Manila Standard - 2018 August 8 - Wednesday

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INFLATION RISES TO 5.7%; BSP MULLS OVER OPTIONS

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Watch for Manila Standard’s Special Report on the Economy August 15, 2018 VOL. XXXII • NO. 174 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

House steps up Cha-Cha bid Arroyo files reso, pushes Con-Ass with new twist

By Maricel V. Cruz

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PEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday filed a resolution calling for separate voting by the House of Representatives and the Senate if they convene as a constituent assembly to rewrite the 1987 Constitution.

MAIDEN NAME. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attends Tuesday the hearing of the Committee on Revision of Laws discussing her proposed bill, Resolution 6028 or the Act Allowing Women To Revert To Their Maiden Name even without a court order.

Customs seizes PDP-Laban, Hugpong on same side—Koko P4b worth of By Macon Ramos-Araneta shabu from KL

By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST 500 kilos of shabu worth more than P4 billion were seized by the Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Port, the biggest haul of illegal drugs this year.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the shipment, which came from Malaysia, was consigned to Vedacio Cabral Araquel, a resident of 712 Galicia St., Sampaloc, Manila.

The shabu was hidden in several boxes inside a 24-footer container van that arrived in Manila on June Next page 28.

Redford, 81, bares last acting gig NEW YORK—Robert Redford, the screen legend and Oscar winner, has announced that he’s retiring from acting at the grand old age of 81, with upcoming movie “The Old Man & The Gun” his last gig in front of the camera.

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SENATOR Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday said his PDP-Laban and Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the party led by Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, were “united in its support for the President” despite being two separate organizations with their own members.

“Allies of the President may belong to one or both of these parties but we are all on the same side; we

all stand by the President,” said Pimentel, PDP-Laban president.

“As I have stated to my party mates, Hugpong ng Pagbabago is a regional party, PDP-Laban is a national party.

There is really no problem with dual membership in the national party and regional party,” he said.

Duterte is also the chairman of PDP-Laban, the current ruling party.

With elections still nine months away, government officials should focus on governance, not politics,

Suarez retains post as ‘legit’ minority head

By Maricel V. Cruz QUEZON Rep. Danilo Suarez is the legitimate minority leader as far as the House of Representatives is concerned.

Suarez retained his post as the minority leader after the House voted Tuesday in favor of Suarez through a voice vote, after Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. moved to finally resolve the issue.

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By Nat Mariano and Othel V. Campos PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has sacked the entire board and management of Nayong Pilipino Foundation for leasing government property for 70 years, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President has ordered the dismissal of the NPF officials as he expressed his exasperation over the continuing corruption in the government during the 28th Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

“The President cited the case of Nayong Pilipino, which leased government property for a ridiculously long period of time of 70 years, beyond the life of anyone. The President considered this... contract… grossly disadvantageous to the government,” said Roque in a press briefing Tuesday.

He added that the papers that will formally terminate the entire board and all the managers of the cultural park in Clark, Pampanga will be issued soon.

Panel sweetens TRAIN 2 as TRABAHO THE House of Representatives’ committee on ways and means on Tuesday expressed hope that the second package of the administration’s tax reform law will be acceptable to the Filipino people by labeling it as the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Highquality Opportunities or TRABAHO. This came after the committee, led

by Dakila Carlo Cua, approved the sub-

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Rody fires entire board of ‘Nayon’ over 70-yr lease

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By Maricel V. Cruz

Pimentel said.

“The President’s agenda supercedes any political agenda. Politics can wait but our people cannot.

Let’s work now and worry about politics later,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Pimentel said that PDP Laban would continue to follow the lead of President Duterte, the party’s chairman, who enumerated the administration’s priorities in his third State of the Nation speech.

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At the same time, Arroyo instructed lawmakers not to focus anymore on the “substance” of the proposed federal charter so as “not to waste time” as these questions should be left to the constituent assembly.

In House Resolution 2056, Arroyo expressed hope that efforts to amend the Constitution to effect the shift to federalism will finally take off.

“There is an urgent need to convene the Senate and the House of Representatives as a Constituent

stitute measure that is aimed at sustaining the Philippines’ strong fiscal performance and aggressive spending plan into the medium term.

“There is no more TRAIN 2. The second package of the administration’s tax reform law is dubbed as TRABAHO, which goal is to create jobs by attracting the right set of investments through incentives,” Cua said after the bill’s pasNext page sage in his committee.

INTEGRATED RESORT. Landing Philippines chairman and executive director Yang Zhihui (5th from left), Landing COO David Hoon (1st from left) and Landing CEO Jay Lee (2nd from left) head the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the $1.5-billion Nayon Landing Integrated Resort in Parañaque City. The rites were attended by local officials including Nayong Pilipino chairman Patricia Ocampo, Rep. Eric Olivarez, Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Pagcor chairman Andrea Domingo and Pagcor president Alfredo Lim. The construction is expected to generate 40,000 jobs. Lino Santos

WEATHER ‘Price swings erode workers’ buying power’ ‘Karding’ induces By Vito Barcelo monsoon rain TROPICAL Depression “Karding” will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, expected to spawn monsoon rains in Northern Luzon although it would not make a landfall, weathermen said Tuesday.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, “Karding” was estimated at 1,215 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan with Next page

THE Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said Tuesday high inflation was pushing down the workers’ buying power as it criticized the government and employers for their alleged lack of social responsibility.

The labor group said the rising prices of goods and the surging cost of services were continuing to pull down the capacity of workers to buy goods and to pay for services.

In other developments:

• The poorest 60 million Filipinos suffered income loss due to inflation in the first six months of 2018, the research group IBON Foundation said on Tuesday.

It estimated loss at between P993 and P2,715 and blamed it on high inflation.

The inflation rate increased from 3.4 percent in January 2018 to 5.2 percent in June of the same year.

• Finance Secretary Carlos Dominquez on Tuesday assured senators that his department’s prudent debt management and fiscal discipline had prepared it for the changing global trends.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Phil ID weapon vs terror—military

By Francisco Tuyay, Macon RamosAraneta and Maricel V. Cruz

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HE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday welcomed the passage into law of the Act mandating the implementation of one identification system which it claimed would eventually restrict criminals and terrorists from pulling off evil-minded acts.

Col. Edgardo Arevalo, spokesman of the AFP, said terrorists and criminals would

have difficulty pursuing their wicked-minded plans and evil designs with the execution of the one identificationsystem.

“We believe it will promote a peaceful and secure environment where terrorists, criminals, and other unscrupulous individuals will have a difficulty coping to pursue their evil designs and nefarious activities,” Arevalo stressed.

The national ID bill that was proposed in 2001, finally gained headway following its ratification by both Congress and signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last Monday.

The national ID will containe the full name, sex, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, address and front

facing photo.

In related developments: • With a price tag of P25 billion, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the National ID project should be able to solve the problem of 7.5-million Filipinos without birth certificates.

“That should be one of the outcomes of the project,” Recto said.

“If there will be a mass list-up and registration, then perhaps we can use this activity to end the plight of those without birth certificates.”

He said this could be looked into as one of the bonuses of the project.

“What I’m saying is that we should use the national ID platform as an opportunity

Task force to deal with Libya on abductions

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By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has formed a “high-level” Cabinet-led task force to deal with the Libyan government and aid in the efforts to recover two kidnapped Filipinos by Libyan militias, the Palace said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the President, who originally planned to send frigates as a show of force to the kidnappers, considered the advice of his Cabinet members during their 28th meeting on Tuesday.

“He has since considered the advice of the Cabinet to first form a task force headed by the Foreign Secretary [Alan Peter Cayetano] and composed of Muslim members of the Cabinet including Secretaries [Abdullah] Mamao, [Abul Khayr Dangcal] Alonto, and even Labor Secretary [Silvestre] Bello III to deal with the hostage crisis in Libya,” Roque said.

“The problem that complicates this latest case of kidnapping is that the kidnappers are not state agents of Libya. They are militias who are engaged in an armed conflict also with the Libyan government.”

Roque said the Cabinet deemed it more prudent to work with the Libyan government to know the demands of the abductors.

The Filipinos, together with a Korean national, were abducted as they were working for a water company in Libya.

Roque said Libya considers water as equally important as oil.

“When they [Koreans] said that everything has to be done to secure their [hostages] release, we are actually exerting pressure to the Libyan government given the fact that they [the kidnappers] have threatened to leave the ongoing water project in Libya which was deemed to be very important in their country,” Roque said.

“So, the status right now is that we have formed a high-level all-Cabinet member team to deal with the Libyan government and help in the effort to recover two of our countrymen who were kidnapped together with a South Korean national.”

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Speaking during the Development Budget Coordination Committee Senate briefing, Dominguez said they had exceeded growth expectations while the revenues were above target.

“Higher government spending means more services delivered to our people. We have put more money in people’s pockets,” he said.

ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said before the government’s Tax Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law, the total average daily minimum wage of minimum wage earners for contractualized and entry-level employees nationwide for the month of October 2017 was P327 a day and its equivalent purchasing power was P212.89 a day.

In April 2018 and in light of the wage increases from the regional wage boards, the total average daily minimum wage of workers for the same set of workers rose to P330.47, but due to rising inflation their buying power fell to P208.38 a day.

However, despite another round of wage increases in some regions, the workers’ total average nationwide pay in June 2018 rose to P335 a day, but their purchasing power remained at P208.83 a day.

“The cost of living was rising and workers and their families were having difficulty coping with the prices of food, particularly the price of rice, electricity and tuition, transportation and house rent, but we don’t know when will the government step in and extend social safety net programs to the poor workers,” Tanjusay said.

The National Economic and Development Authority set the standard amount at P1,400 a day―the amount needed by a family of five to live comfortably. With Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Redford,...

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The actor, director and founder of the Sundance Institute and its film festival, began his career on stage 60 years ago, before moving into television and film, and eventually into directing.

“Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “[I’ll] move toward retirement after this ‘cause I’ve been doing it since I was 21,” he said.

to solve the quandary of those who do not have birth documents,” he also said.

He said an individual without or who could not present a birth certificate could still register for a national ID by presenting “alternative or additional documents to prove his or her identity.”

While the law states that the birth certificate is the basic documentary requirement for registration, he said this clause was inserted in cognizance of the reality that millions of Filipinos have no birth certificates.

• Lawmakers from the House of Representatives hailed President Duterte’s signing of the bill creating the national identification system. With PNA

SEIZED SHABU. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (left) and PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino inspect Tuesday the shipment of shabu intercepted by BoC personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport , believed to have been smuggled from Malaysia.The contraband was hidden in several boxes inside a 24-foot container van that arrived in Manila on June 28, 2018. Norman Cruz

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who was ousted by Arroyo, has insisted that Suarez can no longer be in the minority bloc because he voted for Arroyo.

Former majority leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the 14-member Alvarez group last week voted ABS Partylist Rep. Eugene de Vera as the new minority leader, replacing Suarez. De Vera objected to Suarez’s recognition Tuesday.

The group of Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, made up of members of the left-leaning Makabayan bloc and Liberal Party-led coalition, also claimed the minority post.

Quimbo said his group manifested its objection to the recognition of Suarez.

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tional Development Ltd. is above-board and is highly advantageous to the government and to the Filipino people,” Ocampo insisted.

She also explained that the Nayon Landing, a 9.5-hectare property, is supposed to be the country’s top entertainment and leisure place by 2020, showcasing Filipinoinspired interior designs, world-class hotels, and facilities, and the newest cultural theme park with iconic architecture.

Ocampo also added that the term of release for the said project was only 25 years and not 70 years as reported.

Monthly rentals were pegged at P360 per square meters while the advance rental was placed at P827.05 million. NPF will also receive an additional monthly rental amounting to 10 percent net profits.

“We negotiated what we believed then, and believe now, are most advantageous terms and conditions for the government and the people,” Ocampo said.

Earlier, Ocampo and several executives from Hong Kong-based Landing International led the groundbreaking ceremony for the said $1.5-billion resort-casino project.

The incumbent members of the foundation’s board of trustees are Grace Panagsagan, Danny Camerino, Ivan Henares, Mila Ladrido, and Ray Dean Salvosa.

Under the Department of Tourism, the NPF is a government-owned and controlled organization established in 1969 to promote the diversity of Philippines’ heritage and culture.

The House’s decision to recognize Suarez as the minority leader was an affirmation of its earlier position that Suarez is still the minority leader, declaring a status quo for the positions in the chamber, including the minority, which were not declared vacant in the leadership change that took effect late last month.

Suarez is among the 184 lawmakers who voted for the election of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Speaker.

Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez,

“They will be issued in due course by the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea,” said Roque, emphasizing that everyone in NPF will be discharged.

For its part, Landing International Development Ltd. of Hong Kong said it was pushing through with its multi-billion-dollar resort project as its lease contract with Nayong Pilipino remains valid and effective. (Story on B1) In a statement, NPF chairmanPatricia Ocampo said they would adhere to the decision of the President discharging all the foundation’s board of trustees and management.

“On behalf of the board of trustees of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, I would like to thank the President for having been given the opportunity to serve the Filipino people. It is regrettable that it has come to this, but we understand that we serve at the pleasure of the President,” Ocampo said, adding they will continue to serve the President in their own capacities and help rid the country of graft and corruption.

Ocampo denied accusations of graft after the foundation leased property out for a $1.5-billion integrated resort-casino project in Entertainment City, Parañaque City.

“I strongly deny accusations that there were graft and corruption. On the contrary, the lease contract with Landing Interna-

In other developments: • More than half of the intended beneficiaries of the unconditional cash transfer program have already received the funds meant to help them cope with the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law, the Finance department said Tuesday.

“Our latest count for the distribution of unconditional cash transfer is 5.3-million recipients, that is out of the 10-million [targeted beneficiaries] this year,” Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino said during the briefing by the economic managers on the proposed national budget for 2019.

• Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez on Tuesday said they were upbeat about generating P181.4 billion from the TRAIN and the proposed tax Reform package 1B in order for the government to raise total revenues of P3.2 trillion in 2019.

Package 1B is a complementary reform to the TRAIN law that covers tax amenesty and adjustments in the motor vehicle user chaqrge.

“This is is equivalent to 16.5 percent of GDP, an improvement of the 15.6 percent achieved in 2017 and this year’s target of 16.2 percent,” Dominguez said during the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s Senate briefing on the proposed P3.757- trillion budget for 2019.

He expressed hope that the revenues will grow by 12.7 percent in 2019. The tax revenues will increase by 12.7 percent with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs expected to post a collection growth of 13.1 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively.

Senator Bam Aquino said the government must act now to ease the burden of the high prices of goods and services on the Filipino people by immediately suspending the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

“I thought, well, that’s enough. And why not go out with something that’s very upbeat and positive?”

His publicist Cindi Berger confirmed the article was accurate.

When asked if his prospective retirement would extend to directing, his agent did not elaborate. “We’ll see about that,” Redford told Entertainment Weekly.

He had indicated to his grandson in a 2016 interview that his roles in “Our Souls at Night” opposite Jane Fonda and “Old Man & The Gun” would be his last.

“I’m going to say, ‘Okay, that’s goodbye

to all that,’ and then just focus on directing,” he said.

“The Old Man & The Gun” sees the California native play Forrest Tucker, the reallife bank robber whose criminal career and multiple escapes from prison spanned more than 60 years.

Bittersweet “That was a wonderful character to play at this point in my life,” Redford told Entertainment Weekly.

The film, set for release in the United States on September 28, also stars Oscar winners Sissy Spacek and Casey Affleck. AFP

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Assembly in order to consider the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution,” Arroyo said in the resolution.

“It appears from media reports that the Senate has taken the position that the manner of voting in a constituent assembly that would propose amendments to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution under Section 1, Paragraph 1 of Article XVII, must be done separately... the House of Representatives is taking the same position of the Senate thereon,” Arroyo said in the resolution.

Attending the initial meeting of the House committee on constitutional amendments, chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, Arroyo urged the panel not “to waste time” by discussing the substance of the constitution during the hearings, saying these should be left to the constituent assembly.

House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya earlier said his committee will have the Arroyo resolution included in the order of business and agenda of the day, setting the stage for its eventual approval in the House plenary session.

With Arroyo’s resolution, the House will withdraw the resolution drafted by her predecessor, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who she ousted.

Arroyo’s position on separate voting is in stark contrast to Alvarez’s, which held that both chambers should vote jointly, an arrangement that would render the Senate votes insignificant, as there are only 24 senators as against 297 congressmen.

The Constitution provides that Congress, by a vote of three-fourths of all members, shall propose amendments to the Constitution, but is silent on whether both chambers should vote jointly or separately.

But Arroyo, in a bid to break the impasse with the Senate, has supported separate voting.

“Better to move forward and achieve something than to be very stubborn and achieve nothing,” Arroyo said.

Veloso’s committee on Tuesday went into an executive session to discuss how to convince the Senate to convene with the House as a constituent assembly.

“We are not here to discuss the substance of the proposed constitution. We will just hear out our resource persons, particularly on the point on how we can convince the Senate to join the House of Representatives in convening into a constituent assembly,” Veloso said before the panel held its closed-door meeting.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday welcomed Arroyo’s resolution.

“That’s good because it fortifies our position,” said Sotto, who has maintained that the senators and members of the House of Representatives should vote separately in a proposed constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Sotto said he will refer the resolution to the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and codes chaired

by Senator Francis Pangilinan as soon as the House resolution is transmitted to them.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III also described Arroyo’s initiative as a “welcome development” and said he was willing to give the former president the benefit of the doubt.

“You should trust your fellow worker in government. Let us not always think that there is always a hidden agenda,” he said.

The mode of amending the Constitution, he said, is one issue resolved, although there are still a lot of substantial issues that remain contentious.

But Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the House should give up on convening Congress into a constituent assembly, arguing that there is just no time.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, said the House needs a genuine opposition in the minority to raise critical questions about proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Pangilinan is president of the opposition Liberal Party, which is seeking recognition as the minority bloc in the House following Arroyo’s rise to the speakership.

But Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, who was the minority leader under Alvarez, said his post was never vacated even if he voted for Arroyo as speaker.

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maximum sustained winds of 55 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 km/h.

It was moving west at 10 km/h.

Mocha’s pepe, dede video bad for federalism, says Con-Com THE push for federalism will likely face more challenges due to the negative publicity produced by the controversial “pepederalismo” video, the spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte’s committee that drafted a federal charter said Tuesday.

Ding Generoso, consultative committee spokesman, said while the panel was disappointed with the video posted on the Facebook page of Communication Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, he hoped that it at least helped promote awareness of federalism.

In other developments: *The labor group Partido Manggagawa on Tuesday said it will file a libel case against blogger Drew Olivar for maliciously posting PM leader Ver Estorosas as a “wanted” man and for spreading fake news.

The group said Olivar will also face cyber libel for the controversial “Pepedederalismo” video together with Uson.

PM national chairman Rene Magtubo said Olivar, in a Facebook post on Sept.

30, 2017, accused Ver Estorosas, a PM leader, of absconding after allegedly receiving P8 million to mobilize people for a Sept. 21, 2017 rally at the Luneta. *The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo plans to file a criminal complaint against Olivar.

“Our legal team is currently looking into the possibility of filing a criminal complaint. Do stay tuned,” Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said in a tweet.

He did not further elaborate.

Last year, Olivar in a video that went viral bashed and questioned Robredo why she was in South Africa, where she was the special guest in a keynote address in a women’s forum. *Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday expressed concern over the controversial video and jingle on federalism posted Sunday by Uson to raise awareness of the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

Pacquiao said federalism was a serious issue and should be discussed in a serious manner.

“Talk about federalism, that’s a serious topic so its awareness should also be taken seriously,” Pacquiao said. *The Palace said Tuesday there was no basis to campaign for a zero budget for the Presidential Communications Operations Office following the backlash the agency received over Uson’s video of the federalism jingle.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the PCOO provides an indispensable role in relaying the President’s message to the people and the removal of its budget would inhibit it from performing its mandate.

Said Generoso: “Something good may come out of this. Like for instance, before all this thing happened, only three of 10 Filipinos, according to surveys, say they have heard of the word federalism. But now, somehow, the word ‘pederalismo’ almost became a household word because of this incident.”

Vito Barcelo, Rio N. Araja, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Nat Mariano

PDP-Laban,...

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“We still have a lot of work to do and there are important matters that require our attention, such as the universal healthcare bill, the rice tariffication measure, and the shift to federalism,” Pimentel said.

“These measures have been certified as urgent, and we should treat them as such, especially since these will have a direct impact on the lives of our people.”

Meanwhile, Senator Manny Pacquiao said he has no plan of leaving PDP-Laban, even after the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. that Hugpong ng Pagbabago is the Duterte’s party.

“I just joined the PDP. I don’t want to keep moving and jumping from one party to another,” Pacquiao said in Filipino.

Pacquiao said he also supports HNP, which is headed by the President’s daughter.

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The Customs chief said the shipment was declared as door frames.

The cargo, however, was abandoned by its consignee, prompting the bureau to inspect the container van.

He said the importer is not accredited with the bureau, raising suspicion the shipment may contain illegal goods.

The drugs were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for safekeeping and will be destroyed after the filing of appropriate charges against individuals involved in the illegal shipment.

The haul was next in volume only to the 604 kilos of shabu from China worth P6.4 billion seized last year in two warehouses in Valenzuela City.

Based on the weather satellite model, a low pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility or at the West Philippine Sea had a slim chance to develop into another tropical depression.

The Philippines, an archipelagic country, averages 21 typhoons each year. Rio N. Araja

News Lacson warns vs return of ‘happy pork barrel days’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Panfilo Lacson warned Tuesday against what he called the return of the “happy pork barrel days” in Congress.

“If not checked, we will be back to the happy ‘pork barrel’ days of legislators in spite of the Supreme Court ruling outlawing the same,” Lacson said.

Even before the Supreme Court ruled on the unconstitutionality of the Priority Development Assistance Fund or the so-called pork barrel, Lacson had never received not even a single centavo from the said funds.

With the policy statement issued by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo concerning all the congressmen’s earmarks for their respective districts, Lacson also cautioned against a massive mangling of the National Expenditure Program.

