Manila Standard - 2018 August 29 - Wednesday

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Emperor’s exit resets Japanese calendar

By Miwa Suzuki THE abdication of Japan’s Emperor Akihito next year will be quite literally the end of an era, the Heisei era of his rule, and behind Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 195 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

CJ told: Shun political cases Lawyers’ group sues Rody before ICC

By Rey E. Requejo and Nat Mariano A RIGHTS group and families of several drug war fatalities have filed a second complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in connection with the killings linked to his anti-drug campaign.

Duterte committed murder over “the extrajudicial killings of thousands of Filipinos” and

inhumane acts for “causing great suffering to the victims and their families,” the complaint said.

The alleged mass murders and rights violations under Duterte “are so grievous and so heinous that is of sufficient gravity to justify further action Next page

Minority warns De Castro on her first day in office

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

S

ENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Tuesday he knew Chief Justice Teresita Leondardo-de Castro as a woman of intelligence and integrity, but urged her just the same to inhibit herself from participating in any political case to squelch speculation on why she was appointed.

“All questions, issues, and doubts surrounding the appointment of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, particularly with regard to her impartiality, can only be addressed if the newly appointed chief magistrate refrains from participating in any political case pending before the Court,” Drilon said.

“I encourage her to inhibit [herself] from politically charged cases in order to uphold the integrity of the decisions that the Supreme Court may make during her short tenure,” Drilon added.

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‘No-nationality’ galunggong causes uproar over import plan

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ROUND scad or “galunggong” do not have a “nationality,” and thus Filipinos should have no problems with this variety of fish that is imported from other countries to augment the local food supply, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Tuesday.

However, Senator Cynthia A. Villar exhorted the public not to eat galunggong—once regarded in the country as the poor man’s fish—as it could be laced with formalin or embalming fluid.

In responding to critics of the govern-

House panel sets Budget approval on October 12

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has set for Oct. 12 the approval of the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 after the Executive department agreed to defer for at least two to three years the full implementation of the cash-based budgeting system.

House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said the House will pass the budget bill before Congress adjourns in October.

“We want a new budget,” Andaya told reporters as the House committee on appropriations, led by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, resumed its deliberations on the budget.

“We have agreed on a two-to-threeyear transition period [for the full implementation of the cash-based budgeting system],” Andaya said.

The agreement came following a lunch meeting in Malacañang attended

by Andaya, Nograles, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The House appropriations committee suspended the budget deliberations for two weeks after lawmakers opposed the cash-based budgeting system that the Budget department had adopted.

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JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE.

Newly appointed Chief Justice Teresita Leonardode Castro, considered the first woman chief justice following the nullification of the appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno, promises Tuesday, the first day in her one month and three weeks tenure, to maintain judicial independence. She acknowledges the welcome by Supreme Court employees on her arrival at the SC compound. Norman Cruz

ment’s move to import galunggong, Piñol told ANC Headstart the Philippines has long imported many types of fish to augment its supply especially during the closed fishing season.

“In 2017 alone, the country imported 130,000 metric tons of fish and nobody complained,” Piñol told the cable television program. “This year, another threebillion fingerlings will be bought from Indonesia.”

“We have been importing and this idea of Chinese galunggong, Taiwanese galunggong, Vietnamese galunggong— galunggongs don’t have nationality,” he said.

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China culls 24K pigs amid feared disease outbreak

Senate measure may lead to NFA abolition—Villar

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz THE chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee on Tuesday said a new “liberalized” model on the importation of rice may pave the way for the abolition of the National Food Authority.

Senator Cynthia Villar made the statement as the NFA came under fire for soar-

ing grain prices, including in Zamboanga City which has been placed under a state of calamity because of a rice crisis.

“We have to liberalize the importation of rice but we have to impose tariff to protect our farmers,” she said, adding that the NFA will no longer be needed under the proposed rice tariffication bill.

A Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund instead will be established to help farmers become competitive.

Villar noted that the NFA seemed to have strayed from its mandate to buy rice from farmers so that the farmers “will not be at the mercy of traders.”

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

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BEIJING—An outbreak of African swine fever in China may spread to other parts of Asia, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned Tuesday, as the world’s largest pork producer scrambled to contain the disease.

China has culled more than 24,000 pigs in four provinces to stop the disease from proliferating, the FAO said in a statement. The first outbreak was reported in early August.

The FAO said the cases have been detected in areas more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) apart, meaning it could cross national borders.

“The deadly pig virus may spread to other Asian countries anytime,” the FAO said.

The “diverse geographical spread of the outbreaks in China have raised fears that the disease will move across borders Next page

SHOCK ABSORBER.

NFA Baguio City and Benguet Province are operating normally and have enough bumper rice to last four days in 18,358 sacks, while allocations to accredited stores have been boosted following the recent typhoons that triggered the monsoon rains, mudslides and damaged roads.

Dave Leprozo Jr.

Boxing pros eyed to represent PH

By Riera U. Mallari JAKARTA—Now that open boxing is practiced, would the Philippines consider tapping pros such as Manny Pacquiao or Nonito Donaire in the Asian Games and other international competitions?

Not so fast, says boxing official Ed Picson.

“Open and professional boxing are two different animals,” said Picson, secretary general of the Alliance of Boxing Associations in the Philippines. “But we are not closing the door on pros in competitions like the Asian Games.”

The world governing body of boxing, AIBA, dropped the word amateur from its name in 2013 and is now the InternaNext page tional Boxing Association.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lacson chides Palace over foreign trips

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

He made the statement in reaction to President Rodrigo Duterte who said he would bring along with him some retiring military and police officials as “my gift to them for serving the country well” during his trip to Israel.

But Malacañang said there was nothing wrong with Duterte taking several retiring military officials and police officers with him in his official visit to Israel and Jordan. “[There is] nothing wrong with it,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque

told reporters on Tuesday.

“I think strengthening security cooperation is one of the matters that will really be discussed in the Middle East as well.”

Roque said aside from the grant of travel as a reward, the officials accompanying Duterte would also have an official agenda in Israel.

Duterte will be in Israel from Sept. 2 to 5 and then visit neighboring Jordan, which has committed to donate two attack helicopters to the Philippines.

Duterte said he will visit the two coun-

tries to check on the welfare of the thousands of Filipino workers there.

Lacson, a former police chief, said goodwill might be a better word for what Duterte actually meant.

He said the reason was plain as it was simple: Government officials were always expected to give their best.

“Rewards for the more deserving come in the form of promotions, awards―even a pat on the back,” Lacson said.

But Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in almost all of the foreign trips of the President, he was looking at what was out there, and bringing some military and police officers with him to see what was out there was part of it.

Cayetano also described Rep. Gary Alejano as a “purveyor of fake news.”

CJ...

Drilon said he has known De Castro for over two decades and has known her to be a woman of intelligence and integrity.

“Whether she can do as much, set a trend, or influence the Supreme Court, during her five weeks tenure as Chief Justice is something that is difficult to expect given such limitation,” he added.

Drilon also said President Duterte’s statement that De Castro was appointed according to seniority meant Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio would be the next chief justice.

De Castro will retire on Oct. 8 when she reaches the age of 70, the retiring age for the chief lustice.

Carpio had earlier turned down a nomination to replace Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who was ousted though a quo warranto petition.

De Castro on Tuesday promised to maintain judicial independence under her tenure as she formally assumed her leadership of the judiciary.

De Castro said she does not see the need for her to prove her independence from the appointing authority because she believes that her appointment by President Duterte was based on meritocracy.

