Manila Standard - 2018 July 23 - Monday

VOL. XXXII • NO. 158 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

GATEKEEPER. A member of the Presidential Security Group on Sunday mans the gate of the Batasan Complex gate where a giant tarpaulin hangs to welcome officials and dignitaries attending President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s delivery of his third State of The Nation Address on Monday. MMDA map (inset) shows possible alternate routes to guide motorists. Manny Palmero

Gut issues vie for Sona focus, Duterte told

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja SENATOR Nancy Binay on Sunday expressed hope that President Rodrigo Duterte will take today’s State of the Nation Address as an opportunity to gut issues that matter most to ordinary Filipinos.

“I hope the President focuses on addressing issues such as controlling inflation, the creation of jobs, and lowering prices,” Binay said in a mix of English and Filipino. “More jobs, less jabs.”

The senator also said she hopes the President will call for the suspension of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and finally puts a stop to abusive contractualization.

“We heard the intense clamor of our people to suspend TRAIN and to stop contractualization that the President should hastily act upon,” she said.

“For those who continue to struggle in life, they no longer want more

Swift approval of BOL seen in Duterte’s hands

By Nat Mariano

T

HE Bangsamoro Organic Law, which seeks to create a Bangsamoro entity to help attain lasting peace in Mindanao, will be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address today, the Palace said Sunday.

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WEATHER State of calamity in 3 cities, 5 towns amid floodings

Minimum wage hiked in 9 regions; NCR still assessing THE daily minimum wage for workers in the private sector in nine regions will soon be raised, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Sunday.

“Daily minimum wage adjustments vary across regions as per recommendations of [their] respective [regional tripartite wage and productivity boards] after different stages of consultations with labor and management representatives from various industries,” Bello said.

Among the regions to implement new wage orders are Region III with a P20 daily increase, effective on Aug. 1; Region IVA with a P9.45 daily increase, effective on April 28; and Region VI with P8.50-P26.50 daily increase with P5-P15 cost-of-living allowance, effective on July 12.

Other regions with new wage orders are Region VIII with P20-P30 daily Next page

JOSIE’S AFTERMATH. Motorists in Quezon City brave a near zero-visibility while others plod through knee-high floods in Bacoor City and other areas amid monsoon rains brought about by Tropical Depression ‘Josie’. Manny Palmero and Norman Cruz

PH can’t go to war with China, says Esperon NATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Sunday the Philippines is incapable of waging war against China to assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea. He made his remark following the results of a recent Social Weather Stations survey showing 87 percent of adult Filipinos deemed it important for the Philippines to regain sovereignty over the islands occupied by China in the West Philippine Sea. He said he agreed with the others who

believed the Philippines should assert its territorial claims in the disputed areas.

He believed the government could just send troops to the West Philippine Sea and defend the country’s claims.

“We cannot go to war [with China]. We all know our own capacity,” Esperon said.

He said territorial dispute should be settled through diplomatic means.

Esperon said the administration’s actions in the West Philippine Sea had allowed Filipino fishermen to fish along the disputed areas.

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THE local government units of Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Sta. Barbara, Bugallon, Mangatarem and Calasiao in Pangasinan have declared a state of calamity due to flooding.

Avenix Arenas, spokesman of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Pangasinan, said Sunday the whole of Calasiao had been flooded since Saturday while Dagupan City’s central business district and other villages were also flooded.

In other developments: • Balanga City and the municipality of Dinalupihan in Bataan were placed under a state of calamity on Sunday after floods hit many villages.

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“We consider this landmark measure as instrumental to our peace and security efforts in Mindanao,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.

“We acknowledge the hard work of Congress and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission that brought us this historic law, which would not only forge lasting peace in Mindanao but would also provide the much-needed economic development on the island,” he added.

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Oil price rollback set at P1 per liter OIL companies expect a price rollback of up to P1 per liter this week to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

“Expect fuel prices to be lower. Diesel and gasoline should go down by P0.90 to P1 per liter,” Uniol Philippines said in its advisory.

World oil prices declined last week due to the ongoing trade war between the US and China, which has slowed down demand.

The price decline, however, was tempered last week on reports that exports of the Organization of Petroleum Next page

Olympic mascots named TOKYO —Japanese organizers formally introduced their doe-eyed 2020 Olympic mascots to the world on Sunday, christening them with superhero names that could provide a tonguetwisting challenge to some.

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‘Golden Gays’ sing for supper AL ENRIQUEZ sheds his threadbare street vendor clothes like dead skin and develops a voguish, winking air once he slips into a gauzy gown and wig of tight blond curls.

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News

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Infra buildup meant to uplift the poor—Palace

By Nat Mariano THE government provides long-term solutions to solve problems like high inflation and to improve the lives of the poor, Malacañang said Sunday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Duterte administration was providing projects to significantly help the Filipinos.

“We are putting in place long-term solutions to significantly reduce inflation and help the poor Filipino families, such as pushing for rice tariffication and implementing our Build, Build, Build Program to lower the transport costs of food and goods,” Roque said.

He made his remarks following the results of a recent Social Weather Stations survey that showed 48 percent of families, or roughly 11.1-million Filipinos, considered themselves poor during the April to May period.

The result was six points higher than the results of the survey conducted in March 2018 where 42 percent or an estimated 9.8-million families considered themselves poor.

The six-point nationwide increase in Self-Rated Poverty in the second quarter was because of the sharp increases in Mindanao (60 percent), the Visayas (67 percent) and Metro Manila (43 percent). Self-rated poverty only decreased in Balance Luzon, or from 40 percent in March to 35 percent in June.

Roque said families experienced the effect of inflation when food prices rose because of weather-related delays in the distribution of cheap imports.

“Self-rated poverty dropped in Balance Luzon where Region III, the rice basket, and other rice-growing areas are located and where rice prices are lower,” he said.

He also said the period when the survey was conducted must be considered. “[The] government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, had distributed Unconditional Cash Transfers to around 3.8 million of the 10-million total beneficiaries at the time of the survey, with distribution ramping up quickly subsequently,” Roque said.

According to the report, the monthly budget that households require for home expenditures in order for them not to consider themselves poor is P20,000 for Metro Manila, P15,000 in Balance Luzon, P11,000 in the Visayas and P15,000 in Mindanao.

The survey had sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Minimum...

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increase, effective June 25; Region XII with a P16-P18 daily increase, effective May 11; and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a P15 daily increase in the basic pay of workers.

Regions with new wage orders that are set for publication and will take effect in July and August are Region VII with P10-P52 daily increase; Region IX with P20 daily increase; and Region XI with P56.43 increase in the workers’ daily pay.

RTWPBs in Cordillera Administrative Region and Region V, whose wage orders have also reached their anniversary dates, are expected to issue wage orders within the month of July.

RTWPBs in remaining regions including the National Capital Region, Regions I, II, IVB, and Caraga, whose wage orders have yet to reach their anniversary dates, are assessing the socioeconomic conditions in their respective regions through consultations with concerned government agencies and stakeholders in the private sector.

Based on Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, each region in the Philippines has a unique minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards based on the poverty threshold, employment rate, and cost of living specific to the region.

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Exporting Countries will slow down while Saudi Arabia was looking at a drop in its exports to manage oversupply.

Prices were also tempered due to the end of the strike of drilling rig workers in Norway.

On July 17, oil companies raised pump prices of gasoline by P0.30 per liter but rolled back the price of diesel

by P0.15 per liter.

Kerosene prices did not change.

Oil prices also raised raised pump prices by P0.70 per liter for kerosene, P0.40 per liter for gasoline and P0.35 per liter for diesel last July 10. Alena Mae Flores

Panel sets work on federal shift Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, the panel chairman, said his committee will aim to start its first hearing on Wednesday.

“We will immediately begin the hearing, and I think this Wednesday if the

schedule permits,” Mercado said.

“That is the mandate of our committee—to study these recommendations.”

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez vowed to end the deliberation in six months.

“If the Con-Com could take up the deliberation in four months, of course, here in Congress I think we can finish this at the earliest within six months,” he said, Alvarez said.

But he said he would not rule out the possibility that the deliberations and approval of the proposal could take longer than six months.

He said there was still a need to educate the public on the government shift to federalism.

“It may take a little longer depending if we agree or we don’t agree on some issues,” Alvarez said.

“After this, we need a massive informa-

Swift...

mit to Congress during his Sona.

The lion’s share of the 2019 national budget will go to education (P659.3 billion which is P72.2 billion more than the 2018 budget of P587.1 billion).

The Department of Public Works and Highways will get second highest allocation of P555.7 billion.

Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, House committee on constitutional amendments chairperson, said the passage of the draft federal constitution submitted by the consultative committee, led by its chairman Reynato Puno, will also be a priority.

“In fact we will begin immediately the series of hearings this week,” he said.

The Senate is also expected to act on the bicameral conference committee report on the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which was approved July 18, when it resume its sessions for the 3rd Regular Session of the 17th Congress on Monday.

Sotto said that senators will hold a caucus on Tuesday, a day after the Sona, to determine the “common priority legislative agenda” the Senate will tackle in the coming months.

He each senator had been asked to submit their list of priority bills for consideration of the whole body.

The senators would then compare their list of common priority measures to that

of the House of Representatives and the executive branch.

“This [coming out with an agenda] is imperative now because we only have very few months for the 3rd regular session,” he said.

He added they will work until Dec. 21 unlike in the previous years when they only worked until Dec. 15 because when they resume after the Christmas break in January, they will only be convening for two weeks because of the start of the campaign period.

Sotto said the Senate and House will meet after Sona to fix the legislative calendar and the priority measures.

He also said that during the caucus, senators will discuss the Con-Com’s draft federal constitution.

After the opening ceremonies at the Senate plenary hall on Monday morning, the senators will proceed to the Batasang Pambansa Complex in the afternoon to attend the joint session of Congress and hear the president’s third Sona.

The Senate will go back to its legislative work while enjoying the highest public approval and trust ratings among key government agencies, according to a recent Pulse Asia poll.

The survey conducted last June said the Senate received a 69-percent approval rating and 61-percent trust rating by Filipinos throughout the country.

By Rio N. Araja

A

S CONGRESS resumes its sessions today, the House committee on constitutional amendments begins its series of hearings on the draft federal constitution submitted by the consultative committee led by its chairman Reynato Puno.

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On Wednesday night, the congressional bicameral conference committee on BOL, chaired by Senator Miguel Zubiri, adopted a consolidated version of the measure that will create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that the BOL would empower the region and the people living in it, and would be a good test case for a federal system of government.

He added that once the law is implemented, the decommissioning of firearms in the possession of Muslim rebel groups could be completed.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to ratify the measure upon the opening of the Third Regular Session on Monday morning, July 23.

House leaders said they were batting for a swift approval of the BOL, as well as the P3.76-trillion national budget for 2019.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said his panel would immediately start hearings on the general appropriations bill, which the President is likely to sub-

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of the same war on drugs staple,” she said, referring to the President’s bloody war on drugs.

“What everybody wants to hear are the social policies and environmental policy direction, also the action plans of fhe administration in the next three years,” she added.

People would also want to get an update on the rehabilitation of Marawi as well as the results of a mining autit.

“These are aside from updates of the Build Build Build program and the Bangsamoro Organic Law being signed into law anytime soon,” she said.

The signing of the BOL, she added, can remind members of the government peace panel to forge ahead with peace talks with communist rebels.

Senators Juan Edgardo Angara and JV Ejercito, meanwhile, said they hope the President will urge the passage of the Universal Health Care bill.

Angara also urged the President to turn his attention to improving the quality of education by giving higher pay to teachers in public schools.

He also called on the administration to give priority to creating high-paying jobs as a way of reducing poverty faster.

“The country’s economic gains must lead to the creation of more high-paying and stable jobs,” Angara said. “Jobs are still the key in the fight against poverty.

If people earn enough from decent, stable jobs, the quality of life of Filipino families will improve,” he said in Filipino.

He said the government’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program should be paired with a Jobs, Jobs, Jobs program that will attract overseas Filipino workers to return home and work here.

“The push of the administration to fasttrack infrastructure development to create jobs while ramping up social services like free education and better health care services is moving in the right direction.

These efforts must be sustained so as to improve the lives of Filipinos,” Angara

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The blue-checked Olympic mascot was dubbed “Miraitowa”—combining the Japanese words for future and eternity, organizers said at an event in Tokyo.

It expresses the hope for a bright future stretching off forever, according to officials.

Its Paralympic partner which sports pink checks is called “Someity”—borrowing from the word for a variety of Japan’s iconic cherry trees and the English expression “so mighty”.

The characters are said to combine tradition and innovation, organizers said.

The pointy-eared mascots bestowed

said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he wants the President to put greater focus on economic issues amid growing concern over the steady rise in the prices of basic commodities.

“I hope President Duterte will outline in detail the government’s concrete planof-action to shield poor Filipino families from the rising prices of basic commodities, especially food,” said Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs.

House Secretary General Cesar Pareja, meanwhile, said his staff has been coordinating with the Quezon City police and the Armed Forces to prevent any clash between pro- and anti-government groups near the Batasan Complex.

On the eve of Duterte’s third Sona, Amnesty International said the President has presided over “a disturbing regression on human rights that has left the Philippines a more perilous place than when he came to power.”

“President Duterte came to power on the back of a ‘strongman’ image and a promise to be tough on law and order.

The reality is, just two years into his presidency, his disastrous policies have made the country a more dangerous place, particularly for the poorest Filipinos,” said Rachel Chhoa Howard, Amnesty International’s Philippines researcher.

“Instead of combatting a difficult social problem, his ‘war on drugs’ has caused untold damage and misery. President Duterte’s policies—which include directly encouraging unlawful killing— have seen thousands of people murdered with total impunity amid growing lawlessness, with extrajudicial executions in homes and on the country’s streets still happening on a daily-basis.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District advised motorists to take alternate routes as certain sections of Commonwealth Avenue will be closed in line with the Sona.

QCPD director, Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr., said heavy traffic is expected, particularly on roads leading to and from the Batasang Pambansa Complex. with “special powers” were unveiled in February this year after being chosen by schoolchildren from a shortlist of three across mascot-mad Japan.

Miraitowa has a “strong sense of justice and is very athletic,” according to Olympic officials, adding that it also possesses magical powers that enable it “to move anywhere instantaneously.”

Someity is said to be “usually calm” but “gets very powerful when needed,” organizers noted cryptically.

Mascots are massive in Japan, where there are literally thousands representing everything from small communities to prisons.

Known locally as “yuru-kyara” or “laid-back characters,” mascots can also be major money-spinners. AFP

‘Golden...

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He’s 82 years old and is one of the stars in a beauty pageant for elderly and poor gay men that’s about to start in a banquet hall on a rundown Manila street.

But this is not a rowdy, hooting drag show for tourists—instead it is part of the decades-long work of a collective of men like him to take care of their own.

They call themselves the Golden Gays and they mean it.

“When I’m dressed like this I feel ecstatic and I feel that I don’t have any sadness in me,” Enriquez told AFP. “I’m gay and I’m not embarrassed that I’m gay.”

The Philippines has a reputation of openness toward homosexuality, but experts say legal protections are lacking and the nation’s weak social safety net especially fails older gay people.

That’s why the Golden Gays have recruited corporate and private sponsors who pay for their members to get a decent lunch and a few days’ worth of groceries after the pageants they hold at least once a month.

“The show is just our way of saying thank you,” says the group’s 68-yearold organizer Ramon Busa, known as Monique de la Rue once in heels and make-up.

‘My mother was angry’ Most of the 48 members are in their 60s and are among the millions of Filipinos who survive on less than five dollars per day.

In real life they are dishwashers, street hawkers or scavengers, but for the afternoon the door will be closed on reality.

Ahead of the performance, the air in the room smells of perfume and the fried food that will be served for lunch. The men tug their dresses into place and scrutinize themselves in handheld mirrors.

The show starts with music firing at distortion volume from battered speakers as the 18 performers shimmy down the catwalk and strike poses—or land on the laps of the dozen or so friends and supporters in the audience.

The shows have been going on for years, but the Golden Gays’ roots are even deeper.

Back in the mid-1970s they got their start in Manila’s urban sprawl as the Home for the Golden Gays—a house where homeless or poor older gay men could spend the night.

However, the home belonged to their founder, activist and columnist Justo Justo, and when he died in 2012 his family evicted the group within days.

This setback did not break up the group, which serves as the family that many of its members don’t have.

Federico Ramasamy, a long-time Golden Gay, was rejected by his parents once they learned of his sexuality.

He made his way to Manila and never looked back. AFP

tion drive to educate the people. We have to discuss what we have to take up in the plebiscite.”

Alvarez said Congress should decide on the possible postponement of the mid-term elections in 2019 before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu has filed House Bill 5724 to push for a people’s initiative and a referendum for Charter change and legislation.

“This bill seeks to fill in the insufficiency of Republic Act 6735 and to come up with an enabling law,” Abu said.

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“With all the patrols that we conduct in our seas to know what is happening, through diplomacy and intelligence, we are able to fish once again in Bangsamoro and in several parts of the West Philippine Sea. We are benefiting from our maritime domain,” Esperon said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said it was one with the public in seeking to fight for the country’s sovereign rights and territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Sunday, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Philippines had shifted to a “friendly” dialogue with China on the issue.

“Having seen how the confrontational approach of the previous administration only spurred greater militarization, we have shifted to a conciliatory tack and friendly dialogue with China by employing a bilateral consultation mechanism to resolve issues while we build up our capability to monitor and defend our maritime interests,” Roque said.

A Pulse Asia survey showed last month that 73 percent of Filipinos believed the Duterte administration should exercise sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea. The Palace, during the second anniversary of the country’s victory in its arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China, had earlier reassured the public that, even though the country was moving progressively with its economic relations with China, President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration would remain firm in asserting the Philippines’ sovereignty over the disputed waters. Nat Mariano

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In a Facebook post, the Philippine Information Agency said village officials in Balanga City were being mobilized to help in the possible evacuation of residents.

• Six municipalities in three provinces in Central Luzon are now under a state of calamity due to the continuing rain brought on by the enhanced southwest monsoon and high tide in the coastal areas.

The Sunday update of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Central Luzon said the areas under a state of calamity were the towns of Ramos, La Paz and Victoria in Tarlac, Marilao and Paombong in Bulacan and Masantol in Pampanga.

Dagupan City was the first to declare a state of calamity and it did so on Saturday.

A total of 1,291 families or 5,067 individuals all over the province have temporarily evacuated their homes due to severe flooding, Arenas said.

“Flooding might continue depending on the weather. If it continues to rain in the uplands like in Benguet, then we expect more water she said and added that the San Roque Dam had not yet released water.

As of 10 am Sunday, the water level at the San Roque Dam was at 263.95 meters above sea level against its 280 spilling level with no gates opened.

The national roads from San Carlos to Aguilar and Camiling to Bayambang remained impassable to all types of vehicles, while the national roads in Sta. Barbara to Dagupan City, Calasiao to Dagupan City, San Carlos to Urbiztondo, and Aguilar to Bugallon were impassable to light vehicles, officials said.

Meanwhile, the PDRRMO led by Gov. Amado Espino III, which is on red alert since Saturday morning, continues to conduct rescue operations and close monitoring of the situations in various areas.

“We target zero casualties as mandated by Governor Espino. We advised our fellow Pangasinenses to be on watch and follow the authorities in case there is the need for evacuation,” Arenas said.

Espino, in a radio interview Saturday, said they were still gathering data and assessing if there was a need to declare a state of calamity in the whole province.

The provincial government also asked Pangasinenses to pray. PNA

News

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

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House: Budget for Dengvaxia patients likely to pass muster

By Rio Araja FOUR House leaders are upbeat about the prospects for the approval of the proposed P1.161-billion supplemental budget for children who got the Dengvaxia vaccine shot needing medical assistance.

“I believe this [budget] will be approved when we resume session today.

I know the Senate did their best,” Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep. Sherwin Tugna said.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said “the supplemental budget is a very crucial aid to provide medical assistance to around 900,000 children vaccinated with Dengvaxia.”

Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu said it is expected that Senate President Vicente Sotto III would not waste any time to initiate the approval of the supplemental budget during the resumption of session before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his third State of the Nation Address.

“I trust the Senate leadership that it will prioritize the passage of the supplemental budget on the resumption of our session because we we need to provide medical assistance to the patients now,” he said.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, the measure’s principal author, called for the Senate’s approval.

“Every day that passes by is crucial for the families whose children were administered with the Dengvaxia vaccine, and our fellow lawmakers in the Senate know this,” he said.

He told the Department of Health to make use of its existing budget to begin the profiling and the monitoring of those who received the Dengvaxia vaccine.

With an overwhelming 231 votes, the House of Representatives, in June, passed on third and final reading the proposed P1.161-billion supplemental budget.

However, the Senate was not able to pass the supplemental budget.

Some 830,000 students were inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine under the Health department’s mass immunization program.

In November 2017, French giant pharmaceutical Sanofi Pasteur admitted, on its website, Dengvaxia risks.

Police label sparks social media protest

PROTEST PROP. Militant groups apply the finishing touches to the effigy of President Rodrigo Duterte as part of their protest action for Monday’s State of the Nation Address.

Norman Cruz

DDB’s one-strike policy endorsed J

By Rey E. Requejo

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has backed a proposal of the Dangerous Drugs Board to enforce a “one-strike policy” in dismissing government workers who will be found positive for use of illegal drugs.

“I agree that a government official found positive for illegal drugs should be dismissed,” Guevarra said in an interview.

Guevarra was commenting on the position made by DDB Chairman Catalino Cuy that public officials and employees should be dismissed from the service once they are found positive for illegal drugs for the first offense.