“Worse, all the planning involved in the preparation of the national budget will be rendered inutile to the detriment of the medium development plan of the national government as well as the local development plans submitted by the local government units,” he said.

Lacson also expressed hope some like-minded colleagues in the Senate would also work overtime, determined to scrutinize the House version of the appropriations bill.

He gave assurances he would expose and slice whatever “pork” there would be in whatever form and no matter how deeply hidden.

In this way, he said the return of this practice of pork barrel now declared unconstitutional with finality by the Supreme Court would be prevented.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House ensures P854-m BOL plebiscite budget

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations has said the Commission on Elections will get the P854-million budget for the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite in January 2019.

At a congressional hearing, the committee, presided by the committee vice chairman, Doy Leachon of Oriental Mindoro, said the House would make funds available for the implementation of the BOL—a priority mandate of the Duterte administration.

House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. earlier said the 2019 national budget did not include any funding for the implementation of the newly signed BOL. Andaya said the House of Representatives had to find funding sources for the BOL, adding that “budget space must be created in the 2019 budget for these mandates which were not factored in when the proposed P3.757trillion outlay was being finalized by Malacañang.”

In a related development: • Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said that like every law, the BOL had a cost.

“Scratch the surface of every provision, and a price tag lies underneath,” he said.

Unfortunately, he noted that “we still do not know the full cost of this measure because we only have estimates and approximations.

“What we were told were the programs and the projects, but not their price. This bill is a ledger of intentions, without tallying the cost of each,” he said.

But the BOL, Recto said, is our promissory note to a people. He said it was now up to us to redeem every single item promised therein.

He said “We must not default.

“Whatever the amount, we must fund it.

A costly peace is better than a cheap war.”

During the debates in the BOL, Recto said he ran numbers on what the BBL would cost.

He admitted though that his estimates up to the last minute of floor discussions, remained unrefuted.

Using the all-in, the zero-based budgeting approach, this bill would cost P369 billion in the first three years, P109 billion in the first year, and P1.981 trillion in 10 years.

President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to sign into law this week the BOL which replaces the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with into the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The BOL shall be the enabling law for the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the Aquino administration and the secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

This developed as the House appropriations committee also tackled the P2.069-billion Comelec deficit in its 2019 National and Local Elections budget, which is intended for payment of teachers’ honorarium and other benefits as mandated by the Election Service Reform Act.

SC nixes De Lima plea for furlough to argue case

By Rey Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday denied the appeal of Senator Leila de Lima for furlough from detention to allow her to argue on the petitions filed by opposition senators assailing the Duterte administration’s decision to withdraw the country’s membership in the International Criminal Court.

During its en banc session, the justices voted 10-2 to turn down the motion of De Lima, who has been detained since February last year due to drug trading cases against her before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court.

The motion seeks to allow her

temporary release from detention inside the Philippine National Police custodial center to personally argue the petition she filed with five other opposition senators in oral argument set next Tuesday.

“The Court found no compelling reason to have Senator de Lima personally appear during the conduct of oral arguments. It noted that Senator De Lima’s capacity to appear for herself must yield to the fundamental restrictions on her liberty borne by her current detention and that, in any case, it does not appear that her and her copetitioners’ cause would be prejudiced by another counsel appearing her place,” the SC ruled.

In a media briefing, SC spokesman Theodore Te revealed the SC rejected her invocation of the Rules of Court that “expressly allow a litigant to personally prosecute his or her case.”

The tribunal also noted that De Lima “did not, at any time, plead circumstances or competencies exclusive to her which make her appearance to the exclusion of her co-petitioners imperative and indispensable.”

Likewise, the SC also denied a similar motion filed by De Lima’s colleagues— Senators Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV—backing her plea.

PH opposes unilateral exploitation of SCS FOREIGN Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday the Philippines would not allow oil and gas deposits in the disputed South China Sea to be deposited singlehandedly by one nation alone.

The Duterte administration, which took over in 2016 from the Aquino administration, had sought closer relations with China, against which the Philippines won an arbitral ruling from the International Tribunal regarding the dispute in the area.

Former President Benigno Aquino III, who initiated the arbitration case against China, had said Manila had “no obligation” to share resources with Beijing, as Duterte worked on a possible cooperation agreement on exploration with China.

The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Karimata and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around 3.5 million square kilometers.

Officials say the sea carries tremendous strategic importance: onethird of the world’s shipping passes through it carrying over $3 trillion in trade each year, it contains lucrative fisheries that are crucial for the food security of millions in Southeast Asia, and huge oil and gas reserves are believed to lie beneath its seabed.

Cayetano told reporters: “If there are living and non-living resources in the West Philippine Sea and we can come up with a framework that is win win win, why not?”

He added: “If not, it is our job to preserve, to make sure that the environment is not destroyed and that oil and gas is not harvested unilaterally at the expense of the other claimants.

“If any country, including China, is willing to give us in disputed areas the same [share] that we got in Malampaya, how can anyone argue that we lost our sovereign rights?”

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

No need for enemies

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

countable. Uson’s boss, Martin Andanar, cannot also escape responsibility.

I wonder why the President has not fired Uson yet. *** I commend Fr. Rannie Aquino for coming out with the daily primer on the NOW I am really confused.

I refer to the state of the political draft constitution in this newspaper.

He is a member of the consultative parties after President Duterte reportedly said that the regional party of his commission that produced the draft.

Still, I do not agree with the sugdaughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, called Hugpong ng Pag- gestion to add three more high courts.

With these, the importance of the Subabago, is his primary party, But he is also chairman of PDP-La- preme Court will be diminished!

Yes I agree that sometimes it takes ban!

This may cause a direct collision years for the Supreme Court to rule with the PDP- Laban which would on high-profile cases. The courts are have its own senatorial and local can- clogged as they are.

Fr. Aquino claims that the comdidates.

In fact, I remember in better times mittee followed the example of the there were only two parties—the Na- French in creating the additional bodies. But he also claims that these cionalista Party ad the Liberal Party. would be just adNow the ruling visory in characparty, PDP-Laban, ter. My question seems to be break—can their opining into different ion be binding? factions. Many are In my 70 years in I do not claim gravitating toward to be an expert, Sara’s regional par- journalism, I have never but I believe that ty. Just look at Pres- seen such stupidity until the additional juidential Spokesman dicial layers will Harry Roque tak- now. only confuse the ing his oath to join people. the HNP. I predict If ain’t broke, that more will folwhy fix it? low suit. *** I will even bet that soon the President Ombudsman Samuel Martires is now will be chairman of just one party—his in a quandary over the dismissal case daughter’s! of Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur *** President Duterte should rethink the Carandang.

The President’s order of dismissal appointment of Mocha Uson, who is now assistant secretary of communica- became final and executory and Martions. Sure, she has many followers on tires has no choice but to implement it.

But if Carandang asks the Supreme social media, but she has done this administration great damage and embar- Court for a reconsideration, it will be the SC that will have the last say. rassment.

This is why Martires is encouragHer most recent gaffe was that video on federalism. That lewd dance number ing Carandang to seek relief with the by her companion occasioned outrage Supreme Court. The ball is now in Carandang’s court. among the people. *** She hammered the last nail into the The Supreme Court upheld the concoffin of federalism. Still, with due respect to Senator Panfilo Lacson, I am viction of cultural artist Carlos Celdran not yet ready to join him in the “crema- for his Father Damaso stunt. Celdran barged into the Manila Cathedral and tion” of federalism.

I have walked the corridors of power denounced the Church’s opposition to having covered 10 presidents. I have nev- the reproductive health law.

I have always maintained that freeer seen such stupidity as I am seeing now.

The tragedy is that stupidity has no dom of speech has its limits. Celdran has to face the music. cure.

Whoever thought of that video as way www.emiljurado.weebly.com to explain federalism must be held ac-

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Not our debt

I

T IS never an equitable proposition when we are made to assume somebody else’s debt, yet this is what President Rodrigo Duterte— perhaps unwittingly—is asking us all to do, when he insists on keeping Assistant Communication Secretary Mocha Uson on the government payroll.

Upon her appointment in May 2017, Mr. Duterte said the former

sexy dancer who campaigned for him in 2016 “deserved the honor” and said he was repaying her a debt of gratitude for supporting his presidential bid.

“I’m paying a debt of gratitude to them because they offered their services free at the time when I had no money, because they believed in me. Now it’s my time to believe in them,” the President said at the time in a mix of English and Filipino.

“There’s nothing wrong with the woman,” he continued. “She’s bright, she’s articulate… If it’s just a matter of dancing, she was not dancing naked.”

Well, it wasn’t Uson dancing this week, but that didn’t stop her from creating yet another scandal by us-

ing a woman’s privates and breasts as mnemonic devices for federalism, one of the President’s core advocacies.

In a video posted Sunday afternoon on her Facebook page, Uson is seen cheering as her effeminate cohost, Andrew Olivar, sings “I-pepe” and “I-dede”—referring to the vagina and breasts—while dancing and pointing to his crotch and chest, before exclaiming “I-pe-de-ralismo!”

Bright and articulate, indeed.

This is hardly the first time Uson has embarrassed the administration.

In June, she defied the President by refusing to obey his order that she apologize on remarks she made on a separate issue.

Her blog has been home to fake news, misappropriated photos, disinformation and scurrilous attacks on the President’s political opponents.

Uson’s latest antics have angered Mr. Duterte’s friends and foes alike.

Members of the Constitutional Commission that drafted a federal constitution for consideration by Congress were aghast that such vulgarity was used to promote their cause.

Even Uson’s nominal boss, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, disavowed her blog and emphasized that she was not a spokesperson for the campaign to promote federalism.

Government documents indicate

that Uson, as an assistant secretary, draws a monthly basic gross salary of at least P106,454 a month. The national budget also gives her tens of thousands of pesos more each month in representation, allowances and miscellaneous expenses.

At a conservative estimate of P130,000 a month, we suggest that any debt that the President owed to Uson has been paid in full.

The presidential campaign, after all, lasted only six months or about 180 days. Uson, appointed in May 2017, must have drawn a salary of P1.8 million in the last 14 months— or equivalent to P10,000 a day for each day of the last presidential campaign. Not too shabby for a dancer.

Moreover, we hardly think that what Uson has been doing—spending taxpayers’ money while monkeying around—is worth P106,000 a month, a sum that most of us would have to break our backs with honest work to earn.

But all this is beside the point, which is that we, the taxpaying public, should never have been made to pay for the President’s personal debt of gratitude. The inequity of this arrangement becomes all the more pronounced when the recipient of our hard-earned taxes is so arrogant, yet clearly unqualified, unethical and undeserving of the money we pay her.

The best argument vs federalism One senator said Uson should take a leave of absence and study the finer points of communications instead of just relying on millions of followers on social media.

ALEJANDRO What is it about Uson that despite DEL ROSARIO so many blunders, President Rodrigo Duterte hasn’t fired her yet? She is in SOMETIMES things have a way of fact often included in Duterte’s offiworking themselves out. Mocha Uson, cial trips abroad. This, despite the fact assistant secretary in Malacañang’s that Communications Secretary Martin Office of Communications, turned out Andanar and Presidential Spokesman to be the best argument against the ad- Harry Roque are already in the Presiministration proposal for a federal form dent’s official delegation. For her to be in the President’s official delegation of government.

Uson is the same Palace official only makes her excess baggage with who does not have the slightest sense taxpayers spending for her plane fare, of Philippine geography when she said pricey hotel accommodations and alMayon Volcano was in Camarines Sur. lowances. Hmm. There is a color photo of Mocha Uson Her latest faux pas wherein she drew flak was when she appeared in Face- in a red long dress that is making the book with one Drew Olivar who did a rounds on the cellphones of people who dance number supposedly to promote are sharing it with others. I wonder if public awareness of what federalism Mocha Uson knows about it or whether is all about. But the duo drew barbs the picture has been passed on to her. for interpreting federalism with lewd This photo is more viral than her sedance movements and twisted words ductive dance number on federalism.

ID, please like “pepe and dede” which comPresident Dubined was pun as terte has signed “pepedederalismo.” into law the naIts name is Mocha tional identificaAs any Pinoy with tion number for a naughty mind Uson. every citizen. A would know, “pepe national ID is inis the common tended to fight folks’ word for the female organ and crime and cut red “dede” means boobs or breasts. tape. The government allayed fears and Malacañang now wants Mocha assured the people that the national ID disengaged from the information drive will not breach a person’s privacy.

The national ID was proposed as earon federalism. The move was decided after Senators Panfilo Lacson and ly as the time of former President Fidel Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel reacted to V. Ramos but did not gain traction with legislators and human rights groups Mocha’s latest boo-boo.

“Mocha Uson’s trivializing of such who were apprehensive the government a serious matter as federalism has no could use it for invading privacy.

But with the increasing incidences place in the campaign to promote public awareness of the issue,” said Senate of terrorism, Filipinos are now more President Tito Sotto. Other senators receptive to the ID system to marginallike Grace Poe, Paulo Aquino, Ping ize criminals and terrorists who walk Lacson and J.V. Ejercito were aghast among the people.

On the political front, the warring that Uson debased a serious subject that could change the lives of millions groups vying to be the minority bloc and of Filipinos.

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BACK CHANNEL

The ‘pepe’ and ‘dede’ of governance VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

cea to the Philippines’ age-old problems of poverty, income inequality, and government corruption and incompetence.

The video has been seen by at least 362,000 people, making it viral. An old video on federalism aired on

CONGRATULATIONS to Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson. In just 24 seconds, the beauteous retired purveyor of online porn has done more for federalism than what the entire 25-person Constitutional Committee of President Duterte has achieved in the past six months.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, Mocha and friend Drew Olivar aired a brief online video on federalism. Federalism, with 18 federated regions, is being proposed by the Con-Com headed by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno as a pana-

Information that is bullsh*t is more entertaining and better appreciated when peddled as pure entertainment.

YouTube which explains in pedantic and perfunctory tone the United States federalism has only 32,000 views.

In the Age of the Internet, communications is not just about information or education. It is more entertainment.

Information that is bullsh*t is more entertaining and better appreciated when peddled as pure entertainment that is part joke, part satire, and part goodtime. “Good time” is a Filipino slang for “pulling one’s leg.” It also has sexual connotations.

In a 24-second video entitled “Good News Game Show with Drew and Mocha,” Drew danced a jingle with the following lyrics: “I-pepe, i-pepe, i-dede, i-dede, i-pepe-pepepepederalismo!”

Turn to A5

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018

Finally, a code of conduct on SCS/WPS CROSSROADS

JONATHAN A. DE LA CRUZ FINALLY, after years of on-and-off negotiations, even acrimonious exchanges at times, a way forward is now being drawn up on the contentious South China Sea/West Philippine Sea issue.

Coming out of the recently concluded meeting of Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Singapore, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that he and his counterparts in the 10-member regional grouping have agreed on a draft Code of Conduct on the disputed area.

It appears that this draft was finally accepted by all the parties after it was clearly indicated that “...resolving tensions in the South China Sea is an issue only for China and its Southeast Asian neighbors to negotiate.”

The parties agreed and made clear that “outside interference will only complicate sensitive and complex issues” engendered no end by years of mangled exchanges exacerbated by unending interjections by outside forces.

Thus, after 16 long years of drawn out negotiations, there is clearly light at the end of the tunnel. And the good thing is it is not from a speeding wrecker train.

Noted a keen observer of the scene after the parties hailed this critical development as no less than a milestone in ChinaAsean relations: “The like mindedness attending the agreement of the parties was truly encouraging..with all countries setting aside differing approaches to the problem in favor of working together for a common, single solution. This is the only

way to ensure that the contested waters will one day be awash with cooperation, peace and stability.”

Foreign Minister Wang Yi put it even more colorfully when he likened the way forward as a process where “China and the Asean are building a house together, with each country having its own idea of what the building should look like and now the groundwork has been set for a single design.”

Although no details of the draft code were released after the Singapore meeting, it is clear that the goal posts have moved. Where before each country was

The draft was accepted by all the parties. engaged in moving its own post without regard for those of the others, now there is a singularity of purpose and direction. The disputes among the claimant countries, China and the Asean 4 (Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei) will now be negotiated under the aegis of a Code of Conduct which promotes consensus building and making of concessions by parties.

The adopted draft code simply titled “Single Draft South China Sea Code of Conduct Negotiating Text” takes off from the previously adopted “Framework Agreement on the Code of Conduct” which was initialed by the countries years back. As agreed, the SDNT

Humpty Dumpty?

noted that “it is not an instrument to settle territorial disputes or maritime delineation issues” with a cleverly indexed caveat inserted by Malaysia which read: “the parties further acknowledge that the Code of Conduct does not address nor affect the Parties’ position on legal questions relating to the settlement of disputes, maritime boundaries, or the permissible maritime entitlements of the parties under international law as enshrined in the 1982 UNCLOS.” It is clear from the discussions and the final output that the agreement reached in Singapore is just the first step in clearing the air as it effectively calms the waters and directs the parties to settle issues peacefully.

Instead of the parties haranguing and shouting at each other, the text provides a platform for the parties to engage in discussions without the need of advice or assistance from countries outside of the grouping. And only in accord with international law and the age old tradition of civility and non-confrontation.

So, even as Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano tangles with the likes of former President Aquino and Senator Trillanes, both of whom have now called him a traitor to their earlier cause/alliance, the issue over which they have exchanged such acrimonious language is now on its way to being peacefully settled. And all for the better—for the Philippines and our neighbors.

In the event, their heated revelations against each other only reinforces the view that in the six years that Mr. Aquino and company were in charge they have only succeeded in deepening the wounds inflicted on our relations with China and, yes, even with the other countries in Asean. Sayang.

I concur with Ombudsman Samuel Martires PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO NOT knowing exactly what Justice Samuel Martires” said or wrote or ruled in regard to Overall Deputy Ombudsman Carandang, I can only rely on the report that the new Ombudsman has decided to let the Decision of the Office of the President “take its course,” trusting that “ODO Carandang knows the law and knows how to proceed.” Some find that dangerous if not demeaning obsequiousness to the Palace. I do not. Justice Martires has simply been conducting himself according to the STRUCTURE of government.

R.A. 6770 gave the President power to remove a Deputy Ombudsman. NOWHERE does the 1987 Constitution provide that a Deputy Ombudsman may be removed ONLY by the Ombudsman.

That is a conclusion some have drawn.

In the consolidated cases of Gonzales v. Office of the President and Sulit v. Ochoa (2012), an evenly divided Supreme Court dismissed the petition challenging the constitutionality of R.A. 6770 insofar as the removal of a Deputy Ombudsman is concerned. Justice Bernabe was the ponente. Concurring with her, Carpio, J. reasoned persuasively: “The Deputy Ombudsman and the Special Prosecutor are not among the impeachable officers under the 1987 Constitution. Thus, as expressly provided in Section 2, Article XI of the Constitution, they “may be removed from office as provided by law.” Congress, pursuant to this constitutional provision and in the exercise of its plenary power, enacted the Ombudsman Act, conferring on the President the power to remove the Deputy Ombudsman and the Special Prosecutor as provided in Section 8(2) of the Ombudsman Act. *** A completely “independent” body is alien to our constitutional system.

There is no office that is insulated from a possible correction from another office. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of government operate through the system of checks and balances. All independent constitutional bodies are subject to review by the courts. A fiscally autonomous body is subject to audit by the Commission on

The ‘pepe’...

From A4

The male host suggestively touched his crotch (his “pepe”) and chest (his “dede”) while dancing the jingle.

To me, the video and its lyrics are pregnant with meaning. It shows Mocha has, indeed, something between her ears.

In Filipino slang, “pepe” refers to the genitals. Young boys are instructed by their moms to bring out their “pepe” to urinate as part of their toilet training.

“Dede,” on the other hand, usually refers to a woman’s breast. When a baby is hungry, the baby has to “dede” and the mother exposes her “dede.”

Now, any government worth its salt

Audit, and Congress cannot be compelled to appropriate a bigger budget than that of the previous fiscal year.

Section 8(2) of the Ombudsman Act is consistent with our system of checks and balances. The provision is a narrow form of delegation which empowers the President to remove only two officers in the Office of the Ombudsman, i.e. the Deputy Ombudsman and the Special Prosecutor. The proposition that an external disciplinary authority compromises the Ombudsman’s independence fails to recognize that the Constitution expressly authorizes Congress to determine the mode of removal of all nonimpeachable officers and employees. It also fails to recognize that under a system of checks and balances, an external disciplinary authority is desirable and is often the norm.”

What can be wrong, suspicious, much less malicious in what he asked?

In summary: Congress has the power to determine how non-impeachable officers are to be removed from office.

Republic Act No. 6770 conferred this power on the President. Hence, the President has the power to remove a Deputy Ombudsman.

In 2014, upon Motion for Reconsideration, the Court revisited its decision.

By a vote of 8-7 it decided in favor of declaring R.A. 6770 unconstitutional in respect to the removal of the Deputy Ombudsman by the President.

No textual authority was given.

All that was advanced was the argument from the “independence of the Ombudsman”—an argument already squarely refuted by Justice Bernabe’s earlier ponencia and Justice Carpio’s concurring opinion.

This time, Justice Bernabe dissented and wrote convincingly: “The constitutionality of laws is presumed. To justify nullification of a law, there must be a clear and unequivocal breach of the Constitution, not a

has two basic functions—feeding the people (the “dede” function) and running a clean and efficient government, otherwise, the people are screwed up (this is the “pepe” function).

Now, can a proposed federal government do its “dede” function well?

Judging by recent history, the answer is No. That is why you have inflation that is the highest in six years. The current (July) 5.7 percent inflation is basically a reflection of high food prices.

Food prices are high because there is not enough supply of it. Like rice. The country needs to import rice yearly to the tune of two million tons.

But the government effectively bans rice imports and imposes hefty tariffs on its importation—35 to 50 percent. This makes Philippine rice price double the

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doubtful or arguable implication; a law shall not be declared invalid unless the conflict with the Constitution is clear beyond reasonable doubt. The presumption is always in favor of constitutionality. To doubt is to sustain. x x x.