“I have no problem maintaining the independence of the judiciary. Up to this time, I have not met the President. I haven’t seen him or approached him, whether directly or through anybody. He appointed me without knowing me personally,” she told reporters during her first press conference as top magistrate.

De Castro, who is considered the first fe-

male chief justice following the nullification of Sereno’s appointment, said she does not expect the President to challenge the judiciary’s independence.

“We would like to express our appreciation that the President has that strong political will, to see to it that the merit system, which is the hallmark of public appointment in public service, is followed, and in upholding the timehonored tradition of seniority in the Supreme Court,” she said.

De Castro also appealed to her critics to “move on for the good of the judiciary” and just support judicial reform programs of the Supreme Court.

“Let us put the past behind us but of course, we should not forget the lessons that we learned,” she said.

She also urged her critics to look at her track record in government service instead of looking at her promotion as a “reward” for her role in Sereno’s ouster.

When asked if the impeachment complaint filed against her and six other magistrates before the House of Representatives would affect her duties as SC chief, De Castro replied: “I have no time to think about it, because you know as you mentioned, I have very few weeks to work here in the court, and I don’t want to be distracted by anything else, my schedule is full. I have so many activities set in the coming weeks, I do not wish to be distracted by that.”

Besides, De Castro said she wants her leadership in the judicial branch to be remembered as the one “that restored collegiality in the Supreme Court” and “which was able to institute several reforms in the judicial processes.”

De Castro took her oath of office before her colleagues in the Supreme Court before presiding over the regular session of

the justices and the oral arguments on the case involving the Philippine government’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.

De Castro thanked her colleagues, some of whom like Justices Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta and Andres Reyes Jr., also vied for the chief justice post for their support to her.

“The SC is working as Justice Antonio Carpio mentioned before, it’s working normally. I am happy that I have the support of all my colleagues who were all present in my first day of work and I appreciate their warm support and welcome to me,” she said.

SC rank-and-file employees also welcomed De Castro with flowers and balloons to show their support when she arrived at 8;30 a.m. A tarpaulin bearing congratulatory message to De Castro was also hung in front of the SC building in Padre Faura, Manila.

However, outside the SC, a small group of protesters called for De Castro’s removal by impeachment.

They also criticized the President’s decision to appoint her to the top judicial post.

In the House, congressional leaders promised “fair and fast” deliberations on the impeachment complaint against De Castro and six other associate justices.

“The House leadership will conduct a fair and fast hearing on this matter,” House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said at a news conference.

The House committee on justice is all set to begin the impeachment process against the seven justices on Sept. 4 after the House in plenary session Tuesday referred the impeachment complaint filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman to the justice panel, chaired

by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon.

“This [impeachment deliberations] will not affect the agenda of the House. Budget hearings will go on, the impeachment hearing will go on, [there will be] regular work of the House, regular sessions will go on,” Andaya said.

Andaya also said it would be “unwise” for the House to invite De Castro to appear before the impeachment hearing, given the short time she has to work as chief justice.

Lagman and several other opposition lawmakers filed an impeachment complaint against De Castro, and Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and Alexander Gesmundo.

The opposition lawmakers said the seven SC justices 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—even though the Supreme Court said otherwise—and that the only way to oust Sereno was through an impeachment.

Lagman also said he welcome’s Leachon’s move to consolidate the impeachment complaints.

The Palace, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the impeachment complaints would be dismissed.

“It is clear that the basis used by the complainants against the seven magistrates will be dismissed because of an utter lack of merit,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing Tuesday afternoon.

“The Constitution states that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over quo warranto petitions. So, I don’t understand why this is an impeachable offense,” he said.

Emperor’s...

Lawyers’...

plain to the Court why they were not present during the oral arguments on their petition.

Earlier, the three senators had filed a petition that they be represented by detained Senator Leila de Lima during the hearing.

Lawyers of PCICC from Center Law International urged the Court to issue an order compelling the Executive branch to revoke the notice sent last March for withdrawal of the Philippine government’s signature from the Rome Statute.

They said the withdrawal violated the 1987 Constitution, which requires Senate concurrence.

“A treaty requires Senate concurrence and the Rome Statute is a treaty... The unilateral withdrawal is interference, a violation of the separation of powers,” lawyer Romel Bagares said.

During interpellation, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen was quick to question the legal standing of PCICC in filing the case.

“Principally it must be shown that there is personal, substantial and direct injury suffered by petitioners to have legal standing.

What is your injury?” the magistrate asked, to which lawyer Ray Paolo Santiago replied, “I have no direct injury as of yet.”

Leonen pointed out that petitioners are also not victims of crimes against humanity

to be able to seek relief from the Court.

The oral arguments will continue next week.

President Duterte announced last March the government’s withdrawal of its ratification of the Rome Statute, a United Nations treaty creating the ICC. The Chief Executive cited “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks” against him and his administration as the reason for his withdrawal as a state party.

The move came after ICC special prosecutor Fatou Bensouda started a preliminary examination on the alleged human rights violations amid the Duterte administration’s intensified war on drugs.

The Palace said Tuesday it was confident that the cases against the President will notprosper.

“Again, my fearless prediction is, it will not prosper because of the concept of complementarity,” he said.

“The ICC cannot advance unless the local courts have proven to be unable or unwilling to exercise jurisdiction on these complaints,” Roque added.

Activists and families of eight drug war victims filed the communication saying Duterte committed murder over thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings.

For his part, Senator Francis Pangilinan called the attention of Agriculture chief Manny Piñol for his alleged failure to put an end to large-scale rice smuggling, which is considered a form of economic sabotage and is a non-bailable offense.

“If Secretary Piñol has been in the know about the rice smuggling and other illegal transactions related to rice in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, what has he done about it? Why hasn’t he acted on it considering that he has been in the post for more than two years now?”

Pangilinan said.

As this developed, Piñol said he is ready to eat the weevil-infested rice to assure the public that the grains are safe to eat.

NFA earlier said the tons of weevilinfested rice brought into Subic were safe for distribution after being fumigated.

“Serve me that bukbok rice, I will eat it!” Piñol said in an ANC interview.

“I’m a farmer. Bukbok is as much a reality to grains as black ants are to fruits.

What’s your problem with weevil? Unmilled rice really get attacked by bukbok,” he added.

VERY official presidential trip abroad must have a purpose better than just being a gift to anyone in the government, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday.

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closed doors, talks on the next era have begun.

Japan is the only country in the world still using Chinese-style imperial calendars. It might be 2018 in much of the world, but in Japan it is Heisei 30, or 30 years into Akihito’s reign.

While the Gregorian calendar is widely used in Japan, imperial dates feature on government documents, newspapers, and commercial calendars.

“It is easier to imagine what the time was like if you have eras,” said Kunio Kowaguchi, president of major calendar maker Todan.

“For instance, we remember it was early Heisei that the bubble burst,” he said, referring to the collapse of Japan’s speculation-driven economy.

The upcoming end of the Heisei period was even reportedly a factor in the government’s decision to implement death sentences this year against 13 members of the Aum cult behind a 1995 sarin attack.

Government officials apparently wanted to a draw a line under the cult’s attacks before the Heisei era ends. All 13 executions were carried out in July.

Japan has had nearly 250 eras or “gengo” since adopting the system in the 7th century. AFP

of the Court,” the complainants, represented by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said.

The ICC earlier this year announced a preliminary examination of a complaint filed against Duterte for using killings to control crime.