“The government campaign against illegal drugs should include, first and fore-

most, its own ranks,” Guevarra stressed.

According to the Justice secretary, since drug use is a criminal offense, “any government official found guilty of a criminal offense, malversation, for example, is also administratively liable.”

“We are standing our ground. It’s a DDB regulation and we wanted to be strict with government officials,” Guevarra said.

But the Civil Service Commission is-

sued last year a resolution to let drugusing government employees undergo treatment and rehabilitation.

Nonetheless, the DDB and CSC have agreed that all uniformed personnel should be subjected to the one-strike policy—police, military and law enforcement agents, including those of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte’s all out war against illegal drugs, from July 2016 up to June this year, authorities have arrested a total of 147,802 individuals involved in illegal drugs.

Of this number, some 229 were elected officials, 52 were uniformed personnel, and 245 were government employees.

Around 102,630 anti-illegal drugs operations by joint law enforcement

agencies were also conducted during the period.

These anti-drug operations also resulted in the killing of 4,354 drug personalities.

In the said period the total value of illegal drugs seized reached P21.29 billion while 2,738.73 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as “shabu,” with an estimated value of P14.66 billion were also seized. At least 714.92 kilograms of shabu were confiscated from smuggling and 318.39 kilograms were confiscated from manufacturing particularly from the dismantling of clandestine laboratories.

The anti-drug campaign als showed that 6,562 out of 42,036 barangays in the country were already cleared of illegal drugs from July 2016 to June 2018.

By Nash Maulana SULTAN SA BARONGIS, Maguindanao—Police’s illegal drugs tag on the slain former vice mayor of this town drew flak from kin and friends reacting in protest of the label on social media.

The family of the slain former vice mayor of this town also wanted an impartial investigation into his killing Saturday night, after the local police said he was linked to illegal drugs.

The victim Roger Mamalo, 63, had retired from local politics and had since become a heart patient, according to his daughter Bai Aga Mamalo.

Police said Mamalo was waylaid by gunmen as he drove towards his residence in Purok Golden Duranta, Barangay New Isabela in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat at 8:00 pm on Saturday.

The victim’s son Nurie Mamalo, a municipal councilor here, said he had communicated with the Region 12 Police Office in General Santos City to verify a report that police had linked his father to illegal drugs, after his killing.

On Sunday, a report by Bombo Radyo implicating Mamalo in alleged drugs-watch list drew flak on social media, from among kin and residents, many of them Christians, who said they knew better the Muslim former vice mayor of this town.

The Bombo Radyo quoted P/Supt.

Joefel Siason, city police director of Tacurong City, as saying it appeared in the initial police investigation that “the name of ex-Vice Mayor Mamalo is linked to illegal drugs.”

Councilor Mamalo said his mother Monira Mamalo would be appearing to verify and set the records straight with the PNP-RO 12 in the company of a lawyer.

FORCE MULTIPLIERS. Philippine National Police Chief Police Director General Oscar D. Albayalde (right), leads the oathtaking of National Coalition of Force Multipliers during the ‘People’s day sa Kampo Crame 23rd Police Community Relations Month Celebration’ held at Transformation Oval, Camp Crame in Quezon City on Saturday (July 21, 2018). PNA

Senators, media groups deplore Albay broadcaster’s killing

By Macon Ramos Araneta

SEVERAL senators and media groups on Sunday took turns denouncing the recent murder of a broadcast journalist in Albay, the 12th victim of an assassin’s bullets under the present dispensation.

Senator JV Ejercito fired the opening shot and prodded the national police to find the perpertrators in the killing of radio broadcaster Joey Llana in Barangay Peñafrancia, Daraga town, Albay.

“I urge the national police to find the perpetrators of this cowardly crime and ensure the safety of all journalists in the country,” Ejercito said.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said “We cannot allow fear and impunity to reign in a democratic society.”

Earlier, Senator Grace Poe deplored Llana’s killing and urged the authorities “to swiftly act on this and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Poe said the increasing number of

Senator JV Ejercito

killings of journalists and the slow resolution of cases emboldened those who carry out the attacks against the members of the media.

Detained Senator Leila de Lima said Llana is yet another victim of the dark cloud of impunity enveloping our land.

“And frankly, to my mind, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s condemnation of this killing and promise

of justice sound hypocritical,” she said.

Daraga police chief Supt. Benito Dipad said Llana was shot with a .45-cal. gun and a .9mm pistol as he was maneuvering his car out of the garage.

The victim, 43, of dwZR, suffered several gunshot wounds in the head and in the body.

Dipad said the family of the victim said the latter has been receiving death threats since last year from unknown persons but he did take it seriously.

Roque said the Palace strongly condemend the killing of Llana, noting that it is another infringement on the rights to life and a free press. He assured that the Presidential Task Force on Media Security would bring justice to another victim of media killings.

“The PTFoMs will be relentless in according justice to this latest victim,” Roque said.

For his part, PTFoMS executive director Joel Egco also condemned ‘in the

strongest possible terms’ Llana’s killing, vowing to solve the case.

Egco has ordered the creation of a special investigation task group to look into the killing of the Albay reporter.

“This saddens me. This is the reason why it is very important that we should know the protocols on media security,” Egco said in a media interview in Baguio City.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said in a statement, “If proven to be related to his work, his death would be the 12th media killing under President Rodrigo Duterte, the third in Bicol and the 185th since 1986.”

The first radio commentator gunned down in Albay in early 2000 was Jun Villanueva of radio station dzGB in early 2000, followed by Roel Enrinal of dwZR later that same year.

The International Federation of Journalists condemned the latest attack on a Filipino journalist, and said every killing “weakened” Philippine democracy.

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Opinion

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

We need to heal

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Philippines.

And clearly, the country will not be any better for this. We must pay the wages of all the bickering, and snapping, the intriguing and the scheming that have all but enervated our national spirit, and left us a divided THE President delivers the traditional nation and worse, one that is stubbornly State of the Nation Address today. His petulant about this division! And while supporters will applaud him. Many will some have proclaimed themselves to heckle him as he makes his way to the be instruments of rapprochement, they Batasan. His admirers will hang on his have only soughed through an already every word. His critics will seize every despondent nation the doleful notes of opportunity to convince the nation discord and driven the fissures even deeper, for that fissure that his address runs deepest that lies makes painfully on the other side of evident his inability a berm of pointless to govern. Congress rhetoric. will then go about We must pay As a member of the its business, while consultative committee many of the citizens the wages of all formed by an Executive will persist in their the bickering, and Order of the President, cynicism and their I will do what I can. I distrust. Bishops will snapping, the will assume that the continue lambasting intriguing and President really wanted the ruthlessness what was best for the with which murders the scheming country when he tasked are committed that have all but the committee with and the seeming enervated our writing a constitution lukewarmness with for a federal republic. which the perpetrators national spirit.

It is not a reckless are pursued, while assumption, because I supporters of the have done my part to administration will read up on federalism lambast the bishops by digging up stories of molestation and am honestly convinced that it is by clerics and charges of avarice worth a try. That it has never been tried and scandalous opulence. The CPP- before is no argument at all, after all, we NPA-NDF will patrol the hamlets and have bravely ventured on the untried in villages at night, threatening, extorting, the past. We gambled on Cory Aquino and, paradoxically, also endeavoring when she dismantled the constitutional to win sympathy to their cause. The order in 1986 and set in place a reordered military will fan out through the same republic through a constitution drafted area by day, convince the peasants of by hand-picked craftsmen, and I am the countryside that they mean well, and convinced it was worth the gamble. Let make life miserable for those marked us have a thorough, no-holds barred out as sympathizers of the rebels. One debate on the merits or demerits of faction of economists will tell that the federalism, because we need such an country now wears the pallor of a nation exchange, but let us not allow what on the brink of its demise; another will might be a salutary conversation for our tell us that it cannot be any rosier—and country’s future to degenerate into the neither side will really be believed by imputation of vile and base motives on the already confounded people of the Turn to A5

O

A worthy goal

NE quality that has set the Duterte administration apart from its predecessor is its vision. While its predecessor squandered time and energy in persecuting its political enemies, this administration has set an audacious goal to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure” that will create jobs, spur investments and reduce poverty.

Despite its bluster, the previous administration ended its term with only seven major infrastructure projects completed under its vaunted public-private partnership program.

In contrast, the Duterte administration hopes to spend up to P8 trillion on its Build, Build, Build program that includes 75 flagship projects comprised of six airports, nine railways, 32 roads and bridges and four seaports. All these will create more jobs, help lower production costs, improve rural incomes, encourage new investments, and make the transport of people and goods more efficient.

The government also aims to build four energy facilities that will ensure stable power supply at lower prices; 10 water resource projects and irrigation systems to improve agricultural output; and five flood control facilities that will help protect vulnerable communities.

The potential is immense.

In May, a top official of the Asian Development Bank observed that the Philippines was poised to meet its target to reduce poverty from 22 percent today to 14 percent when President Rodrigo Duterte leaves office in 2022 as a result of Build, Build, Build.

Road projects, especially in the countryside, can help spur growth in small and medium enterprises, said ADB Director General for Southeast Asia Ramesh Subramaniam, adding that he has not seen this kind of an infrastructure push in his last 20 years in ADB Manila.

University of Asia and the Pacific cofounder and economist Bernardo Villegas observed this month that the administration had “a great deal of absorptive capacity” to pursue the infrastructure program, which he said was “light-years ahead” of those of previous governments.

With the resolve of the current administration to implement its massive infrastructure program, Filipinos can expect to see gains in the next few years, Villegas added.

Delays could throw a spanner in the works, however.

The government has over 2,000 infrastructure projects in the pipeline and the the National Economic and Development Authority has identified 75 highimpact flagship projects. By Neda’s timetable, 31 of these are supposed to start this year, but so far, only seven have begun.

Delays in obtaining official development assistance are part of the problem.

Inefficiencies among the agencies directly involved in the infrastructure projects, as reported by the Commission on Audit, are also problematic.

President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed some impatience himself over the delays and has said he will hold his Cabinet secretaries responsible if projects do not proceed as planned.

As he gives his third State of the Nation Address today, we hope the President reiterates this call for urgent action to push Build, Build, Build forward toward its ambitious goals, and specifies how he will remove the obstacles along the way.

Time out Overwhelmed by the enormity of the drug problem, burdened by the incompetence and corruption of officialdom, and a country weighed down by internecine and separatist drives, Duterte had to act on these things first.

Which is why launching an information campaign about federalism has yet to be WHAT comes out as an undisputed done officially and intensively. Even the observation about the push for federalism convening of a study group to synthesize is that the Filipino people who will the amendments to the Constitution took ultimately decide on its fate are, as of the backburner, and was only begun in today, still largely unaware about it. earnest this year. Congress itself at the Despite attempts by the ruling party, early stages could not make up its mind PDP-Laban, to inform the people about on whether to convene a constituent its merits, federalism has yet to ring a big assembly as a single assemblage voting as bell. Only in Mindanao, where it sounds one or separately. To break the impasse, like a clarion call against the perennial the Senate and the House decided to neglect (until the Duterte era) of the put the matter to later decision, and perennially-touted “land of promise” discuss substantive issues regarding is federalism the amendments acceptable, first. Thus, the marginally at that. commission Pulse Asia headed by CJ in its mid-June Reynato Puno A wise coach knows research said that to fl esh out the when to call for it.

67 percent of those substance.

And that is what we asked about Charter It’s been barely change rejected the a month since ought to do in the idea of amending the output of that meantime. the present charter study commission and replacing the came out. Now current system with the House and the a federal setup. In its Senate are arguing first quarter reading, about the manner 64 percent opposed. It is a statistical tie, but of formally amending, to the point where note that the last three months was when the two controversial issues have been Consultative Commission was periodically mouthed by the House: One, that the 2019 informing the public through media about elections should be postponed so as to its proposals. allow the proposed constituent assembly Thirty percent said they are “open” to time to make the needed amendments Charter change, but not yet. It’s a neither- ready for a plebiscite. Indeed, the timeline here-nor-there answer, the typical Pinoy is tough. Forcing through in time for reaction to change, “kumbinsihin mo simultaneous elections and ratification by muna ako.”

May of 2019, just 10 months from now, is Those who stated their preference for completely unrealistic.

Charter change dropped by 5-percentage The second, even more controversial, points, June versus March. proposal is to send the issue directly to the Sure, President Duterte vowed that he people through a people’s initiative, which would prefer a federalist setup as against the current Constitution has enumerated the current unitary system where political as another means of amendment. That and economic power is centralized in was attempted during GMA’s time as what Bisayans decry as “imperialist before her in FVR’s as well—for naught.

Manila.” He said that even during the To be fair, the House leadership is right campaign, but that was not why people on the paucity of time. They have a 2019 elected him president. budget to tackle, and various non-tooPeople went for the Davao City easy legislation on their plate, such as the mayor because he had a string of “can Part Two of TRAIN, the rice tarrification do” accomplishments in the southern amendment, the straightening-out of metropolis which proved that he would labor contractualization, all of which be a “will-do” leader of the entire impact massively on the economy, which country. Not because they went ga- could really be “in the doldrums” if not ga over federalism. They did not even acted upon soon. comprehend then. Until now, few still I have myself begun to have serious comprehend what federalism is all about.

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State of lawlessness and anarchy It may just be Sola, instead of Sona.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his third State of the Nation Address before a joint session of Congress later today. For sure, the President will give a glowing report of accomplishments during his two years at the helm of government.

Officials of the Presidential Communications Operations Office say the speech is estimated to last at least 30 minutes. That is, if Mr Duterte does not do his usual rambling, ranting and raving. Then expect it to be longer.

The supermajority allies of the administration and the congressmen’s wives in their fashionable dresses for sure will applaud almost everything the Chief Executive says. But the truth of

the matter is that the State of the Nation is far from ideal. It is Sona, or Sola—A state of lawlessness and anarchy?

Expect the President to speak lengthily about his relentless war on illegal drugs and his campaign against government corruption. But the reality on the ground is that the crime rate is still high contrary to what the Philippine National Police claim that it has done. Just listen to the morning and evening newscast of all the major TV networks. Killings particularly of priests, local officials plus the daily reports of ambushes by hired killers riding in tandem

on motorcycles is common occurrences.

While Duterte can be credited for firing government officials with just a “whiff of corruption,” malfeasance in his administration apparently is more than a scent. To wit: Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo was fired for allowing a multimillion DoT advertising contract to a radio-TV program hosted by her brother Ben Tulfo. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has also been replaced. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is being accused of alleged extortion by a labor recruitment agency. The Commission on Audit is questioning missing funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

There is a time-tested saying that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Why did the consultative committee (Con-Com) allow a total overhaul of the Charter instead of just amending certain sections like banning political dynasties and ending prohibitive economic provisions Turn to A5

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

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Opinion EVERYMAN

A call for climate justice

By Beatrice Tulagan ON THE day of the barangay elections in May, at a tin-roofed roadside shack 142 kilometers north of Manila, the women of Barangay Lamao in Limay, Bataan gathered to await the results of the votes. Some of their colleagues from the Coal-Free Bataan Movement have sought positions at the last minute, and together they hummed to the radio as they prepared a feast of pancit and menudo for their supporters and families.

It was a humid morning filled with tension and the chatter of their children who insisted on tagging along. Already they have been getting reports that the competition allegedly has people outside of the precincts handing pay-offs to voters, but they kept their spirits up with good food and good company. “Panggulo lang naman kayo!” they teased their candidates. “Pero okay yan ha, disrupt the system!”

Politics was never an option for them, but they had to explore all avenues to resist upon the murder of a 57-year-old grandmother, their comrade, Gloria Capitan. Capitan, who had actively opposed an open coal stockpile in the area for its effect on the health of the community, was gunned down by still unidentified men one night in her family’s karaoke bar.

“It’s a death march yet again,” Derec Cabe, coordinator of the movement, has been saying for years.

For the first few weeks after Capitan’s death, the organization actively campaigned for the police to investigate the threats some members had also been receiving. Suspicious

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either side. That has not helped before.

It will not help us now.

The Con-Com, of which I was a willing and enthusiastic member, did not set pen to paper in the belief that the 1987 Constitution was a bad constitution. It was not. It was a very good Constitution, and so I take umbrage at those who, for reasons hardly warranted by serious analytics, sweep aside the effort of our group as “the worst Cha-Cha ever,” as if we had ever made the pretense of crafting the best Charter ever. We set mind and heart to work on drafting a constitution because we were all convinced that federalism is good for the country. If we were wrong in that conviction, we will—at least I will—willingly listen to the arguments against it and pay them serious heed, and change my mind should that be necessary.

But I will not accept the indictment that my colleagues and I sat down at the bidding of a man who conscripted us to wrest power for himself. None of us in that group was willing to be used by anyone. And no matter that we may have found provisions of the 1987 Constitution inadequate for our present-day needs, that never ever translated for us into casting aspersions on the integrity and the intelligence of the noble Filipinos who crafted the post-Edsa charter.

The President has to stop all his cursing and his bullying. The calculated ambivalence and double-speak that have led many to believe that he countenances extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances must be replaced by a

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misgivings about federalism, which I supported in this space, and which even during Cory Aquino’s time, I proposed along with then vice president Salvador H. Laurel and tycoon Enrique Zobel, as secretary-general of the Unlad Movement they founded together with Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

In this space, I have questioned the penchant to divide the country into federal component states along ethno-linguistic lines, the main reason being these are not, and do not have the capability within even two generations from now, to become economically independent with federalism. I thus proposed in this space a more economically balanced division: One for all provinces north of Metro Manila, another for all provinces of Luzon south of it, a third for the entire Visayas, a fourth for all of Mindanao, a fifth for the Bangsamoro, and a special autonomous region to cover Metro Manila.

I also proposed in this space the need for a longer transition period, precisely because it is not easy to effect this kind of systemic change. Thus, the transitory provisions in the proposed

men had loitered around Capitan’s residence and family bar before the murder, and similar activity had been reported by other activists near their houses. Their complaints, they felt, were never really taken seriously— the case was recently dismissed for lack of suspects. The stockpile started operating again not long after an environment secretary was dismissed.

Capitan’s second death anniversary was recently commemorated at the Commission on Human Rights last July 1 with songs, spoken word and short-skit performances on the dangers of coal plants to the health of families and their role in climate change. Since her death, however, President Rodrigo Duterte has graced the inauguration of more coal plants all over the country, cementing the country’s continued reliance on this deadly fossil fuel.

According to a paper entitled Navigating a trilemma: Energy security, equity, and sustainability in the Philippines’ low-carbon transition authored by Antonio La Vina and the Ateneo School of Government, the country’s overdependence on one imported resource is problematic as it highlights the exposure of electricity prices to international market fluctuations. With 70 percent of coal in the country coming from Indonesia, this is an inevitability.

There is also a problem in having a supply of coal plants beyond baseload needs, which forces some plants to serve mid-merit requirements.

Baseload refers to plants running 24 hours to serve the continuous and constant demand. Mid-merit, on the

other hand, comes online when the demand picks up and shut down when the demand drops off. According to the study, mid-merit plants are better suited for sources other than coal, which will be eventually phased out by their inability to compete with newer, cleaner and and eventually, cheaper technology.

In the fight for climate justice, campaigners and environmental supporters spend most of their time either planning to stop new fossil fuel projects from operating, pushing for legislation that will institutionalize a cleaner future for all, or seeking liability and compensation of historical polluters through the growing trend of climate litigation.

But what happens for those in the in-between, to people who have no choice but to live with coal projects in their very backyards, with statistics that imply that they too may be part of the growing list of victims? What is the version of climate justice for the here and now?

These are questions we must ask ourselves as advocates and we must answer them quickly. Social change tends to be slow, and merely accepting that some communities will just have to be collateral damage in the fight towards progress is anything but justice.

Only one of the movement’s officers won a seat in the barangay elections, but these activists in Bataan have not lost hope. “Ate Gloria used to say she will not stop fighting until her eyes are closed, until death.” Cabe mused. “It is the same with us.”

The author is executive director of Climate Stories PH.

clear and unequivocal adherence to the rule of law in thought, word and deed.

He was an effective mayor of Davao City. He has had enough time to morph into the President of the Philippines. We should stop this nonsense of calling him “Mayor” because he is now President, and must act as President—carefully calibrating his actions so that he remains an effective Executive who submits to a constitutionally established system of checks and balances. His critics for his part have no right to doubt that he loves his country. We may object to his often uncouth ways and his inexcusably crude language, but I do not think he has ever given us reason to doubt his devotion to the Philippines.

What I am appealing for is what I have referred to often as “the benevolent a priori”—which is more than just “the benefit of the doubt.” The benevolent a priori is a constant disposition to think the best of others. This requires the President to think best of the church and of his critics in the press and elsewhere; it requires his critics to grant that he intends what is best. It requires bishops to think of Digong as one of their flock and never to exclude him from the fold as a sheep on whom the shepherd has given up. The President has so much to gain by being wise enough to rise above the harsh expressions of critics to the wisdom of the criticism. Meanwhile the media can help tremendously by learning the important lesson that it has a far more constructive role to play than pitting contending camps against each other, provoking harsh encounters of the detestable kind and being purveyors of fake news.

There is an appetite for the gory in this country, a never sated eagerness for scandal, a sickening fascination with high-drama, whether these have

to do with the private lives of persons in high places or the exposés to which Congress very often treats the nation.

Everybody, it is fiercely insisted, has the right to his opinion. That, I think, is the trouble, because together with the invocation of this truism must come the acknowledgement that there is a difference between “true” and “false” and that it cannot all be a matter of opinion. In fact, the most important things in life are not matters of opinion.

I will echo MacIntyre here: When we reject any reference to objective standards, to objective norms, then anything goes—and we can forever debate pass each other and get nowhere.