Applying this framework, Section 8(2) of RA 6770, both with respect to the OP’s disciplinary authority ver the Special Prosecutor and the Deputy Ombudsmen, should be upheld in its entirety since it has not been shown that said provision “clearly and unequivocally” offends any constitutional principle. By constitutional design, disciplinary authority over non-impeachable officers, such as the Special Prosecutor and Deputy Ombudsmen, was left to be determined by future legislation. This much is clear from the text of the Constitution.

Section 2, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution explicitly provides that non-impeachable officers may be removed from office as may be provided by law: Section 2. The President, the VicePresident, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.

All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.

While Section 5, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution “created the independent Office of the Ombudsman” – the provision which is the legal anchor of the majority’s position on this matter – the Constitution neither defines what this principle of Ombudsman independence means nor prohibits the office’s subjection to an external disciplining authority. Meanwhile, what is discoverable from the deliberations of the Constitutional Commission on Article XI, particularly those which are quoted in the ponencia, is that the Office of the Ombudsman was merely intended to be a separate office from the Executive.

This idea of organizational separation was meant to obviate the Executive Department from exercising the encompassing powers of control and supervision over the Office of the Ombudsman.

It is only in this regard that the Office of the Ombudsman was deemed by the Framers as independent.”

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world price of rice.

Unfortunately, rice is 20 percent of the Consumer Price Index. Of very 100 CPI points, 20 points come from rice, meaning 20 percent of the average Filipino household’s expenditure is spent on rice. Of the annual inflation rate of 5.2 percent in June, 0.5 percent came from rice, which means that without rice, the inflation rate would have been just 4.7 percent.

Another major contributor to high inflation is fish. It contributed 0.6 percent to the 5.2 percent June inflation rate.

Without fish, the inflation rate would have been just 4.6 percent. The Philippines also has a severe fish shortage.

Yet, the government restricts fish imports with tariffs of 7 to 15 percent.

Together, rice and fish contributed

ability of NFA’s recent rice imports to stem the increase in price of the staple.

More worrisome, a harbinger of things to come, is the PSA announcement that LITO palay buying prices are now averaging 21.60, the highest since 2014. As this is BANAYO an average, buying prices in the Central WHEN I viewed the Mocha Uson cum Luzon area are now hovering around Drew Olivar magnum opus on “pro- 24 per kilo of dry palay, much much moting” federalism, two thoughts im- higher than NFA’s 17 peso benchmark.

Will this finally goad our legislators mediately came to mind.

First was the Mamasapano massacre to pass the rice tarriffication law and that left 44 valiant fighters for the Re- end the quantitative restrictions on rice public dead. Speaker Sonny Belmonte imports? Given the world market situaand Senate President Franklin Drilon at tion, plus weather disturbances, will this the time were trying hard to convince create instant lowering of rice prices in their members in Congress to pass the the commercial market, once done?

Is importation, not only of rice, but palace-certified BBL against a lot of as suggested, even meat and fish, be the opposition.

What happened in Mamasapano, solution? Or will that, as Sec. Manny and the ensuing errors of judgment and Pinol warns, create bigger problems conduct of leadership doomed BBL in without a real cure to inflation?

It’s so easy to create economic and the aftermath.

Then second, while listening to the political problems, yet so difficult to reactions of Asec Mocha, Sec. Mar- come up with solutions. And rice is a tin Andanar and the spokesperson of price leader, just like oil. The deadly the consultative committee, my friend combination of rice and oil price spikes Ding Generoso to the uproar Mocha creates a demonstration effect on pracand Drew’s magnum opus elicited from tically all other commodities.

Those are the realities of the Philipboth netizens and high government officials, the nursery rhyme on Humpty pine market. * * * Dumpty came to mind: Now a bit of good news: GSIS is “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All fortunate to be led by two very able gentlemen. the king’s horses First, there was and all the king’s the appointment men couldn’t put of Jesus “Clint” Humpty together Aranas of Negros, again.”

They did not even a tax lawyer of no One can only mean credentials, hope against hope get their facts straight. who brings to the that the federalism pension fund savinitiative and the vy and out-of-theoutput of the conbox thinking. sultative commitNow comes Rolando Macasaet y tee headed by former CJ Reynato Puno has not been mortally damaged by the Ledesma, de la hermosa ciudad de Zamboanga. bawdy opus of Mocha and Drew.

Rollie, as friends call him, was high Last week in this space, I discussed the seeming rejection, if not at best on the executive totem pole of San the lukewarm attitude of the people Miguel Corp. before he finally accepted towards federalism which the surveys President Duterte’s desire to have him confirmed, as a result of “failure to as chair of GSIS, vice Francisco Duque, since appointed health secretary. communicate.”

He was also, until this appointment, I shall no longer add to the negativity pronounced by everyone and his mother our country representative to the Board towards the video plug of Miss Mocha. of the Asian Infrastructure Investment As Senator Koko Pimentel observed, Bank (AIIB) headquartered in Beijing. not only was it vulgar, worse perhaps He has worked with the Philippine Nais that they did not even get their facts tional Bank and the Bank of Montreal, straight. Categorizing France and Sin- and was president of the Philippine gapore as federal states is not just a fail- National Construction Corp. under ure to communicate, it is incompetent Presidents Estrada and Arroyo. He also served in the board of private corporastaff work. Mindless. tions like the PCI-Equitable Bank, PNB * * * In a previous column after the presi- Holdings Corp. and Bankard Corp., dent’s third Sona, I wrote about the aside from San Miguel-owned firms casualties of the speakership coup in such as SMC-Global Power Corp., Private Infrastructure and Development the HoR. Corp. which operates the TPLEX, and First casualty is the PDP-Laban.

Now Hugpong ng Pagbabago is flex- Trans-Aire Holdings Corp. which develing its muscles, along with announc- oped the Caticlan Airport that serves as ing its own partial senatorial slate. Sou gateway to Boracay.

Rollie was an Ateneo de Zamboanga desu ne, the Japanese would say.

And possibly the second casualty, I grade school and high school valedicthen wrote, is the charter change initia- torian before he went to the University tive that would shift the governmental of the Philippines where he finished BS system from unitary to federal. Time, Economics, graduating cum laude in I submit, is definitely not on the side of the class where Bangko Sentral Governor Nesting Espenilla was magna cum the federalist push.

But time has now been short-circuit- laude. He took the UP MBA Honors ed by the scandal of the Mocha-Drew program, and went for a diploma in Management Development at Harvard rag-tag vaudeville.

Business School. * * * Despite his private sector career With the persistent upward movement in prices, especially on food, it’s though, Rollie is hooked on that “fever in all hands on deck in the fight against the blood” called politics, and was with inflation. The economic managers me in the Erap presidential campaign, even conferred with Speaker Gloria thence one of the earliest “pushers” of Macapagal Arroyo, herself an econo- the Duterte campaign for president.

May the tribe of Duterte appointees mist, on what government could do, and quickly, to combat the price spiral. to government in the mold of Macasaet Juxtaposed against this is the in- and Aranas increase.

SO I SEE

The best...

From A4

for the post of House Minority leader Danilo Suarez are getting fewer, Reports have reached incumbent Minority Leader Suarez of Quezon that some members of the minority have joined the majority coalition that installed former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as House Speaker.

Two allies of ousted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and former Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas have signed up to 1.1 percent to the June inflation rate.

Without rice and fish, the June inflation rate should have been just 4.1 percent, and there would not have been sharp increases in interest rates and in prices of other commodities. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating, per the Social Weather Stations survey of June 2018, would not have dropped precipitously to +45 in June, from +59 in March, a sharp fall of 14 points. Assuming there are 50 million adult Filipinos, a 14-point drop is equivalent to 7 million people. That’s big.

The Consultative Committee (ConCom) which drafted a new Constitution had previously tapped Uson to educate Filipinos on federalism.

Con-Com spokesperson Ding Generoso said more Filipinos would know about federalism because Uson has a

join the majority coalition, according to a list shown by Speaker Arroyo. The defectors are Rep. Dakila Cua of of the lone district of Quirino, Rep. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur and Rep. Christopher de Venecia, the son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Erratum We regret the error in my column last Monday titled “Minority of three.” The sixth paragraph should have read “It’s a good thing the MILF did NOT ask for a separate Department of Foreign Affairs or we would need to get visas to enter the regions and provinces under the Muslim Mindanao areas.”

huge following on social media, with her Facebook page having close to 5.7 million followers.

After the outrage that the “pepe, dede pederalismo” video has triggered, Generoso, the ConCom itself and countless thoughtful Filipinos have distanced themselves from Mocha Uson.

Common. Mocha Uson has just taught us an important lesson in governance.

Governance is feeding the people. That is dede. Failing in that, government screws you up. That is the pepe part.

Believe me. Just like the present and the previous forms of government for the Philippines, federalism surely won’t deliver on both the “dede” and “pepe” of governance. biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC issues new rule against accused leaving PH

IN BRIEF ‘Aerobridges now operational at Naia’ THE newly installed modern aerobridges are now operational at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 1.

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal said three new modern aerobridges are now installed in Naia, with China Airlines and Gulf Air being the first to use the new Passenger Boarding Bridges.

He added that these new bridges are made of glass walls, fully air-conditioned, and equipped with CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras.

The MIAA plans to install six more bridges before the end of the year as part of its Phase 1 project of nine new modern aerobridges.

Monreal said his agency has embarked on a project to replace the decades old passenger boarding bridges with new ones. Joel E. Zurbano

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has formulated a new rule aimed at preventing the flight of criminal suspects after it earlier nullified a circular of the Department of Justice intended to stop respondents from leaving the country to avoid prosecution.

In its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC voted 11-1, approving what it called the “Rule on Precautionary Hold Departure Order” [PHDO] in place of the watchlist order of DoJ under the 2010 DoJ Circular No. 41 that was voided by the tribunal earlier this year.

The PHDO is a written order issued by a court directing the Bureau of Immigration to prevent any attempt by a person suspected of a crime to depart the country.

The SC guidelines provide that such order “shall be issued ex party in cases involving crimes where the minimum of the penalty prescribed by law is at least six years and one day.”

According to the SC, the PHDO may be applied in the same manner as a search warrant may be issued, which means there is no need for preliminary determination of probable cause in the charges against the subject.

It only requires a determination “that there is a high probability that the subject will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of crime against him or her.”

“The preliminary finding of probable cause is solely based on the complaint and is for the sole purpose of issuing the PHDO and shall be without prejudice to the resolution by the prosecutor of any criminal complaint during the preliminary investigation,” the SC said.

Under the new rules, a prosecutor may apply for the issuance of PHDO before any regional trial court with territorial jurisdiction over the alleged crime.

The high court also tapped the RTCs in Manila, Quezon City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Davao City and Cagayan De Oro City to act on PHDO applications from prosecutors based on complaints instituted by the National Bureau of Investigation regardless of where the alleged crimes were committed.

Ex-solon, 15 others face graft charges

By Maricel V. Cruz A FORMER congressman from Mindanao and 15 others are facing charges for allegedly channeling part of his pork barrel to a foundation linked to Janet Napoles.

The Ombudsman filed malversation of public funds and graft charges against former congressman Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro City and the others before the Sandiganbayan.

Ombudsman investigators accused Jaraula of channeling P3 million in fertilizer funds to a foundation linked to Napoles.

Jaraula and 15 others were charged with one count each of malversation and violation of Section 3(e) of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act. Also charged were Jose Quitazol Sr., Antonio Rosal and Eduardo Lecciones Jr. of the DA’s Central Visayas Unit; Ma. Reina Lumantas, Claudia Artazo, Martino Cajita and Joel Rudinas of the agency’s Northern Mindanao Unit and Cagayan de Oro City agriculturist Godofredo Bajas.

PSDFI officers Evelyn de Leon, Annabelle Luy, Maria Fe Escabarte, Jose Ardias, Gertrudes Kilapkilap, Henry Bucalin and Luzviminda Bucalin were likewise included in the charge sheet.

Napoles however was not included in Jaraula’s cases.

The case stemmed from Jaraula’s endorsement of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc., which was based in Taguig City, as the partner nongovernment organization to implement his project in Cagayan de Oro City using fertilizer funds from December 2003 to July 2004.

The complaint alleged that Jaraula signed the endorsement and the agreement with PSDFI even if the congressman failed to comply with the accreditation process mandates by Commission on Audit Circular 96-003, well as failed to submit the complete supporting documents.

PSDFI allegedly lacked qualifications having its funding sources as donations, grants and minimal membership fees.

It also failed to submit a list of previous projects to prove its expertise.

Firm denies human trafficking charge PEOPLE-CENTERED. Members of Social Watch Philippines staged a mini-play at the gates of the Philippine Senate to call on the support of legislators for the passage of a people-centered Universal Health Care. They acted the normal scenarios in the hospitals wherein people who do not have the capacity to pay are being rejected while those who can afford are being treated like VIPs. Lino Santos

MMC okays MMDA traffic schemes at Edsa

By Joel E. Zurbano

L

OCAL government chief executives on Tuesday gave Metro Manila Development Authority the go-signal to enforce two traffic-mitigating measures that would affect both private and public utility vehicles along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The two traffic measures are the policy regulating provincial buses and the high occupancy vehicle lanes.

Members of the Metro Manila Council, composed of mayors in the National Capital Region and the MMDA’s policymaking body and governing board, formally gave their all-out support to the agency’s plan during its regular council meeting held in Mandaluyong City.

In spite of the approval, MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said they are still contemplating whether to push for the provincial bus regulation policy’s implementation on Aug. 15.

“Mayor Rex Gatchalian gave his 100percent support. However, we have to fix some facilities and other infrastructure at the Valenzuela Interim Terminal. We are

not in a hurry to implement the policy as we want to make sure everything is in order,” Garcia told reporters after the meeting.

Under the plan, select provincial buses coming from the north shall end its route at the Valenzuela Interim Terminal while those coming from the south shall end their route at South Interim Provincial Terminal.

Garcia said they predict a faster turnaround of provincial buses once the regulation is enforced.

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila mayors also approved the implementation of the HOV lanes along Edsa during rush hours. The MMDA floated the idea of implementing this last year to maximize the movement of people rather than vehicles by giving them exclusive

lanes along Edsa.

Under the measure, only those vehicles with two or more passengers would have the privilege to traverse Edsa.

“We have a data that 70 percent of vehicles along Edsa carry only the driver,” said Garcia.

Garcia said they will craft the guidelines of the measure and will conduct a dry run before its full implementation.

“We hope to encourage carpooling with the HOV scheme,” said Garcia.

Also, the MMC approved the increase in exemption fee for the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program from P300 to 1,000.

Local chief executives present during the meeting were Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III, San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Malabon City Mayor Antolin Oreta, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Las Pinas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar, Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, and Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco.

Group rejects Martires’ order on year-old cases

By Rio N. Araja THE order of Ombudsman Samuel Martires to dismiss year-old cases still at factfinding level can only benefit “corrupt” government officials to the prejudice of not only the complainants, but also of the taxpayers, too, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers on Tuesday said.

In a radio interview, NUPL lawyerspokesperson Cristina Yambot challenged Martires to sanction Ombudsman investigators asking for “parking fees” or “tara,” and conduct an inventory of cases and their status, instead of deliberately dismissing all complaints that are still undergoing fact-finding investigation after more than a year.

“Why not have an inventory of inves-

tigators who have pending cases? Why not hold them liable? Why dismiss cases that are under investigation? That move [dismissal] would only cause delay if we refile and refile dismissed cases to the prejudice of the complainants as well as of the public,” she said.

“At the end of the day, the loser is the people awaiting justice against corrupt public officials. A public office is a public trust,” she added.

Yambot argued that should Martires push through with his plan, the complainants would badly suffer from the negligence of the investigators for his failure to swiftly resolve administrative and criminal complaints filed against erring public officials.

“Why is there a need to file a [dis-

Promote NCRPO chief Eleazar as director, NPC urges Duterte THE National Police Commission has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte the promotion of acting Metro Manila police director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar to the next police rank of director.

If granted, it would pave the way for Eleazar, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987, to assume the NCRPO leadership in a full time capacity.

The police director rank is equivalent to the rank of a two-star general (major general) in the Armed Forces.

The Commission en banc headed by Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary and Napolcom chairman Eduardo Año made the recommendation last July 23.

Napolcom vice chairman and Executive Officer lawyer Rogelio Casurao said that aside from the recommendation, the Commission certified that Eleazar met all the requirements for promotion to the rank of police director.

Eleazar was barely two months into his post as Regional Director of Police Regional Office 4-A when he was ordered to lead the NCRPO on June 1, replacing Oscar Albayalde, now the director of the Philippine National Police.

He also served as head of the Quezon City Police District prior to his appointment as Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police chief.

When Eleazar assumed the post at the NCRPO, the number of crime incidents in Metro Manila went down.

Eleazar attributed the significant accomplishment to the NCRPO’s continuing war on drugs campaign and other factors.

The NCRPO also arrested and jailed 48,886 individuals while 1,590 were neutralized during various police operations.

“Evidently, the less number of drug addicts on the street equates to lesser criminal activities and criminal incidents. The drug addicts as expected will always find ways to get money in order to satisfy their physical and psychological craving on illegal drugs,” Eleazar said.

He added “To some extent, they are forced to steal, rob shops and innocent people on the streets, barge into homes, in worst cases have to assault, hurt and even kill their victims to get money to buy illegal drugs. Consequently, the government’s effort to intensify its campaign against illegal drugs through the PNP has been an effective tool to lessen such crime.” Joel E. Zurbano

missed] case when the complainant is not the cause of the [inordinate] delay?” she added.

“There have been cases that are work in progress. Why massively dismiss all complaints, including these cases?” she asked.

“Not only [negligent] fact-finding probers are spared from any culpability if [oneyear-old] cases are dismissed, but also public officials who could be involved in corruption, [such as in the P900-Malampaya fund scam],” she said.

During a budget hearing in Congress, Martires said that he would issue an order dismissing all cases that are more than a year old but are still being investigated.

He said the complainants could still refile the charges “without prejudice.”

IFromconcur...

A5 In summary: The supposed independence of the Office of the Ombudsman does not render the Deputy Ombudsman impervious to the disciplinary power of the President considering that such disciplinary has been conferred on the President by law. The argument from “independence of the Ombudsman” is too nebulous a position against a clear exercise of legislative authority.

It should bear stressing that jurisprudence does not constitute law—although it is part of the legal system of the Philippines, and Justice Martires correctly appreciates the tenuousness of a doctrine laid down on motion for reconsideration by a plurality of one vote of the court—and the powerful arguments against the plurality opinion.

In fact, the new Ombudsman’s position is perfectly in accord with the doctrine of residual power enunciated by the same Supreme Court in Marcos v. Manglapus (1989), where, through Madame Justice Irene Cortes, the Court ruled: “It would not be accurate, however, to state that executive power is the power to enforce the laws, for the President is head of state as well as head of government and whatever powers inhere in such positions pertain to the office unless the Constitution itself withholds it. Furthermore, the Constitution itself provides that the execution of the laws is only one of the powers of the President. It also grants

FAHRENHEIT Co. Ltd. has strongly denied human trafficking and illegal recruitment accusations levelled against the company.

“In the early days of July, various news reports published an alarming headline: “139 Filipino workers rescued from human trafficking.” The reports reveal that Fahrenheit Co. Ltd.—a diversified company with shipping as an integral part of its business—is involved in “possible human smuggling and other illegal activities” and through the intercession of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Coast Guard, “Fahrenheit’s ship—m/v Forever Lucky—was prevented to depart for Micronesia with about 139 undocumented Filipinos on board.”

“To set the record straight, Fahrenheit Co. Ltd. is categorically and strongly denying these false claims. In no way, or in any form whatsoever, is Fahrenheit Co. Ltd. involved in human trafficking, human smuggling or illegal recruitment,” the Fahrenheit Co. Ltd said.

“We are in the business of port operations and other related businesses for the past 20 years. We have been operating as a law-abiding and responsible business entity. We would not sacrifice our untarnished reputation just to be involved in illegal activities especially in something as grave as human smuggling,” said Isagani C. Cabrera, president of Fahrenheit Co. Ltd. in a statement. Maricel V. Cruz

Antique, Masbate STL up for grabs PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office Alexander “Mandirigma” Balutan announced on Tuesday that the agency has resumed its applications for prospective bidders of Small Town Lottery in the provinces of Masbate and Antique.

Applications for both provinces will be opened until Aug. 23, 2018.

STL is a regular game by PCSO authorized by the national government through Section 1 of Republic Act 1169; while AACs are corporations or cooperatives duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or with the Cooperative Development Authority, respectively that applied, been duly qualified and expressly authorized by the PCSO to conduct STL in a particular area.

“STL is a jueteng killer. Lahat ng illegal numbers game andyan na lahat— jueteng, masiao, pares, swertres, atbp.

STL na ang kanilang generic name,” said Balutan.

For the first semester of 2018, STL has registered a whopping P12.3-billion revenues, up by 146.85-percent or P7.4billion increase compared to the same period last year.

the President other powers that do not involve the execution of any provision of law, e.g., his power over the country’s foreign relations.

On these premises, we hold the view that although the 1987 Constitution imposes limitations on the exercise of specific powers of the President, it maintains intact what is traditionally considered as within the scope of executive power. Corollarily, the powers of the President cannot be said to be limited only to the specific powers enumerated in the Constitution. In other words, executive power is more than the sum of specific powers so enumerated.

It has been advanced that whatever power inherent in the government that is neither legislative nor judicial has to be executive.”

In summary: Whatever pertains to the execution of laws and the functioning of government is a power enjoyed by the President unless the Constitution withholds such a power from him. Where is the provision withholding the power to dismiss a deputy ombudsman textually provided?

Said otherwise, Ombudsman Samuel Martires is inviting the Overall Deputy Ombudsman to ask the Supreme Court to revisit its position, and this time render a clear and convincing ruling on this disputed subject.

What can be wrong, suspicious, much less malicious in that? rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Tiger, Rory, champs in spotlight

S

T. LOUIS—Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and 29 other major champions began preparing for the spotlight of supergroup pairings as practice rounds opening Monday for the 100th PGA Championship.