This prompted Duterte in May to withdraw the Philippines from the Rome Statute, which created the ICC. The ICC may only take jurisdiction over the case if the Philippine justice system is “unable to prosecute him.”

Opposition senators who assailed the constitutionality of President Duterte’s decision to withdraw the country’s membership from Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court were a no-show during the oral arguments on their petition before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Senators Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, who were supposed to appear in the oral arguments, skipped the first hearing, but they sent lawyer Anne Marie Corominas to ex-

Boxing...

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In the Asian Games here, Macau used the services of a pro boxer in Ng Kuok Kun, who Felix Eumir Marcial kayoed in a men’s welterweight clash late Monday night at the Jakarta Expo Boxing Hall.

Before this, four boxers from the Philippines lost in the first round, prompting the question of whether the ABAP might consider tapping pros in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and in Olympic qualifiers and world championships.

Picson said they might take in pro boxers in the heavier classes. The lower divisions have plenty of amateur boxers, so there was no need.

“Take the case of Macau, it lacks boxers so it got one from its pro ranks,” he said.

Picson said pros who have only recently turned pro could be considered for open tournaments, citing London 2012 Olympian Marc Anthony Barriga and Victorio Saludar, who were two of the most prominent ABAP boxers in the decade. Barrigga has fought actively in the WSB before it became inactive while Saludar is one of the top contenders in the World Boxing Organization with a record of 18 wins, three losses.

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Government auditors said the amount was supposed to ensure there was sufficient food supply in the country.

“The procurement shortfall affected other programs of NFA, such as rice distribution and buffer stocking resulting in higher price of rice, unavailability of NFA rice in the market and lower inventory of rice in various NFA warehouses,” CoA said.

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to neighboring countries of Southeast Asia or the Korean Peninsula where trade and consumption of pork products is also high,” it added.

China reported its first case of the disease in northeast Liaoning province earlier this month.

Last week, the eastern city of Lianyungang announced it had culled 14,500 pigs in an attempt to check the disease’s spread.

“The movement of pig products can spread diseases quickly and, as in this case of African swine fever, it’s likely that the movement of such products, rather than live pigs, has caused the spread of the virus to other parts of China,” explained Juan Lu-

broth, FAO’s chief veterinarian.

African swine fever is not harmful to humans but causes haemorrhagic fever in domesticated pigs and wild boar that almost always ends in death within a few days.

There is no antidote or vaccine, and the only known method to prevent the disease from spreading is a mass cull of the infected livestock.

In a report to the World Organization for Animal Health, Beijing said an emergency plan had been launched and control measures taken to halt the spread of the disease.

The FAO warned in May of the risk of the spread of African swine fever from Russia.

Around half of the world’s pigs are raised in China, and the Chinese are the biggest consumers of pork per capita, according to the FAO. AFP

At first, Cayetano said, he thought Alejano had just been given a bum steer when the latter earlier claimed that the administration had allegedly ordered the military not to patrol the disputed West Philippine Sea. But with Alejano’s latest claim about Duterte’s coming trip to Israel next week, he said he was now convinced that Alejano had become a “purveyor of fake news.”

“First and foremost, in a state visit every move you make is monitored. So whether a doctor goes to him or he goes to a hospital, you cannot keep that a secret,” Cayetano said.

He rejected Alejano’s apparent “disclosure” that Duterte would go to Israel to seek medical treatment.

With Nat Mariano

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To resolve the budget impasse, the Executive department and the House agreed to adopt a “hybrid” budgeting system that is a mix of the cash-based scheme and the current obligationbased system.

The cash-based budgeting system limits appropriations, bidding, completion of projects and payments within a single year and the first three months of the following year.

Under the present obligation-based budgeting, the government can spread out the appropriations across two years or

Rody takes new swipe at critics

By Nat Mariano and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not obliged to give in to the demands of anyone, Malacañang said Friday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the remark following Duterte’s challenge to opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to take an intelligence quotient test after the President belittled his intellect.

“Perhaps he should begin with the test on sanity before we even talk about IQ,” Roque said.

He said Trillanes should undergo psychological testing as the IQ test was “premature.”

In other developments: • Two opposition lawmakers said Tuesday the state of health of Duterte was a serious matter and “a matter of public interest.”

“Joking about your state of health is not fair to the Filipino public you serve,” Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said.

“It is a serious matter that requires a clear and straightforward answer to allay the worries of the public.”

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said the President’s state of health “is a major cause of concern and worry for Filipinos.”

“President Duterte himself admitted that he is in eternal pain and thus the country is painfully suffering with him,” Villarin said.

“While he may dismiss this as a normal state of health, it is a major cause of concern and worry to Filipinos.”

But an administration ally, Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, said he believed Duterte was in the pink of health.

• Following the recent statements of Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison calling President Rodrigo Duterte “the number 1 enemy of the Philippine state,” the Palace said Sison’s latest pronouncements were part of his delusions.

“That’s part of the delusions of Joma Sison. It cannot be anything other than delusion,” Roque told reporters.

“He is ten thousand miles away—how would he know what’s in the mind of our senior military officials? Dream on, Joma Sison.”

Roque earlier said Trillanes’ challenge does not contribute to the debate on public issues.

“His statements do not have additional contribution with the debate on public issues,” Roque said in a radio interview.

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From A1 “The galunggong from China doesn’t have chinky eyes. That’s the same galunggongs swimming in the waters that we share with these countries, they just catch it.

What’s the problem with that?” Pinol added.

The agriculture chief also allayed fears that galunggong currently available in local markets were laced with formalin, saying traces of formaldehyde in fish did not necessarily mean that it had embalming fluid, which makes it appear fresh.

But in yesterday’s Senate hearing of the agriculture and food committee, Villar reminded officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that importing galunggong is illegal, and warned that this could amount to smuggling since the country had no previous shortage of round scad.

“You said there’s formalin in round scad fish. Let’s just eat vegetables. I can’t understand who to believe anymore. Better safe than sorry, let’s just not eat round scad fish,” said the senator, who chairs the committee.

Sammy Malvas, BFAR deputy director for administrative services, said the country is importing galunggong for “canning” and “processing.” But when Villar asked him to provide examples of such products, Malvas only said “tinapa” or smoked fish, leading to a firm rebuke from the senator.

“I’ve never heard of that importation to make it into smoked fish. Why are you importing galunggong when there’s no.... It’s not allowed under the law unless there’s a shortage of fish. Why import? It is against the law. That’s smuggling,” Villar said.

“You are just saying that you are importing for processing but you are really importing it for the wet market. We should not be importing for wet markets,” she added.

To solve the apparent fish shortage, the DA is helping increase production in fish pens, Piñol said. more to allow the completion of projects.

The House and the Executive agreed to extend the implementation of projects to 18 months from 15 months that the Budget department proposed initially.

Andaya said the Budget department agreed to restore some of the budget cuts in social services, particularly in health and education and even public works.

“A part of it will be restored. We have agreed that it [the budget for social services] is insufficient,” Andaya said.

He said the funding could come either from unprogrammed funds or a supplemental budget that might be filed later on.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

File a writ of amparo, Palace tells Fr. Picardal

By Nat Mariano and Ronald O. Reyes MALACAÑANG urged Tuesday Roman Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Amado Picardal to file a writ of amparo to prove that there are basis for his fears amid his claims that his life is in danger.

“His remedy is to file a writ for amparo with the Supreme Court or any court. It can be filed even in the lower courts and it will be acted upon expeditiously,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in a Palace press briefing Tuesday afternoon.