That is what is happening in the country now. When the Supreme Court voted against Serreno, naysayers told us that it could no longer be trusted. But it was very soon applauded when it ruled against the Marcoses. So, is that what it is all about now—popular acclaim? But are we not building on shifting sands, something only fools will do, says the Gospel?

It is worth a try: Granting the other the benevolent a priori—that, in the norms of discourse theory, forbids us from excluding anything or anyone outright as irrational and unworthy of our attention, and a return to a healthy respect for the objective and the real, the salutary recognition of the very useful difference between “true” and “false,” “right” and “wrong,” with sufficient sensitivity to the inevitability of interpretation and of constructs.

That is no more difficult than being rational and thoughtful.

new constitution would be critical. A time frame defined as short as between ratification to June 30, 2022 would be impractical and discombobulating both to the economy and the body politic.

There is no shame in back-tracking for now on a campaign promise. As I stated here earlier, people did not vote for Duterte because they want federalism. And the President has shown that he is capable of changing his position on major issues.

A time out is resorted to whether in sports or in life itself. A wise coach knows when to call for it. And that, I submit, is what we ought to do in the meantime.

Debate and discuss the amendment proposals more with an engaged public, and with an open mind. As politics, and life itself is subject to reasoned and reasonable compromise, so too must such an earth-shaking change be an exercise in full information and open discussion. *** On the educational front, we are pleased to announce that starting August, Meco in partnership with the Philippine Science High School (main campus) will launch a Mandarin Language Teaching Program tailored for the needs of our science and math senior high students.

Taiwan has achieved remarkable strides in science and technology education, training and research, and

their universities are opening doors to Filipino students. Meco anticipates a growing number of undergraduate scholarships from Taiwan universities to become available for Filipino high school graduates, aside from post-graduate work.

We want our young graduates to look towards science and applied math courses, more than law or the social sciences, and Taiwan, so near at that, is helping out.

When classes open this August at the PSHS, Mandarin classes will be offered as an elective course for Grade 10 students, with 160 hours of Basic Mandarin before proceeding to intermediate Mandarin in the succeeding year. By their 12th year, they will go into Advanced Mandarin.

At the end of each school year, the best-performing students will be given the opportunity to go on a two-week immersion/ exposure program to any agency, company or research facility in Taiwan specializing on technological innovation, agriculture, fisheries, engineering, robotics/artificial intelligence, environmental studies and renewable energy. This would help Grade 10 students determine and better identify the field of specialization they would adopt as the country’s future scientists and applied math experts.

Additionally, they would learn to be proficient in the second most useful language in the world.

rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

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Cancer can no longer be ignored Cancer Control Bill—Senate Bill 1850—satisfies this. Sponsored by Senate Committee on Health Chairman JV Ejercito, there is broad support for the important piece of legislation in the upper house by way of 15 senators: Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Sonny AS THE Duterte presidency marks its Angara, Frank Drilon, Migz Zubiri, second year, the country is anticipating Ralph Recto, Francis Pangilinan, Richard the third State of the Nation Address and Gordon, Grace Poe, Sonny Trillanes, Win how the President will present how this Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Cynthia administration has performed, and, we Villar, Joel Villanueva, and Panfilo hope, give us a sense of the top priorities Lacson.

In the House of Representatives, the of government.

Less frequently reported but no less chairman of the Committee on Health, important are headways as far as health Rep. Helen Tan, had also approved outcomes are concerned. President the consolidated version of the Cancer Duterte last week certified as priority Control Bill. Originally filed by Rep. a bill that mandates “universal” access Alfred Vargas, the bill has likewise to health care. The Universal Health garnered broad support, with almost Coverage bill was passed by the Lower 200 sponsors. It has been referred to the House last year; a counterpart remains Committees on Appropriations, chaired

by Rep. Karlo Nograles and then the pending at the Senate.

Under the much-anticipated measure, Committee on Ways and Means chaired the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. by Rep. Dax Cua. Outside the halls of government, will be reconstituted into the Philippine Health Security Corp. and will serve as patient groups, medical societies, and a the state purchaser of health services, to host of other health advocates have long been pushing for the which all citizens passage of the bill. have access.

These include the The move is Cancer Coalition certainly a step in Philippines, a the right direction.

There are some broad national It acknowledges alliance of cancer the obligation 110,000 new cancer patient support of the state to cases and over 66,000 organizations, secure the health medical societies, cancer deaths every of its people, that and health it is more than year, excluding the advocates.

For a private and unreported cases. the group, only a domestic concern. holistic, integrated But the medical approach to cancer landscape is a control can address complex one, the complexity and one disease appears to be more misunderstood and of the phenomenon, from prevention, detection, and diagnosis, all the way to neglected than others: Cancer.

This is strange, considering how the treatment, survivorship, and palliative disease is now the third leading cause of care.

A national policy on cancer will also death in the Philippines. Latest data from the Department of Health’s Philippine mean that no patient will be left behind.

Cancer Facts and Estimates even reveals The proposed law guarantees this by an alarming increase in cancer incidence, addressing what it had identified as major up to 11 new cases and seven deaths every gaps in the cancer treatment ecosystem, hour for adult cancers and 11 new cases and foremost the glaring need for more eight deaths per day for childhood cancer. pathologists, oncologists, oncologyThis translates to some 110,000 new cancer trained nurses, and cancer centers.

In response, the key provisions of the cases and over 66,000 cancer deaths every bill include the creation of a National year, excluding the unreported cases.

But beyond the numbers and statistics, Cancer Assistance Fund, with expanded as any family who has had to deal with availability and accessibility of essential serious illness would attest to, the medicines, the establishment of a national emotional toll that comes with caring cancer registry and surveillance system, for a sick family member rivals only and support for persons with cancer and the financial stress associated with the cancer survivors similar to that afforded high cost of private medical care in the to persons with disabilities.

With President Duterte’s expressed Philippines. What can financially upset a middle-class household is an outright prioritization of the universal health financial catastrophe for the poor, from coverage bill, it appears the government does understand the importance of which they may never recover.

A study by Dr. Hilton Lam, Director a holistic and national approach to of UP Manila’s Institute of Health Policy healthcare. As a special and urgent and Development Studies, points out phenomenon, cancer deserves a similarly a number of factors that aggravate the careful and specialized attention, which situation. A typical Filipino patient, the only a national integrated cancer control study said, is diagnosed when their cancer act can provide.

Cancer is such a difficult and sensitive has progressed to a later state—when the cost of care has risen and the odds issue to talk about. For decades it has of survival have narrowed. Multiply this not received the level of institutionalized experience a thousand fold—one out support despite the alarming data. every 1,800 Filipinos is diagnosed each Hence a critical mass of stakeholders year—and the need for a national policy representing millions of Filipinos directly and indirectly affected by cancer are on cancer becomes indubitable.

To its credit, the DoH, through appealing our legislators to pass what its Administrative Order 89-A series would be one of the most significant of 1990, has shown the state’s landmark legislation of Congress for commitment to controlling cancer health.

Among the many interests that incidence among Filipinos, the study said. Among its recommendations is are competing for President Duterte’s for the DoH to transform the AO into a political capital, making the National proposed legislation that will increase Integrated Cancer Control bill a top the consistency of prioritization and legislative priority will benefit the whole budgeting as far as its cancer-related spectrum of Philippine society.

Pass the National Integrated Cancer programs are concerned.

The proposed National Integrated Control bill into law!

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that discourage foreign investors from coming into the country? Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea with their liberal investment laws are more economically progressive.

We are hoping the President after his Sona speech does not convene the joint session of Congress into a constitutional assembly or Con-Ass to railroad the draft charter and federalism for passage. The opportunity is there. But can the President do that?

There are of course pros and cons for the shift to federalism. But the best argument against federalism is the enormous cost it would entail. Next year’s national budget is estimated at P3.7 trillion. A shift to federalism is like starting a government for a new nation.

Yet, the congressmen want to totally change the 1987 Constitution for their own selfish end. A switch to federalism, as proposed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, seeks to shelve the 2019 midterm elections for local officials and the incumbent senators and congressmen.

Alvarez and his ilk would benefit as they won’t have to spend campaign money to run for reelection.

Alvarez, according to voters polled in Davao, is facing an uphill battle against

presidential daughter and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte. The long-range game plan, according to political observers, is for Inday Sara to run for the House Speakership and ultimately as vice presidential running mate of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bongbong, if he wins his vice presidential election protest against VP Leni Robredo. As vice president, Bongbng is expected to consolidate his power during the transitional period for election either as president or prime minister depending on Mr. Duterte’s own short-term plan.

Will Digong step down to hand over power to Marcos, Jr.? He had stated earlier that he would not relinquish the presidency to an “incompetent” Vice President Robredo.

It does not take a rocket scientist nor an accomplished accountant to estimate the enormous cost of switching to federalism.

The Supreme Court alone will be increased to four sub-courts. Under the federal system there will be four branches of the Supreme Court—the regional administrative, a federal court, a constitutional court, an electoral court and the main Supreme Court.

Subdividing the Supreme Court would mean additional expenses.

Increasing the number of senators from 24 to 30 and the congressmen from its present 290 to 400 and their component staff is going to add to the cost of running a government.

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News

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Allow foreign contractors in infra projects’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

MID the reported delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he wants to relax a provision of the 80-year-old Commonwealth Act that sets restrictions on the entry of foreign contractors.

“We will file a legislative measure to allow foreign contractors to participate in government projects,” Gatchalian said.

The senator made the statement days after a Commission on Audit report showed that the Department of Public Works and Highways was only able to spend P222.66 billion out of its P610-billion budget allocated for government projects in 2017.

CoA said the low utilization rate “indicates that management was not able to effectively manage the increasing amount of funds entrusted to the agency due to low physical delivery of target project and activities.”

Gatchalian said allowing foreign contractors can speed up the implementation of the priority infrastructure projects.

In particular, he said Common-

wealth Act No. 541, which gives preference to Filipino or US contractors, must be amended.

The country’s economic managers have earlier pushed for the easing of the restrictions on the Foreign Investment Negative List, especially in the area of public construction.

The 10th Foreign Investments Negative List issued in 2015 sets a maximum of 25 percent for foreign

equity in public works funded domestically, which means foreign contractors can only participate via joint ventures with Filipino-owned companies.

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Florian Gottein said lifting the restrictions against foreign contractors would spur interest from European companies to participate in the Build, Build, Build program.

P300-m fund for livelihood projects of OFW groups DULY constituted associations of overseas Filipino workers can look forward to availing of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment—Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

This after the government allocated P300 million for the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-Unlad ng SamahangOFWs, or Tulong PUSO program.

The program aims to provide assistance to OFW organizations for the formation, enhancement, and restoration of livelihood projects in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools and jigs, and other support services.

The livelihood assistance is a one-time grant that ranges from P250,000 to P1 million, relative to the requirements of the business project and the number of OFW members applying for the grant.

“The Tulong PUSO is one of DOLEOWWA’s mechanisms to encourage OFW organizations to engage into viable and sustainable livelihood undertakings. Together with partner agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, we will be conducting enterprise development training and other social preparation interventions to equip the OFW groups with the right knowledge and skills to ensure the success of their chosen livelihood projects,” OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said.

FLOODS EVERYWHERE. (Above) Motorists brave the road in Quezon City despite the zero visibility caused by by tropical depression ‘Josie.’ (Below) The old Tumana bridge in Marikina is submerged in floodwaters on Sunday. Manny Palmero

POEA to blacklist Kuwaiti blogger A NON-GOVERNMENT organization has asked the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to bar Kuwait social media influencer and celebrity make-up artist Sondos al-Qattan from hiring a domestic worker from the Philippines.

This after Al-Qattan posted a video on Instagram where she questioned why Filipino domestic helpers enjoy a day off every week and are allowed to bring their passports with them as part of a new labor agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait.

“How can you have a servant at home who keeps their own passport with them? Honestly, with this new contract, I just wouldn’t get a Filipino maid. She’d only work six days a week and get four days off a month,” she said in her now deleted post.

Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said the blogger, who has 2.3-million Instagram followers and over 100,000 Twitter fans, personifies the ugly face of modern-day slavery and should be included in the POEA’s blacklist of abusive and undesirable foreign employers.

Solon warns OFWs against fake iDOLE cards A LAWMAKER has warned overseas Filipino workers against the proliferation of fake iDOLE cards.

ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III said the House of Representatives will investigate the premature release of the integrated Department of Labor and Employment cards.

“We’ve already filed the resolution en-

abling the House good government and public accountability committee to conduct the probe, after Labor Secretary [Silvestre] Bello [III] himself acknowledged the irregularities,” Bertiz said.

He said state-run security printer APO Production Unit Inc. has yet to explain why it prematurely generated and released thou-

sands of iDOLE cards.

“The copies apparently lacked the security features of a real iDOLE card, and this allowed counterfeiters to quickly reproduce phony iDOLE cards that are now being illegally sold to departing OFWs,” Bertiz said.

Bello earlier said he already had the

iDOLE project scrapped after several racketeers tried to make money from OFWs through the cards.

The iDOLE card is meant to conveniently replace the overseas employment certificate that all OFWs have to present at immigration counters before they are allowed to leave the country.

2 policemen killed in ambush by NPA rebels in Palawan

By Francisco Tuyay PARTIDO FEDERAL.

Former chief Justice Reynato Puno, head of the consultative commission, shows a copy of the amended Constitution in a forum held at Club Filipino in San Juan on Saturday.

Manny Palmero

TWO policemen who were responding to a vehicular accident were killed in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army rebels in Palawan Sunday morning.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Mimaropa police regional director, identified the victims as PO3 Alexander Mimbalawag and PO1 Julpetri Gustaham, both members of the Taytay Municipal Police Station in Palawan.

The victims were on their way back to camp after responding to the vehicular accident in Brgy. Bato in the town of Taytay when they were attacked by armed men in Sitio Nagtakayan.

Licup said authorities have now set up checkpoints in a bid to apprehend the suspected NPA rebels.

IN BRIEF Insular Life buys P1-b green bonds INSULAR Life, the country’s first and largest Filipino life insurer, recently subscribed P1 billion worth of green bonds issued by International Finance Corp. to help the Philippines combat the effects of global warming.

Proceeds of these “green bonds” will be on-lent by IFC directly to eligible IFC climate projects, according to the IFC, an international financial institution and a member of the World Bank Group.

“We are happy to join the IFC in this noble endeavor because we believe that the Philippines is due for the greener path.

There are many worthy projects for the environment that need to be supported by way of financing,” said Insular Life executive chairman Nina Aguas.

The IFC has been investing heavily on climate-related projects around the world and this time, the group has set its sights on the Philippines for ventures that will address possible projects in renewable power, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, waste and private sector adaptation to climate change.

Business

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

Aboitiz, Chelsea bidding for Davao, Bohol airports

Skyway opens new exit ramp in Makati City

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Aboitiz Group and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy submitted new unsolicited proposals to develop and maintain provincial airports in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the Department of Transportation.

Aboitiz reviews rehab options on Naga plants ABOITIZ Power Corp. will assess the diesel power plants of the 153.1-megawatt Naga power plant complex in Cebu to determine the firm’s rehabilitation options.

“We have no idea how the plant has been operated in the past years. Initially, we bought it for the plant that was there, the coal plant, (it’s) not there anymore, not operating,” Aboitiz Power chief operating officer Emmanuel Rubio said.

“But I think there are five diesel units, so we’re shutting down those diesel plants to assess their condition,” he said.

Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. turned over the Naga power plant complex in Cebu to Aboitiz Power unit Therma Power Visayas Inc. on July 16.

The Naga complex consists of the 52.5-megawatt Cebu 1 and 56.8-MW Cebu 2 coal-fired thermal power plants, and the 43.8-MW Cebu diesel power plant 1 composed of six 7.3-MW bunker-C fed power units.

Rubio said the review would take around one and a half months... another three months each to rehabilitate the diesel units.

Alena Mae S. Flores

“We have received new unsolicited proposals for the provincial airports and it’s now being evaluated,” DOTr Undersecretary for aviation and airports Manuel Antonio Tamayo said.

Tamayo said Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and Chelsea Logistics re-submitted separate unsolicited offers to develop and maintain New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport and Davao International Airport, respectively.

The department earlier turned down the proposal of Aboitiz InfraCapital to operate, maintain and expand the Iloilo International Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Laguindingan Airport and New Bohol International Airport (Pan-

glao) following a policy change.

The agency also rejected the offer of Chelsea to operate, maintain and expand the Davao International Airport and New Bohol International Airport.

Transportation Undersecretary for planning Ruben Reinoso said in a separate interview the agency was currently evaluating the two unsolicited proposals to expand and operate Davao and Bohol airports.

“If the offer is better than if we do it ourselves, then its okay to privatize the airports,” he said.

“We are currently looking at the proposals and we are looking at the numbers,” Reinoso said.

Reinoso, however, said there were no unsolicited offers from the private sector to develop and operate the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, the Iloilo International Airpot and Laguindingan Airport.

“These airports would be auctioned off by the government, hopefully this year,” he said.

The Regional Airport PPP Projects were originally approved under a bundled PPP structure by the Investment Coordination Committee and the National Economic and Development Authority board.

The Neda board later approved the unbundling of the five airport projects in November 2016.

The five provincial airports in the PPP are the P20.26-billion BacolodSilay International Airport, the P30.4billion Iloilo International Airport, the P14.62-billion Laguindingan Airport, the P2.34-billion New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and the P40.57-billion Davao International Airport.

GOCC remittances to Treasury top P31b A TOTAL of P31.297 billion was remitted by 51 of 77 government-owned and -controlled corporations to the National Treasury as of the second week of July this year, the Department of Finance said over the weekend.

The dividends recorded by the DoF’s Corporate Affairs Group as of July 12 already exceeded the full-year total of P27.735 billion remitted by the GOCCs in 2016 and P30.45 billion in 2017.

The dividends from the GOCCs are poised to easily surpass the record of P33.473 billion in 2015.

Dividend collections as of July 12 were also 64 percent higher than P19.1 billion remitted by GOCCs in the same period last year, according to the CAG. The top 10 contributors were the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines with P6.224 billion so far submitted to the Treasury. It was followed by the Philippine Ports Authority with P3,103 billion; Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., P2.844 billion; Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., P 2.593 billion; and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, P 2.535 billion. Julito G. Rada

FNI’S OFFERING. Mining company Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. successfully lists 250 million shares that it sold through a follow-on offering at the Philippine Stock Exchange. (PSE). At the bell-ringing ceremony are (from left) FNI director and corporate secretary Noel B. Lazaro, director and chief finance officer Mary Belle Bituin, director Gu Zhi Fang, chairman Joseph Sy, director and president Dante Bravo, PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran, FNI independent director Edgardo Lacson, independent director Roberto Amores and director Dennis Allan Ang.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

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THE Public Works Department said it opened a new exit ramp of Skyway Stage 3 in Makati City about a kilometer north of Gil Puyat Ave. to help ease the traffic along Osmeña Highway.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said vehicles using the three-lane, northbound direction of Skyway Stage 3 could now exit through a temporary ramp constructed near Java Street, instead of Gil Puyat (Buendia) as an offramp. The new exit is a kilometer further north of Osmeña Highway.

“The section, which spans 1-kilometer, will be temporarily opened until full completion of Phase 1, which ends in President Quirino Ave. in Manila,” Villar said.

Villar said the temporary off-ramp near Java Street was currently one lane passable but would be later expanded into two lanes, and eventually four lanes, when the on-ramp or the entrance to the southbound direction of Skyway would be opened to the public.

The Skyway Stage 3 is a six-lane, elevated expressway that would span 17.54 kilometers over Metro Manila from Gil Puyat in Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City. This would connect South Luzon Expressway and North Luzon Expressway.

The project is divided into five sections, including the 3.76-km Section 1 from Gil Puyat to Quirino Ave.; 0.96km Section 2A from Quirino Ave. to Tomas Claudio St., Manila; 3.93-km Section 2B from Tomas Claudio St. to Aurora Boulevard, Manila; 2.71-km Section 3 from Aurora Blvd. to Quezon Ave., Quezon City; 4.46-km Section 4 from Quezon Ave. to A. Bonifacio Ave., Quezon City; and 1.56-km Section 5 from A. Bonifacio to NLEx. Concessionaire and builder San Miguel Corp. through unit Citra Central Expressway Corp. so far completed a 1-km viaduct and a total of 2.7-kilometer deck slab of Skyway Stage 3 Section 1.

San Miguel is investing P26.7 billion in Skyway Stage 3 which is expected to be completed by 2020.

Upon completion, Skyway Stage 3 will ease traffic through the eight access ramps/interchanges strategically located at Gil Puyat, Quirino Ave., Plaza Dilao (Paco, Manila), Nagtahan/Aurora Blvd., E. Rodriguez Ave., (Quezon City), Quezon Ave., Sgt. Rivera St. (Quezon City) and NLEx. Darwin G. Amojelar

Local glass manufacturer wants Economists raise three-year inflation forecasts imports subjected to quality control

By Julito G. Rada

By Othel V. Campos A LOCAL glass manufacturer asked the government to include imported flat glass in the list of products subjected to mandatory quality control to address the deteriorating quality and safety of these products.

Pioneer Float Glass Manufacturing Inc. said it was seeking the re-inclusion of flat glass in the list of mandatory standard product list amid the influx of substandard glass products.

Pioneer Float Glass vice president Nonito Galpa said the entry of substandard flat glass imports had undermined the competitiveness of the local glass industry and subjected consumers

to possible threats of harm because of poor quality.

“Even products under mandatory listing would sometimes have quality and safety issues, what more for voluntary standards listing? We’ re not asking for additional favors. We support the entry of imported glass, but let us make sure that these imports are of mandatory quality,” he said.

