shoppers enjoyed great discounts from participating brands and had a free one-on-one design consultation with top interior designers in the country. They also participated in exciting DIy and home improvement workshops by Craft MNL.

ion udes sophisticat om vignette ex ro s. ng ie ni or di ss ’s ce ba ishes, and ac Dagny Madam of furniture, fin with its choice

A child psychology expert posits that kids need to be exposed to intervening factors to develop their potential.

Tala Singson’s ki tchen high simple overall de lights her favorite time of day with a sign and crisp fu rniture lines.

Tom Castañeda designed a sleek bedroom with an Art Deco-inspired accent wall as its focus.

How talent camps nurture a child’s gift

Ev EvEry child is born with potential, but they do not naturally develop. This is according to Dr. Leticia Ho, president and founder of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education. The child psychology expert said kids need to be exposed to intervening factors so that their potential can be developed and transformed into gifts. This is where summer workshops and talent camps can help. According to Dr. Tippy Tanchanco, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, talent camps offer many opportunities for kids to explore and learn on their own, which is important in discovering their true gifts. “Children give cues early on. They can be showing signs of what they’re naturally inclined to in just a few months of age. It could be music, motor skills, or language,” said Dr. Tanchanco. “There is no particular age for it, but we need to look for signs that your child is developmentally ready.” She noted that in honing a child’s athletic abilities, parents have to be sure that their kid is physically fit

and ready. The same goes for developing academic abilities. If children show signs of absorbing information, then they are prepared for activities in which they are interested. Aside from giving children a venue to further explore their potential, Jong Icasiano, a food scientist and nutritionist, added that providing them with their nutritional needs plays a vital role in nurturing their gifts or talents. “A proper diet serves as fuel for the child since it is needed for their body and brain to achieve optimum development. Other factors may include boosting their confidence, good hygiene, and enough sleep,” said Icasiano. Promil Four i-Shine Talent Camp is the country’s most popular talent camp for kids. Now on its sixth season, the talent camp featured four intensive workshops under the mentorship of experts in the field of arts, engineering, music, and dance, such as robert Alejandro, Lei Sta. Maria, ryan Cayabyab, and Georcelle Sy. These camps ran simultaneously from April 2 to May 3 in different lo-

cations in Metro Manila. For its culminating activity, all participants of the four camps showcased what they learned in a recital held recently at the Kia Theater. It also gathered the parents, as well as the Camp Masters who joined the kids in their performance. Kids from the Dance Camp blazed the stage with a number with Teacher Georcelle and the G-Force. Maestro ryan, meanwhile, sang and played musical instruments with the kids from the Music Camp. The kids from the Arts and Engineering Camp showcased a performance that highlighted their creativity and engineering skills with Teacher robert and Teacher Lei. “We are happy to see all the kids perform on stage. They really stood out and shined their brightest and I know that their parents are also very proud of them,” said yvette villegas, the brand manager of Promil Four. “This what the Promil Four i-Shine Talent Camp 6 is all about—to help hone, share, and celebrate the gift of every child.”

Life

thursday, may 24, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

AKing community shopping experience to the next level, the walter Mart Community Malls opened its four-story w Mall in Pasay City.

located along Macapagal Boulevard, the mall boasts a wide array of tenants—including food outlets, services, and wellness—in its 12,000-square meter space. w Mall has a walter Mart Supermarket that offers quality fresh produce and wide selection of local and international food products. Styling needs of Pasay and Parañaque citizens will be catered by w Department Store that carries pieces from top fashion brands. Appliance and latest gadgets are available at Abenson. while the new Abenson Home serves as a hub for branded home essentials. SB Furniture aims to make homeowners’ dreams happen with its functional furniture pieces that match different types of living. The newest community mall features varied choices of dining outlets, including KFC, McDonald’s, Mang inasal, goldilocks, Coffee Bean and Tea leaf, Cha Time, and French Baker. The food court is located on the fourth f loor. wellness and pampering services are offered at David’s Cut, lay Bare, and oasis Dental. while value-formoney items are available at Miniso, Japan Home, All About Baking, and Handyman. while moms and dads shop or pamper themselves, kids can enjoy hours of play time and action at Kidzoona located on the fourth level. Jeck Buning, general manager and vice president for operations of wal-

Community mall opens in Pasay

The W Mall is located along Macapagal Boulevard corner Coral Way in Pasay City

ter Mart Malls, said w Mall aims “we want to remain relevant to the to set the bar high on the brand’s community and deliver with a Serthrusts of bringing “everyday happy vice Heart all the time, and w Mall for the family.” will set the tone for that,” he said.

