Manila Standard - 2018 August 24 - Friday

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Birds also get emotional—study WASHINGTON—Have you ever heard of macaws that blush, much like humans do at an emotional moment?

Researchers still don’t quite understand how it works, but a French team says they have observed the Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 190 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

OMGG! PH seen Despite Rody’s tough talk on China, oil hunt in pipeline buying back its own fish catch

By Nat Mariano

NEGOTIATIONS with China for joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea will proceed despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning that war would ensue if China decides to exploit the natural resources of the contested waters on its

By Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz A FISHERIES official said Thursday that a government plan to import galunggong (round scad) could be a case of the country buying back its own fish.

“What we will import could come from us too, since the [fish] may have escaped [Philippine waters] and migrated [outside them],” said Eduardo Gongona, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Other countries do not eat galunggong, he noted.

While Filipino fishermen have limited equipment to catch all the fish on the edges of Philippine waters, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Chinese and Thai fishermen are just there waiting for the catch, he said.

He called on the government to help the local fishermen upgrade and modernize their fishing equipment and ensure that they could harvest more fish.

“Another thing that we can do is not to allow our fish, particularly our galunggong, to migrate.

We have to make them catchable within our waters,” he said.

own, the Palace said Thursday.

“Nothing [will be affected] because what we’re discussing is joint exploration, and he [Duterte] warned against unilateral exploration,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Roque also said that the President did not change his tune towards the WPS,

pointing out that he “has been consistent” from the start.

He added, however, that going to war with China was useless.

“There’s no point openly picking up a fight with China because that’s counterproductive,” said Roque, while saying that the country will not give up any terri-

tory in the disputed waters.

“He has been consistent that he will not give away an inch of Philippine territory,” he added.

On Tuesday, Duterte warned China not to monopolize and exploit the oil and mineral deposits in the WPS on its own.

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CAAP gave 61 airlines go signal—tower chief

By Joel E. Zurbano

IMPORTING OUR OWN.

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Remarks by a BFAR official a plan by government to import the “poor man’s fish” from neighboring nations but might have been caught from Philippine waters suggests a dizzying slap on Filipinos and the risk of buying the resources tainted with formalin have raised the red flag against violation of the Food Safety Act—with other food supplies on an upward streak like rice imports, and inflation making a ripple in the egg industry. Manny Palmero, Norman Cruz

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IRPORT officials said Thursday the 61 unauthorized flights that flew into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after a twoday closure of its main runway had permission to land from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, which was concerned about the safety of their crew and passengers.

“Those flights were long-haul flights, which means they traveled far. It would not be safe if we would just let them stay in the air,” said Manila Control Tower chief Marlene Singson.

Although the airlines had not coordinated with the Manila International Airport Authority until the planes were about to land, they did inform the CAAP. Singson said that the fuel level in those long-haul flights might really be low by the time they reached the country, and not letting them land would be dangerous.

MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said the uncoordinated landings worsened air traffic and the ground situation at Naia as other flights were compelled to cancel to give way to the flights.

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Seven SC justices in Sereno ouster face impeach raps

By Maricel V. Cruz

Clamor mounts for purge of 4Ps list of beneficiaries

Asiad sensation: Nine-goal diva SHANGHAI—Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo step aside— the hottest striker in world football at the moment is China’s “Nine-Goal Diva” Wang Shanshan.

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NFA abolition pushed amid rice crisis

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for the abolition of the National Food Authority to spare taxpayers from the burden of subsidizing the “inefficient and unproductive” agency following the rice crisis in Zamboanga City with grain prices soaring to as

much as P70 per kilo.

Senators Benigno Aquino IV and Francis Pangilinan likewise appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to fire all NFA officials, led by administrator Jason Aquino, for their failure to do their job and fulfill its 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year now.

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Palace dismayed by Ampatuan furlough

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was “dismayed” that former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, the main suspect in the Maguindanao massacre, was allowed to leave jail to attend his daughter’s wedding, Malacañang said

Thursday.

“The panel of prosecutors and the President opposed the motion and we’re dismayed it was granted,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

He made the statement in response to the statement of the National Union

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By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja A PRO-ADMINISTRATION lawmaker on Thursday supported the call to purge the list of beneficiaries for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the government’s platform for doles to poor families.

“I support the call for the government to purge the list of beneficiaries for its Next page

OPPOSITION lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Thursday filed impeachment complaints against seven Supreme Court justices who voted to unseat Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

But Lagman, together with senatorial aspirant and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, Representatives Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao and Tom Villarin of Akbayan did not include Ombudsman Samuel Martires in their complaint.

Lagman said Martires was not included because he is no longer an incumbent Associate Justice.

But the impeachment complaint against four Supreme Court associate justices will not affect their nomination for the position of chief justice, a member of the Judicial and Bar Council said Thursday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the ex-officio member of the JBC, rejected Lagman’s claim that Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Next page

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

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CAAP...

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He backed away from a plan to impose sanctions on them, however, saying a warning would suffice.

But Monreal said that Xiamen Airline must pay the Philippine government at least P500 million which was much higher than his initial estimate of the P15 million it cost to clear the NAIA runway.

“We have called their attention. Liabilities will only come in if there is abuse... If it’s one or two flights, we can let it pass,” he said in Filipino.

“We are not authoritarian. It’s the passengers we are talking about. The convenience of the passengers and the service to them.”

Singson said the pilots of the unauthorized flights notified them only when they were about to land. In such a situation, she said, they could no longer refuse clearance to land.

Monreal said he understood the calls for him to resign, but said his team did their best to address the situation.

“I respect every person’s opinion.

We were not perfect. But we believe in good conscience that what we did was correct. Our actions were based [on protocols]. They didn’t come out of nowhere based on what we wanted to do,” he said in Filipino.

A lawmaker on Thursday urged the estimated 136,000 passengers who were inconvenienced by the 61 unauthorized flights to file a class action suit against the airlines responsible.

“I strongly urge the 136,000 airline passengers who were stranded and whose flights were delayed and canceled to file class action suits against the airlines that made them go through hell last weekend,” said Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy. Herrera-Dy made the statement after Monreal said airlines that he refused to identify sent a total of 61 unauthorized flights into NAIA which worsened the situation at the airport.

“Lawsuits should be filed against the airlines who created chaos at the Naia,” she said. “The chaos at Naia was not just force majeure. Those 61 uncoordinated flights worsened the impact of what happened to the Xiamen Airlines plane.”

Senator Richard Gordon on Thursday questioned the time it took the Department of Transportation to address the crisis at the NAIA caused by a Xiamen Airlines plane that skidded off the main runway last week.

Gordon said if the emergency response to the crisis did not conform to international standards, improvements are needed in the system of regulatory response or crisis management.

“We have to study how the concerned agencies reacted to this incident,” he said.

“For example, how long did it take to evacuate the passengers out of the plane? Was there Naia equipment and personnel involved or only airline personnel? Was the reaction time, in evacuating passengers and removing the plane, up to international standards? If yes, then we should announce that. If not, what has to be done to improve?” Gordon added.

Meanwhile, investigators are now in Singapore to have the black box and data recorder decoded to determine what really transpired minutes before the Chinese commuter jet overshot the Naia runway on Aug. 16.

“Our Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board personnel left for Singapore early morning today with the CVR or cockpit voice recorder for decoding,” said Eric Apolonio, chief information officer at the CAAP. CAAP Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco told the team to hasten their investigation and to bring back results as soon as possible.

Sydiongco also said MIAA and CAAP personnel could not just pull away the 43-ton plane from the muddy portion of the runway.

The first hour was spent on rescue, and the second was used to investigate and assess the situation he said.

He added that they could not simply move the plane without dealing with the aviation gas inside it, which could blow up with “a little bit of ignition.”

Meanwhile, Xiamen officials said in a statement on Thursday that they are willing to pay the costs incurred by the government to remove their plane.

“After the runway excursion at the Manila Airport, Xiamen Airlines contacted Manila airport immediately and made commitment to bear the cost for aircraft handling and runway recovering caused by the event,” they said.

“We would like to express our sincere apology to all the passengers affected by this event, and will do our best to provide assistance to the passengers. From Aug. 20, Xiamen Airlines has set up eight counters at the four terminals of Manila Airport, providing free meals and water to all the passengers. Up to the afternoon of Aug. 22, more than 55,000 meals and water have been supplied to the passengers,” the statement said.

The airline also said it will cooperate fully with the investigation to determine the cause of the incident.With Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz, PNA

‘Napoles gave gifts to DBM execs’

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

LLEGED pork-barrel-scam queen Janet LimNapoles gifted the budget officials of the Aquino administration with expensive religious items, food, signature leather goods and trips abroad, a hearing was told on Thursday.

During the resumption of his testimony at the First Division of the Sandiganbayan, whistleblower Benjamin Luy said the gifts were given to the Budget officials in consideration of the dealings of Napoles’s foundations using the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel of some legislators.

Luy said among the recipients of the gifts were Marilou Bare, Rosario Nuñez and Lalaine Paule, the staff members of

former Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos.

Luy continued his testimony at the Sandiganbayan in the plunder case involving Napoles, former senator Bong Revilla, his former lawyer Richard Cambe and several others.

“We gave bags, trays of fruit, customized rosaries as gifts,” Luy said in Filipino.

He also claimed he once brought food from the fishermen’s stalls in Parañaque

to the Budget department staff, and that they were also invited to one of the parties hosted by Napoles at the Heritage Park in Taguig City. He did not explain why Napoles threw a party in a cemetery.

In one instance, Luy said, he accompanied Budget department staff members in a food-tasting event at an expensive restaurant on Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

“That was for the birthday of Undersecretary Mario Relampagos that was hosted

by Mrs. Napoles,” Luy said.

Relampagos, Bare, Nuñez and Paule had pleaded not guilty to the charges filed in the wake of the pork barrel scam.

Relampagos is now abroad. He had yet to return to the country after a trip to the United States last year, and his lawyers claim that the “extreme injustice” he is experiencing prevents him from returning to the country.

SAP Go: Let the people judge Duterte SPECIAL Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said it is the Filipino people who will ultimately judge the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and that they will do so through the election.?

Go was responding to statements made by former President Benigno Aquino III who had urged those who do not like the administration to campaign for the candidates of the opposition in the 2019 midterm elections. ‘‘Hayaan na lang po natin na ang tao ang humusga [Let’s just let the people judge for themselves],’’ Go told broadcaster Erwin Tulfo in a radio interview over Radyo Pilipinas. ‘‘Mararamdaman niyo naman po siguro. Maglakad kayo sa kalye, kung safe po ang inyong mga anak, kung may pagbabago kayong nararamdaman. Hindi na po kailangan ipagmalaki kung ano po ang nagawa ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte. Let the people judge, he said. (I think you feel

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Duterte’s recent critical statements against China started when he urged Beijing to “temper” its behavior, saying that they could not claim the air above the artificial islands they had built.

Defense Undersecretary Arsenio Andolong said Thursday that the military would defend the country’s sovereignty at all cost despite being ill-equipped.

“We are ready to carry out our mandate,” Andolong said.

He added, however, that they do not foresee a war with China over the WPS. He said the military would continue patroling the country’s exclusive economic zone to protect its rights. With Francisco Tuyay

Clamor...

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cash dole program, [to see] if this has really helped the poor or otherwise,” said Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

He said the 4Ps should be revisited to see if really helps its intended beneficiaries or if it just a cash cow being used by politicians.

Barbers said the 4Ps program entails billions of peso taxpayers’ money.

“We must see to it that every centavo is given to the intended beneficiaries,” he added.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III agreed.

“Why waste money on a project that does not make an impact on the poor?”

Albano said.

Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, another administration ally, said it was necessary to weed out corruption in the government dole.

“I do agree we should work towards ridding the 4Ps system of corruption.

We should make it an effective program for the benefit of the people. It should not be a source of kickbacks,” he said.

Barbers also rallied behind the call of Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy for the Department of Social Welfare and Development to file charges against any personnel found to be defrauding the government of funds from 4Ps. “Charge everybody caught in this mess,” said Barbers.

Dy earlier called for the purging of 4Ps’ list of beneficiaries, to exclude those who did not withdraw the funds waiting for them at the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Dy’s statement came after the Commission on Audit reported P10.76 billion in an unliquidated balance of fund transfers to the Land Bank; P5.385 billion in unclaimed cash grants for overthe-counter payments (2013 to 2017); P1.323 billion in account balances not withdrawn; and P1.2 billion in P1.89 million accounts with outstanding balances.

it. Walk on the streets, see if your children are safe, if there are improvements.

We don’t need to boast about the accomplishments of Duterte administration.

Let the people judge.) He urged the public not to dwell on the negativity of the opposition but on the positive changes President Duterte has initiated. Go also addressed Aquino’s insinuation that the President is not in good health and that Malacañang should issue a medical bulletin. ‘‘In fact, kitang-kita niyo naman kahapon, napakasigla at dalawang oras siya nagsalita kahapon. Inorasan ko nga e, dalawang oras siya nagsalita sa entablado. At nasabi niya lahat,’’ he said.

(You saw him yesterday, he was very healthy. He delivered a two-hour speech.

I timed it, he was on stage for two hours.

And he was able to say everything he need to say.) Duterte was in Cebu City on Tuesday to speak at a meeting of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. In his speech, the President even

chided Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison for reporting that he was in a comatose state. Go also debunked the allegation by posting a photo and then a live Facebook video feed of the President in obvious good health. Go also took a jab at Senator Antonio Trillanes, who had said that instead being terminally ill, Duterte would live long because he was the proverbial ‘‘masamang damo (unwanted weed).’’ Ako naniniwala na si Duterte, masamang damo ’yan. Matagal mamamatay ’yan. (I believe that Duterte will not die easily because he is like unwanted weed), Trillanes had said in an interview. Go responded by saying Duterte was not perfect and, like everyone else, makes mistakes. ‘‘Sa sinabi naman ni Senator Trillanes, kung sa tingin niya matagal mamatay, totoo po ‘yun (Regarding what Senator Trillanes said, if he thinks he [President Duterte] will not die easily, he’s right),’’ he said.

OMGG!...

arrives at the Navotas fish port starting Sept. 1.

Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza branded the imports as “a band-aid solution.”

“It... does not really address the problem of falling fish production. It is a miserable supply side intervention,” Atienza said.

The 17,000 metric tons of imported galunggong is expected to have a landed cost of P75 to P80 per kilo and would be sold directly in local wet markets to help stabilize fish prices, the DA said.

“What difference will 17 million kilos make? That is just equal to 17-million households consuming one kilo each in a day. That will be gone in a day,” Atienza said.

“The best way for the government to fight off rising fish or food prices is by producing more fish and more food,” Atienza said.

“Historically, if we look at other countries that produce large food supplies, they tend to have relatively stable inflation rates, regardless whether the price of crude oil is $50 or $100 per barrel,” he added.

A consumer group, Laban Konsyumer Inc., called for a price ceiling on rice and galunggong, and urged the government to deploy more personnel to monitor market prices.

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Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has issued a permit to import 17,000 metric tons of fresh, chilled and frozen galunggong “for the purpose of augmenting the local supply in the fresh markets.”

The fish will come from China, Taiwan and Vietnam beginning Sept. 1 and the permit will last 90 days.

But Gongona said prices for the imported fish could be even higher, even if they might come from Philippine waters.

Galunggong, which was once called the “poor man’s fish,” is sold at about P140 per kilo.

Meanwhile, BFAR warned the public of galunggong that may be tainted with formalin.

Gongona said formalin use on fish violates the Food Safety Act. “We are making rounds to inspect markets and check if our fish is laced with chemicals,” he said.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas claimed some countries, such as China, have been using formalin to preserve fish harvests.

Its chairman, Fernando Hicap, vowed to inspect imported galunggong once it

NFA...

Seven...

Pangilinan said the rice crisis in Zamboanga City is a combination of both corruption and incompetence by NFA officials in cahoots with wealthy private players and cartels in the rice industry who have been raking in profits.

For her part, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the rice situation in Zamboanga City, which has been placed under a state of calamity Wednesday, has eased with the arrival of shipments of commercial rice from India and Isabela province.

“Our situation, despite the declaration of a state of calamity, is slowly easing with the arrival of these commercial rice,” she said.

Gatchalian said the NFA has become “a liability to the government” with its shrinking revenue and ballooning losses.

“Taxpayers continue to shoulder the losses that NFA incurs despite its consistent failure to fulfill its mandate to stabilize the market price of rice so that every Filipino family will be able to put enough rice on their plates. It’s time to abolish this unproductive agency and put taxpayers’ money to better use,” he said.

The Commission on Audit earlier flagged the decision of the NFA in using some P5.1-billion subsidy from the national government as payment for maturing loans instead of allocating the funds for the food security program of the agency.

Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Andres Reyes Jr. should be disqualified by the council because of the impeachment complaint filed against them before the House of Representatives and three other high court magistrates who voted to oust Sereno.

“In my opinion, the mere filing of an impeachment complaint, which is not the same as a criminal or administrative complaint in the ordinary sense, will not have any effect on the nomination of the four SC justices for the CJ position,” Guevarra said in a text message.

The opposition lawmakers said Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Alexander Gesmundo allegedly committed a culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust when they acted and ruled in favor of the quo warranto petition filed against Sereno by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

They said the quo warranto petition was illegal, and that the only way to oust Sereno was through an impeachment.

The complainants said the Supreme Court decision dated May 11, 2018, which ousted Sereno by granting the quo warranto petition, “is not only errant, it is also malevolent.”

“It is not only bereft of constitutional anchorage, it is also a blatant subterfuge, an orchestrated charade,” the lawmakers said in their complaint.

With Rey E. Requejo

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Suspected drug lord told: Give up, face the music MALACAÑANG on Thursday asked businessman and suspected illegal drugs dealer Peter Lim to surrender and prove his innocence in court.

“We’re asking Peter Lim, please surrender. If you are innocent, prove your innocence in court,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

But he said he was not appealing to the alleged drug lord, who remains at large, as tracker teams had been formed to find him.

“I’m just saying surrender. I’m not appealing. I’m just saying if you don’t surrender, we will still get you,” Roque said.

He made his statement even as a regional trial court in Manila affirmed the indictment of self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinoza and four others over the drug charges filed against them by the Philippine National Police.

In a single-page order received by the Justice department on Wednesday, Judge Merianthe Pacita Zuraek of Manila City RTC, Branch 51, sustained the department’s findings of probable cause against Espinoza, convicted drug lord Peter Co, witness Marcelo Adorco, Lovely Impal and Ruel Malindangan for two counts of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. PNA with Rey E. Requejo

Asiad...

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Wang earned that nickname from Chinese fans and media when she plundered a scarcely believable nine goals in a dizzying 29 minutes after coming off the bench in a 16-0 demolition of Tajikistan on Monday at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

The forward has found the net a total of 11 times, netting in the 7-0 opening victory over Hong Kong and adding a soaring header as China’s women beat formidable North Korea 2-0 on Wednesday to top their group and make the quarter-finals in style.

China’s free-scoring women, yet to concede a goal, are being feted back home and 28-year-old Wang in particular is making headlines for her astonishing prowess in front of goal.

There have been tongue-in-cheek suggestions that she could be the answer to the goal-scoring problems of the Chinese men. AFP

Birds...

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phenomenon multiple times in a group of five captive blue-and-yellow (Ara ararauna) macaws.

They published their findings Wednesday in the journal PLOS One. Blue-and-yellow macaws have a part of their cheeks that is naked, uncovered by feathers, and researchers noticed that this fair skin would redden during interactions with their handlers.

“Birds don’t have muscles in their faces,” explained lead researcher Aline Bertin of INRA, a French public research institute dedicated to agricultural science.

“Their facial expressions have never been studied,” she told AFP. AFP

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of Journalists of the Philippines seeking a “credible explanation” of the furlough granted to Ampatuan.

Roque also assured the families of the victims that the furlough granted to Ampatuan would not, in any way, affect the case.

“I can assure you this will not affect the case and I think you know why I can give that assurance,” said Roque who once served as a lawyer to some of the victims’ families.

