Manila Standard - 2018 August 16 - Thursday

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Rody slams China over WP Sea P

HILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has urged China to “temper” its behavior in the South China Sea in a rare criticism of the Asian superpower over its program of island-building in disputed waters.

VOL. XXXII • NO. 182 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Du30 bares plan to quit: Robredo? No; Marcos? Yes

RARE CRITICISM.

Outspoken President Rodrigo Duterte, keen to court trade and investment from Beijing, has urged China to reduce its military behavior in the South China Sea over its program of island building in disputed waters. The presidential reaction follows allegations of Chinese harassment of Filipino troops in one South China Sea garrison.

By Vito Barcelo, Rio N. Araja and Macon RamosAraneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he would step down from office if former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Senator Francis Escudero—and not Vice President Leni Robredo—would succeed him.

In a speech during a dinner he hosted for the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas in Malacañang, Duterte belittled Robredo’s ability to lead the country, saying she could not be a good leader compared to Marcos or Escudero.

The President said he had nothing against Robredo but said he did not think she was capable of running a country with pressing problems, such as the drug menace.

Duterte said he thought of stepping down because the fight against corruption was seemingly without n end.

“I think deep in my heart, if you follow the succession and Robredo takes over, no. That’s my honest opinion. If only it were someone else, in the likes of Escudero or Bongbong Marcos,” he said.

This was not the first time the President cast doubts on Robredo’s ability to be President.

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Aquino isn’t off the hook on Dengvaxia

By Maricel V. Cruz A JOINT House panel has recommended the filing of charges against former President Benigno S. Aquino III and other involved in the allegedly irregular procurement of P3.5 billion worth of the Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine from French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, who chaired the House committee on good government and public accountability during the investigation of the Dengvaxia mess, said that the committee “did not clear anybody,” including Aquino of administrative, civil and criminal liability.

Pimentel, who was replaced by Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo as the panel’s chairman, said Aquino is

not off the hook, according to the recommendations of the committee.

“Yes, of course,” Pimentel told The Standard, when asked if the committee which he used to head—included in its recommendations the filing of charges against Aquino.

“We recommended for the filing of necessary and appropriate cases to those involved in Dengvaxia. It is very clear in our report,” Pimentel said.

French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur manufactured the drug, which in April 2016 was made the focus of a massive inoculation campaign by the Aquino administration.

In November 2017, Sanofi admitted that the vaccine could worsen symptoms Next page

3,000 motorists ‘caught’ amid driver-only ban

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE House of Representatives will resume budget deliberations after suspending them over a disagreement with the Department of Budget and Management on its cash-based system, which gives agencies only the fiscal year and the next three months to spend their funds and implement their projects.

House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said the impasse was ended after both sides agreed to a compromise that would retain the use of the previous obligationbased system on certain projects, depending on their requirements.

Andaya said lines of communication were opened when Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met with President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday night regarding the proposed national budget. Next page

‘‘

We are shooing cars away from the main artery to minor roads not wide enough to handle the surge in volume.

— Senator Ralph Recto on Edsa HOV lanes program

‘PDP-Laban’ eyes tieup with Hugpong THE leader of one of the two warring factions of the ruling PDP-Laban party is willing to forge an alliance with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a source said Wednesday.

Lawyer Rogelio Garcia, the leader of one of the factions, said nothing would stop them from talking about alliances with other political parties.

“Hugpong doesn’t prohibit itself from having alliances. We are more than

By Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta ABOUT 3,000 motorists were caught during the first day of the dry run for the new policy prohibiting single-driver vehicles along Edsa during rush hours, a program that senators assailed for being implemented without public consultation.

Metro Manila Development Authority General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said the flow of traffic along Edsa slightly improved during the Expanded High Occupancy Vehicle hours of 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Garcia said 2,059 violators have been monitored through closed circuit television cameras and handheld cameras.

“No penalty will be imposed against these violators. Still, we are calling on the motorists to observe the policy,” said Garcia during a news briefing held at MMDA headquarters.

The week-long dry run activity of the Expanded HOV Traffic Scheme covers all lanes of Edsa, from North Edsa in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati City. Driver-only vehicles are also barred from traversing the same portion of Edsa from 6 pm to 9 pm Monday to Friday.

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Budget impasse resolved; House resumes hearing

China has alarmed and angered its neighbors by claiming dominion over most of the South China Sea and building a string of artificial islands and military airbases.

But the outspoken Duterte—keen to court trade and investment from Beijing—has mostly withheld criticism.

In a change of tone, Duterte said in a speech late Tuesday to business entrepreneurs that China had no right to claim airspace above man-made islands.

Philippine officials have claimed military pilots are repeatedly warned off by Beijing as their planes approach Philippine-held Thitu island, which lies beside a Chinese air base built on top of Subi Reef.

“You cannot create an island. It’s man-made and you say that the air above this artificial island is yours,” Duterte said, according to a transcript released by the presidential palace Wednesday.

“That is wrong because those waters are what [one] would consider international sea.

And the right of innocent passage is guaranteed,” said Duterte, who did not refer to any specific incident.

He added that he did not want to “quarrel” with China.

The comments follow allegations in May of Chinese harassment of Filipino troops at another South China Sea garrison.

Duterte’s national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon told reporters at the time that the Philippines could go to war “if our people are hurt there.”

There was no immediate response from the Chinese Embassy in Manila. Next page

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Primer on draft Con-Com charter

By Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino Con-Com 2018 Member

DRY RUN VIOLATORS.

Some 3,000 motorists are marked Wednesday by MMDA traffic officers—but no penalty will be imposed against them during the dry run for the new policy prohibiting single-driver vehicles along Edsa during rush hours.

Norman Cruz

(18th of a series) Q: Can the Commission on Human Rights investigate insurgents, rebels or terrorists who visit cruelty and injury on others?

A: Yes, the Commission is not limited to the investigation of violations by Next page

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senator threatens to sue Teo, brods for plunder SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV mulled filing plunder charges Wednesday against former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo on Wednesday and her brothers Ben and Erwin ovcer a P60-million advertising controversy being probed by the Senate.

The three appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Tuesday to answer allegations they committed conflict of interest when the government’s Department of Tourism, headed at the time the agreement was inked, paid P60 million in advertising fees to the state-run People’s Television 4 block timer “Kilos Pronto” hosted by her brothers.

Meanwhile, Teo said she felt insulted by allegations she took millions worth of items at Duty Free Philippines for her personal use.

She was replying to questions following a report by the Commission on Audit which revealed that during Teo’s tenure, the Department of Tourism bought P2.52 million worth of items from Duty Free stores using its shares in Duty Free’s annual net profits.

According to the Commission, the withdrawn items included “toiletries, kitchen wares, beddings, appliances, canned goods, branded bags, luxury brand cosmetics, chocolates and others.”

“There is no basis why they should place advertisements in a program that has low ratings,” said Trillanes.

Added he: “The alibi of former DoT secretary Teo that she was unaware that her brother Ben Tulfo owned Kilos-Pronto is unbelievable..”

The TV and radio host earlier told senators their family was ready to face charges that might be filed against them.

The family also refused to return the P60 million advertising funds to the government.

“Returning the money is tantamount to saying that we did something illegal,” Ben Tulfo told the hearing.

Budget...

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He said this prompted House leaders to resume budget deliberations during the two-week congressional break.

“The President opened the lines of communication on how the budget for 2019 will come out at the House of Representatives,” said Andaya, who attended the meeting at the Palace.

He said a hybrid budgeting system would combine the cash-based system with the obligation-based system, depending on the requirements of individual projects.

He said he would suggest the resumption of budget hearings to the chairman of the committee on appropriations, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles.

“The President’s instructions were clear—during the break we will resume

Aquino...

From A1 for “seronegative” children or those who have never contracted dengue but were given Dengvaxia shots anyway.

By this time, nearly 900,000 Filipino schoolchildren had been vaccinated under the anti-dengue program.

The joint committee was supposed to approve the draft committee report on Tuesday. The approval was rescheduled to Wednesday but did not push through since Pimentel was replaced as the committee chairman following the surprise election of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in July.

The draft 38-page committee report included in its recommendations, “the filing of the appropriate administrative and criminal cases against government officials and employees involved in the irregular procurement of the dengue vaccine for having violated [Executive Order] No. 49, EO 292 on the disbursement of public funds, [Republic Act] No. 9184 and pertinent rules and regulations.”

It also recommended “the filing of the appropriate administrative and criminal cases against government officials and employees, including private individuals, involved in the irregularity on the registration of the Dengvaxia and on the procurement thereof under Revised Penal Code and Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The draft committee report also said “despite noble intentions, the committees determined that there was undue haste in the procurement of the vaccines and the implementation of the dengue vaccination program disregarding existing laws, rules and regulations.”

Villa takes over V. Luna

B

RIG. Gen. Augustus de Villa was named acting head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Service Command on Tuesday.

He replaced Brig. Gen. Edwin Leo Torrelavega who was relieved from his post, along with 21 others, to give way for the investigations on the alleged anomalies in procurement practices in

the AFP Medical Center, also known as the V. Luna Hospital.

Col. Noel Detoyato, military public affairs office chief, said the swift turnover was done to ensure that the AFP HSC would be able to fully perform its function of overseeing vital medical services and health care for soldiers in the military hospitals nationwide.

Armed Forces Chief Carlito Galvez Jr. led the turnover ceremonies at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center auditorium.

Rody...

Despite this, it has denied militarizing the area, through which roughly a third of From A1 all global maritime trade passes.

An international maritime tribunal ruled In May, China landed several combat early in Duterte’s presidency in 2016 that aircraft—including the long-range, nucle- China’s claims to the area have no legal ar-capable H-6K —at another island air- basis. field in the sea for the first time, triggering The Philippines is a military ally of the international concern.

US, which says it is not taking sides in the

Primer...

He pledged to clean up and make the AFP Health Service Command one of the best medical care facilities in the country.

De Villa was previously assigned as Chief Surgeon of the Philippine Air Force; Commanding Officer of Basa Airbase Hospital, Fernando Air Base Hospital and Presidential Security Group Hospital, and Command Surgeon of the Air Education and Training Command.

He is also serving as the AFP Surgeon General as of this posting. PNA various South China Sea territorial disputes.

However, the US navy has forcefully asserted its right to freedom of navigation in the area, repeatedly sailing close to the man-made islands and drawing Chinese protests.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims in the sea. AFP

time the CHR has cognizance over it whether committed by the police or by a mob of gangsters.

Q: It has always been complained that the CHR is toothless? Is it so even under the draft?

A: It still has no prosecutorial powers, but it certainly is not toothless. One of its powers is to “provide preventive measures and legal assistance to all victims whose human rights have been violated or who may need protection”. Preventive measures can be many and different, and the fact that the Draft does not specify what preventive measures these might be gives the CHR a rather broad latitude in this respect. Combine this with its “power to cite in contempt” and what you have is certainly a biting agency.

Q: What has changed in respect to the Ombudsman?

A: Unlike its Scandinavian progenitor, the Philippine Ombudsman will be a commission, under the Draft, consisting of a Chief Ombudsman, an Associate Ombudsman and Deputies. It is also clear that the Special Prosecutor, though a distinct officer, is “under the control and supervision of the Federal Ombudsman Commission”. Also while the Supreme Court held in the case of Honasan v. Panel of Investigating Prosecutors (2004) that the Department of Justice could investigate charges against public officers and that the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction was not exclusive, under the Draft, in graft and corruption cases, only the Ombudsman can prosecute. Obviously, the Department of Justice may still conduct preliminary investigation. The most important change, though, is that for the Ombudsman to reach a decision, the Commission—not just the Ombudsman, or a Deputy—must, by a majority vote, resolve the case within 120 days of its filing.

Q: The Ombudsman, in the past, has quite

frequently inflicted the punishment of dismissal from the service with the accessory penalties of disqualification from public service, cancellation of all eligibility and forfeiture of all benefits. It has done so on the basis of “substantial evidence”. But for such severe consequences to follow upon a finding of substantial evidence does not seem to be fair. Was anything done about this?

A: There is now a proviso that when the penalty is removal from the service or higher, the evidence required shall be clear and convincing—which is a degree higher than what is required in civil cases— preponderance of evidence—but lower than that required for conviction in criminal cases — proof beyond reasonable doubt. It is the degree of proof usually required to overcome presumptions of law.

Q: Does any court have the competence to stop an investigation being conducted by the Ombudsman?

A: Yes, the Draft gives the Federal Administrative Court the power to issue injunctive relief against an investigation but only when “there is prima facie evidence that the subject matter of the investigation is outside the jurisdiction of the Federal Ombudsman Commission.”

Q: In Fabian v. Desierto (1998) the Supreme Court ruled that that the Court of Appeals had jurisdiction over petitions for certiorari from judgments of the Ombudsman in disciplinary cases. Has this jurisprudence been maintained by the Draft?

A: No, the Federal Administrative Court is precisely proposed for this purpose and it will be this court to which appeals and petitions for review shall be addressed.

the hearings,” he said.

“Likewise, it is a gesture of cooperation to the DBM and the Senate. After all, we know a compromise has been reached,” Andaya added in a mix of English and Filipino.

The House appropriations committee had earlier suspended deliberations on the P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 amid opposition from lawmakers to the new cash-based budgeting system adopted by DBM. Under the proposed cash-based 2019 national budget, all payouts are valid within fiscal year and three months the following year.

DBM said the cash-based budgeting would limit incurring obligation and disbursing payments for goods delivered and services rendered, inspected and accepted to the fiscal year.

This is in contrast to the obligationbased budgeting where agencies can

spread appropriations across two years or more to enable the completion of long-term budgets.

This has had the effect of lowering the 2019 budget, which is P10 billion lower than the P3.8 trillion for 2018.

Andaya said the House leaders agreed that budgetary cuts would be restored and that they would allow the validity of some payments to one year plus six months of the following year.

He said the President told the lawmakers “to do what is good for the country.”

“I leave it to you [members of Congress] to decide. Do what you feel is right.

I’m not going to get involved in that,” he quoted the President as telling them.

In a separate press conference, House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez and Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza hit Budget Secrertary Benjamin Diokno for his “poor appreciation” of the cash-based

budgeting system, which they said would not work in reality.

“Cash-based budgeting system is only ideal to developed nations,” Suarez said. “That is right in academic discussions, but politcally wrong.”

Suarez said that under the 2019 national budget, the Department of Health suffered a P35-billion cut; the Department of Education, P77 billion and the Department of Public Works and Highways, P95 billion.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and Commission on Elections also got budget reductions at P5 billion, Atienza added, saying that these cuts on social services are not correct after the government implemented the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act. The leftist Makabayan bloc, meanwhile, called for a total revision of the budget.

3,000...

traveled along EDSA during the coverage period.

Garcia said they are now working to address this concern with the Land Transportation Office, which has said it would announce regulations on car tints.

Once the regulations are out, motorists must modify their car tints to comply with the requirements, said LTO Enforcement Services Director Francis Almora.

“No motor vehicle will be registered with LTO with heavily-tinted [windows],” he said.

But Garcia said they are also considering buying thermal cameras to catch violators.

Senators assailed the driver-only ban, however, and urged the MMDA to immediately suspend its implementation.

Senate Resolution No. 845 authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon along with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, and Senate Majority Leader

Miguel Zubiri, said the controversial scheme, which will ban driver-only cars along Edsa during peak hours, was set in place without public consultation and due process.

The resolution strongly urges the Metro Manila Council and the MMDA to conduct public consultations, further study the ‘driver-only’ ban, and provide for real solutions to Metro Manila traffic congestion.”

“The implementation of a regulation that would allegedly affect seventy percent [70%] of the motor vehicles plying and enjoying the use of the Philippines’ major thoroughfare without holding a prior public consultation or hearing is violative of the due process of laws enshrined and protected under the Constitution,” the resolution states.

The resolution pointed out that the driver-only ban of the MMDA would effectively deprive thousands of people of the use of the country’s major thoroughfare since it would be in effect during the working and commuting hours of the week.

to help PDP Laban, our group is ready to assist them,” President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter said last Friday.

Garcia’s faction has been in conflict with the faction led by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, the PDP-Laban president.

Pimentel earlier said the members of Garcia’s group had already been expelled from the party.

The rift between the two factions started when Pimentel and former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez allowed the mass oathtaking of new

members who did not even undergo the basic seminar, Garcia said.

He said they had repeatedly aired this concern to Pimentel and Alvarez out of fear that “opportunists” would come to President Duterte’s party without understanding its core values, but they said they were snubbed.

Garcia said Duterte had vowed to help unite the two factions. For him, the only way to resolve the issue was for Pimentel’s group to acknowledge the officers elected during their own mass oathtaking.

From A1

agents of state such as law-enforcers and men or women in uniform. It may act on complaints against non-state actors. And therefore, atrocities committed by rebels, insurgents and terrorists may be the subject of the CHR’s investigations.

Q: Does the CHR now have prosecutorial powers?

A: No, it does not. What it can do is recommend the prosecution of offenders to the proper authority. There is nothing textually that forbids it from bringing to the attention of international human rights bodies violations of human rights by agencies or instrumentalities of the Philippines itself, and this would not constitute disloyalty to the Republic since this is precisely its constitutionally ordained task.

Q: How has the definition of “human rights” in the Draft differed from the established definition?

A: It used to be held that human rights violations were violations of rights perpetrated by agents of state. This time, a human rights violation is “any violation of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and by international human rights covenants and treaties to which the Philippines is a party, perpetrated by the State or non-state actors”. Unless clearly qualified, however, something like the violation of intellectual property rights would fall under this rather capacious definition. However, it should be understood that the acceptation of human rights should be limited to what domestic law and international law have considered human rights. Torture, for example, is a human rights violation, and this

From A1

Garcia reiterated that the new policy is aimed at encouraging motorists to share rides or carpool, thereby, reducing the volume of vehicles along EDSA during rush hours.

“We are not encouraging people to share ride with a stranger but with their family, neighbors, community,” Garcia said.

The MMDA targets to fully implement the traffic scheme on Aug. 23. However, Garcia said it is still too early to assess the impact of Expanded HOV Traffic Scheme on the major artery.

“We still have to check if our CCTV cameras can handle monitoring at nighttime,” said Garcia, noting that dry run period will continue until Aug. 22.

Garcia admitted that it is a big challenge for the Metrobase personnel to view heavily tinted windshields through CCTV cameras.

He said 156 heavily tinted vehicles

'PDP-Laban...

From A1

willing to talk it out with them and discuss the possibility of an alliance,” Garcia told ANC. He said former Senator Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party had already signed an alliance with Hugpong.

Duterte-Carpio has offered help to the PDP-Laban amid the internal conflict.

“If there is anything that HNP can do

Business groups close ranks over federal shift

By Othel V. Campos THE Makati Business Club and more concerned organizations are calling on all sectors to be solid behind the economic managers’ call for fiscal prudence, more dialogues and a wellconsidered approach in the shift to the federal form of government.

In a statement, the group said private and public sectors could not be perceived as lacking in resolve on the fiscal front, seeing how financial markets in other parts of the globe were so sensitive.

The group said several organizations had joined the seven large business organizations in calling for legislators to weigh carefully the costs and risks associated with the proposed shift to a federal system of government.

The latest groups consist of the organizations Alyansa Agrikultura, Asia Pacific Real Estate Association, Bankers Association of the Philippines, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Institute of Corporate Directors, Investment House Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative, National Real Estate Association, Organizations of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines, People Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Constructors Association, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc., Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Tax Management Association ofthe Philippines, UP School of Economics Alumni Association and Women’s Business Council Philippines.

On Aug. 12, seven large business groups, the Cebu Business Club, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. urged the legislators in a joint statement to consider the implications of the shift to federalism on the country’s finances.

Du30...

From A1

Both Marcos and Escudero lost in the 2016 vice presidential race against Robredo. Marcos, however, has a pending election protests before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Duterte has also said he would step down as early as next year, if the proposed federal charter is ratified by the public.

Robredo’s legal adviser, Barry Gutierrez, lashed out at the President for saying he would prefer a military junta to lead the country than to follow the Constitution’s law of succession that Robredo should take over the presidency if he steps down.

He said it was not Robredo who was incompetent, but Duterte’s Cabinet officials who were.

“They [officials] are competent, according to the President. Look [at the former] tourism secretary who did nothing but to commit corruption, the NDRRMC head who was missing in action during the floods, [and the] National Food Authority chief who had caused a rice shortage,” he said.

He added that the vice president did not need a presidential endorsement.

“Just abide by the Constitution,” Gutierrez said.

Escudero said he was flattered to be included in the President’s list of worthy successors, but said Duterte had no legal say in making this happen.

“I think he merely expressed his frustration due to the slow pace of what he wanted to see and achieve in our country in the field of corruption and peace,” Escudero said.

The Palace on Wednesday said the President was in good health and active, after he said he was tired and thinking of stepping down.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the 73-year-old President is very active, very sharp and obviously does not suggest any problem in his physical condition.

“I assure you that he’s strong and healthy. He is almost everywhere all the time,” Duque said.