Enhancing living spaces

with essential oils

W Department Store houses great selections of branded shoes, bags, and accessories as well as home essentials.

Susan Gogna, learning how to make her own Natural Home Solution.

Knowing that overall ambiance of comfort and wellness at home goes beyond the aesthetics of interiors, furniture company Ethan Allen recently hosted a workshop on essential oils and their use for natural household basics. The workshop, which was attended by lifestyle influencers and personalities, was led by interior and lifestyle influencer Marilen Faustino-Montenegro at the Ethan Allen showroom in Bonifacio global City, Taguig. Montenegro taught the basics of essential oils and how they can uplift the ambiance of a space as well as elevate the wellness of beautiful interiors. well-known for her simple yet wellcurated style, Montenegro believes in carefully putting pieces together to create a perfect and clean interior to help her family live a better life. Participants also discovered how

Walter Mart Supermarket offers fresh produce as well as local and imported food items.

their personalities affect the mood of a room and how essential oils enhance it. They were all able to create their own blends infused with Doterra Essential oils, such as body scrub, linen spray, and home disinfectant. As a homemaker, Montenegro believes in keeping the wellness of her home by promoting the use of natural products that are gentle and effective at the same time. She is a graduate of interior Design and has practiced here in Manila and in Hong Kong. Her eponymous blog Marilen Styles has been shortlisted in the Amara interior Blog Awards of 2017. Visit Ethan Allen’s showrooms at Twenty-four Seven McKinley, 24th Street corner 7th Avenue, BGC, Taguig (705-9999) and at Pioneer Street corner Reliance Street, Mandaluyong City (634-8587).

Where residents can celebrate life’s best moments MilESTonES are best celebrated with people we love who share our joy during life’s most cherished occasions. This is why affordable real estate provider Amaia land, strives to foster a sense of community among its homeowners by providing them cozy interiors and functional amenities. True to this vision, Amaia land recently completed the Village Pavilions in two of its developments in north of Manila: Amaia Scapes Bulacan and Amaia Scapes Capas. The Village Pavilion is situated in the midst of landscaped gardens, together with other amenities. Apart from being a place for social gatherings and for children to play at, the Village Pavilion likewise houses the administration office, where residents can go to secure permits for home improvement, payment of dues, and other concerns. on top of this, Amaia Scapes Bulacan and Capas are also set to deliver their respective swimming pools, just in time for the long, hot summer months during which residents and their guests could take refreshing dips. “we want our homeowners to thrive in a wholesome, holistic community

The Village Pavilion in Amaia Scapes Bulacan is situated in the midst of landscaped gardens, together with other amenities. Amaia Scapes Capas offers 388 house and lot units

that includes not only quality homes but one that encourages a sense of belongingness and pride for our residents,” enthused Rachel Tubayan of Amaia land. “with the opening of the Village Pavilion at Amaia Scapes Bulacan and Capas, families can now enjoy momentous occasions right where they live.” with its prime location along the Sta. Maria-Pandi Road, Amaia Scapes Bulacan is just a 15-minute drive from the Bocaue exit of the north luzon Expressway. The 12-hectare development

offers 604 units, with floor areas that range from 28 to 56 square meters. Meanwhile, Amaia land’s property development in Tarlac—Amaia Scapes Capas—offers 388 house and lot units with floor areas that range from 25 to 56 square meters. This sprawling 16-hectare development is situated along the McArthur Highway in Brgy. Estrada, an easy ride from Capas town proper and Tarlac City. Visit www.amaialand.com for more information on these two communities.