Galpa said many of the imports did not comply with the mandatory thickness of glass. A flat glass is the semifinished material used to make other kinds of glasses.

He said the importation of flat glass surged after the government relaxed the rules on mandatory quality control.

PRIVATE sector economists expect a faster inflation in 2018 and in the next two years, on higher oil prices, weaker peso and the impact of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law on prices of goods, results of a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The mean inflation forecast for 2018 was adjusted to 4.5 percent in the June 2018 survey from 4.1 percent in the March 2018 survey. Likewise, mean inflation forecasts for 2019 and 2020 were both raised to 3.8 percent, from 3.7 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively.

“Analysts noted that risks to inflation in 2018 remain tilted to the upside.

Possible upside risks to inflation are the higher and volatile global oil prices,

weakening peso, effects of the Train law on the prices of domestic goods, higher government spending and potential rise in wages,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Other reasons for the uptick in inflation were the adverse weather conditions, higher utility rates and the rising global inflation.

“The key downside risk to inflation was seen to emanate from the removal of quantitative restrictions on rice importation which could reduce domestic rice prices,” the survey said.

However, inflation is expected to moderate, stabilize and settle within the 2 percent to 4 percent target range in 2019 to 2020 as Train’s inflationary impact tapers off.

Based on the probability distribution of the forecasts provided by 20 out of 24 respondents, there was a 16.6-percent

probability that average inflation for 2018 would settle between the 2 percent and 4 percent range, while there was an 82.8-percent chance that inflation would rise beyond 4 percent.

For 2019, the respondents assigned a 60.8-percent probability that inflation would fall within the 2 percent to 4 percent range.

Inflation in June accelerated to a more than five-year high of 5.2 percent from 4.6 percent in May and surpassed the government forecast for the month, triggered by faster increases in the prices of some food and beverage products.

The June inflation, based on the 2012 price index, was also significantly faster than 2.5 percent a year ago. This brought the average inflation in the first half to 4.3 percent, beyond the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2018.

MWSS told to weigh Japan’s bid for Kaliwa dam THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System is proceeding to open for public bidding the P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam project in Rizal province despite instructions from Malacañang Palace to reconsider the unsolicited proposal of a Japanese group to construct the project under a cost-effective build-operate-transfer scheme, and at no cost to the government.

The project, once operational, will provide an additional 550 million liters per day to augment the 4,000 mld from Angat Dam in Bulacan that provides potable drinking water for the metropolis.

A letter sent and signed by Margarita Yu of the Presidential Management Staff to MWSS chairman Franklin Demonteverde showed that Malacañang wanted the water agency to reconsider the unsolicited proposal submitted by Japanese

firm Global Utility Development Co. Ltd. in the form of the Project Consortium for the development of the Kaliwa Intake Weir Project.

The letter dated April 13, 2018 stated: “Pursuant to the President’s commitment for good governance, transparency and immediate action on matters that affect the welfare of the people, we respectfully endorse this matter to your good office and request that you update us of any developments with respect to the same.”

With a memorandum of understanding signed with MWSS, GUDC submitted the unsolicited proposal to the MWSS board in November 2009 to construct the dam.

Toshikazu Nomura, GUDC chief executive and director, said they were confident of the immediate resumption of their un-

solicited proposal to MWSS, and the project would be commissioned in June 2022 within the period of Duterte administration, provided that the construction would start by October 2018, or once tge pre-construction activities and Swiss Challenge were completed.

“This is in the light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent pronouncement directing all government projects under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program to go through the unsolicited proposal subject to the Swiss Challenge route and do away with the ‘lowest bid’ process,” Nomura said.

Nomura said that after waiting for a decade to jump-start the project, he was hoping that MWSS would finally honor the memorandum of understanding it signed with GUDC in 2009.

FRANCHISE EXPO. Franchise Asia Philippines 2018, the biggest gathering of the best and brightest franchising concepts in Asia, opens its doors to 50,000 visitors and trade buyers for the three- day international franchise expo which opened on Friday at the SMX Convention Center Manila. Senator Cynthia Villar (front row, four from left), and PFA Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim (third from left), lead the opening ceremony. With them are (front row, from left) BPI senior vice president Junie Veloso Jr., PFA chairman Alan Escalona, PFA president Richard Sanz, presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, PFA vice chair Ma. Alegria Sibal- Limjoco and PLDT Enterprise vice president Mitch Locsin.

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Business

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Cautious trading seen this week S

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week, with investors adopting a wait-andsee mode on expectations the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may again raise interest rates to tame the inflation rate.

Investors are already expecting the central bank to increase the interest rates in its meeting next month after the inflation rate in July will likely hit 5.1 percent based on the assessment of Bangko Sentral economists.

“The market is anticipating for more rate adjustments from the local central bank as domestic inflation continues to rise,” BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said. The central bank’s next policy meeting is on August 9.

Investors will also be monitoring President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address today to get policy directions on important economic issues.

Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said equity investors would give extra attention to the sequel of the tax reform plan, which included corporate taxes and retention or removal of fiscal incentives.

“This will be crucial to listed companies’ capex rollout, including timing of budget preparations for large-ticket infrastructure projects. As such any hint to affirm this year’s growth prospects could invigorate appetite for equities, especially if these would lead to increased direct investments and job creation,” 2TradeAsia.com said.

Several groups have called for the suspension of the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law due to a significant spike in fuel and food prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week closed flat at 7,300.61 on mixed trading due to lack of catalysts.

Foreign investors were net sellers by P1.58 billion, while the average daily value dropped drop to P3.8 billion from P4.9 billon in the previous week on continued outflow of foreign funds.

Weekly top price gainers include Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp., which advanced 8.5 percent to P6; Max’s Group Inc., which climbed

5.6 percent to P11.72; and Universal Robina Corp., which advanced rose 5.1 percent to P132.50.

Weekly top price losers include ABS-CBN Corp., which declined 9.8 percent to P22; Megawide Construction Corp., which fell 7.1 percent to P18; and Wilcon Depot Inc., which dipped 6.6 percent to 11.20.

Wall Street stocks, meanwhile, finished slightly lower Friday as President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats and attack on the Federal Reserve kept a lid on gains despite largely solid earnings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down less than 0.1 percent at 25,058.06.

The broad-based S&P 500 dropped 0.1 percent to close the week at 2,801.83, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index also fell 0.1 percent to 7,820.20.

With the majority of larger earnings reports still to come, companies are on track to report second-quarter earnings about 20 percent above those of the year-ago period, according to a note from Credit Suisse.

“Overall, the earnings season has been strong, topline revenue growth has been solid as well,” said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JULY 16-20, 2018 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

59.8 132.00 95.50 2.75 1.52 33.05 6.68 16.5 14.58 3.65 8.60 0.67 1.63 825.00 0.530 70 1.03 11.9 19.78 47.70 88 110 190 28.3 206.6 1900.00 84.10 1.19

40,350 4,030,280 3,787,850 216,000 45,000 995,900 200 68,200 1,104,200 1,063,000 4,100 202,000 1,380,000 610 1,314,000 24,157,990 3,762,000 93,400 100 929,100 10,480 1,170 9,900 456,200 1,959,840 5 32,600 70,000

FINANCIAL 2,405,980.00 521,465,216.00 362,375,363.50 579,530.00 68,560.00 32,928,355.00 1,336.00 1,123,794.00 16,202,280.00 3,727,880.00 35,168.00 135,310.00 2,303,460.00 502,655.00 682,140.00 1,688,727,589.00 3,839,810.00 1,111,550.00 1,978.00 43,195,260.00 914,234.00 129,014.00 1,883,578.00 13,012,850.00 413,889,962.00 9,500.00 2,760,686.50 83,740.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

37.15 15.9 0.72 1.15 32 0.265 21.55 3.17 15.8 39.15 66.8 90 52 1.87 8 10.200 15.9 10.80 7.33 5.13 1.62 15.46 62 23.90 7.34 12.9 2.400 250.00 5.13 3.29 13.78 27.5 11.72 18 0.182 357.20 6.99 2.3 4.12 8.79 5.63 7.90 1.19 12.00 54.2 5.93 4.65 2.36 3.28 1.8 13.24 5.3 0.131 1.31 132.5 2.5 2.5 21.20 1.42

4,420,400 2,503,500 81,739,000 740,000 952,400 28,990,000 38,000 9,633,000 44,100 2,283,900 20,310 180 1,354,820 135,000 16,400 11,323,000 1,933,300 82,100 2,951,700 10,098,700 14,000 2,509,400 205,430 124,500 281,800 6,917,000 10,457,000 1,407,720 21,100 19,000 9,300 862,800 341,200 49,609,900 960,000 526,470 27,600 15,814,000 70,000 2,436,900 2,314,100 13,900 1,800,000 197,000 3,018,520 88,600 466,000 3,510,000 63,000 1,450,000 285,500 888,300 1,260,000 22,906,000 3,756,590 73,000 26,387,000 6,400 32,710,000

INDUSTRIAL 161,782,795.00 39,445,956.00 58,324,170.00 858,690.00 30,838,260.00 7,434,840.00 841,990.00 30,930,780.00 694,556.00 95,349,930.00 1,461,072.50 15,688.00 70,450,856.00 252,290.00 128,842.00 114,122,518.00 30,718,042.00 881,736.00 21,550,122.00 52,412,199.00 22,680.00 38,092,726.00 12,582,761.50 2,964,150.00 2,082,946.00 90,624,120.00 24,805,960.00 352,600,036.00 106,861.00 62,710.00 125,382.00 23,305,080.00 3,902,486.00 881,000,872.00 178,650.00 187,915,908.00 186,773.00 35,578,930.00 286,530.00 21,404,999.00 12,940,820.00 109,991.00 2,204,030.00 2,359,960.00 169,849,944.50 526,632.00 2,150,020.00 8,063,110.00 207,840.00 2,577,570.00 3,773,876.00 4,713,332.00 159,890.00 28,034,820.00 489,191,148.00 183,120.00 65,416,550.00 134,800.00 47,894,350.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.245 50.80 11.88 0.99 6.02 0.780 0.780 960 6.1 11.00 4.5 4.5 7.28 0.208 950 5.95 54.00 5.39 5.35 0.62 3.56 17 0.730 4.3 0.0380 1.330 2.780 2.65 136.80 2.55 890.00 1.57 0.75 260.600 490.00 0.3350 0.225

3,730,000 5,147,740 14,917,600 1,000 355,200 105,061,000 17,910,000 878,430 32,650,400 10,889,600 31,000 34,000 337,300 1,140,000 352,740 64,500 6,101,600 18,500 4,500 3,654,000 6,937,000 19,613,100 38,769,000 129,776,000 16,100,000 8,602,000 3,290,000 55,000 1,107,350 311,000 909,580 1,764,000 35,000 20,900 210 300,850,000 290,000

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

7.800 0.96 14.40 1.860 0.710 38.900 3.18 4.59 5.36 5.82 0.425 0.93 0.900 0.218 0.395 8.800 25.1 0.600 0.116 1.46 1.21 1.44 4.6 0.600 0.4400

4,396,200 6,510,000 18,400 188,000 1,093,000 28,815,900 951,000 1,785,000 163,200 100 9,180,000 106,000 1,270,000 7,690,000 600,000 1,878,700 3,606,300 1,007,000 270,000 19,880,000 5,175,000 39,737,000 26,282,000 215,161,000 11,130,000

HOLDING FIRMS 914,710.00 270,646,565.00 453,303,974.00 990.00 2,138,964.00 77,009,440.00 13,312,070.00 841,457,240.00 200,514,098.00 119,835,474.00 139,310.00 156,100.00 2,395,320.00 238,470.00 332,186,935.00 385,234.00 324,530,485.50 98,595.00 24,090.00 2,237,630.00 24,853,070.00 337,602,402.00 27,115,880.00 576,883,700.00 609,400.00 11,247,630.00 9,163,330.00 145,780.00 150,658,844.00 794,090.00 819,466,535.00 2,796,390.00 26,250.00 5,429,722.00 102,240.00 107,628,850.00 65,100.00 PROPERTY 33,361,056.00 6,197,950.00 263,392.00 359,550.00 779,020.00 1,093,231,865.00 3,014,650.00 8,251,810.00 878,328.00 582.00 3,946,700.00 96,020.00 1,124,180.00 1,690,160.00 239,000.00 16,607,320.00 90,454,030.00 606,210.00 31,320.00 28,890,990.00 6,288,670.00 57,490,820.00 120,175,450.00 131,561,990.00 4,902,800.00

JULY 9-13, 2018 Close Volume

Value

59.65 128.90 96.00 2.70 1.57 33.3 6.69 16.58 14.78 3.55 9.00 0.68 1.58 820.50 0.520 69.5 1.03 11.9 19.70 46.70 85.5 118 190 28.75 212 1865.00 85.50 1.2

90,710 7,077,120 12,576,090 222,000 377,000 528,700 2,200 13,000 2,788,700 100,000 31,800 14,000 90,000 80 2,139,000 42,125,670 3,309,000 74,700 400 280,200 610 1,360 93,670 227,300 2,044,650 30 120,420 4,000

5,363,175.50 917,247,205.00 1,142,209,779.00 604,560.00 560,890.00 17,578,735.00 15,039.00 215,054.00 41,234,422.00 345,780.00 275,575.00 9,520.00 140,680.00 65,745.00 1,126,930.00 2,913,445,811.50 3,469,450.00 887,298.00 7,868.00 13,121,315.00 52,493.00 158,850.00 17,675,750.00 6,458,815.00 425,881,870.00 55,860.00 10,297,357.00 4,800.00

36.7 15.98 0.64 1.15 31.1 0.247 22.50 3.16 16.44 42.5 66.8 91.95 53.95 1.85 7.75 10.120 15.9 10.70 7.29 5.28 1.62 15.3 61.05 23.50 7.30 13.3 2.480 251.80 5.06 3.3 16.00 27 11.1 19.38 0.185 356.00 6.99 2.25 4.03 8.60 5.35 7.95 1.26 12.02 56.1 5.82 4.65 2.22 3.17 1.87 13.1 5.35 0.126 0.89 123

5,916,800 2,684,100 21,735,000 844,000 2,433,700 146,930,000 73,100 7,112,000 1,475,900 2,285,200 28,010 80 236,820 1,622,000 86,700 8,911,600 990,600 139,800 4,113,300 11,067,900 2,000 2,488,900 156,880 492,500 264,200 6,866,700 13,364,000 4,427,690 149,500 14,000 600 709,600 1,013,200 8,837,800 330,000 666,680 60,100 2,874,000 444,000 4,322,700 6,843,600 13,100 295,000 154,000 2,475,090 482,000 73,000 2,037,000 118,000 1,464,000 1,338,100 823,900 706,930 93,000 2,592,820

213,115,700.00 42,748,716.00 13,819,100.00 972,350.00 77,397,890.00 38,710,670.00 1,594,450.00 21,947,010.00 24,025,368.00 100,144,770.00 1,903,200.00 7,356.00 12,585,874.00 2,908,530.00 667,603.00 89,864,799.00 15,673,300.00 1,499,014.00 30,048,232.00 57,599,930.00 3,320.00 36,941,880.00 9,581,800.00 11,615,710.00 1,894,885.00 94,084,592.00 33,404,710.00 1,102,434,952.00 758,203.00 44,690.00 8,780.00 19,267,225.00 11,124,166.00 172,267,014.00 59,880.00 236,960,304.00 412,576.00 6,468,010.00 1,789,090.00 34,266,169.00 40,536,392.00 100,920.00 369,200.00 1,846,356.00 136,452,324.50 2,795,925.00 339,650.00 4,326,350.00 377,130.00 2,698,050.00 16,967,256.00 4,430,620.00 62,184,966.00 83,290.00 314,166,728.00

2.46 20.00 1.37

21,208,000 1,100 35,609,000

53,861,100.00 22,600.00 48,052,420.00

0.246 53.75 11.66 0.97 6.00 0.700 0.730 964 6.07 11.00 4.31 4.95 7.10 0.203 955 5.98 52.90 5.07

12,486,000 5,110,240 25,161,900 171,000 47,300 331,724,000 59,511,000 1,426,100 4,552,800 14,960,300 20,000 4,000 102,100 2,330,000 393,640 388,400 7,076,940 1,800

3,962,820.00 271,485,011.00 292,915,872.00 159,670.00 283,598.00 246,818,310.00 45,237,760.00 1,335,730,085.00 27,198,629.00 163,827,102.00 89,000.00 19,820.00 697,757.00 509,000.00 367,437,830.00 2,326,723.00 362,041,680.00 9,123.00

0.63 3.55 18 0.670 4.57 0.0390 1.240 2.850 2.70 136.90 2.55 916.00 1.59 0.75 260.000 490.00 0.3500 0.225

11,701,000 2,069,000 4,775,100 43,508,000 113,643,000 42,400,000 16,603,000 5,001,000 50,000 831,360 44,000 1,176,850 688,000 176,000 29,450 510 734,530,000 1,980,000

7,544,610.00 7,414,360.00 84,986,982.00 29,526,530.00 524,488,110.00 1,600,400.00 20,931,080.00 13,837,970.00 135,000.00 113,892,265.00 112,200.00 1,064,072,335.00 1,093,260.00 131,690.00 7,631,964.00 242,370.00 272,722,800.00 428,920.00

7.300 0.97 14.30 1.880 0.710 37.650 3.19 4.65 5.92 5.82 0.430 0.90 0.860 0.221 0.410 9.000 25.35 0.600 0.117 1.48 1.21 1.40 4.67 0.600 0.4400

1,179,400 10,368,000 163,500 263,000 4,195,000 45,018,500 193,000 2,904,000 105,600 100 25,200,000 957,000 94,138,000 28,680,000 1,680,000 11,703,300 33,105,465 123,000 150,000 43,222,000 3,759,000 88,861,000 54,632,000 112,710,000 88,550,000

8,601,976.00 10,101,350.00 2,353,196.00 490,620.00 3,025,970.00 1,678,067,565.00 610,960.00 13,354,850.00 592,770.00 582.00 11,036,400.00 913,780.00 82,844,620.00 6,352,620.00 673,350.00 105,799,024.00 100,822,895.00 74,310.00 17,550.00 63,497,400.00 4,487,600.00 132,325,680.00 246,654,910.00 66,240,210.00 41,631,750.00

STOCKS

JULY 16-20, 2018 Close Volume

JULY 9-13, 2018 Close Volume

Value

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.500 3.74 19.70 2.02 3.26 37.00 1.14 7.31 0.780 6.000

6,334,000 11,833,000 2,658,300 446,000 73,000 17,686,100 5,746,000 7,208,300 158,000 18,179,400

3,163,590.00 34,530,910.00 52,335,704.00 899,500.00 234,050.00 651,274,670.00 6,289,170.00 54,526,355.00 119,480.00 108,905,451.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

13.4 22 1.33 0.465 0.044 13.56 5.05 9.43 0.0530 69.9 8.42 6.95 7.35 2.15 27.50 920 1730 5.37 279.00 3.71 79.6 2.09 12.98 7.89 0.137 2.9100 3.54 15.14 4.30 1.03 24.15 17.38 0.435 4.39 6 2.62 2.00 1.97 9.150 11.1 8.80 3.45 8.11 115.00 5.51 1372.00 0.345 0.880 46.40 83.00 8.28 1.90 1.140 0.57 5 0.750 11.200

142,100 494,000 80,000 17,530,000 44,500,000 271,900 5,600 18,266,700 30,670,000 618,940 6,300 7,897,100 14,300 50,000 4,929,700 1,180 67,460 395,300 21,030 8,344,000 3,176,850 56,000 3,200 98,000 29,440,000 24,210,000 722,000 1,800 5,402,000 1,384,000 2,984,000 6,900 50,000 496,000 14,508,400 8,262,000 3,035,000 686,000 17,217,400 13,300 31,800 170,000 1,400 13,580 3,950,700 211,380 1,710,000 41,163,000 1,576,900 1,118,270 117,600 140,562,000 2,757,000 439,867,000 7,647,100 14,129,000 13,837,200

SERVICES 1,969,754.00 11,481,260.00 106,260.00 8,524,000.00 1,939,900.00 3,542,258.00 28,370.00 175,250,849.00 1,647,790.00 43,985,224.00 54,359.00 53,357,914.00 96,432.00 103,750.00 144,382,315.00 1,074,100.00 115,665,195.00 2,125,819.00 5,807,632.00 30,228,720.00 253,937,758.00 117,050.00 40,948.00 775,970.00 4,040,620.00 68,627,540.00 2,612,450.00 26,546.00 23,296,970.00 1,420,860.00 72,851,735.00 116,978.00 21,800.00 2,144,750.00 84,303,194.00 21,547,160.00 6,334,800.00 1,442,380.00 161,601,044.00 147,360.00 278,260.00 576,400.00 11,354.00 1,598,606.00 21,943,143.00 286,812,950.00 590,700.00 36,353,250.00 72,146,120.00 92,742,073.50 961,032.00 283,669,430.00 3,134,740.00 232,765,025.00 38,080,302.00 10,480,610.00 156,939,462.00

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

0.0025 1.42 3.92 21.20 1.4500 1.4600 1.9 0.305 7.70 2.160 0.210 0.122 0.126 1.5 4.5 1.21 0.5600 1.1400 0.0120 0.0130 4.30 10.22 0.0120 2.8600 31.55

386,000,000 4,922,000 125,000 70,700 77,000 284,000 15,854,000 3,370,000 5,200 24,245,000 5,530,000 12,290,000 230,000 490,000 1,719,000 2,620,000 2,326,000 20,685,000 524,200,000 20,400,000 1,225,000 3,244,300 102,100,000 4,509,000 4,349,800