Last year, in one of his speaking engagement, Duterte said that he has been experiencing migraines and back pains caused by problems with his spine.

He also admitted having Buerger’s disease, a cause of blockages in the blood vessels, which he acquired from smoking during his youth, and Barrett’s esophagus, which is associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. With Julito Rada

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

5 CJ aspirants to face JBC interview today

Pass 100-Day Maternity Leave bill, House urged TWO militant lawmakers on Wednesday appealed to the leadership of the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of House Bill 4113, or the proposed “100-Day Maternity Leave.

ACT Teachers Party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro said the bill’s enactment will enable the government to provide women workers and employees in the public and private sectors sufficient maternal protection through a longer paid maternity leave “The 100-Day Maternity Leave Law had already gone through long and adequate study by both Houses in the past Congresses, which included the inputs of all concerned sectors, especially women workers and employees who will benefit from the law. The approval of this bill has been long overdue. Further delaying its passage is a disservice to toiling Filipino women,” Tinio said.

“Eighty percent of teachers are women. In our public consultations, teachers often ask about the status of the extension of the maternity leave,” he added.

“With a short time for maternity leave for teachers, the health and welfare of the newborn and the nursing mother and the quality of education for their students may suffer.” Maricel V. Cruz

House oks bill on Islamic bank regulations APANEL in the House of Representatives has approved a substitute bill which seeks to provide for the regulation and organization of Islamic banks.

The House committee on banks and financial intermediaries, chaired

by Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, appoved the unnumbered bill substituted House Bill 3975 authored by former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and HB 492 by former congresswomann, Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman of AMIN Party-list.

Evardone said the approval of the substitute bill will complement the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. “This will help further the efforts to help our Muslim brothers in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country,” said Evardone.

Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan of AMIN party-list, in behalf of her party-list, congratulated the committee on the passage of the legislative measure. She said that with this bill, the Philippines will be one of the countries in the Asean with Islamic banks. Maricel V. Cruz

DoJ asked to act vs employee on row vs MMDA THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday asked the Department of Justice to take action against its female employee who was caught on viral video showing her arguing with traffic enforcers who apprehended her for illegal parking.

“We conveyed this matter to [Justice] Secretary Menard Guevarra. He told us to forward our [formal] letter and they will take action,” said MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. Garcia said his agency also recommended to the Land Transportation Office to suspend the driver’s license of Christine Villamora Estepa, a prosecution lawyer at the DoJ. The LTO reportedly gave Estepa five days for her to reply and answer the recommendation of the MMDA. Aside from these actions, the MMDA legal team is also preparing filing numerous complaints against Estepa for assaulting the traffic enforcers who apprehended her when she parked her vehicle near Suki Market in Barangay Sta. Teresita in Quezon City.

Joel E. Zurbano

Illegal drugs intercepted at Naia GOVERNMENT agents intercepted shipments of shabu and ecstasy worth P37.3 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The shipments, owned by fictitious senders and consignees, include some 5, 239 grams of shabu concealed in a baby carrier, camera, finance magazines and bar stool; and at least 1,000 tablets of ecstasy from Germany declared as wooden toy.

Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Naia Port district collector Carmelita Talusan turned over the contraband to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Talusan said the apprehension was made due to consistent “reform initiatives and the five-point agenda initiated by Commissioner Lapena.”

“We conducted trainings to customs examiners and police on how to conduct proper profiling of in-coming and outgoing passengers bringing illegal drugs and highly taxable items because we are not allowed to open luggage so we rely on the expertise of our personnel with the help of X-ray machines and personnel,” she said. Joel E. Zurbano

PORTABLE X-RAY. A specialist from the US Department of Homeland Security Agency uses a portable X-ray machine to detect if the electromagnetic lifter had contained illegal drugs at the Bureau of Customs warehouse at the Port of Manila. Norman Cruz

SC rejects Banco Filipino’s plea on P25-b financial aid

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court has sustained the decision of the Court of Appeals stopping the release of up to P25 billion in financial assistance and other regulatory reliefs filed by the defunct Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank.

In a 26-page decision, the SC’s Third Division through Associate Justice Marvic Leonen denied the petition filed

by Banco Filipino seeking the implementation of the order issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court in October 28, 2010.

The RTC ruling had enjoined the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Monetary Board from “employing acts inimical to the enforcement of Banco Filipino’s approved business plan” and from enforcing other regulatory measures that are intended to coerce the bank in agreeing to withdraw its suits against the BSP and MB. The lower court subsequently granted Banco Filipino’s application for a writ of preliminary mandatory and preventive injunction and directed BSP and MB to immediately implement the bank’s business plan by releasing its P25 billion financial assistance package and other regulatory reliefs without delay.

In its ruling, the SC turned down Banco Pilipino’s petition to reverse

the CA decision issued on July 28, 2011 on the ground that Banco Filipino, being a closed bank under receivership can only sue or be sued through its receiver, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

The high court also ruled that BSP’s Monetary Board is a quasi-judicial agency and under the Rules of Court petitions for certiorari against a quasijudicial agency are recognizable only by the Court of Appeals.

The SC explained that under Republic Act No. 7653, when the Monetary Board finds a bank insolvent, it may “summarily and without need for prior hearing forbid the institution from doing business in the country and designate the PDIC as receiver of the banking institution.

As a trustee of the insolvent bank, the PDIC conserves and manages the asset of the bank to prevent the assets’ dissipation, which includes, the power to file and answer suits that threaten to dissipate the closed bank’s assets, the high tribunal explained.

“Petitioner’s suit concerned its

Business Plan, a matter that could have affected the status of its insolvency. Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation’s participation would have been necessary, as it had the duty to conserve the petitioner’s assets and to examine any possible liability that petitioner might undertake under the Business Plan,” the SC pointed out.

The SC junked the claim of the Banco Filipino that it was not a closed bank at the time it filed the petition on April 10, 2012 since the CA found its closure to have been illegal.

However, the SC said the appellate court was not yet final since the Monetary Board filed a timely motion for reconsideration.

Besides, the SC added, the CA eventually came out with an amended decision in 2012 confirming its status as a closed bank.

“When banks become insolvent, depositors are secure in the knowledge that they can still recoup some part of their savings through Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. Thus, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.’s participation in all suits involving the insolvent bank is necessary and imbued with the public interest,” the SC ruled.

The high court also ruled that pursuant to Article XII, Section 20 of the Constitution, Congress constituted Bangko Sentral as an independent central monetary authority, which is vested with quasi-judicial powers, which it exercises through the Monetary Board.

DoLE welcomes Senate proposal of 14-month pay THE labor department welcomed a proposal in the Senate granting 14th month pay to employees in the private sector.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said DoLE will consult with labor and management and consider both their interests, as well as consider the impact of the proposal to the country’s economic stability.

“The President is consulting with our economic advisers. We at DOLE are also consulting with both the labor and management on the feasibility of the 14-month pay to workers. In other

words, there is willingness and openness in the proposal for the 14-month pay,” Bello said.

Senate Bill No. 2, otherwise known as “An Act Requiring Employers in the Private Sector to Pay 14th Month Pay” was filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and has been pending in the Senate since July 2016.

Under the bill, “rank-and-file employees regardless of their employment status, designation, and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid provided that they have worked at least one month during

the calendar year” are entitled to a 14th month pay.

Bello said DoLE still has to study the proposed bill to indicate the department’s position depending on the results of consultations. Foremost, he added, is the need to maintain the beneficial social partnership between workers and employers, as well as in considering its possible implications in the economy.

“The proposed 14-month pay for our private workers is a huge help for their families. It’s extra earnings to help them cope with the rising inflation but we also have to consider a lot of factors,” Bello said.

THE five candidates for the post of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (SC) will walk into the line of fire with their Judicial and Bar Council interview today.

The post became vacant after Maria Lourdes Sereno was ousted by the SC en banc, voting 8-6, through quo warranto proceedings.

SC Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes Jr., and Judge Virginia Tejano-Ang of the Regional Trial Court Branch 1 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte will be put under questioning by the screening body starting 9 am at the SC Division Hearing Room.

According to an announcement from the SC, Bersamin will be the first to be interviewed in the morning, followed by de Castro and Peralta while Reyes is slated to be interviewed first in the afternoon, to be followed by TejanoAng. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC, said that the JBC will hold its final deliberation and selection for the shortlist of its candidates on August 31.

The shortlist will be endorsed to President Rodrigo Duterte for approval.

The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary and the offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.

Three of the applicants—de Castro, Peralta, Bersamin—were automatic candidates for the post, being among the five most senior magistrates of the High Court. PNA

House extends availability of funds for ML victims THE House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted a joint resolution seeking to extend the period of availability of funds for victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime until December this year.

The lower chamber passed through voice voting House Joint Resolution No. 26, filed by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, ensuring that all legitimate claimants under the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act will be able to get their monetary reparations, particularly those who were issued with checks by the Landbank of the Philippines.

The resolution authorizes the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to administer the distribution of the funds to qualified victims, their heirs, or representatives.

The Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB), which is mandated to process claims and distribute the financial reparation for victims of human rights violation during the Marcos martial rule, has ceased to function since its sunset on May 12, 2018.

According to the resolution, only 11,103 legitimate claimants out of more than 75,000 applicants had been approved by the HRCVB as of May11, 2018. PNA

3 DoLE officials refuse PACC summons

By Vito Barcelo

MRT INCIDENT. A security guard reportedly shot the left foot of a taong grasa who had jumped in on the rail tracks of MRT between Ayala and Magallanes stations in Makati City. The still unidentified man reportedly threw stones at the guards when his attention was called. He was later apprehended and brought to the security office of the Magallanes station. Norman Cruz

THREE officials of the Department of Labor and Employment official snubbed the Presidential AntiCorruption Commission’s invitation to testify in connection with the alleged extortion cases filed by two recruitment agency owners.

The PACC is now investigating the extortion charges filed by Amanda Araneta and Monalie Dizon against DoLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, former Undersecretary Dominador Say, and Director Jesus Cruz of the DoLE’s International Labor Affairs Bureau.

Former labor undersecretary Nicon Fameronag said that Atty. Philip A. Paredes, Director of the DoLE Legal Service, Warren M. Miclat, Director of the DoLE Financial and Management Service, and Maria Victoria Marquez of the DoLE’s Cash Division have refused

to comply with the subpoenas issued to them by the President’s anti-corruption watchdog.

The three have been directed to appear before the PACC but have refused, Fameronag said in a statement.

Fameronag, President of Lilac Foundation, said that Secretary Bello III, as DoLE chief, is the person responsible for the custody of agency’s documents and other official records and should, therefore, be the one to have been subpoenaed as a matter of courtesy and recognition.

They also said they could not honor the subpoenas because the documents being asked by the PACC do not exist, and that in order for them to submit such documents, the PACC should first furnish them copies of the complaints so they would “know exactly what documents are material to the said complaint.”

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Opinion

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Acid test of leadership

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

This is of course aside from the fact that the people still need to understand what the proposed system of government is about.

As they say, there is a time for everything. Obviously this is not the time for I DON’T know how people regard federalism. *** the impasse between Malacañang and I listened to the whole Senate blue the House of Representatives over the 2019 national budget. In my view it’s ribbon committee hearing on the P60a choice between self-interest and the million advertising contract between PTV4 and the Tulfos’ Bitag program. common good.

The House want to retain the obliga- The Tulfos are the brothers of former tion-based budget, on which this year’s Tourism secretary Wanda Teo. Defintely there was conflict of interest. budget is based. Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management The DOT contract was in effect between prepared a cash-based budget for 2019. sister and brother. I can’t buy the claim of The period of implementation of the Teo that she did not know that her brother obligation-based budget can be for 24 was the other party in the contract. Bitag months and even longer. For the cash- is a blocktimer of PTV4.

I also cannot accept the excuse of based budget, it is only for the fiscal Ben Tulfo that he was not aware, either, year—12 months.

The period of payment for obliga- that the contract was with his sister.

Why did the geniuses at PTV4 even tion-based budget is 24 months and beplace that contract? I smell a rat! yond; for the latter, 15 months.

The Senate should look into the milThe reason Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno is insisting lions of pesos in government advertison a cash-based budget is that fiscal risks ing in print and broadcast. I know there involved. If a project goes beyond the fis- are shenanigans going on in the placecal year and not completed and paid for ment of ads. Ask advertising people.

For one thing, within 15 months, why should the government deficit government even will balloon. advertise unless On the part of it is selling somethe House, the Self-interest or the thing? longer period of *** i mple me nt at ion common good? Sounds Speaking of and payment, the simple to me. graft and corrupbetter. This is tion, the Office of where the crux of the Ombudsman the problem lies. should look into If the 2019 the findings of budget does not get enacted this year, the administra- the Commission on Audit saying that tion will have to live with a re-enacted government lawyers in the Office of national budget—what it got this year. the Government Corporate Counsel are If this happens, President Duterte will getting excessive allowances from the be the one to approve projects proposed GOCCs they are assigned to. This is in violation of the law that prohibits them by members of Congress.

This means members of Congress from having allowances over half their will be lining up at the office of Secre- annual salaries.

Recall that even the Office of the tary Diokno.

And to think that 2019 is an election Solicitor General was flagged for violating this law. year, my gulay.

This practice must not continue— A re-enacted budget will have dire unless Malacanang has one set of rules consequences for the people. for its allies and another for its oppo*** President Duterte and the proponents nents. If this is the case, then the Duof the shift to federalism must come to terte administration is not at all differterms with the fact that the proposal is ent from its immediate predecessor. *** dead in the water.

Would you believe that many books The reasons? No more time. Plus, the draft prepared by the consultative com- in public schools contain glaring errors? mittee still has to be refined to avoid For instance, the Banaue Rice Terraces what our economic managers consider is identified as Banana Rice Terraces, or the island of Samar is called Cebu. a fiscal nightmare.

This is just unacceptable!

This is actually a blessing in disguise. It will give Congress more time www.emiljurado.weebly.com to assess what is good.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

A desperate solution

T

RAFFIC in Metro Manila has become a gut issue, because it affects—no, defines—the quality of life of residents.

Whereas travel should only be a means to get from one place to another, it now eats up a considerable portion of motorists’ and commuters’ time such that their well-being, productivity and the quality of their relationships are compromised.

It would be good if there were an efficient public transportation system to serve the public’s needs. But the trains are a mess—there is no telling, for instance, when the MRT 3 would break down and stop, or when the LRT 1’s roofs would leak and cause people to open their umbrellas while the train is running.

Meanwhile, bus drivers are notorious for their lack of discipline and their penchant to break traffic regulation.

Amid all these, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is hard pressed for solutions on how best to minimize the traffic mess that

plagues its residents not only during the start and the end of the week, or during rush hours, but every day and at practically any hour.

It has, for instance, come up with the High-Occupancy Vehicle scheme, which had its dry run Wednesday.

The scheme bans on Edsa, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare, vehicles with just the driver occupying them. The prohibition holds during rush hours.

On the first day, some 3,000 motorists were caught for not having companions in their vehicles.

MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia insists there was an improvement in traffic.

But motorists are up in arms, saying the proposal is impractical, discriminatory and hardly a solution to the real problem. We agree. Over social media it has inspired widely circulated jokes and memes.

The Senate denounced the scheme and said no consultations were done before it was implemented. Senator Ralph Recto said the scheme merely “shoo[ed] cars from the main artery to minor roads not

wide enough to handle the surge in volume.”

Many other suggestions to ease traffic have been made, in varying degrees of practicability and sense.

The MMDA cannot act on its own, however. Its proposals must be done in consultation and planning with local governments and with other agencies whose scope covers the roots of the problem—poor public transportation, high volume of new vehicles sold every year, poor road quality and the lack of good alternate routes.

“A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation,” said Colombian politician Gustavo Petro. We agree, but we also acknowledge such a thing is not close to happening where we are. In the meantime, we struggle to have a respectable quality of life, not because of, but despite, the traffic situation that has confounded our leaders across several administrations.

Then again, the desperation does not give the MMDA license to come up with just any solution—especially silly ones like the HOV scheme.

Traffic solutions up by other land-based transportation.

In the words of JoJo Garcia Jr., the general manager of MMDA, the bus scheme is intended to establish interFLORENCIO modal terminals north and south of the FIANZA metro area.

The questions to be asked now is ONCE again, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is going to try this: Is there science behind the two to decongest the main traffic battle- plans and are the two the best solutions ground in the metro area—Edsa. This to implement?

As for the high-occupancy vehicle time, MMDA implemented two traffic schemes which started yesterday to plan, there is indeed proven science hopefully bring some relief to our long to its effectivity. It is very popular in California especially along the Santa suffering motorists.

Trouble is, before MMDA could Monica freeway. The left most lane is even begin to try the two traffic plans, reserved for high occupancy vehicles. there was already a lot of opposition. Single operated vehicles cannot enter One is the powerful chairperson of the this lane but are not prohibited from Senate Committee on Transportation, using the highway as opposed to the MMDA scheme Senator Grace which prohibits Poe. Others who single operated oppose the two vehicles from using plans argue that Edsa altogether. both scheme are Are the proposals It does not mean, not backed by however, that just science. Senator backed by science? because it works in Poe for her part California, it will wants a dry run also work on Edsa. to test the viabilThe Santa Monica ity of the project freeway is different; it is basically used before making them permanent.

First, there is the prohibition of driv- to go to the city and back to the resier-only operated vehicles along Edsa. dences of road users. Edsa, on the other This plan will hopefully encourage hand, is a traffic generator in itself with carpooling, thereby reducing the num- so many business establishments along ber of cars plying the 24-kilometer mo- the road.

There is a lot of difference in the torway. The second is the prohibition of provincial buses coming from the north land use of both. Also, the success of and south from traversing Edsa. Buses any traffic scheme depends to a certain coming from the north will have to ter- degree on the competence of traffic and minate their trips in Valenzuela City transport planners.

Lastly, we have to contend with the where the passengers will be picked up by other land based transportation. differences of the driving cultures Those coming from the south will end of Filipinos and Americans. They their trips somewhere in Parañaque are poles apart. Americans routinely with their passengers also being picked Turn to A5

DUTY CALLS

Belongings and belonging: The precious objects gathered by fleeing Rohingya

By Nick Perry THE Rohingya had no time to consider what to take as Myanmar forces drove the Muslim minority into Bangladesh in a crackdown a year ago likened by the UN to ethnic cleansing.

Some fled with little more than the clothes on their backs and children on their hips. But what they did manage to bring tells an intimate story about the plight of a long persecuted and stateless people.

‘This isn’t immaterial’ Jalal Ahmed prised the faded tin number plate marked with Burmese

characters off the front of his family’s home as they packed up their lives and left Rakhine state.

“When we were leaving, we knew we would need something to prove we were Rohingya, and proof of our residency,” he told AFP in the doorway of the shanty where he lives with his family in a vast refugee camp in southern Bangladesh.

The Ahmed family had lived in a proud two-storey wooden home in their village for countless generations, Jalal’s grandfather Abdul said.

Jalal, a 52-year-old businessman, said the plate was not a memento but a con-

nection to his past before the misery of refugee life.

“This isn’t immaterial,” Jalal said.

“We carried it with us because wherever we go, this will show that we belong to a place.”

Our identity Mohammad Ayaz, 12, brought a faded old photograph of his family with him on the long journey from Myanmar.

It shows 17 people—his grandparents, siblings and parents, aunts and uncles—posing for an official portrait holding signs marked with Burmese script.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018

Train and tax amnesty OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ THE burden of paying taxes becomes heavier for Filipinos with the country’s rapid inflation. Unfortunately, the enactment of Tax Reform for Inclusion and Acceleration imposed higher excise taxes on several goods, the cost of which was passed on to the consumers, that resulted to higher prices of basic commodities. A higher rate of inflation ensued.

The Bureau of Treasury reported that the total revenue collection reached P1.41 trillion in the first half of 2018.

This was reportedly 9 percent higher than the target. Possibly, the increased collection was due to the implementation of the first package of TRAIN. But as we see it, TRAIN only worsens the condition of our economy.

Prior to the enactment of TRAIN, I filed House Bill No. 3832, otherwise known as, “An Act Granting Tax Amnesty on All Unpaid Internal Revenue Tax Liabilities for Taxable Period January 2006 to June 2016.”

The Executive branch has been pushing for the speedy passage of the pack-

age 2 of TRAIN; but for me, instead of hurrying its passage, the Congress should consider prioritizing the passage of the Tax Amnesty Bill.

The new Tax Amnesty Bill, when enacted, will provide a clean slate for delinquent taxpayers and will encourage all taxpayers especially lowincome and middle-income earners, professionals, and even Overseas Fili-

Delayed and reduced collection is still a much better alternative to no collection at all.

pino Workers to avail of this program and register to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In effect, this will improve taxpayers’ compliance to national tax policies, increase revenue collection, and reduce corruption.

We know that we have a tough President who has a strong stance against corruption. But the sad reality is that

corruption has become a culture in the BIR. Corruption in the BIR happens, for example, when taxpayers try to negotiate with BIR officials to reduce taxes due, extend payment period, or adhere to special arrangements, instead of going through the right process, which, if contested, may involve long and expensive litigation.