The Village Pavilion provides a space for homeowners to celebrate cherished occasions.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Celebrating 60 years with fun and music PIONEER Adhesives, Inc. recently marked its diamond anniversary with an elegant celebration at the Solaire Resort & Casino with stars like Bayani Agbayani, jazz singer Judith Banal, OPM legend Basil Valdez and dance group El Gamma Penumbra entertaining the executives, guests and visitors. Bayani, the host for the evening, was a perfect choice who featured the company’s history, milestones and diverse product range through video presentations and a special live appearance. He also performed his infamous song ‘Otso Otso’ along with selected employees which brought the house down. Guests were also serenaded by award winning balladeer, Basil Valdez, who rendered his famous songs “Ngayon at Kailanman”, “You” and “Ikaw”, which brought back memories of yesteryear. Moving on to the present was an astounding shadow performance by El Gamma Penumbra, performing their rendition of a Pioneer Adhesives story and how the brand plays an important role in the lives of its users. The real celebration began when Judith Banal hit the stage with her Powerplay band who got everyone off their feet and onto the dance ﬂoor. The grand ballroom was well decorated with employees, business partners and associates who donned their best suits and elegant gowns as they came together to rejoice six decades of “Samahang Matibay, Samahang Pioneer.” Before entering the ballroom was a memorabilia showcase which reminded everyone of the humble beginnings of Pioneer Adhesives through nostalgic photos and displays of their early products. It was an inspiring sight as they gathered together to honor their pioneering culture to what is

OPM balladeer Basil Valdez serenades the crowd with a medley of some of his classics.

Comedian Bayani Agbayani provides some entertainment with his signature novelty song, "Otso, Otso."

known today as the top-of-mind brand for adhesives, sealants and coatings. Formerly Republic Chemical Industries, Inc., Pioneer Adhesives, Inc. was established in 1958, with just a small manual operating plant in Aurora Boulevard. Their most famous products include Pioneer Epoxies, Mighty Bond and Pioneer Pro construction chemicals. The success of Pioneer Adhesives was the result of the company’s vision of dominating the local and international markets, merged with relentless hard work and perseverance. The new corporate name and logo were physically unveiled two days earlier on the actual 60th anniversary day of Pioneer Adhesives at their LMS manufacturing complex in Canlubang, Laguna. Two individuals were given special recognition during the event. Antonio L. Angeles received the Lifetime Achievement Award while Atty. Manuel O. Chan Sr. was honored with the Chairman’s Award for his wisdom and loyalty to the business. The Chairman’s Award was received by the awardee’s son Director Atty. Manuel O. Chan Jr.. Today, Pioneer Adhesives products are now available in selected Asia-Paciﬁc countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brunei, and Malaysia. They are also present globally in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Pioneer Adhesives, Inc. has also opened ofﬁces in Indonesia and India, making it the only Filipino multinational adhesives company. Beyond their success in the industry, Pioneer Adhesives recognizes their responsibility to give back to society and the environment. This was the driving force behind the establishment of the Pioneer Adhesives Foundation, Inc. (PAFI). PAFI is committed to the protection and preservation of the environment, the promotion of quality education and assistance in disaster relief. These advocacies are spread across the country through community activities and campaigns. Pioneer Adhesives also takes pride in the green nature of its products as they are low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and are manufactured in a facility that utilizes renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and other green efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

Winners and highlights of Billboard Music Awards Top Social Artist winner BTS with EDM duo Chainsmokers in a photo op not seen on TV.