An elite field with 98 of the world’s 100 top-ranked players gathers at Bellerive Country Club for the year’s final major tournament, which starts Thursday.

Woods, a 14-time major champion, tries to end a 10-year major victory drought in his comeback from spinal fusion surgery while three-time major winner Jordan Spieth tries to complete a Career Grand Slam with a victory.

Add on-form McIlroy, a four-time major winner who was a runner-up at the Open Championship, plus reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed, twotime US Open winner Brooks Koepka

and reigning Open Championship winner Francesco Molinari of Italy and it’s clear to see why expectations are high for a thrill-packed final major of 2018.

“I like the way the PGA sets it up,” Koepka said. “It’s very difficult. It’s a battle for sure.”

Second-ranked defending champion Justin Thomas, 14-time major champion Woods in his first PGA Championship since 2015 and McIlroy are grouped together for the first two rounds as are Molinari, Reed and Koepka.

World number three Justin Rose of England, Spain’s seventh-ranked Jon

Rahm and eighth-ranked Spieth play together the first two days as do top-ranked Dustin Johnson and past Masters winners Bubba Watson and Adam Scott.

Thomas and Rose could overtake Johnson for world number one this week, but Rose would need a victory and Thomas no worse than a solo second finish.

The last August edition of the event before next year’s move to May also has Thomas coming off a win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational against a similar world-class field.

“I’m just in a great place mentally right now,” Thomas said. “I was just so patient and calm.”

Since 1980, only two players have won the week before the PGA and then captured the Wanamaker Trophy, Woods in 2007 and McIlroy in 2014. And not since Woods in 2006-07 has anyone

won the PGA in consecutive years.

“Tiger has been a pretty big influence for me,” Thomas said. “He motivated me to get where I am now. So it’s great to have him back now.”

Woods briefly led on Sunday at the Open Championship before sharing sixth after his best final round in five years saw him share fourth at the US PGA National.

But 51st-ranked Woods hasn’t seen Bellerive in 17 years so nine holes of practice each day will be critical in his search for an 80th career victory and first in any event in five years.

“I’ll take a look at the course for feel more than anything,” Woods said. “I need to get a feel for the golf course now and how the holes are playing. I need to get some reps on the greens and see what’s there.” AFP

Lady Maroons try to rebound vs SSC tossers Games today

9 a.m. – FEU vs Adamson (men’s) 11 a.m. – San Beda vs Arellano (men’s) 1 p.m. – National U vs UP (men’s) 4 p.m. – UP vs SSC (women’s) 6 p.m. – Perpetual vs St. Benilde (men’s)

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines hopes to recover lost grounds as it squares off with winless San Sebastian College today in the lone women’s game in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Lady Maroons kicked off their campaign with a resounding shutout win over the Perpetual Lady Altas but failed to sustain a strong start against the UST Tigresses and succumbed to the latter’s power. They remained at fourth in the eight-team field but want to shore up their bid with a bounceback win heading to the crucial phase of the single round elims phase.

Gametime is at 2 p.m.

Coach Godfrey Okumu will again pin his hopes on Isa Molde, Nicole Magsarile, Marian Buitre, Aieshalaine Gannaban and skipper Ma. Arielle Estranero but the Lady Maroons expect a strong challenge from the back-to-the-wall Lady Stags.

Winless in three matches, SSC desperately needs a victory to revive its semis hopes in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and Asics.

Shane Requierme, Joyce Sta. Rita, Mary Rhose Dapol, Sofia Sarmiento, libero Jewelle Bermillo and playmaker Vea Sison hope to put up one solid outing and surprise the Lady Maroons to stay in the hunt for at least a playoff for the last semifinal seat.

The lone match can be viewed via streaming on www.abs-cbn.com/livestream/pvl.

Meanwhile, four matches are on tap in the busy men’s division with streaking Adamson gunning for a fifth victory against Far Eastern U (1-2) at 9 a.m. San Beda, also toting a 1-2 card, faces winless Arellano U at 11 a.m. while National U shoots for a fourth straight win against UP (2-1) at 1 p.m.

St. Benilde (1-2) and Perpetual Help (13) clash in the 6 p.m. main game.

OMEGA, Official Patron of the PGA Championship, and its Ambassadors Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and Tommy Fleetwood, celebrated the start of the 100th PGA Championship today with a 100-yard, golf-shot at the base of the famous Gateway Arch National Park in St Louis, Missouri. McIlroy hits hit shot toward the iconic landmark. AFP

All set for Asian Paratriathlon, Asian Cup

EVERYTHING is set for two international triathlon events in Legazpi City in Albay this week with close to 600 entries from 11 countries participating.

The first event is the Mt. Mayon ASTC Paratriathlon Asian Championships set on Friday (Aug. 10), with 25 entries coming from five countries and the Philippine campaign to be bannered by blind twins Jerome and Joshua Nelmida in the visually impaired category and Cebu-based Alex Silverio in the PTS 4 men’s division.

This will be preceded by the age-group competition that has attracted more than 400 entries. Both categories will do a 750m. swim - 20K bike-5K run distance.

The second race will be a standard 1,500m. swim-40K bike on Sunday (Aug. 12) for the men’s and women’s elite where, 10 countries are represented with John Chicano, Nikko Huelgas, Mark Hosana, and Julius Constantino

bannering the local charge in the men’s side and the duo of Kim Kilgroe and SEA Games medalist Claire Adorna at the helm in the distaff side.

Both events will earn points for the top finishers in their quest for slots in the Tokyo Olympics and the Paralympics that will follow the regular games.

“We are looking forward to welcoming all the participants in our city. This is the first time for us to host a paratriathlon event, while it is our fifth time already for the Mt. Mayon Triathlon, the last two years as an Asian Cup race. We take pride in saying this is one of the most scenic triathlon races in the country starting with the clear waters of Albay Gulf in the swim leg and majestic Mt. Mayon as a background for the bike and run legs,” said Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, who looks at sports tourism as a major program of his administration.

“We are thankful to Legazpi City for

its continuous support for triathlon and even adding the Asian Paratriathlon Championships this year to the regular Mt. Mayon triathlon. This is definitely a good opportunity for us to create more awareness for paratriathlon and we hope to build from our gains here in the future,” said Triathlon Association of the Philippines President Tom Carrasco Jr. Participating countries in both events aside from host Philippines are Japan, which has the biggest delegation, China, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Hong Kong, Syria, Australia and Chinese Taipei.

Suppor ting the event, which is sanctioned by the Asian Triathlon Confederation, are the city government of Legazpi City, headed by Mayor Rosal, the municipalities of Bacacay with Mayor Dinky Romano and Sto. Domingo, with Mayor Herbie Aguas, and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Mangatainoka Barbarians foil hosts’ late resurgence

By Paul David Gelario THE New Zealand Mangatainoka Barbarians narrowly won against the Manila Barbarians, 22-19, at their exhibition match at the International School Manila on Monday.

The NZ team, including a former All Black, several Māori All Blacks and club rugby players, is in the Philippines for a week to promote rugby.

Stifling defense from the Mangatainoka Barbarians ignited an early 12-0 lead, holding Manila scoreless in the entire first half.

In the third quarter, however, the Manila Barbarians’ countered by adapting a fastpaced style that fueled a 14-5 run, slicing the Mangatainoka Barbarians’ lead to three, 14-17, with seven minutes remaining.

At the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, the Manila Barbarians whipped the crowd into a frenzy as they success-

fully scored a seven-point conversion that cut Mangatainoka’s lead to three (22-19) with only 20 seconds left on the clock.

But the Mangatainoka Barbarians kept their composure with their experience.

“Maybe, it is just experience you know.

We maybe know how to pace the game out,” team captain Corey Kennett said.

The Mangatainoka Barbarians countered the Manila Barbarians’ momentum with choking defense that prevented any winning possession until the last 22 seconds expired.

The exhausted visitors paved the way for the Manila Barbarians’ unprecedented New Zealand Mangatainoka Barbarians huddle up for their next play. Ram Christian Agustin comeback.

“Most of us are retired. Our average age is 41 so we’re pretty old. So we start to earned Kennet’s respect. passed over a cheque for P800,000 to the struggle in the heat, and it does get pretty “You have a long and bright future Philippine Rugby Football Union in suptough you know,” Mangatainoka’s team here. You guys played brilliant,” he said. port of the PRFU project “Rugby for All”, captain Corey Kennett said.

Alongside the exhibition match, New which aims to offer equal opportunities to Despite the loss, the Manila Barbarians Zealand Ambassador David Strachan youths and increase participation in sport.

PLDT, Smart kick off ‘Road to Nationals’ open eSports tournament LEADING telco and digital services provider, PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. have kicked off the Road to Nationals, a nationwide multi-game grassroots tournament in search of the best eSports players in the country.

Open to everyone, the Road to Nationals features regional competitions for DOTA 2 and NBA 2K19, as well as integrates the Mobile Legends Professional League Season 2 =- three of the top PC, console, and mobile games in

the world today.

The Top 8 teams for each game will advance to the grand finals at the eSports and Gaming Summit 2018, the country’s biggest gaming convention, at the SMX Convention Center on Oct. 26 to 28.

Over P1.2 million up for grabs for top eSports players Over P1.2 million worth of prizes are up for grabs for the winning teams and players, who will also get a chance to form part of the founding teams of The Nationals, the first eSports franchise

league in the Philippines to be launched early next year.

Interested teams and players may register for the Road to Nationals at www. thenationalsph.com.

The Road to Nationals is set to host its DOTA 2 competitions in Manila (TNC Morayta on August 4); Cebu (SM Seaside Cebu on August 11); Cagayan de Oro (iPLAY Cybersquare on August 25); Bacolod (TNC Bacolod City on September 22); Iloilo (Localhost Café in Iloilo City on September 29); and Cavite (UGZ in

Imus on October 13).

The tournament will also hold its NBA 2K19 games in Cebu (First 5 Lounge in Cebu City on September 22); Davao (Game Patch in Davao City on September 29); Cagayan de Oro (Captain Poys Game House on September 30); Makati (Playbook on October 6 and 14); and Marikina (Secret Base Gaming Lounge and Boardgame Café on October 13).

On the other hand, the Road to Nationals will soon announce the schedule of the Mobile Legends Professional League.

Jobim Carlos

Carlos eyes top PH Golf Tour finish BACOLOD—Jobim Carlos braces for a stiff challenge from an elite field out to break his impressive run of form and feats, looking for another strong finish or a title romp in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge beginning today (Wednesday, Aug. 8) at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin here.

With two victories, a couple of runnerup efforts and two top 10 finishes in the last two months on the Philippine Golf Tour and PGT Asia, Carlos is certainly the marked man in the P2.5 million event put up by ICTSI, upbeat but wary of his chances given the depth of the competing field and a short but tricky course that could be advantageous for some, including the long-hitters, but bane to others.

“The greens are actually good but the fairways are tight and soggy. It will be a challenge,” said Carlos, whose game went on an upswing since scoring a breakthrough at PGTA Riviera last June.

He turned in the most impressive record in the PGT Mindanao swing last month, winning the Apo leg, finishing tied for sixth at Del Monte before placing second at Pueblo de Oro. The former amateur hotshot also tied for 10th at PGTA Southwoods then finished second at Forest Hills.

“He’s on a streak and that’s the toughest part of it, breaking one’s run. We have to dish out our best to stop him,” said Tony Lascuña, who in contrast is seeking to snap a long title spell on the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit he used to dominate.

Carlos will have his hands full early as he drew PGTA Southwoods winner Jay Bayron and Michael Bibat in the 7:30 a.m. flight on No. 1 with Lascuña teeing off at 7:50 a.m. with Clyde Mondilla, the reigning PGT Order of Merit winner also raring to snap a long slump, and American Lexus Keoninh.

Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who won the PGT kickoff leg at Eagle Ridge last month, served notice of his bid for a second crown as he led his team composed of amateurs Arnold Sison, Arman Jardelesa and Raymund Baldeviso to the pro-am victory with a 17-under 53 total yesterday.

Carlos settled for second with a 54 in the company of Cholo Tupas, Mark Tupas and Francis Tupas while Bayron placed third with a 55 with Kenneth Lucas, Art Ponce and Pinky Silva.

UE Knights hold Level 1 shooting meet on Aug. 11 THE University of the East Knights Inc. shooting tournament for Level-1, dubbed as the “3rd UEKI National Commander’s Cup”, will take place on Saturday at the MIG 15 ISAFP Firing Range, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Registration starts at 7 a.m.

This was announced by Col. Aguinaldo I. Ordonez, PA (GSC), the current UEKI national commander.

“The shootfest is intended to raise funds for the UEKI and the proceeds will be used to fund its outreach projects for the depressed areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, and for the UEKI’s deep commitment to CSR program,” said Col. Ordonez.

Non-UEKI competitors are welcome to participate in this Level-1 tourney.

For inquiries, contact LCDR Ronnie C. Dimol Jr., PCGA, at mobile 09175104649, or the UEKI secretariat at no. 09062230501.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018

Alaska sends Abueva to Phoenix CALVIN Abueva’s days in Alaska are over.

After suspending the star forward indefinitely, the Aces completely got rid of him after finally trading him away to Phoenix yesterday.

Alaska sent the controversial swingman to the Fuel Masters in exchange for a 2019 first-round draft pick.

In addition, the Aces will also receive Karl Dehesa in the completed deal.

Following the All-Star weekend last May, Abueva suddenly went missing in action without any contact for more than a week.

This triggered Alaska to suspend him indefinitely. Now, he will not be returning to the Aces after all.

Instead, he will report to just his second team in his six-year career as he heads to the Fuel Masters.

The trade wasn’t considered a big surprise as the Alaska management has reportedly lost faith in Abueva after another round of disappointing actions.

Still, the Aces took time to thank Abueva, who was the face of the franchise for a long time, for all his contributions to the organization.

“We would like to thank Calvin (Abueva) for his six years of service with Alaska and the good memories. We felt as a franchise that it was best for both Alaska and Calvin to have a fresh start at this moment,” said Alaska in a statement.

Abueva’s entry suddenly made Phoenix an intriguing team, moving forward.

His versatility and productive play are certainly what the Fuel Masters need to have a better chance at competing against perennial contenders. Jeric Lopez

Tokyo 2020 Olympics to deploy facial recognition TOKYO—Hundreds of thousands of Tokyo 2020 athletes, staff and reporters will be scanned by cuttingedge facial recognition technology in an Olympic Games first, organisers said Tuesday.

About 300,000 athletes, staff members, volunteers and reporters will be required to use their ID card and be verified with the facial recognition system to access venues.

The security overhaul will prevent fraudulent entry by people borrowing, stealing or faking an ID card, said electronics giant NEC, which developed the technology.

It will be rolled out across all facilities—including the 43 competition venues, athlete lodgings and media centres—but would not be used for spectators, organisers said.

“It is the first time facial recognition will be deployed for all people involved in the Olympics at all venues,” Olympic security chief Tsuyoshi Iwashita told reporters.

“Higher security is needed for people involved in Olympics as they enter important areas. They also go in and out of venues so we decided to introduce the system for smooth entry,” he added.

This will be especially practical for the Tokyo Olympics as the venues are scattered widely around the massive Japanese capital, Iwashita added.

The technology takes only 0.3 seconds to match up a face with a pre-registered photo, said Masaaki Suganuma, an official at NEC, which claims this is the world’s fastest such system.

In an experiment conducted last year, access using an ID card and facial recognition was 2.5 times faster than using barcodes and visual checks as at previous Olympics. AFP

Calvin Abueva, formerly of Alaska, will be joining the Phoenix Fuelmasters.

Kings go for the kill; SMB eyes equalizer

By Jeric Lopez

C

AN Barangay Ginebra finally end its 21-year title drought in the mid-conference?

The Gin Kings certainly hope so as they shoot to dethrone San Miguel Beer and finish off their best-of-seven championship showdown in a close-out assignment in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. A win away from the title, Ginebra looks to claim glory even as the Beermen aim on forcing a rubber match as

they return to war in Game 6 at 7 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Now in a good place to win its second championship in the last three conference, the Gin Kings plan on going all out and give the Beermen a knockout punch.

“We’re in a good situation now, we have two chances to win the championship, but we all prefer to finish it right away, knowing how dangerous and capable San Miguel is,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“For us, Game 6 is a do-or-die, too.

We have to take it. We can’t go to a Game 7 against San Miguel,” echoed Ginebra guard LA Tenorio.

The Gin Kings got on the verge of the title after grinding out a difficult 87-83 win in Game 5 Sunday night, the first tight game of the series.

Ginebra trailed, 78-83, in the last three minutes but rallied behind crucial points from Scottie Thompson to stun the mighty defending champions.

Should the Gin Kings succeed, they will win their first Commissioner’s Cup in 21 years.

The last time they won the PBA season’s middle tournament was way back in 1997 when they were under the name Gordon’s Gin Boars.

San Miguel Beer, on the other hand, is looking to continue defending its crown and force sa Game 7 on Friday.

Cagers aim to improve on 7th-place finish THE Philippine Olympic Committee is hoping that the men’s basketball team could improve on the country’s seventh-place finish during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games when it plunges into action in the 2018 edition in Indonesia.

POC president Ricky Vargas said this is among his expectations when he was invited to the f irst practice session of the national squad at the Meralco gym in Monay evening.

“In 2014, we were seventh. So you cannot be eighth or worse. Neither can you be seventh, because that will not be an improvement. We expect you to do better, perhaps get us a medal. If

that happens, we will truly have reason to celebrate. We might even send a band over to Jakarta” said Vargas in a statement.

Thirteen of the 14 players called up

by Coach Yeng Guiao were present.

They were led by six players from Rain or Shine, and this includes Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Chris Tiu, Maverick Ahanmisi, James Yap and Raymond Almazan.

“If we’re capable of getting a higher placing, of course you go for it.

There’s a certain factor of luck getting into the equation, depending on the groupings and the opponents that you’ll face,” said Guiao.

Also around were Magnolia’s Paul

Lee and TNT’s Don Trollano, both former Elasto Painters who were reunited with Guiao in the national team.

GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle and NLEX’s Asi Taulava were there, along with Gilas Pilipinas cadet Kobe Paras was also present.

On the other hand, Ricci Rivero rushed from the airport to practice immediately upon his arrival from Serbia, where the University of the Philippines team held a camp.

Blackwater’s JP Erram also came, but he did not practice.

San Miguel Beer’s Christian Standhardinger was not around because he is playing in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. Peter Atencio

SSC Stags smash Cardinals Games Thursday (Perpetual Help gym, Las Pinas) 2 p.m. UPHSD vs SSC (jrs) 4 p.m. UPHSD vs SSC (srs)

By Peter Atencio THE San Sebastian Stags played without RK Ilagan, but still came away with a 94-70 smashing of the Mapua Cardinals Tuesday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.

Alvin Capobres showed the way with 21 points for the Stags, who went on to claim their third win in seven games in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

Coach Egay Gomez was relieved with the victory and has big hopes that management committee will spare them of bigger sanctions after it was discovered that Ilagan and Letran cager Coy Galvelo played in a pocket tournament a week before the start of the season.

Capobres struck hard twice in the last 5:56 of the third quarter, fueling an 1-0 blast that broke a 43-all deadlock.

When it was over, the Stags enjoyed a 54-43 spread.

“We had tough losses. Buti na lang at nag-respond ang mga bata, even though masakit ang mga talo namin,” said Gomez.

School officials have already suspended Ilagan for the rest of the first round for his misdeed.

And this is ahead of an automatic three-game suspension that the mancom is set impose on him, aside from forfeited games that’s supposed to be handed to the team as well.

Gomez said that they are appealing the case because they never knew and were never informed of Ilagan’s case until after the Letran side opened up on his cage eligibility during their fifth game of the season.

Running confidently with a heart and without shoes

By Peter Paul Duran IN A running event as prestigious as the Milo Marathon, the competitive crop races for a spot in history, aiming to be named marathon King or Queen, while others try to shatter their personal bests each year.

But for some, joining the largest marathon in the Philippines is a grand medium for self-expression they could not simply showcase elsewhere, a platform free from discrimination.

“Sobrang sakit kasi ‘yung hindi ka tanggap ng family at relatives mo,” said Fritz Labastida during the 42nd Milo Marathon-Manila leg at the SM Mall of Asia grounds recently. “Dito, tanggap ako ng lahat.”

Fondly called Fritzie in his circle of running friends, Labastida has been a running enthusiast since 2009.

He first joined the Milo Marathon during its 40th edition three years ago.

He says everytime he runs is a form of escape.

“Nawawala kasi ang mga problems sa isip ko kahit sandali kapag tumatakbo ako,” said the 34-year-old participant, who finished the 42KM centerpiece event with a sub-5 time of 04:47:15.

What had people taking notice during the event wasn’t Labastida’s blistering pace. In fact, he was ranked no. 530 among all 42K runners.

But it was the eye-catching “kavouge” costume he wore while running barefoot through challenging thoroughfares made harder by the monsoon rains all race long that had heads turning.

“Nag-start ako mag-run barefoot when I joined a benefit run. From there tuluy-tuloy na ang pagtakbo

Barefoot runner Fritz Labastida: Happy making others happy.

ko barefoot,” said the audit management officer, who recalled wearing adult diapers during the said fundraising run for Baby Shaila, who had Biliary Atresia and underwent a liver transplant a year ago and is now in stable condition.

“Wala lang talaga ako pambili ng sapatos noon,” Labastida said, laughing. “Hindi naman kasi hadlang na walang running shoes katulad ko, kasi puwede naman tumakbo ng hindi kamahalan. As long as you have trust in yourself to be fit.”

While participants train for the Milo race on the track, he goes the extra mile by also preparing what to wear.

“Until now I always prepare my costumes in my races because dito ako naging masaya at nakakapagpasaya ng iba,” said Labastida, adding that during his days’ off, he tries to find interesting costumes in thrift shops.

He is now a regular in marathons, ultramarathona and even duathlons and triathlons.

His family’s breadwinner, Labastida lives alone in Taguig, but he still supports his family back in Leyte. For him, running is also a way to fight homesickness, especially when he shares his joy to his co-runners.