Ampatuan attended the wedding of his daughter Kristina on Tuesday.

A video shared on Facebook by Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali showed the former governor dancing with his daughter at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

Meanwhile, several high-ranking government officials were invited as principal sponsors to the wedding, such as Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, and Duterte’s daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Czech officials okayed to testify vs Vitangcol in MRT deal

By Maricel V. Cruz

NUR AND THE PRESIDENT. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with Moro National Liberation Front Chairman Nur Misuari during a meeting held at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on Aug. 22, 2018. Presidential Photo

Political parties told to submit ‘info update’

By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections said on Thursday that all registered political parties or coalitions of political parties have only until Aug. 31 to submit their Sworn Information Update Statement or face cancellation of their parties and prohibited from fielding their candidates in the May 2019 local elections.

In a statement, the Comelec said it will not extend the Aug. 31 deadline since all political parties were properly advised and given ample time to submit their SIUS. Based on Comelec data, there are currently 169 registered or accredited political parties nationwide.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said failure to comply with the requirement despite due notice shall constitute prima facie case that the political party or coalition of political parties concerned already ceased to exist, and shall be a cause for the party’s and coalition’s cancellation of registration.

“To ensure that those in the registry are still in existence and continue to comply with the requirements of the Constitution, the laws, the rules of the Commission, political parties or coalition of political parties must submit an SIUS with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission not later than August 31,” the Comelec said.

Okada vows to reclaim firm, reaches out to son Rey E. Requejo JAPANESE gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada has vowed to reclaim the company unlawfully taken from him and expressed optimism that justice will prevail in the end.

Amid what his lawyers described as baseless accusations and lies being thrown at him, Okada revealed that he also reached out to his son for reconciliation for the sake of the family and company.

“I would say my control was fraudulently taken away from me and I am now doing everything in my power to take it back,” Okada said in a statement issued by his lawyers on Thursday.

“I have a belief that justice wins in the end. I believe in justice, and this belief drives me to continue,” he added.

For the first time, Okada spoke about his illegal removal as director of Okada Holdings Ltd. due to alleged illegal maneuverings of some people upon whom he bestowed his trust and confidence. Okada said these people later betrayed his trust and manipulated his children to benefit from their grand scheme.

Okada Holdings Ltd. is the holding company for all Universal Entertainment Corp. shares owned by members of Okada’s family. Okada Holdings Ltd. controls 69 percent of UEC, which through Tiger Resorts Asia Ltd., owns Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc., the operator of Okada Manila.

Du30, Misuari meet; discuss federalism P

By Nat Mariano

resident Rodrigo Duterte discussed federalism during his meeting with Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari, the Palace said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the recent meeting with Misuari, which happened Wednesday evening, was not new as the President regularly meets with the MNLF chief.

“This is not new in the sense that the President has been meeting Nur Misuari. But the only thing I got was that they talked about federalism,” Roque said.

The meeting in Davao City was the first since Duterte signed into law

Republic Act no. 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

After the BOL signing several weeks ago, the President had said that he could grant the wish of Misuari should he wanted to create a possible separate autonomous region for his group.

“I can create also an autonomy for him if that’s what he wants, and pending the federal system implementation, he can just wait for it if he trusts me,” the

President told Misuari in a speech in Zamboanga, adding that he has three years to change the Constitution.

Duterte believes that the BOL, which grants wider autonomy to the Muslims in the south, will pave the way for a more genuine and lasting peace in the Mindanao region.

The law abolishes the ARMM and will create a new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in its place. The BAR territorial jurisdiction includes the original ARMM provinces such as Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Sulu; six towns in Lanao del Norte; 39 barangays in North Cotabato; Cotabato City, and Isabela City in Basilan.

Misuari served as the ARMM governor after the MNLF struck a peace deal with former President Fidel Ramos in 1996.

NPC not fielding senatorial candidates—Sotto says

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday clarified that the Nationalist People’s Coalition will not field its own candidates for senators in the coming midterm elections in May next year.

In a news briefing, Sotto said that the NPC does not have any intention of putting up its own lineup.

“We are going to support a number of senatorial lineups. Others will call it— like senatorial lineup. But for us, we will have a list of senatorial candidate that the NPC will support. It means, in the NPCcontrolled areas, our governors, mayors, councillors, will be very accommodating in campaigning for these senatorial candidates,” Sotto said.

The NPC has 2,116 elected officials composed of three senators (Senators Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero and Sotto), 25 members in the House of Representatives, eight governors, seven vice governors, 105 board members, 21 city mayors, 22 city vice mayors, 218 city councilors, 176 municipal mayors, 157 municipal vice mayors and 1,362 councilors.

On Wednesday, Sotto released the

names of 13 possible contenders for senators whom they will support in next year’s election. They include Poe, Cynthia Villar (Nacionalista Party), Nancy Binay (UNA), Sonny Angara (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino), Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (PDPLaban) and JV Ejercito who are all seeking reelection.

Sotto said also belonging to the NPC senatorial slate are former senator and now Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Lito Lapid and former Police chief Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa.

He said Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Senator Bam Aquino, another reelectionist who belongs to the Minority Bloc in the Senate, might also be considered as NPC members although there is no final decision yet on the matter.

“He [Aquino] said there is a possibility that we will talk so everybody will agree.

It is also likely that both of them will be included,” he said.

The names of the 15 senators who will be endorsed and supported by the NPC, Sotto said, came from majority of the NPC members.

“Yes, I have mentioned the names of those cited by a number of members of the NPC. They are willing to support these candidates. We will formalize [it] after the filing of the CoC [Certificate of Candidacy]. It’s not ideal for us to keep on mentioning names and then later, they will not run. So we rather to come up with final list after the filing of CoC. The names that I have been mentioned yan ang susuportahan,” Sotto said.

Asked what kind of support the NPC will give to the candidates, Sotto said that members of the party from the LGUS will campaign for the senatorial candidates.

He added that the ‘senatoriables’ can also use the party’s political rallies and other gatherings as venue to air their platform and woo voters to support their candidacy.

However, he said matters involving finances and logistics were not discussed as a form of support for the chosen senatorial bets.

Sotto added that while they have an alliance with the ruling PDP-Laban, the NPC might have or might not have an alliance with other political parties of the other candidates, saying that this is “not necessary.”

THE Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division has affirmed its earlier decision allowing the video conferencing of two Czech nationals who will testify in the case against former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 general manager Al Vitangcol III. In a resolution dated Aug. 16, the anti-graft court division struck down the appeal of Vitangcol to prevent the testimonies of former Czech ambassador to the Philippines and current ambassador to Chile Josef Rychtar and Inekon board chairman Josef Husek in connection with the $30-million extortion case leveled against him.

The anti-graft court reversed its ruling denying the testimonies of Rychtar and Husek after the prosecution was asked to provide evidence of their inability to compel the Czech nationals to testify in open court.

Vitangcol claimed he was denied of due process. He said he was not furnished copies of the e-mail correspondences between the camps of the Czech witnesses which had been kept confidential for ‘privacy reasons.’

He said the video conferencing made him unable to answer the charges leveled against him Rychtar and Husek as contrary to a face-to-face or physical cross examination in the court room.

But the Sandiganbayan said Vitangcol’s motion for reconsideration was filed beyond the five-day limit when an accused can lodge his appeal.

Vitangcol was also accused of putting pressure on Inekon representatives to enter into a joint venture agreement with his supposed “envoy” Wilson De Vera for the contract.

Separate graft charges had also been filed against Vitangcol in connection with the alleged anomalous awarding of the MRT-3’s $1.15-million maintenance contract to PH Trams and its joint venture, Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corp., in October 2012.

LPA develops into a tropical depression

By Rio N. Araja A LOW pressure area northwest extreme Northern Luzon developed into a tropical depression named “Luis” on Thursday.

As of 4 pm, “Luis” was estimated at 350 kilometers north northwest of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

It was moving east northeast at 15 km/h.

“Luis” was the 12th tropical cyclone that entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year.

It had already made landfall in the vicinity of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

According to the weather bureau, “Luis” will not directly affect any part of the country but will enhance the southwest monsoon to spawn moderate to heavy rain to La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, the Babuyan group of islands, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Ex-DoT exec is new IBC-13 board member

DESTROYED. Almost P5.2 billion worth of chemicals for manufacturing of shabu

were destroyed by PDEA operatives at the Green Planet Inc., Brgy. Punturin in Valenzuela City. The PDEA operatives mixed water with the shabu chemicals to destroy the illegal drugs. Manny Palmero

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has named Department of Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro as new member of the Board of Directors at Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp.

Duterte signed De Castro’s appointment paper on Monday (Aug. 20) but it was only released to the media on Wednesday (Aug. 22).

De Castro will replace Manolito Cruz and will serve until June 30, 2019. Duterte appointed Edwin Enrile to replace De Castro at the DoT. The President also appointed the following: Michael Ong as Acting Senior Deputy Executive Secretary at the Office of the President; Mcjill Fernandez as Acting Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration at the Office of the President; Vanessa Goc-Ong as Assistant Secretary at the Office of the President; Bea-

trice Vega as Assistant Secretary at the Office of the President; Francisco Acosta as Chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas; Ruben Lopez as member of the Board of Directors at the United Coconut Planters Bank; Joe Doctora as member of the Board of Directors at the Small Business Corp.; Dengel Palmares as member of the Board of Directors at the Philippine Sugar Corp.; Danilo Trongco as member representing the tobacco farmers sector of the Board of Directors at the National Tobacco Administration; Amador Tabuga Jr. as member of the Board of Directors at the Philippine Mining Development Corp.; Paul Paulin as Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I at the Department of Agrarian Reform and Peter Fauni as Register of Deeds II at the Land Registration Authority, Department of Justice. PNA

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pandemonium

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

we have not had a real, huge accident in that complex during all this time.

CROSSROADS We should not wait for that to happen at all.

JONATHAN So what to do and fast should be DE LA CRUZ foremost in Tugade’s mind instead of issuing statements which could only HERE’S some friendly advice to bring bad times to the fore. And that my good friend, DoTR Secretary means cranking ideas and figures to Art Tugade: Kindly refrain from make sense out of the proposals to issuing statements thanking the ease our air transport woes and get stranded passengers during the 36- us into the league of countries with 48 hour bedlam at the MIAA which highly efficient, sustainable and yes, cascaded to other airports caused by profitable airline industries. the skidding of that Xiamen Airlines Is it wise to give that limited, 15 year plane last Thursday for their “patience concession for the so-called “seven tyand understanding.” coons” led consortium to prettify Naia That is unnecessary, even out of and squeeze another half runway to place. What else could the poor souls make it a two runway operation which have done given the chaotic situation will definitely double or even triple aggravated no end by the utter inabil- the fees to be paid out by every traveity of airport management to put some ler for its use? Or should government sense and order to the confused state just do the needed improvements and of affairs? let it the O & M be He should be auctioned off for thankful no one a reasonable fee lost control and for say 25 years? instigated a ruckWhat other choice did That may be a less us. Otherwise the the people have? expensive, more whole complex viable proposicould have easily tion. It will even burned down out lessen the tempof sheer frustratation on this and tion with the ineptness and insensi- succeeding administrations to look at tivity of those who should have taken the 200-plus-hectare complex as a real charge—from GM Ed Monreal to the estate rather than an honest-to-goodairlines’ airport staff. ness airport proposition.

That’s right. Instead of lauding Simultaneous with that move, TuMonreal and his crew for “putting the gade and his crew should now make situation under control” as was earlier up their minds and do what they have reported in some sites (was this some been saying all along—get moving on feel good, fake news issued by Mon- that multi-airport strategy: enhance real’s staff?) he should have gone to Clark, develop Sangley and let San the airport himself, thrown the man- Miguel proceed with its Aerotropolis ual of operations, if there is one at all, City in Bulacan. That way we have at Monreal and his crew and gotten alternatives instead of being frozen things moving. to death as with the “analysis paralyOf course, people will now say sis” which afflicted Pnoy and his crew this is all in hindsight. Hindsight vi- during their watch. sion is 20/20. But that “mea culpaJust study the numbers. At its preish” mindset will not wash this time. sent state with all the improvements Or at any time at all. We have said therein, Naia can accommodate 35 it time and time again and will re- million passengers annually using peat it loud and clear: the way things one, some say one and a half, fully stand, Naia is an accident waiting to functioning runway. That number is happen. Like MRT-3 during the pre- expected to reach 43 million by next Turn to A5 vious administration it is a miracle

An accident waiting to happen

T

HE current mess at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport should prompt authorities to once and for all implement short- and long-term solutions to avoid potential disasters. The Naia has become inadequate to handle incoming and outgoing flights.

As more tourists flock to the Philippines, the country’s premier gateway will be more hard-pressed in managing air traffic demand.

Unspecified airlines from Aug. 18 to 19 flew in 61 unauthorized make-up flights, causing further flight delays and hampered normal operations at the Naia, after the main runway was reopened following a twoday closure last week.

One of the airlines was Xiamen Airlines, which caused the runway closure when its Boeing 737-800 missed its mark upon landing on Aug. 16. Xiamen and the other airlines had flown uncoordinated flights with airport authorities.

Business groups in the Philippines have sounded the alarm before something worse hap-

pens. The Management Association of the Philippines pushed for the immediate upgrading of Naia, saying it will be a costeffective and fastest solution to the severe congestion plaguing the Manila airport, adding the expansion of Clark airport in Pampanga province will prevent future air traffic bottlenecks.

The MAP said the upgrade should realize the optimal safe capacity of Naia and that Clark International Airport should be expanded to relieve the current demand pressure on Naia and, more importantly, meet future demand growth.

The International Chamber of

Commerce of the Philippines, meanwhile, backed the Bulacan International Airport project proposed by a consortium led by San Miguel Corp.

The ICCP said San Miguel’s unsolicited project would not cost the government anything and would not require any subsidy or guarantee.

The company plans to build a futuristic “aerotropolis” with up to four parallel runways― which can be expanded further to six.

Several solutions to the airport congestion have been proposed and discussed before.

But the government should act with urgency, or at least offer the best practical solution at hand to address the problem.

The Philippines cannot afford to close its main gateway again and turn away flights. Clark, at the moment, is a viable alternative and it should serve as one pending the construction of a new airport.

Duterte turns off foreign fund managers Only 58 per cent of funds now have any holdings at all in the Philippines, the lowest level since early 2012, with vehicles run by the likes of BlackERIC Rock, Fidelity, Ashmore, Carmignac, JURADO and Pictet exiting the country in the I CAME across a disturbing article past year.

Even the manager of one of the in the Financial Times last Thursday, about foreign fund managers turn- funds that still has an outsize exing their backs on the Philippines posure to Manila told the Financial because of President Duterte. The Times: “To be honest, it’s not because following are selected excerpts from I find the Philippines all that attractive right now. I am actively seeking that article: Fund managers have slashed their substitutes.”

While stock-specific factors play exposure to the Philippines by more a role in the exothan half in the dus, fund managpast three years ers cite concern as the former over the macroemerging market economic backdarling dramatiHarsh words, drop in the Philcally fell out of indeed. ippines, amid a favor. perception that In mid-2015, the central bank EM (emerging has fallen behind markets) equity funds typically had a 2 percent the curve in tightening monetary weighting to the Manila exchange, an policy.

Economic growth has been a rooverweight position of about 0.7 percentage points vis-à-vis the bench- bust 6 percent or above since 2015. mark MSCI index. However near con- As a result, inflation has spiraled to stant selling since then has brought a nine-year high of 5.7 percent and the average fund weight down to 0.87 the current account, which has tradiper cent, the lowest level since 2011 tionally been in surplus to the tune of and below the Philippines’ bench- 3-4 percent of gross domestic product mark weight, based on analysis of the a year, slipped to a deficit of 0.8 of holdings of 180 EM equity funds with GDP in 2017.

Despite this, the central bank cut combined assets of $355 billion coninterest rates from 4 percent to 3 perducted by Copley Fund Research.

The retreat has been broad based, cent in 2016 and only returned them with 83 percent of funds cutting their to the 4 percent level this month.

With rates still low by historical exposure to the Philippines over the past year, according to Steven Hold- standards, the peso has fallen 6.7 en, founder of Copley.

Turn to A5 FROM WHERE I STAND

Saga of early humans etched in DNA of mixed-species child

By Marlowe Hood DENNY was an inter-species love child.

Her mother was a Neanderthal, but her father was Denisovan, a distinct species of primitive human that also roamed the Eurasian continent 50,000 years ago, scientists reported Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Nicknamed by Oxford University scientists, Denisova 11—her official name —was at least 13 when she died, for reasons unknown.

“There was earlier evidence of interbreeding between different hominin, or early human, groups,” said lead author Vivian Slon, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

“But this is the first time that we have found a direct, first-generation offspring,” she told AFP. Denny’s surprising pedigree was unlocked from a bone fragment unearthed in 2012 by Russian archeologists at the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.

Analysis of the bone’s DNA left no doubt: the chromosomes were a 50-50 mix of Neanderthal and Denisovan, two distinct species of early humans that split apart between 400,000 to 500,000 years ago.

“I initially thought that they must have screwed up in the lab,” said senior author and Max Planck Institute professor Svante Paabo, who identified the first Denisovan a decade ago at the same site.

Worldwide, fewer than two dozen Turn to A5

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Why airports matter VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE crash-landing of Xiamen Air Flight MF8667 at 11:56 pm midnight of Aug. 16, 2018 brought into sharp relief the importance of airports to the Philippine economy and to our daily lives.

I had previously estimated the cost to the economy of the two-day closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from midnight of Aug. 16, 2018 to Saturday noon, Aug. 20, 2018 at P3.7 billion. That figure is now grossly understated.

The economy produces goods and services (or Gross Domestic Product or GDP) at current prices amounting to P17 trillion. Aviation contributes 9 percent of that, or P1.53 trillion. Divide P1.53 trillion by 365 days and you get P4.19 billion. NAIA accounts for 60 percent of that or P2.5 billion per day. Multiply P2.5 billion by two days, you get P5 billion.

Yes, P5 billion is the country’s economic loss for two days in the aftermath of the XiamenAir disaster.

And yet, the Chinese airline was slapped a colossally huge amount of only P15 million! That is not even equivalent to a slap on the wrist for economic sabotage to the tune of P5 billion.

Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, a former military man, tweeted wryly, “The Chinese now have gotten the idea on how easy it is to paralyze the PHL transpo.”

Anecdotal evidence now shows possibly more than 500,000 air passengers were affected or disrupted by the XiamenAir disaster, not 100,000 as estimated by the Naia GM Eddie Monreal.

Cebu Pacific informed me that some 200,000 of its domestic and international passengers had to rebook by themselves at the airline’s website.

The carrier’s website saw increased activity of 100,000 visits daily after the accident.

For Aug. 17 to 20, Philippine Airlines reported 34,000 passengers affected—29,500 passengers of 87 canceled flights and 4,500 passengers of 21 diverted flights. Those are PAL

Duterte...

From A4

percent against an ascendant dollar this year to a 12-year nominal low of 53.5 pesos per dollar, adding to losses for foreign investors who have already had to grapple with a 10.8 percent year-to-date slide in the Philippine Stock Exchange Composite index in local currency terms.

“There has been a decision over the last couple of years to let our weighting slide lower. We were quite overweight,” said Douglas Reed, global strategist and economist on the emerging and Asian equity team at Newton Investment Management, whose Emerging Income Fund has closed its 2.1 percent position in the Philippines in the past six months, according to Copley’s data, while its sister Global Emerging Markets Fund has cut its holdings by 2.7 percentage points.

“The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing emerging market economies but we had become a little more concerned that the economy was perhaps growing a little bit faster than it should be,” Mr. Reed said.

“The central bank has decided to take a lackadaisical approach to inflation targeting. It’s only this year that they have stood up and come out with rate increases, therefore we’re slightly more bearish on the currency over the next six months versus the average EM currency. We would like to see the central bank get ahead of the curve.”

Pandemonium From A4

year and possibly 50 million by 2020.