This tax amnesty is not new to us.

In Feb. 19, 2007, Republic Act 9480, which provided for a tax amnesty, was enacted. This covered the year 2005 and prior years. The BIR reported that the tax amnesty was effective in terms of added revenue for the government, as it generated Php 5.902 billion, which accounted for 2 percent of the total income taxes collected. It also increased the number of registered taxpayers by 20,629.

As the Minority Leader who is responsible of ensuring checks and balances in the Congress, I would insist on the passage of the Tax Amnesty Bill. It would be best to give Filipino taxpayers another chance to settle their tax obligations and give them an opportunity to have a clean slate once again. Delayed and reduced collection is still a much better alternative to no collection at all.

The sweet taste of success: A Syrian’s journey from Gitmo to pastries

By Mauricio Rabuffetti AHMED Ahjam spent more than 12 years in the Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects, but now he has seen a dream come true by starting a business in the country that welcomed him when the nightmare ended.

“Ahmed Ahjam. Arab gastronomy,” reads a sign marking the small food stand that Ahjam has opened Monday in Uruguay’s capital with help from city hall. He mainly sells sweets.

Ahjam, 41 and born in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, arrived here in 2014 along with six other prisoners from Guantanamo under an accord signed by the United States and Uruguay.

Washington was seeking countries willing to accept such inmates so it could move to empty the facility for terror suspects that was notorious for mistreating prisoners.

Ahjam was one of the roughly 780 people sent to Guantanamo prison since 2002.

His stand has small chalkboards advertising some of his wares: baklava, the sesame paste tahini or Uruguayan- style candy.

A “new life” Ahjam now aims to make a new life in Uruguay thanks to this undertaking he began by selling his treats on Facebook.

“For me it is a dream come true. It is very important in my new life. I am very grateful to the Uruguayans who are close to me.

I am going to work very hard,” Ahjam told reporters as he inaugurated his stand. He declined to take questions.

US Department of Defense officials believe he fought US and Coalition forces in the Tora Bora mountain cave complex in Afghanistan used by late Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.

He fled bombardment before being captured by Pakistani authorities. According to Department of Defense records, he was handed over to US authorities in the Afghan city of Kandahar in January 2002 and incarcerated at Guantanamo from June 14, 2002.

Many of the assertions in the records are contested by former Guantanamo detainees and their lawyers and cannot be independently verified.

His is a success story that comes out of an integration initiative that has had its ups and downs here. Uruguay took in the Guantanamo prisoners in exchange for economic aid that grows smaller and smaller over time.

These men had trouble integrating into Uruguayan society and finding work. One of them left several times, only to come

back, until he managed to depart definitively this year.

But Ahjam seeks just the opposite: he wants to remain in the country that welcomed him.

“It is highly symbolic that someone who is a refugee finds an alternative way to live, a productive thing to do. Everyone deserves an opportunity,” said Montevideo mayor Daniel Martinez, who was at the opening of the food stand.

Help from city hall Ahjam’s store, which also serves coffee and juices, is located in the Montevideo Farmers Market, which used to be a wholesale venue but underwent a makeover to feature food stands, cultural exhibits and shops.

His project was developed with help from a city agency called Cedel.

“In Syria he was a jeweler. These are different markets and times now, and in wanting to live in Uruguay and develop himself here, he thinks the cuisine of his country could be a way to make a living,” said Veronica de Gregorio, who runs one of the departments at Cedel.

“He is not in the program because he is a former prisoner at Guantanamo but rather because he has entrepreneurial spirit,” she added. AFP

Podcasts take growing role in shifting media landscape

By Thomas Urbain AS RADIO Fades in the new world of digital media, podcasting has become hot.

In less than 15 years, on-demand podcasts have become a key part of the media landscape that is luring advertisers to a market that is worth tens of millions of dollars and growing.

According to Edison Research, 124 million Americans listen to audio podcasts including 73 million on a monthly basis.

“Podcasts are now getting to the point where they sit alongside other forms of premium media like video and books and television and music,” said Matt Lieber, a co-founder of Gimlet Media, a major podcast producer.

“Now there are reviewers of podcasts.

The Financial Times has a person on staff that reviews podcast. It’s almost like if you’re not listening to podcast you’re out of the loop.”

Podcasts are a natural choice for a generation accustomed to on-demand services like Netflix. Listeners are younger and better educated than the average radio listener, with more women in the mix, creating an important demographic for advertisers.

Podcast ad revenues doubled in 2017 to $313 million, according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).

That is far less than the estimated $14 billion in radio ad revenues for 2016, but podcasting is showing strong growth -- likely to double again by 2020 according to the

Belongings...

From A4

The Rohingya are reviled in Myanmar as illegal immigrants, branded “Bengalis” and denied citizenship and basic rights and freedoms.

“We will need this photo when we go back to Myanmar, to identify who is who from our family,” he told AFP, folding up the creased photograph for safekeeping.

“It’s a very important picture. We will need this.”

Feeding the needy Asaru Begum knew the journey to Bangladesh would be long and ardu-

PwC/IAB report.

A study by New York University researchers found traditional AM/FM radio is rapidly losing ground to in-demand services, especially among younger audience, with listening by those 13-18 down by almost 50 percentage points between 2005 and 2016.

“Podcast sponsorship revenue is growing just like the audience is growing,” said Neal Carruth, general manager of podcasts for National Public Radio, a key player in podcasting.

“Large brand advertisers have become more interested in recent years. They’re very attracted to the age of the podcast audience, to the engagement of the podcast audience, to the intelligence, the education and the professional accomplishments of the podcast audience. It’s a very desirable audience.”

NPR, one of the earliest entrants in podcasting more than a decade ago, has some 17 million listeners to its podcasts such as “Planet Money,” “Fresh Air” and “Ted Radio Hour,” far more than any rivals.

Monetizing Popular podcasts have been able to create a successful revenue model as well, say analysts.

“When you look at the top 500 or 1,000 podcasts, there are now hundreds of shows with hundreds of thousands of listeners each that are making sustainable amount of revenue in the half a million to million dollar range, which is a significant jump from a few years ago,” said Erik Diehn, chief exec-

utive of the podcast ad firm Midroll Media.

While the majority of the estimated 500,000 podcasts produce little or no revenue, some top podcasts can generate “millions of dollars” annually, according to Diehn.

But some are starting to introduce a subscription model, like Midroll’s Stitcher platform offering “premium” podcasts for $4.99 a month.

Spotify, the big streaming music platform, is also in podcasting and recently invested $1 million for a podcast hosted by actress Amy Schumer.

Other models like one offered by the Castbox platform are based on the newspaper “paywall” system allowing access to a certain number of podcasts for free, with paying customers getting more.

As podcasting becomes more popular, some are attracting big stars and offering tie-ins to film and television programs.

Gimlet Media, for example, created the ABC TV show Alex Inc. starring Zach Braff based on one of its podcasts. And the new Amazon show “Homecoming” starring Julia Roberts is based on one of Gimlet’s podcasts.

Podcasting is particularly suited to the smartphone generation and is likely to grow with increased use of connected devices.

“Right now we’re spending a lot of time thinking about how our work should be presented on connected speakers, in connected cars and other technologies that are here with us but maybe haven’t evolved to their final state yet,” said NPR’s Carruth. AFP

ous, especially for her children and grandchildren.

So she brought cooking pots to gather water, stew rice and green chillies, and perform ablutions for prayer while hiding out in the hills.

“I brought the pots and rice because I knew the children would get hungry after two days’ journey,” she told AFP, pointing to the pots she still treasures today.

“I brought them so I could feed the babies. They cry a lot when they are hungry.”

‘I miss school’ Mohammad Khares, a diligent pupil with dreams of going to university, was in his final year of high school when

violence erupted in his village.

“I miss school very much. I was about to graduate, I was this close. That really hurts,” the crestfallen 20-year-old told AFP. There are no schools in the camps, so Khares has used his Bengali and English language skills to find piecemeal work with foreign aid groups helping the refugees.

His school ID card is precious.

Most Rohingya receive little or no schooling in Myanmar so his card-– bearing his photograph, credentials and official seal—is a rare privilege and a passport to opportunity.

“When I go back to Myanmar, I want to resume my studies. But they might

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The economic case against federalism low the national/central bureaucracy.

A whole army of elected and appointive officials will be put in place to perform the few functions that will RUDY ROMERO not be reserved to the central government (viz., defense, internal security, A STRONG case can be built on politi- foreign affairs, monetary policymakcal or legal or administrative grounds ing and justice). In recent testimony against the Duterte administration’s before the Senate, the nation’s chief proposed shift from the unitary form of fiscal policymaker, the Secretary of government to the federal. But the eco- Finance, stated that all the new fisnomic case is the most powerful of the cal obligations that DOF (Department cases that can be brought against the of Finance) is being made to shoulder idea of federalism in the Philippines. will cost approximately P120 billion, The economic case against federal- which he said, pointedly, represented ism has many parts, but the most im- the combined salaries of 95 percent of portant relate to the composition of the the present government workforce. All 20 political entities—18 federal states told, Carlos Dominguez III, said that and two autonomous regions—into the government would see one of the which the Duterte-created Consulta- key macro-economic fundamentals, tive Committee wants to divide this the budget-deficit-to-GDP ratio, rise to country, the cost and administrative 6.7 percent, as against the 3 percent that impact of creating what will in effect the government is trying to maintain. be a second bureaucracy and the effect Às the leader of the team of economic on the nation’s macro-economic funda- managers, the Secretary of Finance is mentals of the additional fiscal burden concerned—as he must ever be—about that the central the impact of a government will sharply higher be called upon to budget-deficit-tobear.

GDP ratio on the First, the comPhilippines’ credit It’s a powerful case. position of the rating, which inproposed 18 fedfluences the rates erated states. The of interest that foreign lenders federated states charge on loans should, nay must, be composed of provinces that will be to this country. Asked by the Senators more or less economically balanced. what would happen to the Philippines’ Each component province must be able credit rating if the budget-deficit-toto make a proportionate contribution to GDP ratio will rise to 6.7 percent, Mr. the economy of the state and must not Dominguez curtly replied, Ït will go to be a drag on its finances. The merging hell.” of prosperous provinces with provinces The Secretary of Finance summed that are fiscally weak will lead to re- up his Senate testimony thus: “The sentment and frustration and in time draft federal charter could lead to maswill produce a clamor for disengage- sive job losses in the public sector, rement and more equitable partnering. duce funds for the government’s ambiThe first-class provinces will soon tious infrastructure program, widen tire of subsidizing second-class and the budget deficit and downgrade this third-class provincial parties. There is country’s credit ratings … (It) could rewidespread agreement that the areas sult in dire, irreversible economic conthat will make sense as federated states sequences.” are NCR (National Capital Region), This is the economic case against the Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the Ilocos proposed shift from unitary government corridor, Western Visayas, Central to federalism. It is a very powerful case.

Visayas and Davao City.

Effectively communicated to the people The second part of the case against of this country—especially to the milfederalism is the economic logic, in a lions of Filipinos who attach the highest Third World setting, in creating what value to economic growth and political in effect is a second bureaucracy be- progress—it is a winning case.

BUSINESS CLASS

obey and follow traffic rules even in the absence of a traffic enforcers. For instance, American drivers would not cross a solid line in the middle of the road much less a solid yellow painted road. We Filipinos on the other hand routinely violate traffic rules. The solid yellow painted lines along Edsa are always ignored by drivers. If we cannot even solve permanently the use of the Balintawak portion of Edsa as a market place, how will MMDA implement the high-occupancy vehicle scheme with majority of cars being heavily tinted?

With regard to the bus plan, Garcia was quoted as saying that the stations to be established north and south of Metro area are intended to be intermodal.

I do not know whether he was quoted correctly but in order to be intermodal, the passengers disembarking in Valenzuela, for instance, should be picked up by rail transportation to complete the rest of their journeys.

But it seems that land-based transportation will do the job which is no longer intermodal. This will create another problem. If jeepneys and other buses will be used to transport the passengers onward to the metro area, this will also congest other Metro Manila roads because of the need of plenty of buses and jeepneys to transport thousands of passengers.

The two traffic schemes may indeed solve a traffic problem but both will also create other traffic prob-

lems. MMDA therefore must have to weigh the pluses and minuses of the two traffic schemes before deciding to implement them permanently.

There might be other better options that could decongest Edsa with less inconvenience to the motoring public. Transferring the routes of some city buses is one that could lessen the number of buses traversing the road.

Disallowing the use of jeepneys and tricycles could also be another. Edsa is a peculiar road. There is rail, bus and jeepney transportation competing against each other when there should be only one. We know, of course, that buses and jeepneys are there because of the unreliability of MRT 3. Choosing the kind of traffic scheme to be used is understandably tricky.

My take on the two traffic plans is that both will create more problems than the problem it intends to solve.

The only solution in the horizon that could lessen traffic along Edsa significantly is when the skyway project that will connect NLEX and SLEX is completed.

The other is when the maintenance of MRT 3 is improved so that train stoppages will become a thing of the past. In the meantime, MMDA should concentrate on known bottlenecks in Cubao, MRT 3 stations, and U-turn slots. It should keep traffic continuously moving at a reasonably tolerable level. This state should be acceptable to most motorists. What is not acceptable are long traffic stoppages. Yet, MMDA cannot just stop trying traffic schemes. We can only hope that the plan works.

ask, ‘what proof do you have of your education?’ This card will prove that I was a Class 10 (final year) student,” he said.

Family first Violence descended so quickly on Mohammad Jubayer’s village that he had no time to choose what his family might need to survive in Bangladesh.

“On our way here, we couldn’t bring anything,” he told AFP at the edge of a fetid tent colony overlooking a trashstrewn, muddy clearing.

Other escapees shared what food they could as Jubayer, 30, and his wife took turns carrying their four infant children as their eldest daughter trailed behind.

“We spent nine days walking through the hills. We had our children

with us. So we just carried them— nothing else.”

A touch of home Mohammad Umar left all this favorite playthings behind in Myanmar as his family joined the steady exodus of Rohingya leaving their burning homeland.

But once in Bangladesh, the industrious 12-year-old put his mind to work.

Scavenging a rechargeable battery, and carving a hull from a chunk of styrofoam, he fashioned a rudimentary boat replete with a pen tube for a rudder.

“We used to make these and play with them in Myanmar,” Umar said as the boat chugged through brown puddles swollen by monsoon rain. AFP

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 A6 Standard Manila

TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Swollen Pampanga river causes widespread floods C ITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The major rivers and their tributaries specially the Pampanga River Basin in Central Luzon had swollen banks, causing widespread flooding in the region specially in Pampanga and Bulacan Wednesday, according to flood control authorities.

Lita Manalo, head of the Unified Project Management Office and Flood Control Cluster of the Department of Public Works and Highway in Central Luzon, said rivers especially those in Pampanga, Bataan and Bulacan were overflowing with floodwaters spreading to other villages instead of going out to heavily silted mouth of Manila Bay. In other developments: • The National Disaster Reduction and Management Council said heavy rains from the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm “Karding” “had so far affected 187,744 families, or 828,462 persons, residing in 680

barangays in the Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cordillera, and the National Capital regions.

• The Department of Environment and Natural Resources urged the public to stay vigilant against landslides and flash floods during heavy downpour.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu told the public to take precautionary measures, saying “residents and communities near mountains and within low-lying areas should be proactive by taking appropriate measures to minimize, if not prevent, any adverse impact of calamities.”

74 Chinese nationals nabbed by BI

By Vito Barcelo

BUREAU of Immigration agents have arrested 74 Chinese nationals caught openly selling retail goods inside a popular shopping mall in Manila’s Chinatown district.

The foreigners were rounded up during a raid by members of the BI Intelligence Division at the 999 Shopping Mall in Binondo.

Also arrested was an Indian national caught at the scene collecting payments for

his lending business.

They were later brought to the BI Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila where they are currently undergoing investigation and verification of their immigration status.

According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, he issued the mission order authorizing the Bureau’s operatives to conduct the raid due to persistent reports received by his office about undocumented Chinese nationals doing business inside the said establishment.

• The Department of Public Works and Highways in Negros said the P83.9-million Imbang River flood control project was almost complete and would protect several villages in in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

DPWH District Engineer Jaime SJ Javellana said that concrete walls were constructed on both sides of the 1.2-kilometer portion of Imbang River to mitigate river overflow and flooding during rainy season.

Disaster official Bobby Manalo said the limited carrying capacity of the rivers specially the PRB due to narrow cross-section in width and depth contributed to the flooding.

The other causes were siltation, informal settlers, garbage and encroachment like illegal fishponds along major the rivers and waterways.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said that as of Wednesday villages submerged by three to five under water reached 357 from 102 yesterday.

7 Alliance officials off syndicated estafa

By Joel E. Zurbano SEVEN officials of the Alliance Select Foods International, Inc., including the scion of one of the country’s top finance leaders, were cleared of syndicated estafa and falsification charges in connection with the corporate dispute between ASFI directors and its Singaporean investors.

Based on a joint resolution dated March 27, 2018 signed by Department of Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco, those cleared were ASFI directors George SyCip, Jonathan Y. Dee, Alvin Y. Dee, Joanna Y. DeeLaurel, Teresita S. Ladanga, Grace S. Dogilio and Arak Ratborihan.

The resolution (NPS docket no.

XV-07-INV-16B-01028) affirmed the dismissal of the cases lodged against the directors and officers of ASFI by Hedy S.C. Chua-Yap, representing Victory Fund Ltd., Harvest All Investment Ltd. and Bondeast Private Ltd. The same DoJ resolution, however, directed the Manila City Pros-

ecutors Office to file the necessary Information against the respondents, after it found probable cause to charge them with Simple Estafa under Article 315 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code.

But in a letter dated July 23, 2018, Manila City prosecutor Edward Togonon, advised the Justice department that they “encountered difficulty in complying with the DoJ directive” for the filing of the information for simple estafa against the respondents.

“We could not find any act constituting the said offense or any single element thereof that might have happened or occurred in the City of Manila,” Togonon said in his letter addressed to Marco.

Instead, the Prosecutor of Manila requested the DoJ to revisit its Joint Resolution in the subject case to clarify and address the issue.

For his part, SyCip, son of business leader Washington SyCip, maintained that he didn’t commit any unlawful act.

RIDING A RAFT. Rains caused by Tropical Storm ‘Karding’ transform many areas in Pangasinan, as this one in Calasiao snapped on Tuesday, into an instant sea with commuters, aided by boatmen, taken a ride to safety. AFP

Pag-IBIG housing loan releases up 13% PAG-IBIG Fund reported it released over P32.7 billion worth of housing loans in the first half of 2018, setting yet another record in the Fund’s history.

The amount disbursed in the first six months of the year was an unprecedented 13 percent or almost P4 billion more than the loans released during the same period in 2017, the agency said in a press

statement.

The number of financed homes also increased by 11 percent from 36,139 in the first half of 2017 to 40,094 in the first half of 2018.

Out of all homes financed from January to June, 31.5 percent or 12,639 are socialized housing units with an aggregate value of P4.859 billion, it added.

2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pangasinan Tel. No. (075) 632-7840 Website@biddingandawards.pangasinan gov.ph, E-mail address: bacpangasinan@yahoo.com

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF OFFICE SUPPLIES

FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF UNIFORMS FOR PPA PERSONNEL

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 12,328,500.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply and Delivery of Office Supplies (BAC-PGCS-132-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 6,169,200.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply and Delivery of Uniforms for PPA Personnel (BAC-PGCS-174-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Supply and Delivery of Office Supplies. Delivery of the Goods is required within Seven (7) calendar days from the receipt by the successful bidder of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for the A. Supply and Delivery of Uniforms for PPA Personnel Consisting of Set 1 – For Manila-Based Personnel and Set 2 – For Personnel at PMOs Outside Metro Manila. Delivery of the Goods is required within Sixty (60) calendar days from the receipt by the successful bidder of the Notice to Proceed for Set 1 and within Thirty (30) calendar days from the receipt of the successful bidder of the Notice to Proceed for Set 2. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority‘s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 16 August 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND (P25,000.00) PESOS. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 24 August 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 06 September 2018 at 1:00 p.m. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 06 September 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For further information, please refer to:

1.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 16 August 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TEN THOUSAND (P10,000.00) PESOS. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 24 August 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Delivery of Various Hospital/Medical Equipment at Western Pangasinan District Hospital, Alaminos City, Pangasinan ( PR#2018-07-6641) Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): P 14,728,752.00

The Province of Pangasinan now invites bids for Supply and Delivery of Hospital/ Medical Equipment.2 Delivery of the Goods is required Seven (7) Calendar Days.

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

3.

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Province of Pangasinan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during August 10, 2018 – August 31, 2018; 8:00 am to 5:00pm.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders August 10, 2018 – August 31, 2018 at the BAC office, 2nd Floor Malong Building, Lingayen, Pangasinan and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Sixteen Thousand Pesos (P16,000.00) for Project A and Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,000.00) for Project B.

6.

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

7.