MINING & OIL 964,400.00 6,987,460.00 491,550.00 1,500,615.00 111,150.00 419,190.00 29,207,690.00 1,035,600.00 39,437.00 52,513,420.00 1,196,270.00 1,501,820.00 29,280.00 730,430.00 7,516,040.00 3,151,450.00 1,295,040.00 23,841,530.00 6,797,300.00 252,900.00 5,290,610.00 32,820,527.00 1,194,800.00 13,770,330.00 137,326,980.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

20.7 505 501 101.2 102 107 501 5.15 998 970 99.5 1.04 102.5 1030 1040 101.8 76.15 79.25 75.3 75.3 77 75.3 75.45 76 1.98

1,772,000 4,010 9,200 95,310 620 430 2,690 279,800 10,410 4,570 25,610 1,521,000 17,970 1,900 250 2,250 312,740 80,470 39,570 20,600 85,280 170,020 138,520 59,800 5,000

LR Warrant

2.530

WARRANTS & BONDS 2,173,000 5,571,560.00

PREFERRED 35,042,019.00 2,013,050.00 4,631,400.00 9,653,245.00 63,240.00 46,010.00 1,347,785.00 1,440,595.00 10,392,250.00 4,437,905.00 2,545,303.00 1,564,180.00 1,835,340.00 1,958,530.00 260,000.00 230,250.00 23,648,285.00 6,357,285.00 2,974,213.00 1,553,840.00 6,500,910.00 12,799,171.00 10,315,535.00 4,507,335.00 9,900.00

SME 23,818,116.00 36,587,470.00

Value

0.510 3.57 19.52 2.04 3.27 36.95 1.05 7.24 0.760 6.050

23,079,000 16,767,000 6,001,300 814,000 102,000 14,372,700 4,616,000 9,321,200 3,876,000 16,550,200

11,905,080.00 58,612,690.00 117,421,070.00 1,628,200.00 327,960.00 526,579,135.00 4,791,790.00 70,079,415.00 3,123,110.00 99,981,617.00

14.42 24.4 1.33 0.495 0.045 14.48 5.65 9.40 0.0540 71 8.8 6.99 6.73 2.08 25.15 930 1660 5.32 280.00 3.38 79.4 2.13 12.98 7.99 0.138 2.7500 3.49 15 4.12 1.04 25.30 17.00 0.465 4.55 5.53 2.58 2.00 2.24 9.150 11 8.48 3.45

116,900 444,400 211,000 29,980,000 26,200,000 73,100 3,500 23,130,200 21,070,000 1,050,550 3,000 2,877,900 89,500 62,000 2,576,600 720 64,505 860,700 15,910 3,385,000 7,545,760 66,000 2,400 115,100 116,910,000 52,753,000 2,624,000 9,800 1,775,000 3,240,000 2,670,200 9,900 40,000 1,002,000 7,250,900 2,377,000 5,857,000 550,000 17,608,600 23,300 13,600 348,000

1,706,796.00 10,467,105.00 280,630.00 14,560,800.00 1,171,900.00 1,070,832.00 17,904.00 220,887,057.00 1,117,290.00 71,785,901.00 26,816.00 19,976,593.00 614,354.00 131,730.00 61,590,080.00 662,095.00 106,439,170.00 4,592,801.00 4,447,098.00 11,344,160.00 598,585,257.50 138,890.00 31,152.00 918,519.00 16,547,280.00 151,342,780.00 9,474,460.00 146,914.00 7,250,620.00 3,325,710.00 67,288,635.00 168,130.00 18,600.00 4,331,610.00 38,986,250.00 6,194,830.00 13,219,990.00 1,333,640.00 164,319,263.00 256,260.00 111,835.00 1,112,800.00

125.30 5.43 1355.00 0.350 0.850 45.00 82.50 8.02 1.83 1.130 0.54 4.95 0.750 12.000

6,820 5,223,200 427,775 960,000 34,375,000 4,977,400 2,145,250 455,800 7,201,000 6,031,000 1,284,251,000 15,156,600 15,615,000 8,144,900

837,777.00 28,281,010.00 573,760,670.00 334,050.00 29,327,070.00 226,730,765.00 177,656,545.50 3,673,158.00 13,212,720.00 6,849,250.00 742,930,430.00 75,100,031.00 12,286,020.00 97,800,170.00

0.0026 1.45 3.94 20.60 1.5000 1.4800 1.74 0.290 7.80 2.120 0.230 0.125 0.129 1.48 4.43 1.27 0.5300 1.2400 0.0120 0.0120 4.35 10.00 0.0120 2.9400 31.85

359,000,000 2,112,000 70,000 662,100 226,000 113,000 7,340,000 2,130,000 376,200 10,007,000 22,620,000 4,900,000 1,720,000 1,647,000 25,129,000 18,555,000 211,000 69,464,000 693,500,000 100,000 1,267,000 4,474,200 124,500,000 893,000 5,597,900

901,300.00 3,050,760.00 276,480.00 15,056,608.00 341,200.00 168,600.00 12,820,410.00 637,100.00 3,014,319.00 21,529,270.00 5,393,840.00 609,460.00 219,870.00 2,461,580.00 108,692,010.00 25,888,480.00 105,530.00 96,908,810.00 8,327,900.00 1,200.00 5,545,620.00 45,784,832.00 1,453,400.00 2,527,560.00 175,938,365.00

20.55 502 501 101.1 102 107

1,456,000 3,290 140 47,290 180 15,000

30,568,995.00 1,647,240.00 70,410.00 4,784,700.00 18,360.00 1,604,863.00

5.23 970 987.5 99.1 1.04 105 1030 1050 106 76 79 75.1 75.3 77.45 75.3 75.6 75.65 1.96

980,900 5,730 40 31,420 247,000 1,150 500 20 1,470 364,220 64,200 134,840 142,530 44,810 313,870 172,020 228,010 2,000

5,039,514.00 5,660,560.00 39,325.00 3,138,357.00 254,930.00 120,410.00 515,000.00 21,000.00 153,127.00 27,493,312.50 5,072,775.00 10,152,819.00 10,794,721.00 3,420,656.00 23,679,487.00 13,091,717.50 17,360,869.00 3,920.00

2.360

528,000

1,240,560.00

5.07 3.15

1,216,500 40,450,000

6,174,210.00 134,938,780.00

Italpinas Xurpas

5.35 3.18

4,577,000 11,378,000

First Metro ETF

110

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 26,200 2,889,536.00

110.1

31,310

3,407,797.00

10.18 10 1.01

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 35,750 360,894.20 10,200 102,000.00 23,800 24,148.00

10.1 10 1.02

2,770 4,000 52,000

27,977.00 40,000.00 53,040.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Oriental Pet. `A’ Transpacific Broadcast Abra Mining Wellex Industries MRC Allied Ind. SSI Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

ATN Holdings A Philodrill Corp. `A’ Alliance Tuna Intl Inc.

VOLUME 524,200,000 439,867,000 386,000,000 300,850,000 215,161,000 140,562,000 129,776,000 105,061,000 102,100,000 81,739,000

STOCKS Metrobank Ayala Land `B’ Megawide Ayala Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. SM Prime Holdings Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Universal Robina Alliance Global Inc.

VALUE 1,688,727,589.00 1,093,231,865.00 881,000,872.00 841,457,240.00 819,466,535.00 651,274,670.00 576,883,700.00 521,465,216.00 489,191,148.00 453,303,974.00

BIR clears consolidation of SMC’s food businesses CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. moved closer to consolidating its food and beverage businesses under San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. after the Bureau of Internal Revenue ruled that the share swap transaction is tax-free.

San Miguel Food said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received a BIR ruling stating that the share swap transaction and the follow-on offering of shares were not subject to tax.

The BIR ruling is one of the regulatory approvals that San Miguel Food is waiting for before proceeding with a planned share sale, which could potentially raise as much as $1.5 billion in proceeds.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang earlier said San Miguel Food would push through with its planned share sale before the end of 2018 after securing all the needed regulatory approvals.

Under the planned consolidation, San Miguel will transfer 7.86 billion shares in San Miguel Brewery Inc. and 216.97 million shares of Ginebra San Miguel to San Miguel Food.

In exchange San Miguel Food will issue 4.24 billion shares to San Miguel, raising its stake in the food and beverage firm to 94.5 percent. This will result on the public float of below the 10 percent minimum public ownership.

The Philippine Stock Exchange in July 6 temporally suspended the trading of San Miguel Food pending a favorable ruling from BIR on the appropriate taxes to be imposed on the trades of its securities through the exchange.

However, the BIR in the same ruling said all trades of San Miguel Food shares during the exemption period from the MPO would still be covered by the stock transaction tax of 6/10 of one percent and not six percent impose on capital gains tax.

Following the issuance of the BIR ruling, the PSE lifted trading suspension on San Miguel Food shares.

Share prices SMFB were last traded on July 5 when it closed at P62 per share. Jenniffer B. Austria

EDC seeks to hike steam output from geothermal plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Development Corp., the biggest producer of geothermal steam, is conducting feasibility studies on new technologies to improve and increase the output from its power plants.

“We are first looking at our existing areas, we are doing sort of recycling of heat. So instead of heating 160 degrees centigrade, we harness the heat further and inject the fluids at 120 degrees,” EDC assistant vice president Noel Salonga said over the weekend.

Salonga said the feasibilities could be completed within the year.

“We will conclude (the study) within the year, then next year, look for proper technologies to make that happen,” Salonga said.

He said EDC could harness “roughly 100 MW more if we could put up all these technologies.”

Salonga said the most available geothermal projects today were of lower generation capacity of 20 megawatts to 40 MW and required deeper drilling compared with previous discoveries, which had bigger output of 200 MW and were more economical to develop.

EDC, an affiliate of First Gen Corp. and part of the Lopez Group, is the largest producer of geothermal energy and one of the leading renewable energy companies in the country.

EDC operates five geothermal service contracts areas. The company, through its subsidiaries, has also secured three geothermal operating contracts covering power plant operations.

EDC is a member of the National Geothermal Association of the Philippines and has joined calls for the exemption of the Renewable Energy Law from the Proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Package 2, citing its adverse effect on the competitiveness of the industry.

“We are appealing that the incentives we had previously in the RE Law will be retained,” Salonga, who is also NGAP president, said.

SONA 2018

B3

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018 advertise@manilastandard.net

‘TATAK NG PAGBABAGO’ Duterte government reports accomplishments

By Nat Mariano

T

WO years under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, members of his Cabinet, with the Presidential Communications Operations Office, organized a series of forums at Philippine International Convention Center this July to discuss the accomplishments and the progressive changes under the Duterte administration.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque had earlier confirmed that the forums, dubbed as “Tatak ng Pagbabago,” was a pre-State of the Nation Address 2018 campaign, allowing the six Cabinet clusters to inform the Filipinos on the long-run effects of the administration’s implementation of its respective policies, programs, and projects.

The three-part forum was a collaborative effort from six Cabinet clusters namely the Economic Development Cluster, the Infrastructure Cluster, the Participatory Governance Cluster, the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster, the Climate Change, Adaptation, Mitigation Disaster Reduction Cluster, and the Security, Justice, and Peace Cluster.

generation of 1.52 million additional jobs, and reduction of school dropouts with 94.2 percent in elementary and 84.6 percent in high school, among others.

He stated that economic growth has been high and steady as reviewed using noticeable parameters, making the Philippines one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, keeping up with its neighboring countries like Vietnam with 7.4 percent GDP, and India with 7.7 percent GDP. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar presented the “boldest and most ambitious” infrastructure projects currently in the works such as the Luzon Spine Expressway Network, Panguil Bay Bridge Project, the first phase of the Mindanao Rail Project, and Panglao Airport, among others.

The country’s top economists also sought concerns about the rising inflation rate during a panel discussion, noting that current hikes are temporary and natural for a fast-growing economy.

‘Tatak ng Pag-unlad’ The Duterte administration recognizes the important role that the modernization and innovation play in building the country’s progress.

The first forum, entitled “Tatak ng Pagunlad,” focused on the economic development and infrastructure clusters, aiming to expand ‘Tatak ng Malasakit at Pagkakaisa’ and increase the access to economic opportuniOne of the top ties for Filipinos. Held priorities of Duterte last July 6, the forum administration is involved talks on job ‘‘The three-part forum the welfare of the opportunities, public transportation, busi“Tatak ng Pagbabago” was Filipinos. Education, Health, and Liveliness and agricultural a collaborative effort from hood were only some growth, and infrastructure projects. six Cabinet clusters namely of the aspects tackled the participatory “Our economic the Economic Development by governance and hustrategy is anchored on Cluster, the Infrastructure man development two major programs: and poverty reduction the comprehensive Cluster, the Participatory clusters last July 11. tax reform program Governance Cluster, the Department of and the ‘Build, Build, Interior and Local Build’ infrastructure Human Development and Government Unmodernization alPoverty Reduction Cluster, dersecretary and ready in place,” FiOfficer-in-Charge nance Secretary Carlos the Climate Change, Eduardo Ano assured Dominguez III said in Adaptation, Mitigation the public that local a speech.

Disaster Reduction Cluster, government units will Dominguez highengage their people lighted the salient and the Security, Justice, and communities on a points of his talk such and Peace Cluster.’’ regular basis. as increase in tax efHe also emphafort at 14.3 percent of sized that the DILG gross domestic product in the first three months of the year because of continues to address corruption, exact accountthe Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion ability, and promote good governance.

With the use of Hotline 8888 and com(TRAIN) law, growth in overall spending by 25 percent year-on-year as of May, boost in infra- plaints filed through the Office of the President, structure spending by 42 percent in the same there have been 237 Ombudsman decisions five months, increase in the share of infrastruc- served, 50 governors, vice governors, mayors, ture spending to 5.4 percent of GDP, comple- and vice mayors dismissed, 186 local officials tion of 32 of its 75 large-scale infrastructure withdrawn police deputation, 57 complaints vs projects, and an increase in foreign direct in- local officials investigated, 16 local officials to vestments by 21.5 percent to a record of $10 be charged for failure to convene BADAC, and eight show-cause orders issued and implementbillion in 2017.

“Our numbers all point to a positive direc- ed vs illegal mining operations in CARAGA, tion. We are doing the right things at the right among others.

Meanwhile, in his accomplishment report, time. There is a reason to be confident in the Philippines’ growth story,” Dominguez as- Budget Secretary and PGC co-chair Benjamin sured, hoping to bring down the poverty rate Diokno reported that 1.22 million OFWs have from 21.6 percent in 2015 to only 14 percent been assisted by One-Stop-Shop Service Centers.

Also, HDPRC chair, Department of Social by 2022.

Meanwhile, Socioeconomic Planning Sec- Welfare and Development Acting Secretary retary Ernesto Pernia discussed the socioeco- Virginia Orogo pointed out the priority issues nomic status of the country and the state of the such as education as the central strategy, adPhilippine Development Plan 2017-2022, the vancing and protecting public health, enhancing social protection, and alleviating rural povPresident’s economic blueprint.

Pernia divulged important points including erty.

Orogo also emphasized that the Alternative the 6.7 percent growth in 2017 GDP, economy acceleration by 6.8 percent during Q1 2018, Learning System increased to 641,584. Using

4Ps, the DSWD also assisted around five million kindergarten and elementary students and almost four million high school students. They also increased the number of technical vocational education and training graduates to roughly two million.

‘Tatak ng Katatagan’ Held last July 18, the last of the three forums discussed measures on how to ensure the country’s security, public order, and safety, ensure ecological integrity, clean, and healthy environment, and reduce the vulnerability of individuals.

The President sees the safety and security of every Filipino, peace in the country, preservation of the environment, the strength of the nation, and extending a helping hand – the main points and discussion of the change, adaptation, mitigation disaster reduction, and the security, jus-

tice, and peace clusters.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Roy Cimatu asserted that Boracay Island will be protected and preserved following its rehabilitation project.

“Boracay Island will not be seen again as a cesspool. We will extend our efforts to other island destinations with our ‘Greening the Islands’ program,” he said, aiming to curb illegal logging, illegal wildlife trafficking, illegal construction of fish pens and enforcement of other environmental laws.

He said the current administration will continue to take decisive steps to protect citizens from the threats posed by climate change and natural disasters.

Cimatu’s presentation focused on the four major outcomes under the Cluster Performance Project Road Map for 2018 - 2022, namely: preparing communities to respond to hazards

and climate change; supporting communities to recover from the effects of hazards and climate change; protecting and conserving natural resources to increase resiliency in ecosystems; and pursuing a low-carbon future.

Philippine Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar Jr. said that PAF expects 16 new utility helicopters as they are already in the final phase of their modernization program.

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said he will consider holding such talks every quarter next year so that people would get updates on the government’s key policies, programs, and initiatives.

Andanar said the three-part series was a success as it gave various Cabinet clusters a chance to broadcast their accomplishments that the President may forget to mention in his third SONA on July 23.

Sports

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

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

2 Aussies in brawl mull legal action

By Peter Atencio TWO Australian players involved in the Philippines-Australia basketball brawl that took place last July 2 are considering legal actions.

Australian Boomers Chris Goulding and Nathan Sobey expressed dissatisfaction over the sanctions handed down

by FIBA, the world governing body in basketball.

Goulding’s manager Daniel Moldovan said on Twitter that the one game ban handed to Goulding was “disturbing and shocking” and that he would be seeking legal counsel.

He believes that “the decision to suspend and fine Goulding is perplexing given he was set upon by multiple Philippine players and staff and bashed and kicked while he lay motionless on the ground.”

The Melbourne United star guard was among those sanctioned and fined for unsportsmanlike behavior.

He pointed to assistant coach Jong Uichico as among those who left the bench and assaulted a motionless Goulding.

Uichico was eventually slapped a three-game suspension, which Moldavan called “ridiculous.”

“In my opinion, he is guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm that could have easily resulted in the death of Chris has been given a farcical three-game suspension,” said Moldavan in a statement, adding that Uichico should not be allowed to coach in a FIBA-sanctioned game again.

On the other hand, Sobey was not sanctioned, but he was punched and was hit by a chair during the incident.

Sobey’s representative, Mogul Sports Group, identified Gilas Pilipinas player Jio Jalalon as the one who punched him, and Peter Aguilar, the father of Japeth, as the one who threw the chair at him.

Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee, shown here driving to the lane against Rain or Shine’s Maverick Ahanmisi, will again be the focal point of the Gin Kings’ offense as they shoot for the first berth in the finals of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup today.

Gin Kings shoot for clincher

By Jeric Lopez

A

WIN away from the finals, Barangay Ginebra looks to capitalize on its first opportunity to book a seat in the finals as it looks close out Rain or Shine in their best-of-five semifinals series in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.

The Gin Kings, ahead 2-1, can clinch However, Ginebra coach Tim Cone a finals’ berth when they once again admits the road will not be easy, espetake on the top-seeded Elasto Painters cially with how the Gin Kings bled just in Game 4 today at 7 p.m. at the Smart to get the advantage they have now.

Araneta Coliseum.

“Rain or Shine earned that top seed

and closing out will not be easy against these guys,” said Cone. “Overall, we’re happy we have a 2-1 lead and we need to be better to get ourselves to the finals soonest.”

Cone and his Gin Kings took the series lead after a surviving a difficult grind to earn a 75-72 victory over the Elasto Painters in Game 3 Saturday night.

Justin Brownlee was sensational, scoring a season-high 44 points to put Ginebra on the brink of the finals.

Ginebra led by as many as 25 points in the first half of Game 3 but found out that Rain or Shine wasn’t

Brunei royalties confirm SEA Games participation EXPECT polo matches in next year’s SEA Games to get a fair share of attention as the scions of the rich and powerful are eager to showcase their flair in pursuit of sporting glory.

First to confirm their participation are the royalties of Brunei, who are determined to improve on their bronze medal showing two years Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The participation of the tiny but super rich nation was relayed to United Polo Players Association UPPA Chairman Emeritus and Rep. Mikee Romero (1 Pacman PartyList) during the 72nd birthday of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah last week, an event highlighted by a myriad of activities, including a polo tournament.

Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah and Prince Abdul Mateen will banner the powerful cast that is training in earnest under some of the world’s finest European coaches.

“We at the UPPA are elated that Brunei confirmed its participation this early,” said Romero, who is also thankful to the support of Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee head Sec. Alan Cayetano and Philippine Olympic Committee officials led by its President Ricky Vargas and Chairman Rep. Bambol Tolentino.

Also expected to see action for Brunei are Prince Muda Bahar Bolkiah and Prince Abdul Qawi Bolkiah.

UPPA is headed by Coco Garcia, son of former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, with Hollywood film producer Jun Juban as chairman.

The presence of these royalties, UPPA said, is not only an honor but also a challenge as the nation tries once again to charm neighboring countries with its time-tested hospitality and efficiency in staging a multi-sports event of this magnitude.

Aside from the host country, Thailand is also a big threat to Malaysia’s title-retention bid.

Romero said the wealthy clan of Srivaddhanaprabha -- Aiyawatt andApichet – will spearhead Thailand’s bid, while Malaysia will be led byAbdul Rashid Hasnan, Amran Selamat, Khairy Jamaluddin and Mohd Zulhelmi Nadzar.

The association sees no problem with the handling of security for these VIPs since it intends to coordinate with various government agencies.

“We are readying all safety measures not only for the athletes and officials but also for our guests,” said Romero. “We will make this SEA Games an event to remember.”

Rep. Mikee Romero (right) poses with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah after a polo match in celebration of the latter’s 72nd birthday last week.