With that runway, Naia can only operate 45 movements per hour, maybe up to 50 if forced to the limit. Given the spike in air travel since the liberalization of the airline industry, Naia has been averaging 55 movements per hour five years ago.

passengers who were directly affected. They do not include hundreds of thousands more displaced by canceled flights, redirected flights, late flights, recovery flights.

The Philippines is an archipelago country, with no less than 7,300 islands, at low tide. You need aviation to connect the islands, their people, their social lives, their businesses.

Manila is four hours or less away from major Asian political and financial capitals—Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur. Four of the world’s largest airports in passenger capacity are Asian—Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

Whether you like it or not, Manila is a veritable regional and global hub.

The Philippines, after all, is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. It is also the 12th largest consumer mar-

Here are the main benefits of the proposed airport.

ket on earth. More than 100 million Chinese travel abroad yearly and they have recently taken to liking the Philippines making them Manila’s No. 1 tourists.

Per capita, Filipinos make more than $3,500 per year, making them middle class. Not poor. In 10 years, more than 30 million Filipinos came to fly for the first time.

Airports are the wave of the future.

A city, in fact, a country cannot prosper without a serious airport. It is integral to tourism, today’s the world’s biggest business.

In the United States, in states where tourism is strong, civil aviation is a very important component of the economy. Civil aviation accounts for 18 percent of the GDP of Hawaii, 12 of Nevada, 7.9 of Arizona, 7.5 of Alaska, 7.2 of Florida, and 6.7 percent of Washington.

Hong Kong and Singapore as well as Qatar and UAE are basically aviation economies.

What to do, then, with NAIA? Well, close it down. It is useless.

Build a new airport.

That airport is should be the one proposed by San Miguel Corp., a $15-billion facility, 27 kilometers north of the 600-hectare NAIA, on 2,500 hectares of mostly flat lands.

Here are the main benefits of the SMC airport: • It will increase in annual arrivals to 20 million • It will generate at least 30 million in jobs • The government won’t spend a centavo to build the airport. SMC will finance the whole $15 billion by itself using its enormous leverage power • It will decongest Metro Manila.

A new airport will revitalize Bulacan and all areas around it. SMC will build a sprawling industrial estate, a seaport, a spillway to ease flooding, and interconnecting highways and railways around the airport.

• It will improve the image of the Philippines. The mess at NAIA has done more to damage the country than all previous acts of terrorism combined • It will improve Filipinos’ quality of life.

• It will contribute more than P1.5 trillion a year or 9 percent of the country’s GDP • There will be fast and easy access via multiple expressways • It will have substantial multiplier effects • It will help solve Metro Manila’s horendous traffic which costs P3 billion daily • It will bring enormous savings to the economy • Traffic congestion at the 70-yearold NAIA will rise to P24.3 billion annually in losses in airline fuel and operating expenses. Losses will rise to P25.4 billion a year by 2050.

• Passenger losses in loss of productivity are P30 billion annually by 2040 due to flight delays at NAIA. Losses rise to P32 billion annually by 2050.

RSA promises to solve Bulacan’s perennial flooding problem with spillway excess water from Angat and Ipo dam watersheds to drain directly into Manila Bay. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Andrew Jones, portfolio manager and head of equity research at PineBridge Investments, whose Global Emerging Markets Focus Equity Fund has also cut its exposure, said: “Going into this [period], a lot of fund managers were pretty long [bullish on] the Philippines.

It’s a secular growth opportunity, GDP [growth] is in the 6 percent range and is likely to stay there.”

He added: “But CPI [inflation] has been creeping up a lot. There is uncertainty on the trade side and the dollar. Most investors want to see a higher interest rate in the Philippines right now. The central bank is not as responsive as we would like.”

Mr. Reed also cited concerns over the policies of Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ strongman president, whose war on drugs has led to the deaths of an estimated 12,000 people since he took office in 2016 and who has also taken a tough line with Islamist militants on the southern island of Mindanao.

“His economic policies have been good and we have been impressed with those,” said Mr. Reed, “but it’s the unknown unknowns, it’s these kinds of things that can suddenly become a market focus.”

“We like the fundamentals, we just want to get a little more comfort on the macro side before investing more,” Mr. Jones said. Others remain more upbeat still on the Philippines.”

Scott Klimo, chief investment officer of Washington state-based investment house Saturna Capital, said:

“The demographics are probably the best in Asia, it certainly has the youngest population. The English spoken there tends to be pretty decent so you do see BPO [business process outsourcing] opportunities there and Filipinos are happy to go abroad and work and send back remittances.”

Saturna’s Amana Developing World Fund has a 7.8 percent position in the Philippines, the highest of the 180 funds in Copley’s database. Its third-largest holding is SM Prime Holdings, the country’s largest shopping mall and retail operator; it also has stakes in Aboitiz Power and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

As for the economic issues, Mr. Klimo said they were pretty much the norm in developing economies, while some metrics were improving, such as government debt, which has steadily fallen from 43.9 percent of GDP in 2009 to 28.3 percent last year.

He also suggested that part of the depreciation of the peso had less to do with the economics than the fact that Mr. Duterte “is a disaster” and some people “don’t want to be associated with him.”

Noting that, as long-term, valuesbased investors (the fund is sharia compliant), it had built up its holdings under Benigno Aquino III, Mr. Duterte’s predecessor, Mr. Klimo said: “We have no illusions about the murderous thug who is the current president.” Harsh words indeed from the fund that is the country’s biggest fan.

Which is why there has never been a day when flights going out or getting into Naia specially those in the socalled ‘sweet hours” between 10 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon and going to the early evenings would be on time. By 2023 or thereabout when arrivals will presumably get into the high 50 million or even 60 million already and we don’t do anything about our airport situation then we might as well close shop and hibernate. Dead to

the world.

Now, if some people come along and start questioning this kind of rush at a time of turmoil and uncertainty as being hasty and unworkable, then Secretary Tugade can finally make his statement. He can now say-go ahead damn me and shut them off with a stern “It is better to have tried and moved rather than not to have moved at all.”

eric.jurado@gmail.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Forgotten in Myanmar, 129,000 Rohingya languish in camps

By Hla-Hla Htay/Phyo Hein Kyaw ABDURAHIM worries the lack of food, medicine and free movement is doing lasting damage to his four young children, who are among more than 129,000 Rohingya Muslims trapped in squalid camps inside Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

In the grimy, rubbish-strewn alleyways of Thet Kel Pyin camp, near the state capital Sittwe, children gather around a slaughtered cow, a rare chance to eat meat on the second day of the Eid al-Adha festival.

Most of the camp’s residents were forced from their homes in 2012, victims of ethnic and religious hatreds that have simmered for decades.

Cut off from outside contact, their plight is rarely reported.

Abdurahim, 46, fears that everyday life in the camp—split communities, restricted movement for the Rohingya and dependency on relief handouts— will shape his children forever.

Aged between eight and 17, their formative years have been spent in Thet Kel Pyin, where the family arrived six years ago.

“What kind of memory comes into their head? They think only one ethnicity lives like this,” Abdurahim— whose Myanmar name is Shwe Hla —told AFP. “Their vision is becoming like this.”

His family’s struggle is overshadowed by the vast scale of the Rohingya refugee exodus into neighbouring Bangladesh that began one year ago.

An army crackdown last August saw 700,000 of the persecuted minority flee over the border to one of the world’s largest refugee camps in violence the UN and US have likened to ethnic cleansing.

Grim reality Conditions in Thet Kel Pyin, witnessed during a brief visit late Wednesday on a government-steered press trip, suggested a dire need for food, education, jobs and medical services.

But it is probably among the better camps in Rakhine, where government minders are willing to take media and visiting dignitaries.

Visitors are denied access to other sites, like those in remote Pauktaw township where more than 22,000 eke out an existence in shelters built upon piles of garbage and excrement.

Kaman Muslims live alongside the Rohingya in the camps, where many

Saga...

From A4

early human genomes from before 40,000 years ago—Neanderthal, Denisovan, Homo sapiens—have been sequenced, and the chances of stumbling on a half-and-half hybrid seemed vanishingly small.

Or not.

Inter-species hanky-panky “The very fact that we found this individual of mixed Neanderthal and Denisovan origins suggests that they interbred much more often than we thought,” said Slon.

Paabo agreed: “They must have quite commonly had kids together, otherwise we wouldn’t have been this lucky.”

A 40,000-year-old Homo sapiens with a Neanderthal ancestor a few generations back, recently found in Romania, also bolsters this notion.

But the most compelling evidence that inter-species hanky-panky in Late Pleistocene Eurasia may not have been that rare lies in the genes of contemporary humans.

About two percent of DNA in nonAfricans across the globe today originate with Neanderthals, earlier studies have shown.

Denisovan remnants are also widespread, though less evenly.

“We find traces of Denisovan DNA —less than one percent—everwhere in Asia and among native Americans,” said Paabo.

“Aboriginal Australians and people in Papua New Guinea have about five percent.”

Taken together, these facts support a novel answer to the hotly debated question of why Neanderthals—which had successfully spread across parts of western and central Europe— disappeared some 40,000 years ago.

Up to now, their mysterious demise has been blamed on disease, climate change, genocide at the hands of Homo

struggle with deteriorating health.

“After six years here, our health is worsening,” said Thin Mya, a 64-yearold Kaman Muslim mother of four.

“The rooms are so close to each other so... the health problem is getting bigger.”

The first step to improving the grim reality of internally displaced Rohingya is “freedom of movement,” said Abdurahim, once a prosperous owner of a construction business in Sittwe.

Myanmar says it is ready and willing to repatriate the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh since last year.

But it has complicated the process with bureaucracy while the refugees refuse to return without guarantees of safety, security and compensation.

The UN has said conditions in Myanmar are not ripe for a safe and voluntary repatriation, especially given the desperate conditions in camps like Thet Kel Pyin, which were established after previous rounds of violence.

To head off criticism, Myanmar says it will close nearly 20 of the camps in coming months.

State media on Tuesday said one camp had been closed at Ni Din in the Kyauktaw area of Rakhine, following recommendations by the late United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan released last year.

But the UN’s Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs questioned whether these “so-called camp ‘closures’” were being done in the spirit of those recommendations, which emphasized an end to movement restrictions and granting the Rohingya a pathway to citizenship.

“What matters most is not whether a camp is closed, but whether the displaced people in them can go home or be relocated in a process that profoundly transforms their lives,” OCHA spokesperson Pierre Peron told AFP. Myanmar’s government denies allegations of ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, yet labels them “Bengalis” non-native to the Buddhist-majority country.

It insists that any Rohingya who return from Bangladesh should take up a National Verification Card, a form of ID that falls short of citizenship and denies them full rights.

“Why do we need to hold this National Verification Card?” said Abdurahim. “We have lived here for generations.” AFP sapiens, or some combination of the above.

But what if our species—arriving in waves from Africa—overwhelmed Neanderthals, and perhaps Denisovans, with affection rather than aggression?

Conquered or absorbed?

“Part of the story of these groups is that they may simply have been absorbed by modern populations,” said Paabo.

“The modern humans were more numerous, and the other species might have been incorporated.”

Recent research showing that Neanderthals were not, in fact, knuckledragging brutes makes this scenario all the more plausible.

Our genetic cousins executed sophisticated hunting strategies in groups; made fires, tools, clothing and jewellery; and buried their dead with symbolic ornaments.

They painted animal frescos on cave walls at least 64,000 years ago, well before most Homo sapiens arrived in Europe.

Far less is known about Denisovans, but they may have suffered a similar fate.

Paabo established their existence with an incomplete finger bone and two molars dated to some 80,000 years ago.

Among their genetic legacy to some modern humans is a variant of the gene EPAS1 that makes it easier for the body to access oxygen by regulating the production of haemoglobin, according to a 2014 study.

Nearly 90 percent of Tibetans have this precious variant, compared with only nine percent of Han Chinese, the dominant—and predominantly lowland—ethnic group in China.

Neanderthals and Denisovans might have intermingled even more but for the fact that the former settled mostly in Europe, and the latter in central and East Asia, the researchers speculated. AFP

News

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Jan-July ‘18 tourist arrivals grow by 9.74%

DoH urged to train tribal health workers

By Maricel V. Cruz A PRO-ADMINISTRATION lawmaker on Thursday urged the Department of Health to train tribal health workers on new and emergency primary health care management.

In addition, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, in filing House Bill 7859, said the tribal health workers should be trained on the use of herbal medicines.

An estimated 17 million tribesmen, most of them in Northern Luzon and Mindanao, will be benefited.

Villafuerte’s proposed Tribal Health Workers Act provides that every tribal group within 10 kilometers from a barangay center appoint a designated health worker from its community.

“These health workers, referred to as tribal health workers [THWs], are tasked to provide primary health care to members of the tribes. Each of them is also responsible for assisting, if needed, sick persons to the nearest clinic or hospital,” Villafuerte, vice chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, said.

Under HB 7859, every THW must undergo health care training by either the government or a non-governmental organization.

There should be one THW for every 30 tribal families.

Villafuerte said the bill also recognized the importance of adopting health practices that respect and incorporate the beliefs and tradition of the country’s indigenous peoples.

This is why the bill recognizes the use by tribal communities of herbal medicines and mandates the THWs to establish herbal gardens in their reapective communities, he said.

“Our country takes pride in its diverse and colorful population. It honors every indigenous group that makes up our distinct identity as a nation, and endeavors that they are not left behind in all aspects of progress,” Villafuerte said.

‘TRAIN law no effect to PCSO’ REVENUES from lotto products including digit games continue to increase with total earnings of P5.2 billion in July, up by 18.66 percent despite the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan said Thursday.

“The trust and confidence of PCSO’s gaming public remains high,” he said.

According to him, the overall sales of Lotto and other digit games had earned P5,249,195,898, an increase of 18.66 percent compared with the same period last year.

“Topping the list when it comes to revenues for the month of July is Lotto and digit games at P2,591,971,830, however it was down by 3.64 percent compared to the same period last year.

As against the Small Town Lottery [STL] revenues at P1,955,344,092, which is an increase of 57.94 percent compared with same period last year,” Balutan reported.

Keno reportedly earned P398,660,720, but was down by 13.74 percent and Instant Sweepstakes Ticket with P77,255,000, which was up by 100 percent, both were compared with the same period last year.

“Even though we increased the ticket prices from P20.00 to P24.00 due to our Documentary Stamp Tax people are still patronizing our products hoping they could finally hit the jackpot,” Balutan added.

Balutan said the agency regularly conducted market studies and researches to determine the reactions of the gaming public.

19TH CENTURY CRY. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos troops the line on Thursday during the 122nd anniversary celebration ofa Pugad Lawin Shrine at Barangay Bahay Toro in Quezon City. The Cry of Pugad Lawin, alternately and originally referred to as the Cry of Balintawak, was the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against Spain. Manny Palmero

Pagcor to stop issuing franchise for casinos

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said it would adhere to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to temporarily stop issuing any franchise for casinos in the country despite contributing P15.798 billion to the government coffers from gaming operations in the first quarter of the year.

In his speech during the conference of the League of Municipalities Visayas Island Cluster in Cebu on Tuesday, the President said he would not allow gambling under his term.

“There’s no gambling. I will not allow gambling. I’m not issuing any franchise for gambling in the entire Philippines now. It’s a moratorium...I hate gambling,” the President said.

Duterte’s moratorium on new casinos was announced after the President sacked all officials of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation over the questionable 70-year property lease contract with Hong Kong-based Landing International Development Ltd. that the President found “grossly disadvantageous to the government.”

Pag-IBIG Fund releases P4.9 billion

JAPAN’S DONATION. Philippine Coast Guard personnel on board one of two 44-meter multi-role response vessels donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to the PCG as part of its support to the Philippine maritime safety and security.

Norman Cruz

Cebu Pacific expands wings to Clark International Airport

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Cebu Pacific Air on Thursday announced it had expanded its wings to the Clark International Airport with the introduction of two new routes to help improve its air connectivity and logistics between Central Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Beginning Nov. 9, 2018, CEB will mount daily commercial flights between its Clark and Davao hubs as well as between Clark and Tagbilaran (Bohol) once a day.

Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 613, bound for Tagbilaran, departs Clark at 955 am daily and arrives at 11:20 am. The return flight, 5J 614, departs Tagbilaran at 11:50 am,

In a statement, Pagcor said it reaffirmed its commitment and readiness to support the policies and pronouncement of the President pertaining to the country’s gaming industry.

“As a regulator, Pagcor is duty bound to ensure that all-gaming related regulations are adhered to, balancing the responsibility of increase badlyneeded revenues for the government and safeguarding the best interest of the Filipino people,” Pagcor said.

However, the President said those casinos already operating could continue their operations.

“Those already there, they enjoy it because you will not have it in other places.

No more gambling. Just work. But if there are resorts and they still talk about

gambling, you better say it to them at an early time. No more gambling,” he said.

Earlier, Pagcor chairman Andrea Domingo said the agency would no longer process applications for gaming licenses following the ban, adding four applications for licenses, mostly local businessmen were pending with the agency.

Pagcor regulates, operates, authorizes and issues licenses to games of cards and games of numbers, particularly casino gaming in the Philippines.

According to the agency’s report, Pagcor paid out gaming taxes and contributions amounting to P8.294 billion for the quarter, which is 12.5 percent higher than the payments made in the same period for 2017 at P7.372 billion.

The payments were made in compliance with the 5-percent franchise tax, and its 50-percent share to the government, including contributions to the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Total expenses for the quarter reached P7.031 billion, which expanded by 9.66 percent, from P6.412 billion in the same quarter last year.

TOURIST arrivals in the first seven months of the year increased by 9.74 percent to 4.3 million visitors compared to 3.92 million in the same period last year, the Department of Tourism reported Thursday.

In July alone, visitors tallied 601,322, posting a growth rate of 5.86 percent from the 568,035 recorded in July 2017.

This, despite the low-travel season and the temporary closure of Boracay, a major tourist draw for the Philippines.

Data from DoT-Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division show that South Korea remains the country’s top source market, followed by China, the United States, Japan and Australia.

In data obtained by the Philippine News Agency, South Koreans totaled 937,227 from January to July 2018. Chinese nationals came in second with 764,094 tourists.

China remains a fast-growing market with a 40.01 percent growth rate compared to its 545,725 tourists last year.

On the other hand, visitors from the US and Japan reached 649,496 and 366,649, respectively. Australia, the fifth source market of the country, had a total of 161,077 tourists for the same period.

Tourism Secretary BernadetteRomulo Puyat described the steady increase as a positive reflection of the “brighter” future of the Philippine tourism industry.

“With the challenges and hurdles the industry is facing, maintaining the positive trajectory of visitor arrivals is not an easy feat, but the industry has kept itself afloat,” Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.

“We only have our stakeholders and government partners to thank. But of course, this will not be possible without the dedicated men and women of the DoT,” she added.

She expressed optimism the agency would reach the government’s target of 7.4 million arrivals for 2018.

“With the roll out of a comprehensive branding campaign in the coming months and the scheduled reopening of a better Boracay on Oct. 26, we are optimistic that we will hit, or better yet, surpass our target of 7.4 million for 2018,” she said. PNA

and arrives Clark at 1:15 pm.

On the other hand, Flight 5J 985 departs from Clark to Davao daily at 1:45 pm, with scheduled arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao at 3:40 pm.

The return flight, 5J 986, departs Davao at 4:10 pm, with Estimate Time of Arrival at the Clark International Airport at 6:05 pm.

The new Clark routes are on an introductory sale with a base fare of P599 up to Aug. 28, or until seats last.

Travel period is from Nov. 9, 2018 to March 30, 2019. Lowest year-round base fare for the Clark-Tagbilaran route is at P888 and P1,088 for Clark-Davao.

PAG-IBIG Fund disbursed P4.859 billion in socialized housing loans from January to June this year, benefitting 12,639 low wage earners.

Socialized housing makes up 32 percent of all homes financed by the Fund in the first half of the year, the agency said in a press statement.

The amount released is 22 percent higher than 2017’s P3.788 billion for the same period.