The Province of Pangasinan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 17, 2018; 10:00am at BAC Office, 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound, Lingayen, Pangasinan, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

8.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 31, 2018; 10:00am. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

3

The Province of Pangasinan 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.

10. For further information, please refer to: HILARIA J. CLAVERIA Provincial Budget Officer BAC Chairman

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

Provincial Budget Office Finance Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pnagsinan 075 5426574 EDWIN B. MENDOZA Supervising Admin. Officer BAC Secretariat BAC Office 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pangasinan 075 6327840

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

M. Standard – Aug. 16, 2018

B.

2.

9.

Bid opening shall be on 06 September 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for the Procurement of Goods and Consultancy Services (HO-BAC-PGCS)

Delivery of Various Hospital/Medical Equipment at Mangatarem District Hospital, Mangatarem, Pangasinan ( PR#2018-07-6525) Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): P 15,589,063.00

Bid opening shall be on August 31, 2018; 10:00am at Conference Room 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound, Lingayen, Pangasinan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 06 September 2018 at 9:00 a.m. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

A.

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

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539

The Province of Pangasinan, through the Capital Outlay – Hospitals, & Health Centers / Hospital Equipment1 intends to apply the sum of Thirty-Seven Million Two Hundred Thirty-Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty-Seven Pesos (P37,239,827.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the following:

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

For further information, please refer to:

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for the Procurement of Goods and Consultancy Services (HO-BAC-PGCS)

INVITATION TO BID for Delivery of Various Hospital/Medical Equipment Solicitation No. PANG-2018-1277

(SGD) GERALDINE U. BANIQUED Provincial Legal Officer BAC Vice-Chairman 1

2

M. Standard – Aug. 16, 2018

3

In the case of National Government Agencies, the General Appropriations Act and/or continuing appropriations; in the case of GOCCs, GFIs, and SUCs, the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the governing Boards; in the case of (LGUs, the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian. (Section 5(a), R.A. 9184) A brief description of the type(s) of Goods should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation.

May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a Pre-Bid Conference.

(MS-AUG. 16, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Cocolife Alonso to retire at F1 season’s end Tigers slay Cebu Sharks L in MPBL tilt ONDON—Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso announced on Tuesday that he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season after his recent struggles with underachieving McLaren.

The 37-year-old Spaniard -- who has 32 Grand Prix wins to his credit in 17 seasons -- has become increasingly disenchanted with Formula One as the once allpowerful McLaren team have fallen way off the pace.

Alonso -- who in 2005 became the youngest ever Formula One world champion while driving for Renault before defending his title the following year -- has garnered 44 points this season and is ninth in the drivers’ championship.

Alonso went on to drive for McLaren for a year in 2007 followed by a return to Renault and then four years at Ferrari, before beginning his second spell with

THE DAVAO OCCIDENTAL Cocolife Tigers got back to life by snapping its losing skid, toppling the Cebu Sharks, 71-64, in the elimination round of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at the Bacoor Sports Center on Monday night.

Former PBA players Bonbon Custodio, Leo Najorda and Mark Yee did the demolition job as they came up with a total of 35 points for the Cocolifebacked squad.

The win was highlighted by the final-quarter explosion of Billy Ray Robles, who tallied 14 points and 8 rebounds.

The Sharks held a hairline lead at halftime, thanks to John Abad’s 11 points in the first and second quarters.

Neither of the teams gave an upperhand in the third as they closed the quarter at 52all heading into the final period.

Veterans Najorda and Custodio then exploited their trips at the stripe in the deciding endgame as the team held a comfortable 6-point cushion under two minutes left to finally seal the victory for the team owned by Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental LGU and supported by Cocolife President Elmo Nobleza, FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan.

Cebu’s streakshooter Patrick Cabahug carried his team to within three, but he lost the ball in the stretch as MVP Custodio calmly sank the two insurance free throws.

“Galing kami ng team building after three losses, so focused lang kami before the game,” said Custodio, who tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

The win brought back the Tigers, managed by Bong Bharibar and Ray Alao, in strong contention for the next round with a 3-3 record, while pinning down the Sharks in a precarious situation with only a win to show in six games in the South Division of the tournament organized by Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

McLaren in 2015.

“I have seen you (Formula One) changing, sometimes for good, others, in my opinion, for bad,” said Alonso, who on three occasions finished runner-up in the drivers’ championship while at Ferrari.

“And this year, while still driving at my best, is how I want to remember you.”

Alonso, whose best finish for McLaren so far was 10th in 2016, said he would carry on endeavouring to finish with a flourish.

“After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on,” said Alonso in a statement.

“There are still several Grands Prix

to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever.”

He left the door slightly ajar, saying in a statement posted on the McLaren website he could return when it is “the right moment for me to be back in the series”, but the personal message on his Twitter account sounded like a farewell.

- ‘Exploring new adventures’ Alonso, whose first win came in the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix but who hasn’t won since the Spanish Grand Prix five years ago, says new challenges await.

The former Ferrari star is known to be keen to complete the ‘Triple Crown’ of world Formula One champion, winning the 24 Hour Le Mans race and the Indy500 -- he has achieved the first two of those aims.

“Let’s see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the cor-

Khan shoots for stoppage win vs Banario

In this file photo taken , McLaren’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso waits for the start of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix. AFP

Siklab Atleta to give cash rewards to Asiad medalists SIKLAB Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation will award cash prizes to Filipino medallists of the 2018 Asian Games that will open this Aug. 18 in Indonesia.

The private organization will reward gold medalists with P1 million, silver medalists with P500,000, and bronze medalists with P250,000.

“We want to help fuel the country’s dream of global recognition in sports.

Through this incentive, we hope to motivate and inspire our athletes to excel and bring pride to our country,” said Siklab

Atleta chairman and Presidential Adviser on Sports Dennis Uy. “To our athletes, your hard work and determination to excel despite adversities is an inspiration to your fellow Filipinos.

You can count on the support of Siklab as you represent the best of our country to the world,” Uy said.

Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation, Inc. is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the private sector to help the Philippines in its quest to win its first Olympic gold.

Through a pool of funds gathered

from private sponsors, Siklab Atleta has pledged to provide the country’s best athletes with training equipment and facilities, coaching, exposure to international competitions, education, housing, and livelihood programs.

It is backed by the country’s largest corporations, namely, SM Investments Corp., Belle Resources, RFM Corporation, Alaska Corporation, Tanduay Distillery, JG Summit, Megawide Construction, International Container Terminal Services, San Miguel Corporation, PLDT, United

Red Lions fight SSC Stags, gun for victory no. 6

Laboratories, Ulticon Builders, Phoenix Petroleum, 2GO, Megaworld, Robinsons Land, and Piatco.

“We are thankful to the private sector for supporting our athletes and Siklab’s vision of bringing pride and glory to our country through sports,” said Uy. The Philippine team to the Asian Games will be headed by 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who is also supported by Siklab Atleta. The country will send 272 athletes who will compete in 35 sports during the two-week event.

Wildcards for Wawrinka, Kuznetsova

Games today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 10 a.m.- MU vs UPHSD (jrs) 12 noon.- SSCR vs SBU (jrs) 2 p.m.- MU vs UPSD (srs) 4 p.m.- SSCR vs SBU (srs)

SAN Beda University shoots for win No. 6 as it squares off with an RK Ilagan-less San Sebastian College even as Perpetual Help seeks to assume solo third as it tangles with Mapua today in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Relying on another all-around effort

by Robert Bolick and the clutch shooting of AC Soberano, the Lions turned back the Letran Knights, 80-76, in overtime Friday to stay unbeaten in five outings and at second behind the Lyceum of the Phl U Pirates (7-0).

Bolick found ways to overcome every defender thrown at him by Letran and finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Soberano hit two booming triples in OT to help the reigning back-toback titlist escape with the win.

Bolick was quick to attribute his careerhigh rebounding from the inspiration he got from PBA Finals MVP Brgy. Ginebra Scottie Thompson.

“I’m inspired by Scottie Thompson. If he can rebound, why can’t I,” said Bolick.

The Altas are also on the rise after they fended off the Jose Rizal Bombers’ upset try with a 78-72 win to nail their

ner,” said Alonso.

“I’m having one of the happiest times ever in my life but I need to go on exploring new adventures.”

McLaren -- whose unpopular racing director Eric Boullier resigned in early July -- issued a statement bordering on a eulogy to the Spaniard.

“Fernando is not only an outstanding ambassador for McLaren but also for Formula 1,” said Zak Brown, McLaren Racing’s CEO in a statement.

“His 17 years in the sport, as arguably the pre-eminent driver of his generation and undoubtedly an F1 great, have added another layer to Formula 1’s rich history.

“There is a time for everyone to make a change and Fernando has decided the end of this season to be his.”

During his F1 career, Alonso has also claimed 22 pole positions and 97 podiums. AFP

JR Aguilar (8) and John Santos (10) of JRU Heavy Bombers try to block the undergoal attempt of Perpetual Altas rookie transferee Kim Aurin (35) in a game won by the Las Piñas City-based squad, 78-72.

second win in a row and fourth overall against two defeats, good for joint third with the Knights.

If they beat the Cardinals (2-5) in their 2 p.m. showdown, the Las Pinas-based dribblers will move to solo third.

Edgar Charcos spewed a game-high 25 points, while AJ Coronel and Jelo Razon

hit three straight triples late to help seal the win.

Perpetual Help coach Frankie Lim said they will need to continue shooting better to beat Mapua.

“It will be our offense I think. If we come up with good looks, we’ll be okay,” said Lim.

WASHINGTON—Former US Open champions Stan Wawrinka and Svetlana Kuznetsova received wildcards into the event on Tuesday along with two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, tournament organisers announced.

Switzerland’s Wawrinka, who beat Novak Djokovic to win the title in New York in 2016, has dropped to 151st in the world after a knee injury that ruled him out of the second half of last year.

The 33-year-old Kuznetsova, US Open champion as a teenager in 2004, has fought her way up to 88th after battling back from left wrist surgery but missed the July 16 cut-off for direct entry.

Former world number one Azarenka, twice a runner-up to Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows in 2012 and 2013, has yet to return to her best after taking time off for maternity leave and personal matters.

Reigning girls’ singles champion Amanda Anisimova and Claire Liu were also given wildcards, as well as Asia Muhammad, Whitney Osuigwe and France’s Harmony Tan. One final women’s wildcard will be announced at a later date.

Americans Tim Smyczek, Michael Mmoh and Noah Rubin were handed spots in the men’s field, with the other wildcards going to Corentin Moutet, Jason Kubler, Bradley Klahn and Jenson Brooksby.

SINGAPOREAN mixed martial arts star Amir Khan will have his work cut out for him in the co-main event of ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON on Sept. 8 at the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai, China.

Khan will be taking on former ONE Featherweight World Champion and lightweight contender Honorio “The Rock” Banario in a three-round lightweight bout that could have some serious championship implications in ONE Championship’s 77.1-kilogram weight class.

With a talent-rich division that has former champions like Shinya Aoki and Eduard Folayang, as well as top-tier contenders like Ev Ting and Timofey Nastyukhin all chomping at the bit to get their hands on reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Martin Nguyen, Banario is on the brink of contention with five-straight wins. On the other hand, Khan finds himself on the outside looking in.

Khan saw his six-match winning streak get snapped by Nastyukhin last February, displacing him from the list of top contenders in the division.

After a bounce-back win over Sung Jong Lee back in his hometown this past May, the 23-year-old Singaporean dynamo is now looking to start a new winning streak and make his way back to the upper echelon of the lightweight division.

“He is a tough competitor, and recently has become a very well-rounded fighter.” Khan said of his upcoming opponent Banario. “I believe he is at his peak now.”

A known finisher with eight victories via knockout to his name, Khan believes that his striking is far more superior than his heavy-handed Team Lakay counterpart, who has five knockout victories of his own.

“I feel my advantage would be my striking range,” the Evolve MMA product stated. “I am confident that I will be able to outstrike him.”

Banario may have more submission wins to his credit, but Khan feels that he poses a great once the bout goes to the grappling wheelhouse.

“I definitely will have a huge advantage on the ground as well. This will let me dictate the fight and do it on my terms,” Khan confidently expressed.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Asiad gold medalist to get P5M in bonuses

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

A8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018

BUTCH RAMIREZ

By Peter Atencio

Sports Volunteers pose for pictures ahead of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. AFP

Gonzales, pal miss ATP doubles net crown

FIL-AM Ruben Gonzales and partner Nathaniel Lammons of the US failed to sustain their hot charge and dropped a 6-7(6), 3-6 setback to the Polish tandem of Mateusz Kowalczyk and Szymon Walkow in the finals of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger in Sopot, Poland last weekend.

Gonzales and Lammons, who captured the doubles crown in the Hague Open in Scheveningen, the Netherlands last July, posted lopsided victories over R. Olivo and P. Cachin of Argentina, 6-4, 6-2, in the Round of 16, then routed locals K. Drzewiecki and K. Zuk, 6-3, 6-1, in the quarters before breezing to the finals with a ret. win over H. Dellien of Bolivia and M. Cuevas of Uruguay in the semis of the $75,000 tournament.

Despite their failed title drive, Gonzales reached a career-best world ranking of No. 136. He was previously ranked No. 193 in the world at the end of 2017 with the 32-year-old, who has played a total of 20 tournaments in the first half of the season, bracing for more ATP tournaments the rest of the year.

“I would like to congratulate Ruben for making great strides and I am confident he will enter the top 100 this year and compete in the grand slam next year,” said Cebuana Lhuillier president/CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, also the head of Unified Tennis Philippines.

Gonzales, who has represented the country in major tournaments such as the Davis Cup, Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games, and Lammons also reached the semifinal round of the Aamulehti Open in Tampere, Finland and in the Bastad Challenger in Sweden.

With Indonesian Christopher Rungkat as partner, Gonzales also finished second in the Gang Jiang New Area International Tournament in Nanchang, China last April. Gon-

Clarkson-less PH five takes on Kazakhstan W

team

HEN Jordan Clarkson lands in Jakarta, he is not expected to have a hard time blending in with the Philippine national men’s basketball

National team head coach Yeng Guiao expects the Cleveland Cavaliers’ shooting guard to quickly jell with the squad.

“Kung kasing galing naman ni Clarkson makakasama mo, siguro that’s a good problem blending him in,” said Guiao before they left for Jakarta.

Clarkson is heading for Jakarta after the National Basketball Association on Tuesday finally gave its green light allowing him to final play for the Philippine Team.

But he won’t suit up yet as he is expected to arrive about the same time when the Philippines takes on Kazakhstan at 10 a.m. today at the GBK Basketball Hall. Today’s game is a virtual

knockout encounter as the loser is faced with a must-win game against China.

Clarkson debuts for the Philippine team on Aug. 21 when it battles China.

Kazakhstan, the fourth placer during the 2014 Asian Games, fought and lost to the Philippines for the bronze medal in the 1998 Asiad. The nationals, then coached by Tim Cone, was led by Jojo Lastimosa when they won 73-68.

The NBA earlier made it clear that the Asiad is not part of the agreement it has with Fiba on the release of its players.

But the league made a U-turn and decided to grant a one-time exemption to Clarkson and Chinese players Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and Ding

Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks “due to a lack of clear communication of that agreement between the NBA and the Chinese and Philippines Basketball Federations.”

Meanwhile, officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the NBA said they are elated over Clarkson’s participation with the Philippine team in the Asiad.

“After continued communication between the SBP and the NBA over the past few days, we were able to come together to pave the way for Jordan Clarkson to represent the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games,” said officials in the a statement.

“The SBP and the NBA have a longstanding relationship of working together to grow the game of basketball in the Philippines, and we share in the excitement of fans across the country and wish Gilas Pilipinas the very best in Indonesia,” they added. Peter Atencio

Eala claims 2 more international titles

Philippine basketball team head coach Yeng Guiao is shown with his players during their training for the 2018 Asian Games. The nationals battle Kazakhstan today.

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala claimed another international crown when she swept the singles and doubles titles at the ITF European Under 14 circuit in Hasselt, Belgium over the weekend.

These were Eala’s third and fourth crowns on the European circuit after emerging as the winner in two other events in the Netherlands and France.

That’s after she ruled the Bruyninx Young Champions.

In the tournament, the top-seeded Eala trounced fourth seed Geogia Pedone of Italy, 6-0, 6-4, in the finals.

In the doubles, Eala and Laudia Hieteranta, who also had the top seeding, downed fourth seeds Yaroslava Bartasevic of Russia and Malwina Rovinska of Poland, 6-4, 6-3, in the finals.

Eala is expected to reach the Top 40 of this week’s European Under 14 rankings and make it to 150th overall in the world. Peter Atencio

Hot start powers Bayron to 3-way tie for lead BACOLOD—Jay Bayron, whose late rally proved short at Binitin last week, put on a strong start this time, hitting four birdies at the front for a 66 and catching Keanu Jahns and Gerald Rosales in the lead at the start of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Bayron, who charged back from seven down in the final round to within two but lost by five to Justin Quiban in the Bacolod Golf Challenge last week, actually added another birdie on the 10th in windy condition but dropped a stroke on No. 14 and settled for pars the rest of the way.

But that was enough to keep the veteran campaigner from talent-

rich Davao on top with the unfancied Jahns and Rosales with five others just one stroke adrift with 67s and three more another shot back with 68s.

“The greens are in good condition and I had a good run in putting,” said Bayron, hoping to sustain his form all the way to the finish for a crack at the crown and a follow-up to his PGT Asia Manila Southwoods title romp last month.

But with at least 23 others closely bunched together, the hunt for birdies in the next three days is expected to be fierce with Jahns and Rosales likewise raring to prove their worth in the P3.5 million tournament put up by ICTSI. Jahns, one of a slew of emerg-

ing stars seeking a breakthrough win on the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit, fashioned out his 31-35 card in one of the morning flights and stayed in the lead at the end of the long day at the par-70, 6197-yard Marapara layout, short by the pros’ standard but long in challenge with its tight fairways, water hazards and dogleg holes.

While others stuck with their drivers off the mound, the 22-year-old Jahns opted for conservative play, using 3- or 4-irons and producing four quick birdies at the front. But after knocking down another on the 10th, he struggled with club selection as the wind started to blow from various directions.

Jay Bayron on track for a rebound from Binitin setback

A GOLD medallist in the 2018 Asian Games could receive more than P5 million.

Businessman-sportsman Dennis Uy made this assurance through the Siklab Pilipinas Sports Foundation.

The Foundation is offering an Asiad gold medalist P1 million in cash for his achievement.

This will go with the P2 million cash bonus from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the P2 million that the government has promised through Republic Act 10699, which expands the coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches.

The government is also putting up a bonus of P500,000 for a silver medalist and P300,000 for the bronze achiever.

Silver medalists will also have an additional bonus of P500,000 from the Siklab Foundation, on top of the government offer of P1 million and the POC incentive of P500,000.

For the bronze winners, the foundation offers P250,000, to go with the government bonus of P400,000 and P300,000 from the POC, according to spokesman Ed Picson, as announced by POC president Ricky Vargas.

These incentives could go higher when the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation pitches in.Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, back from a threemonth leave of absence, lauded Uy’s desire to help elite athletes in their quest for excellence.

“Uy just wants to help. After the Asiad, he will start spending for potential medalists to the Olympics,” said Ramirez The PSC chief, who will soon fly to Indonesia to cheer Filipino athletes in the Asiad, added that Uy’s support will continue until the 2020 Olympics.

“We want to help fuel the country’s dream of global recognition in sports. Through this incentive, we hope to motivate and inspire our athletes to excel and bring pride to our country,” said Uy in a statement.

With so much support coming in for elite athletes, Ramirez said they can now focus on their work in grassroots sports development and leave the elite program to the Philippine Olympic Committee and the national sports associations.

“I am expecting the hard work on grassroots to greatly affect us. We will continue to do this.

Because by strengthening the grassroots, we will strengthen the elite athletes,” said Ramirez.

Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 2016 silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, a Siklab Atletasponsored athlete, heads the list of Philippine athletes going to the Asiad.

IN BRIEF

Telco regulations need improvement

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the regulatory environment in the telecommunications sector should be improved to pave the way for additional potential players to come in.

Dominguez said the Philippines had the lowest 4G frequency in the region which meant that “the regulations here is not up to par.”

“It is either the law or the regulations. We have to address that first... we have to go down to the basic issues of the industry,” Dominguez said at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum in Malate, Manila.

“If regulatory issues are not resolved, we will end up in the same [current] situation,” Dominguez told reporters.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he wanted to deliver on his promise to provide reliable and affordable telecommunication services to Filipinos, as he pushed for the entry of a new major player to complete with the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.

“A draft terms of reference for the entry of a new, major industry player is at hand. The terms will be fair, reasonable and comprehensive. It will be inclusive so it will be open to all interested private parties, both foreign and local,” Duterte said. Julito G. Rada

Govt wants to end high shipping costs

THE Philippine Competition Commission agreed to investigate excessive charges imposed by international shipping lines.