Spieth leads, High jumper gives PH its 1st gold in KL tilt Woods lurks CARNOUSTIE—Jordan Spieth is hoping to join the elite group of golfers to have retained the British Open title as he goes into the final round at Carnoustie on Sunday in a share of the lead.

The American star sits level on nine under par alongside compatriots Xander Schauffele and Kevin Kisner as he aims for a repeat of his victory at Royal Birkdale 12 months ago, although there is a large chasing pack ready to pounce, with Tiger Woods right in the mix.

Spieth shot a superb six-under-par 65 in benign conditions on Saturday to catapult himself up the leaderboard as he aims to follow in the footsteps of Padraig Harrington, the last player to retain the Claret Jug a decade ago.

There would be a sense of symmetry to the achievement if Spieth does win on Scotland’s North Sea coast—Harrington’s double came at Carnoustie in 2007 and then Birkdale in 2008. AFP

High jumper Evangelene Caminong of San Vicente, Palawan is beside the LED video showing her new personal record minutes after winning the first gold medal for the Philippines in the 2018 ASEAN Schools Games.

KUALA LUMPUR— A 17-year-old high jumper from San Vicente, Palawan gave the Philippines its fist gold medal in the 2018 ASEAN School Games, bagging the high jump girls’ event held Saturday afternoon at the Mini Stadium in Bukit Jalil here.

Evangelene Caminong cleared 1.74 meters, eclipsing her personal record of 1.71 meters to beat Thailand’s Prangthip

Chitkhokkruad’s 1.72m and her teammate Alexie Mae Caimoso’s 1.69m.

“Hindi po ako makapaniwala. Sobrang saya ko po (I’m still in awe. I’m really happy),” said Caminong, who salvaged the silver in the same event during the 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, finishing behind Caimoso, who topped the secondary girls’ event.

Competing as a first timer in the ASEAN Schools Games, Caminong didn’t expect much but she said she was just happy to represent the country in the meet.

“At first, I wasn’t pressured to win. But I felt it was my obligation to do my best,” she said.

Caminong, a Grade 12 student of Nazareth School of National University, said she underwent training under coach Fernando Dagasdas following the Palaro meet at the PhilSports in Pasig City.

“I hope this win serves an inspiration to my fellow Pinoy athletes to strive for their best in their games,” said the middle child of three siblings of Lorraine and Ivanhoe.

She added that making it this far for her would not be possible without the support of Cong. Jenny Barzaga and Dasmarinas City Mayor Elpidio Barsaga.

The battle for her is not yet over as she attempts to claim her second gold medal in 100m hurdles on July 24.

Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali personally awarded the gold medal and the Juara stuffed toy to Caminong during the awarding ceremony.

easy to put away.

The Elasto Painters showed a lot of resiliency, coming back strong in the second half and even had a chance to send the game into overtime before failing to do so.

That’s why Cone has his concerns regarding his team as it looks to avoid danger and finish off the series.

“It was all on us. We showed our flaws and weaknesses as we almost lost this last game. We had a lot of mental mistakes and we need to do something about all of that.”

Rain or Shine is hoping it can tie the series once again and force a deciding Game 5 on Wednesday.

Superal vows to rebound PRINCESS Superal has taken her botched comeback bid at Manila Southwoods in stride and will instead use the setback as moti- SUPERAL vation when she sets out for the ICTSI Champion Tour at Tagaytay Midlands beginning Wednesday.

“I’m super excited to play in Tagaytay since I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do in the final round at Southwoods,” said Superal, referring to the rain-halted event at Southwoods that saw Thai Ploychompoo Wirairungreung run away with the crown after only 36 holes.

Superal fired a second round 68 to pull within four of Wirairungreung but the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. decided to cancel the final round due to inclement weather and unplayable playing condition, handing the crown to the Thai ace.

But with the weather expected to improve this week, Superal looks forward to completing an unfinished business in the $75,000 event, the last of the two-leg ICTSI Champion Tour sanctioned by the Taiwan LPGA. “I’m confident and I hope to sustain my form at Midlands,” added the former US Girls’ Junior champion, who is actually seeking a third crown in this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, including a record-setting 16-stroke romp over Cyna Rodriguez in the ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Challenge last March.

She then ruled the Riviera stop the following week.

But the up-and-down Midlands layout, with its hazards and unpredictable putting surface, could pose a tougher challenge not only for the country’s leading player but also the rest of the stellar international field, including Wirairungreung and her fellow Thai campaigners Wirairungreung, Supamas Sangchan, Chonlada Chayanun and former Philippine Ladies Masters titlists Saranporn Langkulgasettrin and Renuka Suksukont.

LGUs

Group lauds LGUs that move away from coal power Key players from the power industry and civil society collectively recognized local government units for their undertakings and initiative in pushing for renewable energy (RE) and rejecting coal projects in their respective areas.

The Power for People Coalition (P4P), in cooperation with the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED), Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Sanlakas, Greenpeace and the World Wild Fund Philippines (WWF), organized the Convergence for 100% Renewable Energy in the Philippines.

LGUs, RE developers, and representatives of host communities and civil society gathered in this forum to tackle challenges in shifting to renewable energy in the Philippines.

The event culminated in the awarding of the Gawad ‘REsponsableng’ Lokal na Pamahalaan to the local governments of Ozamiz City, Quezon City, Cebu City and the provincial government of South Cotabato, for their active promotion of clean, affordable, renewable energy in their territories.

The event’s Keynote Speaker, Senator Loren Legarda, emphasized the importance of the active participation and collaboration among sectors in realizing our climate commitments and protecting the environment through renewable energy.

“Having laid down the state of RE development in our country, I hope that this symposium will help surface issues that has brought us to the situation we are in now. We cannot claim energy independence for as long as we rely on imported fuel.

Unless we are willing to embrace the reality that RE is a global phenomenon that is beginning to replace coal and fossil fuels as a cheaper fuel source,” Legarda said.

“Today, we recognize the efforts of the local government units who, despite the challenges posed by the national government policy and procoal stance, have taken initiatives to pursue renewable energy systems and challenge the coal industry,” said Gerry Arances, Executive Director of Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED).

QC eyes own Bangsamoro village—Joy

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City will have its own Bangsamoro cultural village that would be developed into a tourist destination, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said Sunday.

Amid the recent approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law by the congressional bicameral conference committee, Belmonte is seeking to involve the city in the Bangsamoro people’s movement for peace through the development of a model cultural village in Salaam compound, Barangay Culiat.

“I was thinking along the lines of transforming the Salaam compound into a tourist destination. Now, it’s still not as pretty, but you know it’s just a matter of fixing the electrical lines, making some sidewalks and then asking residents to spruce up their façade,” she said.

The improvement and development of the compound is a joint project of Belmonte and a cause-oriented group, designed to transform the area into a “flourishing green economy” under the campaign “iLove Quezon City.”

The group is working with landscape architects and volunteers to provide vertical gardens and solar lampposts as well as values formation and training for residents.

Local government units

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com monday, july 23, 2018

C1

Arcillas leads SM Santa Rosa Book Reading Day rite

Laguna 1st District Rep. Arlene Arcillas reads to schoolchildren during SM Santa Rosa’s celebration of National Children’s Book Reading Day. Roy Tomandao

Iloilo City impresses Dutch envoy Derckx

I

LOILO CITY—Iloilo City has made a good impression on Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to the Philippines Maria Christina Theresia Derckx, who for the third time, visited this highly-urbanized city the whole day on Friday.

In an interview, Derckx said she wanted “very much to stroll through the city.” She came to Iloilo as a private person during her second visit.

“I’m also very much wanted to know the leadership of the city because I am very impressed by the way the city is run; what has happened to the river, how you have managed to clean everything up and make the river really an active part of the city, which I understand (is) the longest walking way in the Philippines,” she said.

She lauded the city government’s efforts to “create public space for people to go out and enjoy.”

“And I think in that sense, Iloilo is really

an example for the country,” she added.

Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa, in welcoming the Dutch envoy meantime, expressed how amazed he was with the various museums he visited when he got the chance to visit The Netherlands.

Espinosa said that while Iloilo City has also made efforts in establishing museums, the latest would be the Museum of Economic History just adjacent to the city hall.

He also informed the envoy that Iloilo hosted the Dutch honorary vice-consul in 1921, the year when the International Container Port Complex was then the second largest international port in the Philippines.

While the Philippines and The Netherlands mark their 67th year of diplomatic relations this year, Derckx said that the two countries have in fact “even have 150 years of consular affairs”.

“It indicates how much trade has been going on through the years and how much movement of people between our countries. Actually, half of (our) national fleet is sailed by Filipino people and people of Iloilo are sailing our boats,” she said.

She added that her country is one of the three major investors in the Philippines and major companies from there are already present in the Philippines.

“Very rich relationship,” she added.

The ambassador visited in Iloilo upon the invitation of the One Meal Foundation headed by Teresa “Nene” Chan.

In an interview, she said that each time she brings them to Iloilo, the purpose is to “bring Iloilo to the map of the world.” PNA

URBAN FARMING FORUM. To improve the earning capacity of farming communities, Senator Cynthia A. Villar encourages locals to

engage in urban farming. The chairman of the Senate agriculture and food committee says this would allow families to reduce expenses and eat nutritious foods. Villar led the launching of the community-based Urban Gardening on Vegetables and Herbs Program by East West Seeds at the Villar SIPAG Farm School in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

COLORFUL PLAYGROUND.

A boy plays with colorful curtains in a setup at SM City San Mateo, which partnered with Davies Paint to bring a more colorful shopping experience.

Shoppers also posed and took cool Instagramworthy photos to enhance their social media feeds, with matching fun music and pocket denimstyling sessions on the side.

Manny Palmero

Iloilo hunts down loose guns ILOILO CITY—The Iloilo Police Provincial Office will start enforcing “Tokhang Kontra Armas-luthang” or TKAL, a campaign against loose firearms, on Monday, July 23.

TKAL is seen to reduce the proliferation of loose firearms in the province, according to IPPO spokesperson Senior Police Officer 2 Gregoria Antonano.

“This will also neutralize the private armed groups and motorcycle riding-intandem suspects in preparation also for the 2019 elections,” she said.

The campaign will be implemented in two approaches, Antonano said.

First is the “soft hand” approach, wherein they will visit houses and run an information drive, while the second

is “iron hand” approach.

“Those with loose firearms will be targeted for police operations through search warrants,” she said.

Antonano recalled that during the first semester of last year, there are 688 crimes recorded in the province, 116 of which involved loose firearms.

But this year, the number went down for the same period with only 368 crimes recorded, 87 of which involved loose firearms.

Further, Antonano said that through the campaign, they will be able account all the firearms in the province that have expired license or those that are not registered and compel the owners to process the registration of their firearms. PNA

SM Santa Rosa, in partnership with SM Cares, recently celebrated National Children’s Book Reading Day with the special participation of Rep. Arlene Arcillas of the 1st District of Laguna.

Held annually in all SM malls nationwide, the NCBRD is a project of SM Cares whose aim is to encourage and promote reading by younger children. The project is supported by the Department of Education, National Bookstore, Anvil Publishing and SM Foundation.

Edessa Sibug, SM Santa Rosa’s assistant mall manager, delivered the welcome message.

“SM believes that learning is not restricted inside the four corners of a classroom, as we care for each and every child that enters our mall by promoting their rights, prioritizing their safety and enhancing their learning experience in a child-friendly environment,” Sibug said.

Arcillas was the guest of honor at the book reading, where she read Robert Magnuson’s “Duck and Croc Meet Collector Alligator” to Grades 2 and 4 students of Central II Elementary School Santa Rosa and La Consolacion CollegeBiñan, respectively.

Part of the program was a theater presentation by La Consolacion College, which performed an excerpt from the award winning musical “Matilda.”

National Bookstore and Anvil Publishing gave away books and notebooks to the students while La Consolacion College donated preloved books to Central II Elementary School. For its part, SM donated 1,000 pieces of pencils to Central II Elementary School.

National Children’s Book Reading Day is celebrated in 68 participating malls in the country, as well as seven SM malls in China. Roy Tomandao

New SK leaders converge in QC anti-drug forum

By MJ Blancaflor and Dexter Tilo Leaders of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) from Metro Manila recently discussed the importance of a public health approach in treating illegal drug use and addiction in barangays.

In a forum in Quezon City, 70 SK leaders deliberated for alternative programs to the administration’s criminal approach in eradicating illegal drugs.

“The drug problem in our society is a social and public health concern,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said in Filipino, addressing SK leaders mostly from Caloocan City, where many alleged drug users were reportedly killed in Oplan Tokhang.

“I suggest that the evidence, study, and research that we acquired from analysis and experience should be the basis of our actions, of our law enforcement projects and campaigns,” Hontiveros said.

Last year, Hontiveros filed Senate Bill 1313 or the Public Health Intervention for Drug Use Act that aims to adapt a rehabilitative manner in treating drug addiction instead of a punitive one.

In the bill, Hontiveros noted that local government units are integral part of the community-based drug intervention for people who use drugs.

The senator also said “diversions” such as sports and education are important strategies to keep the youth away from illegal drugs.

She also challenged the SK leaders to implement programs beneficial to the youth to prove that they deserve the power that they have.

“We may have good intentions, but if we do not execute it well, the outcome would be compromised,” Pasig City Councilor Vico Sotto, one of the speakers, said.

The SK conference was organized

by Akbayan, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, and Kaisahan, that gathered the first batch of SK leaders elected in May after the reform law was passed.

Business/World

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018 C2 Standard CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor BARRIOQUINTO TODAY TODAY Manila Manila

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

You don’t have to be poor.

Watch your numbers Standard Manila Manila

TODAY TODAY

ARE you living from paycheck to paycheck? Was your last LERMA BUTIGAN paycheck exhausted BAUTISTA before your next payREEN IGHT check arrived?

So your financial advisor said you should set a certain portion of your salary for savings, insurance, investment and retirement. Doing the math, you realized that nothing is left after you spend for your daily needs. It seems like your income is not enough to allow for savings, so you dropped the idea. Come to think of it, you are at your most productive years earning regular income, but you are at the brink of financial difficulty. What happens when, after you leave the workforce one day, you receive a retirement package that is a chunk of what you currently receive?

You are not alone There is now an emerging concern about the low financial literacy rate around the world. There is also an increasing interest on how financial literacy is linked to financial behavior and financial well-being. Financial literacy starts from financial education, be it acquired in school, the environment or at home. More often than not, business students are taught and trained to safeguard and manage other people’s resources, but not theirs. Investments appear to be overwhelming, but investments in the stock market can start at P5,000, with a mechanism that could be transacted by non-business oriented people.

If business school graduates and those with high educational attainment are found to have a low level of financial literacy, this is a cause for concern.

More Filipinos are inclined towards seeking employment.

Thus, income is highly dependent on compensation received from employers. While employers are encouraged to practice humanistic management (i.e., looking after the welfare of their people which may include initiatives such as financial wellness programs), one should not wait until it happens and one should not depend upon others for one’s financial wellbeing and future.

Define your needs and assess your income Painful as it can be, you have to watch your numbers. Be realistic. Assess where you are now. Define your needs. How often do you sit in your favorite coffe shop earning points?

How much do you spend for hair color and straightening, dining out, carbonated drinks, movies, etc.? Do you travel because you believe it is better than buying stuff? The experience and pleasure that come with travels are undeniably beneficial as it also keeps one’s sanity in this rat-race world, others claim.

Travel if you must but you must do it without hurting your bank account or without incurring loans. Redefine your needs.

If you have critically assessed your needs, then you can start looking at your income. Is your income highly dependent on one source? You may have other talents you have not exploited yet. If you are a professional or an expert, you can do consultancy. You might have skills and talents that can earn you additional income. Or might it be high time to hone your entrepreneurial skills?

Money works While we are trained to work for our paychecks, we can learn to make our money earn us a check. How many hours do you spend in social media or in playing with your techie games? You may wish to be more productive and take advantage of the easy access to information to educate yourself on financial products. Instead of parking your excess resources in the bank, you can make your money work for you as you invest in the stock market, mutual funds, legitimate businesses and insurance-investment plans. You can also help the government fund its projects by buying treasury bills and bonds.

It is not too late for you and I to exercise due diligence in equipping ourselves with survival tools that include financial literacy. We should not live poor if we are not. The solution to self-proclaimed poverty is to watch the numbers and act upon them.

G

L

Lerma Butigan Bautista is a Doctor of Business Administration student of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University (DLSU). She is an Associate Professor of the School of Accountancy and Business Management at Saint Louis University, a certified public accountant, and a consultant of various firms. You may contact her atlerma_bautista@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK CYAN

W

ASHINGTON―The US appeal at the United Nations for “full enforcement” of the sanctions against North Korea underscored the difficulty of attaining real progress on denuclearization, more than a month after the much-vaunted Donald Trump-Kim Jong Un summit.

In their joint declaration after the historic meeting June 12 in Singapore, the North Korean leader “reaffirmed his commitment” to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

But the actual details of the process, including how and by what timetable the North’s nuclear program is to be dismantled, have yet to be negotiated.

At the time, the US administration insisted on the “urgency” of denuclearization, which was

Pursuant to to the the provisions provisions of of RA RA 776, 776, as as amended, amended, Notice Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that Pursuant MAGNUM.AIR (SKYJET), (SKYJET), INC. INC. has has filed filed with with the the Civil Civil Aeronautics Aeronautics Board Board aa petition petition MAGNUM.AIR for issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to Operate for issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to Operate Domestic Non-scheduled Non-scheduled Air Air Transportation Transportation Services.

Services. The The above-entitled above-entitled case case Domestic is scheduled scheduled for for hearing hearing on on August August 7, 7, 2018 2018 at at 10:00 10:00 AM AM at at the the CAB CAB Conference Conference is Room, Old Old MIA MIA Road, Road, Pasay Pasay City City before before the the undersigned, undersigned, wherein wherein the the applicant applicant Room, shall present present relevant relevant evidence. evidence. Pre-marking Pre-marking and and comparison comparison of of documents documents to to be be shall presented during during the the hearing hearing shall shall be be on on July July 31, 31, 2018 2018 at at 10:00 10:00 AM, AM, three three (3) (3) days days presented thereafter, Applicant Applicant shall shall submit submit the the marked marked documents documents together together with with the the scanned scanned thereafter, copy to to Hearing Hearing Examiners’ Examiners’ Division Division (HED) (HED) in in accordance accordance to to CAB CAB Resolution Resolution No.6 No.6 copy (BM 01-01-27-2016) dated January 27, 2016, otherwise known as Less Paper (BM 01-01-27-2016) dated January 27, 2016, otherwise known as Less Paper Transaction of of CAB. CAB. Transaction The applicant applicant is is hereby hereby required required to to have have this this Notice Notice of of Hearing Hearing published published at at least least The once aa week week for for three three (3) (3) consecutive consecutive weeks weeks in in aa broadsheet broadsheet newspaper newspaper of of national national once circulation. The The Notice Notice of of Hearing Hearing and and the the Application Application shall shall be be served, served, by by this this Office, Office, circulation. to all all concerned concerned parties/airlines, parties/airlines, either either by by facsimile facsimile or or electronic electronic mail, mail, in in compliance compliance to with CAB CAB Board Board Resolution Resolution No. No. 97 97 (2003).

(2003). with

HANOI-The flash floods in Vietnam have claimed at least 19 lives, the government said Sunday, as the residents in affected areas sought safety in higher ground.

Boasting a long coastline, tropical Vietnam is battered by floods and storms every year, with hundreds of lives lost from the annual monsoon barrage.

The remnants of Typhoon Son Tinh, now a tropical depression, made landfall Wednesday night, the third tropical storm to hit Vietnam since the start of the year.

The latest report from the country’s disaster office said 19 people had been killed so far, with an additional 13 people unaccounted for.

Floods and landslides from heavy rain have ranged far and wide and affected rural and urban areas, including the capital

IN THE MATTER OF THE IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR FOR THE THE APPROVAL APPROVAL APPLICATION OF THE SALE OF VARIOUS SUBOF THE SALE OF VARIOUS SUBTRANSMISSION LINES/ASSETS LINES/ASSETS OF OF TRANSMISSION THE NATIONAL NATIONAL TRANSMISSION TRANSMISSION THE CORPORATION (TRANSCO) TO CORPORATION (TRANSCO) TO MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO), AS COVERED BY A (MERALCO), AS COVERED BY A CONTRACT TO TO SELL SELL DATED DATED 23 23 CONTRACT DECEMBER 2015, 2015, DECEMBER ERC CASE CASE No. No. 2016-199 2016-199 RC RC ERC NATIONAL TRANSMISSION NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO) (TRANSCO) AND AND CORPORATION MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO), (MERALCO), Applicants.

Applicants. x----------------------------------------------x x----------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF OF PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING HEARING NOTICE TO ALL ALL INTERESTED INTERESTED PARTIES: PARTIES: TO Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that on on 15 15 December December 2016, 2016, the the National National Transmission Transmission Corporation Corporation Notice (TRANSCO) and and Manila Manila Electric Electric Company Company (MERALCO) (MERALCO) filed filed an an Application Application dated dated 04 04 October October (TRANSCO) 2016, seeking seeking the the approval approval of of the the sale sale of of various various sub-transmission sub-transmission lines/assets lines/assets of of TRANSCO TRANSCO to to 2016, MERALCO as covered by the Contract To Sell dated 23 December 2015.

MERALCO as covered by the Contract To Sell dated 23 December 2015.

TRANSCO and and MERALCO MERALCO alleged alleged the the following following in in their their Application: Application: TRANSCO 1.

1.

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

City. ItIt may may be be served served with with Quezon pleadings, notices, notices, orders orders and and other other documents documents through through its its undersigned undersigned counsel. counsel. pleadings,

2.

2.