“So, to Fr. [Picardal], stop declaring that there’s a threat in your life. Use the legal remedy, it’s the writ of amparo.

That’s easy to get, you will be given protection if such threat to your life is evident,” he added.

Picardal, an outspoken critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, said Monday that he went into a “more secure location” following reports of motorcycle-riding men observing the Catholic monastery in Cebu that he regularly visits.

“I couldn’t go out for biking, running, walking due to security concerns,” Picardal said.

“I have left my hermitage in the mountain and transferred to a more secure location to continue my life as a hermit far away out of reach from the death squad,” he added.

Picardal shared that the monastery gardener was approached by two unidentified individuals who asked of his whereabouts. He even said that the security aides reported that six men on motorcycles had watched the compound’s entrance on Aug. 11.

“I am ready to accept martyrdom if they catch up with me, but I do not seek it nor do I make myself an easy target,” Picardal said.

“Thus, I have decided to temporarily vacate my hermitage up in the mountain and continue to spend my life of silence, solitude, prayer, and writing in a more secure location. I will continue to speak out against evil in society through my writings and will fast and pray that the Lord will deliver us from evil,” he added.

The 63-year-old priest, who confessed that he helped document the Duterte administration’s alleged extrajudicial killings, said he would still criticize Duterte’s crackdown on drugs despite the threats he received.

Picardal said he also changed his routine the past two weeks.

In his blog post, Picardal recalled that Aug. 6 and 11, he learned from their gardener and security guard at Redemptorist Monastery in Cebu that unidentified men wearing full-faced helmets were looking for him in the area.

Picardal, who is also a martial law victim, said it was good for him that he did not step outside the monastery when the motor-riding men waited between 5 pm to 6 pm in those times.

Since his retirement in 2017, Picardal chose to live a hermit-life of prayer and silence on top of the mountain overlooking the Cebu City and twice a month he would go down to bond with his fellow priests, check his social media accounts, get his food supplies and visit a coffee shop before heading for a dinner.

“At first, I didn’t realize this routine would put my life at risk,” said Picardal.

HIGH PRICES. There’s high prices everywhere as shown in this ‘Pamilihang Bayan’ in Sampaloc, Manila. Sonny Espiritu

LTFRB starts distributing ‘Pantawid Pasada’ fuel cards

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HE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has started the distribution of Pantawid Pasada fuel voucher cards to public utility jeepney drivers and operators in its regional offices nationwide Tuesday.

The program aims to mitigate the impact of the recent series of oil price increases and higher excise taxes due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. A lump sum subsidy of P5,000 will be provided to 179,852 legitimate PUJ franchise holders until the end of 2018, according to the LTFRB. “Pantawid Pasada is a social mitigating measure under the TRAIN Law. LTFRB is the one in charge of implementing this,” LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said in a radio interview.

The LTFRB launched the distribution of the Pantawid Pasada cards last June 17 in Metro Manila.

The board will be initially distributing the fuel voucher cards to PUJ drivers and operators in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, and Soccsksargen.

“Sa ngayon, out of 9 regions, almost 47,000 units ang maibibigay ng fuel

cards (Out of the 9 regions, we aim to distribute fuel cards to almost 47,000 jeepney units),” Delgra said.

The Department of Transportation, LTFRB, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Energy, and the Land Bank of the Philippines have signed a joint memorandum circular on the fuel subsidy program last July 11.

According to the guidelines, Pantawid Pasada cards will be provided to the beneficiaries and processed by the LBP. The beneficiaries will have to sign a deed of undertaking that the voucher cards will only be used for purchases of petroleum products at gasoline stations.

Each fuel card contains the following information: Complete name of franchise holder, plate number of the PUJ, region where the franchise was registered and card number.

Drivers and operators need only to present a government-issued ID and its photocopy in order to avail of the fuel subsidies. The Landbank will issue the

card once their names are verified on the master list issued by the LTFRB. A budget of P977 million will be allocated to the fuel subsidy program for its implementation this year. Around P3.86 billion will be allocated to provide a P20,515 yearly subsidy.

The fuel subsidies will cover the incremental increases of the excise tax on diesel under the TRAIN Law. Meanwhile, detained opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima on Tuesday sought an inquiry into the failure of the beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) under the conditional cash transfer scheme to receive their cash grants that are supposed to assist them with their health, education and other basic needs.

De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 850 directing the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, which she chairs, to inquire into the P1.323-billion unwithdrawn amount of the 4Ps for a period ranging from 30 to 2,190 days after payout.

“It is imperative that the government continues to deliver an effective social welfare program and social protection mitigating mechanisms helping the poorest and marginalized households by ensuring that the funds intended for CCT are given to beneficiaries who truly need them,” she said.

‘TRAIN 2 creates uncertainty for existing and new investors’

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. on Tuesday expressed concern on the impact of the proposed 25-percent corporate income tax as part of the second package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN 2) to the country’s competitiveness as an investment haven in the region.

In a 38-page position paper, the AmCham said that while it is not opposed to a proposal to exact 25 percent corporate income tax, it would prefer the 20 percent, as proposed in House Bill 7458.

The American business group warned that implementing a 25 percent CIT

will create uncertainty for existing and new investors as the measure will result to reduced revenues and job losses on a large scale as a result of damaged investor confidence.

The AmCham said as the country moves forward to becoming an advanced nation by 2040, the country’s tax regime should ensure that growth is sustained and that new wealth is inclusively distributed to all Filipinos.

The group noted that a 20 percent CIT rate would be close to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations average, and these countries have more inclusive economies than the Philippines, as measured by levels of poverty.

“A rate of 25 percent will not give the Philippines a significant advantage in comparison to other countries. Foreign

firms will still find the 25 percent CIT tax rate a deterring factor when comparing the Philippines to other investment locations,” AmCham’s position paper said.

However, the group said that a staggered reduction to 20 percent also protects against a potential decrease by Indonesia of its 25 percent CIT, which would leave the Philippines still the highest of the Asean-6 if its rate is only 25 percent.

“Congress may wish to consider passing the CIT reform separately from FIR (Fiscal Incentives Rationalization). Given the long history of delayed legislation of any FIR reform and the importance of reducing the current high CIT of 30 percent, the Congress should consider a separate bill to reduce the CIT effective Jan. 1, 2019,” AmCham said.

Military backs Du30 call vs terrorists

By Francisco Tuyay THE military has rallied behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to kill all terrorists and its tentacles.

“We all want to end terrorism the soonest possible time because it has stunted the growth of our country and prevented most communities to enjoy peace and development,” said Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command.

On Monday, President Duterte has given the military marching orders to destroy and kill extremists and terrorist group in the country, particularly those subscribed to the ideologies of the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

Besana said the military has enough troops on the ground to confront terrorist groups capitalizing of a new strategy based on the current campaign plan emanating from the AFP hierarchy.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the estimated strength of the terrorist

operating in Mindanao numbers to about 100 and 35 Abu Sayyaf bandits in Jolo and Basilan, respectively.

He said the terrorist ranks has significantly decreased, since most of them died in last year’s Marawi City battle, while others were killed in various encounters with security forces in Sulu and Basilan, and some had already surrendered.

Close to a thousand terrorists, including foreign Islamists who invaded Marawi City and wrecked havoc on the city were reportedly killed during the five months of fighting with security forces in May 23 last year.

Lorenzana said the ASG presently are still holding nine hostages, including foreign nationals, but most of them are new victims held for more than two years.