Pag-IBIG Fund aims to disburse a total of P8.873 billion by yearend of 2018 to finance 26,709 units under socialized housing.

“Socialized housing is designed especially for the low wage workers. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte directed that there be government programs catering to this marginalized sector, hence, we have this housing program intended for them. This is the essence of BALAI Filipino (Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive Filipino Communities)—decent shelter for every Filipino family,” said Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Pag-IBIG Fund

Board of Trustees.

Socialized housing is worth from P300,000 to P450,000.

Pag-IBIG Fund now offers the lowest 3 percent per annum interest rate—which is 33 percent lower than the previous 4.5 percent—and no equity required.

Pag-IBIG Fund subsidizes these low interest rates through its tax savings, being a tax-exempt agency as specified under Republic Act 9679.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy Moti said, ”The main driver of socialized housing is compliance among developers.

“They allot 15 percent of their development projects as socialized housing. This in turn helps low wage and minimum wage earners, who are the underserved sector, acquire a home of their own.”

With a reduced fire and allied perils monthly premium of only P79.69 and mortgage redemption insurance monthly premium of only P103.50, a member-borrower pays only P2,080.41 monthly amortization from the previous P2,651.50 for a P450,000 loan.

CA nixes plea of convicted drug lords to lift freeze order

By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has sustained the freeze order it issued against two bank accounts allegedly being used to launder millions of pesos derived from the illegal drug trade of a convicted drug lord.

In a three-page resolution, the court, through CA’s Former Special Third Division Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Jeffrey Su Go, Jean Pearl Yana Go, and Jin Zhang of its decision issued on June 16, 2017.

The appellate court, in its June 16 ruling, reinstated the freeze order covering Banco de Oro Account Number 4898009067 jointly owned by Jeffrey and Jean and Metrobank Account Number 7640028854 owned by Jin.

The CA ruled that the Manila City Regional Trial Court committed error in lifting the provisional asset preservation order it issued on Jan. 5, 2017 when it gave weight to the respondents claim that the funds were meant to pay for casino-related loans.

The appellate court stressed the lower court should not have ruled out the possibility that the money came from illegal drug activities of convicted drug lord Albert Chin.

Court records showed that Chin was the leader of a group who had been charged by the DoJ before the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo City in 2013 for illegal possession of illegal drugs, in connection with the drug bust conducted by the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force last resulted in the seizure of around 432

kilos of shabu amounting to P2 billion.

During the operation, authorities confiscated several items including a transaction ticket for the deposit of P3.68 million to the Go couple’s account and a P4-million manager’s check payable to Zhang.

Subsequent investigation by the AntiMoney Laundering Council showed that Chin transferred a total of P18.31 million to the Gos from September 2012 to August 2013.

Chin, along with five other co-accused, were convicted in September 2016 by the Olongapo City RTC. In their motion for reconsideration, Gos and Zhang argued that the PAPO over their bank accounts should not have been reinstated considering the failure of AMLC to present proof that these were connected with Chin’s illegal drug activities.

Sports

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

San Beda Red Lions face Chiefs in NCAA action

Heads up! Philippine women’s volleyball team caption Aby Marano (left) hammers the volleyball through the hands of a pair of Hong Kong defenders which the Philippines won.

SAN BEDA shoots to Dalta, meanwhile, seeks Games today regain its bearing after a to keep its spot at third (Filoil Flying V Centre) painful loss to Lyceum of where they hold a 5-2 8 a.m.- CSJL vs EAC (jrs) the Philippines University (win-loss) mark while 10 a.m.- UPHSD vs CSB (jrs) 12 nn.-CSJL vs EAC (srs) as it squares off with ArelCollege of St. Benilde 2 p.m.- UPHSD vs CSB (srs) lano University today in tries to snatch it as the 4 p.m.- AU vs SBU (srs) the 94th NCAA basketball two take on each other 6 p.m.- AU vs SBU (jrs) tournament at the Filoil at 2 p.m.

Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Altas have been a revelation thus far The Lions lost steam in a heartbreak- as they have zoomed to their current place ing 66-73 defeat to the Pirates Tuesday despite coming into the season with 11 new that sent the former to their first loss this players and a coach in Frankie Lim. after winning their first six outings and Lim said the keys are defense and they will be eager to bounce back from it execution. with a win over the Arellano U Chiefs in “We’re winning games because we’re their 4 p.m. encounter. playing really tough defense and making “We just have to bounce back from it shots,” said Lim. and try to get as many wins as possible,” Letran, meanwhile, aims to ride the crest said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. of their 84-63 rout of Mapua Tuesday as it San Beda will play an AU team that tackles Emilio Aguinaldo College. is looking to play more consistent after Bong Quinto has been the pillar of splitting wins (three) with losses (four) strength for the Knights after dishing out that kept the latter stranded in the middle a triple-double effort with 12 points, 10 of the pack. boards and 11 assists to power his team University of Perpetual Help System to their fifth win against three setbacks.

Hidilyn shifts to heavier weight J

AKARTA—Hidilyn Diaz is moving on and moving up.

Two days removed from her gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games here, Diaz is already looking at her next tournament—the World Championships in Turkmenistan, where she is moving up to a new, heavier weight class.

have gotten tired in the division.”

Diaz lifted 207 kgs in winning the gold on Tuesday night, beating Turkmenistan’s Kristina Shermetova by a kilo and Thailand’s Khambao Surodchana by 6.

The Tokyo 2020 may be her last competition.

“I’m 27 years old now and I have been a national athlete for 14 years. In other words, I am no longer young and I am now one of the veterans,” said Diaz, a scholar of Business Management courtesy of College of St. Benilde.

She was thrust into the big stage during the Olympics in Beijing 2008, and was already experienced, but still un-

ripe for a medal in London 2012. It was in Rio de Janeiro two years ago when her star finally shone.

Along the way, Diaz won an Olympic silver medal to go with an Asiad gold, achievements she feels will inspire young athletes to work hard in weightlifting and other sports, as well.

“I can see young athletes who have the potential specially in weightlifting.

Like myself, they need a program, a personal program like what I have undergone,” she said.

Diaz plans to retire after the Tokyo games. But for the meantime, let’s allow her to savor her Asiad triumph for the next few days. Riera U. Mallari

From the -53kgs division she has dominated for so long, Diaz is going up in weight to -55 kgs, which she believes would be her comfort zone.

“The -55 kgs is not actually a choice, but it’s my targeted weight for the gold in Tokyo [2020 Olympics]. It’s a new category in the IWF [International Weightlifting Federation],” she said.

“I feel more comfortable with -55 kgs, it’s less tiring. My opponents in that class are strong, but I would stand my ground.”

She said it’s time to move on from her old division and start fresh.

“In these Asian Games, I was confident of the gold in the -53 kgs, and thank God I got my wish,” she said. “But I

Seafront Residences backs BVR Manila Open

Estanislao, Maneja share PPS titles JUSTINE MANEJA came away with two abbreviated victories and one scrambling win while Daniel Estanislao III captured two titles as they dominated the PPS-PEPP Pulilan Youth-Bulacan national age group tennis tournament at the Pulilan Tennis Club outdoor tennis courts in Bulacan last Tuesday.

The 14-year-old Maneja, playing out of Arellano U, scored back-to-back 1-0 (ret.) wins in her age group over top seed Julia Ignacio and against Gaby Zoleta in the girls’ 16-U finals then the Quezon City ace hung tough to frustrate Mica Emana, 7-5, 6-4, in a duel of unranked bets in the premier 18-U division of the Group 2 tournament put up by the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Pera Padala headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

SEAFRONT Residences was a proud sponsor of the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour Manila Open held last Aug. 17-19.

A total of 32 teams—16 in the women’s and men’s division—have joined in the successful three-day spikefest where the best collegiate and professional beach volleyball players converged at Sands SM By The Bay. Among those who participated were Seafront Residences’ brand boosters Dzi Gervacio and Bea Tan, who were reunited as partners in the Manila tournament.

BVR founder Charo Soriano, who herself is a brand booster, praised Seafront Residences for its support in growing beach volleyball in the country.

“Seafront Residences, a project by Aboitizland, Inc., has been supporting us since summer of last year. They have been with us for seven legs already from Cebu, Dagupan, Ilocos Sur, Puerto Galera, and now here in the Manila leg,” said Soriano.

University of Santo Tomas ruled the competition, with Sisi Rondina and Babylove Barbon winning the gold medal in the women’s division, while the tandem of Krung Arbasto and Jeron Requinton topping the men’s side.

Gervacio and Tan bagged the silver while Smart’s Grethcel Soltones and Alyssa Eroa won the bronze in the distaff side.

National University’s Bryan Bagunas and James Natividad, and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta’s Jayjay Solamillo and Gilbert Balmores achieved podium finish in the men’s side.

The Manila Open was the sixth leg of the year—and the 32nd overall since the BVR began in 2015.

The second seeded Estanislao, on the other hand, proved too tough for top seed Jester Ocio, scoring a 6-0, 6-1 triumph to clinch the boys’ 16-U diadem then the Letran College mainstay from Caloocan City took the 18-U plum with a 6-3, 4-0(ret.) victory over Miguel Vicencio.

“We would like to thank the PPSPEPP for this event and its continued support to our junior sports development program,” said Pulilan Mayor Ma. Rosario Ochoa-Montejo.

Local bet Vicencio earlier snared the 14-U crown, outlasting Keno Enriquez, 6-4, 7-6(5), while Emana likewise struck back to claim the 12-U trophy with a 1-0 (ret.) win over Ma. Sophia Moreno.

Other winners in the event, presented

by Dunlop and backed by Asiatraders Corp., were Nhiele Dilao from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, who wore down sibling Vhiele, 4-2, 1-4, 12-10 (10-unisex), and Sampaloc, Manila’s Joshua Diva, who trounced Enriquez, 6-4, 6-1 (boys’ 12-U).

Meanwhile, action in the nationwide, year-long circuit, sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg, shifts to Mindanao this weekend with the Zamboanga del Norte Liloy leg on Aug. 24-27 to be followed by the Salug stop on Aug. 31-Sept. 3 and the Sindangan tournament on Sept. 7-10. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

STOLEN BASE.

Philippine women’s softball team captain Cheska Altomonte slides in the dirt to steal a base even as two Chinese Taipei players claim otherwise.

Lady Red Spikers rip Altas to stay alive SAN BEDA recovered from a third set collapse to Perpetual Help, 25-19, 25-15, 9-25, 25-21, and keep its slim hopes for a semis playoff in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan Wednesday.

After dominating the Lady Altas in the first two frames, the Lady Red Spikers stumbled on errors in the next then blew a 16-11 lead in the fourth before Satrriani Espiritu, Nieza Viray and Cesca Racraquin took charge in the stretch to power

the team to victory.

It was only San Beda’s second win against four defeats as it joined St. Benilde at fifth, just behind the fourth running University of the Philippines (3-3) heading to the last two playdates of the single round elims of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

“This victory is huge for us,” said San Beda U coach Nemesio Gavino, Jr. He, however, rued his charges’ lack of maturity in closing out games.

The Lady Red Spikers face the Lady

Games Saturday

4 p.m. – UST vs FEU (Cagayan de Oro) 4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs Perpetual Help (Filoil Flying V Center)

Maroons on Sunday at 4 p.m. while the Lady Blazers will take on the also-ran Lady Altas on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Perpetual bowed out with a 1-5 card and joined San Sebastian (0-6) in the sidelines.

Nieza Viray fired 19 points, Cesca

Racraquin hammered in 15 points topped with nine excellent receptions, while Espiritu scored 13 for San Beda.

Hershey Llorente, Razel Aldea and Jhona Rosal combined for Perpetual to claw back from an 11-16 deficit and seize a 19-17 advantage. But they failed to sustain their charge, enabling the Lady Red Spikers to pull through.

Llorente scored 11 points, Rosal added nine while Aldea contributed five to back Cindy Imbo’s 17 points for the Lady Altas.

Joseph Schooling

Schooling swamps swim rivals JAKARTA, Indonesia—Singapore’s Olympic swim champion Joseph Schooling shrugged off a horror turnaround Thursday to top the heats for the 50 metres butterfly at the Asian Games after a fitful night’s sleep.

The 23-year-old, who stunned Michael Phelps in the 100m fly in Rio two years ago to win Singapore’s first-ever Olympic title in any sport, got less than five hours of shut-eye after retaining his Asian title in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.

After becoming the first swimmer to deny China or Japan a gold medal at the six-day meet, Schooling admitted to staying up late – and to drinking a few too many coffees.

“It was rough,” he winced, after clocking 23.84 seconds to edge out China’s Wang Peng for top spot.

“I went to bed at 1am and woke up at 5:57—that’s a shitty turnaround but that’s what you’ve got to do sometimes.

“I took a lot of caffeine last night.

I had about four cups of coffee, so it was hard to go to bed.

“But it’s normal to feel tired. It just means you’ve got to grind through it.

You’ve got to be a man, step it up and not complain.”

Jordan’s Khader Baqlah turned heads by posting the joint-quickest time in qualifying for the men’s 100m freestyle, swimming’s blue riband event.

The 19-year-old, who finished just outside the medals in fourth in the 200m free final earlier this week, clocked 49.30 with China’s Yu Hexin—winner of the 50m free in Jakarta.

Japan’s Shinri Shioura, silver medallist at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, was just two-hundredths slower.

“I was kind of frustrated with the 200m,” admitted Baqlah. “That was my fastest morning swim ever today but I’m probably going to have to go mid-48 to win.”

The usual suspects were lurking in the men’s 200m backstroke with China’s Xu Jiayu second quickest as he looks to complete an Asian Games treble in the discipline.

Xu, who could potentially finish with five gold medals in Jakarta, touched in 2:00.53 behind countryman Li Guangyuan 1:59.87.

Japan’s Satomi Suzuki topped the heats of the women’s 50m breaststroke as she looks to retain her title and complete a 50-100m double. AFP

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

PH athletes endure dry spell in Asiad JAKARTA—Carlos Yulo blew his no. 1 rank with a difficult, mistakeladen routine as he bombed out of medal contention in the Floor Exercises of the Gymnastics’ event in the 2018 Asian Games at the Jakarta International Expo here on Thursday.

“Nagkamali po,” was all the shy World Cup silver medalist could say after his performance ranked seventh overall out of eight finalists.

Entering the medal round with a best score of 14.500, Yulo failed to sustain his fine form in his routine Monday and erred with his execution to finish with a score of 13.500, with a difficulty rating of 6.100 and an execution score of 7.400.

The Philippine delegation and the national federation had high hopes on Yulo, who in the Doha World Cup early this year, was able to beat Japanese Ryohei Kato, a gold medalist during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Kato placed third in Qatar.

“That was a very difficult routine,” said Gymnastics’ Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carreon. “But he should have gotten more (points).”

Korea’s Kim Hansol clinched the gold with a 14.675, with Taiwan’s Tang Chiahung settling for the silver with 14.425. China’s Lin Chaopan placed third with 14.225.

It was the first medal-less day for the Philippines, which fell even deeper in the medal standings at 18th spot with a lone gold and five bronze medals to show.

The picture elsewhere was bleak.

The Philippines’ Bridge Team composed of Alberto Quiogue, Joseph Roman Maliwat Jr. III, Kong Te Yang, Romulo Virola, Eleazar Cabanilla and Andrew Falcon finished 10th overall during the Men’s Team Qualification Round 7 with its overall score of 61.74.

Getting a better placing of seventh but still out of the running was the other PH Bridge Team of Gemma Milagros Mariano, Mary Cristy Ann de Guzman, Victoria Egan, Francis Allen Tan, George Soo and Francisco Alquiros in the Super Mixed Team Qualification Round 5 with its 43.85.

Also coming up empty-handed was taekwondo jin Arven Alcantara, who absorbed a 5-26 beating at the hands of World No.1 and back-to-back (2010 at 2014) Asian Games gold medalist na si Daehoon Lee in the Men’s -68 kg quarterfinals. Riera U. Mallari

Nation’s pride. The Philippines’ Divine Wally (left) Divine Wally displays the form which earned her an Asian Games bronze medal in the women’s sanda 52-kg. event in wushu.

Guiao wary of Korean 5

By Riera U. Mallari

J

AKARTA—When Yeng Guiao and the Philippine Basketball Team plunge into action possibly against Korea on Monday in the 2018 Asian Games here, they will have to contend with a well-oiled machine that boasts of good ball movement, impeccable outside shooting and an all-around naturalized player in Ricardo Ratliffe.

“We just have to prepare hard,” said Guiao, noting the Koreans move well without the ball and shoot remarkably from practically everywhere. “Korea is getting balanced contributions.”

Those balanced contributions are led

by Ratliffe, who was so impressive in the Korean Basketball League, he was naturalized by the basketball federation to be part of its basketball team.

Ratliffe, himself was a former Philippine Basketball Association import for the Star Hotshots. He made a good account of himself for Team Korea as he scored 21 points in their 117-77 demolition of Thailand as the defending champions completed a three-game sweep of their group in the preliminaries.

The former MVP of the Jones Cup during its 2014 edition is averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Koreans, but he is definitely not the only one Guiao’s wards must watch out for.

During Korea’s won game against the Thais, six players scored in double figures, led by Ratliffe.

“The best thing about Korea is they’ve been so patient running their plays. They rely on their ball movement and would wait for an opportunity to break down the defense and attack it,” Guiao said.

Like all Korean teams before, this one shoots well from beyond the arc.

In their three preliminary matches, the Koreans shot 40-percent and above from three, with their best-shooting

performance coming in their Thailand game, where they hit 47-percent from the three-point region, sinking 15 of 32 attempts.

Deadshot Jeon Junbeom contributed five of those 15 treys in just eight attempts, on the way to finishing with 20 points. He also had a solid showing against Mongolia, where he knocked down 4-of-6 treys to end up with 16 markers.

Another player to watch out for is 6’1” guard Heo Ung, who is averaging 12 points per game for the Koreans, including a perfect 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc in their latest win against Thailand.

Heo Ilyoung and Lee Junghyun, two of the holdover players from the squad that played four years ago, remained solid contributors.

If Guiao can devise ways to minimize the contributions of these five, then his Rain or Shine-led wards can greatly increase their chances of bringing down the defending champions.

The team is coming off a heartbreaking 80-82 loss to China, following a 96-59 beating of Kazakhstan in the prelims.

Cagers rally past San Juan Knights THE Muntinlupa Cagers recovered from a lethargic start to thwart the San Juan Knights, 77-71, and grab the solo lead in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at Muntinlupa Sports Complex Wednesday night.

It was the fifth straight victory for the Cagers who emerged the only unbeaten squad in the 26-team league after handing the Knights their first loss in six games.

Trailing by as many as 20 points, 27-47, the Cagers slowly worked their way up and threatened at 5355 ending the third quarter following a closing 10-point burst sparked by Chito Jaime’s triple and Allan Mangahas’ three-point play.

The Knights held on to a 68-67 lead with 2:51 to go, until Mangahas, who tallied a game-high 21 points, presided over a lethal 10-3 run by the Angelis Resort-backed Cagers with a triple.

John Wilson kept the Knights ‘ faint hope with three free throws, but Jaime’s triple with 15 seconds left forged the final count to the delight of thousands of Muntinlupa fans, who waved elongated light blue balloons throughout the game.

Mangahas was supported by Jaime with 17 points and Dave Moralde with 15.

The Knights got 14 points from larry Rodriguez, 13 from Wilson, 12 from Ryan Ayon Ayon and 11 from Aaron Jeruta.

In the opener, the Imus Bandera leaned on the four-cornered attack of Genmar Bragais, Dan Alberto, James Castro and Ian Melencio to subdue the Valenzuela Classic, 81-71, and level their slate at 3-3.

Bragais fired a game-high 20 points, Alberto 12, Castro 10, and Melencio 8 to go with 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

The Classic fell to 2-3.

Alaska Aces point guard Chris Banchero (2) tests the defense of Meralco players Allen Durham (5) and Chris Newsome (11).