HE 2018 Billboard Music Awards, hosted by The Voice coach, Kelly Clarkson, was an emotional and celebratory night of nostalgic and one-ofa-kind musical performances and touching moments all to celebrate this year’s biggest and best in music. Kendrick Lamar and Ed Sheeran were the night’s big winners, receiving six awards each. Lamar received Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Rap Album, Top Streaming Artist and Top Streaming Song (Audio). Accepting his awards all the way from Dublin, Ireland, Sheeran took home Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist and Top Radio Song. Bruno Mars, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber follow close behind, winning ﬁve awards each. Mars took home awards for Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Tour, Top R&B Album and Top R&B Song. For “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber won for Top Hot 100 Song, Top Collaboration, Top Selling Song, Top Latin Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio) and Top Streaming Song (Video). Other multi-category winners include: Imagine Dragons (Top Duo/Group, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album, Top Rock Song); Chris Stapleton (Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album); The Chainsmokers (Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/

Electronic Album, Top Dance/Electronic Song); Taylor Swift (Top Female Artist and Top Selling Album); Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Top Gospel Artist and Top GospelAlbum); Ozuna (Top Latin Artist and Top Latin Album); and U2 (Top Touring Artist and Top Rock Tour). The two fan-voted award winners were BTS for Top Social Artist and Camila Cabello for Billboard Chart Achievement Award. The show had special moments, catering to audiences of all ages. Perhaps the most memorable was a medley from ICON Award recipient Janet Jackson, who electrified the stage with a performance of some of her biggest hits including “If” and “Nasty.” Ariana Grande opened the show with a rousing performance of her new hit single “No Tears Left to Cry.” Host Kelly Clarkson took the stage next, welcoming the audience in the arena and at home to what was sure to be an unforgettable night and was joined on stage by the famous Las Vegas entertainers. Dua Lipa delivered a visually entertaining performance of her single “New Rules,” which featured a stage full of dancers and a giant flamingo. Jennifer Lopez and DJ Khaled fired up the stage with their new collaboration, “Dinero,” while new dad John Legend had the audience grooving to “A Good Night.” Khalid pulled double duty, first performing with Normani for his song “Love Lies” and returning to the stage for an emotional duet of “Youth” alongside Shawn Mendes and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Show Choir from Parkland. Prior to being joined by Khalid, Mendes took the stage to sing his new pop hit “In My Blood.” Ed Sheeran gave a special performance of “Galway Girl,” appropriately coming to viewers from Galway.

GMA YouTube channel reaches 5 billion views

DIGITAL MEDIA

Achieves fourfold growth in watch time

GMA Network celebrates another milestone as its YouTube channel has reached 5 billion views with 4 million subscribers, making the Philippine media giant one of YouTube’s fastest growing partners in the region. Moreover, the Kapuso YouTube Channel has gained over 3 billion views in less than one year since GMA’s historic and unprecedented partnership with YouTube called Player for Publishers (PfP). Through PfP (formerly YouTube Partner Program), viewers can watch ofﬁcially uploaded and high quality videos of GMA programs online. The team-up of two industry leaders not only supports the anti-piracy efforts of the Philippine entertainment industry, but more importantly, addresses millennial video viewing habits.

Notably, the partnership with YouTube enabled the Network to gain far more subscribers in the past one year than in the nine previous years combined. GMA made long-form content available on YouTube midyear of 2017. This resulted to a fourfold growth yearon-year in watch time and achieved no less than 300 percent in revenue growth. The said efforts further strengthened the Network’s prominence as a leading provider of premium content not only in traditional broadcast media, but in digital as well. GMA’s YouTube channels include GMA Network (main channel), GMA News, and GMA Public Affairs,

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, May 24, 2018

ACROSS 1 Pawns 6 Cuzco founder 10 Pinnacle 14 Single-handed 15 Writer Roald — 16 Cafe au — 17 More innovative 18 Hormel product 19 Football kick 20 Humorless 22 “Same Time, Next Year” actor (2 wds.) 24 Tower over 26 Big Apple cagers 27 Book appendixes 30 Khan of note 31 Gets closer 32 Coniferous tree 35 Chicago hrs. 38 Neutral colors 39 Music genre 40 Winner’s feeling 41 Caribou kin 42 Elephant teeth 43 Bank feature 44 Subzero comment 45 Sewing kit item 47 Prairies 50 Postpaid encl. 51 “Mystic River” star (2 wds.)