Aside from the ASG, Lorenzana said some 100 to 150 Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters continue to operate in Central Mindanao which are relentlessly hunted by army forces.

LGBTQ RALLY. Supporters of the LGBTQ community stage a rally in front of

the Senate to urge the senators to end the period of interpellations and hasten the approval of the Sogie Equality Bill which aims to protect Filipinos from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Lino Santos

Du30 loyal supporter named as new NYC chair PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Duterte Youth Movement national chairman Ronald Gian Cardema as the new chairman of the National Youth Commission.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced his appointment in a Palace press briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Cardema, who replaced Ice Seguerra, served as the NYC officer-in-charge when the singer and noontime host resigned last March, citing personal reasons as an explanation for the resignation.

Upon his stint as the OIC, Cardema cut the commission’s 15-year partnership with the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards, co-organized by the office of Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV. According to Cardema, the commission would rather spend the fund for the TAYO Awards to a new set of awards called as the “President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Youth Leadership Awards.”

The new NYC chief has already expressed his support for the return of the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps, mandatory Citizenship Advancement Training for high school students, and even mandatory scouting for elementary school students.

Cardema, a confessed military youth leader, pushes for the return of the military conscription as he eyes to strengthen the reserve force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

NYC shifted its focus from pushing for military-related activities than spreading awareness on HIV and AIDS which Seguerra previously tackled during her term.

Last April, Cardema said the commission would not put the same level of priority on issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

“We are the National Youth Commission, not an LGBT commission. We are here to serve the tens of millions of Filipino youth, not only a specific sector within that big youthful population,” the military youth leader said.

Cardema, the secretary general of the Tapang & Malasakit Alliance for Luzon, is a passionate supporter of Duterte during the 2016 presidential elections.

The new NYC chief made headlines during an encounter with the administration’s critic Jim Paredes in a protest commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution in February 2017.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The anomaly in government advertisements corporate counsel saw that some lawyers were getting what the CoA had flagged down as excessive allowances, some of these lawyers started a demolition campaign against him.

THE recent scandals involving former Because of these excessive allowancTourism secretary Wanda Teo and her es, the President’s war on corruption brothers have opened a can of worms becomes a mockery! about the practice of government agen*** cies placing advertisements in media.

The recent mess at the Ninoy Aquino Every now and then we see place- International Airport is definitely a ments, paid for by public funds. Has the wake-up call. Proposals to make Clark Commission on Audit looked into how International Airport the main gateway the billions of pesos are spent? Obvi- to the Philippines should be considered. ously not!

People are asking if Naia is still viable.

Why do government agencies have to Should Naia be closed down? advertise when they are not even sellI believe it has become obsolete. ing anything?

Look at what happened when a XiaSpecifically, why should the Tour- men Air plane skidded off the runway. ism department advertise in a govern- Many flights were affected. ment-owned station like PTV 4 when It’s true that there is a proposal to the communications office has its own rebuild Naia and perhaps have another budget under the General Appropria- runway. In the meantime, this is what tions Act? foreigners have as In the case of a first impression Teo and her brothof our country. ers, placing an ad From my point on PTV 4 through of view, the govWhy advertise the Tulfos’ proernment should gram was clearly when they do not sell fast track the San a conflict of inter- anything?

Miguel Bulacan est. It was anomaproject, a $15-billous, especially lion aerotropolis when it was disthat would be located on 2,500 covered that the brothers’ program was 37th insofar as hectares of flatland. This is a proposal by audience share is concerned.

San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang. Since the Presidential CommunicaThis project has already been aptions Operations Office has control proved by the National Economic and over the Tulfo program, it would be Development Authority. So what is the logical to say that Secretary Martin government doing?

Andanar should also be held responsiThere are multiple advantages to this ble for the misuse of DoT funds. airport. There will be more jobs. Even It would be the height of stupidity OFWs can be lured to return home and and incompetence if Andanar were un- find work here. Access will be easy and aware of the very clear conflict there. fast. Most of all, the world will know *** that the Philippines is improving its inPresident Duterte said corruption has frastructure. contaminated every agency. Newly apOur neighbors in Southeast Asia all pointed Ombudsman Samuel Martires have great airports. I say it’s about time should dig deeper into the excessive we caught up. allowances received by lawyers in the *** Office of the Government Corporate I often ask myself if I made the right Counsel and also by lawyers of the So- decision in being a journalist. I could licitor General himself. have been a banker, or an entrepreThere is an existing law that allow- neur, too. ances of government lawyers should But then I realize I have no regrets, even not exceed half of their annual salaries. if this profession did not make me rich.

Thus, when a former government Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

The drug war’s other front

M

UCH has been said about the government’s anti-drug war, which has claimed the lives of thousands of drug suspects.

The high death toll has alarmed human rights groups, but President Rodrigo Duterte clearly sees this as a necessary consequence of protecting non-drug users from pushers and addicts and their criminal ways.

But data from the Justice department and the Supreme Court show that the government is losing the drug war on another key front—the courts.

Records from the National Prosecution Service show that the number of drug cases that prosecutors filed has shot up almost ten-fold, from only 7,675 in 2009 to 70,706 in 2017, Rappler reported.

But from 2016 to 2017, only about half of these cases ended with a conviction—50.2 percent

in 2016 and 52.5 percent in 2017.

This compares poorly with the prosecution success rate for other crimes—rebellion and violations of intellectual property rights at 100 percent, illegal gambling at 96.3 percent, murder at 86.6 percent, robbery at 86.5 percent and homicide at 85.4 percent.

Just as troubling, courts dismissed 5,720 out of 70,706 drug cases outright, or about 7.4 percent of all those filed.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says often, the reasons are technical, such as failure to observe procedural requirements, including those on the chain of custody of seized drugs.

In an interview with the Judicial and Bar Council, Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta admitted that the courts cannot keep up with the volume of drug cases. “We are failing in drug cases,” he said.

“It is humanly impossible to come up with a termination of a criminal case when you start the

counting of period from the filing of information.”

Peralta said when judges schedule trial dates when respondents are arraigned, they schedule six to seven cases for hearing on the same day, when they can actually only hear three.

In 2016, ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno assigned hundreds of drug courts in response to the war on drugs.

The low rate at which drug suspects are convicted, however, gives us pause to wonder if this was the correct way to go. Certainly, more action is required, perhaps in terms of better training for judges and prosecutors and a review of speedy trial rules in drug-related cases.

Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, who only has less than two months in office, may not be able to do too much in the time left to her, but she can still initiate discussions on reforms that would bolster this vulnerable front in the war on drugs.

Why not planes from the US? buying second-hand planes and helicopters at astronomical prices.

God, what a country!

Last Monday on the occasion of National Heroes Day, President Duterte ALEJANDRO extolled the sacrifice and virtues of DEL ROSARIO Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and the THE United States wants to sell jet Del Pilars.

Alas, in our present state of affairs, fighters to the Philippines but President Rodrigo Duterte rejected the of- the Philippines is really a country befer. Why? If the President diversified reft of heroes. Except for weightlifter our foreign policy and distanced the Hidilyn Diaz, boxing icon Manny Paccountry from traditional ally the US, quiao and our overseas Filipino workwhy not also diversify our purchase of ers who toil in foreign lands under the worst working conditions, we cannot defense equipment?

Anyone with a sense of geopolitics think of anyone as heroes under the knows that a strong air force is the key present circumstances. Certainly not to every nation’s defense capability. from the political sector.