Meralco Bolts test Aces while TNT faces Elite

By Jeric Lopez TWO teams look to stay near the top while two others are looking to start their campaigns on positive notes at the resumption of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. TNT KaTropa (1-1) looks to followup a morale-boosting win as it goes for a second straight triumph when it battles debuting Blackwater at 4:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today.

In the main event, Meralco (11) aims on getting back on track but would have to face a stiff challenge from Alaska in their 7 p.m. encounter.

Despite not fielding in an import the last time out, the Tropang Texters were able to stun the Bolts, 92-90, in a tight encounter last Sunday with Terrence Romeo picking up the cudgels with 23 points.

“It was a good win for us considering we played without an import,” said TNT coach Nash Racela.

“We hope that that can be a start of a good run.”

Against the Elite, who will parade its resident scoring import in Henry Walker, the Tropang Texters will once again have an import after they decided to quickly let go of Mike Glover after an unimpressive performance in the team’s opening game.

TNT will parade former Pepperdine standout Stacy Davis as its new reinforcement.

Davis, who previously played in Ukraine and France, arrived yesterday and is ready to help the Tropang Texters’ bid against Blackwater.

Dutchman posts two-stroke lead BACOLOD—Guido Van der Valk sizzled early with long birdies then hit another at the finish to card a four-under 66 and grab a two-stroke lead as Elmer Salvador tumbled on a triplebogey finish halfway through the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Salvador, sustaining his form following a victory in the pro-am Tuesday, rattled off four straight birdies from No. 5 that capped a scorching six-birdie binge from No. 2 on his homeward trip, shoving the veteran Davaoeño shotmaker past Van der Valk with an eight-under overall card.

But he hit an errant approach shot on the par-4 No. 9, the ball hitting a tree and into a hazard. He dumped his wedge shot into the greenside bunker then two-putted for 7, enabling the Manila-based Dutchman to wrest a two-stroke lead at seven-under 133 and on course for a follow up to his maiden triumph at Eagle Ridge last March.

“If you’re not on the right spots, oh my God,” said Van der Valk, who birdied three of the first four holes from long range, including a chip-in from 10 yards on No. 4, to get going. He hit three more birdies to negate the same number of bogeys

in the next 11 holes, including a monster 45-footer on No. 6 and a 20-footer on No. 14 before birdying the par-3 16th from 18 feet to improve from 67 to 66.

“The course should not be taken lightly. Misfired drives and errors on approach shots can hit you at anytime and punish you,” said Van der Valk. “Those early birdies boosted my confidence the whole day and I’m hoping to have the same result in the third round.”

It was a sorry foldup for Salvador who meticulously worked his way back from an up-and-down backside 35 with that string of birdies that came like rain in another scorching day at the tight but tricky layout of the country’s oldest course.

“I need to be more consistent with my shots,” said Salvador, whose 68 dropped him to joint second at 135 with Jhonnel Ababa, who hit two birdies in the last six holes at the front to shoot a 68, and erstwhile leader Tim Stewart of Australia, who shot four birdies but stumbled with three bogeys—on all but one par-3s —for a 69.

“I missed the greens twice and three-putted the other,” said Stewart of his misfortunes on Nos. 5, 13 and 16. He parred the other par-3 on No. 10.

Guido Van der Valk uses a long putter to seize control of the elite field.

Business

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

B1

AT&T, 11 firms eye third telco slot

By Darwin G. Amojelar

A

MERICAN company AT&T, six other foreign telecom operators and five local firms expressed interest to participate in the bidding for the third major telco franchise in the Philippines that will challenge the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.

Information Communications and Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio told reporters “China Telecom, LG Uplus Corp., Korea Telecom, Vietnam Telecom, AT&T, Telenor [of Norway] and a Japanese telco company” were interested to join the bidding for the new telecom player franchise.

Rio said the local telco players that were keen on joining the selection process included Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp., Converge ICT, Transpacific Broadband Group Inc., EasyCall Communications Phils. Inc. and TierOne. “They showed interest, but we don’t know if they are serious until they buy bidding documents and the

time line is around Sept. 26,” Rio said at the sidelines of the public hearing on the selection of the new major player.

James Velasquez, president and chief executive of PT&T, confirmed that his company was ready to participate in the bidding for the third player.

“We have been preparing to bid as early as six months ago. We are just waiting to move forward and we are ready to submit our proposal,” Velasquez said, when asked for comment, The Department of Information and Communication Technology said it was expecting to name the third telco by December this year. The agency earlier adopted the highest committed level

of service model in the selection of the third major telco player.

Under the HCLoS, the criteria for the selection of new major telco player are national population coverage (40 percent weightage), minimum average broadband speed (20 percent weightage) and an annual capital and operational expenditure (40 percent weightage) computed annually over a five-year period.

Meanwhile, the annual minimum levels for each of the criteria are 30 percent for national population coverage, 5 megabits per second for the minimum average broadband speed and a minimum of P40 billion for the capital and operational expenditure.

Think tank pushes Sangley airport URC acquiring sugar business INFRAWATCH PH, an infrastructureoriented think tank, is pushing for the rehabilitation and development of Sangley’s Danilo Atienza Airbase as an alternative airport for low-cost carriers and general aviation.

“What needs to be made of record is the unacceptable delay that many airport proponents are experiencing in the transport agency. The unsolicited Sangley proposal has been on the table since 2016,” Terry Ridon, Infrawatch PH convenor and former urban poor chief of President Rodrigo Duterte, said in a statement.

“The Bulacan airport proposal has already been approved by the Investment Coordination Committee, yet final approval is still wanting before the DoTr,” he said.

Ridon said the Sangley airport could have been used for diverted flights during the Xiamen Air incident, if the Department of Transportation acted on proposals to rehabilitate Sangley’s Danilo Atienza Airbase as far back as the start

of the Duterte administration.

Ridon said the Sangley proposal could have been completed within 12 months at no cost to government.

“As early as August 2016, the Sangley proposal was already made known to the new leadership in the transport agency.

But until today, not a single hollow block has been built nor has the proposal even been rejected by transport authorities as required for unsolicited proposals,” he said.

Ridon said the failure of DoTr to act on these proposals, whether to accept or reject, was tantamount to serious negligence.

“We are certain this is something that the president will not accept,” he said.

Ridon, who was previously a member of the House committee on transportation, said no less than House transport committee chair Cesar Sarmiento endorsed Sangley and Clark International Airport as alternative airports to Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Darwin G. Amojelar

of Roxas Holdings in Batangas

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROXAS Holdings Inc., a sugar milling company majority owned by Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., is selling its sugar milling and refining operations in Nasugbu, Batangas to Universal Robina Corp. of the Gokongwei Group.

Roxas Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the group along with wholly-owned subsidiary Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. reached an agreement with URC to sell the sugar business in Batangas for an undisclosed amount.

The deal is subject to approval by the Philippine Competition Commission.

“We are hopeful that we can get the necessary approvals before the start of the next crop year,” Roxas Holdings chairman Pedro Roxas said.

The PCC said its Mergers and Ac-

quisitions Office launched the second phase of the review of the proposed transaction within the next 60 days.

The agency said it would conduct a more detailed assessment of the proposed acquisition where URC would buy all the capital equipment, the land where the assets are located, and other assets necessary for the continuing operations of the refinery and milling plant in Batangay Lumbangan, Nasugbu.

URC, a subsidiary of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., is engaged in a wide range of food-related businesses, including the production of packed foods and beverages, sugar, agro-industrial products and bioethanol.

Roxas said the “transaction will bring about significant improvements in the sugar industry in Batangas for the benefit of all stakeholders – farmers, community, employees and mill alike.”

SMC keen on Malaya power plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. plans to participate in the new round of bidding for the 650-megawatt Malaya power plant, which will now include its property in Pililla, Rizal province.

San Miguel president Ramon Ang confirmed the company’s interest in the Malaya plant. “Yes, [we will participate],” Ang said, when asked whether the company would bid in the second round of privatization of the Malaya power project.

San Miguel is one of the country’s biggest power players with coal, natural gas and hydro power plants in its portfolio.

Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is now soliciting the consulting services for the privatization of the Malaya plant with an approved budget of P8.6 million.

“For Malaya, it’s the plant and what we are trying to do for the privatization of Malaya is to include the land so it’s going to be bundled together,” PSALM president Irene Joy BesidoGarcia said.

Garcia said PSALM was prepared to return the payment of bidders who acquired the bid documents during the privatization process last year which was put on hold.

“We got a direction from the DoE [Department of Energy] to look into the possibility because in the past usually it’s just the power plant and there is a lease contract on the land.

Now, we want to sell the power plant on an ‘as is, where is’ basis and then we will include the land so we can optimize the value of the power plant,” Garcia said.

“So what we plan to do is, there’s adjustment to the terms of reference.

We really have to conduct a new bidding. To be fair to the those who already purchased bid documents, materials, we are actually going to credit them the amount that they paid already for the bidding materials to be fair,” she said.

The Malaya plant consists of a 300-MW unit with a once-through type boiler and a 350-MW unit fitted with a conventional boiler.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks jump; San Miguel surges T HE stock market jumped Thursday buoyed by a government report that spending rose significantly in the first seven months of 2018, bolstering prospects that the economy is still on track to post a robust growth.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 171.77 points, or 2.2 percent, to 7,804.03 on a value turnover of nearly P8 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 130 to 69, with 50 issues unchanged.

The government’s budget deficit climbed 71 percent in July to P86.4 billion from P50.5 billion a year ago, as spending picked up 34 percent ahead of the 24-percent increase in tax collection.

The Bureau of the Treasury said the cu-

mulative budget deficit in the first seven months as a result hit P279.4 billion, or 36 percent higher than the P205-billion shortfall in the same period last year.

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. advanced 8.6 percent to P160, while unit San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. climbed 15.1 percent to P92.10.

San Miguel Food plans to raise P142.8 billion from the sale of up to 1.02 billion secondary shares before the end of the year. The company set an offering price of up to P140 apiece, significantly higher than the stock’s closing price of P80 on Wednesday.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, rose 5.2 percent to P95.80, while Alliance Global Group Inc. of Andrew Tan gained 5.8 percent to P13.42.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Thursday as China and the US exchanged fresh tit-for-tat tariffs on bil-

lions of dollars of goods while the two sides held talks on their long-running trade dispute.

Washington imposed levies on $16 billion in Chinese imports, sparking an immediate retaliation in kind from Beijing, which said it “firmly opposes the tariffs and has no choice but to continue to make the necessary counter-attacks.”

China also said the US was “clearly suspected” of violating World Trade Organization rules and that it would file a lawsuit with the group.

It is the second round of such measures after the world’s top two economies swapped tariffs on $34 billion of goods in July.

The fresh tariffs came as officials from each side hold their first talks since June aimed at easing a row that has dragged on equities for months. However, observers are cautious about what progress they will make initially.

Stock markets in Asia fluctuated through the day and by the close Tokyo was up 0.2 percent while Shanghai rose 0.4 percent.

Singapore jumped 1.6 percent after a one-day holiday and Seoul gained 0.4 percent but Hong Kong fell 0.5 percent in the afternoon.

Sydney fell 0.3 percent—and the local dollar shed 0.8 percent—as Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull fights for his political life following a leadership challenge.

The S&P/ASX 200 was also being dragged by a 2.8 percent plunge in Qantas as a jump in the airline’s profits was offset by its worries about rising fuel costs.

Investors are keeping tabs on developments in Washington after President Donald Trump’s former personal adviser admitted a series of charges including illegal use of election funds. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 60.1 13,210 95.8 2,009,440 2.65 25,000 127.8 2,891,360 1.72 774,000 32.2 53,600 16.4 5,600 14.5 429,400 4.08 443,000 8.67 500 1.62 50,000 800.5 310 0.57 329,000 73.6 8,019,510 0.98 456,000 11.96 1,000 21.7 200 46.55 316,900 196.2 1,160 106.5 210 88.1 270 29.5 663,700 202 185,510 1,850 20 83.5 6,900

793,162 187,948,956 65,900 368,840,136 1,330,380 1,723,545 91,828 6,215,696 1,782,440 4,335 80,200 248,420 184,860 589,677,630 447,020 11,960 4,340 14,727,835 227,628 22,365 23,787 19,523,115 37,320,423 37,000 577,545

450,375 75,690,655.50 -89,953,140 -845,315 429,152 -41,000 -58,435,513 -7,410,165 -9,795 -876,060 8,178,974 -

36 16.78 1.03 1.17 0.234 125 3.24 14.7 34.1 20.1 47.2 70.3 1.8 5 7.6 10.2 15.52 10.26 7.23 7.04 15.5 63.25 27.35 7.3 13.16 2.15 286.8 4.96 3.27 12.24 24.55 13.28 18.8 360 0.189 6.87 2.18 4.16 8.87 5.08 7.6 1.03 11.8 55.6 6.22 4.75 2.3 2.95 1.7 13.2 80 5.25 0.126 1.01 137.5 2.07 20.5 1.74

INDUSTRIAL 36.9 2,160,000 17.02 2,641,800 1.08 10,988,000 1.22 231,000 0.235 5,580,000 125 300 3.31 2,435,000 14.76 29,100 39.55 444,700 20.8 6,000 49.95 7,710 72.95 280 1.84 25,000 5 20,000 7.62 29,400 10.3 1,887,400 15.68 260,300 10.26 412,200 7.32 574,900 7.05 5,492,200 15.56 511,600 63.55 50,900 27.5 248,400 7.3 469,700 13.6 449,600 2.18 1,976,000 293 2,015,570 4.96 7,000 3.27 1,000 12.5 300 24.6 456,100 13.4 684,600 18.9 1,589,500 370 279,860 0.192 1,450,000 6.87 4,800 2.19 605,000 4.25 19,000 9 3,426,700 5.25 213,000 7.6 29,500 1.05 1,788,000 11.92 29,000 55.7 143,380 6.22 100 4.83 2,000 2.55 1,743,000 3.23 874,000 1.71 704,000 13.2 12,600 92.1 2,427,170 5.43 204,300 0.129 250,000 1.03 628,000 141 1,149,530 2.08 5,595,000 20.5 200 1.88 21,745,000

79,819,390 44,878,768 11,737,030 277,070 1,312,300 37,500 8,067,900 429,584 16,551,825 123,575 384,473.50 19,869.50 45,400 100,400 225,722 19,432,122 4,077,334 4,231,106 4,204,215 38,716,607 7,965,902 3,231,356.50 6,894,720 3,441,406 6,093,758 4,273,680 584,256,746 34,860 3,270 3,698 11,275,725 9,177,712 30,312,312 103,109,074 274,140 32,976 1,324,820 80,110 30,716,919 1,113,448 224,200 1,868,650 344,666 7,992,575.50 622 9,580 4,305,100 2,980,740 1,208,220 166,634 215,897,202 1,108,963 31,830 636,460 160,717,839 11,810,760 4,100 39,840,200

29,056,145.00 -21,496,712.00 -167,240 94,000 -37,500 -1,606,510 -28 -2,087,965.00 -242,295 9,200 -189,236 -2,945,188 176,104 -541,852.00 -180,110 -26,685,510 1,803,748 395,668 -1,596,490 -2,033,940 21,500 150,149,384 -7,607,210 -3,287,396 -6,547,232 32,878,554 -221,320 -10,369,634 -1,300,650 -14,226 -3,719,154 -45,780 -1,530 -498,320 41,044 -34,542,327 -175,740 68,333,418 -167,620 -4,100 431,940

0.345 59 13.42 0.95 36.45 1.5 1.49 990 1,400 6 12.06 7.1 0.21 900 6.03 55.35 5.74 0.61 4.33 17.7 0.68 5.1 0.04 1.35 2.98 166 950 0.8 1.6 400 264 0.355 0.21

0.315 55.85 12.4 0.92 34.3 1.4 1.4 967 1,400 5.95 11.58 7.1 0.209 871.5 5.96 52.1 5.45 0.57 4.2 17.62 0.64 4.91 0.038 1.3 2.86 147.3 930.5 0.78 1.57 380.2 258.4 0.34 0.209

HOLDING FIRMS 0.34 18,640,000 57 1,033,630 13.42 8,109,300 0.92 41,000 35 103,200 1.46 23,289,000 1.45 6,215,000 990 269,100 1,400 5 6 6,873,700 12 2,024,900 7.1 100 0.209 150,000 895 160,000 6.03 4,300 55 1,634,050 5.45 8,500 0.59 485,000 4.28 2,549,000 17.62 709,600 0.67 6,330,000 5.1 20,957,000 0.039 25,800,000 1.3 588,000 2.92 3,206,000 160 2,333,470 939 283,700 0.8 104,000 1.59 326,000 380.2 80 264 28,410 0.355 12,050,000 0.209 100,000

6,187,950 59,508,261.50 106,295,118 38,330 3,632,880 33,878,620 8,996,220 265,019,415 7,000 41,119,658 24,225,322 710 31,400 142,569,760 25,669 89,282,308.50 48,483 280,500 10,860,600 12,527,494 4,189,980 104,905,690 998,800 766,570 9,318,310 371,213,652 267,044,755 83,040 517,210 31,604 7,380,712 4,212,800 20,910

-102,000 7,299,493.50 30,640,424 529,260 3,864,530 63,292,265 -18,506,425 12,015,060 -80,027,000 39,066,754.50 550 142,650 -2,851,170 -9,466,846 63,704,640 45,600 -56,470 -23,011,714 -80,057,605 -2,937,060 -

7.8 1 13.6 1.96 0.74 44.45 3.08 4.59 5.71 0.46 0.94 1 0.26 0.41 9.9 27 0.59 1.55 1.2 1.77 4.95 0.61 0.54

7.37 0.98 13.2 1.96 0.72 43.1 3.06 4.42 5.53 0.445 0.94 0.98 0.241 0.41 9.65 26.7 0.58 1.52 1.19 1.61 4.9 0.6 0.49

14,279,193 5,702,240 345,672 41,160 306,050 1,024,388,200 1,375,220 5,667,670 86,484 624,850 3,760 209,390 5,171,820 41,000 1,975,172 5,734,575 119,730 7,712,920 1,434,850 82,621,810 107,082,080 16,501,070 9,410,320

66,858 9,900 -14,600 297,787,295 -823,950 -2,078,420 -135,000 45,790 48,350 -299,745 -112,100 3,453,640 -8,014,900 14,969,310 -183,600 -132,500

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.2 91.3 2.7 126.6 1.72 32.5 16.4 14.48 3.82 8.67 1.58 810 0.58 72.45 0.98 11.96 21.7 46 196.5 106.5 88.1 29.35 198.4 1,850 83.7

60.1 95.8 2.7 128.7 1.78 32.5 16.4 14.52 4.1 8.67 1.62 810 0.58 74 0.99 11.96 21.7 46.55 197 106.5 88.1 29.85 202 1,850 83.8

59.2 91.3 2.55 125.7 1.7 32.05 16.36 14.4 3.82 8.67 1.58 800.5 0.55 72.35 0.98 11.96 21.7 46 195.9 106.5 88.1 29.35 198.4 1,850 83.5

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

36 16.8 1.05 1.17 0.236 125 3.24 14.8 37.7 20.9 52 70.3 1.8 5.1 7.7 10.2 15.6 10.28 7.28 7.05 15.6 63.25 27.35 7.35 13.3 2.19 287 5.1 3.27 12.24 25.2 13.28 18.8 363 0.195 6.87 2.19 4.3 8.95 5.28 7.6 1.03 11.9 55.9 6.22 4.75 2.31 3.1 1.77 13.2 80 5.26 0.126 1.02 139 2.1 20.5 1.8

37.3 17.06 1.1 1.22 0.24 125 3.35 14.8 39.55 21.55 52 72.95 1.84 5.1 7.7 10.36 15.8 10.36 7.34 7.07 15.7 63.6 28 7.35 13.68 2.2 293 5.1 3.27 12.5 25.2 13.56 19.4 370 0.195 6.87 2.19 4.3 9.03 5.28 7.6 1.05 11.92 55.9 6.22 4.83 2.58 3.75 1.77 13.3 93 5.45 0.129 1.06 141 2.17 20.5 1.88