53 Scatter 57 Dry watercourse 58 Goner’s fate 60 Chicago airport 61 Winning serves 62 Yen 63 Yardsticks 64 Webbing 65 Bug spray victim 66 Perspire DOWN 1 — Christian Andersen 2 Margarine 3 Part of Batman’s garb 4 Pew adjuncts 5 Homilies 6 Psyche parts 7 Valley of grapes 8 Tailor’s marker 9 Fact books 10 Llama cousin 11 Make waterproof 12 Intellects 13 Singer — James 21 Nonverbal approval 23 Nearby 25 Teen hangouts 27 Kitty starter 28 Do business 29 Cold and wet 33 Seabird

34 Takes a breather 35 Social organization 36 Hawk 37 Monsieur’s pate 39 Very angry (2 wds.) 40 “Wheel of Fortune,” for one (2 wds.) 42 Excursion 43 Seer’s dreams 44 Exile 46 Suffered from 47 Nobel Prize

category 48 Takes on cargo 49 Night noise 51 Did laps 52 Seasonal libations 54 Remove the rind 55 Columnist — Bombeck 56 In case 59 Got acquainted

as well as the recently launched GMA Playground, and GMA Playlist.

GMA Playground houses child-friendly Kapuso programs like i-Bilib, AHA!, Sirkus, full episodes of Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Alamat and Art Angel. GMA Playlist, on the other hand, features GMA-produced original songs. The top videos from the channel are theme songs of popular series such as Ika-6 na Utos, Super Ma’am, and Haplos. GMA One (Online Exclusives) is an online series done in collaboration with GMA Public Affairs and the Entertainment Content Group (ECG). This aims to provide viewers with more YouTube-exclusive content or “Made-for-Web” content and is housed under the GMA Network channel. GMA One initially produced

The Chainsmokers and Halsey delivered touching remarks in memory of the late DJ, Avicii, who passed away earlier this year. Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato brought the house down with the show-stopping world television debut of Aguilera’s empowering new song “Fall In Line.” The evening featured more memorable group performances including Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey with their catchy single “The Middle,” Macklemore featuring Kesha on his song “Good Old Days,” and Pharrell Williams and Camila Cabello on “Sangria Wine,” before Cabello performed solo on her fanfavorite hit “Havana.” Global music stars BTS performed the world television premiere of their new single “Fake Love” from their recently released album Love Yourself: Tea” and were nearly drowned out by the sounds of their fans screaming. The show closed with a once-in-alifetime collaboration between SaltN-Pepa and En Vogue, who joined together to perform legendary hit songs “Shoop,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Push It,” and “Whatta Man.” Presenters throughout the evening included Hailey Baldwin, Tyra Banks, Alison Brie, The Chainsmokers, Ciara, Andy Cohen, Simon Cowell, Darren Criss, Halsey, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Justin Hartley and Chrissy Metz, NickJonas and Mustard, Chloe Kim, Mila Kunis, Padma Lakshmi, Des Linden, Julia Michaels, French Montana, NE-YO, Derek Hough and Jenna Dewan, Bebe Rexha, Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson, Grace VanderWaal and Rebel Wilson. The 2018 Billboard Music Awards aired live on Blue Ant Entertainment with encores tomorrow at 12:25 a.m. and 4:25 p.m., Saturday at 10:25 a.m. and Sunday at 2:40 p.m.. three shows, namely, Adulting with Atom Araullo, #Goals with Gabbi Garcia, and Fact or Fake with Joseph Morong. GMA’s ECG launched new shows in February, namely, Thousanaire (Saan Aabot ang P1000 Mo), The Boobay and Tekla Show, Taste MNL, and All Access. Recently, GMA also became the ﬁrst broadcast network in the Philippines to produce content through YouTube Space in New York where GMA’s prominent artists Dennis Trillo, Jennylyn Mercado, Lovi Poe, Alden Richards,Betong Sumaya, and Dingdong Dantes recently shot videos for the Network’s channel. A Google-owned subsidiary, YouTube is the undisputed global leader in the Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD) platform. GMA, through its digital arm GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI), has slowly built the partnership with YouTube in recent years as an indispensable ally in brand-building and as a reliable source of substantial online revenues.