“We thank the commission led by chairman Arsenio Balisacan and the commissioners, for listening to the plea of exporters and importers. We must put an end to this unfair practice of charging excessive fees as these charges increase the cost,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

A study on potentially avoidable international shipping costs and other charges identified certain fees imposed by some international shipping lines. The study concluded that these costs should be considered part of foreign carriers’ operations and covered under freight costs.

It also said the excessive costs should not be allowed to be incurred by or passed on to local exporters and importers, especially if they did not have any contractual relationship with the foreign carriers.

“We are calling on all international shipping lines to put a halt to these unnecessary charges as these are unfair. Meanwhile we also call on exporters and importers to insist on ‘freight collect’ as this is more advantageous. Finally we shall also call on the Bureau of Internal Revenue to investigate unpaid taxes arising from these charges,” Lopez said. Othel V. Campos

Business

Broadcasters, NTC move to stop illegal radio stations THE Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and the National Telecommunications Communication are stepping up efforts to fight the expected surge of illegal broadcast stations across the country in the run-up to the 2019 midterm elections.

“This is year 2018 and there’s usually a proliferation of illegal broadcast stations leading to election day in May next year,” said Erwin Galang, head of the technical committee and trustee of the KBP. “KBP is again teaming up with the NTC in ensuring that such illegal stations do not operate. There are numerous cases of illegal radio stations reported because of our partnership with the NTC. Once they receive cease and desist order from NTC, they cease operations and just disappear,” Galang said.

Under its mandate, the NTC initiates administrative cases with cease-and-desist orders and show-cause orders against illegal broadcast stations, which historically represent bulk of the administrative cases with the regulatory body.

NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the agency’s previous cooperation and coordination with the KBP has led to the crackdown of fly-by-night broadcast stations, mostly in the provinces, who had victimized unsuspecting candidates to buy airtime for their political advertisements. These illegal broadcasters usually disappear after they received payment for the political ads.

“Historically, we can see a steep increase in the number of cases in broadcast services in relation to unlicensed broadcasts leading to the election campaign period. What we do is we immediately issue cease-and-desist and show-cause orders against these illegal operators, forcing them to shut down their stations, while others simply disappear,” Cabarios said.

Based on the 2017 report of the Commission on Audit, there were 2,054 broadcast services division cases recorded by the NTC. Except for a few cases, the administrative complaints were initiated by the NTC for violations against erring radio stations.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018

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Remittances shrank 4.5% in June M

By Julito G. Rada

ONEY sent home

by Filipinos working overseas shrank 4.5 percent in June from a year ago, after the government ordered the repatriation of workers suffering abuse in the Middle East.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that cash remittances fell to a three-month low of $2.357 billion in June from $2.467 billion a year ago.

This followed a 6.9-percent increase in

May this year and 5.7-percent rise in June 2017.

The countries that registered the biggest declines in cash remittances in June were the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

“The OFW repatriation program of the government may have partly affected the remittance flows for the month.

During the first two months of 2018, a total of 4,149 OFWs were repatriated from UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration also showed that the number of landbased workers deployed to other countries dropped 3.28 percent in 2017 to 1,614,674 million from a year ago.

The number of sea-based workers deployed in 2017 also fell 14.62 percent to 378,072 workers.

Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, fell 4.9 percent in June to $2.615 billion from $2.751 billion a year ago.

Data showed that despite the drop in June, total cash remittances in the first half grew 2.7 percent to $14.179 billion from $13.813 billion in the same period last year.

Cash remittances from land-based workers and sea-based workers rose 2.5 percent and 3.4 percent to $11.2 billion and $3 billion, respectively.

Personal remittances, including noncash items, totaled $15.787 billion in the first six months, up 2.8 percent from $15.364 billion a year earlier.

Cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, UAE, Japan, Qatar, Germany, Hong Kong and Canada accounted for more than 79 percent of total cash remittances in January to June.

Personal remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more grew 2.5 percent to $12.2 billion, while transfers from sea-based workers and land-based workers with short-term contracts increased 3.4 percent to $3.2 billion.

British banking and financial giant Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. said remittances would likely recover in the months ahead after the government lifted the deployment ban to some countries in the Middle East.

Dominguez sees economy growing faster in second half

NGCP designs resilient towers

GRID operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said it is committed to ensuring that its system is resilient from calamities, both manmade and natural, by using resilient transmission tower designs and implementing its disaster response action plans.

NGCP said in a statement disasters affecting the integrity of the country’s transmission grid happen in different instances, but the company invested in disaster preparedness and resiliency plans.

“With NGCP’s comprehensive disaster preparedness, response, and business continuity program, damage brought by natural and manmade disasters to transmission lines and facilities are swiftly and efficiently addressed, to ensure the quick continuation of activities disrupted by the loss of power,” the company said.

The company implemented modern systems to make the network in sync with new technologies since it took charge of the transmission grid’s operations in 2009. It also brought in upgrades on equipment and skills development of its personnel.

“Our goal is to mitigate the impact of power interruptions, enabling Filipinos to conduct activities smoothly and boost industries’ productivity,” the company said. Alena Mae S. Flores

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

NICKEL MINERS’ PROGRAM. Philippine Nickel Industry Association chairman and Marcventures Holdings president Isidro Alcantara Jr. (third from left) presents the collective nickel industry rehabilitation accomplishment and the bamboo plantation program to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu (fourth from left) during the Fourth Forum on the Mining Policy Direction. The industry initiative aims to accelerate the progressive rehabilitation while providing livelihood to host communities. Also shown are (from left) CTP Construction and Mining president Clarence Pimentel Jr., Platinum Group Metals Corp. president Dante Bravo, DMCI Mining president Cesar Simbulan, Carrascal Nickel Corp. president Antonio Co, DMCI Mining vice president Tulsidas Consunji-Reyes and Agata Mining Ventures director of communications Kaycee Crisostomo.

GMA Network registers lower earnings of P1.2b

By Darwin G. Amojelar GMA Network Inc. said it expects “better” financial results in the second semester, after registering a lower net profit in the first six months.

“In spite of challenging market conditions, GMA Network was still able to breach the one billion-peso mark in terms of net income for the first half of 2018. We look forward to seeing the rest of the year with better results for our company,” GMA chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon said.

The broadcast network posted a net income of P1.23 billion in January to June, down 21 percent from P1.55 billion it earned in the same period last year.

GMA said net income in the second quarter amounted to P805.68 million, higher than P710.31 million in the same period last year.

Revenues dropped 6 percent to P7.24 billion from P7.69 billon last year.

Consolidated airtime sales comprised 88 percent of total revenues and reached P6.39 billion, down 7 percent from last year’s P6.86 billion.

“This year saw a notable contraction in television placements from advertisers, which was felt across the broadcasting industry,” GMA said Mixed results were seen among airtime-revenue generating platforms, with radio and regional TV operations managing to pull ahead in their topline year-on-year, while Channel-7 and GNTV-11 had lukewarm sales.

Other revenue sources including international operations, subsidiaries and other businesses tipped at P856 million and generated incremental revenues of P23 million. The segment made up 12 percent of the company’s total revenue pie.

Operating expenses amounted to P5.57 billion, up 0.5 percent from a year earlier.

“The escalation in general and administrative expenses was mitigated by the drop in production spending,” GMA said.

Production cost and talent fees which comprised 53 percent of total operating costs reached P2.92 billion, down 4 percent from P3.04 billion last year.

Gotianun, Lopez groups book higher profits; Ty conglomerate’s income falls

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATES GT Capital Holdings Inc., Filinvest Development Corp. and Lopez Holdings Inc. reported mixed financial results in the first half.

GT Capital said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half net income fell 1 percent to P7.1 billion, as the strong results from its banking, infrastructure and insurance businesses failed to offset the lower income contribution from its automotive business.

“As anticipated, our first-half results reflect the slowdown in the auto industry’s unit sales. This is attributed to the frontloading of orders late last year in anticipation of the Train [Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion] law and the run-out of the previous generation Vios during the second quarter,” GT Capital president Carmelo Maria Luza Bautista said.

“We are expecting that market demand may normalize by the fourth quarter and resume its growth momentum by 2019 due to Toyota Motor Philippines’ new model launches and sufficient inventory. On the other hand, our affiliates Metrobank, Axa Philippines,

Metro Pacific and TFS delivered strong results, mitigating the soft numbers from the auto sector,” Bautista said.

FDC, the listed holding company of the Gotianun family, registered a first-half net income of P7.2 billion, a 45-percent increase from the same period last year.

First-half revenues increased by 12.4 percent to P36.44 billion from P32.44 billion a year earlier. The group’s property business, which includes both the real estate and hotel groups, accounted for 44 percent of total sales, followed by banking with 38 percent.

Power accounted for 11 percent, while sugar business contributed the balance of six percent.

“We believe that our investments in power and infrastructure can yield returns that balance out our more cyclical business segments. Steady and stable revenues from the rental, power, sugar and infrastructure sectors will help to smooth out the waxing and waning of the business cycle. In addition, investing in airport infrastructure will complement our projects in hospitality and BPO rental properties,” FDC president and chief executive Josephine Gotianun Yap said.

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the head of the economic team, said Wednesday the economy will strongly recover in the second half, after growing 6.3 percent in the first semester, or below the official target range of 7 percent to 8 percent.

Dominguez said the economic numbers for the second semester remained “very promising” and that the year’s second-quarter gross domestic product growth of 6 percent was a mere “exception that does not indicate a medium-term trend.”

“Domestic demand remains robust.

Investment flows grew in the first half of this year. Our exports of goods and services recovered to a double-digit growth of 13 percent in the second quarter from 6.5 percent in the previous quarter,” Dominguez said at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum in Malate, Manila.

He said in terms of expenditure, the government’s effort increased to 19.47 percent, representing the highest first semester expenditure effort since 2003.

Dominguez said the government’s revenue effort also improved by 1.47 percentage points to 17.12 percent in the first six months, also the highest first-semester revenue effort since 1946.

The tax effort of 15.23 percent is also the country’s highest first-semester tax effort, he said.

Dominguez attributed this accomplishment to the result of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act and tax administration improvements.

“Our tax effort is now at par with the best-managed economies in the region. It is a tax effort we can very well sustain, especially with the subsequent packages of the comprehensive tax reform program now being deliberated [by the Congress],” Dominguez said.

“The president has stressed the urgency of passing the rest of his tax reform program in his State-of-theNation Address and we hope that Congress would heed his call for the swift approval of the remaining packages,” Dominguez said. Julito G. Rada

CMAP BOARD. Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Emilio Aquino (left) inducts into office the 2018-2019 board directors and officers of the Credit Management Association of the Philippines led by Luis Arriola of St. Jude Media Organization Inc. (second from left) who is on his second term as president. With them are (from left) CMAP vice president Jezreel Pimentel (China Savings Bank), corporate secretary Melinda Clarin (Store Specialists Inc.), treasurer Ma. Cristina Maulion (Directories Philippines Corp.), assistant treasurer Rolinda Maneja (Puregold Finance Inc.), director Ma. Theresa Clara De Leon (Bahay Financial Services Inc.), director Juancho Magpantay (Security Bank Corp.) and director Roderick Vinluan (Quanta Paper Corp.). Not in photo are director Arnaldo Bacabac Jr. (Orix Metro Leasing & Finance Corp.) and director Melinda Alvarez (Phinma Property Holdings Corp.).

B2

Business

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks bounce back; Globe rises T HE stock market rose Wednesday on bargain hunting to end a four-day slump, as investors picked up select stocks that were oversold in previous sessions.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 13.14 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,540.92 on a value turnover of P5.1 billion. Gainers beat losers, 113 to 91, with 60 issues unchanged.

Globe Telecom Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, advanced 3.2 percent to P1,920, while Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., the largest specialty store retailer, surged 5.1 percent to P2.90.

San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. climbed 3.9 percent to P82.05, while parent San Miguel Corp. gained 3

percent to P146.20.

Meanwhile, stocks were weaker in most major Asian markets Wednesday, with Turkey’s financial crisis showing little sign of abating as Ankara hiked tariffs on several US goods in a tit-fortat move.

Following a day of gains on Tuesday, investors were again in a bearish mood, driving down markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai, but the Turkish lira was spared the free-fall of recent sessions.

The main Japanese market, the Nikkei 225, erased early gains to close 0.68 percent down on the day, giving back some of the ground made on Tuesday when it jumped by more than two percent.

The Hang Seng in Hong Kong was off more than 1.5 percent and the losses were even deeper in Shanghai, which was in the red by more than two percent.

However, not all was doom and

gloom in the Asian market, with Seoul’s Kospi and the main Australian market up around 0.5 percent.

The Turkish lira did not suffer the kind of dizzying drops seen in recent days but still experienced some frantic trading when Ankara announced a rise in tariffs for certain US imports.

Turkey’s vice president said the rises were ordered “within the framework of reciprocity in retaliation for the conscious attacks on our economy by the US administration,” as the war of words between the two Nato allies intensified.

Rodrigo Catril, senior foreign exchange strategist at National Australia Bank, said the Turkey crisis was likely to go on for some time.

“It is hard not to see the lira remaining under pressure until we see a material fiscal restraint to cool down the economy, along with a measurable lift in rates by the central bank and a diplomatic resolution to US tensions,”

said the analyst.

The Turkish unit had been under pressure for weeks over growing concerns about the health of the economy but the currency slumped on Friday and Monday, when US President Donald Trump announced Washington was ramping up aluminium and steel tariffs.

In late Asian trading, the lira was at 6.2050 against the dollar, having recovered significantly from the record lows of 7.24 seen on Monday.

Traders fretted that Turkey’s woes could spark contagion into other emerging currencies and also that banks in advanced nations could suffer due to exposure to the Turkish economy.

“While the lira is stabilizing, investors are still concerned that the crisis will spread to other emerging economies and currencies,” said Hikaru Sato, senior technical analyst at Daiwa Securities.

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.75 92.4 2.58 127.2 1.74 33.05 7.99 16.38 14.44 3.83 9.36 0.66 1.54 0.56 73.8 1 12.18 21.2 45.35 198 29.2 199 1,811 84 1.19

59.75 93.5 2.67 129 1.8 33.05 7.99 16.38 14.58 3.83 9.36 0.66 1.54 0.56 75.2 1 12.18 21.2 46.8 200 29.5 201.6 1,855 84 1.19

59.75 92.25 2.58 127 1.72 32.75 7.9 16.38 14.4 3.77 9.36 0.66 1.53 0.55 73.8 0.99 11.58 20.8 45.35 198 29.1 198.7 1,811 83.8 1.19

FINANCIALS 59.75 2,610 93.5 446,340 2.62 10,000 128.7 907,240 1.77 116,000 32.75 64,600 7.9 600 16.38 20,400 14.42 299,900 3.82 148,000 9.36 100 0.66 10,000 1.53 112,000 0.56 168,000 74.3 1,375,470 0.99 436,000 12.1 3,900 20.8 400 45.95 7,000 198 80 29.25 71,900 201.6 159,160 1,855 100 83.8 550 1.19 15,000

155,947.50 41,415,186 26,180 116,472,725 201,640 2,122,900 4,749 334,152 4,324,944 561,730 936 6,600 172,210 92,510 102,157,510.50 432,110 45,288 8,360 322,560 15,860 2,104,125 31,693,346 181,540 46,114 17,850

152,960 -33,750,155 12,136,273 -279,070 291,546 -32,983,297 -146,525 -625,445 16,757,933 -9,220 -

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

35.65 15.98 0.96 1.18 0.235 118.9 3.33 14.66 230 40 20.8 49.9 75.7 1.82 7.7 10.3 15.82 10.78 7.27 7.01 1.7 15.84 63.2 26.8 7.28 13.68 2.4 273.4 5 3.24 13.6 25.5 13.2 18.44 355 0.18 6.89 2.21 4.19 8.9 5.07 1.18 11.9 56.75 6.29 2.59 3.16 1.71 13.1 79.8 5.29 0.126 1.07 135 2.44 20.5 1.5

35.7 15.98 1.17 1.23 0.244 118.9 3.4 14.9 230 41 20.9 49.9 75.95 1.85 7.7 10.44 15.82 10.82 7.34 7.04 1.7 15.94 63.3 27.9 7.3 13.8 2.43 275 5.1 3.38 13.6 25.7 13.28 19.08 360 0.18 6.89 2.22 4.2 8.92 5.16 1.2 11.92 56.95 6.29 2.68 3.21 1.76 13.16 83.6 5.39 0.126 1.07 135.2 2.44 20.5 1.5

35.25 15.6 0.95 1.17 0.235 118.9 3.32 14.66 230 39.55 20.8 49 72.3 1.82 7.7 10.24 15.6 10.48 7.26 7 1.7 15.8 63 26.8 7.22 13.6 2.35 270 5 3.23 13.5 25.35 12.94 18.3 354.8 0.18 6.88 2.17 4.14 8.85 5.03 1.18 11.74 56.5 6.11 2.5 3.11 1.71 13.1 79.2 5.2 0.125 1.06 134 2.41 20.5 1.46

INDUSTRIAL 35.65 1,450,400 15.98 970,800 1 131,483,000 1.21 256,000 0.238 940,000 118.9 10 3.36 2,824,000 14.7 77,700 230 10 41 346,800 20.8 5,400 49.7 600 75.8 1,060 1.84 59,000 7.7 800 10.26 3,532,600 15.82 616,900 10.5 103,400 7.33 506,800 7.01 6,536,800 1.7 1,000 15.86 1,800,500 63.2 363,010 27.05 78,500 7.22 119,500 13.8 128,700 2.35 960,000 274 334,270 5.05 12,400 3.33 89,000 13.5 300 25.45 379,700 13.2 757,000 18.8 4,154,700 358 88,880 0.18 50,000 6.88 2,200 2.17 11,823,000 4.15 35,000 8.9 547,800 5.08 67,700 1.18 962,000 11.92 36,000 56.5 173,440 6.12 27,300 2.67 1,670,000 3.21 23,000 1.73 30,000 13.14 31,000 82.05 1,747,890 5.21 188,100 0.125 1,360,000 1.06 38,000 134.6 934,790 2.41 1,054,000 20.5 1,400 1.47 1,328,000

51,621,755 15,423,774 138,921,270 302,380 223,890 1,189 9,519,360 1,142,306 2,300 13,897,850 112,550 29,810 79,994 108,270 6,160 36,219,404 9,748,934 1,105,906 3,709,997 45,830,799 1,700 28,556,708 22,941,915 2,160,470 870,315 1,758,844 2,294,160 91,082,190 62,110 293,470 4,060 9,664,685 9,873,396 77,649,334 31,838,092 9,000 15,146 26,009,660 146,280 4,870,714 342,433 1,137,220 427,594 9,833,123 167,289 4,336,090 73,060 51,610 407,340 143,104,746 ( 982,268 170,660 40,400 125,855,492 2,552,160 28,700 1,950,220

-28,998,510 4,548,902 -785,780 59,890 -4,280,060 -601,012 -20,500 -14,930 9,200 -2,684,048 -2,157,398 -23,312 -240,283 -11,855,905 26,326,208 -18,791,967 -2,700 -513,190 538,910 -2,150,802 -56,070 -5,053,285 -4,654,954 -39,025,288 -4,228,582 -1,207,790 -20,760 -230,004 -5,880 -7,049,138.50 -43,651 -140,240 103,826 30,290,947.5) 470,890 -198,560 -28,700 -119,170

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

0.295 57.9 12.38 0.96 6 32 1.43 1.42 938 6.04 11.5 6.92 5.6 0.207 950 6.16 53.5 5.16 0.6 4.27 17.58 0.63 4.78 3.49 0.037 1.37 2.73 2.84 142 2.58 928 0.75 1.58 427 257 0.32 0.219

0.3 58.8 12.46 0.96 6.1 36.65 1.44 1.43 949 6.09 11.72 7 5.6 0.207 950 6.3 53.65 5.59 0.6 4.42 17.84 0.67 4.86 3.6 0.038 1.46 2.78 2.84 147.4 2.58 940 0.81 1.58 428 257 0.355 0.219

0.285 57.5 12.2 0.96 6 32 1.31 1.32 937 6.04 11.5 6.92 5.6 0.206 910 6.03 52.4 5.16 0.56 4.26 17.4 0.63 4.71 3.49 0.037 1.35 2.73 2.65 141.9 2.57 928 0.75 1.58 411 257 0.32 0.219

3,551,250 33,138,645 27,760,936 960 277,765 29,504,540 3 62,393,130 15,816,470 172,291,355 7,117,872 14,850,726 242,312 5,600 92,800 121,224,155 112,478 32,921,245 3,311 308,510 5,323,500 8,715,518 3,673,410 40,697,520 35,070 104,600 5,775,020 1,925,770 37,520 122,570,003 1,220,810 134,466,955 148,400 63,200 62,700 7,710 15,064,550 ( 2,190

-586,193 -12,335,408 266,965 ,357,024.9998 684,700 -24,611,735 -505,538 -131,338 -54,568,225 -25,183,456 11,010.00 -116,270 -4,241,478 -11,968,070 -14,850 40,950 14,443,130 -61,683,115 172,499.9999) -