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

0.32 55.95 12.64 0.92 35.35 1.42 1.42 967 1,400 6 11.6 7.1 0.21 890 6.03 52.2 5.5 0.61 4.29 17.68 0.66 4.95 0.039 1.35 2.98 147.3 931 0.78 1.59 400 258.6 0.345 0.21

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

7.47 1 13.2 1.96 0.73 43.2 3.06 4.44 5.53 0.45 0.94 1 0.255 0.41 9.7 26.85 0.58 1.52 1.2 1.67 4.9 0.61 0.52

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.495 3.51 20.6 2 3.19 37 1.15 7.25 0.76 6.25

0.5 3.56 21.2 2 3.21 38.5 1.15 7.3 0.76 6.43

0.495 3.49 20.2 1.98 3.19 37 1.13 7.21 0.76 6.25

0.495 3.5 21 1.98 3.21 38.5 1.14 7.25 0.76 6.38

1,450,000 2,475,000 1,856,400 177,000 525,000 9,906,900 1,326,000 167,400 3,000 1,876,600

718,900 8,666,120 38,838,055 351,020 1,681,920 377,024,485 1,512,740 1,211,394 2,280 11,966,271

927,650 180,430 148,352,070 8,664 -1,816,083

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 HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

14 25.1 1.43 0.57 0.046 13.68 3.4 9.4 0.061 71.4 8 6.66 8.5 2.26 25.8 910 1,997 5.48 302.4 4.04 91.1 12 7.85 0.127 2.98 3.55 3.83 1.04 20 5.55 7.05 3 2 17.88 8.22 11.1 8.68 3.68 114.5 5.3 1,404 0.88 0.385 46.4 81.95 8.2 2.28 1.02 0.67 5.05 0.81 11.6

14.1 25.15 1.43 0.62 0.046 13.7 3.6 9.79 0.061 74.15 8 6.66 9.1 2.37 26.5 910 2,036 5.55 324.8 4.1 94.4 12 7.85 0.127 3.05 3.68 3.88 1.05 20.25 5.7 7.15 3 2.05 18 8.4 11.18 8.69 3.75 114.5 5.3 1,445 0.88 0.39 46.95 83 8.2 2.28 1.02 0.68 5.18 0.82 11.66

13.78 24.8 1.43 0.55 0.045 13.5 3.08 9.4 0.06 71.4 8 6.6 8.5 2.26 25.5 910 1,996 5.45 302.4 3.91 91.1 12 7.85 0.123 2.9 3.53 3.81 1.04 19.94 5.51 7.05 2.94 1.98 17.88 8.12 10.9 8.6 3.62 112.2 5.1 1,400 0.86 0.365 46.1 81.55 8.19 2.22 0.98 0.66 5.01 0.8 11.58

SERVICES 13.78 24.9 1.43 0.61 0.046 13.5 3.32 9.68 0.06 72.8 8 6.62 9 2.37 26 910 2,032 5.54 324.8 4.1 93.15 12 7.85 0.124 3 3.64 3.82 1.05 20.25 5.7 7.1 2.95 2.02 18 8.18 10.9 8.6 3.73 113 5.13 1,445 0.86 0.37 46.85 82.1 8.19 2.22 0.99 0.67 5.18 0.81 11.6

5,300 87,100 1,000 32,889,000 1,800,000 74,400 28,185,000 7,337,400 12,030,000 402,860 6,700 644,800 707,100 43,000 57,200 30 85,505 389,800 2,900 1,931,000 1,222,360 100 20,000 1,530,000 3,874,000 29,000 309,000 15,000 132,900 294,900 1,438,500 124,000 197,000 1,100 1,647,600 40,700 3,100 11,000 620 1,472,500 122,030 1,385,000 12,860,000 1,101,400 415,240 3,800 2,775,000 5,668,000 22,366,000 2,802,100 7,251,000 5,761,600

73,734 2,174,240 1,430 19,392,630 81,800 1,015,064 92,816,540 70,624,473 722,560 29,366,254.50 53,600 4,267,249 6,294,410 101,000 1,481,645 27,300 172,769,625 2,145,528 937,238 7,760,520 113,903,885 1,200 157,000 190,020 11,540,510 103,390 1,186,030 15,610 2,676,160 1,662,941 10,246,286 366,680 393,690 19,720 13,569,027 444,410 26,855 40,260 69,860 7,606,124 173,525,820 1,208,860 4,792,550 51,301,690 34,004,372 31,123 6,219,700 5,648,340 14,922,610 14,332,107 5,858,850 66,848,170

2,760 42,750.00 278,100 829,200 -9,020,035 -3,773,166.00 331,000 175,800 -52,130 120,967,085 -6,496 242,690 14,191,024.50 50,180 -192,090 93,062 -3,244,875 26,550 173,200 98,100 9,046 -1,798,796 40,705,590 -26,660 11,100 31,892,705 -17,800,388 30,303 1,542,600 -1,933,040 848,240 -509,283 8,200 -64,317,556

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

0.0026 1.61 3.53 20.85 1.97 0.3 7.25 2 0.215 0.122 0.0082 1.4 4.66 1.15 0.55 1.16 0.012 0.011 3.48 4.06 15.86 29.8 0.0081

0.0026 1.61 3.55 21 1.98 0.3 7.4 2 0.215 0.124 0.0082 1.44 4.77 1.15 0.59 1.23 0.012 0.012 3.73 4.1 15.98 30 0.0081

0.0025 1.6 3.53 20.85 1.95 0.3 7.25 1.97 0.206 0.121 0.0082 1.4 4.63 1.1 0.55 1.16 0.012 0.011 3.33 4.04 15.4 29.7 0.0065

MINING & OIL 0.0026 73,000,000 1.6 1,302,000 3.54 84,000 20.9 17,700 1.98 878,000 0.3 160,000 7.4 10,900 1.98 2,336,000 0.206 810,000 0.124 630,000 0.0082 1,000,000 1.4 435,000 4.72 980,000 1.13 101,000 0.59 1,897,000 1.22 3,714,000 0.012 1,700,000 0.011 25,500,000 3.66 1,109,000 4.04 1,531,000 15.4 3,774,600 29.9 5,430,800 0.0065 61,000,000

185,600 2,083,520 296,930 369,870 1,724,770 48,000 80,556 4,631,460 167,810 76,770 8,200 612,120 4,596,760 111,910 1,078,630 4,474,390 20,400 292,500 3,958,960 6,199,290 59,153,566 162,188,000 431,500

35,000 774,400 -17,690 -63,000 647,460 61,800 -40,440 -35,240 111,000 -5,059,670.00 2,393,634 -130,542,615 -

AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

490 505 100.9 105 503 5.2 975 987.5 1.02 102.5 1,025 100 106 990 77.05 79.05 75.05 75.5 75.8

490 505 100.9 105 503 5.35 975 987.5 1.04 102.5 1,025 100 106 1,000 77.05 80 75.05 75.5 75.8

490 505 100 99.2 503 5.2 966 987.5 1.02 100.1 1,025 100 106 990 75.5 79 75.05 75.4 75.8

PREFERRED 490 10 505 10 100.9 102,220 100 30,010 503 60 5.25 195,900 966 230 987.5 320 1.04 5,000 100.1 4,180 1,025 6,000 100 3,500 106 1,000 1,000 7,750 75.5 340,000 80 13,370 75.05 10,200 75.5 126,230 75.8 172,300

4,900 5,050 10,231,939 3,004,010 30,180 1,031,021 223,980 316,000 5,120 420,650 6,150,000 350,000 106,000 7,702,500 25,671,525 1,057,435.50 765,510 9,530,115 13,060,340

-471,045 -1,511,525 37,750 -

LR WARRANT

2.33

2.37

2.33

WARRANTS 2.37 76,000

178,790

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.1 2.99

5.14 2.99

5.03 2.83

5.08 2.87

1,587,487 2,205,350

-8,670

FIRST METRO ETF

113.5

116

113

375,483

-40,087

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10 1

10 1

10 1

100,000 1,380

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.7 0.99 13.56 1.96 0.72 44.3 3.06 4.58 5.55 0.45 0.94 0.99 0.246 0.41 9.67 26.9 0.59 1.53 1.2 1.77 4.94 0.61 0.52

1,877,600 5,773,000 25,500 21,000 421,000 23,261,800 449,000 1,248,000 15,500 1,390,000 4,000 212,000 20,940,000 100,000 203,600 213,700 203,000 5,022,000 1,197,000 48,564,000 21,696,000 27,393,000 18,163,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

16,676,403

INDUSTRIAL

85,087,626

HOLDING FIRMS

147,106,716

PROPERTY

206,680,030

SERVICES

166,020,438

MINING & OIL

187,715,189

GRAND TOTAL

810,368,062

SME

313,800 764,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116 3,260 10 1

DDS

10,000 1,380

VALUE 1,823.03 (up) 34.94 1,231,936,536.30 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,315.91 (up) 146.65 1,510,645,066.48 HOLDING FIRMS 7,592.74 (up) 150.92 1,737,718,118.39 PROPERTY 3,942.26 (up) 106.24 SERVICES 1,555.64 (up) 27.84 2,032,726,759.21 MINING & OIL 9,839.36 (down) 23.02 1,203,113,918.83 PSEI 7,804.03 (up) 171.77 252,812,799.811 All Shares Index 4,732.58 (up) 108.97 7,973,123,177.02 Gainers: 130; Losers: 69; Unchanged: 50; Total: 249

PLDT Home’s revenues rise 14% to P18b

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PLDT Home, the consumer business of PLDT Inc., said revenues rose 14 percent in the first half to P18 billion from a year ago on the back of strong customer demand for fiber broadband connectivity and a growing appetite for bundled services like video entertainment.

“By mid-2018, PLDT Home’s household penetration climbed to an all-time-high of 2.22 million, an increase of 9 percent year-on-year in unique subscribers,” said Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr., PLDT & Smart senior vice president and head of consumer business market development.

“Moreover, the average revenue per subscriber has increased by 4 percent to a new high of P1,389 as more subscribers are signing up for new highspeed fiber plans bundled with video streaming services such as Cignal, iFlix and Netflix. PLDT Home also continues to promote its Best Buy Bundles that offer PLDT, Smart and Cignal TV services in one bill,” he said.

These improvements were made possible by PLDT’s accelerated deployment of fiber-powered fixed line broadband network which was recently recognized in the Ookla Speedtest as the Philippines’ fastest internet network.

PLDT’s average speed of 17.3 megabits per second is more than 1.5 times faster than that of the second placer, and nearly three times faster than the fourth placer on the list.

IN BRIEF

DTI gets authority to padlock stores THE Trade Department on Thursday threatened to shut down stores and stalls in public wet markets once they are found preying on consumers with excessive prices.

The agency said starting Friday, it would have the authority to padlock stalls selling products at prohibitive prices, based on an agreement with the Agriculture Department.

It said a team would visit the markets today to inspect how sellers priced their goods and monitor the prices of different agricultural produce including fish and meat products.

“It’s automatic that we can close stalls that are selling at very high price. Personally, I don’t want to do this, but something must be done to correct this practice,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

A meeting with the Agriculture Department and wet market stakeholders gave the Trade Department the green light to monitor and close stalls of erring vendors.

The DTI said it would closely work with the Local Price Coordinating Council for the monitoring of public wet markets at the municipal level.

“If this effort will not be enough to pressure wet market vendors to lower their prices, we might impose a price ceiling for certain wet market produce,” Lopez said. Othel V. Campos

IPOPhl confiscates P8.8-b fake goods THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, in coordination with the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, said it confiscated P8.8 billion worth of pirated and counterfeit goods in the first half, exceeding the whole of last year’s P8.2 billion.

The first semester figure also represented a 530-percent increase over P1.4 billion registered in the same period in 2017.

“Surpassing the full-year, 2017 seizure is a matter of course given IPOPhl and NCIPR’s intensified campaign to curb the spread of fake goods since the beginning of the year. Any form of piracy is damaging not only to the local economy but also to the industries we cultivate, as well as the investors with valuable intellectual property, and the government which loses revenue with these fake goods,” said IPOPhl director-general Josephine Santiago.

“Moreover, while economic losses are sustained with these kinds of goods, the victims who would stand to suffer the most from this illicit trade are the public, as these counterfeiters and pirates ultimately compromise health and safety, not to mention cost people their jobs,” she said.

Ayala Land bags 5 Stevie Awards AYALA Land Inc. received five major honors at the 15th Annual International Business Awards, also known as the Stevie Awards.

With close to 4,000 nominations from 74 countries around the world, the Stevie is regarded as the world’s premier business award that recognizes excellence in the workplace.

ALI subsidiary Avida Land won two Gold Stevie Awards for Marketing Campaign of the Year as well as for best Real Estate website. Avida also won a Bronze Stevie in the Best House Organ – Customers category for its Avida Living publication.

Avida Land’s Gold Stevie award-winning Choose to Move marketing campaign was recognized for its creative activities, programs and events.

Ayala Land itself won a Bronze Stevie for Management Team of the Year as it led the industry in creating more sustainable developments that enrich the lives of its customers. As the largest property developer in the Philippines, ALI has been creating large-scale, integrated, mixed-use, sustainable estates that cultivate economic centers across the country.

Visitor arrivals rose to 4.3m in 7 months INTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals increased 5.86 percent in July to 601,322 from 568,035 recorded in the same month last year, according to the Tourism Department.

The latest monthly tally brought the total visitor count in the first seven months to 4,308,043, up 9.7 percent from the 3,925,626 recorded a year ago.

“Things are looking brighter for the tourism industry. With the roll-out of a comprehensive branding campaign in the coming months and the scheduled reopening of a better Boracay on Oct. 26, we are optimistic that we will hit, or better yet, surpass our target of 7.4 million for 2018,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo- Puyat.

Data showed that Korea remained the country’s top source market , followed by China, the United States, Japan and Australia. Othel V. Campos

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Flood-stricken Kerala angry after UAE’s aid offer rejected

FRESH HARVEST. An Indian worker sits at the back of a banana truck in Jalandhar on August 23, 2018. AFP

IN BRIEF 60 years since China attack KINMEN, Taiwan―Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen called for unity and vowed not to bow to pressure from Beijing on Thursday as the island marked the 60th anniversary of a deadly Chinese artillery attack.

The anniversary of the assault on tiny Kinmen island, known as the “823 bombardment”, comes as China steps up pressure on self-ruling Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory to be reunified.

China’s People’s Liberation Army fired 470,000 shells at Kinmen and nearby islets in 1958, killing 618 servicemen and civilians in an attack that lasted 44 days.

Kinmen is part of Taiwan, but lies less than two miles off mainland China, at the narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait.

“When we remember the ‘823 bombardment’ 60 years later, we will not forget the spirit of solidarity,” Tsai said on her Facebook page.

“When we face diplomatic suppression we will not forget how strong our country can be when we are united,” she added, saying that while Taiwanese people cherished peace they would not take national security for granted.

The tensions with Beijing have worsened under Tsai because she refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of “one China”. AFP

Strong typhoon barrels toward Japan TOKYO―A strong typhoon hurtled towards western Japan on Thursday, with forecasters warning of heavy rain and landslides, including in the areas hit by deadly flooding last month.

“Please be on high alert and take every necessary measure,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told cabinet members and officials at a meeting on storm preparedness.

He urged local governments to issue evacuation orders and take other necessary measures “without fear.”

Typhoon Cimaron is packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometers per hour, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said.

It was around 260 kilometers southeast of Ashizuri―on the coast of Shikoku island―in western Japan by 0300 GMT on Wednesday, the agency added.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall late Thursday and head north through Friday morning, bringing intensifying wind and rain.

“Please remain vigilant for landslides, inundation of low ground, flooding of rivers, storms, and high and tidal waves,” the weather agency said.

Meteorological agency chief forecaster Ryuta Kurora warned the typhoon could bring “multiple hazardous phenomena” such as violent wind and high tides “simultaneously at night.” AFP

KOCHI, India―The leaders of floodstricken Kerala state angrily hit out at India’s national government Thursday for rejecting a $100 million aid offer from the United Arab Emirates as more people entered relief camps to escape the devastation.

More than 1.3 million people have now packed into temporary camps even though the floods, which have left at least 420 dead and missing, are fast receding.

The New Delhi government infuriated the Kerala administration by rejecting the cash offer from the wealthy Gulf state.

Kerala’s Finance Minister Thomas Isaac accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of adopting a “dogin-the-manger” policy by refusing the money.

The communist minister added in a Twitter attack that if the right-wing national government takes a “negative stance” on the UAE offer “they should compensate Kerala.”

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for “high level” talks with the national government on the dispute.

There are an estimated three million Indians in the UAE, with many from Kerala which has a large Muslim population.

India’s foreign ministry announced

late Wednesday, however, that the government would stick to its policy of “meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts” and not accept money from foreign governments.

It added that outside money could only be donated through Indian-origin individuals or foundations.

India has a record of refusing foreign aid after disasters, turning down foreign help after the 2004 tsunami, which killed thousands in India. Experts said Indian governments want to prove they can handle any emergency themselves.

The UAE offer was higher than the $97 million so far given by the central government to handle the floods which state authorities estimate have caused damage worth more than $3 billion.

They say 10,000 kilometers of roads have been destroyed or damaged, while estimates of the number of houses to be rebuilt vary from 20,000 to 50,000.

Many of the new arrivals in relief camps are people who have returned to their homes to find them uninhabitable.

One 68-year-old man committed suicide Wednesday after seeing the state of his home at Kothad in Ernakulam district. A 19-year-old boy took his own life earlier this week because his school certificates were destroyed by the floods, police said. AFP

at the top of the food chain.”

Moreover, cooperating now would almost certainly not change the direction of Mueller’s probe, except possibly for the worse, said Bennett, currently senior counsel at Schertler & Onorato, a Washington law firm.

An interview with Mueller would be fraught with dangers for Trump, who notoriously cannot stay on script. “He couldn’t truthfully cooperate without further incriminating himself, is my guess,” Bennett said.

Cooperating could also force the president into a difficult position if, as many think, his son Donald Trump Jr. or other family members fall into Mueller’s sights.

What then? “Stall as long as possible and pardon him,” says Freedman.

Trump’s immediate hurdle is the November 6 election, in which Democrats are threatening to take control of one or both houses of Congress. Trump needs to prevent that, to avoid having a Congress that would support impeaching him.

His current strategy has been to con-

vince voters that Mueller’s investigation is an illegitimate, pro-Democrat operation, in hopes of attracting support to Republicans. The effort appears to be having limited success, polls suggest.

In addition, the White House is demanding Mueller abide by a Justice Department policy for prosecutors not to take any action in the 60 days before an election that would impact any candidate.

Michael German, formerly an FBI agent and now at the Brennan Center for Justice, says the policy doesn’t prevent Mueller from pushing ahead.

“Law enforcement doesn’t stop every investigation 60 days before the election,” German said. “I don’t see anyone in the November election that has anything to do with those under investigation.”

Bennett says stalling tactics worked when he defended Clinton against Paula Jones’ sexual harassment charges. The case threatened Clinton’s reelection chances in 1996, and Bennett forced a procedural issue to the slow-working Supreme Court to make the case disappear for months. AFP

Trump running out of options to avoid likely impeachment

W

ASHINGTON― President Donald Trump is running out of options to avoid possible impeachment or prevent his family from prosecution, legal experts say.

The felony convictions of two former top aides Tuesday demonstrated that Trump’s nonstop attacks have failed to impede Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia collusion and obstruction investigation against him.

And while no one knows how strong a case Mueller has built against the president and his inner circle, Trump’s own behavior suggests he feels intense pressure.

Experts say he has three basic strategic options, none of them good.

Though he repeatedly says there was no crime committed, Trump has tried to disrupt and delay the investigation, and has avoided for months being inter-

viewed by Mueller.

That’s a bad strategy, if Trump truly has nothing to hide, says Eric Freedman, a constitutional law professor at Hofstra University.