There are few who manage to perSouth Korea and Taiwan have the most modern fleet of aircraft in Asia sup- form their duties as the Opposition plied by the US defense department. fiscalizing flawed government policies and decisions. To This is why China them we take our cannot bully them hats off. into submission Just desserts, despite its massive just rewards People’s LiberaDo we have an air The appointtion Army. ment of Teresita A strong air force force or an air farce?

Leonardo de Caswith a lightningtro as chief justice strike capability of the Supreme is also the reason Court is drawing why Israel is able to ward off an attack by hostile neigh- mixed reactions from several sectors. I bors in the Middle East. Egypt, Jordan am not including my own opinion as I and Iran learned this in the Six-Day War might be cited for contempt of court by which they lost when they combined the chief magistrate.

Instead I will quote those who are forces against the Jewish state.

In the Philippine, the old running more qualified and have parliamentary joke is that what we have is not an air immunity from legal consequences to force but an air farce. That joke still express their views. The most telling has currency as seen in our subservi- and cogent question being raised is why ent stance towards an aggressive China appoint De Castro who will only serve who wants to lord it over in the region. 42 days because she will soon retire.

There are concerns that what the What can she accomplish in 42 days?

Will De Castro receive retirement US would be selling us are old fighter planes with spare parts already hard to pay and government benefits as Chief supply. But we have a defense depart- Justice even if she will only serve 42 ment which can check the equipment. days? That’s a lot of taxpayers’ money The problem is that our military and for so short a stint. police officials have a track record of Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

The CJ and the judiciary crisis VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ TERESITA Leonardo de Castro began yesterday her short stint as the second woman chief justice of the Philippines.

A UP Law graduate 1972, she will serve only for a total of 42 days, from Aug. 28, 2018 when she took her oath before the Supreme Court en banc, until Oct. 8, 2018 when she turns 70.

A mix of joy, optimism, and anxiety

I cannot imagine why a serious lawyer would want to be a justice of the Supreme Court. Working there is punishment.

has greeted Chief de Castro’s ascendancy to being the highest magistrate of the land.

Joy and optimism for four reasons: One, President Duterte seems to have restored the rule of seniority in appointing a chief justice (the President says he never talked to de Castro, does not know her, and that he based his appointment purely on seniority and not exactly on brilliance of the appointee or some other consideration); two, de Castro is eminently qualified to be chief justice; three, her colleagues in the high Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

Moving on, building a nation CROSSROADS

JONATHAN A. DE LA CRUZ (Part 1) A WEEK ago, seven of us members of Ateneo de Manila HS Class ‘68/College ‘72 went to Hong Kong with our wives to visit our classmate, Dr. Eli Remolona, who is retiring this October after serving for six years as Representative for the Asia-Pacific Region of the Bank of International Settlements based in that city.

Who would have thought that Eli, economics major, editor of Heights, the college literary magazine, and part-time activist in the heady days of the First Quarter Storm would represent that agency? He moved on. Not without struggling to keep on track and be relevant.

For those who have not heard of BIS, it is considered the “Bank of Central Banks”—the institution which monitors and ensures the health of the world’s financial system gleaned through the work and performance of each country’s central bank. Representing it in the world’s most dynamic economic zone is a dream, a prized position by any reckoning. That it is held for the first time by a Filipino and our classmate at that made us proud.

He really moved on, like those of our generation, to take our places in the world. Some to greater heights like Eli, others to zones unknown. Still others to the great beyond remembered only for their deeds. But that is going ahead of our story.

Eli, like most of us barely out of high school, engaged the times, in those days of the FQS struggle. He dreamed as we all did of changing the world, of building a new nation decades after thedevastation of the Second World War. We dreamed of a country freed from the clutches of an entrenched oligarchy which is wedded to America and its allies at the height of the Cold War. We all yearned to build an independent, democratic, progressive and inclusive country and were in search of the best way to do that. There were discussion groups, immersions and street protests as many students opted to “learn from the masses.” Not dictate their way to a better life. Eli, like all of us, made our choices. And we moved on.

For sometime, the Ateneo, like all exclusive schools, was in a world of its own. Far from the maddening crowd, promoting another learning system.

The CJ...

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court welcomed her appointment as CJ (unlike the unlamented Maria Lourdes Sereno whose becoming chief justice despite being the most junior and the least experienced justice was vastly resented by the judiciary, not just in the Supreme Court); and four, finally, the Supreme Court can now move on for greater things after the judicial nightmare that was Sereno.

Why anxiety? For one, De Castro will serve for barely 42 days. Just what a chief of six weeks or three paydays can do?

The judiciary, which the Supreme Court administers, is widely perceived as slow-moving, incompetent and corrupt. Such notoriety partly explains why the Philippines ranks poorly among 190 countries in ease of doing business. There is no rule of law. There is impunity by the high, the mighty, and the lawless.

In the high court itself, some justices are better known as businessmen than jurists. Some know “sociology” better than the law. You know sociology—as in “sosyo”—“sosyo sa negosyo” or a business partner with whom one can cut a deal.

Among the three branches of government, the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary, the judiciary has the lowest trust rating and the highest distrust rating.

In its June 15-21, 2018 survey, Pulse Asia found 61 percent of its respondents had trust in the Senate (not exactly the best Senate in our history), 58 percent in the House of Representatives, and 54 percent in the Supreme Court. In terms of

The anomaly...

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I am consoled by what the Bible says about rich people. “It’s much easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven.”

Being a lawyer I could have joined prestigious law offices and earned a lot of money.

But no, I chose to be a periodista.

The elite—burgis as the radicals termed it—away from the streets into the classrooms and the usual activity centers. In time, triggered by the excesses of the times and of its own crowd (remember the Lopez anniversary celebrations with champagne flowing from the fountain of the clan’s mansion along Roxas Boulevard?) and egged by the seminal “Down from the Hill” manifesto urging the Jesuits and their students to go down from their ivory tower, the Ateneo introduced its own offering with Lakasdiwa, a movement for change led by then scholastic Ed Garcia. A good number joined the Garcia led movement. Others opted for more radical, faster ways to “change the world.”

Indeed, this trip was like no other.

At once nostalgic and hopeful.

We even had a sense of foreboding as we reminisced about our years together. How we have been, how life has treated us and what kind of country we have helped build. We had time

We all made our choices.

to look back, to remember the loss of innocence and the impact of the realities on the ground after stepping out of the Loyola campus. Sadly, we also came to regret the loss of young lives, classmates all, like Ferdie Arceo, Bill Begg, Sonny Hizon and Jun Celestial, among others, who opted early on to take our long-held dream of building a new nation to new, more perilous heights quite apart from those taken by most of us on this trip.

Those were times of great challenges and expectations. It was a time ripe with questions about what we wanted to be and what kind of nation we would like to have. It was a time of hard choices. There were those who took to the streets, the barricades and quite a number, like the heroes of our class, who took up arms to express indignation over the widespread poverty and the growing class divide.

Yes, we looked back and talked about our experiences during that period. It was a time of upheaval, of cries for change, of serious introspection as the country moved through uncertain times. Nobody was exempt from the pulls of contending forces and initiatives. We heaved a sigh of relief for surviving those years, finished school, started careers and families and retired

to reminisce and share. We were definitely saddened by the loss of friends and classmates who had opted to take the call for change to the highest levels and paid with their lives. We prayed for them as we now pray for all of us left to pick up the pieces. We moved on, had careers and families, retired and retiring but somehow, through our own ways and in this, the fourth quarter of our lives, still hunger to move forward and help build the nation of our dreams.