“Sobrang hirap na hirap na ako sa buhay pero ‘pag sa takbuhan, doon ko na lang binubuhos lahat. It’s also hard to run barefoot, but I will never stop and I’ll promise to continue to inspire people. Until they realize that running is great,” he said. “Dahil ang buhay parang marathon ‘yan. No one will finish the race for you. You have to have discipline sa pagtakbo, at confidence sa ginagawa mo and kailangan paghusayan mo every step of the way.”

So the next time you see Labastida, think of the many personal battles he won running with no shoes, but with lots of heart.

IN BRIEF Eagle Cement books net income of P2.32b

EAGLE Cement Corp., owned by businessman Ramon Ang, reported a net income of P2.32 billion in first six months of 2018, up five percent from P2.22 billion year-on-year, on double-digit growth in sales.

Eagle Cement said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net sales rose 10 percent to P8.21 billion fron P7.47 billion a year ago on the strong turnover growth from both bagged and bulk cement.

The cost of goods sold increased 10 percent to P4.25 billion from P3.86 billion while operating expenses increased 12 percent to P790 million in the first half of the year from P707 million a year ago.

Gross profit margin in the first half of the year was steady at 48 percent.

The cement company’s upgrading and de-bottlenecking efforts in existing production lines have allowed the company to maintain healthy margins.

Net income in the second quarter rose six percent to P1.25 billion from P1.18 billion a year ago as net sales climbed 14 percent to P4.2 billion from P3.7 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

ABS-CBN’s earnings down 41% to P741m

ABS-CBN Corp. said net income fell 41 percent in the first half of the year due to lower advertising and consumer sales.

ABS-CBN said net income amounted to P741 million in the January-to-June period from P1.25 billion year-on-year.

The company registered consolidated revenues of P18.9 billion from advertising and consumer sales, down by 2.1 percent year-on-year.

Advertising revenues dropped 3.1 percent to P9.57 billion from last year’s P9.87 billion due to fewer placements in the first half of 2018.

Consumer sales decreased 1.1 percent to P9.35 billion mainly resulting from lower theatrical receipts from Global and ABS-CBN Films and decreased revenue from Sky Cable’s cable business.

Sky’s revenue fell 3.6 percent on year following a decrease in cable subscriber count by 80,000.

In total, subscriber count of Sky increased by 168,000 significantly attributable to direct-to-home subscribers.

Darwin G. Amojelar

LANDING International Development Ltd. of Hong Kong said NayonLanding, a $1.5-billion integrated resort project at the Entertainment City complex in Parañaque City, is still pushing through as its lease contract with state-run Nayong Pilipino Foundation remains valid and effective.

Landing International made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte replaced the members of the NPF board.

The company said the government’s decision did not affect the validity of the contract.

It said the term of lease executed between NPF and wholly-owned subsidiary Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. covered a period of just 25 years, starting from the date of

BEST FOREIGN BANK. Citi Philippines wins best foreign bank in the Philippines for the 20th year in a row in the FinanceAsia Annual Country Awards for Achievement. The annual awards recognize the best financial services firms in Asia. Citi Philippines chief executive Aftab Ahmed with the award (second from right) celebrates with (from left) treasury and trade solutions head Arlene Nethercott, markets and securities services head and country treasurer Paul Favila, consumer bank head Manoj Varma and corporate banking head Vikram Singh.

Inflation rises to 5.7%; BSP mulls over options

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday it will determine the strength of its “follow-through” response in the Monetary Board meeting later this week, after the inflation rate accelerated to a more than five-year high of 5.7 percent in July from 5.2 percent in June.

The July inflation was significantly faster than 2.4 percent recorded a year ago, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. The figure brought the average inflation in the first seven months to 4.5 percent, above the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

“The July 2018 actual inflation is at the high end of our July forecast but remains consistent with our expectation of elevated inflation prevailing in 2018 that will return to the target range by 2019,” Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said in a statement.

“We will consider all the latest data updates in determining the strength of our follow-through response in the upcoming policy meeting of the MB this Thursday,” Espenilla said.

Espenilla reiterated the Bangko Sentral’s commitment to meet the 2018 inflation target of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Espenilla last month said the board was considering a “strong follow-through” movement in its meeting on Thursday, wary of the second-round effects of accelerating inflation.

The government’s economic team composed of the Finance and Budget Departments and the National Economic and Development Authority said stronger government measures, most especially in improving agriculture productivity and, in the short term, a strategic trade policy, were needed to address supply constraints that further pushed consumer prices up.

“The current price pressures emanate mainly from supply-side factors.

execution of the contract.

“Unless the lease contract is cancelled or nullified on solid legal grounds by the courts, Landing has reason to believe that it is a valid leaseholder and can legally proceed with its project,” the company said.

LRPDC broke ground on the NayonLanding project Tuesday. LRPDC reeceived a provisional license from staterun Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to operate a casino by 2022.

“NayonLanding, the proposed 95,700-sq.m. integrated resort will be the new landmark in terms of tourism in the Philippines,” Landing International chairman and executive director Yang Zhihui said during the groundbreaking rites at the resort site.

Landing International chief operating officer Jay Lee said gaming would not be

the sole core business of NayonLanding, as the integrated resort would be promoted as a family-oriented center with focus on Philippine culture and heritage.

“We are looking at the bigger picture, not just gaming. We have a lot if theme parks for families and a business segment on MICE activities. This will drive more tourism activities in the Philippines and hopefully contribute significantly to the increase in tourism arrivals,” he said.

The integrated resort will consist of an indoor cultural theme park and waterpark, Asia’s first and largest indoor movie-based theme park; luxurious hotel rooms; a 4,000-seater capacity ballroom for MICE and related events; an elite shopping mall with the best brands; and a world-class casino with a gaming area of about 7,000 sqm.

Addressing supply constraints to curb inflation is the utmost priority of the government,” the economic team said.

They said a part of the supply problem was the country’s declining rice stock inventory―caused by weather disturbances in the country and in other rice-producing countries like Thailand and Vietnam―which was taking a toll on the prices of rice.

The economic team said amending Republic Act No. 8178 or the Agricultural Tarrification Act to replace quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs would significantly improve the rice market, bringing down the price of the grain.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said the faster inflation rate last month was mainly due to the 7.1-percent annual rate recorded in food and nonalcoholic beverages index. Nine of 11 commodity divisions registered higher annual upticks during the month.

“Excluding selected food and energy items, core inflation rate accelerated by 4.5 percent in July 2018. It was pegged at 4.3 percent in the previous month and 2.1 percent in July 2017,” the PSA said.

B1

Residential power rates in the Philippines were the second highest in Asia, according to the International Energy Consultants, an Australia-based consulting firm.

IEC, which specializes in modeling most power markets in the Asia Pacific, conducted an international survey comparing regional prices of electricity tariffs. IEC managing director John Morris said the Philippines ranked second in terms of average rate of residential customers among Asian countries.

Meralco’s rates was placed at 17.72 US cents (P8.96 per kWh) as of January 2018, next to Japan’s 24.35 US cents (P12.31 per kWh). Singapore ranked third at 17.35 US cents (P8.83 per kWh).

Morris said Meralco’s average tariff (excluding VAT) in US cents per kWh has declined 4 percent since January 2016, the period covered by the survey, versus an average increase of 12 percent across 46 countries covered by the survey. Alena Mae S. Flores

OIL refiner and distributor Petron Corp. said Tuesday net income grew 16 percent in the first half to P9.5 billion from P8.2 billion a year ago on higher sales of its Malaysian and Philippine operations.

Petron said consolidated revenues jumped 32 percent in the six-month period to P273.5 billion from P207 billion in the same period last year.

“We intend to fortify our leadership position as we ride on the continued economic growth of the Philippine and Malaysian markets. We continue to integrate our value chain, build up our supply and logistics capabilities, and roll-out more service stations than our competitors,” Petron president and chief executive Ramon Ang said in a statement.

Petron attributed the higher revenues to the sustained sales volumes of its Philippine and Malaysian operations and increased prices of crude oil and finished products.

Consolidated sales volumes rose to 54.4 million barrels, while the benchmark Dubai crude oil averaged $68 per barrel in the first six months, up 32 percent from a year earlier.

“We are well-positioned to fuel the government’s infrastructure program,” Ang said.

Petron said sales volumes in its Philippine operations increased 14 percent as the company continued its focus on other high-margin products.

Gasoline and aviation fuel increased 8 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

Petron Malaysia reported a 7-percent growth in sales volumes.

Meanwhile, Petron said its board approved the public offer and issuance of up to P20 billion worth of peso-denominated fixed-rate retail bonds.

The company appointed BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and BPI Capital Corp. as joint issue managers together with China Bank as joint book runners and joint lead underwriters.

Manufacturing posted double-digit expansion for sixth month in a row THE manufacturing sector posted a double-digit growth for the sixth month in a row, driven by robust domestic and external demands, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Preliminary results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed the volume of production index climbed 18 percent in June from a year ago, following a 21-percent expansion in May. It was an improvement from a 0.1-percent decline in June 2017.

The PSA said the increase was brought about by the expansion of 14 major sectors led by printing with a three-digit increase of 116.3 percent. Other sectors with significant growth were petroleum products (60.7 percent), textiles (36.7 percent), miscellaneous manufactures (21 percent), rubber and plastic products

(20.7 percent), machinery except electrical (20.3 percent), electrical machinery (17.1 percent), food manufacturing (14.7 percent) and beverages (10.1 percent).

The value of production index recovered with an annual growth of 18.9 percent from a decline of 2.1 percent in the same month last year.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the manufacturing sector was expected to sustain its doubledigit growth in the second half.

“The prospect for the second half of the year is bright. We hope to further climb this upward trajectory as we implement reforms positively affecting the industries and doing business in the country,” Neda director-general and Eeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement. Julito G. Rada

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Meralco announces slight power rate hike ELECTRICITY rates posted a slight increase in August on higher fuel prices, retailer Manila Electric Co. said Tuesday.

Meralco said the average power rate increased P0.0265 per kilowatt-hour to P10.2190 per kWh in August from P10.1925 per kWh in July. It said for a typical household consuming 200 kWh, this would mean an adjustment of P5 in their monthly bill.

Generation charges of Meralco dropped P0.084 per kWh to P5.3481 this month from P5.2651 per kWh in July. “The increase is the result of P0.6554 per kWh rise in the cost of power from power supply agreements due to lower average plant dispatch and higher fuel prices,” Meralco said.

Meralco purchased 43 percent of its power requirement from PSAs in July.

Charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market dropped P1.1021 per kWh in the absence of yellow alerts in the Luzon grid. WESM acts as the country’s trading floor of electricity.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Landing Int’l: $1.5-b resort to push through in PH

By Othel V. Campos

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Petron’s net profit rose by 16% to P9.5b in first half

Global-Estate Resorts posts P814-m net profit

GLOBAL-ESTATE Resorts Inc., a leading integrated tourism estates developer, said net income to parent company’s shareholders in the first six months of 2018 registered an 18-percent increase to P814 million from P690 million year-onyear.

Global Estate said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half consolidated revenues reached P3.3 billion, up five percent from P3.2 billion a year ago.

Real estate sales were steady at P2.1 billion while rental income soared 218 percent to P177 million from just P56 million a year ago.

The company attributed the sharp increase in rental income to the occupancy of leasable area and the opening of its first full-scale mall, the Southwoods Mall, in September last year.

“After launching Southwoods Malls, we are gearing up to launch more lifestyle malls and retail concepts in the coming years,” Global Estate president Monica Salomon said.

The integrated tourism estate developer earlier said it planned to book a rental income of P650 million in 2020.

Jenniffer B. Austria

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

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

SM’S GOVERNANCE AWARDS. Eight SM companies are recognized among

the top-governed firms based on the 2017 Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard in an appreciation ceremony by the Institute of Corporate Directors. SM Investments Corp., SM Prime Holdings and China Banking Corp. are ranked among the highest in corporate governance best practices, garnering a score of 100 points and above.

Other top-ranked companies are BDO Leasing and Finance, BDO Unibank, Belle Corp., Premium Leisure Corp. and Pacific Online Systems Corp. Receiving the awards are SMIC senior vice president for group treasury Marcelo Fernando Jr. (left) and senior assistant vice president for corporate governance Reginald Tiu.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.0400

Japan

Yen

0.008977

0.4761

UK

Pound

1.294600

68.6656

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127410

6.7578

Switzerland

Franc

1.003613

53.2316

Canada

Dollar

0.769112

40.7937

Singapore

Dollar

0.731154

38.7804

Australia

Dollar

0.738600

39.1753

Bahrain

Dinar

2.648165

140.4587

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

14.1429

Brunei

Dollar

0.728491

38.6392

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.030021

1.5923

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.4413

Euro

Euro

1.155400

61.2824

Korea

Won

0.000888

0.0471

China

Yuan

0.145945

7.7409

India

Rupee

0.014531

0.7707

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.245278

13.0095

New Zealand

Dollar

0.673200

35.7065

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032642

1.7313

Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks tumble; BDO, Jollibee fall T HE stock market slumped Tuesday, weighed down by rising inflation that hit a fiveyear high of 5.7 percent in July.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 91.46 points, or 1.2 percent, to 7,725.85 on a value turnover of P5.2 billion. Losers edged gainers, 103 to 99, with 38 issues unchanged.

The July inflation was significantly faster than 2.4 percent recorded a year ago, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Tuesday. The July figure brought the average inflation rate in the first seven months to 4.5 percent, above the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

Higher inflation eats into the budget of households and dampens consumer

spending.

The higher inflation may prompt the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise interest rates again when the Monetary Board meets Thursday.

“We will consider all the latest data updates in determining the strength of our follow-through response in the upcoming policy meeting of the MB this Thursday,” Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr.Espenilla said.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 4.1 percent to P129.50, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fast food chain, lost 3.6 percent to P270.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, power generation and hospitals, fell 2.2 percent to P5.01, while Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest bank, slipped 1.5 percent to P97.

Most major Asian markets, meanwhile, rose on Tuesday following another positive Wall Street lead, with energy firms surging along with oil prices.

A healthy earnings season has supported global equities in recent weeks, although gains have been limited by continuing concerns about the simmering trade war between China and the US. As investors awaited the next developments in the tariffs dispute, they moved in to pick up cheaper stocks.

Hong Kong was up more than one percent as it built on Monday’s gains.

Shanghai surged to close 2.7 percent higher, day after hitting a near twoand-a-half-year low.

Tokyo jumped 0.7 percent and Singapore 1.8 percent, while Seoul gained 0.6 percent. However, Sydney dipped 0.3 percent, while Wellington and Taipei

were also lower. Mumbai was flat, having hit a record high Monday.

Energy firms soared after a rise in oil prices Monday on the back of reports that Saudi Arabia had lowered its output. PetroChina piled on more than four percent in Hong Kong and Tokyo-listed Inpex was 1.9 percent higher.

Also, the US reimposed stiff sanctions on Iran following Donald Trump’s decision to exit a multi-nation nuclear deal with the major producer. While the first round of sanctions targets the Islamic republic’s access to US banknotes and key industries including cars and carpets, the country’s key oil sector is in line to be hit on November 5.

Oil was slightly higher on Tuesday in Asia.

But the issue has fueled geopolitical concerns, with some observers saying the White House is working towards regime change in Tehran. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.2 2,110 97 882,490 2.79 30,000 129.5 1,814,350 1.95 9,694,000 33 61,400 16.48 4,000 14.56 4,386,000 3.83 79,000 8.65 600 805 670 0.57 793,000 76.95 1,811,180 1 1,389,000 11.9 300 45.55 322,400 195 2,480 105 80 85.05 430 29.6 6,100 201.2 345,610 83.9 25,840

126,101 86,054,154 80,100 237,656,649 19,571,160 2,022,385 65,692 62,896,270 300,050 5,203 539,620 455,640 139,371,220 1,392,590 3,570 14,822,285 487,550 8,382 36,991.50 180,980 69,683,884 2,171,826

116,640 -2,067,441 -161,689,986 349,000.00 -772,070 24,680,524 33,846,846 0 -8,358,910 29,550 -4,071,824 -22,666.50

36.8 15.32 0.71 1.18 0.234 112.5 3.23 15.48 39.45 21.05 49 71.8 1.8 5.06 7.8 10.34 15.74 10.76 7.28 4.92 15.34 62.15 24.3 7.44 14 2.34 270 5 3.1 26.1 12.82 18.98 369.2 0.18 6.86 2.22 4.11 8.85 5.17 7.95 1.17 11.74 55.5 6.1 4.75 2.58 3.44 1.71 13.04 68.4 5.25 0.126 1.1 130 2.42 1.42

INDUSTRIAL 37 769,000 15.44 452,600 0.74 3,155,000 1.25 2,894,000 0.237 2,770,000 112.5 100 3.3 10,568,000 15.48 33,000 43.5 318,100 21.05 13,000 49 1,070 75.3 8,910 1.8 90,000 5.06 1,100 7.8 2,600 10.4 433,500 15.88 441,300 10.8 32,000 7.29 169,400 4.95 4,492,000 15.4 229,500 62.4 7,020 24.5 61,700 7.44 1,702,500 14.06 865,400 2.38 748,000 270 641,970 5.05 40,000 3.1 7,000 26.1 631,800 13.1 297,600 19 1,009,900 370 139,600 0.181 150,000 6.86 2,500 2.23 73,000 4.15 84,000 8.9 2,184,900 5.2 148,700 7.95 5,000 1.18 501,000 12 123,600 56.15 52,900 6.12 5,200 4.75 207,000 2.65 771,000 3.44 3,000 1.78 582,000 13.06 58,700 70 786,270 5.27 68,200 0.132 40,000 1.13 564,000 133.8 488,760 2.48 2,976,000 1.47 4,379,000

28,624,105 6,975,766 2,289,790 3,553,970 652,130 11,250 34,672,330 511,336 13,230,530 273,665 53,036 665,913.50 162,110 5,566 20,280 4,521,924 7,002,758 346,228 1,237,369 22,192,770 3,535,744 437,529 1,519,295 12,685,257 12,246,824 1,772,730 174,236,974 200,170 21,700 16,560,485 3,902,760 19,386,450 51,705,968 27,100 17,150 163,910 345,420 19,454,153 773,492 39,750 588,960 1,473,848 2,959,108 31,850 983,250 2,029,100 10,320 1,021,310 767,380 54,844,559 358,291 5,200 631,130 64,998,079 7,312,350 6,345,180

-2,024,370.00 220,798 11,983,470 66,570 3,955.00 -25,500 -2,016,420 2,497,798 6,480 60,849 -1,550,190 2,235,234 -43,532 -31,935 -2,366,374 -650,308 44,840 -99,943,194 -605,520 -965,702 -6,550,534 5,396,680 -33,640 -328,880 883,314 1,233,325 -6,120 -541,500 185,760 50,930 498,866 -8,838,563 44,441,169 -68,480

0.244 59.75 12.1 6.1 31.05 1.48 1.47 1,012 6.1 12.32 7.09 0.21 986.5 6.09 58.25 0.63 4.44 17.8 0.79 5.15 0.038 1.39 2.8 138 979 1.63 457 259 0.345 0.223

0.242 58.4 11.96 6 30.05 1.35 1.36 995 5.91 11.82 6.86 0.21 970 6.04 56 0.59 4.26 17.2 0.66 5.01 0.037 1.29 2.74 135 955 1.58 430 258 0.32 0.206

HOLDING FIRMS 0.244 650,000 58.95 513,530 12 3,005,300 6.1 62,900 30.95 55,000 1.42 92,933,000 1.42 11,860,000 1,008 163,255 6 300,900 11.82 1,413,600 7.09 13,300 0.21 90,000 972 110,220 6.04 13,900 56 565,840 0.6 2,493,000 4.31 594,000 17.6 2,512,700 0.68 66,894,000 5.01 16,068,500 0.038 400,000 1.39 5,170,000 2.8 487,000 138 80,310 958.5 166,560 1.6 849,000 457 80 259 6,420 0.34 53,260,000 0.223 570,000

158,150 30,286,922.50 36,062,116 383,185 1,673,930 130,725,340 16,738,160 164,097,505 1,794,671 16,881,038 94,021 18,900 107,263,920 84,367 31,968,096.50 1,495,590 2,576,710 43,986,344 47,264,920 81,368,542 15,100 7,069,980 1,341,130 11,006,522 160,195,025 1,370,240 34,980 1,659,244 17,951,400 119,030

-6,543,478.50 -8,892,894 364,555 154,750 -248,930 -51,994,912.50 -1,007,938 286,302 -6,684,820 1,317,304.50 515,840 -28,289,962.00 -3,132,790 11,940,344 2,800 -4,100,106 -68,029,680 -271,950 -734,500 4,120

7.88 0.98 13.98 2.04 0.75 42 3.17 4.7 5.6 0.44 0.98 1 0.215 0.42 10.74 27.1 0.6 1.48 1.24 1.73 4.72 0.71 0.48 0.52 3.75 29

7.69 0.96 13 2.02 0.72 41.6 3.14 4.59 5.52 0.435 0.93 0.98 0.21 0.4 10.1 26.6 0.58 1.45 1.21 1.55 4.65 0.65 0.465 0.495 3.65 29

38,020,993 1,129,370 270,102 128,290 654,740 1,169,779,805 2,032,880 6,774,740 182,847 713,850 173,130 6,212,700 387,010 277,750 19,120,922 6,228,035 144,280 9,531,970 308,470 53,837,340 61,292,790 105,237,010 2,536,750 1,101,300 10,237,220 2,900

-248,345 -33,800 258,015,980 1,436,660 -2,458,360 -1,120 91,970 1,857,750 3,790,305 -64,900 -1,068,990 -2,079,650 -42,979,990 -1,656,530 35,400 1,064,010 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.8 98.5 2.74 135 1.84 33.15 16.42 14.3 3.73 8.68 810 0.59 77.5 1 11.9 46 200.2 104.4 88.45 29.55 205 84.1