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

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Miss PH-Earth 2018 CELESTE CORTESI’s victory a vindication By Eton Concepcion FOR Fil-Rome community representative Silvia Celeste Cortesi, her unprecedented victory at the recent Miss Philippines-Earth 2018 was a vindication. The 20-year-old Science degree-graduate had suffered the same fate as Pia Wurtzbach in Miss Universe 2015 when the host of the Miss Philippines Earth-Italy 2018, held in Rome, Italy in February, named the wrong winner of the pageant instead of her. The statuesque model, who said her strong motivation to win was her Filipina mother who prodded her into joining the Miss Fil-Italy Earth pageant, was an unpopular choice as winner to represent the Fil-Rome community. We bet, her bashers online after her crowning must now be eating their words as Cortesi has become the ﬁrst ever Miss Phil-Earth winner from the international Filipino community in the 18-year history of the Manilabased pageant.

One of the heavy favorites to win, Cortesi had difficulty in English answering the top 5 final Q&A “What should be done to make sure that what happens to Boracay doesn’t happen to our other tourist destinations?” “I am agree [sic] with the decision of the president to do that and I think Boracay need(s) a drainage system because the “juice” of the trash goes directly to the ocean. We have to control the capacity of the hotel(s) and I think that we have also to...,” was her exact, uncompleted answer as she ran out of time. Setting foot in the Philippines for the first time was a dream come true for Cortesi who had a tough childhood growing up in Italy. She wants to work in the country and hopes to learn more of the Tagalog language. Cortesi’s environmental platform concerns about protecting the trees and preserving diminishing forests. It’s the same platform she will carry when she competes in Miss Earth 2018 before the year ends.

CROWNING MOMENT. Karen Ibasco (right) passes on her crown to Fil-Italian Celeste Cortesi, who will represent the country in the international Miss Earth pageant later this year. Revoli Cortez

By Nickie Wang

HIS month, as the nation remembers Marawi one year after the armed takeover, Jun Veneracion returns to the once-embattled city to report on rehabilitation efforts and to revisit the people whose lives were affected by the crisis. Those who closely followed the siege, they would remember the senior reporter for his exclusive reports on the city plagued by the war between the terrorists and government troops. He was among the very first group of journalists to reach Marawi City where he extensively covered the armed conflict up to the very end of the Maute takeover. In a round-robin interview with Manila Standard Entertainment and some members of the press, Veneracion, who was the leader of GMA News team deployed in Marawi, narrated his experience covering the armed conflict. “Based from the information that I got, there was going to be a rescue operation. So nasama ko yung team ko dun. My biggest concern was na baka may mangyari sa kanila. What would I tell their families?,” he started. He said he wasn’t thinking of his own welfare but he admitted that the experience taught him to be a more responsible reporter. During the interview, he even quipped that the coverage that lasted for months made him closer to God especially at the height of the conflict where he and his team were covering exchange of gunfires between the terrorists and the government troops. “I don’t pray a lot pero nung night na yun lahat ng dasal ginawa ko na. I was really prepared [to die]. I was prepared to go nung nasabi ko na yung lahat ng prayers na pwede sabihin. Ready na’ko nun. And thank God hindi naman nangyari,” he recounted. Veneracion has been covering the Defense and Military beat which brought him to war-torn places throughout the country since 2003. Overseas, his reporting experience includes a month-long coverage in Afghanistan following the abduction of a Filipino UN worker. He is presently stationed at the Bureau of Customs, where he reports on seized luxury vehicles and other controversial cargo. He once reported on the terminologies used for shady deals within the agency, exposing a ‘lexicon’ which includes terms like tara (bribe money) and ulo ng aso (1000 pesos). After fifteen years as one of GMA’s most seasoned senior reporters, Veneracion takes on a new challenge as host of multi-awarded Public Affairs program, Reporter’s Notebook. “I’ve been to different places across the country especially dun sa gyera. I consider that as my field of expertise. Makikita mo din yung buhay. These kinds of expereinces help me relate to social issues.I mean, sanga sanga

ON BOARD. Senior journalist Jun Veneracion is ready for more in-depth reporting as he joins Maki Pulido as host of the flagship investigative series, 'Reporter’s Notebook.'