Are we cursing the Marcoses and their allies for what we have become?

Are we indignant that Governor Imee Marcos has called on their critics and the country as a whole to move on— out of the martial law, Yellow vs Red, them-vs-us syndrome—and into the future and the challenges and opportunities the wider world has to offer? Do we want to be caught in that time trap narrative where the real Filipino nation only came to being in 1986 after the ouster of the Marcos regime and the all too clean, democratic and inclusive Aquino regime came in? No, Sir. All of us on this trip held no such grudges.

We did not make our choices based on the personalities of that time. We made our choices based on what we believed then as the way to make ourselves whole and our country a better place to live in. We struggled. We raised our fists against the Marcos regime and the ruling class it represented. We did not hold it against that regime the loss of our classmates’ lives or the detention of quite a number of others. We challenged, we cursed the expulsion of some of us from the Ateneo. We nursed our wounds from the street clashes with security forces. We fought and lost. But we moved on.

In fact, of the seven classmates on this trip, three were deep in the national democratic struggle. Lito Bauza, an Atenean through and through was also with Eli editing the Heights, which they Filipinized no end. He ended up, organizing with now National Artists Bien Lumbera and Virgilio Almario and renowned culturati Nic Tiongson and Badong Bernal, the first ever plays, writings and musicals exposing the povert, squalor and the ruins left by the country’s yawning class divide.

Lito is now a dual citizen, a successful entrepreneur living in Canada six months of the year. He moved on and wants to arrange more plays, write more books and arrange exchanges between the younger Fil-Canadians and their counterparts in the Philippines the better to learn the more about the real Philippines and appreciate the struggles and triumphs not just the divisions engendered by the one sided Edsa narrative. (To be continued)

distrust, 6 percent distrust the Senate, a similar 6 percent distrust the House, and 7 percent the Supreme Court.

Distrust in the Supreme Court is highest among the regions, in Metro Manila, 10 percent of respondents (11 for the Senate and 8 for the House in the National Capital Region); among the three main islands, in the Visayas, 9 percent (5 for the Senate and 6 for the House), and among all income classes, in the elite ABC class, 12 percent (11 Senate, 9 House).

Among the four highest officials of the land, then Chief Justice Sereno had the highest distrust rating—35 percent.

President Duterte had a distrust rating of a minuscule 2 percent; then Senate President Koko Pimentel 6 percent, and then House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, 15 percent. Next highest in distrust rating (after Sereno)—Vice President Leni Robredo, with 17 percent.

How come our people trust more the men than their women leaders despite the men being certified SOBs? How come the best educated, best prepared, most qualified, and most experienced branch of government is the least trusted institution? In this country no one can practice law without finishing law and passing the bar, while you can have a completely illiterate, inveterate dropout and even a certified grafter/womanizer for president, vice president, Senate president, and House speaker.

The answer to this puzzle lies in the slow pace of justice in the Philippines.

The Supreme Court itself is the biggest violator of the dictum of “justice delayed is justice denied.”

The Supreme Court has a disposition rate of only 39 percent—5,685 cases out of total case load 14,411pending. That is

not enough. Some 6,564 new cases were filed in 2017, outnumbering the cases, 5,685, decided, for a net addition of 879 cases per year. At this pace, the SC cannot clear is caseload of 14,411. SC’s target disposal rate, 5,860 is far less than new cases filed, 6,564 per year, meaning a case could sleep in the court forever.

Ideally, a case should average just two and a half years before decision day.

I cannot imagine why a serious lawyer of note would want to be a justice of the SC. Working there is punishment.

Case load per justice—476, and rising.

Even if a justice were to work every day for 365 days, he would still end up with a backlog of 111 each year. A chief justice makes only P2.8 million a year, regularly.

The Court of Appeals has a disposition rate of 43 percent—14,179 cases out of 32,903 pending. There is some progress here. Some 13,006 new cases were filed, 1,173 cases fewer than those decided.

The Court of Tax Appeals has a disposition rate of 28 percent—502 cases disposed out of 1,786 pending. About 475 new tax cases are filed very year with the CTA. The Regional Trial Courts have the lowest disposition rate—26 percent, or 229,627 cases decided out of 872,259 pending. The 229,627 decided cases is below the 253,390 cases filed per year.

The Philippines has more than 30,000 lawyers. It also has more than 15,000 laws. Two lawyers per law.

But half of the licensed lawyers do not practice law. Perhaps, out of sense of delicadeza? I mean there are better ways of making money than slowing down the wheels of justice.

My consolation is that somehow I have made a difference, no matter how small, in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.

I used to be business editor of the Philippines Herald, before joining Kanlaon Broadcasting System just before martial law was proclaimed.

I quit KBS after the Ninoy Aquino assassination and tried my luck as partner of Dizon Paculdo Jurado and Vitug Law Offices. Somehow something was amiss. I longed to be

a journalist.

Thus, when my good friend Press Secretary Rod Reyes invited me to join him in founding Manila Standard, I did. Our first issue came out on Feb. 12, 1987.

I have been with this newspaper since and I will pound on my typewriter until I write “30.”

No regrets, indeed—and all these will be in my memoirs.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

www.emiljurado.weebly.com

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Make it simple The present Pagcor management is already devolving their previous operation of casinos in favor of privately-run but government-regulated enterprises. And LITO earning much more in the process.

BANAYO *** That is the same argument behind OUR congratulations to the newly ap- getting the National Food Authority out pointed Chief Justice, Teresita Leonar- of commercial operations. A GOCC do de Castro, whose experience in the should not be both market regulator and market player. The huge indebtedness bench has been quite extensive.

One of the criticisms leveled at her of the NFA is testament to the folly of appointment is that she will be retir- government being in business for itself.

It buys palay at 17 pesos per kilo, lowing in October 8 this year, and will thus serve for just 41 days. Those who criti- er than what the private sector offers our cize on this ground forget that Presi- farmers ( at last PSA reckoning, already dent Corazon C. Aquino appointed As- P22.28 per kilo of palay, national aversociate Justice Pedro Yap of Cebu, who age) so how could it make a dent in the served for just a bit longer, 72 days, market? At P17 per kilo, the rice equivafrom April 19, 1998 to June 30 of the lent should sell for P34 minimum, just to same year when the jurist reached the break even, but NFA sells at P27 pesos. mandatory 70 years age of retirement. The losses merely pile up.

There was a time when Imelda MarDe Castro’s abbreviated stint as head of the highest tribunal is not exactly cos ordered the NFA to put up Kadiwa stores to retail not just rice, but fish, without precedent. poultry and vegetables as well, and *** Two weeks back, the former tourism make these more affordable for the secretary, in a television interview felt urban poor. Since it was martial law, insulted that she was being questioned nobody could say no, even if NFA manby the Commission on Audit for order- agers knew from the start that the vening the withdrawal of some goods from ture would be a losing proposition. Bad Duty-Free Philippines, a GOCC at- economics, but good political optics.

All these, however, create inefficientached to her department.

She denied taking goods that do not cies that cost the government a lot of fit “her style” as she was used to trave- wasted money. That’s taxpayer money. *** ling even before Speaking of her appointment, cost-ineffectiveand would buy real ness, let me go to designer items. another “service” She in fact chided Leave business to the that government her Duty Free proclaims to be manager about the private sector. illegal, but cannot less-than-acceptcontain—jueteng. able brands they Instead of popurveyed, because licemen being let the Chinese tourloose apprehending “cabos” and “cobists prefer expensive designer labels.