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

7.8 0.99 13.12 1.96 0.73 40.5 3.09 4.64 5.58 6.5 0.45 0.95 1.01 0.22 0.395 9.86 26.8 0.59 0.132 1.47 1.2 1.49 4.85 0.61 0.465 0.5 3.6 35.35

7.94 1.03 13.5 1.96 0.79 41.35 3.1 4.64 5.58 6.5 0.45 0.95 1.04 0.233 0.4 9.93 27.25 0.59 0.132 1.49 1.22 1.59 4.87 0.62 0.465 0.51 3.69 35.35

7.77 0.99 13.12 1.96 0.72 40.5 3.03 4.6 5.57 6.5 0.445 0.94 0.98 0.218 0.395 9.7 26.6 0.59 0.132 1.47 1.2 1.47 4.8 0.61 0.445 0.5 3.6 35.35

12,770,385 3,231,950 737,474 45,080 4,184,420 231,726,010 1,408,170 862,330 180,472 650 2,346,050 282,950 1,352,410 6,851,620 207,900 2,595,728 3,972,995 244,260 2,640 14,776,640 109,550 8,915,900 48,950,310 13,568,880 4,162,750 562,400 2,460,910 3,535

-3,300,798 -223,310 6,611,655 -255,150 -331,200 -73,120 3,904 -325,195 -3,369,610 -117,140 17,951,460 114,040 -982,080 -

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

20.5 1.99 3.17 36 1.15 7.33 0.76 6.05

20.5 1.99 3.21 36.7 1.15 7.39 0.76 6.46

20.2 1.96 3.17 35.55 1.14 7.26 0.76 6.02

20.3 1.99 3.17 35.7 1.15 7.32 0.76 6.4

1,556,100 320,000 178,000 7,394,400 83,000 302,200 27,000 4,337,900

31,576,790 633,150 567,750 265,128,335 94,950 2,206,781 20,520 27,181,618

-22,331,820 -85,680 -174,329,245 -385,770 -2,508,459

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA 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 MLA BRDCASTING 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

14.24 24.85 1.47 0.47 0.046 14.68 5 10.04 0.06 70 8.46 6.68 8.9 2.2 25.95 905 1,860 5.42 310.2 12.64 3.82 2.07 88 12.3 7.6 0.125 2.93 3.64 15.02 3.95 1.06 20.05 0.44 5.15 6.93 2.75 2.22 2.19 18.2 8.5 10.82 8.54 3.72 8.99 110 5.28 1,350 0.9 0.395 44.5 83.1 8.28 2.34 1.02 0.69 5.05 0.79 11.8

14.24 25 1.47 0.47 0.046 14.68 5.8 10.16 0.066 70.95 8.68 6.81 8.9 2.3 25.95 910 1,920 5.46 328.4 12.64 3.89 2.18 90.8 12.32 7.85 0.127 2.95 3.79 15.04 4.06 1.06 20.8 0.465 5.35 7.17 3.04 2.24 2.2 18.2 8.52 11.32 8.54 3.72 8.99 111.9 5.3 1,370 0.9 0.395 44.6 83.1 8.28 2.35 1.03 0.69 5.07 0.79 12

13.84 24.35 1.43 0.46 0.044 14.68 5 9.7 0.059 70 8 6.68 8.45 2.2 25 905 1,860 5.4 310.2 12.64 3.79 2.07 88 12.3 7.6 0.125 2.78 3.63 14.9 3.9 1.03 19.4 0.435 5.15 6.8 2.75 2.1 2.06 18 8.37 10.62 8.5 3.48 8.99 110 5.25 1,350 0.88 0.375 43.85 80.85 8.28 2.24 0.98 0.64 5.01 0.76 11.78

SERVICES 13.84 24.8 1.43 0.465 0.044 14.68 5.7 9.7 0.066 70.3 8 6.7 8.5 2.25 25 910 1,920 5.43 327 12.64 3.8 2.07 89.5 12.32 7.85 0.126 2.78 3.72 15.04 3.9 1.06 19.5 0.465 5.31 6.9 2.9 2.2 2.19 18 8.4 11 8.5 3.48 8.99 110.1 5.29 1,350 0.88 0.385 44.1 81.45 8.28 2.26 1.01 0.66 5.05 0.78 11.82

7,200 91,000 353,000 1,700,000 1,900,000 100 529,400 19,862,400 155,220,000 157,760 23,800 703,500 144,500 25,000 108,700 70 380,215 39,800 3,890 100 844,000 36,000 1,245,180 5,500 30,100 1,620,000 4,998,000 105,000 7,300 1,219,000 74,000 1,327,500 210,000 168,500 4,278,600 55,137,000 569,000 20,000 200 1,071,900 382,900 25,900 31,000 100 1,660 117,300 49,745 3,992,000 760,000 4,385,500 412,650 6,700 4,182,000 4,608,000 51,490,000 495,500 4,117,000 2,712,600

100,508 2,250,825 504,830 787,600 85,600 1,468 3,044,874 194,837,689 9,696,830 11,086,849 191,876 4,718,372 1,270,810 56,350 2,745,140 63,400 719,614,765 216,494 1,260,752 1,264 3,227,080 77,070 111,221,061.50 67,668 232,535 204,590 14,210,170 390,180 109,734 4,778,900 77,020 26,274,566 91,750 893,015 29,667,444 154,493,120 1,223,850 42,540 3,620 9,022,078 4,221,216 220,292 109,070 899 182,738 618,428 67,318,010 3,545,130 293,050 192,941,035 33,521,944 ( 55,476 9,587,320 1 4,617,580 34,109,580 2,495,147 3,164,360 32,291,366

14,000 -120,054,393 427,420 -4,975,653.50 65,491 53,760 85,000 11,100 83,887,440 87,920 3,333,273.50 6,350 -248,450 -749,580 -312,000 2,159,063 -192,690 66,660 -16,380 139,819 -138,074 9,995,230 1,104,710 -3,950 -32,452,710 24,243,623.5) ,318,670.0002 -792,750 491,650 -540,922 28,020 7,655,476

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

0.0026 1.55 3.91 21 1.58 2.01 0.3 7.3 2 0.203 0.123 0.128 0.0087 1.5 4.77 1.14 0.56 1.12 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.12 4.25 14.82 31.35

0.0026 1.58 3.91 21.2 1.58 2.02 0.3 7.4 2 0.206 0.124 0.128 0.0087 1.53 4.81 1.15 0.56 1.13 0.013 0.014 0.012 3.24 4.25 14.98 31.35

0.0025 1.55 3.67 20.5 1.58 1.99 0.295 7.2 1.98 0.203 0.123 0.128 0.0083 1.47 4.67 1.11 0.56 1.06 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.05 4.18 14.04 30.35

MINING & OIL 0.0026 19,000,000 1.55 981,000 3.67 331,000 20.5 26,200 1.58 1,000 2.02 1,679,000 0.3 360,000 7.29 25,700 1.99 729,000 0.206 170,000 0.124 2,300,000 0.128 1,000,000 0.0083 2,000,000 1.48 735,000 4.68 2,635,000 1.14 224,000 0.56 106,000 1.09 3,931,000 0.013 687,600,000 0.013 1,000,000 0.012 414,700,000 3.12 428,000 4.18 1,778,000 14.08 4,435,800 30.8 1,741,800

49,300 1,535,360 1,220,930 545,600 1,580 3,362,790 107,250 186,303 1,449,920 34,830 282,920 128,000 17,000 1,101,790 12,425,380 253,820 59,360 4,227,570 8,937,700 13,100 4,976,400 1,342,860 7,478,230 63,580,992 53,641,160

-1,570 -66,340 -149,100 9,900 69,120 3,898,330 34,980 -54,000 -457,190 869,746 -38,760,760

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

25.2 499 101.5 106.4 501 5.32 99.7 1.04 102.5 1,028 103.9 980 77 79.95 76.6 75.4 75.8 75.25

25.25 500 101.5 106.4 501 5.32 99.7 1.04 102.5 1,028 103.9 1,000 77 79.95 76.6 75.5 75.8 75.25

24.25 499 100.9 106.4 501 5.32 99.7 1.04 102 1,028 103.9 980 77 79.95 76.6 75.15 75.8 75.25

PREFERRED 24.8 38,600 500 2,030 101.5 1,074,600 106.4 980 501 500 5.32 100 99.7 10,000 1.04 70,000 102.5 20,080 1,028 1,000 103.9 20 1,000 2,110 77 50 79.95 10 76.6 1,100 75.5 32,560 75.8 1,000 75.25 25,000

962,220 1,013,970 108,427,410 104,272 250,500 532 997,000 72,800 2,057,956 1,028,000 2,078 2,087,800 3,850 799.5 84,260 2,448,935.50 75,800 1,881,250

413,550 -

LR WARRANT

2.36

2.38

2.31

WARRANTS 2.37 50,000

116,710

MS

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 12,140,000 58.6 569,790 12.3 2,259,400 0.96 1,000 6.1 45,600 35.85 847,100 1.33 45,420,000 1.34 11,595,000 941 183,140 6.04 1,176,100 11.7 1,272,900 7 35,000 5.6 1,000 0.206 450,000 910 132,320 6.07 18,400 53 621,970 5.59 600 0.6 526,000 4.3 1,235,000 17.6 495,500 0.66 5,641,000 4.73 8,564,000 3.6 10,000 0.038 2,800,000 1.46 4,073,000 2.78 699,000 2.84 14,000 146.2 840,360 2.57 475,000 928 144,610 0.8 187,000 1.58 40,000 428 150 257 30 0.34 44,260,000 0.219 10,000 PROPERTY 7.8 1.03 13.3 1.96 0.77 41.1 3.03 4.6 5.57 6.5 0.45 0.94 0.99 0.218 0.4 9.77 26.7 0.59 0.132 1.47 1.22 1.56 4.8 0.61 0.455 0.51 3.63 35.35

1,626,200 3,184,000 54,700 23,000 5,445,000 5,649,600 461,000 187,000 32,400 100 5,250,000 301,000 1,360,000 30,390,000 520,000 265,600 148,000 414,000 20,000 10,024,000 91,000 5,766,000 10,157,000 22,194,000 9,270,000 1,107,000 677,000 100

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.1 3.1 3.06

5.13 3.1 3.08

5.01 3.1 2.87

FIRST METRO ETF

112.5

112.8

112.4

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.2 10 1.01

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

10.2 10 1.01

SHARES 5,554,212

INDUSTRIAL

189,309,589

HOLDING FIRMS

146,895,873

PROPERTY

141,986,807

SERVICES

332,161,678

MINING & OIL

1,148,568,191

GRAND TOTAL

1,973,110,310

10.2 9.8 1.01

5.05 3.1 2.91

SME

1,017,600 1,000 7,608,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 112.5 6,110 10.2 9.8 1.01

DDS

11,090 2,500 1,200

5,124,796 3,100 22,353,080

150,800 -4,489,610

687,629

2,252

113,118 24,894 1,212

-

VALUE 1,820.00 (up) 18.11 452,645,907.27 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,014.02 (up) 63.58 1,043,676,839.07 HOLDING FIRMS 7,413.69 (up) 4.33 867,162,275.45 PROPERTY 3,703.43 (down) 2.21 1,499.83 (down) 4.84 863,344,075.88 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,903.36 (down) 155.55 1,699,562,686.33 PSEI 7,540.92 (up) 13.14 166,985,254.645 All Shares Index 4,595.05 (up) 16.13 5,121,549,603.88 Gainers: 113; Losers: 91; Unchanged: 60; Total: 264

PAL Holdings to restructure equity ahead of new partner

By Darwin G. Amojelar PAL Holdings Inc. said it will undergo equity restructuring to partially erase its deficit in preparation for the entry of a new strategic investor.

The parent firm of Philippine Airlines informed the stock exchange it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a request for equity restructuring specifically to use its additional paid-in capital of P25.33 billion as of December 2017 to partially wipe out a deficit of P29.07 billion.

PAL earlier said it was confident of closing a deal with a new strategic investor this year and was expecting to sell up to 40 percent to the new investor.

The airline, now wholly-owned by tycoon Lucio Tan after buying back a 49-percent stake that San Miguel Corp. purchased from him in 2012, reported a total comprehensive loss of P444.78 million in the January-to-June period, up 59 percent from P279.79 million year-on-year.

The company also booked a comprehensive loss of P243.11 million in the second quarter of the year from a net profit of P254.28 million a year ago.

The country’s flag carrier posted total revenues of P75.13 billion in the first half of the year, up 13.3 percent from P66.31 billion on year.

PAL Holding’s total expenses rose 15 percent to P75.57 billion from the previous year’s same period of P65.61 billion primarily due to the increase in flights mounted.

The company attributed the increase in expenses mainly to higher flying operations, aircraft and traffic servicing, reservations and sales and passenger service expenses.

PAL Holdings said the 22-percent increase in flying operations over last year’s same period total of P33.70 billion was mainly due to the surge in fuel cost.

PAL’s fuel expenses increased 27 percent as a result of the escalation in average price per barrel of aviation fuel from $74.99 in 2017 to $91.08 in 2018.

Q2 net income of 8990 Holdings surged by 200%

By Jenniffer B. Austria MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. said Wednesday secondquarter net income surged nearly 200 percent to P1.38 billion from P469.2 million year-on-year on strong sales of housing projects across the country.

The strong second-quarter earnings lifted the group’s first-half results to a net profit of P2.39 billion, up 96 percent from P1.22 billion on year.

First-half revenues climbed 98 percent to P6 billion from P3.04 billion a year ago This is equivalent to 4,159 homes or almost double the 2,216 homes delivered in the first half of 2017.

“We are thrilled to report that we were able to exceed our internal targets. This makes me even more confident that we will hit our P11.5 billion revenue goal by the end of the year,” 8900 Holdings president and chief executive Willie Uy said.

Unrealized sales as of June stood at P709 million, which the company expects to book in the second half of 2018.

Sales of mass housing projects contributed 59 percent to the total revenues, while sales of medium-rise and high-rise buildings combined delivered 41 percent.

The National Capital Region accounted for 32 percent of the total revenues followed by Iloilo and Bacolod, as new projects in the region generated 19 percent of the total.

8990 Holdings said the management’s thrust to focus increasing cost efficiencies resulted in a 2.3-percent decline in operating expenses to P723 million from P740.8 million in the first half of 2017.

Net income margin as a result hit 39.8 percent, higher than the 2018 target of 38 percent.

“Historically, across the real estate sector, the second quarter is usually a slow period but we have seen that this is not the case for 8990 as we continue to bring something that goes beyond just mere affordability. More importantly, we deliver value for money homes to hard working Filipinos,” Uy said.

Business/World Boracay rehabilitation should serve as model THE re-opening of Boracay Island on October 26 is probably the most awaited development in the tourism sector. Rehabilitation works are still ongoing in the famous island destination and if regulations and environmental laws are strictly enforced, Boracay should have no problem in shedding the cesspool tag given by President Rodrigo Duterte before he ordered its closure.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu, who is also the chairperson of the Boracay Task Force, is the most upbeat about Boracay’s re-opening. He says visitors can expect a “new and improved” Boracay Island, adding the island’s white beach is already “very clean” and safe for swimming.

“Categorically, I am telling you that Boracay is no longer a cesspool,” said Cimatu. President Duterte earlier warned that he would permanently shut down the island, a popular tourist attraction, if it did not clean up in six months.

Boracay’s clean-up, however, will not be complete if the DENR and the government do not penalize all the establishments that violated the environmental laws in the island. Several stakeholders and concerned parties are also wondering if the erring establishments will continue to operate once the island opens. Are they now compliant with environmental laws?

If they are not, all of the rehabilitation works done during Boracay’s closure would have been for naught. Concerned government agencies, perhaps, should place these erring establishments under a sort of probation over the next six months, or until they are able to prove their compliance to environmental laws of the island.

New responsible players In the meantime, the government should open the ... Boracay is no development of Boracay to new longer a cesspool, players with a good track record the hotel and entertainment says DENR Secretary inindustry.

The government, the DENR and the Department of Roy Cimatu Tourism should carefully identify and welcome companies with a track record of building quality and environmentally sustainable facilities in developing projects in Boracay. Boracay should focus more on attracting higher spending, quality tourists, and not simply go for quantity. The slew of hotels and restaurants that degraded Boracay should serve as lessons in the master-planning of Boracay.

One company, Hong Kong-listed Galaxy Entertainment Group, is initially getting negative publicity after it unveiled a plan to develop a high-end resort project in Boracay. GEG, contrary to the criticisms it received, wants to complement Boracay’s natural beauty with the development of a world class, eco-friendly, lowdensity premium villa-centric resort, with not more than 180 keys. GEG’s plan is consistent with the government’s goal of environmental and sustainable tourism development for Boracay and other island destinations.

GEG, with an investment pledge of $300 million to $500 million and a goof track record, has committed to deliver a premium product that could help to further elevate the position of Boracay as one of the top island destinations in the world. GEG promised to support the upgrade of the island’s tourism industry, benefiting the local economy’s development and employment opportunities, while also helping to ensure that the island’s natural qualities are maintained and sustained for the enjoyment of future visitors to the island.

Wrong notion GEG’s proposed project is clearly being opposed by casino operators in the island. The GEG resort will actually have a casino among its amenities. But this is an amenity of interest to the target premium, high-value and high-spending customers that GEG plans to source from its client base. The resort casino, which will principally cater to the entertainment needs of the resort guests, will only be a fraction of the size of the casinos operating in Entertainment City.

GEG said it will be greatly disappointed but will respect and accept the decision of the government if it prevents the project from proceeding.

President Duterte’s decision to temporarily close Boracay was long overdue. Its rehabilitation and sustainable development should serve as model to other island destinations that similarly suffer from environmental degradation. But there should be a clear and consistent plan on the development of Boracay and other tourism islands to avoid the same mistakes. It should be ideal to preserve the allure of Boracay and the other islands in the Philippines.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard.net or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Death toll rises to 35 in Italy bridge collapse

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ENOA-A frantic search was underway Wednesday for the survivors under the shattered remains of a motorway bridge in Genoa as the death toll rose to 35 and investigators probed what caused the catastrophic collapse.

A vast span of the Morandi bridge caved in during a heavy rainstorm in the northern port city on Tuesday, sending about 35 cars and several trucks plunging 150 feet onto the railway tracks below.

“Unfortunately, the toll has risen to 35 in the Genoa tragedy, including three children aged eight, 12 and 13 years old,” Interior Minister Matteo Salvini

said, praising firefighters who worked tirelessly through the night.

Rescuers recovered three bodies overnight, fire official Emanuele Gissi told AFP, after scouring the scene of devastation under floodlights.

“All accessible spaces have been explored, now we are moving the largest pieces of debris,” Gissi said, adding that two large cranes were being brought to the site to assist the operation.

“We cannot know if there are survivors remaining, but it’s our job to search,” he said, adding that the rescue operation would take days.

Sources in the interior ministry told Italian media that 16 people were wounded, including 12 in serious condition.

The collapse came as the bridge was undergoing maintenance work and as the Liguria region, where Genoa is situated, experienced torrential rainfall.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella said a “catastrophe” had hit Genoa and the whole of Italy.

AFTER THE ACCIDENT. This general view taken on August 15, 2018, shows

abandoned vehicles on the Morandi motorway bridge after a section collapsed in the northwestern Italian city of Genoa, killing at least 30 people on August 14. AFP

Putin ready to meet N. Korean leader Kim ‘at an early date’ SEOUL―Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “at an early date”, the North’s state media reported Wednesday, amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula.

Putin invited Kim and the South’s President Moon Jae-in in June to an economic forum in Vladivostok next month although it is not known whether the North Korean leader responded to the invitation.

In a message to Kim on the North’s National Liberation Day―marking the end of Japanese rule over Korea at the end of the Second World War―Putin reiterated his intention for a summit.

“I affirm that I am ready to meet you at an early date to discuss urgent issues of bilateral relations and important matters of the region,” Putin said in a message carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency.

The message did not offer a specific date for the meeting.

Putin expressed hopes to further develop “reciprocal cooperation including the realization of the tripartite project”

that would also involve South Korea.

In his daily briefing for journalists on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin sent the telegram in which he “stressed his desire and readiness to establish a dialogue.”

Asked about a possible meeting between the two leaders in Vladivostok, Peskov said the economic forum is “open for all the leaders of the region” but added that Moscow has “so far” not received confirmation from Pyongyang that Kim Jong Un will attend.

Kim also sent a message to Putin, KCNA reported, noting the “valuable tradition” of their joint wartime struggle against Japan was the “strong roots” of their bilateral relations.

The message gave no response to Putin’s invitation, although KCNA did not make it clear if Kim’s message came before or after the letter from Moscow.

The rapid diplomatic thaw on the Korean Peninsula since the Winter Olympics has seen Kim meet with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in twice, as well as Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. AFP

Birmingham man behind UK parliament car attack LONDON―The man arrested for driving into a barrier protecting the Houses of Parliament in a suspected terror attack was a Briton of Sudanese origin from Birmingham, media reports said Wednesday.

Three people were injured when the silver Ford Fiesta drove into cyclists before crashing to a halt outside the House of Lords early on Tuesday morning.