59.8 99.2 2.79 135 2.22 33.15 16.48 14.6 3.84 8.68 810 0.59 77.5 1.02 11.9 46.5 200.2 105 88.45 29.7 206 84.2

59 97 2.65 129.5 1.8 32.5 16.42 14.2 3.73 8.65 805 0.56 76.5 0.99 11.9 45.55 195 104.4 85.05 29.55 200.4 83.75

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

37.5 15.44 0.73 1.18 0.238 112.5 3.26 15.5 39.55 21.2 49.8 72.95 1.8 5.06 7.8 10.6 15.9 10.84 7.48 4.94 15.5 63.4 25.4 7.46 14.38 2.35 279.8 5 3.1 26.15 13.2 19.3 371.2 0.181 6.86 2.22 4.11 8.99 5.21 7.95 1.18 11.82 55.9 6.3 4.75 2.69 3.44 1.74 13.12 69.35 5.25 0.126 1.15 130 2.44 1.43

37.8 15.48 0.74 1.27 0.238 112.5 3.36 15.7 43.5 21.2 50 75.4 1.81 5.06 7.8 10.62 15.9 10.84 7.48 4.96 15.56 63.4 25.4 7.58 14.38 2.4 279.8 5.05 3.1 26.4 13.34 19.38 375.6 0.181 6.86 2.3 4.15 8.99 5.27 7.95 1.18 12 56.5 6.3 4.75 2.7 3.44 1.8 13.12 71.5 5.28 0.132 1.15 133.9 2.49 1.48

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

0.243 59.75 12.06 6.01 31.05 1.39 1.47 1,000 6.06 12.32 6.86 0.21 986.5 6.08 57.95 0.59 4.43 17.74 0.78 5.13 0.037 1.29 2.8 136.4 979 1.58 431 258.6 0.32 0.21

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

7.71 0.97 13.98 2.02 0.74 41.9 3.17 4.61 5.53 0.435 0.93 0.98 0.21 0.42 10.1 26.8 0.58 1.46 1.24 1.7 4.71 0.69 0.47 0.495 3.7 29

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

20 1.98 3.26 37.8 1.15 7.2 6

20.6 1.98 3.26 38 1.15 7.36 6.01

19.78 1.94 3.21 37.8 1.14 7.18 5.99

20.6 1.96 3.25 37.9 1.15 7.22 6

3,578,100 80,000 130,000 4,750,800 373,000 475,900 7,633,500

72,240,751 156,620 418,420 180,034,275 425,520 3,460,652 45,809,132

-2,535,560 -1,970 -321,000 2,067,440 38,208 17,302,655

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

14.5 24.5 1.41 0.485 0.046 4.5 10.44 0.056 69.5 8.49 7 6.99 2.1 24.3 1,800 5.41 279.8 3.91 2.09 86.8 13.34 7.87 0.131 3.28 3.55 14.78 4 1.02 25.5 0.45 4.93 7.49 2.82 2.14 2.15 8.75 10.98 8.9 3.55 8.15 112.8 5.37 1,360 0.92 0.4 47.1 88.55 8.64 2.3 1.1 0.73 5.1 0.74 11.84

14.5 24.5 1.41 0.485 0.046 4.5 10.46 0.057 70 8.5 7.12 7 2.1 25.25 1,870 5.43 300 4.07 2.09 87.6 13.34 7.87 0.132 3.5 3.63 14.78 4.05 1.06 26.55 0.57 5 7.49 2.85 2.18 2.26 8.75 10.98 8.9 3.65 8.15 113 5.37 1,380 0.93 0.41 47.1 89 8.64 2.37 1.1 0.76 5.16 0.84 12

14.1 24.2 1.41 0.475 0.045 4.5 10.04 0.056 69.35 8.49 6.85 6.99 2.1 23.9 1,800 5.39 279.8 3.91 2.09 86 12.7 7.87 0.125 3.21 3.55 14.78 4 1.02 25.45 0.45 4.8 7.2 2.8 2.07 2.1 8.6 10.98 8.9 3.54 8.15 110 5.31 1,320 0.9 0.39 46.5 86 8.44 2.17 1.08 0.68 5.02 0.73 11.48

SERVICES 14.1 24.5 1.41 0.475 0.046 4.5 10.18 0.056 69.4 8.5 7.12 7 2.1 24 1,863 5.41 300 4.05 2.09 86 12.7 7.87 0.127 3.34 3.63 14.78 4.01 1.04 26.3 0.49 4.99 7.31 2.8 2.13 2.22 8.63 10.98 8.9 3.65 8.15 111 5.31 1,320 0.91 0.405 46.55 87 8.55 2.23 1.08 0.7 5.16 0.81 11.86

14,400 61,000 23,000 4,690,000 11,500,000 3,000 6,992,600 2,560,000 81,840 6,000 783,000 20,800 4,000 87,700 23,840 96,100 24,110 1,902,000 23,000 1,061,910 16,100 20,000 24,790,000 12,821,000 24,000 900 518,000 123,000 1,200,100 5,010,000 111,000 1,552,900 2,722,000 578,000 40,000 2,398,400 13,400 2,400 10,000 100 10,360 334,400 26,620 3,509,000 12,780,000 814,000 1,076,350 21,300 12,127,000 160,000 231,719,000 3,873,700 28,911,000 2,284,100

205,288 1,489,250 32,430 2,253,050 520,200 13,500 70,993,052 143,970 5,706,757 50,970 5,519,283 145,580 8,400 2,134,370 44,177,665 520,019 7,076,690 7,618,660 48,070 91,764,295.50 205,466 157,400 3,181,230 43,054,860 86,240 13,302 2,074,300 127,050 31,333,525 2,499,950 549,480 11,401,669 7,678,100 1,215,250 85,590 20,725,735 147,132 21,360 36,180 815 1,157,617 1,781,043 35,475,740 3,213,410 5,109,250 38,115,755 93,542,129 181,796 27,466,120 173,990 165,975,360 19,862,161 23,217,210 26,775,918

-29,916,488 -842,378 -686,052 2,430 5,545,755 -1,398,462 27,980 47,308,422 63,700 873,560 -60,170 -7,763,545 -114,775 6,037,050 273,292 3,650 266,380 -15,990 -4,338,325 1,176,200 -893,250 -5,895,770 -5,351,313.50 47,300 5,794,890 -49,500 5,689,380 -8,300,522.00 299,600 -21,501,772

285,600 8,514,420 2,339,720 447,930 1,510 1,583,170 61,000 32,707 11,681,010 183,560 572,890 50,860 53,400 256,760 15,714,230 732,870 86,780 3,800,330 6,485,700 1,478,300 17,980 1,596,630 56,482,104 44,450,055 24,000

25,000 -114,030 -2,294,240 -3,910 -6,147,220 104,000 -465,200 23,400 5,500 -109,730 2,299,206 -3,808,930 -

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.88 0.98 13 2.03 0.74 42 3.15 4.7 5.6 0.44 0.98 0.99 0.212 0.4 10.46 27 0.6 1.46 1.23 1.58 4.65 0.66 0.475 0.5 3.7 29

4,879,600 1,165,000 19,600 63,000 890,000 27,877,500 642,000 1,454,000 33,000 1,640,000 186,000 6,276,000 1,830,000 670,000 1,826,900 231,700 243,000 6,536,000 251,000 32,652,000 13,093,000 154,439,000 5,370,000 2,180,000 2,755,000 100

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

0.0025 1.67 3.79 24.4 1.51 2.09 0.305 7.3 2.06 0.215 0.13 0.13 0.0089 1.58 4.65 1.19 0.56 1.09 0.013 0.011 3.02 4.4 15.3 32.35 0.006

0.0026 1.69 3.89 24.5 1.51 2.09 0.305 7.39 2.07 0.216 0.13 0.13 0.0089 1.63 4.75 1.19 0.56 1.09 0.013 0.012 3.02 4.44 15.3 32.35 0.006

0.0025 1.58 3.69 23.05 1.51 2 0.305 7.06 2.01 0.206 0.127 0.127 0.0089 1.58 4.58 1.13 0.54 1.01 0.013 0.011 2.95 4.38 14.38 31.9 0.006

MINING & OIL 0.0026 113,000,000 1.58 5,259,000 3.7 630,000 23.9 18,700 1.51 1,000 2.05 779,000 0.305 200,000 7.3 4,500 2.01 5,776,000 0.214 880,000 0.127 4,490,000 0.127 400,000 0.0089 6,000,000 1.63 161,000 4.6 3,370,000 1.16 639,000 0.54 155,000 1.04 3,688,000 0.013 498,900,000 0.011 134,300,000 2.95 6,000 4.39 363,000 14.66 3,828,600 32.2 1,385,700 0.006 4,000,000

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

24.65 504.5 101.6 106.7 5.24 101 1.04 104.5 77.3 79.1 75.2 76.9 75.3 76

24.7 505 101.6 106.8 5.24 101 1.04 104.5 77.35 79.1 75.2 76.95 75.3 76

23.9 504.5 101.5 106.7 5.22 101 1.02 104.5 77.3 79 75.2 76.1 75.15 75.5

PREFERRED 24.65 1,147,000 505 1,540 101.5 800 106.8 1,780 5.22 140,300 101 2,090 1.03 262,000 104.5 200 77.35 50 79 13,500 75.2 13,400 76.1 27,390 75.3 108,120 76 26,080

28,264,220 777,200 81,250 190,016 732,768 211,090 271,530 20,900 3,866.50 1,067,623 1,007,680 2,086,807.50 8,140,786 1,981,540

3,937,360 -732,768 -4,066,200 -

LR WARRANT

2.35

2.4

2.3

WARRANTS 2.4 424,000

982,950

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.2 3 3.09

5.2 3 3.14

5.1 2.96 3.08

5.15 2.96 3.14

2,723,076 20,870 3,109,380

-747,230

FIRST METRO ETF

116.3

116.6

115

1,211,172

63,965

USD TECH B2

1

1

1

189,960

-

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

23,011,792

INDUSTRIAL

48,784,930

HOLDING FIRMS

261,664,468

PROPERTY

285,278,934

SERVICES

383,600,730

MINING & OIL

788,256,804

GRAND TOTAL

1,792,150,972

SME

530,300 7,000 1,003,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 115 10,470 1

DDS

189,960

VALUE 1,853.33 (down) 38.07 771,832,948.29 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,899.56 (down) 58.74 620,759,071.14 HOLDING FIRMS 7,676.46 (down) 113.09 960,198,474.09 PROPERTY 3,816.29 (up) 13.74 SERVICES 1,492.96 (down) 9.84 1,841,131,654.39 MINING & OIL 10,218.42 (down) 117.18 858,116,854.475 PSEI 7,725.85 (down) 91.46 156,963,149.003 All Shares Index 4,635.59 (down) 24.85 5,216,076,560.87 Gainers: 99; Losers: 103; Unchanged: 38; Total: 240

ICTSI posted net income of of $97.7m in 1st six months

By Darwin G. Amojelar INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. on Tuesday reported a six-percent drop in net income in the first half of the year due to higher costs of its new terminals in Papua New Guinea and Australia.

The port operator owned by tycoon Enrique Razon posted a net income of $97.7 million in the first six months of the year, down from $103.6 million year-on-year.

“The decrease in net income was due primarily to the start-up costs of the new terminals in Papua New Guinea and Australia; and the $7.5 million nonrecurring gain on the termination of the sub-concession agreement in Nigeria in the second quarter of 2017,” ICTSI said.

The lower net income, however, tempered by the strong operating income from organic terminals.

Excluding the non-recurring gains, consolidated net income attributable to equity holders would have decreased marginally by one percent in 2018.

ICTSI’s posted revenues of $661.8 million, up 10 percent from $603.7 million on year.

“The increase in revenues was mainly due to volume growth; new contracts with shipping lines and services; increase in revenues from non-containerized cargoes, storage and ancillary services; and the contribution from the company’s new terminals in Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea, and Melbourne, Australia,” ICTSI said.

The company handled consolidated volume of 4.71 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first six months, four percent higher than the 4.54 million TEUs a year ago.

“The increase in volume was primarily due to the robust global trade activities particularly in the emerging markets, continuing volume growth at most terminals and the contribution of the new terminals in Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea, and Melbourne, Australia. Excluding the new terminals, volume increased by one percent,” ICTSI said.

Security Bank booked profit of P4.3b in 1st half

By Julito G. Rada SECURITY Bank Corp., the sixth-largest lender in terms of assets, said net income in the first six months of 2018 dropped 18 percent or P951 million to P4.3 billion year-on-year due mainly to lower trading gains during the period.

The bank said in a statement Tuesday trading gains declined 59 percent or P655 million while the provision for income tax increased 55 percent or P424 million on year.

Loans rose 12 percent on year while deposits increased 17 percent. Net interest income from customer loans and deposits climbed 34 percent or P1.8 billion to P7.4 billion.

Interest income from financial investments decreased 13 percent or P717 million to P4.8 billion on lower securities portfolio, which likewise dropped 13 percent on year.

Total net interest income, meanwhile, grew 8 percent to P10 billion. Service charges, fees and commissions increased 16 percent to P1.3 billion. The growth in fee income was broad-based, led by bancassurance, credit card and loan fees.

Deposit growth rose 17 percent, increasing by P63 billion from the yearago level to reach P443 billion as of June 30, 2018. Low-cost deposits climbed 15 percent. The loan-to-deposit ratio improved to 86 percent from 90 percent a year ago.

Asset quality remained healthy, with gross non-performing loan ratio down to 0.6 percent from 0.7 percent a year ago.

“Security Bank’s judicious use of capital resulted in sustained strong capital adequacy ratios. Common equity tier 1 ratio was at 16.19 percent and total capital adequacy ratio was at 18.46 percent in the second quarter versus 16.63 percent and 18.95 percent, respectively, a year ago,” the bank said.

The bank remained among the country’s best capitalized private domestic universal banks with the highest capital adequacy ratios. Return on shareholders’ equity was 8.1 percent.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

Scared tourists leave Lombok as earthquake toll rises to105

FESTIVAL. Artist Grace Jones performs on stage during the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival in Monaco late Aug. 6, 2018. AFP

IN BRIEF North Korea frees South Korean detainee

SEOUL―North Korea on Tuesday released a South Korean who was arrested after crossing the border last month, Seoul’s unification ministry said, welcoming the “humanitarian” gesture.

The North told the South Monday of its decision to release the man, who was detained for crossing into the country on July 22, the ministry said in a statement.

“Our side received a South Korean national surnamed Seo, born in 1984, through Panmunjom from the North at 11:00 am (0200 GMT)” on Tuesday, the ministry said, referring to the truce village in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two countries.

“The government positively appreciates the repatriation... which was made on humanitarian grounds”, it said without elaborating.

Relations between North and South have improved markedly following a summit between their leaders in April.

An unidentified ministry official told Yonhap news agency the man was currently being questioned by South Korean authorities.

“We have to investigate to know why he went to the North and how he got there,” the official said. AFP

Border reopened for Venezuelans

SAO PAULO―Brazil briefly closed and then reopened its northern border to Venezuelans on Monday as it struggled to contain mass migration from the South American country saddled with a crippling political and economic crisis, police said.

A Supreme Court justice overturned a lower court judge’s decision that had suspended for a few hours the entry of more Venezuelans until other immigrants from the country were transferred elsewhere in Brazil.

“It is not justified to take the easy path to ‘close the doors’ because of difficulties in hosting refugees,” Supreme Court justice Rosa Weber said in her ruling issued shortly before midnight.

The border had remained open to Brazilians and other nationalities, as well as to Venezuelans seeking to return to their home country.

It’s a main crossing point for tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants, an influx that has increased dramatically over the past two years.

President Michel Temer was opposed in a “non-negotiable” way to the border closure, Human Rights Minister Gustavo Rocha was quoted as saying by state-run Agencia Brasil. AFP

Wildfires may be California’s worst

CLEARLAKE OAKS―Multiple wildfires that together grew Monday to nearly the size of Los Angeles could become the worst in fire-prone California’s history, authorities warned.

The River and Ranch fires, which together are called the Mendocino Complex, blackened an area of 110,750 hectares.

Authorities from state fire agency CalFire reported before midday that it already had mushroomed into the second worst blaze in state history in terms of area burned.

“I expect to see it to be number one, unfortunately, this evening,” CalFire spokesman Scott McLean said on Facebook.

The largest ever until Monday had been the Thomas Fire in December 2017. It was 1,140 square kilometers― almost the size of Los Angeles.

Further north in the state, the Carr Fire has scorched 154,524 acres of land since July 23, when authorities say it was triggered by the “mechanical failure of a vehicle” that caused sparks to fly in tinderbox-dry conditions. AFP

MATARAM, Indonesia―Terrified holidaymakers rushed to boats and planes to leave Indonesia’s Lombok island Tuesday after it suffered a second deadly quake within a week, as rescuers scrambled to reach remote areas where survivors are in urgent need of food and shelter.

The shallow 6.9-magnitude quake killed at least 105 people and destroyed thousands of buildings in Lombok on Sunday, just days after another deadly tremor surged through the holiday island and killed 17.

Rescuers on Tuesday resumed the desperate search for survivors, and to recover the bodies of victims in the rubble of houses, mosques and schools destroyed in the latest disaster.

More than 20,000 people are believed to have been made homeless on Lombok, with 236 severely injured, and authorities have appealed for more medical personnel and basic supplies.

The tremor struck as evening prayers were being held across the Muslim-majority island.

Emergency crews using heavy equipment to search through a collapsed mosque in northern Lombok found three bodies but also managed to pull one man alive from the twisted wreckage.

Video posted online by disaster officials showed the man sobbing with relief as one rescuer told him: “You’re safe sir, you’re safe”.

Authorities said they feared the mosque―now reduced to a pile of concrete and metal bars, its towering green dome folded in on itself―had been filled with worshipers.

“We estimate there are still more victims because we found many sandals in front of the mosque,” national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told reporters.

He said major building collapses had also taken place at a “health clinic, government offices and other public facilities.”

Some 4,600 tourists have been evacuated from the Gili Islands, three tiny, coral-fringed tropical islands that lie off the northwest coast of Lombok and are popular with backpackers and divers.

Hundreds crowded onto its powderwhite beaches on Monday, desperately awaiting transport off the normally paradise destination. Two holidaymakers died on the largest of the three, Gili Trawangan, where buildings suffered extensive damage. Authorities said an earlier toll of seven dead was incorrect. AFP

Iranians cower at fresh sanctions T EHRAN―Many Iranians blame their own government for the return of US sanctions, but they also fear it could be the “final nail in the coffin” for the floundering economy.

Despite days of protests and strikes across the country, there appeared to be less unrest as the sanctions returned Tuesday―although that said little about the depth of despair, particularly among the poorer sections of society.

“I feel like my life is being destroyed. The economic situation right now means that the working class must die,” said Ali Paphi, a construction worker.

“Sanctions are already badly affecting people’s lives. I can’t afford to buy food, pay the rent... No one cares about workers.”

Much of the damage was already done in the weeks preceding the return of sanctions, as US President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric spooked investors and triggered a run on the rial.

That only added to the deep-seated problems of corruption, a chaotic banking system and rampant unemployment after decades of mismanagement.

“Prices have been increasing for three or four months and everything we need has become so expensive, even before the sanctions returned,” said Yasaman, a 31-year-old photographer in Tehran.

Like many in the capital, he believes Iran’s leaders will be forced to return to the negotiating table, as Trump hopes.

“I hope it will happen one day. Most people

believe the politicians will have to drink ‘the poison cup’ eventually,” said Yasaman.

That was a reference, widely heard in Iran these days, to the famous phrase used by Iran’s revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini who said signing a truce to end the brutal eight-year war with Iraq in 1988 was like drinking “a cup of poison”.

Most Iranians have tuned out the endless US hostility, with which they have lived for four decades, so their anger is mostly directed at their own leaders.

“Prices are rising again, but the reason is government corruption, not US sanctions,” said Ali, a 35-year-old decorator.

Like many, he sees President Hassan Rouhani as powerless to improve things.

“He can’t solve the problems. It’s been shown several times that he is not the decisionmaker in this country. Our problem is our representatives and system,” he added.

Wealthier and educated Iranians have also lost hope, but they have an option to leave― even if it weighs heavy on the heart.

Sogand, a young Iranian-American, came to live in Iran for the first time five years ago and had enjoyed the thaw in international tensions that accompanied the nuclear deal.

But in recent months, she grew worried about her status as a dual national―several have been arrested on espionage charges in Iran―and decided it was time to get out.

“I feel ashamed for abandoning my colleagues during this economic crisis. I feel guilty for having the resources to leave so quickly in front of my friends,” she said. “[But] the economic destabilization and the unraveling of any and all financial prospects in this country was the nail on the coffin.” AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In connection with the exercise of the Tariff Commission’s functions to “study the impact of tariff policies and programs on national competitiveness and consumer welfare in line with the economic objectives of the government” and to “provide the President and Congress with independent analysis, information and technical support on matters related to tariff and nontariff measures” under Section 1603 (b) and (e), respectively of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Section 1608 of the same Act, the Commission will conduct a public hearing on the following: AHTN 2017 CODE 02.01; 02.02; 02.03; 02.04; 02.06; 02.07; 02.10 03.01; 03.02; 03.03; 03.04; 03.05

Chapter 7 1001.99.99 1005.90.90A; 1005.90.90B

(MS-AUG. 8, 2018)

T C t ( M o

2.

T C P s e B

3.

B n R “

B p o 4.

I a D

5.

A f D

6.

P a

7.

B P b C

Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers Feed wheat Corn

The hearing shall be held on 10 August 2018(Friday), 9:00 A.M., at the Tariff Commission Conference Room, 4th Floor West Insula Condominium, 135 West Avenue, Quezon City.

B A a

Interested parties shall be afforded opportunity to be present and present evidence in support of their position on the matter.

T d a in

Position papers with supporting documentary evidence, if any, should be submitted not later than 14 August 2018.

D

For particulars, pleaseinquire from the Research, Investigation and International Trade Analysis Service (RIITAS) at Telephone Numbers 926-8731, 936-3318 or 9363315.