“He should absolutely adopt and embrace a policy of openness,” Freedman says, a move that could buttress the White House campaign to tarnish Mueller’s probe as a political “witch hunt.”

Doing so would require abandoning his support for former aides like Paul Manafort, Trump’s ex-campaign chairman who was convicted Tuesday on tax and bank fraud charges.

Trump could, however, justify that he is “draining the swamp” of Washington corruption, argues Freedman, “wrapping himself in the mantle of good governance.”

Robert Bennett, a veteran Washington criminal defense lawyer who worked for president Bill Clinton in the 1990s, says it is too late for that.

“They decided a long time ago to attack the special counsel. It would be hard now to do an about-face,” he told AFP. “Who is he going to turn on? He’s

Republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF QUIRINO Cabarroguis -oOoBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR August 24, 2018 1.

Duration/ Completion of Works

Name of Project/Project 1.

2.

3.

PB-CW-2018-049 Construction of Training Center at Quirino Province Medical Center, Mangandingay, Cabarroguis, Quirino PB-CW-2018-050 Construction of Office Building at Quirino Province Medical Center, Mangandingay, Cabarroguis, Quirino PB-CW-2018-051 Construction of Dormitory at Quirino Province Medical Center, Mangandingay, Cabarroguis, Quirino

Venue of Procurement Activities

New sex charge against Spacey LOS ANGELES―The Los Angeles district attorney’s office has received a second sexual assault complaint against Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey, whose acting career has nosedived following allegations by more than a dozen men in the United States and Britain.

“A case of sexual assault was filed yesterday (21/8) in our office by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, involving Kevin Spacey, and is under review,” Greg Risling with the prosecutors’ office told AFP Wednesday.

A separate investigation was opened back in April for a complaint about an alleged assault in 1992 involving a man.

Risling did not specify details about this new complaint, or the status of the previous one.

The two-time Academy Award-winner has seen allegations against him pile up on the heels of the #MeToo movement, which began with the fall of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Spacey also has open investigations in London, where he directed The Old Vic Theater between 2004 and 2015, and in Nantucket, an island resort near Boston.

The first report that was made public was that of actor Anthony Rapp, 46, who claimed that the actor sexually abused him at age 14, back in 1986. AFP

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino, through the DOH Trust Fund invites all interested contractors to apply for eligibility and to tender bids for the following projects. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

ANNIVERSARY. Tsai Chin and Lauren Tom attend The Academy Presents ‘The Joy Luck Club’ (1993) 25th Anniversary at The Samuel Goldwyn Theater on August 22, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

US, China swap tariffs in billions in goods BEIJING―The United States slapped steep tariffs on another $16 billion in Chinese goods on Thursday, triggering a swift tit-for-tat retaliation from Beijing, even as negotiators from both sides seek to soothe the trade tensions.

The latest action completes the first round of $50 billion in Chinese products that President Donald Trump targeted with Beijing striking back at American products dollar-for-dollar at each step.

China “firmly opposes the tariffs and has no choice but to continue to make the necessary counter-attacks”, the commerce ministry said in a statement.

Beijing hit back with tariffs on an equal amount of US goods, targeting iconic products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, dump trucks and asphalt, among hundreds of others.

China’s commerce ministry said the US tar-

iffs were “clearly suspected of violating WTO rules” and noted it would file a lawsuit against them under the WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism.

The escalation came as the world’s two largest economies hold their first formal discussions since June on the spiraling trade war.

Trump has pushed aggressive trade actions to lower the US trade deficit, which he equates with theft from Americans. But US trading partners have retaliated aggressively, which is hurting American farmers, manufacturers and consumers.

US businesses have become increasingly concerned about the tariffs, which are raising prices for manufacturers and could hurt the economy, although the prospect of a negotiated solution buoyed world markets this week. AFP

Bid Documents Fee

Pre-bid Conference

Bid Sub.& Opening

ABC

240CD

P 25,000.00

August 31, 2018 2:00PM

September 12, 2018 2:00PM

28,841,098.79

180CD

25,000.00

August 31, 2018 2:00PM

September 12, 2018 2:00PM

18,030,603.94

240CD

25,000.00

August 31, 2018 2:00PM

September 12, 2018 2:00PM

29,223,027.15

Special Projects Unit Conference Hall 2nd Floor Capitol Commercial Building Capitol Compound, Cabarroguis, Quirino

2.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino now invites bids for following projects listed above. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

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

4.

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

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from August 24, 2018 to September 12, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated opposite each project.

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

6.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a PreBid Conference on August 31, 2018, 2:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to all interested parties.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before September 12, 2018, 2:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

8.

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

9.

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

(MS-AUG. 24, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

LoCaL goVeRNmeNT uNITS

friday, august 24, 2018

Davao, Cagayan de Oro shine in NCC

Du30 city best in Mindanao

Resiliency fund pays off for CdO

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

By Lance Baconguis

D

AVAO CITY―This city bagged the Fourth Most Competitive City award in the highly urbanized category during the 2018 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index awards at the 6th regional Competitiveness Summit held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Ivan Cortez, officer-in-Charge of the City Planning and Development office, said the award given by the Department of trade and Industry was in recognition of different local government units in the country that show outstanding performance in economic Dynamism, Government efficiency, Infrastructure and resiliency. “the award is the testament of all the efforts made by all of the departments of the City Government to bring development to Davao City. With this award, we can see that the government is unceasingly giving its best to continue to improve its services,” said Cortez.

Davao placed third in economic Dynamism, considering factors like the size of economy, sources of material, structure of economy, safety compliance of businesses, cost of living, financial deepening involving the number of financial institutions within the city, and number of people employed. the city also placed third in the Infrastructure category, which include roads, water and power utilities, telecommunication, number of transport vehicles, education and health facilities, and financial technology capacity.

Finally, Davao ranked second in resilience, which includes land-use planning, disaster risk management plan, early warning systems and emergency infrastructures.

BORACAY HEARING. Senator Cynthia Villar (left), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, discusses with Environment Usec. Ernesto Adobo Jr. the accomplishment of the inter-agency task force on the rehabilitation of Boracay Island, more than two months before the planned reopening of the country’s premier tourist destination. Villar said she was disappointed to learn that the problem of wastewater disposal was not yet solved, and that only 30 percent of establishments have complied with the requirements imposed by the task force. Lino Santos

Former Ecija gov facing up to 40 years in prison ForMer nueva ecija governor aurelio “oyie” Umali could face a prison term of 20 to 40 years if found guilty by the Sandiganbayan for his involvement in a P15-million pork barrel fund scam when he was still a congressman representing the province’s third district. then-ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, before her recent retirement, approved the recommendation of Graft Investigation and Prosecution officer III russel Labor-Lay-at to file charges against Umali for malversation of public funds under republic act 3019 with the anti-graft court.

Morales also junked the motion for reconsideration filed by Umali for lack of merit.

In a reply sent to nueva ecija Board Member edward thomas Joson, the

In BrIef JV visits renovated Caloocan hospital Senator JV ejercito, accompanied by Caloocan City Mayor oscar “oca” Malapitan and other city officials, visited the newly renovated Caloocan City Medical Center on Monday. the senator, as chairman of the Senate Health Committee, lauded Caloocan for giving priority to the health of its constituents by providing new medical equipment.

During their visit, Mayor oca announced that he is also planning to provide more medical equipment like a magnetic resonance imaging machine at the Jose rodriguez Memorial Medical Center located in the northern part of the city (see photo below). Jun David

Tiangco thanks Navotas water volunteers Mayor John rey tiangco expressed his appreciation to all volunteers who helped provide navoteños with potable water during the unexpected water interruptions last week. tiangco, together with Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo and some city councilors, distributed certificates of appreciation to volunteer firefighters and rescue groups. among those given recognition were Phantom Fire and rescue Volunteers, Daanghari Fire Destroyer, nBBn Fire and rescue Volunteers, Batas Fire and rescue Volunteers, Westnav Fire and rescue Volunteers, and nabcom Fire and rescue Volunteer. Jun David

4th ID dismantles 79 ‘CCSR’ firearms CaGayan De oro CIty—the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine army on Wednesday dismantled 79 non-standard firearms that were captured, confiscated, surrendered and recovered from their operations in northern Mindanao. the 4th ID has a total of 593 CCSr weapons, and the 79 weapons were “demilitarized” firearms that included short firearms, various rifles and machine guns that were cut up to pieces and burned, so the parts cannot be assembled as a functioning firearms. Lance Baconguis

original complainant, the ombudsman’s office of the Special Prosecutor confirmed the filing of the criminal and administrative charges against Umali and several others. “records of this office show that the information relative to the said case was approved by the Honorable ombudsman on 13 July 2018, and was forwarded to the office of the Special Prosecutor for filing with the Sandiganbayan,” assistant Special Prosecutor Gian Carla Hernal said in a letter dated July 24 to Joson. the governor also faces perpetual disqualification from service, fine and imprisonment with a conviction.

Umali, detained businesswoman Janet Lim napoles, and several others were accused of alleged misuse of P15 million in Priority Development as-

sistance Funds to buy irrigation pumps and fertilizers for his constituents in Laur, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Santa rosa, Genera, Mamerto natividad and Cabanatuan City.

He downloaded P12 million of the PDaF to the Masaganang ani para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. and P3 million to the Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc. according to the ombudsman, the respondents “made it appear that the funds were used to purchase 7,920 bottles of liquid fertilizers and 15 irrigation pumps.”

Umali’s P12-million PDaF was used to buy bottled fertilizer for P1,500 apiece “despite the fact that market price of the fertilizer costs only P150,” which was then sold at P50 to farmers.

CaGayan De oro CIty—From zero budget for resiliency programs to the most resilient city of 2018, this city is making sure the experience of typhoon “Sendong” that struck this city in 2011 will not happen again. the city government started pouring in funds for resiliency only in 2013, when Mayor oscar Moreno beat local political kingpin Vicente emano.

Five years later, under the leadership of Moreno, Cagayan de oro won the Most resilient Highly Urbanized City award in the 2018 national Competitiveness Council Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index, and placed fifth overall as most competitive city in the Philippines.

Moreno said winning the award “goes beyond the accolade and recognition but is a sign that the city is investing in its future.” the index is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the nCC through regional competitive committees with the assistance of the United States agency for International Development.

Last year, the city invested P756.5 million in disaster resiliency projects. the figure includes disaster risk reduction (Drr) and resiliency projects of the city hall’s different departments. the City Disaster risk reduction Management office employs 152 staff, all capable of responding to any kind of disaster. Cdo also invested heavily in equipment and mechanisms to support the frontlines, along with rain and river gauges to monitor the water upstream.

Moreno said that in 2017, the city invested more than 10 percent of its total P5-billion city budget. “the law only requires 5% of the city budget to be allocated to resiliency,” Moreno said.

Smart, PSF, AKFI lead ‘Alay sa Boracay’ gift-giving reSIDentS of Boracay Island recently received relief assistance at a gift-giving activity conducted by Smart Communications, PLDt-Smart Foundation, and alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc. Initiated by Smart’s sales and distribution group, “alay sa Boracay” held at one Central provided locals and members of the ati community with supplies and means to augment their livelihood. the program is part of Smart’s ongoing support for load retailers and subscribers who have been affected by Boracay’s closure to tourism activities.

Load retailers in Boracay each received a bag of grocery items containing rice, canned goods, noodles, personal hygiene products, and medicines; while lucky attendees won raffle prizes such as mobile load wallets, phones, Smart Bro Home Pocket WiFis, and portable speakers.

Kok’s, Smart’s distributor for aklan, antique, Capiz and Boracay, also offered free international calls to retailers who had relatives abroad. the activity follows the financial assistance Smart has given to six public schools as part of its participation to the Brigada eskwela initiative on the island.

Schoolchildren, for their part, received school supplies, shirts, and toys from aKFI and PSF, which also distributed hygiene kits to their parents.

PLDT-Smart Foundation president Esther Santos (right) hands out a package to a Boracay resident during the relief distribution program. One of them was Fatima Tamboon (inset), who received grocery items during the activity led by Smart and PSF on Boracay.

“We have a lot of retailers and subscribers here in Boracay. this activity is our way of giving back to them, to the members of the community,” said Smart distributor sales manager Mark Jason Palo.

“In times of success and difficulties, we’ve always supported our subscribers and retailers, who have also been there for us all these years,” said ediner tinio, also a distributor sales manager at Smart. “our network services here on Boracay Island are always available to

serve our subscribers and retailers,” he added.

PSF president esther Santos stressed the urgency of the need to address the livelihood concerns of the Boracay residents.

“We understand the plight of the local community, that’s why we’re more than willing to lend a helping hand,” Santos said, adding that the program was part of the activities lined up for the birthday of PLDt-Smart chair and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan.

QC to anchor film tourism on international festival

By Rio N. Araja

RENOVATION. Senator JV Ejercito (second from left) is briefed by Caloocan City Mayor Oscar ‘Oca’ Malapitan of the renovations of the Caloocan City Medical Center. Also present were Dr. Madeline Grace Ronan (right), hospital director, and Dr. Ferdinand Santos (left), hospital administrator. Jun David

QUeZon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte wants to promote film tourism in the “City of the Stars” through its own international film festival and other programs.

“Quezon City is promoting itself through another rich form of tourism and this is cinema tourism. that’s why we [have] the Quezon City international film festival,” Belmonte said.

Dubbed the QCinema International Film Festival, the city-wide film festival follows in the footsteps of other local film showcases, such as the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, both held this august.

“We have succeeded in putting this film festival in the film tourism circuit so those who are interested in cinema, they go to Busan in Korea in early october and they come to Quezon City for

the Quezon City international film festival in mid-october and then they go to tokyo for the tokyo international film festival,” Belmonte said.

“We’re the only city that has an international film festival, and we’re now on our sixth year,” she added. earlier, the vice mayor said the 37-member city council is studying to pass a measure requiring cinemas to feature Filipino films for one week during the “Buwan ng Wika” in august.

review By neil doloricon

a

FTeR decades of absence from his alma mater, the university of the philippines college of Fine arts, elmer Borlongan returned on aug. 10 to launch his exhibition entitled “Denizens” at the up corredor Gallery.

Like a long lost son eager to reunite with his family, he came up with a surprise from his long sojourn, showing 11 large-scale oil paintings that had never been exhibited in mainstream galleries elsewhere.

Borlongan’s oeuvres are offshoots of his family tour of different parts of the world.

It seems to have not been a leisurely tour. He seems to have been keenly observing the character and behavior of people they met on the streets and in buildings abroad.

To untrained eyes these views might look good for just casual sightseeing, but to an observant artist they are a source of inspiration for one’s creative endeavor. a pinoy stranger in foreign lands observing their denizens and their surroundings—the spaces, the colors, and the structures—this is how the artist as an ethnographer processes his creative imagination.

Borlongan gives a nuanced depiction of his subjects, showing their individuality and uniqueness through their distinct behavior and expressions. a bald figure with expressive big eye, staring with disfigured bodily movements—Borlongan depicts this iconic figure with soft color values and a smoothness of rendering.

This iconic figure would come into play in different characters (he even hinted that it might be him personifying others), but the technique and style of rendering are kept distinctly Borlongan.

In this exhibit, the iconic figure can be viewed in its relations with its environ or ecology.

Man, space, and the structure— these are the elements that interplay in this exhibit.

Borlongan’s handling of visual spaces and the structures behind the iconic figures are noticeable in most of his paintings.

One of his paintings, entitled “Millennium Bridge,” shows a brown man, on the foreground, holding his scarf. In upbeat mood, he approaches the Millennium Bridge where people have converged for a walk towards st. paul’s cathedral in a golden reflection of the sunset in the background, against bluish gray, cool atmosphere.

In many european countries, churches and cathedrals serve not only places for prayer but also as landmarks where tourists can appreciate the wonders of the architecture and intricate designs adorning their walls.

In this painting, the structures and the human figure complement the modern Millennium Bridge and the classical cathedral structures—and the basis for the design of the Vitruvian man of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Borlongan’s “Lost in Gansevoort” painting shows a cyclist, apparently lost, standing with his bicycle behind a tangerine-colored structure where two streets converge.

Life

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

culture and media

friday, august 24, 2018

Elmer Borlongan draws denizens 'Brooklyn is in the Heart' by Elmer Borlongan

'Lost in Gansevoort'

'New Fortune Cookie'

piet Mondrian’s painting on the shirt of the cyclist (artist) is appropriately blended behind the brilliant tangerine walls.

Interestingly, Mondrian is famous for his traffic series, which reflects the busy streets of New York. Borlongan’s bicycle must be a symbolic solution to that problem. perhaps, the cyclist, who seems lost in this painting, represents a good traveler who, according to Lao Tzu, has no fixed plans as he is not really intent on arriving.

Gansevoort is famous not only for meatpacking. It is also home to many artists who live in cheap studios that were once big warehouses and have been transformed into an art community. Gansevoort is also where you can find an extension of the Whitney Museum of contemporary art.

Borlongan’s “Brooklyn is in the Heart” portrays a man in the foreground with a blank stare behind a structure of

the Brooklyn Bridge. a golden color reflection of the golden gray sky is prominent in the painting. The structure, which connects Brooklyn and Manhattan, is the first steel wire suspension bridge in New York.

The cables look like parts of a web that trapped the man inside the bridge.

New York is a place where everything and anything would make a lasting recall from one’s heart and mind.

One has to adapt to the dog-eat-dog world of capitalism in order to survive. competition among workers, like worker’s alienation from one’s act of labor, alienation from one’s produce, and alienation from other human beings is how Marx observed the capitalist mode of production.

The work “Oblivion” shows a man going up a winding staircase, suggesting perpetual journey, perhaps of survival.

Many people dream of going to ad-

'White Cow'

vanced capitalist countries, like the united states, only to be entangled in a web of alienation and capitalist exploitation.

In another painting, entitled “Westminster Busker,” Borlongan captured a moment of serenity while playing his accordion with his dog before him sitting under a rag.

Buskers are regular street performers in many big cities in the world like New York city. They perform in crowded tourist areas. perhaps those buskers have their own stories to tell regarding their circumstances.

Rendered in sienna and umber pigments, the gated background with a granite wall suggests a big establishment, the Westminster cathedral which stands in contrast to the busker.

Borlongan explores iconic sites in many big cities—like the street vendors in his “Miner’s Gate Food cart” in New

York where they sell hotdogs and sodas.

You’re missing a lot if you have not eaten hotdogs in the main streets of New York. The figure in the background with a steady intent look at the customers is ready to attend to their orders. another painting, entitled “New Fortune cookie,” depicts a chinese restaurant in New York, with iconic hanging roasted ducks and pork displayed in a glass window, behind which where kitchen staff prepare food for their customers.

The loud red color on the wall signifies happiness, good fortune, and protection against bad luck. The main event after savoring sumptuous peking duck in chinese restaurants, you will be given a cookie that tells your fortune for the day.

Borlongan gives us glimpses into the life of denizens who make up significant part of the population in many advanced countries.

Household items in Ikebana arrangements Tea cups, clothes hanger, a clothes iron, a dishpan, a bike frame—these are just some of the household items featured in the Ikebana flower arrangements displayed during the three-day exhibit of sogetsu Ikebana Manila branch. sogetsu Ikebana Manila on aug

21-23 staged its 29 th annual exhibit at the Glorietta 2 activity center. The display was open to the public during mall hours.

With the theme “at Home with sogetsu,” members presented creations using unconventional materials found in the home together with fresh leaves

and flowers.

The sogetsu school of Ikebana, founded by sofu Teshigahara in 1927, is known for avant-garde style of Ikebana by allowing the arranger more freedom of expression and incorporating the use of unconventional materials in the arrangements.