MERALCO is is an an electric electric distribution distribution utility utility (DU), (DU), organized organized and and existing existing under under MERALCO the laws laws of of the the Republic Republic of of the the Philippines Philippines with with principal principal office office address address at at the the the Lopez Building, Building, Ortigas OrtigasAvenue, Avenue, Barangay Barangay Ugong, Ugong, Pasig Pasig City.

City. ItIt is is duly duly authorized authorized Lopez to construct, construct, operate operate and and maintain maintain an an electric electric power power distribution distribution system system within within to its franchise franchise area area as as delineated delineated by by its its legislative legislative franchise franchise (R.A. (R.A. No. No. 9209).

9209). ItIt its may be be served served with with pleadings, pleadings, notices, notices, orders orders and and other other documents documents through through its its may undersigned counsel. counsel. undersigned

3.

3.

By virtue virtue of of Section Section 88 of of the the EPIRA, EPIRA, TransCo TransCo assumed assumed the the electrical electrical transmission transmission By functions of of the the National National Power Power Corporation Corporation (NPC) (NPC) and and itit was was authorized authorized and and functions made to assume the responsibility of NPC for the planning, construction and made to assume the responsibility of NPC for the planning, construction and centralized operation operation and and maintenance maintenance of of high high voltage voltage transmission transmission facilities, facilities, centralized including grid grid interconnections interconnections and and ancillary ancillary services. services. including

4.

4.

Section 88 of of the the EPIRA EPIRA and and Rule Rule 6, 6, Section Section 88 (e) (e) of of the the EPIRA-Implementing EPIRA-Implementing Section Rules and and Regulations Regulations (lRR) (lRR) also also mandate mandate the the segregation segregation of of the the transmission transmission Rules and sub-transmission sub-transmission functions functions and and assets assets for for transparency transparency and and disposal, disposal, and and and authorize TransCo TransCo to to negotiate negotiate for, for, and and to to transfer transfer such such sub-transmission sub-transmission assets assets authorize (STAs) and and facilities facilities to to qualified qualified distribution distribution utility/ies/Philippine utility/ies/Philippine Economic Economic Zone Zone (STAs) Authority (PEZA)-authorized (PEZA)-authorized entities. entities.

Authority

5.

5.

Pursuant thereto, thereto, this this Honorable Honorable Commission Commission promulgated promulgated the the “Guidelines “Guidelines to to the the Pursuant Sale and and Transfer Transfer of of the the TransCo’s TransCo’s Sub-transmission Sub-transmission Assets Assets and and the the Franchising Franchising Sale of Qualified Consortiums” (ERC Guidelines) dated 17 October 2003. of Qualified Consortiums” (ERC Guidelines) dated 17 October 2003.

6.

6.

Consistent with with the the ERC ERC Guidelines, Guidelines, TransCo TransCo has has adopted adopted its its own own Guidelines Guidelines Consistent on the the Sale Sale of of Sub-transmission Sub-transmission Assets Assets (Trans (Trans Co Co Guidelines) Guidelines) [Annex [Annex “A”], “A”], as as on approved via via TransCo TransCo Board Board Resolution Resolution No. No. TC-2003-067 TC-2003-067 dated dated 28 28 November November approved 2003 [Annex [Annex “A-1”], “A-1”], as as further further amended amended by

by TransCo TransCo Board Board Resolution Resolution 2003 No.TC-2004-009 dated dated 16 16 March March 2004 2004 [Annex [Annex “A-2”].

“A-2”].

No.TC-2004-009

7.

7.

On 06 06 July July 2011, 2011, this this Honorable Honorable Commission Commission issued issued Resolution Resolution No. No. 15, 15, Series Series of of On 2011 entitled: entitled: “A “A Resolution Resolution Adopting Adopting the the Amended Amended Rules Rules for for the the Approval Approval of of the the 2011 Sale and Transfer of TransCo’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Acquisition by Sale and Transfer of TransCo’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Acquisition by Qualified Consortiums.”

Consortiums.”

Qualified

8.

8.

In accordance accordance with with the the aforesaid aforesaid ERC ERC Guidelines, Guidelines, and and based based on on its its thorough thorough In evaluation,TransCo TransCohas hasdetermined determinedthat thatthe thefollowing followingassets assetsare aresub-transmission sub-transmission evaluation, assets: assets: (a) Bolbok-Mahabang Bolbok-Mahabang Parang-Concepcion Parang-Concepcion 13.8 13.8 kV kV Line; Line; (a) (b) Dasmariñas Dasmariñas S/S S/S Equipment; Equipment; and, and, (b) (c) Biñan 115kV Switchyard. (c) Biñan 115kV Switchyard.

Copies of of the the Report Report on on the the nature nature of of the the assets, assets, List List of of sub-transmission sub-transmission assets assets Copies for sale sale and and the the Electrical Electrical Diagram Diagram are are attached attached as as Annexes Annexes “B”, “B”, “C” “C” and and “D,” “D,” for respectively. respectively.

9.

9.

nvItatIon to to B BId Id IInvItatIon rocurement of of v varIous arIous G Goods oods PProcurement

1.

1.

The Department Department of of Health Health (DOH), (DOH), through through the the General General Appropriations Appropriations Act Act of of 2018 2018 intends intends to to The procure the the following following project project listed listed below: below: procure IB No. No. IB

Name of of Contract Contract Name

ABC (PHP) (PHP) ABC

Cost of of Bidding Bidding Cost Documents (Php) (Php) Documents

IB No. No. 2018-283 2018-283 IB

Procurement of of Purified Purified Procurement Chick Embryo Embryo Cell Cell Chick Vaccine (PCECV) (PCECV) Vaccine

34,400,000.00 34,400,000.00

25,000.00 25,000.00

Procurement of of Vitamin Vitamin IB No. No. 2018-099-A 2018-099-A Procurement IB Re-Bid AA–– Re-Bid

64,938,000.00 64,938,000.00

50,000.00 50,000.00

18,149,062.50 18,149,062.50

25,000.00 25,000.00

Procurement of of Procurement Flupentixol 20mg 20mg Flupentixol Ampule Ampule

IB No. No. 2018-282 2018-282 IB

3.

3.

Single Largest Largest Completed Completed Single Contract Contract

At least least Twenty Twenty Five Five Percent Percent At (25%) of of the theABC ABC within within the the (25%) specified period period in in the the Section Section specified III. Bid Data Sheet III. Bid Data Sheet

The DOH DOH now now invites invites Bids Bids from from eligible eligible Bidders Bidders for for the the procurement procurement of of the the above-caption above-caption The projects. Delivery Delivery of of the the Goods Goods is is required required as as specified specified in in Section Section VI. VI. Schedule Schedule of of Requirements.

Requirements. projects.

Bidders should should have have completed completed contracts contracts similar similar to to the the cited cited projects projects as as stated stated in in the the ITB. ITB. The The Bidders description of of an an eligible eligible bidder bidder is is contained contained in in the the Bidding Bidding Documents, Documents, particularly, particularly, in in Section Section II. II. description Instructions to to Bidders.

Bidders.

Instructions Biddingwill willbe beconducted conductedthrough throughopen opencompetitive competitivebidding biddingprocedures proceduresusing usingaanon-discretionary non-discretionary Bidding “pass/fail” criterion criterion as as specified specified in in the the 2016 2016 Revised Revised Implementing Implementing Rules Rules and and Regulations Regulations (IRR) (IRR) “pass/fail” of Republic RepublicAct Act (RA) (RA) 9184, 9184, otherwise otherwise known known as as the the “Government “Government Procurement Procurement Reform ReformAct”.

Act”. of Bidding is is restricted restricted to to Filipino Filipino citizens/sole citizens/sole proprietorships, proprietorships, partnerships, partnerships, or or organizations organizations with with Bidding at least least sixty sixty percent percent (60%) (60%) interest interest or or outstanding outstanding capital capital stock stock belonging belonging to to citizens citizens of of the the at Philippines, and and to to citizens citizens or or organizations organizations of of aa country country the the laws laws or or regulations regulations of of which which grant grant Philippines, similar rights rights or or privileges privileges to to Filipino Filipino citizens, citizens, pursuant pursuant to to RA RA5183.

5183. similar Interested bidders bidders may may obtain obtain further further information information from from the the COBAC COBAC Secretariat, Secretariat, Ground Ground Floor, Floor, Interested Building 6, 6, DOH, DOH, San San Lazaro Lazaro Compound, Compound, Rizal Rizal Avenue, Avenue, Sta. Sta. Cruz, Cruz, Manila Manila and and inspect inspect the the Building Bidding Documents Documents at at 8:00 8:00 AM AM to to 5:00 5:00 PM, PM, Monday Monday to to Friday.

Friday.

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

5.

5.

Name of of Contract Contract Name

IB No. No. 2018-283 2018-283 IB IB No. No. 2018-099-A 2018-099-A IB IB No. No. 2018-282 2018-282 IB

6.

6.

Procurement of of Purified Purified Chick Chick Embryo Embryo Procurement Cell Vaccine Vaccine (PCECV) (PCECV) Cell Procurement of of Vitamin VitaminAA–– Re-Bid Re-Bid Procurement Procurement of of Flupentixol Flupentixol 20mg 20mgAmpule Ampule Procurement

14August August 2018; 2018; 9:00 9:00 14 A.M. A.M.

Bid must must be be duly duly received received by by the the BAC BAC Secretariat Secretariat at at the the address address below below on on or or before before the the date date Bid given above. above.All All Bids Bids must must be be accompanied accompanied by by aa bid bid security security in in any any of of the the acceptable acceptable forms forms and and given in the the amount amount stated stated below: below: in Form of of Bid Bid Security Security Form

Amount of of Bid Bid Security Security Amount (Not less less than than the the required required percentage percentage of of the theABC) ABC) (Not

(a) Cash Cash or or cashier’s/manager’s cashier’s/manager’s check check issued issued by by aa Universal Universal (a) or Commercial Commercial Bank.

Bank. or (b) Bank Bank draft/guarantee draft/guarantee or or irrevocable irrevocable letter letter of of credit credit issued issued (b) by aa Universal Universal or or Commercial Commercial Bank: Bank: Provided, Provided, however, however, by that itit shall shall be be confirmed confirmed or or authenticated authenticated by by aa Universal Universal or or that Commercial Bank, Bank, ifif issued issued by by aa foreign foreign bank. bank.

Commercial (c) Surety Surety bond bond callable callable upon upon demand demand issued issued by by aa surety surety (c) or insurance insurance company company duly duly certified certified by by the the Insurance Insurance or Commission as as authorized authorized to to issue issue such such security. security.

Commission (d) Bid Bid Securing Securing Declaration Declaration (d)

8.

8.

Also, copies copies of of the the Technical Technical and and Financial Financial Qualification Qualification Evaluations Evaluations conducted conducted Also,

by TransCo TransCo as as well well as as the the Description Description of of the the Franchise Franchise Area Area being being served served by by the the by subject assets assets are are attached attached as as Annexes Annexes “G”, “G”, “H” “H” and and “I,” “I,” respectively. respectively. subject 10. TransCo TransCo has has negotiated negotiated and and concluded concluded aa Contract Contract to to Sell Sell with with MERALCO MERALCO dated dated 10.

23 December December 2015 2015 [Annex [Annex “J”] “J”] covering covering the the said said sub-transmission sub-transmission assets. assets.

23 11. Under Under the the terms terms of of the the said said Contract, Contract, the the total total purchase purchase price price of of TWO TWO HUNDRED HUNDRED 11.

FOUR MILLION MILLION ONE ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED SIXTY SIXTY TWO TWO THOUSAND THOUSAND ONE ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED FOUR NINETEEN AND 75/100, Philippine Currency (Php204,162,119.75) shall NINETEEN AND 75/100, Philippine Currency (Php204,162,119.75) shall be paid paid by

by MERALCO MERALCO in in cash cash or or in in the the form form of of manager’s manager’s or or cashier’s cashier’s check check be within sixty sixty (60) (60) calendar calendar days days from from its its receipt receipt of of the the Notice Notice of of the the ERC’s ERC’s final final within approval of of the the contract, contract, plus plus value value added added tax tax (VAT), (VAT), documentary documentary stamp stamp tax tax and and approval other transaction transaction taxes, taxes, fees fees or or duties duties incurred incurred in in connection connection with with the the execution, execution, other delivery and annotation of the said contract. delivery and annotation of the said contract.

12. The The subject subject sub-transmission sub-transmission assets assets are are valued valued in in reference reference to to the the Sinclair Sinclair Knight Knight 12.

Merz (SKM) (SKM) valuation valuation [Annex [Annex “K”] “K”] pursuant pursuant to to ERC ERC Resolution Resolution No. No. 01, 01, Series Series of of Merz 2009, as amended.

2009, as amended.

13. MERALCO MERALCO is is the the only only DU DU utilizing utilizing the the subject subject assets assets and and there there are are existing existing 13. directly connected connected customers customers thereto thereto [Annex [Annex “L”).

“L”). directly 14. Furthermore, Furthermore, TransCo TransCo and and MERALCO MERALCO respectfully respectfully submit submit the the Draft Draft Deed Deed of of 14.

Absolute Sale Sale (Annex (Annex “M”) “M”) as as part part of of the the requirements requirements provided provided in in the the ERC ERC Absolute Guidelines.

Guidelines.

15. The The proposed proposed sale sale has has satisfied satisfied all all of of the the requirements requirements and and criteria criteria set set by by the the 15.

EPIRA and and its its IRR, IRR, as as well well as as the the ERC ERC and and TransCo TransCo Guidelines Guidelines on on the the Sale Sale of of EPIRA Sub-Transmission Assets.

Sub-Transmission Assets.

16. The The approval approval by by this this Honorable Honorable Commission Commission of of the the instant instant Joint Joint Application Application shall shall 16. pave the the way way for for the the attainment attainment of of aa reformed reformed electricity electricity industry industry under under the the EPIRA, EPIRA, pave which would would ultimately ultimately best best serve serve the the interest interest of of the the consuming consuming public. public. which 17. Finally, Finally, in in support support of of the the prayer prayer for for the the approval approval of of this this Joint Joint Application, Application, attached attached 17. as Annex Annex “N” “N” is is the the Judicial Judicial Affidavit Affidavit of of Engr.

Engr. ROBERTO ROBERTO D. D. ISIP, ISIP, JR. JR. (Manager, (Manager, as Network Asset Asset Planning Planning Office Office of of MERALCO), MERALCO), to to emphasize emphasize the the benefits benefits that that the the Network public would would enjoy enjoy as as aa result result of of the the approval approval of of the the instant instant Joint Joint Application.

Application. public PRAYER PRAYER

Two percent percent (2%) (2%) Two

Five percent percent (5%) (5%) Five No percentage percentage required required No

Bid opening opening shall shall be be at at COBAC COBAC Conference Conference Room, Room, G/F, G/F, Bldg.

Bldg. 6, 6, DOH, DOH, San San Lazaro Lazaro Cmpd., Cmpd., Rizal Rizal Bid Ave., Sta. Sta. Cruz, Cruz, Manila.

Manila. Bids Bids will will be be opened opened in in the the presence presence of of the the Bidders’ Bidders’representatives representatives who who Ave., choose to to attend attend at at the the address address above. above. Late Late bids bids shall shall not not be be accepted. accepted. choose The DOH DOH reserves reserves the the right right to to reject reject any any and and all all Bids, Bids, declare declare aa failure failure of of bidding, bidding, or or not not award award The the contract contract at at any any time time prior prior to to contract contract award award in in accordance accordance with with Section Section 41 41 of of RA RA9184 9184 and and its its the IRR, without without thereby thereby incurring incurring any any liability liability to to the the affected affected bidder bidder or or bidders. bidders.

IRR, For further further information, information, please please refer refer to: to: For COBAC-A Secretariat Secretariat COBAC-A Building 66 Building Department of of Health Health Department San Lazaro Lazaro Compound, Compound, Rizal Rizal Avenue, Avenue, San Sta. Cruz, Cruz, Manila Manila Sta. Tel. Nos. Nos. 651-7800 651-7800 local local 1625 1625 to to 1627; 1627; 1650 1650 to to 52 52 Tel. Facsimile No.: No.: 711-6061/740-6830 711-6061/740-6830 Facsimile

(MS-JULY23, 23,2018) 2018) (MS-JULY

WHEREFORE, itit is is most most respectfully respectfully prayed prayed to to this this Honorable Honorable Commission Commission WHEREFORE, that the the instant instant Joint Joint Application Application for for the the approval approval of of the the sale sale of of TransCo’s TransCo’s subsubthat transmission assets in favor of the Manila Electric Company, under the terms terms transmission assets in favor of the Manila Electric Company, under the provided in in the the Contract Contract to to Sell Sell dated dated 23 23 December December 2015, 2015, be be APPROVED. APPROVED. provided

Activity (Date (Date & & Time) Time) Activity Pre-bidding Submission and and Pre-bidding Submission Conference Opening of of Bids Bids Conference Opening 31 July July 2018; 2018; 10:00 10:00 31 A.M. A.M.

(SGD) NESTOR NESTOR F. F. SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO, JR., JR., MD, MD, MPHC, MPHC, MHSA, MHSA, CESO CESO III III (SGD) Assistant Secretary Secretary of of Health Health Assistant COBAC –– AA Chairperson Chairperson COBAC

MERALCO, as as the the buyer buyer of of the the subject subject sub-transmission sub-transmission assets assets possesses possesses the the MERALCO, technical and and financial financial qualifications qualifications to to acquire, acquire, operate, operate, maintain, maintain, expand expand and and technical upgrade the the said said STAs STAs within within its its franchise franchise area. area. upgrade Copies of of the the Audited Audited Income Income Statements Statements and and Balance Balance Sheet Sheet of of MERALCO MERALCO as as of of Copies 31 December December 2014 2014 are are attached attached as as Annexes Annexes “E” “E” and and “F”, “F”, respectively. respectively.

31

The DOH DOH will will hold hold aa Pre-bidding Pre-bidding Conference Conference and and the the Submission Submission and and Opening Opening of of Bids Bids at at The COBAC Conference Conference Room, Room, G/F, G/F, Bldg.

Bldg. 6, 6, DOH, DOH, San San Lazaro Lazaro Cmpd., Cmpd., Rizal Rizal Ave., Ave., Sta. Sta. Cruz, Cruz, COBAC Manila on on the the schedule schedule given given below: below: Manila IB No. No. IB

to reality is welcome.

“To be successful, negotiations need time,” said Abraham Denmark of the Wilson Center think tank in Washington.

Some experts, he added, “warn that complete and verified denuclearization could take 15 years.”

So after the head-spinning events and reversals of the past six months, it may now be time to dig in for a long wait.

To some observers, moreover, the loss of momentum that Singapore should have provided is worrying. There have been few if any real advances. AFP

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

Republic of of the the Philippines Philippines Republic Department of of Health Health Department CENTRAL OFFICE OFFICE BIDS BIDS AND AND AWARDS AWARDS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE CENTRAL

Let aa copy copy of of the the petition petition and and this this Notice Notice be be posted posted at at the the CAB CAB Bulletin Bulletin Board Board Let beginning today. today. beginning

(MS-JULY16, 16,23 23&&30, 30,2018) 2018) (MS-JULY

changed.

“We have no time limit,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday. “We have no speed limit.”

Asked about the change in tone, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert sought to reassure: “We have teams in place that are working very hard on this issue every day,” she said.

“We have said there’s a lot of work left to be done.”

For several experts who had warned that the Singapore summit, for all its hype, pomp and high expectations, had provided only the barest outline of a long and arduous process, the return

email us at advertise@manilastandard.net or call us at 832-5547

(MS-JULY9,16 9,16&&23, 23,2018) 2018) (MS-JULY

7.

7.

MARIA ELBEN ELBEN SL. SL. MORO MORO MARIA Hearing Officer Officer Hearing

Hanoi.

It is expected to continue in the coming days.

State-controlled VNExpress news site reported Saturday that residents in Chuong My district on the outskirts of Hanoi were asked to leave their homes and get to higher ground for fear of heavy floods.

“We must be active in moving our furniture out of homes. From last year’s experience, we did not have time to run,” a local resident was quoted as saying.

Published photos showed homeowners in plastic raincoats moving bags of goods and livestock.

“My house is in a very low location so I have to move all the rice to higher places,” resident Nguyen Duy Dong told VNExpress. “Since the afternoon, we have moved more than one tonne of rice.” AFP

RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE NOW!

EXTRAJUDICIAL EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AND AND SETTLEMENT PARTITION OF OF ESTATE ESTATE PARTITION Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that Notice the estate estate of of the the late late Lindy Lindy the Fernandez Balarbar Balarbar has has Fernandez been extrajudicially extrajudicially settled settled been among his his heirs heirs namely namely among Catherine VillanuevaCatherine VillanuevaBalarbar (spouse) (spouse) and and Cate Cate Balarbar Liana V. V. Balarbar Balarbar (child). (child).

Liana As per per Doc. Doc. No. No. 484; 484; Page Page As 97; Book Book No. No. VII, VII, series series of of 97; 2018 in in the the notarial notarial books books 2018 of Atty.

Alysha Grace M. of Atty. Alysha Grace M. Zulueta, Notary Notary Public Public until until Zulueta, December 31, 31, 2019 2019 with with December PTR No. 6997925, 1/3/18 PTR No. 6997925, 1/3/18 IBP No No 011076 011076 Manila.

Manila.