Issued this 7th day of August 2018, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

8.

F

H L N C E

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson

(MS-AUG

(MS-AUG. 8, 2018)

Tehran dismisses Trump’s offer to talk TEHRAN―Iran dismissed a US offer to rene- negotiations, then the first thing you have to do gotiate a historic 2015 nuclear deal signed with is remove the knife,” he told state television..

“They want to launch psychological warfare other major powers as President Donald Trump against the Iranian nation,” Rouhani said. “Nereimposed crippling sanctions on Tuesday.

Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement gotiations with sanctions doesn’t make sense.”

Iran’s currency has lost around half its value in May has infuriated European partners who were determined to keep it alive and now find since Trump announced the US would withtheir businesses operating in Iran faced with draw from the nuclear pact.

But the last two days have seen an impresthe threat of US legal penalties. sive percent in the value of the rial The sanctions that went into effect on Tuesday REPUBLIC20 OF THErally PHILIPPINES target Iranian access to US banknotes and key after the government announced new foreign TARIFF exchangeCOMMISSION rules and launched a corruption economic sectors including cars and carpets.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING that included the arrest of the cenMuch of the damage has already been done, crackdown connection with the the Tariff Commission’s functions to “study tralexercise bank’sofcurrency chief. with Trump’s aggressive rhetoricInfueling a run impact of tariff policies and programs on national competitiveness and consumer The new rules allow unlimited tax-free curon the rial in recent months, the while worsening welfare in line with the economic objectives of the government” and to “provide the President andthe Congress withand independent analysis, and information andexchange technical rency gold imports, reopen inflation has stoked public protests against support on matters related to tariff and nontariff measures” under Section 1603 (b) bureausActafter a disastrous attempt to the fixCustoms the valgovernment’s management of economyof Republic and the (e), respectively No. 10863, otherwise known as Modernization relation to Section 1608red of the same Act, the ue (CMTA) of theinrial in April backfi spectacularly that have intensified over the past week. and Tariff Act conduct a public hearing on the following: Most Iranians see US hostilityCommission as a basicwill fact of with corrupt traders making a fortune out of a AHTN 2017 CODE mushrooming black DESCRIPTION market. life, so their frustration is largely02.01; directed at their 02.02; 02.03; 02.04; Meat and edible offal of bovine animals, swine, Iran is alsoand taking solace the or fact thatmeat most own leaders for not handling the02.06; situation 02.07;better.

02.10 goats, poultry, fresh, in chilled frozen; and edible offal, salted, in brine,Trump’s dried or smoked strongly opposes policy, “Prices have been increasing for three or four of the world 03.01; 03.02; 03.03; 03.04; Live fish; fish, fresh, chilled or frozen; fish fillets India and(whether Turkeyor all saying they months and everything we need has become so with China, 03.05 and other fish meat not minced), fresh, chilled orsubstantially frozen; fish, dried,cut salted or in to purchases expensive, even before sanctions returned,” said are unwilling brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before whenthethe US reimposes sanctions on Yasaman, a 31-year-old photographer in Tehran. from Iran or during smoking process on November 5. and tubers He said Iran’s leaders may need to “drink the the energy Chapter 7 Ediblesector vegetables and certain roots Feed wheat Union’s diplomatic chief FedThe European poison cup” and negotiate with1001.99.99 the US. 1005.90.90A; 1005.90.90B Corn erica Mogherini said the bloc deeply regrets In a statement on Monday just hours before the sanctions went back into force,The Trump hearingsaid: shall bethe heldUS on move.

10 August 2018(Friday), 9:00 A.M., at the Tariff West Insula Condominium, 135 West Commission Conference Room, 4th Floor “We are determined to protect European eco“The Iranian regime faces a choice.

Avenue, Quezon City.

“Either change its threatening, destabilizing be- nomic operators engaged in legitimate business Interested parties shall affordedshe opportunity present and present withbeIran,” said in toa be statement co-signed havior and reintegrate with theevidence global economy, in support of their position on the matter. by the foreign ministers of Britain, France and or continue down a path of economic isolation.

Position papers with supporting documentary evidence, if any, should be Germany.

“I remain open to reachingsubmitted a more comprenot later than 14 August 2018.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jahensive deal that addresses the full range of the For particulars, pleaseinquire fromtold the Research, Investigation and reaction Internationalto vad Zarif reporters the global regime’s malign activities, including its ballisTrade Analysis Service (RIITAS) at Telephone Numbers 926-8731, 936-3318 or 936tic missile programme and its3315. support for ter- Trump’s move showed that the US was diplomatically “isolated,” but acknowledged the rorism,” Trump said.

Issued this 7th day of August 2018, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

But his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani sanctions “may cause some disruption.”

Many large European firms are leaving Iran dismissed the idea of talks while crippling for fear of US penalties, and Trump warned of sanctions were in force.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA and individu“If you’re an enemy and you stab the other “severe consequences” for firmsChairperson person with a knife, and then you say you want als that continued to do business with Iran.AFP

DESCRIPTION Meat and edible offal of bovine animals, swine, goats, and poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen; meat and edible offal, salted, in brine, dried or smoked Live fish; fish, fresh, chilled or frozen; fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen; fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process

1.

Republic of the Philippines Mountain Province MUNICIPALITY OF NATONIN INVITATION TO BID 1.

The Local Government Unit of Natonin thru its Municipal Bids and Awards Committee intends to apply the sum of Twenty five million two hundred fifty thousand Pesos (P25,250,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Construction of Natonin Public Market. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Municipal Bids and Awards Committee (MBAC) now invite bids for the Construction of Natonin Public Market located in Poblacion, Natonin,Mountain Province. Completion of the Works is required within 300 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Instruction to Bidders and Bid Data Sheet Clause 5.

3.

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

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Office of the Bids and awards Committee, LGU-Natonin, Natonin, Mt. Province and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from July 28-August 3, 2018.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P 25,000.00).

6.

Pre - bid conference shall be held on August 7, 2018 at 2:00 PM. Venue shall be at the Bids and Awards Committee Office.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at LGU- Natonin, Natonin, Mt. Province on or before August 22, 2018; 2:00 pm. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on August 22,2018; 2:00 PM at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who chose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

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

Date of Posting: July 28-August 3, 2018 For further information, please refer to: Hazel B. Gawayen, BAC Secretariat Head LGU-Natonin Natonin, Mt. Province CP number 09998774080 Email: hazelqawaven@qmail.com (SGD) AMBROCIO T. CHINAYOG BAC Chairperson

(MS-AUG. 7,8 & 9, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

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LocaL government units

wednesday, august 8, 2018

RAIN OR SHINE.

To cut crashes, NV sets road safety summit BAYOMBOng, nueva Vizcaya— The Philippine national Police, in partnership with other national government agencies, will conduct a Road Safety Summit this week to address the growing number of vehicular accidents along national, provincial and municipal roads in the province.

Police Senior Supt. Jeremias Aglugub, PnP provincial director, said the RSS will be held on Aug. 10 for the northern part of the province. The summit for the southern part is still being scheduled, he added.

“These activities will also involve other national government agencies, transport business, transport organizations and other civil society groups.

We are expecting more than 200 participants for these summits,” Aglugub said during the Joint Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council meeting.

The RSS will also involve the Land Transportation Office, Department of Education, Department of Public Works and Highways and local government unit officials concerned, the police chief added.

The summit was earlier recommended by concerned agencies of the transport sector in the wake of the increasing number of road accidents along the national and local roads in the province.

Earlier, Aglugub said the prevalence of reckless imprudence cases needs the following strategies such as traffic engineering, enforcement and education. Ben Moses Ebreo

Free wash week relieves Dagupan flood victims SAMSung Philippines Electronics Corp. recently dispatched several washing machines to help flood affected families get their clothes cleaned through its free laundry services in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

On July 21, the city was placed under a state of calamity after experiencing continuous rains brought about by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm “Inday.”

“Disasters such as this recent typhoon leave families without access to proper facilities that lead to sanitation concerns,” said Kevin Lee, Samsung Philippines Managing Director.

“We want to help the people of Dagupan to forge ahead in spite of this trying time. Through this act of service, we aspire to get them back on their feet right away,” Lee added.

With its commitment and corporate citizenship efforts to create positive change and give back to communities, Samsung aims to provide aide to over 1,000 families of the financial center of north Central Luzon.

From Aug. 2 to 8, those affected by the floods used Samsung washing machines in front of the firm’s Customer Service Plaza, at the ground floor of the IMC Building, Barangay 2 & 3 Corner nueva Rizal Street in Dagupan City.

Samsung also offered a P5,000 discount of the total repair cost for owners of its refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions damaged by the flood.

“The passion to uplift people’s quality of life is deeply rooted in Samsung.

We believe in making innovations that will answer the needs of our communities,” Lee added.

SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY.

Manila Vice Mayor Maria Sheila Lacuna (left) and Councilor Christian Paul Uy (second from right) hand over the copy of the city council’s resolution hailing San Beda Colllege’s newly-acquired university status to Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB, Rt. Rev. Fr. Abbot Austin Cadiz, OSB, and Rev. Fr. Ephraem Molina, OSB.

Despite inclement weather brought about by Typhoon ‘Henry,’ Meralco continues to upgrade its facilities to ensure uninterrupted electric service. Photo shows Meralco Networks crews replacing a 40-foot wooden pole with a 50-foot concrete pole along Honradez Street in Sampaloc, Manila. This is part of Meralco’s work to maintain and strengthen its electric distribution system to ensure safe, adequate, and reliable electric service to its customers.

Army pushes Cafgu listup against NPAs

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBOng, nueva Vizcaya—The Philippine Army has offered the recruitment of Citizens Armed Forces geographical unit or Cafgus to complement the presence of government forces in remote areas.

Lt. Colonel Thomas Dominic Baluga, commanding officer of the Army’s 70 Infantry Battalion based in nueva Ecija, said Cafgus has been left unsupported but are still serving as guardians of peace and order in areas frequented by the new People’s Army rebels.

“We have Cafgus in nueva Vizcaya who are being supported with P4,500 monthly subsistence allowance. We are also asking other assistance so that they can continue as frontline armed forces in remote areas especially in remote areas,” he said.

Baluga said over the years, Cafgus have transformed from merely armed force to a multi-disciplinary force that supports the army in its various peacekeeping initiatives in areas being visited by nPA rebels.

He said Cafgus at present are also given proper training, livelihood opportunities and involved in civic military activities such as rescue operations during disasters and calamities and medical services for the poor, among others.

Baluga said they manage and support Cafgus in their areas of responsibilities through partnerships with concerned local government units and other sectors of the society.

Plastics in meetings banned

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CITY—The City government of Davao is banning the use of single-usage plastics during officials meetings and other activities to help the environment.

City Administrator Zuleika T. Lopez announced this during the department heads meeting on Monday, adding that the concern for the environment is not just the responsibility of the City Environment and natural Resources but of everybody.

“It has been found out that much of the garbage generated are composed of plastics and all forms of it. In our own way in the City government of Davao we’re coming up with a policy to ban the use of plastic in all our meetings, conferences, etc.,” she said.

Lopez said the city will now encourage the department heads to bring their own cups during meetings to avoid the usage of plastics, especially water bottles.

“This will go a long way toward preventing the increase of plastics in our garbage,” she added.

The executive department also endorsed a proposed resolution to the City Council to enact an ordinance banning the use of single-usage plastics and encouraging the reusable alternatives in official events of the city.

Solid waste management is one of the

10 priority agendas of Mayor Sara Duterte to appeal to the public to manage garbage properly.

Duterte has been very particular in preserving the environment, even creating the Bantay Dagat program that aims to clean the coastal areas of the city.

In 2017, the city launched the Bantay Dagat cleanup every second Saturday of the month.

Meanwhile, 31 houses were razed by fire that hit the heavily populated Barangay 76- A in Bucana district around 9:15 a.m. on Monday.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Ramil gillado, chief investigator of the Bureau of Fire and Protection Region 11, said the fire started at the second floor of the house owned by Merna genovia, who may have left her cooking unattended.

He said 24 houses were razed to the

ground and seven houses were partially damaged. The city government was still assessing the number of families affected by the incident.

Initial estimates show the fire damaged around P700,000 worth of properties, gillado said. The fire spread to the nearby houses made mostly of light materials.

The fire was put under control at around 9:52 am and was put out an hour later. gillado said no one died or was hurt during the fire.

On Sunday around 11:45 am, a house at Zone 4, San Vicente, Barangay Buhangin was also razed. The Davao City Police Office said the fire started at the altar of the house of Andres Lafuentes, 82. BFP-11 did not record any casualty from the incident.

QC councilors ask DoH to aid residents vaccinated with Dengvaxia

By Rio N. Araja THE 37-member Quezon City council has passed a resolution calling on the Department of Health to grant medical assistance to city residents inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine.

City Resolution 7469 stipulated that after the anti-dengue vaccine has been administered to school children, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur then announced that Dengvaxia could cause severe cases of dengue fever to those who had not been previously infected by the dengue virus.

“The city government with the aid of the Department of Health should extend medical assistance in order to alleviate the plight of the inoculated victims,” the resolution read.

In December 2017, as reported by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the latest data from the World Health Organization confirmed an “earlier hypoth-

esis” that those inoculated with a dengue vaccine without prior infection could be at a higher risk of contracting more severe forms of the illness.

From April 2016, DoH reported more than 830,000 children have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte backed the enactment into law of the Philippine Identification System Act, saying “innocent citizens have nothing to fear with the national ID system.”

“I’m in favor of the national ID system because I think that it is important that every citizen has proper identification and can be traced. When a citizen has not done anything wrong, there is nothing to fear,” she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law designed to wipe out corruption and red tape, speed up the delivery of government services and assist law enforcement for public safety, despite concerns the national ID system may pose risks to privacy and data security.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and the Quezon City Police District bagged awards as part of the activities of the 23rd Police Community Relations Month of the National Capital Region Police Office. Belmonte was recognized as the Outstanding Local Executive of the Year while the QCPD was named ‘Outstanding Police District.’ Presenting the award to Belmonte were (from left) Chief of Regional Chief Directorial Staff PSSupt. Crizaldo Nieves, Deputy Regional Director for Administration PCSupt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, NCRPO Director PCSupt. Guillermo Eleazar, Director for Police Community Relations PDir. Eduardo Serapio Garado, and QCPD Chief PSSupt. Joselito Esquivel. Manny Palmero

Cargo vessel runs aground in northern Palawan PuERTO PRInCESA CITY, Palawan—A cargo vessel ferrying soda drinks to municipalities in northern Palawan ran aground Tuesday morning on the shore of Dumaran town.

Seaman 2nd Class Daryl Kim Tabang, duty officer at the Coast guard Substation Roxas, identified the cargo vessel as m/v Lady of Manaoag owned and operated by Munti Carlo Sea Freight, Inc. based in Lucena City.

He said the 196.49-gross tonnage cargo vessel ran ashore at Sitio Aguinaldo, Barangay Capayas, Dumaran, after taking shelter in the area Monday night due to strong winds and waves caused by the southwest monsoon.

“Kagabi at 8:30 pm, nag-seek shelter sila doon sa lugar kung saan sila nabahura dahil sa lakas ng alon at hangin. Mga around 5 am noong paalis na sila, napaandar pa nila ang

main engine pero di nila nabalanse ang barko kaya ang ship bow mismo ang nakaharap na sa barangay [Last night around 8:30 pm they took shelter in the area where they got beached due to strong winds and waves. Around 5 am when they were leaving, they started the main engine but was unable to balance the weight of the vessel that was why the ship bow now faces the barangay],” Tabang told the Philippine news Agency in a phone interview.

Per inspection by their substation, Tabang said no oil leak was noticed around the area where the m/v Lady of Manaoag hit the shallow water in Capayas, a barangay in Dumaran.

He added, however, that a follow-up inspection will be done by the CgSS Roxas to ensure that its bow is undamaged and will not leak oil. PNA

Life

fashion and beauty

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE wEdnESday, auguSt 8, 2018

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Blouses in classic silhouettes have a special place in a working woman’s closet.

Wardrobe essentials:

Blouses and bras VErsATIlE and comfortable: two of the most preferred clothing characteristics of women on the go. Pieces in classic silhouettes and items that do not cause too much pain or strain in the body have a special space in a working woman’s closet.

These women’s blouses from Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo help empowered women go through daily activities with its updated silhouettes and colors Highlighted for the season are rayon blouses that adapt to any occasion or location.

Rayon Short Sleeve Blouse – It holds up after washing hence there’s less worry about a wrinkled top while in the office or at a favorite coffee spot. This piece is designed with a regular collar for a classic yet polished look.

Rayon Long Sleeve Blouse – like its shortsleeved counterpart, the women’s rayon long sleeve Blouse is light, smooth, and does not wrinkle easily as it is made of easy-care material. It has a lovely drape and sleek cut suitable for formal or casual gatherings.

Rayon Open Collar Long Sleeve Blouse – This blouse has a unique collar design that frames the neck beautifully. This top is best worn oversized for a more laid back look.

Extra Fine Cotton A-line Long Sleeve Blouse – Made with 100 percent cotton, this long sleeve blouse has a feather-like feel perfect for women who like to stay comfortable while staying stylish.

Highlighted by an A-line cut, the silhouette and new colors lend this piece an on-trend appeal.

Under garments are usually overlooked but actually an important part of a woman’s wardrobe. Uniqlo has a lineup of wireless bras that offers support while allowing the wearer to move freely and comfortably.

PLAY TIME. Tough and practical, denim outfit is perfect for active children.

Denim play

T

oUgH, practical, and washable—denim is perfect for active kids. Not only it is practical for a whole day of fun play, it packs in a lot of attitude, too.

Here are some exciting way to dress up the little squad in this versatile fabric.

Denim and pullover

If adults can pull off a denim-pullover-boots combo, so can kids. A pullover top is perfect with jeans, especially with cooler days ahead. Finish off the look with boots or sneakers.

Denim jacket

Double denim

The key to making a denim-ondenim outfit feel fresh and completely on trend is to have pieces in different shades. The mismatched hues of blues will make all the difference to the double denim ensemble. Aside from color, mix and match items as well. go from classic to distressed or chambray to indigo shades.

Denim and tee

This combination wouldn’t be called a classic for nothing. A basic pair is denim—in any shade—and white Tshirt. To make it more playful, match a pair of jeans with a varsity top. layering is also possible, not to mention limitless with denim. layer a graphic tee over a chambray polo and finish off the look with any denim bottoms.

Edgy and cool, denim jackets stand out on any season. A classic jean jacket can take kids from a casual day at school to a birthday party. A distressed denim jackets, on the other hand, is a statement piece. To stay on trend, opt for an embroidered version, which can be paired with almost anything, too.

These denim pieces for kids are available at the SM Kids section of The SM Store.

Beauty Light – This seamless innerwear has soft cups that fit the body comfortably. Designed with urethane resin, it provides great support in the bust line so women can move with ease.

Beauty Soft – Designed with wide, stretchy straps free of adjusters, it ensures gentle contact with the skin.

This item is free of hooks for utmost comfort.

Relax – Made with AIrism material, this bra is silky smooth to the touch. It has a stress-free fit and superior bonding at the band, armholes, and neckline for maximum support.

Beauty Light MultiWay – Made with super stretchy fabric, this innerwear prevents slippage and creates a secure fit. The multi-way style has straps that can be removed or worn a variety of ways depending on the outfit.

Denim is one of the easiest outfits to pull off. Kids can do denim-on-denim combo, jeans and T-shirt, or any ensemble topped off with a jean jacket.

Life

C2

wednesday, august 8, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

va n i t y c o r n er

Bea Alonzo shines bright timeleSS appeal. Bea Alonzo has been chosen as the new face of local jewelry brand F&C, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary.

F

ILM and television actress Bea Alonzo proves that her star shines bright even in a pool of equally talented and beautiful celebrities. An image of a modern, independent, and passionate woman, she has been chosen as the new face of local jewelry brand F&C.

F&C, which has been creating precious jewels and heirlooms for generations of families and women, is celebrating its 45 years in the business this year.

“We’re all so very proud to be celebrating our 45 years. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been a beautiful and fruitful journey,” says F&C executive vice president for sales and operations Marjorie Florete.

She continues, “And as we move forward into the next decade and the next chapter of F&C, we’re excited to have

lippieS on Sale

Bea Alonzo (middle) with the second generation owners of F&C (from left) Marcelino C. Florete III, Marissa C. Florete, Susan Florete, and Marjorie C. Florete

According to the jewelry brand, Bea Alonzo join us. She’s the epitome of the modern woman, and she embod- Alonzo continues to be an inspiration ies all the enduring qualities and vir- to women across the country—not only for her impressive talent but her gratues of F&C.” cious heart.

“It feels great to be part of F&C and their 45 years legacy in the jewelry industry. I’m looking forward to my future collaborations with them,” beams Alonzo.

When it comes to elevating her everyday ensembles, Alonzo prefers to go for stylish yet subtle statements. Her musthaves are a pair of diamond earrings “which can totally transform an outfit,” diamond rings, and gold necklaces.

“It lends just that perfect touch of shimmer and luxury. Just putting them on immediately makes you feel more sophisticated!” she enthuses.

F&C Jewelry was established in 1973

by Susan Caperonce Florete, together with her spouse Marcelino M. Florete, Jr. Their children, Marissa Florete-Gorriceta, Marjorie Florete, Marcelino Florete III, and Mary Christine Florete, furthered the family legacy and took the company to a new level with their exciting vision.

“We take great efforts to fuse together quality gems and precious metals to create exemplary pieces that have timeless appeal. We commit to good quality and create innovative designs that will be relevant for future generations to come,” shares executive vice president for marketing and merchandising Marissa Florete.

F&C has branches located at SM Stores and Glorietta.

For F&C, Alonzo is the epitome of the modern woman, which makes her the best brand ambassador of the company.

spotted

kendall Jenner’S go-to meSSenger bag

Kendall Jenner in Paris

Kendall Jenner in LA

Stick ‘on fleek’

Makeup products in stick format are easier, especially for beginners as they offer better control of application.