A 29-year-old British man driving the car was arrested at the scene, and named by newspapers as Salih Khater, from the central English city of Birmingham.

Top police counter-terrorism officer Neil Basu said the suspect was not known to intelligence agencies, but The Times reported he was known to police.

The paper reported that Khater is a

shop manager in Birmingham and had studied at Sudan University of Science and Technology, citing his Facebook page.

Abubakr Ibrahim, a childhood friend, told the paper: “He is not a terrorist. I have known him since childhood. He is a good man.”

He said Khater was the son of sorghum farmers, and had moved to Britain about five years ago in order to earn money to help his family.

The member of parliament for the Hall Green area of Birmingham, Roger Godsiff, tweeted that the suspect was believed to have been from his area.

Police also said on Tuesday they were carrying out searches at two addresses in the city, as well as an address in near-

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

by Nottingham.

Police believe the Ford Fiesta traveled down to London on Monday night, arriving just after midnight.

It then drove around the Tottenham Court Road area―near Oxford Street― before heading to the area around parliament around 6:00am (0500 GMT).

The alleged attack took place around 7:30am.

The car crashed into a security barrier, one of many erected on key British sites in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attack in the US, and reinforced in recent years.

Last year, barriers were put on London’s bridges after a man rammed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing into barriers out-

side parliament and stabbing a police officer to death.

Five people were killed and more than 50 wounded. The attacker, Khalid Masood, who had also been living in Birmingham, was shot dead at the scene.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Wednesday that he backed the idea of banning vehicles from parts of the area of the attack.

“I’ve been an advocate for a while now of part-pedestrianizing Parliament Square,” he told BBC radio.

But he warned any changes must not lose “the wonderful thing about our democracy which is people having access to parliamentarians, people being able to lobby Parliament, visitors being able to come and visit”. AFP

“Italians have the right to modern and efficient infrastructure that accompanies them safely through their everyday lives,” Mattarella said in a statement.

Rescuers scoured through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, as rescue helicopters winched survivors on stretchers from the ruined bridge.

Between firefighters police and other emergency service, around a thousand people have been mobilized in the rescue effort, according to the Civil Protection service.

As cars and trucks tumbled off the bridge, Afifi Idriss, 39, a Moroccan lorry driver, just managed to come to a halt in time.

“I saw the green lorry in front of me stop and then reverse so I stopped too, locked the truck and ran,” he told AFP. Others that plunged down with the bridge managed to escape unscathed, including a former goalkeeper for Italian Serie A club Cagliari. AFP

IN BRIEF Greek fire death toll at 96, say officials

ATHENS―The death toll from Greece’s deadliest fire disaster rose to 96 after one more victim died in hospital, the fire brigade said early on Wednesday.

Reports said the latest casualty was a 68-year-old man, a day after a 63-year-old man died.

More than 20 people are still hospitalized after the July 23 wildfire in the coastal resort of Mati near Athens, several in critical condition.

Four senior officials including the minister responsible for the police and the heads of the police and fire brigade have been removed from their posts.

The government had insisted that with winds blowing at speeds of up to 120 kilometers an hour, there was little time to mount an effective evacuation.

It later emerged that the police had failed to properly seal off the area because the fire brigade had not alerted them to the location and size of the blaze.

As a result, many drivers were inadvertently diverted into Mati’s narrow streets and trapped.

Residents fleeing the flames with just the clothes on their backs were also left unaided on the beaches for hours.

A judicial investigation into possible faults by state officials is under way. AFP

Turkey raises tariffs on several US imports

ANKARA―Turkey is raising the tariffs on certain US products in response to American sanctions on Ankara that caused the value of the lira to plunge, a decree published Wednesday said.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said that the rises were ordered “within the framework of reciprocity in retaliation for the conscious attacks on our economy by the US administration”.

The hikes were published in Turkey’s Official Gazette in a decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The move comes after US President Donald Trump announced that the United States was doubling steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, as the two NATO allies row over the detention by Turkish authorities of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

The tensions and the tariff hike by the United States have caused the Turkish lira to bleed value, fanning fears the country is on the verge of an economic crisis that could spillover into Europe.

Erdogan has repeatedly described the crisis as an “economic war” that Turkey will win.

The tariff increases amount to a doubling of the existing rate, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, in an apparent parallel response to Trump’s move.

The decree said the move brought tariffs to 50 percent on imports of US rice to 140 percent on hard alcoholic drinks like spirits, 60 percent in leaf tobacco and 60 percent on cosmetics. AFP

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

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23 barangays in QC drug-free, says vice mayor

By Rio N. Araja TWeNTY-ThRee barangays in Quezon City are already free of illegal drugs, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Wednesday.

“We can see from the data that there was an increase in the number of those who surrendered. From 21, we now have 23 drug-cleared barangays,” said Belmonte, who leads the city’s AntiDrug Abuse Council.

In June 2017, Mayor herbert Bautista announced 21 out of 142 barangays had been classified as drug-free.

“We are happy with this because it’s not easy to declare that a barangay is drug-free. It’s a very long process with lots of requirements, so we are happy that our barangays have the motivation and initiative to continue and maintain our campaign against illegal drugs,” the vice mayor added.

To be declared drug-free by the Philippine Drug enforcement Agency, a committee must validate the non-availability of the supply of illegal drugs in the barangay, the absence of drug transit, storage, and production operations, and the loss of users and pushers.

It is working closely with the local government against illegal drug activities in accordance with the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation of 2017, or the “Strengthening the Implementation of the Barangay Drug-Clearing Program.”

Marikina mayor asks DENR to cancel quarries MARIKINA City Mayor Marcy Teodoro has appealed to the Department of environment and Natural Resources to immediately revoke permits of quarry operators and not just suspend quarrying operations.

Teodoro said the suspension order of the DeNR on quarrying operations is a welcome development, as he asked government to take it a notch higher and cancel the permits of irresponsible businessmen who are making money at the expense of Mother Nature and their city.

“It should be suspended, but permits should also be revoked. We asked that of Special Assistant to the President Bong Go when we talked to him. We in Marikina City are paying for the mismanagement ng upstream communities,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro said his city has been suffering from devastating floods in recent years.

“This is a backlash of the failure to take care of the environment,” he said. environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has directed the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for a stoppage of all quarry operations pending investigation on the claim that flooding is caused by quarrying, DeNR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said Monday.

Rafa Dinglasan, a resident of Provident Village in Marikina City, lashed out at the government for its failure to curb illegal quarrying operations.

Dinglasan was among the thousands of Marikina City residents affected by the floods, as his two-story house was submerged in floodwaters.

“We are pitiful, while illegal quarrying operators eat well and sleep well, without regard to the dangers they cause to us ordinary citizens, as long as they keep earning,” an emotional Dinglasan said.

WOMEN POWER.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Administration Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (center) receives her certificate of recognition as Junior Chamber International ‘Pinay Power’ awardee for Region 3 with (from left) JCI Olongapo VP for Community Ruth Devillena, VP for Business Jen Angeles, JCI Olongapo president Almira Ramos, and John Ceperes.

Butch Gunio

FOR MAKATIZENS. Makati Mayor Abby Binay inspects one of the evacuation partition rooms as modular tents set up at the evacuation center in Barangay Olympia on Tuesday, accompanied by Richard Raymund Rodriguez, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer. Each modular tent has mats, blankets and pillows. The evacuation center has a breastfeeding area, a mobile shower and portable toilet trailer with three shower rooms and three ‘portalets,’ a mobile kitchen, and a water filtration system. The city government has also prepared food supplies and emergency packs containing eating utensils, thermal blankets, mats with aluminum insulation, and family-size mosquito nets. Makati has invested heavily in modern DRRM equipment for its advocacy on resilience and sustainability.

Bulacan marks 440th founding anniversary

M

ALOLOS, Bulacan—The historic province of Bulacan celebrated its 440th founding anniversary on Wednesday with pride and honor.

Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a true-blooded Bulakenyo, was the guest speaker in the commemoration rites held in front of the newly-renovated Provincial Capitol building in this city.

Galvez joined provincial officials headed by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Vice Governor Daniel R. Fernando, as well as the capitol employees and other Bulakenyos in the activity.

August 15 was declared a special nonworking holiday in the province to give Bulakenyos time to remember and celebrate the importance of Bulacan Day.

“There’s no other way to go back but the town, the province you can call your own home because it is part of who we are. We are Bulakenyos and we are the children of the great province of Bulacan. Nobody else will defend and prosper it but we,” Alvarado said.

The celebration began with a holy Mass at 8 a.m., followed by a flagraising ceremony, oath to the national flag, and wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Marcelo h. del Pilar.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jaime Veneracion, a writer, professor, and historian, discussed research on the date the province

was established.

Also, the Bulacan Medical Center, formerly the Bulacan Provincial hospital, is set for an expansion to sufficiently serve the province’s growing population.

Governor Sy-Alvarado, Vice Governor Fernando and health Secretary Francisco T. Duque will lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the 200-bed capacity extension of the BMC on Thursday.

The newly renovated BMC, with a modern 22-bed capacity Intensive Care Unit and centralized nurses’ workstation, began serving Bulakenyos with critical medical conditions this year.

It also has optical coherence tomography (OCT) or “3D eye scan”, 40 hemodialysis machines, two units of CT scan, 2D echo, ultrasound, eNT and X-ray machines. PNA

INAUGURATION. Senator Cynthia Villar delivers a speech during the recent unveiling of the Laguna Provincial Capitol extension at Barangay Halang in Calamba City, Laguna. Roy Tomandao

Napocor still spilling water from San Roque dam

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATe-RUN National Power Corp. on Wednesday announced that it has continued the water spilling operations at the San Roque dam in Pangasinan.

Napocor, in a statement, said water outflow was at 785 cubic meters per second (cms) to bring the water level

into its normal high-water level of 280 meters above sea level (masl).

“Current level of dam as of 10 am [Wednesday] is 285.61 masl and we are closely monitoring the inflow and outflow of water in the dam with the San Roque Power Corp.,” said Conrado Sison, head of Napocor’s Dams Management Department.

“We also maintain coordination with the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for timely advisories for the community,” Sison added.

Napocor said there had been a significant decrease in water elevation to 285.61 masl on Wednesday from 287.18 masl on Tuesday owing to decreased inflow of water to 890 cms from 1342 cms to 890.

Malabon ‘KKC’ to boost city’s nutrition goals The success of the city’s Supplemental Feeding Program greatly improved the nutritional status of the children in Malabon City, leading to its victories in the regional level of the National Nutrition Council Awards.

This year, to give it greater scope and measurable impacts, the program was given enhanced strategies under the name Karinderia para sa Kalusugan ni Chikiting, Mayor Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta III said.

Targeting undernourished kids five years and younger and nutritionally atrisk pregnant women, the Malabon city government, through the KKC, is partnering with karinderias in the community that will cater children for 120 days.

Instead of volunteers or Barangay Nutrition Scholars taking charge in the cooking and preparation of food, partner carinderias will be responsible, added Malabon first lady Chef Melissa Oreta, who is also the City Nutrition Action Officer.

The menu list will be coming from City Nutrition Office and Barangay Nutrition Scholars will take charge in monitoring the program and nutritional status of identified undernourished children, Chef Melissa said.

The City health Office will assign the Sanitation Office to conduct safety and sanitation visit in partner eateries.

Through this setup, carinderia owners together with the Malabon City government and City health Department created a supportive environment that spreads reliable and consistent messages on healthy eating, cooking and nutrition, while achieving lasting positive results for beneficiaries and the entire Malabonian community.

“KKC is hosted in a carinderia setup where the beneficiaries will be gathered in one place to feed for 120 days. At the same time, the carinderia will conduct cooking demonstration and nutrition education. The project not only helps the kids but also the carinderia owners who will be mentored to prepare nutritious meals for children,” said Chef Mel. In the long run, Oreta envisions more and more carinderias will serve foods that nourish not just developing bodies but also young inquisitive minds.

“We are hoping that with these awards, we can inspire more stakeholders and get more carinderia owners to join us as partners,” the mayor’s wife said.

Balanga ‘Barangay Week’ resumes

By Butch Gunio BALANGA CITY, Bataan—The unique program of empowering villages in this city, dubbed “Barangay Week Program,” continued under the leadership of Mayor Francis Garcia and Vice Mayor Vianca Venzon-Gozon.

The program was conducted in Barangay Cupang West last week.

“Our beloved city will achieve more,” Garcia said to the residents there. he also thanked Gov. Abet Garcia, Rep. Joet Garcia, and concerned agencies and city departments for the assistance to residents struck by the recent flooding.

“We exhibited the spirit of Filipino bay-

anihan in the flooding we experienced,” said the mayor’s wife, Raquel Garcia.

“Let us not forget to take care of our environment,” Venzon-Gozon reminded residents during the program.

City councilors also attended the barangay week program.

Aiming to empower the city’s 25 villages, activities in the barangay are assigned for the whole week. The program ends with a barangay assembly, which is required of every barangay based on the Local Government Code.

The program has been cited as one of the best local government practices and has been replicated in the other towns of the province.

Life

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

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@MstandardLIFE thursday, august 16, 2018

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FINE FOOD FINDS. Upscale supermarket Marketplace opens at Leonard Wood Terraces in Baguio City, its first branch in North Luzon.

The Marketplace in Baguio S

OPHiSTiCATed shoppers, culinary connoisseurs, and foodies in the country’s summer capital have a new place to get their fine food fix as upscale supermarket Marketplace opens at Leonard Wood Terraces in Baguio City.

As it continues to bring the finest products and gourmet selections to more Filipino families, Marketplace takes its first bold step in Northern Luzon, opening its first branch in the region.

“This is a momentous occasion for Marketplace because this is our first foray in Northern Luzon region for our

upscale supermarket brand. We are excited to bring this unique experience to Baguio shoppers,” says Arleen Aldaba, acting chief executive officer of Rustan Supercenters, inc.

“We’re very pleased that Marketplace is venturing closer to more Filipino homes across the country,” she adds.

Apart from its rustic charm and cool weather, Baguio City is one of the most frequently visited places in the country because of its thriving business district and vast cultural diversity.

Known for bringing new culinary delights from around the world, Marketplace offers those with a carefully cultivated palate a one-ofa-kind shopping experience. Baguio locals, as well as tourists, can now indulge in a well-curated selection for all their dining needs in an artfully designed space.

Deli section

Wines and spirits section

The fresh produce section is colorful with various vegetables.

LiKe many Filipinos, Remie Magkalas from Sta. Rosa, Laguna has a family member who left the Philippines to be an overseas Filipino worker.

Her dad’s sister, irma, left the country to work in Canada in order to support her brother and his children.

Magkalas describes her aunt as bighearted. She shares how irma has always been there to offer a helping hand. “Whenever my father doesn’t have a job, my aunt sends us financial support,” she shares. “i’m very grateful for what she has done to help us.”

That’s why when Magkalas received one of the 12 grand prizes at the second edition of MoneyGram idol Awards, she decided to bring her Aunt irma, who has been living in Canada for over 20 years, to a well-deserved holiday in Manila.

The MoneyGram idol Awards is an initiative that pays tribute to overseas Filipino workers and their immediate families. it is open for all Filipino citi- Emilia Moncada receives one of the 12 grand prizes at the second edition of MoneyGram zens who have received money via the Idol Awards. remittance firm. ippines was in 2012,” shares Moncada. port during difficult times. “He has Long distance no more But distance and long periods of not helped me a lot. Thanks to his support, Unlike most winners of the Money- seeing each other did not ruin their ro- my children [from my first marriage] Gram idol Awards who will be reunit- mance, breaking the stereotype that were able to finish their schooling.” ing with OFW family members, emilia long distance relationships do not work.

Moncada from Trece Martires, Cavite Through these years, they have managed Reliable partner is going to have a long-awaited reunion to keep the spark alive in their relationMoneyGram has served as a reliable with her fiancé, James Howard from the ship through constant communication via money transfer provider enabling Aunt United Kingdom. video call, email, and social media. irma and Howard to send funds to their “We haven’t seen each other for six Howard, Moncada says, has also of- loved ones in the Philippines. years as the last time he was in the Phil- fered her emotional and material supThe remittance firm has offered

A variety of produce at Fruits and Vegetables section.

Reuniting families, loved ones

Remie Magkalas has chosen to fly her Aunt Irma from Canada to Manila.

“high-quality, efficient, and reliable service,” according to Magkalas.

“You can pick up [money from abroad] at any remittance center. MoneyGram is important to OFWs as it makes sending funds to family members easier. it is really convenient,” she enthuses.

Moncada is likewise thankful to MoneyGram, which has allowed her to receive money easily.

“One can receive money through Money-

Gram and in just a few minutes you can already pick up your money,” says Moncada.

Homecoming

Magkalas’ aunt and Moncada’s fiancé will be flown in for an all-expenses paid trip to Manila.

Furthermore, they will both receive a three-day/two-night stay at Solaire Resort and Casino. Lastly, they will also get a tax-free P30,000 cash prize.

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Kids play chef for a day T

oy Kingdom in partnership with Play Kit Philippines recently held this year’s Play Doh Kitchen Creations Jr. Chef Competition at SM North Edsa, SM Makati, SM Southmall, and SM Megamall.

With imagination and creativity as their primary ingredients, kids 5 to 10 years old had the chance to play little chefs for a day with Play Doh Kitchen Creations’ fun cooking-themed play sets like Noodle Makin’ Mania, Breakfast Bakery, Frost ‘N Fun Cakes, Frozen Treats, Toaster Creations, Spinning Treats Mixer, and Shape ‘N Slice Set. Contestants were divided into two batches. The first was composed of kids aged 5-7 years old together with their respective guardians; while batch two was for kids aged 8-10 years old.

In the contest, participants explored their cooking creativity and created various “dishes” using Play Doh Kitchen Creations products.

After a series of elimination rounds and the Grand Finals held at SM Megamall, celebrity judges Priscilla Meirelles-Estrada, Donita Rose, and Chynna ortalezaCipriano chose two winners for each batch. First batch (5-7 years old) winners were Antonio Mangasi and Andres Mangasi while second batch (8-10 years old) winners were Erin De Quilla and Stephen Allas.

All winners received Play Doh Jr. Chef trophies, Play Doh products as well as Toy Kingdom gift certificates.

Celebrity moms Melissa Ricks, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Barbie Almalbis-Honasan, Joy Sotto, and Carla Concio joined the fun and exciting experience.

Celebrity moms Chynna Ortaleza-Cipriano, Priscilla Meirelles-Estrada with daughter Anechka, and Donita Rose judged this year’s winners of the Play Doh Kitchen Creations Jr. Chef Competition held at SM Megamall Atrium.

Food fairs, home and art exhibits, and luxury car shows are happening at Shangri-La Plaza mall in August.

Play Doh Kitchen Creations Sets are available at Toy Kingdom outlets nationwide.

Food, furniture, fast cars Batch 1 first place winner Antonio Mangasi and his mother Ai Ai with their noodle soup and sapin-sapin creations.

Batch 2 grand prize winner Erin De Quilla proudly shows off her final competition piece which consists of sapin-sapin and turon a la mode.

Personal hygiene brand celebrates motherhood EvERy stage of a child’s life has its best moments and challenging ones.

A personal hygiene products brand recognizes its role in accompanying mothers and children at every stage of their journey.

Sanicare recently held a Play Day at Axon in Green Sun Hotel. Around the venue, booths were set up to highlight different life stages allowing moms and kids to choose the best fit for them.

Mommies that carried their newborns toward the baby booth took home handpainted souvenirs. Meanwhile, toddlers enjoyed designing their own eco bags. Kids also had a blast with arts and crafts, as they made their own cotton bud animals, cotton ball sushi, and paper towel headband stands. The adults definitely did not miss out on the fun, as they posed for pictures by the lavender Soon-to-be mother of two Bianca Gonzalez-Intal (right) shares tips on motherhood. and cotton ball installation.

During the event, moms also had Bianca shared how Sanicare prodsome recreational tip-sharing with ce- ambassador, Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, ucts have been by her side during most lebrity mom and Sanicare’s first brand who is expecting her second child. of her life—from living with her parents to becoming a parent herself. She presented an informative and relatable video, entitled #oneLessWorry, in line with Sanicare’s Life Stages campaign.

The #oneLessWorry video conveyed the idea that our worries change and increase with each life stage. It perfectly captured the brand’s commitment to being everyone’s hygiene companion in all of life’s adventures.

By providing quality hygiene products designed for all life stages, Sanicare makes sure that every hygiene woe meets its match. From producing unscented wipes fit for a baby’s sensitive skin, to creating a disposable toilet seat cover that one can carry around wherever they go, it shows how each product is carefully crafted to answer every family member’s needs at every stage of life.

Go to Sanicare’s Facebook page to Gonzalez–Intal (fifth from left) with mommy guests and their kids during the Sanicare Play Day event. watch the video.

A PREMIER lifestyle mall in Metro Manila goes all out in presenting fun experiences and engaging events the whole family can enjoy this August.

Art exhibits, food fairs, and luxury car shows await Shangri-La Plaza mall-goers this month.