IBP

Parties opposing opposing the the said said application application shall shall file file its its manifestation manifestation not not later later than than Parties the pre-marking pre-marking and and comparison comparison of of documents, documents, on on July July 31, 31, 2018 2018 and and its its written written the opposition on on or or before before the the date date of of hearing, hearing, furnishing furnishing aa copy copy of of the the same same to to the the opposition applicant or or appear appear at at the the hearing hearing with with such such evidence evidence as as may may be be proper proper under under the the applicant premises. Failure Failure on on the the part part of of any any interested interested party party to to file file their their opposition opposition on on time time or or premises. appear at at the the hearing hearing shall shall be be construed construed as as aa waiver waiver of of their their right right to to be be heard heard and and the the appear CivilAeronautics Aeronautics Board Board shall shall proceed proceed to to hear hear and and decide decide the the application application on on its its merits. merits.

Civil

09 July July 2018 2018 09 Pasay City, City, Philippines Philippines Pasay

supposed to begin “very quickly.”

“We’re hopeful we can get it done” by 2020, before the end of Trump’s current presidential term, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at the time.

Pompeo has been charged with the challenge of putting meat on the bare bones of the Singapore commitment.

But 40 days and one apparently fruitless visit by Pompeo to Pyongyang later, the tone of the American side has clearly

Floods kill 19 in Vietnam

IN RE: RE: PETITION PETITION FOR FOR ISSUANCE ISSUANCE IN OF CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATE OF OF PUBLIC PUBLIC OF CONVENIENCE AND AND NECESSITY NECESSITY CONVENIENCE TO OPERATE DOMESTIC NONTO OPERATE DOMESTIC NONSCHEDULED (AIR (AIR TAXI) TAXI) AIR AIR SCHEDULED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SERVICES TRANSPORTATION CAB Case Case No. No. EP-183894-HED072018-099-0 EP-183894-HED072018-099-0 CAB MAGNUM.AIR (SKYJET), (SKYJET), INC., INC., MAGNUM.AIR Petitioner.

Petitioner. x-----------------------------------------------x x-----------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF OF HEARING HEARING NOTICE

extrastory2000@gmail.com

US finding it hard to convert NKorea pledges into progress

2.

2.

Republic of of the the Philippines Philippines Republic Department of of Transportation Transportation and and Communications Communications Department CIVIL AERONAUTICS AERONAUTICS BOARD BOARD CIVIL

CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK CYAN

Applicants also also pray pray for for other other just just and and equitable equitable reliefs. reliefs.

Applicants The Commission Commission has has set set the the Application Application for for determination determination of of compliance compliance with with the the jurisdictional jurisdictional The requirements, expository expository presentation, presentation, Pre-trial Pre-trial Conference, Conference, and and presentation presentation of of evidence evidence on on 10 10 requirements, August 2018 2018 (Friday) (Friday) at at ten ten o’clock o’clock in in the the morning morning (10:00 (10:00 A.M.), A.M.), at at the the ERC ERC Hearing Hearing Room, Room, 15th 15th August Floor, Pacific Pacific Center Center Building, Building, San San Miguel Miguel Avenue, Avenue, Pasig Pasig City.

City.

Floor, All persons persons who who have have an an interest interest in in the the subject subject matter matter of of the the instant instant case case may may become become aa All party by by filing filing with with the the Commission Commission aa verified verified Petition Petition to to Intervene Intervene at at least least five five (5) (5) days days prior prior to to the the party initial hearing hearing and and subject subject to to the the requirements requirements under under Rule Rule 99 of of the the 2006 2006 ERC ERC Rules Rules of of Practice Practice initial and Procedure, Procedure, indicating indicating therein therein the the docket docket number number and and title title of of the the case case and and stating stating the the following: following: and I.I. II. II. III. III.

The petitioner’s petitioner’s name name and and address; address; The The nature nature of of petitioner’s petitioner’s interest interest in in the the subject subject matter matter of of the the proceeding proceeding and and the the way way and and The manner in in which which such such interest interest is is affected affected by by the the issues issues involved involved in in the the proceeding; proceeding; and and manner statement of of the the relief relief desired. desired.

AA statement

All other other persons persons who who may may want want their their views views known known to to the the Commission Commission with with respect respect to to the the All subject matter matter of of the the case case may may file file their their Opposition Opposition or or Comment Comment thereon thereon at at any any stage stage of of the the subject proceeding before before Applicant Applicant rests rests their their case, case, subject subject to to the the requirements requirements under under Rule Rule 99 of of the the 2006 2006 proceeding ERC Rules Rules of of Practice Practice and and Procedure.

Procedure. No No particular particular form form of of Opposition Opposition or or Comment Comment is is required, required, but but ERC the document, document, letter, letter, or or writing writing should should contain contain the the following: following: the 1) 1) 2) 2) 3) 3)

The name name and and address address of of such such person; person; The concise statement statement of of the the Opposition Opposition or or Comment; Comment; and and AA concise The grounds grounds relied relied upon. upon.

The

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

Application WITNESS, the the Honorable Honorable Chairperson Chairperson and and CEO, CEO, AGNES AGNES VST VST DEVANADERA DEVANADERA and and the the WITNESS, Honorable Commissioners Commissioners ALFREDO ALFREDO J. J. NON, NON, GLORIA GLORIA VICTORIA VICTORIA C. C. YAP-TARUC, YAP-TARUC, and and Honorable GERONIMO D. D. STA. STA. ANA, ANA, Energy Energy Regulatory Regulatory Commission, Commission, this this 14th 14th day day of of June June 2018 2018 in in Pasig Pasig GERONIMO City.

City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA PATRICIA MAGPALE-ASIRIT MAGPALE-ASIRIT JOSEFINA Oversight Commissioner Commissioner for for Legal Legal Oversight (MS-JULY23 23&&30, 30,2018 2018 (MS-JULY

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Entertainment

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Government TV network becomes more aggressive TODAY, Monday, you will start to notice changes in the government TV network’s quality of broadcasting.

And you will see it in the coverage of the third State of the Nation Address, more popularly known as SONA, in the afternoon.

As the lead network in the coverage, PTV 4, or People’s Television 4, will be able to showcase the upgrade it has done since the new dispensation took over in July 2016.

The network has purchased and put in place high-definition and digital broadcast equipment to be at par with the commercial and private broadcast companies.

That alone is what I am looking forward to see when I watch today’s SONA on the network. This year’s coverage will be under the helm of Joyce Bernal (I hope it doesn’t turn into a romcom or a comedy).

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, PTV, shall increase its transmission power to 120,000 watts by first quarter of 2019 from the current 55,000 watts.

“The more power (watts), the more people can watch you. That way, we can keep pace with other TV networks in the Philippines,” he said in Filipino during the launch at Marquis in BGC recently.

The launch was attended by top PTV officers and advertisers looking forward to enagaging with the government broadcast station.

Secretary Andanar also said PTV’s social media engagements have grown from 20,000 followers to 1.4 million around the world.

Foremost in the retooled programming of the network is what constitutes its main menu: news.

News programs will be airing from dawn till past dusk.

“We’ll have morning shows, newscast from morning, noontime, prime time (6 o’clock) till late night. We also have the newscast from Philippine News Agency (PNA) and programs that our President Rodrigo Duterte promised,” Andanar reiterated. These are Salaam Television for the Muslims and Lumad TV for the Lumads.

PTV-4 President and General Manager Dino Antonio Apolonio said, “Most of the news and public affair and public service shows are in-house production of PTV. It is our strong suit, although we’ll still be conceptualizing more in the future.”

Apart from those programs, the secretary said there will be block timers to enhance the variety of content.

Viewers will also be able to watch foreign shows from Japan, China and the re-airing of certain Koreanovelas from South Korea.

“We work with the entire Southeast Asian nations, also with other bigger countries,” Andanar said. PCOO’s Memorandum of Understanding includes Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and Cambodia, then Thailand and Myanmar soon.

“These programs (from other countries) are free. The Philippines will not spend a single penny for it.”

He said these programs will help Filipinos learn about the culture of those countries, and get a glimpse of how they produce shows.

What programs from PTV-4 will be sent to foreign countries, we asked.

Apolonio said, “News. But mainly those locally produced documentaries here in the Philippines because it’s part of the cultural exchange. We are aiming for our neighboring countries to know more about our culture.”

Since the network is taking a step forward, will they get prominent personalities to

attract more audience?

“People always prefer the content (of a program). And I also believe in the current personalities that we have like Jojo (Alejar), Dianne (Medina) and Aljo Bendijo,” Andanar added “President Duterte is always here to support PTV. He’s the biggest star,” Andanar explained.

PTV is partly subsidized by the government.

So, guys, PTV 4 is no longer just a government propaganda station, it is evolving into a broadcast entity perhaps in the mold of public broadcast systems in Japan and the United Kingdom.

Araneta Center’s exciting promos

promos From the holiday season of 2017 until the summer of this year, Quezon City’s premier lifestyle and leisure hub, the Araneta Center, has given out only the grandest treats to its luckiest customers.

Last May, Araneta Center awarded a brand new BMW 118i M sport car to Catherine Chung of Quezon City. This was the grand prize of the seasonal promo that was drawn in February this year. The coveted sports car, which boasts premium finish and fuel efficiency, was awarded by Carlo Cabrejas, area sales manager, Asian Carmakers Corporation BMW, at the Autohaus BMW in Libis.

Quezon City residents Wadi Fesalbon, Kate Jacklyn Abella, Judith Ang Codilla, Cherry Flores, Ma. Cristina Nolasco , Remedios Tolete, and Blesilda Servande, as well as Froilan Sancio of Pasig City, Ma. Judy Carlos of Marikina City, and Eric Ferrenco of Tondo, Manila each won P10,000 in cash.

There was no drought of awesome prizes with the Center’s “Into the Wild” summer promo that will send Maria Cecilia Carlos of San Juan to a 10-day trip to South Africa for two; and Charmynne Rimando of Marikina City to a seven-day trip to Dubai for two. Leny Langit of Quezon City, Mariel Niña Pua of Las Piñas City and Majelene Torres of Quezon City each won a three-day group trip to Singapore in the same promo, which had its grand draw on July 1.

Richard Estomaguio (QC), Rosemarie Leyba (QC), Alvin Finez (Rizal), and Kenneth Castillo ( Marikina) were the lucky recipients of GoPro Hero 6. Ma. Guia Valeroso (QC) and John Draicor Gonzalez (Antipolo) each got FujiFilm XT20 mirrorless camera. Dina Valenzuela and Lolita Jaule, both from QC, won Yuneec drone cameras.

Madalicious meals on Kapuso network If you’re a home cook and is running out of ideas on what to serve your family, there’s an easy way to get an inspiration. Watch San Miguel Purefoods Home Foodie Season 4 on the Kapuso network (GMA7), Monday to Friday, after Unang Hirit, just in time when you’re thinking of your menu for lunch.

The show is hosted by foodie couple Iya Villamina and her husband Drew Arellano.

They get a little help from SMC chefs – Lllena Tan Arcenas, Martin Narisma, and John Valley.

Apart from the recipes they dish out, the show also features a way array of San Miguel Purefoods products that they use in the Madalicious Meals they create.

You can learn how to whip up restaurant quality dishes, too. And if you miss the recipes, you could log on to www.homefoodie. com or check out their accounts @HomeFoodiePH on Twitter or Facebook.

Enjoy cooking and happy eating!

‘Side Show’ at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium on Aug. 31 THE cast of Side Show pays Manila Standard a visit on Thursday to promote Atlantis Theatrical’s highly anticipated staging of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical. The group was led by multi-awarded singer/songwriter Wency Cornejo, who is making his musical theater debut.

Side Show is based on the real-life story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton (played by Kayla Rivera and Gab Pangilinan), who try to overcome their impediment and make a name for themselves as stage and film stars. Daisy and Violet navigate their way through fortune and fame despite their differences, and along the way learn valuable lessons about love, loss, friendship, sisterhood, and what it truly means to be unique.

Completing the cast are Markki Stroem, Arman Ferrer and David Ezra. For tickets, contact Ticketworld at (632) 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Piolo Pascual's sister Chiqui Pascual-Gonzales has been his financial advisor since he started earning in showbiz.

The special lady in Piolo Pascual’s life A

T 41, being the country’s most eligible bachelor, people are curious about the identity of the special person who makes Piolo Pascual smile, the one who makes his heart skip a beat, and the special person he trusts the most.

The same curiosity arose when I got a message that said the A-list actor was finally going to introduce the person, the special lady in his life. The message I got was preceded by a passage: “Relationships are built on promises: the promise to love, to care, to secure, to protect, and to provide.”

It was getting exciting.

Two Saturdays ago, Piolo welcomed some members of the entertainment press in an intimate event to introduce the special lady. He was accompanied by his sister Chiqui PascualGonzales. His elder sister who is nine years his senior, was apparently, the special person described in the message I got.

Well, it’s good news for those who still hope to get close with the actor. But of course, the puzzle still remains unsolved since Piolo was vocal that he›s very much single. He even divulged that he doesn't have a sex life. It's hard to believe, right?

But Piolo is an accomplished man. There›s nothing could ever complete a person more than his commitment to his craft and family. And this is something that Piolo knows all too well, committed as he is to the promises he has made to his family as a son, a sibling, and a father.

“Like any other person, I want to give my family the best life possible. I am a man of my word, that’s why I work hard and seize every opportunity that comes my way,” Piolo said. “But more than just earning money, it’s how you manage your finances, that makes a difference. Fortunately, I have the guidance and help of one very special lady: my very own sister, who also happens to be my Sun Life Advisor.”

According to Piolo, Chiqui has been instrumental in ensuring that his dreams for his family will all come true. “It’s a partnership through and through. With her help, I’ve been able to make it all happen while still pursuing my own passions and advocacies,” he said.

Piolo and Chiqui’s story is but one of many in Sun Life Financial, where lifetime partnerships are developed and nurtured through the years. In fact, this has inspired Sun Life’s latest campaign, at the forefront of which is a new TV commercial high-

Piolo Pascual reveals that even at young age, he already teaches son Iñigo to save money.

lighting Sun Life’s presence in a client’s life throughout the different stages of her life. It represents the many promises that Sun Life has helped bring into fruition for the past 123 years of its existence.

Sun Life hopes that the campaign, as well as Piolo’s own story, will inspire more people to take the same path in their financial journey. “As the longest-standing life insurance company in the Philippines, we have witnessed many promises being fulfilled throughout the years and have served generations of clients. It is an honor for us to serve all our clients and help them secure their future and those of their loved ones” Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa said.

“The promises we make to our loved ones are sacred, and Sun Life knows this. That’s why it’s committed to helping its clients achieve their goals, no matter what happens,” Piolo said. “You can’t ask for a better lifetime partner than that.”

Piolo has been the celebrity ambassador of Sun Life for 10 years now. The actor is grateful that since he became the face of the company, they have been very generous in terms of supporting the well-meaning advocacies that he promotes.

“First of all, even before they got me to be the ambassador, they were supporting my foundation already. They assist us with our yearly outreach. Since then, we’ve been doing a lot of programs….they came up with an exhibit, and then now we have the run. We have shared a lot of milestones together. Sun Life was the reason why my son is in the Philippines too,” he told MS Entertainment.

GMA News gears up for DU30’s SONA coverage TODAY, expect the country’s most trusted broadcast news organization to deliver the latest news in its comprehensive coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address.

GMA News gives viewers updates starting from Unang Hirit’s Unang Balita in the morning.

In the afternoon, Pia Arcangel anchors SONA 2018: The GMA News Special Coverage as President Duterte addresses the entire nation to report on his administration’s accomplishments for the last 12 months.

Later in the evening, highlights of President Duterte’s speech and the biggest news in and out of Congress will be aired on GMA-7’s primetime newscast 24 Oras and late-night newscast Saksi, as well as GMA News TV’s flagship newscast State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

On GMA News TV, viewers can

catch the latest developments beginning in the morning with Dobol B sa News TV to be followed by News to Go, Balitanghali, News TV Live, Balita Pilipinas Ngayon, and the News TV Quick Response Team.

Radio listeners can also get the latest updates throughout the day with GMA Network’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB 594khz delivering the biggest news and latest updates related to the President’s SONA as well.

Netizens can also follow the special coverage of GMA News Online at www.gmanews. tv, where comprehensive backgrounders, up to the minute reports, and a live stream will be available. Updates can also be found through @GMANews accounts on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Viber.

President Rodrigo Duterte

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

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ating a particular dish the proper way enhances the experience and shows appreciation to those who prepare them.

For instance, it is recommended— not to mention ideal—that you eat chicken wings using your hands; pizza, too, is best enjoyed sans cutlery.

And when it comes to sushi, while there are different manners to enjoy it, there is actually a proper way to eat this beloved Japanese dish.

Use your hands

Struggling using chopsticks? No problem, because unlike sashimi, a dish of sliced raw fish or meat, which is eaten using chopsticks, sushi is traditionally eaten by hand so as not to ruin the form and offend the chef who created it.

According to Japanese restaurant Watami Grill and Sushi Bar, the proper way to eat sushi is by picking up a piece with your thumb and middle finger. But if you prefer to eat it using chopsticks, you may do so. You’re not breaking any law.

Life food

The right way

to eat

sushi

Dip the side with the fish

Dipping the sushi the right way is key to eating it without breaking its form.

Dip in soy sauce the side with fish, not the side with rice. Eat it upside down— the fish touching your tongue—to get the full flavor and freshness of the fish.

Sushi should also be eaten in one bite. HANDS ONLY. The right, and the traditional, way of eating sushi is by using your hands and dipping the side of the fish in soy sauce before you put the wasabi. Don’t cut; eat it one bite.

Cutting it in half is considered rude to the chef who made it.

BITES

Don’t mix wasabi with soy sauce

Experts, including Japanese celebrity chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa, advise against mixing wasabi with soy sauce. So how should you do it? After dipping the fish side of the sushi in soy sauce, use your chopsticks to put a small amount of wasabi on top of the fish.

A word of advice to those who add far more wasabi than necessary to “test their limits,” Watami restaurant said adding too much of this fiery plant would only hide the natural taste of sushi.

Be mindful of smell, taste, and texture

A fresh sushi passes the following criteria: the flesh of the fish should be shiny, translucent, and reddish-pink in color; the rice is white; the nori is crispy; it is odorless; and its goes back to its original shape when you lightly pinch or poke it. ment. When dining in a Japanese restaurant, look for one with a seasoned In addition, look for authentic Japanese chef or kitchen staff. Check, Japanese restaurant too, if there are Japanese expats dining To fully enjoy eating sushi, it’s best to in the restaurant to confirm whether it get your fix from an authentic establish- serves dishes with the same quality as King Dragon Roll

Don’t mix wasabi with soy sauce

those they eat in Japan or not.

In the Philippines, Watami has a Japanese chef-consultant and is frequented

by Japanese guests. It also serves a variety of sushi and sashimi that are delicately handcrafted and served fresh upon order. Try their Angel Roll, Ebi Salmon Roll, California Maki, and Super Deluxe Sushi.

A good Japanese restaurant should also have an extensive menu. Aside from fresh sushi, sashimi, and tempura, it should include other quintessential Japanese dishes such as ramen, pork and chicken katsu, aburi, and yakitori.

It should serve tea, sake, and souchu, as well as fruits, light cookies (or manju), or matcha-based goodies as desserts.

Watami serves other well-loved Japanese dishes including sashimi, sukiyaki, hot pots, ramen, assorted seafood dishes, salads, and pork and beef stone pot dishes, among many others at affordable prices.

Watami is located at SM Mall of Asia, Shangri-La Plaza, Uptown BGC, and Greenbelt 2.

Coffee with collagen Collagen is known for its anti-aging properties that help improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles on skin. But there is more to it than improving the appearance of skin.

Local coffee brand Kaffea takes advantage of the many benefits of collagen.

Editor’s note: The Joyce of Eating will return next week.

This protein helps fortify nails. It also prevents the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition, it prevents and helps treat heart diseases, lowers cholesterol, and prevents and treats the buildup of plaque in arteries.

Research shows collagen provides natural relief; it reduces pain while standing and lifting heavy objects. Collagen helps slow down joint deterioration in individuals, especially those with arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Further, it is found that collagen relieves back pain. A study of participants over 50 who had back pain showed significant improvement in their condition after taking collagen every day.

Creative director and photographer Kyla Olives likes the health benefits she gets from Kaffea’s collagen and other ingredients.

“What I like most about Kaffea is that it makes me feel energized. After long days I still have energy to sneak in cardio training. Other than the surge of energy, I can see my skin getting

Mooncakes for prosperity In celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival 2018, Chef Wong Kam On of award-winning Jasmine restaurant, prepares his famous mooncakes available in four tasty fillings namely, Red Bean, White Lotus, Red Lotus, and Five Kernels. These auspicious and elegantly-packaged treats make perfect gifts for family and friends.

Jasmine offers early bird rates with 20 percent discount for orders until Aug. 15, and 30 percent off for bulk orders with a minimum of 30 boxes. Prices start at P588 per single box and P1,788 per box of four.

Call (02) 811-6888 ext. 3338 for inquiries and reservations.

Surprise chocolate treat Mondelez launches its new Cadbury Dairy Milk Lickables, a new treat for kids featuring Cadbury chocolate in “spoonable” format and a free Pokemon toy inside.

Lickables is now available at leading supermarkets and convenience stores for P46.50 (SRP).

Shake Shack to open in PH

Creative director and photographer Kyla Olives

brighter,” she shares.

Kaffea is available nationwide at Rustan’s, Shopwise, SM Hypermarket Bazaar, SM Market Street, SM Kultura, CityMall GoLokal stores, and online at lazada.com.ph and beautymnl.com.

Call (02) 477-9920 for inquiries.

It’s starting to smell like ShackBurger as American burger joint Shake Shack announced on its social media pages the opening of its first branch in the Philippines in the first quarter of 2019.

Luxury retailer Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI Group) will bring Shake Shack to the country. P46.50 (SRP).