Careline, a cosmetics brand for teens, launches its newest product lineup called Multi Sticks. It comes in five variants, each made for a different purpose.

The Blur Stick is a primer that creates a smooth, oil-free canvas to ensure makeup stays in place the whole day. The Brighten Stick, on the other hand, is a concealer that helps hide dark circles, age spots, and other blemishes. The Contour Stick defines the face with its cool undertone shade that mimics natural shadows.

Highlighter comes in the form of the Strobe Stick, which when applied on the high points of cheeks, inner corners of the eyes, eyebrow bone, bridge of nose, cupid’s bow, and chin, gives the face a healthy-looking glow. Finally, to get more color, there’s Rose and Peach Sticks, both of which work as lipstick, blush, and eye shadow.

The Multi Sticks is available at Careline counters in leading department stores, supermarkets, drugstores, and convenience stores nationwide.

IT LookS like kendall Jenner has found her new favorite go-to bag.

The American model was recently spotted carrying Longchamp’s new Amazone bag in Los Angeles and while she was in Paris.

The Amazone bag is made of supple leather in black and powder. It also comes in a pythonprint calfskin in shades of dusty pink, blush, coral pink, and gray. There’s also a version with gray and white gradations. Jenner opts for the black version.

I t has a sliding metal chain so it can be worn like a handbag, a shoulder bag, or a cross-body.

Longchamp Amazone bag

Celebration of the National Lipstick Day on July 29 continues until end of August in the Philippines, as Maybelline slashes P100 off its Color Sensational and Color Jolt collections.

Maybelline lipsticks on sale include Color Sensational Creamy Mattes, Color Sensational Powder Mattes, Color Sensational Loaded Bolds, Color Sensational Matte Metallics, Color Sensational Lasting, Color Sensational Lip Gradation, Color Sensational Lip Flush, Color Sensational Bitten Lip, Color Sensational Lip Liners, and Lip Studio Color Jolt.

These lipstick lines are available at Maybelline counters in department stores, drugstores, and supermarkets nationwide.

Vegan hair care

Soft and shiny hair can be achieved cruelty-free with The Body Shop’s new Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner, the first 100 percent vegan hair care range from the brand.

The shampoo and conditioner duo is enriched with the juice from Italian strawberries and Community Trade organic aloe vera from Mexico to make dull hair feel softer and look shinier. They also guarantee to leave locks smelling fabulously sweet and fruity all day.

Also 100 percent vegan is the Ginger Scalp Care Conditioner, to accompany the bestselling Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Both hair care products are enriched with ginger essential oil from Sri Lanka and birch bark and white willow extracts, leaving the scalp soothed and hair feeling cleansed and revitalized.

These vegan hair care products are available at The Body Shop stores nationwide.

What keeps Ruru Madrid smelling fresh RuRu MADRID, one of today’s hottest actors, is expected to stand out even more as he recently signed an endorsement contract with a local cosmetics company.

Madrid is the first celebrity brand ambassador of Ardeur World Marketing Corp., the maker of Ardeur de France.

Established in August 2015, Ardeur de France gives Filipinos an opportunity to be part of the growing cosmetics business. The company currently has 100,000 members nationwide, and 200,000 bottles sold.

The company’s premium perfume brand, Ardeur de France, is a French-inspired eau de parfum that can last for 24 to 48 hours. The brand currently has 12 scents for men and 12 for women.

Ardeur de France also has a line of beauty soaps that caters to all skin types and concerns, from whitening to moisturizing. It offers Gluta Placenta soap, kojic Collagen soap, Gluta Papaya soap, Milk Placenta

soap, Activated Charcoal with Argan oil soap, and olive oil soap.

Go to www.ardeurworld.com for more information Ruru Madrid is the first celebrity brand ambassador of Ardeur de France.

Entertainment

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Simply...

From C4

12 is the number of love There are a lot of love songs played on the radio over the years, a lot of different renditions, and different quality of voices.

However, Ronnie Liang’s latest album, 12 gives us a glimpse of what it is to be in love again.

The Filipino singer and performer, Pinoy Dream Academy 2nd Runnerup, released his latest album –12 (Viva Records) in time for his celebration of his 12th year in the recording industry.

Just like in his other previous four albums, Liang never fails to serenade us with the feelings he has in his heart.

Also, he never fails to showcase how incredibly talented he is.

The album is a testament to his enduring quality, why he is still in the industry, amazing us with every song he sings.

Remember what a big hit “Ngiti” was when it was released! It was followed by “Akala Mo” and songs, all certified hits.

This fifth album shows how wonderful it is be in love, even if at times it is unrequited.

Love can be complicated but it is also the best thing that comes to anyone.

Can you describe your feeling when your loved one sings his thoughts to you?

Or can you describe the pain you feel when your feelings are unreciprocated?

Try listening to “Tila” and listen how Ronnie Liang sings his thoughts and pours out his heart to let his special someone know how he feels whenever she is around. You can always show how much you care about someone but it will always be hard to say what’s on your mind. Isn’t that sweet? Isn’t it romantic? It is sweet and romantic, definitely. You would wish that there would be someone out there who would do just the same.

If you don’t have that “someone” yet, just grab a copy of Ronnie Liang’s new album–12–or you can just download it on your phone or add it to your playlist on Spotify. You can just pretend that he is singing his song exclusively for you.

If you have a significant other, you can also play one of his latest songs.

ABS-CBN, New Era Ph collaborate for first-ever UAAP caps ABS-CBN and international lifestyle brand New Era unveiled its first-ever collection of UAAP caps, showcased at the SM Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong City, in support of the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81.

The Kapamilya Network—UAAP’s licensing representative—inked its first collaboration with New Era, the official headwear provider of the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G-League.

The new UAAP cap collection is the latest gear that students and alumni can wear to show their school spirit, featuring individual designs for each UAAP member school—Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the East, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas.

Launched during New Era’s anniversary celebration dubbed “Infinithree,” the program featured a striking fashion show headlined by the much-awaited product reveal. Local dance company Upeepz gave a jawdropping performance, showing off their dynamic moves.

This latest UAAP collection can be pre-ordered at neweracap.ph/sport/ UAAP and at the New Era - SM Megamall branch. It will be available nationwide on the first week of September in all New Era Philippines retail stores, online store, as well as the ABS-CBN Store or through the uaapstore.com.

'Alita: Battle Angel' is an upcoming American cyberpunk action film based on Yukito Kishiro's 1990 manga series 'Gunnm,' which literally means gun dream.

Sneak peek of James Cameron’s

‘Alita: Battle Angel’

V

ISIONARY filmmakers James Cameron and Jon Landau (Avatar, Titanic) push the boundaries of filmmaking technology anew in their latest groundbreaking hybrid film Alita: Battle Angel.

The animated film is set in a dystopian future where a teenage cyborg girl’s core, Alita (Rosa Salazar) has been rescued from a scrapyard by a grieving compassionate cyber-doctor, Ido (Christoph Waltz).

Repaired with a new body

EMIL SUMANGIL now

Senior TV reporter Emil Sumangil

anchors GMA News TV’s QRT GMA News senior TV reporter Emil Sumangil takes on another challenge as the new anchor of GMA News TV’s daily afternoon newscast Quick Response Team (QRT).

With 17 years of broadcast industry experience, Sumangil is one of GMA News’ most senior reporters, a veteran of the police beat covering exclusive after exclusive of the biggest headlines of the day.

From the perennial problem of congestion and drugs in our penal facilities, to countless anti-crime operations, to the recent sieges of Zamboanga and Marawi, Sumangil has been at the forefront many times—giving viewers an up close look by immersing in the conflict and plight of the personalities and regular people he covers.

As QRT’s new anchor, Sumangil will bring the same grit and depth to the program. “We hope to give our viewers more quality stories produced through the efforts of the people in front and behind the camera,” he says.

Sumangil has received various recognitions for his work. He won as Best Field Reporter at the 2018 U.P. Gandingan Awards. In 2014, he was awarded as Outstanding TV News Reporter by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and was also one of the recipients of the Gawad Justice Felix Angelo Award by the Philippine College of Criminology Alumni Association, Inc. Catch Emil Sumangil on QRT weekdays, 5:15 p.m., on GMA News TV.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, August 8, 2018

ACROSS 1 Round on top 6 Trim the hedge 10 Viking name 14 Febrero follows it 15 Cuss word 16 Out of room 17 Yielded territory 18 Kind of surgeon 19 Cold, in Cuba 20 Famous Khan 21 Start (2 wds.)

24 Applies oneself (2 wds.)

26 Napped leathers 27 Job-ad letters 28 Misty-eyed 30 Pungent vegetable 33 Mane possessors 34 Fashionable — Claiborne 37 Garment edges 38 Research funding 39 London park 40 Baseball award 41 Louts 42 Joyous outburst 43 Davis of “The Fly” 44 Common Market inits.

45 Famous people

48 Sideshow pitchmen 52 Straight from the — — 55 Checkbook amt.

56 Garage sale tag (2 wds.)

57 Easy gait 58 Booster rocket 60 Agreeable 61 Eclipse, to an ancient 62 Ocean fish 63 Santa — (hot desert winds) 64 Texas town 65 Overfeeds DOWN 1 Coffee choice 2 Russia’s Lake — 3 Award for valor 4 Sooner than 5 Lewis Carroll’s real surname 6 — voce 7 DEA operative 8 Anatomical passage 9 Game bird 10 Not in tune (hyph.)

11 Horrible 12 Flared garment (hyph.)

13 Lashes 22 Paris summer

23 Strays 25 Many August people 28 Coronet 29 Many millennia 30 Electrical unit 31 Calif. neighbor 32 Mischief-maker 33 — — Hubbard 34 Drain cleaner 35 Ms. Lupino 36 Koan discipline 38 Creeps (2 wds.)

39 Taxicab 41 — noire 42 Maybe

that the doctor has built for his own daughter who died before its completion, Alita wakes up with no memory of who she is or where she came from.

As Alita discovers her past, that she was created at a time when technology is far more advanced than the present-

day world she woke up to, she finds herself in collision with powerful cyborgs who wants her dead because her existence threatens the natural order of things.

Defying expectations in an entirely new world, Alita: Battle Angel will hit Philippine theaters next year, Jan. 8.

From 20th Century Fox, the film also stars Jennifer Connelly, Ed Skrein, Mahershala Ali, Jackie Earle, Michelle Rodriguez, Keean Johnson, Lana Condor and Jorge Lendeborg, Jr..

43 Neon et al.

44 Pack it away 45 The Gold Coast, today 46 Violinist’s aid 47 Noted soap vixen 48 Good, to Pedro 49 Critic Roger — 50 Scope 51 Does in 53 NYC museum 54 Fuel cartel 59 Tibetan gazelle

Disney...

From C4

“When you have a story that is interesting enough to attract a major audience, then you already have over 50 percent. Make the stories interestingly acceptable to a wider audience to go worldwide,” he noted.

“If there is something that would make others watch it, too, then it means something,” he added.

He reiterated that the different elements—from the interesting story, the appealing characters, the welldeveloped layout, all the way to the editing—have to be in sync.

Bacher clarified on one of the most important factors is how to capture the emotions of the spectators. “You know in the end, the audience has to feel with the characters and that’s the amazing part of animation – it’s just a sketch, yet you can make people either laugh or cry. You give that feeling through your drawings,” he remarked.

Having worked in the industry for decades, Bacher certainly realizes that months, and even years of production may still end up in the trash bin if it doesn’t work. “Your love is in those drawings, but you have to be brave enough to understand that there could be something wrong with. It may be the hardest thing to accept, and it has happened to me many times.” he admitted.

However, the veteran illustrator believes that if other established animators can do it, so can the apprentices. “Today, it is even easier than ever to educate yourself. So study the editing, the film language, how it works, how to develop the story, the flow of the character, the flow of the music, and so on,” he claimed.

“Remember, everything today can be learned. There is no secret at all. All you have to do is to have the energy to claim it,” he encouraged.

Bacher likewise stressed pressure is not essential to the creative process.

“You learn because you love to do something, and you’ll know you’ve improved when you see that what you have created is so much better than what you did yesterday,” he vocalized.

“The best way to learn is have someone really next to you, who will lead you.

When something doesn’t work, that mentor will calm you down and will tell you not to panic. You find out by the feeling that you did something beautiful and it moves you,” he mentioned.

In his inspiring, well-attended session, Bacher kept on reminding the budding animators to push through with their dreams whatever happens.

“Don’t worry, do what you want, and do it good enough to be successful.” he said.

Entertainment

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

C4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018

ISAH V. RED

Cinemalaya’s gem is about a money remittance clerk IF YOU have relatives abroad and regularly send money via a remittance company, you must be familiar with the employees that process your transactions, and most likely one of them is someone similar to the character Ogie Alcasid plays in the film by James Robin Mayo (director of last year’s talk of Cinemalaya, Kiko Boksingero).

Kuya Wes (it’s a pun on Western Union, I guess) is about Wes (Ogie Alcasid), a remittance center employee at Western Remittance. A seemingly average guy, his daily routine is as predictable as the daily business in the center.

But, things suddenly makes a dramatic whirr when one day Wes encounters a client who redeems the money sent to her by her OFW husband. Several transactions more and Wes finds himself smitten by Erika (Ina Raymundo) who operates a small eatery somewhere.

That is the heart of the film laden with layers of subplots that enrich the texture of the adventure of Wes. Singer, songwriter, and actor Ogie Alcasid is one of the producers of the film which screenplay was sent to him to read

by Mayo hoping not only that he could star in it, but also to underwrite the production.

To make the long story short on how Kuya Wes got to be, Ogie was able to convince two other friends to co-produce the film –Awkward Penguin and Spring Films.

This is Ogie’s 38th film, his first foray into the indie scene, and his first as a producer for his own company A-Team.

“When I read this one (referring to the Kuya Wes script), di ko mabitawan, tawa ako nang tawa. At the same time, naiiyak ako inside.” (I could not let go of the script, I was laughing and crying deep inside).

He added that it was the combination of witty dialogue, punchlines – basically, a well-written script that got him. He immediately agreed to do the film and met with Mayo who said that he was surprised that Ogie would say “yes” so quickly.

Ogie, aware of the filmmaker’s problem and determined to make the movie, approached fellow actor, Piolo Pascual, who is also a movie producer. “‘PJ,’ sabi ko,’meron akong nabasa kasing script, eh baka gusto mong i-produce.’ At sabi ko ‘ kahit wag mo na akong bayaran, gawin mo lang.’

Sabi niya,’Sige Kuya, kung okay sa iyo, babasahin ko.’ Wala na akong narinig sa kanya until after 3 or 4 months. Nakita ko si Ericson of Spring Films] sa ASAP, tapos sabi nya,’Hey we’ll be doing your film!’ Sabi ko ‘Huh? Talaga? Okay yun ah!’ Tapos kinausap ko si Piolo, sabi ko ,‘O,sabi ni Ericson…’ ‘Oo, pero hati tayo.’”

Ogie felt lucky, Kuya Wes got the interest of the producers, otherwise the screenplay could just have been on his table while Moya was filming other projects.

Aside from Ogie and Ina, rounding out the cast are comedienne Moi Bein, Alex Medina, and Karen Gaerlan, whose roles also give the movie depth and color.

The haunting “Waltz of Four Left Feet”

by Shirebound and Busking serves as the film’s official soundtrack.

Kuya Wes had a gala screening last Monday at the CCP Main Theater. The film is screening in select Ayala Cinemas.

Continued on C3

'Meteor Garden' reboot stars Chinese and Taiwanese actors Shen Yue, Dylan Wang, Darren Chen, Connor Leong and Caesar Wu.

JoshLia headlines first TV series; ‘Meteor Garden’ to premiere on primetime

Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto, otherwise known as JoshLia, topbill 'Ngayon at Kailanman'

Halik' lead cast Sam Milby, Yam Concepcion, Yen Santos and Jericho Rosales

'Star Hunt' hosts Robi Domingo and Alex Gonzaga with trade event host Toni Gonzaga

A

'Playhouse' lead actors Zanjoe Marudo and Angelica Panganiban

BS-CBN is giving its audience a more intimate viewing experience with its new lineup of television series and reality shows that tell the story of the Filipino as revealed at the network’s The Front Row Experience trade event held on Aug. 2 at the Marriott Hotel.

The network will find its next big star through its grand audition show, Star Hunt, where star dreamers have the chance of fighting for their hopes and dreams.

Meanwhile, Pinoy Big Brother, the longest-running and most successful reality series in the country makes its return to TV later in the year. Kid’s Choice, an original concept game show where kids will be the judges, will premiere this year.

Primetime shows will continue to give viewers stories they can relate to and aspire for. Leading the block is Halik, which is set to begin on Aug. 13 and stars Jericho Rosales, Sam Milby, Yen Santos, and Yam Concepcion in a complicated story of love and fidelity.

Other shows to watch out for are Ngayon at Kailanman starring Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto and Playhouse with Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo. Rounding out the primetime viewing experience is the anticipated return of Judy Ann SantosAgoncillo in Starla, and Meteor Garden to Philippine TV, which is slated to air on August 20.

News personalities Anthony Taberna and Jorge Cariño put the spotlight on ordinary Filipinos in Pareng Partners, which began airing last July 28.

Avid kapamilya viewers will also get an exclusive look at the red carpet of the most glamorous evening in the Philippine entertainment industry, the ABS-CBN Ball 2018: Share the Love, on the Metro Channel.

The trade event also showcased what’s in store from other ABS-CBN units. There’s the KathNiel-starrer The Hows of Us from Star Cinema and Exes Baggage, featuring real-life exes Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino from Black Sheep, the newest brand under ABS-CBN Films.

The night also highlighted the milestones of ABSCBN in the digital shift, which includes the additional new channels on ABS-CBN TVplus and the network’s ten million subscribers on Youtube.

Furthermore, according to Integrated Sales head August Benitez, ABS-CBN “will never forget the personal and physical touch,” which is why the network is now leading the industry to the next frontier, experiential entertainment, with its events across the country and the world, and the opening of the Kapamilya Studio XP in TriNoma.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abscbnpr.com.

HOLLYWOOD

Demi Lovato thankful to be alive after overdose

Actor and singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid (left) with 'Kuya Wes' director James Robin Mayo.

POP star Demi Lovato said Sunday she was thankful to “I now need time to heal and focus on my sobriety and be alive and needed time to recover in her first remarks road to recovery,” she wrote. since an overdose nearly two weeks ago.

Lovato has long spoken of her struggles with depresWriting to her more than 70 million followers on In- sion, eating disorders and addiction, belying her happy stagram, Lovato gave few details on persona as a smiling star of the children’s her July 24 hospitalization but noted show “Barney and Friends.” that she has long been open about her A 2012 documentary, Demi Lovato: Stay struggles with addiction.

Strong, showed how she used to snort co“What I’ve learned is that this illcaine several times a day before finding her ness is not something that disappears way into rehab and reviving her career. In or fades with time,” the 25-year-old June, Lovato released a song entitled “Sostar wrote. ber” in which she indicated a relapse and “It is something that I must continue apologizes in verse to her parents. to overcome and have not done yet. I The singer, whose hits include “Sorry want to thank God for keeping me Not Sorry,” was rushed from her home alive and well,” she said, adding that to a hospital by emergency responders. It she was “forever grateful” for the supremains unclear on which drug she overport of her fans and crediting the staff dosed. of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Her overdose prompted a flurry of stateAngeles with saving her life. ments of solidarity from fellow stars who Lovato, who canceled a show in praised her personality—although the atAtlantic City that had been planned tention also triggered a backlash by social for two days after her hospitalization, American pop star Demi media users, who noted that many nonsuggested that she may not be return- Lovato vows to keep fighting celebrities suffer from drugs with little ing to the public eye soon. fanfare. drug addiction.

Kevin Sagra

Newcomer Kevin Sagra marks big screen debut GMA Artist Center star Kevin Sagra tackles a challenging role in the 2018 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival entry School Service.

For his big screen debut, Kevin plays the role of a school service driver whose vehicle is used by the syndicate to transport illegal substance.

The former Starstruck finalist acts alongside award-winning comedienne AiAi Delas Alas, multi-awarded actress Therese Malvar and respected director Joel Lamangan whose character is Kevin’s lover in the movie. The film is directed

by Louie Ignacio.

“It’s challenging because it’s my first movie.

I felt pressured during our shoot because I was having a scene with AiAi and Direk Joel. Who wouldn’t feel that way?” the One Up member said.

Kevin revealed he worked really hard in order to bag this role, “I went through numerous process, may mga go-sees, script reading, lahat. I think they saw my guestings on several Kapuso shows where I played the bad guy. Doon nila nakita na fit ako sa role na ito.”

Meanwhile, as part of GMA Network’s promising boy band One Up, the actor-singer invites their fans and supporters to join them in their first major concert entitled All in One Up happening on Aug. 24 at SM Skydome in Quezon City.

Disney senior animator Hans Bacher inspires student-artists

Production designer Hans Bacher has been a major influence on the design of Disney films for nearly 20 years.

GERMAN artist Hans Bacher, the production designer of the blockbuster Mulan and worked on the visual development of Disney films such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, Hercules, Fantasia 2000, Brother Bear, and Lilo and Stitch, is a living legend in the animation world.

The award-winning citizen of the world animator, with past residences in Dusseldorf, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Manila, and Tokyo, is currently an Associate Professor at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

He recently had a talk with the student-artists of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLSCSB) at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus, to give advice to the future animators.

Bacher believes that young artists should not be afraid to start their own studios. “You should not really care if it will work or not, just do it and give your best because that’s what’s missing in the Philippines – there is nothing happening. You are over a hundred million by now and that’s theoretically enough for an industry,” he said.

Bacher noticed that most students wanted to work for an American studio. “Many top talents leave the country. There is so much talent that is spread all over the world, if you could only get them back then you can start an amazing industry,” he said.

He believes that in order to save the animation industry in the country, the young artists generally have to work hard, produce some few short films, and forward it to every single festival possible. “Get both practice and experience, even from international studios, and with the name that you made for yourself plus the help of the animator friends you have made along the way, you come back here and do your best to save the industry,” he advised. Continued on C3