Foodies can try on healthy grub from local farmers, organic food producers, and chefs in Garden Gourmet at the Food Forum happening on Aug. 24-26 and Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

Gearheads, on the other hand, are in for a treat during the Chrysler Exhibit on Aug. 17-26 and the Jaguar Exhibit on Aug. 31 to Sept. 9. These luxury car labels will present a wide range collection of high-end cars, right inside the mall.

Artworks, handicrafts, and heavenly food selection will be presented in Homemade Collective at the Food

Forum alongside unique local novelties in Urban Pod Fair on Aug. 17-19.

Those looking for home design inspiration may get various ideas from Shang’s Home Exhibit ongoing until Aug. 23 at the Grand Atrium or from Articulate MNL’s collection of unique urban finds on Aug. 24.

But if it’s signs from the stars mall-goers look for, the Astrologist Exhibit at the East Atrium is ongoing until Aug. 21.

Aug. 29 is a special day for BPI cardholders as Shangri-La presents BPI Real Thrills Event on Aug. 29.

Finally, in a bid to bring the whole family together, Shangri-La Plaza opens its doors to dogs during Waggy Welcome happening in the whole month of August. Furry friends are allowed to roam around the mall with their pet pals, as long they have a proof of anti-rabies vaccination and are leashed at all times.

Visa credit card holders get discounts and freebies when they buy movie tickets from SM Cinema.

Cinema freebies, discounts for Visa cardholders

vISA credit card holders can enjoy complimentary treats and rebates when they purchase movie tickets at any SM Cinema branch from today until Nov. 30.

Those who will buy at least two movie tickets at www.smcinema.com every Wednesday get P100 off. To redeem the discount, cardholders need to click “visa Promo offer” on the payment options upon check-out, and enter their visa card details upon payment.

Every Friday, on the other hand, credit cardholders purchasing at least

two movie tickets at SM Cinemas get a free regular popcorn and two bottles of water from the Snack Time counter.

This offer is open to all Philippineissued visa credit cards with a Tap To Pay (or contactless) functionality.

To claim the goodies, cardholders need to pay for their tickets by tapping their contactless visa credit card on the PoS Terminal at the ticket booth, collect the charge slip from the cashier, and present it together with the card to the Snack Time Counter.

Entertainment From C4

classic returns on screen

A

FTER its debut at the 14th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on Aug. 8 at the CCP Little Theater, the digitally restored and remastered Ishmael Bernal classic, Nunal sa Tubig, will be screened at Cinema Centenario on Aug. 19 and Aug. 24.

Nunal sa Tubig is about a small island in the middle of a lake, which serves as home to a little fishing village struggling with the modernization of their town.

This conflict between tradition and progress is mirrored in the love triangle involving Benjamin (George Estregan) and two women from the village— Chedeng (Daria Ramirez), a soonto-be midwife and Maria (Elizabeth Oropesa), a barrio lass.

The film is considered one of the many iconic films of the late National Artist for Cinema. It is part of the Seven Best Filipino Films of the Seventies list of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

It won Best Picture at the 1977

DOWN 1 Temporary trends 2 Flapjack chain 3 Fresh 4 Kayak mover 5 Darth Vader’s side 6 Burglar’s “key” 7 USAF unit 8 Painted 9 Bakery items 10 Pocketed 11 Treacherous person 12 Furtive sound 14 Tinting 22 Born 24 Singer/composer Paul — 25 Yearned 26 Causing great

Catholic Mass Media Awards. It received seven nominations from the 1977 Gawad Urian including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Sound. Daria Ramirez was nominated for Best Actress, while Bernal as nominated for Best Direction.

To date, ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project has already restored over 160 films, some of which were already screened internationally via film fests, screened locally via red carpet premieres, aired on free-to-air and cable television, viewed via pay-per-view and video-on-demand, distributed on DVD, and downloadable even on iTunes.

Considered as one of Ishmael Bernal's iconic films, the digitally restored opus `'Nunal sa Tubig” will be screened this month.

Jason Statham (center) in 'The Meg,' the reimagined story of a prehistoric shark.

Bringing the Asian phenomenon to the big screen THIS month, Asia takes the centerstage in theatres as SM Cinema brings you two novel-based movies highlighting Asian characters and locations with Crazy Rich Asians and The Meg. Dubbed as the first big-budget, non-period film in 25 years to feature an all-Asian ensemble cast, Crazy Rich Asians is based on the bestselling novel with the same title by Kevin Kwan.

The film features Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding) as they go to Singapore for a wedding.

Rachel learns that Nick’s family is one of Singapore’s richest clans.

Given this situation, Rachel must now contend with the socialites, relatives and most of all, Nick’s mother, who cannot accept their relationship.

Shot in different countries in Asia and another book-to-movie adaptation based on Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror, director Jon Turteltaub reimagines the story of the prehistoric shark in his latest movie, The Meg. The movie follows the life of an expert sea diver and Naval Captain Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham). Five years ago, he had a mission in the Philippine Trench but was forced to abort it because he and his crew was attacked by a 70-foot sea creature,

Thursday, August 16, 2018

53 Famous cathedral town 56 Unrefined metals 57 Humerus neighbor 59 Moderator 61 Faux pas (hyph.)

62 Jazzy refrain 63 Kind of hat 64 Dress fastener 65 Tart plum 66 Wimple wearers

nickie.standard@gmail.com

ISHMAEL BERNAL

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Bowser’s pal 5 Threat ender 9 Party-giver’s plea 13 Yet to come 15 Bellyache 16 Redding or Skinner 17 Natural talent 18 Type option 19 Cuts off 20 Observe secretly 21 Camelot lady 23 Gavel 25 Dock 26 Thicker, as fog 27 Person appointed 30 Genre 31 Getting older 32 Phone zone (2 wds.)

37 Lap dog, slangily 38 Existed 40 Felt sorry about 41 Young tree 43 Pretended to be 44 Student stats 45 Rural area 47 Something to shell 50 With competence 51 Erase 52 Eye part

C3

Digitally restored

Madonna...

Freya Jarman, a music scholar at the University of Liverpool who co-edited a book on Madonna, said the pop star has already left her legacy, with younger artists such as Lady Gaga so evidently influenced by her.

But she emphasized that Madonna was now demonstrating a new kind of relevance.

“As an aging, female popular musician who is still so much in the public eye, she is absolutely relevant,” Jarman said.

“Madonna stands out in a way that she always has done, in that she has always been interested in creating a stir which someone like Cher, for my money, does not, really.”

Many stars “seem to fade in and out of focus, while Madonna doesn’t seem to fade out,” Jarman added.

To age is a sin Madonna, as throughout her career, has faced harsh commentary as she grows older.

An ex-girlfriend of one of her former lovers, Brazilian model Jesus Luz, branded her a “ridiculous old bag,” while numerous social media users heaped scorn when Madonna locked lips on stage at the Coachella festival with the much-younger Drake.

And tabloids have fixated on Madonna’s hands, one part of the body that can uncharitably betray age.

In a 2016 speech as she accepted an award from music magazine Billboard, Madonna said that society allowed women to be “pretty and cute and sexy” but not to share their opinions -- or sexual fantasies.

“Be what men want you to be. But more importantly, be what women feel comfortable with you being around other men,” she said, describing unwritten rules of the music business.

“And finally, do not age. Because to age is a sin. You will be criticized, you will be vilified, and you will definitely not be played on the radio,” said Madonna, likely referring to BBC Radio 1 declining to play one of her recent singles as it pursued a younger audience.

Madonna has persisted in her political outspokenness, delivering a fiery speech to last year’s Women’s March a day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, vowing that women would not accept “this new age of tyranny.”

Both sexy and maternal Madonna has also challenged conceptions of motherhood, adopting four children from Malawi in addition to her biological son and daughter.

Madonna, who last year moved to Lisbon where one of her sons is attending a youth football academy, is marking her 60th birthday by encouraging fans to donate to her charity for children in Malawi.

Even as a mother, Madonna has pursued her relationships. The attention stands in contrast to the comparative societal yawn over older men who date much younger women, with still active stars Mick Jagger and Billy Joel both recently becoming fathers again.

“As a feminist, I would say good for Madonna. If that’s your sexual taste and she can pull it off, she is doing a fantasy that most women either don’t want or can’t do,” said Pepper Schwartz, a sociologist at the University of Washington in Seattle who studies aging and sexuality.

Older women have also enjoyed growing prominence in Hollywood, but their love interests—especially as depicted in films—are rarely younger men.

Among leading mature actresses, Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give and Meryl Streep in Hope Springs both played in roles of rekindling romance with senior men.

Schwartz said Madonna had a more difficult task as an older woman as sexual outrage is so integral to her persona.

But she said that Madonna, along with aging Hollywood stars, was offering a new model for women of their baby boom generation.

“The baby boom, which has always been at the edge of trying to give new definition to sex and gender, is trying to say—you know, we’re not ready to be written off just because we’re older now.” AFP

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018

fear 27 Drowses off 28 Curved molding 29 Voice-amplifying device 32 Batting stat 33 Chum 34 Remove from office 35 Forest grazer 36 Circular current 38 Cordials 39 Part of MIT 42 Loose threads 43 Vital signs 45 Wine server

46 Geisha’s accessory 47 Evita or Juan 48 Helen, in Spanish 49 Noted fabulist 51 Cambridge academics 52 Stats 53 Pale brown 54 Without fat 55 Wood for an archer’s bow 58 Diamond — 60 Geog. feature

but he was left with no evidences to prove it.

After a series of unfortunate events, Jonas must save lives of the people he loves and face his greatest fear – the Carcharodon Megalodon, the largest predator ever existed.

Joining Statham are Asian actors, Li Bingbing as Suyin Zhang and Winston Chao as Dr. Minway Zhang.

Catch Crazy Rich Asians starting Aug. 22 in SM Cinema branches nationwide and don’t miss The Meg now playing at IMAX theatres and SM Cinema branch near you. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app.

Henry Golding and Constance Wu in a promotional photo for 'Crazy Rich Asians'

AFTER a period of more than 20 years, a solo harp concert at the CCP featuring a Filipino harpist will take place.

Harpist Jane Banta is the featured artist of the second concert of the Special Concert Series on Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines. Guest string players are violinists Sara Maria Gonzales and Ma. Lourdes Miguel, violist David Tagala, cellist Rosa Belle Calma and double bassist John Paul Bermudez.

Banta’s program is as follows: Hasselmans’ La Source - Etude, Op. 44; Grandjany’s Fantaisie pour Harpe sur un theme de Haydn, Op. 31 and Aria in Classic Style for Harp and Strings, Op. 19; Debussy’s La Fille aux cheveux de lin transcr. Marcel Grandjany; Andres’ Absidioles; Watkins’ Petite Suite; Piazzolla’s Invierno Porteño (Winter); HansonConant’s Baroque Flamenco; Handel’s Concerto for Harp in B Flat Major, Op. 4, No. 6, HWV 294; and the world premiere of Balsamo’s Concerto for harp and strings, CB. 7 No. 2 (MMXVIII).

Banta started harp lessons in Manila with Vienna-trained Filipino harpist Lourdes de Leon-Gregorio after earning her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at the St. Scholastica’s College School of Music. In 2017, she earned her Master of Music degree, major in Harp Performance after completing a twoyear program at the State University of New York under the tutelage of Sonja Inglefield, as a recipient of the Len and Carole Faulk Scholarship. At the said school she was actively performing as a harpist in the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra Wind Ensemble and in other concerts and recitals. She was a Graduate Assistant for Piano, frequently accompanying Music majors in weekly performances exams and graduation recitals, besides playing in the Wind Symphony.

Since coming back in July 2017, she has played the harp for the season concerts of both the Philippine

Harpist

JANE BANTA

performs for CCP special concert

CCP Special Concert Series featured artist Jane Banta

Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Her performances included playing the full-length opera L’ Elisir d’Amore with PPO and the ballet Don Quixote with Ballet Philippines.

She was resource speaker for the harp workshop for CCP’s Pasinaya Palihan, and performed for its Open House Festival together with trombonist Ricson Poonin in February 2018. She was featured performer at Maestro Filipino on DZFE 98.7, and was one of three female soloists featured at the PPO Sunsets at Makiling concert in May 2018.

Banta is also active as a piano instructor and collaborative pianist.

She plays the keyboard for the major theater companies in Manila.

For more information, subscriptions and block sales, please contact the CCP Marketing Department at 8323706.

Entertainment

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

C4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018

TOP STARS BANNER ‘KAPUSONG PINOY:

Alden Richards considers his profession as an actor a continuous learning process.

Paskuhan at Kantawanan sa Anaheim’

GMA Pinoy TV sets the mood early for the holiday season as six of GMA Network’s top artists and comedians banner a special musical event for the Kapuso abroad in Los Angeles, California this October via Kapusong Pinoy: Paskuhan at Kantawanan sa Anaheim.

Comedienne and The Clash judge AiAi delas Alas is all set to conquer the stage with her rib-tickling humor and explosive performances.

Fellow The Clash judge, romantic balladeer Christian Bautista, on the other hand, will showcase his captivating voice and heart-fluttering songs to Pinoys in California.

Meanwhile, pop sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose will surely charm the audience as she brings her A-game through a series of lively song-anddance numbers.

Joining them is the comedic duo of Super Tekla and Donita Nose who will undoubtedly light up the night with their witty punch lines and hilarious jokes.

And finally, actress and Tadhana host Marian Rivera-Dantes—who is known for her soft spot for Filipinos abroad—will be there to spread the Christmas cheer even more.

Back-to-back production numbers of ‘90s pop hits, OPM, international chart-toppers, as well as early Christmas surprises await the Kapuso abroad in this rocking event.

“Filipinos all over the world are known to have the longest celebration of Christmas. We are pleased to welcome this joyful season together with our Kapuso Abroad by bringing them great entertainment from GMA’s brightest stars,” said GMA First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia.

Kapusong Pinoy: Paskuhan at Kantawanan sa Anaheim will be held on Oct. 7 at The Grove of Anaheim in Los Angeles, California.

To buy tickets, go to www.AXS. com and search for “Kapusong Pinoy.”

The 'Victor Magtanggol' actor with New York-based acting coach Anthony Bova.

I

NTERNATIONAL acting coach Anthony Vincent Bova flew to the Philippines last month to facilitate a new round of workshops for the talents of GMA Artist Center.

Also an actor, writer, and artistic director, Bova is a protégé of famed acting coach Eric Morris, who has taught some of the best actors in the Philippines, including Armida SiguionReyna, Leo Martinez, Michael de Mesa, Joel Torre, and Pinky Amador.

In fact, Bova is the only instructor in New York endorsed by Morris to teach the Eric Morris System of Acting, one of the most popular, effective, and credible acting methods in the world.

Bova’s credits include Reading Rainbow with Levar Burton, The Emperors Club directed by Michael Hoffman with Kevin Kline (The Pink Panther, Beauty and Beast) and Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy), and the National Tour of Cats The Musical.

Alden Richards, the prized Kapuso talent, had the privilege to undergo Bova’s series of workshops in Manila and even sidelined a session with the acting coach when he visited New York in April for GMA Pinoy TV concert.

“To say that I have learned a lot from him is an understatement. It was an incredible and life changing experience. I thought I already knew a lot in terms of acting techniques. But when I had a session with him, it felt that I only knew one percent,” Alden told MS Entertainment in an exclusive interview.

He credited Bova for allowing him to rediscover himself as an actor and further enhance his skill.

“Through the workshop, I have learned that all emotions are just equal when you are an actor. Whether you’re happy or sad, you have to treat them equally and act them out with the same level of delivery and preparation,” Alden shared.

The 26-yearold actor explained that when he underwent Bova’s workshop, he was given a

YUGEL LOSORATA

Primetime queen Marian Rivera celebrates Christmas ahead of everybody.

MUSICIANS venturing into acting are often accused of trying to sell out for fame and extra pay. That must be unfair for those naturally finding fulfillment doing something beyond their main craft.

Ian Sison, frontman of steadily rising group Avalon Beyond, gets the high doing acting without prioritizing such gig.

Humbly he shared, “I really can’t say I am a professional actor. I just did acting projects before and as an artist nakita ko yung acting as a way for me to express my feelings.”

Proven to be more than a one-off actor, Ian appeared in some cameo roles for mainstream TV series like Home Sweetie Home, Ang Probinsyano, Super D, Love Me Tomorrow, and On the Wings of Love.

Nevertheless, the experience made him understand the job.

He noted, “I would love to do acting as a career but it will require more patience and hardwork. Nagustuhan ko ang acting when I started formal classes at ABS-CBN and Starmagic at dahil na rin sa mentor ko dun na si teacher Air Paz Pablico.”

What

ALDEN RICHARDS

learned from a renowned acting coach few exercises that tested his limits. And he’s confident that he’s able to apply the new techniques he has learned from Bova in Victor Magtanggol, his new series on primetime.

“Acting is a continuous learning process. And I’m thankful that GMA has given me this opportunity to further hone my craft with the help of a tested method,” Alden added.

Meanwhile, in August last year, the New York City-based acting coach visited the country for the very first time and gave a workshop for selected talents of GMA Artist Center.

“They’re beautiful kids. A lot of the actors here, in general, are very grounded, very connected. They’re not detached from themselves and that’s a nice thing,”Bova described local actors who have attended his workshops.

Asked to differentiate this year’s workshop from last year’s, Bova said: “I focused on just a few areas. This year, I focused on different parts of the actor’s life, different tools and techniques, and many different ways to apply those tools and techniques. The first workshop was

just a fraction of that.”

Actress Ana Feleo, Bova’s co-teacher, added that last year’s workshop was all about empowerment. “It was a short but very intense workshop that helped the actors become more confident, freer emotionally, physically, and mentally and ready to fulfill the needs of their characters.”

GMA Artist Center has tasked the two to come up with a one-year program to train and supervise more thoroughly the education and growth of artists from its talent pool.

This year’s attendees included some of Artist Center’s hottest young artists.

Bova and Feleo emphasized the importance of acting workshops, even for working artists.

“I think it’s vital for an artist to truly understand and have a dependable toolkit.

Working as an artist doesn’t mean you have a dependable toolkit; it just means you’re being employed, and that’s a good thing. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a high level of artistry in your work,” said Bova.

Bova was also in the country in February to facilitate his series of workshops.

From left: Mikoy Morales, Gil Cuerva, Andrea Torres, Gigi S. Lara, Anthony Bova, Ana Feleo, Chynna Ortaleza, Ben Alves, Thea Tolentino

Acting on the side

Ian Sison (center) with the members of his band Avalon Beyond

Then he made it clear quick: “I love acting but I love doing music more. First priority ko ang music.”

Ian’s band released a 54-minute album called Inspire a few years back. Songs include, among others, “You’re Beautiful,” “Di Magbabago,” “Panalangin,” and “Night Sky.” Ian also collaborated with South Border heart and soul Jay Durias for a track called “Pagbabago” as the band put out “Fears” this year, perhaps their

strongest track to date.

He is backed by guitarist Benjo Juni and bass player Yumi Melad.

Talking about the power ballad “Fears,” he pointed out, “That one is dedicated to all people struggling in life. I want to send a message that God is just there never giving up on us.”

Avalon Beyond has won accolades early in their career, including one for Best Rock Album. The connection between the band and their growing number of fans is evident. He put it rightly, “I can’t imagine writing a song na hindi galing sa puso ko kaya siguro maraming nakakarelate sa social media kasi totoo yung mga kanta.”

While the group is packaged as a power trio, Ian shares the credit to the support staff. “Sa branding ng banda, tatlo lang talaga kami, but we now have a crew helping us. Yung family namin sa banda is one reason why we keep things going.

We always work as a team and we treat everyone in the crew as part of the band.”

Not closing doors to becoming an established actor, Ian makes the salute to people who can transform into someone else in the name of performance art.

He closed out, “I have respect sa mga professional actors kasi hindi talaga biro ang ginagawa nila. If given a chance, I would like to make acting into a career as long as di naman siya nakakaapekto sa music ko. A lot of actors naman like Jared Leto is doing both acting and music.”

HOLLYWOOD

Madonna puts sex in sexagenarian WHETHER by brazenly injecting sex in the public sphere, adopting gay subculture for mainstream audiences or becoming the top-selling female musician of all time, Madonna has asserted an incalculable influence.

The pop superstar is turning 60 today, Aug. 16, and is again breaking barriers—his time as a mature woman who is still brash, carnal and unapologetic.

Giving new meaning to the term sexagenarian, Madonna openly dates men three decades younger, maintains a svelte figure that would be the envy of most people half her age and on her latest tour put on a characteristically provocative show that simulated most conceivable sex acts.

Madonna is hardly the first female entertainer to stay active while growing older, with singers as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Cher, Dolly Parton and Stevie Nicks on stage in their 70s.

But Madonna—who entered pop culture at the same time as MTV— has embodied the cult of youth like few other artists and, while others reinvented themselves or staged nostalgic comebacks, the Material Girl has never gone more than four years without an album since her blockbuster self-titled debut in 1983.

The title of a single off her latest album, “Rebel Heart,” summed up her unwavering attitude: “Bitch, I’m Madonna.” Continued on C3