From left: Sogetsu Ikebana Manila's Margot Perez, Kit Zobel, Madame Ihoko Haneda, and Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 president Marc Tomas led the ribbon cutting ceremony for Sogetsu Ikebana Manila's 29th annual exhibition at Glorietta 2 Activity Center on Aug. 21-23. Sonny espiritu

Monobloc chairs

Ikebana flower arrangement featuring rocking chair

Clothes iron

Arrangement using a bike frame

by Margot Perez. Sonny espiritu

Watering cans Clothes hanger

Dishpan

c1

Hollow blocks

Vegetables

Tea pot and tea cups Sonny espiritu

C2

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

F

OR four decades, noontime variety show Eat Bulaga has been the daily source of fun and laughter to millions of Filipinos worldwide.

Its entertaining segments and production numbers endeared Dabarkads across all generations. But unknown to many, what we see on television is just a fraction of the work done to produce an engaging program.

Comedian and host Joey de Leon, who has been with the show since it first aired in July 1979, said it takes a team of dedicated, hardworking and passionate individuals to make things happen on the small screen.

“We feel blessed that we are entering our 40th year because no one in Philippine television history can say that they’ve reached this milestone. Behind this success is not just us, the people you see daily on television, but is also due to the people who work behind the camera. They have given their undivided time, talent and loyalty to Eat Bulaga,” he said.

De Leon added that they, the hosts, actually get the easiest part of the job as compared to the production team that works tirelessly from sunup to sundown six days a week.

“Our staff can actually replace us because they know how things work.

They’re in the know on every aspect of what we do and some have been here for decades already.”

In an unprecedented move by the show’s management, De Leon and his colleagues get to dip their toes into off-camera production work through the show’s special anniversary web series entitled Eat Bulaga Behind the Scenes (EB BTS).

Made accessible for its growing following on YouTube, EB BTS aims to give the viewers a glimpse on the dayto-day routine of the production people —from conceptualizing a segment to its execution.

“We are a small group but we’ve always been the leader in this format and on this timeslot. We want the viewers to see what goes behind the segments they love. I also think it is high time we acknowledge the people who work day and night to come up with quality programming,” said Eat Bulaga’s SVP for Creatives and Operations Jeny Ferre.

In EB BTS’ first few episodes, Pauleen Luna gets to be a production assistant while De Leon and child star Ryzza Mae Dizon take over their online accounts and became social media managers.

Meanwhile, Ruby Rodriguez, Pia Guanio and Luane Dy all joined the Sugod Bahay team to work as “Juan for All” (JFA) registration staff, executive producer and location manager, respectively.

Rodriguez said joining the remote EB team gave her a new appreciation of the people they work with and the job they had to do to be able to come up with a systematic and organized JFA segment.

“I appreciate them more because I saw how hard it was. In my experience as registration staff, it’s not just one house I visited; it’s all the houses in that area. Then the work doesn’t end there because you have to go back to the office and then call each and everyone who registered to verify all information,” she said.

As for JFA regular Wally Bayola, neither his background in theater nor his hosting experience prepared him for the task as an Eat Bulaga writer.

“You have an idea on how the show works but when you take over the writing job, you’ll learn that it’s not easy.

I initially thought that I’ll just write a few spiels and fill the gaps, but that’s far from what they actually do. Aside from conceptualizing what will appear on TV, you have to be flexible and creative especially when there are technical problems or a particular segment is not yet ready to air,” he shared.

Bayola, Rodriguez and De Leon all share a new found respect for the people in production. They all agreed that Eat Bulaga won’t be on air for the last four decades and a proven television success if not for the men and women behind the camera.

Don’t miss the past episodes and the upcoming appearances of Allan K, Maine Mendoza, Alden Richards, Jose Manalo and the rest of the Dabarkads family in Eat Bulaga Behind the Scenes available on the show›s official YouTube channel (http://www. youtube.com/eatbulaga1979).

Joey de Leon takes over Eat Bulaga’s social media accounts

‘Eat Bulaga’ hosts dip their toes into off-cam work for new web series Memories are made of the voices of the young once

Pauleen Luna as Eat Bulaga production assistant

Ruby Rodriguez goes house-to-house in Sugod Bahay

HOLLYWOOD

After US hype, Asia greets ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ with a shrug British-Malaysian actor Henry Golding, who stars as Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, attends the Singapore premiere of the movie on Wednesday

CRAZY Rich Asians has been hailed as a win for diversity in Hollywood and sparked controversy in Singapore for its portrayal of the city-state —but in much of Asia the movie is being greeted with little more than a shrug.

The first Tinseltown film to feature a majority-Asian cast for a generation, the adaption of author Kevin Kwan’s bestseller about Singapore’s ultra-rich Chinese elite has soared to the top of the North American box office.

The rom-com, which tells the Cinderella-like story of an ordinary Asian-American woman and her super-rich boyfriend, will likely do well in parts of Asia when it is released this week.

But it is not generating the same level of excitement as in Hollywood, where the Asian-American community has long been marginalised, and many in the region may well be wondering what all the fuss is about.

“Asians have been seeing themselves on screen in their own domestic films since cinema began,” Maggie Lee, chief Asia film critic for Variety, told AFP. Still, those that watch the movie are likely to enjoy the film for what it is—an entertaining rom-com—

and recognize the Hollywood hype is something particularly related to the Asian-American experience, she added.

The first Hollywood production since the Joy Luck Club in 1993 to have a majority-Asian cast, the movie has generated frenzied publicity in the US and has generally been well reviewed.

Asians have often been relegated to sidekick roles in Hollywood in recent times while there have also been much-criticized attempts at “yellowface” casting, when white actors attempt to make themselves look Asian.This was the case when Scarlett Johansson was cast in the Hollywood remake of Japanese anime classic Ghost in the Shell.

Other Hollywood productions, such as The Great Wall set in China and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in India, have been criticized for drafting in a major white star to play the lead role or their clichefilled representations of Asia. AFP

IF YOU have been born in the 50s or the 60s, I am pretty sure (as Gladys Reyes’ Amanda in I Will Always Love You says when emphasizing something) your hearts skip a beat when you hear Darius Razon’s “Everybody Knows” or Anthony Castelo’s “Hahanapin Ko’ or even Eva Vivar’s “No Other Love Have I.” Those tunes certainly bring back memories of your teenage years back where you grew up. Those songs are still very much around. So are the singers.

And starting this Sunday, 8:00 p.m., they–Anthony Castelo, Darius Razon and Eva Vivar–will host a TV show on Net 25 called Young Once (Upon A Time).

The three popular singers of a bygone era made a manifestation that they are still very much around at a gathering at Net 25’s studio at the Eagle Broadcasting Corporation’s complex on Central Avenue near Visayas avenue in Quezon City.

According to Weng de la Fuente, president of Net 25, Young Once aims to promote original Pilipino music (OPM). It is also a tribute to great Filipino songwriters and a showcase of the best singers in the country.

Razon, Vivar, and Castelo are hoping their fans will support the show and the new generation will have an interest in finding out what their parents and grandparents listened to when they were younger.

“It should acquaint the millenials with the music of the past apart from a show for a generation that saw the best of Philippine music fro the 60s to the 90s,” chimed the three hosts who rendered their most popular songs during the gathering along with guests Zander Khan, Efren Montes, Cynthia Garcia.

The list of guests for the show’s first season is veritably the who’s who in OPM for three decades: Pilita Corrales, Mike Hanopol, Heber Bartolome, Jun Polistico, Noel Cabangon, Claire de la Fuente, Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio, Pinky Marquez, Malu Barry, Lolita Carbon of Asin, Coritha, Bayang Barrios, Marco Sison, Chad Borja, Richard Reynoso, Joey Abando of Boyfriends, Alon, Renz Verano, Perla Adea, Romy Mallari, Tessie Lagman, Dolly Favorito, Raquel Monteza, Danny Cruz, the Mabuhay Singers, and Victor Wood.

Regrettably, the superstar of the all, Nora Aunor, whose voice was damaged during a procedure, will not be able

to join the show, even as a guest, unless she lipsynchs her songs, but that’s not the aim of the show.

Pilita Corrales, known during her time as Asia’s Queen of Songs, said, “This is long overdue. Finally there is a show like this…na talagang OPM.” The Young Once will take you back to those days when life was easy or even when it was harder for some, music had a way of easing up things.

Philippine film’s mother turns 80 Her entrance to the ballroom of Crowne Plaza Galleria smacks of show business.

In a white glittery gown she sashayed with a bevy of dancing cohorts towards a stage passing along well-suited gentlemen and ladies in evening gowns as well, including former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and former President Joseph Estrada and his son Jinggoy.

Striding to the beat of Abba’s “Mamma Mia,” Lily Yu Monteverde, or Mother for short, marked her 80th birthday not just with a big bang but with an explosion of songs, guests of all persuasion and political color, and stars from rival networks.

It is perhaps the birthday party of all birthday parties.

Speaking on stage to her guests, she said, “I always tell people I am rich. But they do not know what I mean. I am rich not because of the things I own or can buy.

I am rich because God has made my life so full.”

And in conclusion, she said, “More important I am not only rich. I am happy.”

Happy 80th Mother. We wish you more years with the industry that you love so dearly! Thank you Mother.

It’s goodbye to Enrique and Liza’s Bagani On a personal note, I feel sad when I saw the end of Bagani on ABS-CBN Friday last week.

The heroes of Sansinukob in this costume series fought evil to protect their home from destruction. The love team of Enrique Gil as Lakas and Liza Soberano as Maganda make for a charming couple on screen.

Bagani was well received by viewers since it premiered. It received an all-time high national TV rating of 36.2 percent on April 17, according to data from Kantar Media.

The show has also won the hearts of netizens with its hashtags trending all over the world on Twitter. It was also named as one of the most talked about teleseryes in the country in the first half of 2018, according to the Twitter Entertainment Index, a list of the most talked about topics on the social networking site.

Its online version, Bagan Bagani World, gave users the chance to be heroes of a digital Sansinukob. The website was closed after the show bid farewell. However, its stories will continue in Bagani: Beyond Sansinukob on NoInk, ABS-CBN’s online reading platform.

There are no buzz when the Kapamilya will have another series with the handsome love team of LizQuen.

We will wait.

Darius Razon, Anthony Castelo and Eva Vivar

Motoring

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

C3

Hino supports logistics and transport trade

T

HE EXCLUSIVE distributor of Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines showcased some of its latest vehicles during the annual Transport and Logistics Expo, which ran at the World Trade Center from August 16 to 18.

Hino Motors Philippines displayed its wing van from the Hino 500 series, the tractor head from the Hino 700 series and the newly designed Hino PUV Class II with cab from Hino’s modern jeepney variants.

Hino’s Total Support mantra aligns with the government’s Build, Build, Build Program, which aims to accelerate economic growth, create more job opportunities and improve the lives of Filipinos. Now on its second year, the program has rolled out infrastructure projects that require reliable logistics solutions. Hino addresses this demand by providing efficient trucks and services to ensure smooth business operations.

Aside from the logistics market, HMP is determined to provide solutions to the transport industry. Hino modern jeepney variants were designed to fit the needs of the riding public and improve the current

transport system of the country in line with the PUV Modernization Program.

“We strongly believe that the Filipinos deserve better infrastructure and transportation. This is why we are always looking for opportunities to offer our Total Support in every way possible. It is fortunate that the government’s most-recent initiatives help us extend our services and products to Filipinos, further helping us realize the vision of building a more connected Filipino community,” said HMP Chairman Vicente T. Mills, Jr. As the only one-stop shop for trucks and buses in the Philippines, HMP is maximizing every chance to increase its presence nationwide, particularly during industry exhibits. By offering top-line commercial vehicles, HMP enhances its partners’ service capabilities in fulfilling logistics and transport demands across different sectors.

HMP showcased its vehicle lineup during the Transport and Logistics Expo.

FASTLANE

First ever Harley electric motorbike

Renault sets launch of new crossover FRENCH manufacturer Renault will present a new crossover at next week’s Moscow International Motor Show in Russia. Christened Arkana, the new Csegment automobile will go on sale in 2019.

The name chosen for the new model is derived from “arcanum,” a Latin word meaning “secret.” In the words of Renault, the Arkana will “break the mould of the SUV market” with a unique design that is “associated with mystery, attractiveness and pioneer spirit.” Exactly how original the new vehicle’s design is remains to be seen, as to date it has only been shown in one teaser image.

The Arkana will be officially unveiled on August 29, 2018, at the MIAS in Moscow. The vehicle to be presented will be a show car that will very closely resemble the future production model, which will be the first global model to be produced at the carmaker’s Russian plant. The Arkana is set to go on sale in 2019. Renault has remained vague about the specific launch dates for various countries, indicating only that the car will be introduced in other countries following an initial rollout in Russia.

Bugatti teaser: Divo hypercar THERE may only be a couple of days to go before Bugatti finally unveils its new Divo hypercar in all its glory at Monterey Car Week in California, but to ramp up the anticipation even further, the French automaker has been teasing us again with a new image of the car.

For the very first time, Bugatti has released an image of the entire vehicle.

However, it’s still not revealing too much because the Divo is only to be seen in the new image fully covered by a blue dust sheet. In the past the company used the Vision Gran Turismo to tease various elements of what eventually became the Chiron, and from what can be made out from this latest image it appears to have revisited some aspects of that concept. But at the same time, it’s also clear to see this is still very much an evolution of the current Chiron design language.

The rear wing of the Vision GT concept was a lot more pronounced than the more toned down one hiding under the blue cover sheet here, but a fin does seem to run all the way from the rear of the cockpit to the rear wing. Some seriously large wheel arches clearly stand out under the sheet too, so that’s an area where the Divo has evolved from the Chiron. Another departure from the Vision GT and the Chiron is the car’s side line. The relatively gentle arc around the roof to the back of the cabin and down to the sills that’s been a Bugatti feature since the Veyron has been reworked here. In this case it seems the roof line takes a shallow dip to a point, but then makes a hard reverse to form a shoulder line intersecting with the front wheel arch.

Just 40 examples of the track-focused Divo will be produced by Bugatti, and each will come with a starting price of some 5 million euros ($5.8 million). If that sounds like an incredible amount of money that’s because it is, especially considering it’s almost double what Bugatti asks for a Chiron Sport. It doesn’t appear to be a problem though, as it’s believed all 40 cars are probably already spoken for.

TERRA HITS LAND.

The first batch of Nissan Terras has arrived in the Philippines.

Launched in the country last May, Nissan’s first mid-size SUV is finally here to bring the exceptional to everyday drive, be it through busy city roads or rough and wild terrains.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON will bring out its first ever electric motorcycle, based on the 2014 Livewire concept bike, in 2019. The American manufacturer has revealed a number of photos of the new machine, but has yet to supply detailed specifications.

It will have taken Harley-Davidson more than 115 years to launch its first ever fully electric motorcycle. Although it is likely to offend purists, the manufacturer argues that the new model will preserve the DNA of a brand that has an established reputation for style, comfort and performance.

The LiveWire will likely be extensively inspired by the concept bike already unveiled

by Harley-Davidson. On that basis, it should be a high-end motorcycle that is both powerful and easy to ride. Let’s not forget that the 2014 concept had a 55 kW motor, which provided the equivalent of 74 hp. However, the figure for the concept’s range, which was barely more than 80 km, will have to be significantly increased for the production version if it is to win over the general public.

When it is launched in 2019, the LiveWire will be initially available in the United States and Europe. Thereafter, Harley-Davidson plans to develop other lighter and more agile models that are fully electric by 2022. In the long term, the manufacturer aims to become the global leader in electric motorcycles.

PF hypercar specs revealed AUTOMOBILI Pininfarina has released some performance specifications for its upcoming PF0 hypercar that’s set to make its debut at a private showing at next Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the US state of California.

It’s believed the PF0 is being built on the latest EV platform from Rimac, and it’s being claimed it will be able to go from a standing start to 62 mph in “less than two seconds.” The PF0 is also said to be able to go on to a top speed of more than 300 kph (186mph), and despite those staggering numbers it’s also supposed to boast “a potential zero-emissions range of up to 500 km (310 miles).” Of course, the range is likely to be considerably less than that if the car is driven in a way likely to test out those performance specifications.

Cars generally have to be pretty special to make it to the world-renowned Concours d’Elegance, and from what’s being said about the PF0 this is a car that more than fits the bill. This will be the first model produced by the legendary Italian design house as a vehicle manufacturer in its own right, and it’s certainly making a statement with this initial offering.

Ahead of the private showing in California a number of sketches of the car have already been revealed by Pininfarina, and there’s now also a video of Paolo Pininfarina describing the launch of this eagerly awaited first model from the company he’s the chairman of.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

T

HERE’S been quite a bit of conjecture recently surrounding the exact amount of power the engine will produce in the upcoming Aston Martin Valkyrie. But an apparently inadvertent tweet by engine supplier Cosworth appears to have revealed the final figure as being a staggering 1130bhp.

This latest revelation about the power of the Valkyrie was revealed in a tweet put out by Cosworth, which now appears to have been something of a mistake as it was quickly deleted by the company. However, before it was taken down the message was spotted by Road and Track, so now the world knows how much oomph the new Aston will have, regardless of whether the company was ready to reveal the fact or not.

At the time the Valkyrie was first being mentioned by the British sports car manufacturer it was being suggested it would produce somewhere around the 1000bhp mark. That would have been impressive enough, but then a couple of weeks ago it was being claimed the final figure might be as high as 1100bhp. But now it seems the final figure for the Cosworth 6.5-liter V-12 will be 1130bhp, which would therefore see the Valkyrie claiming the crown for being the most powerful naturally aspirated road car in the world.

Motoring ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE

True power figure bared

Aston Martin Valkyrie in 90% production-ready form with Serena Williams When Mercedes-McLaren revealed its Project One hypercar would have at least 992bhp under its hood it sounded mighty impressive, but it now seems relatively pedestrian at the side of this beast of a car from Aston Martin.

A close-to production-ready version

of the Valkyrie was last shown in a promotional shot with legendary tennis star Serena Williams. When that image was taken it was said the car was around 90-percent production ready, with the remaining 10 percent set to be made up of final tweaks to the car’s aerodynam-

Formula E race cars up for sale

ics and development of the lights and other road-essential features.

According to Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer, the Valkyrie that’s been co-developed with Red Bull F1 team will eventually be able to lap the Silverstone racing circuit “as fast as an F1

AS AN entirely new second-generation of Formula E electric race cars is about to be unveiled for the 2019 season, it raises the question of what happens to the first-generation models that have been used for the last four seasons. Although they’re not being officially marketed by Formula E, the 40 cars that are about to be superceded are being put up for sale through word of mouth.

Unlike Formula 1, where all the cars are built and owned by the individual teams, Formula E bought and owns all 40 of the first-generation electric racing cars itself. When the first-gen models were originally purchased, Formula E paid around 16 million euros ($18.4 million) for them, which worked out at about 400,000 euros or $460,000 each.

Like most used cars, they’re not going to fetch as much as Formula E paid for them, but they’re still not going to be what anyone would call cheap.

Even though some of them will have presumably competed in all four seasons, it’s believed they are being offered for sale for somewhere between $200,000 and $289,000 each. Although every car is identical in terms of its chassis and battery, the individual resale values are likely to be determined by victories, sen-

car.” No prices have been revealed yet for the car that will be built in a production run of just 175 units, but a figure of somewhere between £2 million and £3 million each is being suggested, and first deliveries are expected to commence in 2019. AFP

timent and other factors.

The cars are being replaced because battery technology has moved on considerably in the last four years, so the second-generation cars will be able to complete in an entire 45-minute race on a single charge. Thanks to new batteries being supplied by McLaren Applied Technologies with twice the capacity of the first-generation units, the 2019 Formula E season will no longer see drivers having to swap cars when the battery runs out because there obviously wasn’t time in a race to recharge.

Both the first and second-generation cars have been built by a company called Spark Racing Technology, and its CEO Theophile Gouzin told Bloomberg: “Today, the competition is on the powertrains, the motor controller and the gear box.” He went on to stress that by focusing on efficiency and increasing range through racing, those participating and partnering with Formula E hope to catch up with Tesla in the ongoing development of electric vehicles for all applications.

Formula E’s second-generation cars will race for the first time at the opening round of the 2019 season 5 in December at Ad Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.