Reporter

JUN Veneracion returns to Marawi

yan eh. It’s not all about war, sabi nga nila covering war is sexy kuno. Macho yung dating di ba? Naka-vest ka,” he said in jest. Asked on what he can bring to the table being the new host of the multi-awarded show, Veneracion humbly said that he’s a senior reporter and he constantly seek continuous learning. Veneracion is no stranger to Reporter’s Notebook. In July of 2007, while embedded with the Marines in a search and rescue operation in Basilan, he and his news team were caught in the middle of armed confrontation. In the midst of the nine-hour ﬁreﬁght between rebels and the military, Veneracion captured the moments when,

at the peak of battle, the Marines struggled with mortar shells that failed to ﬁre. The incident was documented by GMA News’ seasoned cameramen, highlighting difﬁculties faced by the military frontliners made even harder by malfunctioning equipment. The story behind this eye-opening news coverage was told through a documentary produced by Reporter’s Notebook. Veneracion’s report went on to win the 2008 New York Festivals Bronze World Medal for Coverage of an On-going Story. Reporter’s Notebook, hosted by Maki Pulido and Jun Veneracion, airs Thursdays, 11:35 p.m. after Saksi!

Old souls, gifted young bloods THE ability to sing brilliantly as a preteen is a gift. To have classic songs as repertoire is upping the ante.

Joestel Music Studio recital performers Keensolen Dela Ysla and Trishia Mae Sequina

Young singers Kurt Madrid, 12, and Angel Andal, 10, have enough reasons to perform together or eventually be known as a duo. They’re almost of the same age, both residing in the same area just outside Metro Manila, and handled by the same management, ErasmoStar. But the most interesting of these bonding points is their knack for singing the oldies. Kurt, a “Tawag Ng Tanghalan Kids” (It’s Showtime) contender, covers Tom Jones tracks while Angel, who appeared in Eat Bulaga’s “Lola’s Playlist,” interprets Shirley Bassey songs. The two of them recently sang on Net 25’s Pambansang Almusal, somewhat prompting their parents and handlers to push that they become a duo ofﬁcially. When asked of the name they intend to carry, they sounded ready: Popners. “Mas sanay po ako sa luma,” noted Kurt who was cited by a legit body as a “social media artist” in line with his gigs that included a tribute Teatrino concert for the late composer Jun Mallillin who wrote that Boyfriends classic “Dahil Mahal Kita.”

YUGEL LOSORATA Angel, who was adjudged champion in an Antipolo-based competition PaSingGalingan last year, expressed, “Natutuwa po ako magperform sa harap ng maraming tao at i-inspire sila.” Both Kurt and Angel have separately recorded Tagalog originals to be part of a soon-to-be-released compilation. Interestingly, both songs are literally old compositions, with Kurt’s “Iibigin Kita” penned by bossa nova singer Marvin Velasquez in 1998, and Angel’s “Anghel Ko” written by veteran songwriter Rusty Mallillin way back in the ‘70s. The two youngsters are ultimately bound for a London gig later this year. Their highly supportive mothers, Rochelle for the sweet homebody

Kurt and Emily for the cheerfully creative Angel, are pulling all strings to push for their kids’ singing success. Why not, seldom do we see or hear talented kids with old soul mindsets. Speaking of such gifted young, many of them are in Laguna to perform on June 3 at the 12th Recital of the province’s premier musician’s lair Joestel Studio. The kids, trained to perform classical to modern music the whole summer, are scheduled to deliver their little obras at Upcoming young singers Kurt Madrid and Angel Andal the 5th ﬂoor Auditorium both specialize in singing oldies. of Malayan Colleges in Laguna. now underway.” Joey Ysla, owner and music mentor My nine-year-old son Ryde once took of Joestel located in Calamba, stated, drumming lessons at the same studio “We have so many new and brilliant where, during its concluding recital, enrolees this summer. This year’s recital he performed the back beat to Michael coincides with our studio’s expansion as Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Talking about the building of our ﬁrst branch outlet is classics.