She was right. You see hordes of Chi- radores,” and then getting loose change nese tourists line up in the Louis Vuit- from the jueteng lords to release them ton and Gucci stores in Hong Kong, or and turn a blind eye to “illegal” gambuy every Dior or Channel they could bling, why not just legalize it and let get their hands on at the Galleries La- government earn from this centuriesfayette in Paris. The former tourism old numbers game?

Mine is a simple proposal. secretary does not see these in our Each year, at an appointed time, a nashoddy-looking displays at the international government official designated tional airport terminals.

But then again, isn’t it about time our for the purpose, along with the mayor of duty free stores are privatized? This a municipality, in full view of the city is retail business, and pray tell, how council and media, would bid out the could government appointees properly annual rights to operating jueteng in the manage retail, let alone any business defined territory. A floor price is set, endeavor, with CoA and bureaucratic say, P50 million for the annual jueteng procedures hampering quick and effec- rights in San Pablo or San Fernando.

If the highest bid is for P60 million, tive management?

Leave business, especially retail the winner gets the right to operate business, to the private sector. Lease jueteng for the year. Thirty million is the rights for a fee, collect rent from paid up-front; the balance in monthly or airports where duty free outlets are lo- quarterly payments to the municipality.

The national government gets the 50 cated, but do not run the business. percent front payment; the municipal*** There is Nayong Pilipino, whose en- ity collects the installments for its own tire board was sacked recently because account.

You can just imagine how much it allegedly leased prime real estate “for a song” to a gaming firm whose chair- money government will earn, both loman was two weeks later arrested in cal and national. No raids by the police Cambodia on the behest of China for who should be running after criminals big and petty, and keeping peace supposed involvement in corruption.

What do we need a Nayong Pilipino and order. No “intelihensya” or bribes for? What we used to have beside the needed to grease politicians’ and generairport were outmoded mock-ups of als’ palms for “protection”. The cabos Philippine tourist destinations. But and cobradores become legit; they can in this day and age, who would pose even sport IDs for all the police care. for a photo with a squat, concrete Mt. And the collections can be earmarked Mayon, when the volcano in all its won- for social purposes. As for the pennydrous glory can be seen on video walls ante gamblers, why the hell should we “save” them from their vice? or even giant tarps?

There should be a cardinal rule in All that Nayong Pilipino Foundation has is real estate. So abolish the founda- governance: Make it simple.

Give government officials and bution and transfer the real estate to other government agencies, like the BCDA reaucrats very little discretion. The more discretion, the greater the graft. or MIAA. Simple.

The more discretion, the more manage*** The same thing goes for gaming, the ment gets inefficient.

Business is not for government. Cost more polite word for gambling. Regulate gambling for heaven’s sake, but it’s efficiencies require quick though studnot for government to own and run ca- ied decisions, unburdened by bureausinos. Look around us. It’s the privately cratic procedures that enshrine checks run casinos that are being patronized by and balances as be-all and end-all, and high rollers from abroad. Solaire, City of not efficiency or cost-effectiveness.

To repeat: Privatize. Simplify.

Dreams, Resorts World to name a few.

SO I SEE

Why...

From A4

Those who oppose De Castro’s appointment claim that President Duterte knows how to dispense rewards to those who serve him well and loyally.

Foremost of those who oppose De Castro is independent legislator Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay who slammed the appointment as a reward for leading the ouster move against Maria Lourdes Sereno. De Castro gave a scathing testimony against Sereno in a House hearing.

The public vilification of Sereno was then followed by a quo warranto case filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida which sealed Sereno’s removal.

But why did the House judicial committee go along with the quo warranto case instead of forwarding an impeachment complaint to the Senate? Were the Duterte allies in the lower house not confident of their numbers in the Senate.

The number of opposition senators are enough to block Sereno’s conviction..

The Senate would need at least 17 guilty votes to convict the chief magistrate.

The opposition Liberal Party includes Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Paulo “Bam” Aquino, Francis Pangilinan plus independent Senators Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon and Duterte arch critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. They could frustrate a guilty vote on Sereno. That’s seven out of 22 senators. Another LP senator, Leila de Lima, is in detention on because of an alleged crime of drug trafficking in the Bureau of Corrections in Muntiglupa which was then under her direct supervision as justice secretary.

In an ironic twist, Rep. Lagman has filed an impeachment case against De Castro and the two other associate justices—Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin—who also testified against were in the Judicial and Bar Council’s short list of Chief Justices nominees.

News

A6

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Anti-graft court nixes prosecution motion

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division has denied the prosecution plea to make the co-accused of former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay a state witness against her in the case involving the alleged anomalous purchase of furnitures amounting to P72 million.

The anti-graft court’s division, in a 19-page resolution dated Aug. 22, junked the Ombudsman’s motion to discharge the former chief of the Makati General Services Office, Ernesto Aspillaga, from the case and consider him as a state witness against Binay.

Ombudsman prosecutors said they would use Aspillaga as a state witness in light of his testimony at the Senate blue-ribbon sub-committee in September 2014 that no real public bidding was held for the furniture acquisition.

Aspillaga, the prosecutors claimed, would provide direct evidence that Binay ordered the alleged simulated or rigged bidding for the procurement of office partition and furniture worth P72.06 million from Office Gallery International Inc. in 1999 during her incumbency as Makati mayor.

Binay faces trial at the Sandiganbayan in connection with the anomalous purchase of office partitions and furniture worth P70.06 million in 1999 during her tenure as Makati mayor.

Ombudsman prosecutors said Aspillaga would testify the purchase request forwarded to his office had a handwritten note from Binay identifying the winning supplier.

Binay, however, opposed the potential testimony of Aspillaga, saying it was immaterial in the case because during the hearing on the motion, it was revealed that Aspillaga no longer possessed the handwritten note.

Thus, the court ruled that Aspillaga could no longer corroborate the alleged participation of Binay in the transaction.

In addition, the antigraft court said Aspillaga’s testimony in the Senate was not considered as a “corroborating evidence” in court.

“Corroborating evidence in this case has to be additional evidence, other than the testimony of Aspillaga, which will support the latter’s claim that it was accused Binay who dictated upon the procurement and bidding process. Specifically, it has to be evidence relating to the handwritten note and instruction coming from accused Binay,” the court said.

Workplace hazards law now signed

By Joel E. Zurbano A WORKERS organization on Tuesday praised President Rodrigo Duterte for signing into law Republic Act 11058 which provides health needs and safety for laborers, especially working women.

Duterte signed recently RA 11058, or the Act Strenghthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Tuesday thanked and commended Duterte, saying the country’s first ever gender-sensitive workplace health and safety standards finally came.

“We laud Mr. Duterte for mainstreaming the country’s first-ever gender sensitive occupational safety and health standards making the safety and health needs of working women visible and important in the constantly changing world of working conditions. These new OSH standard takes recognition of how working women are very important in building our economy and in building our nation,” said Gerard Seno, national executive vice president of ALU-TUCP. The fifth paragraph of Chapter 1 says: “The State, in protecting the safety and health of the workers, shall promote strict but dynamic, inclusive, and gender-sensitive measures in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs related to occupational safety and health.”

Section 19 mandates all establishments, projects, sites, and all other places where work is being undertaken shall have the following welfare facilities in order to ensure humane working conditions, that “a separate sanitary, washing and sleeping facilities for men and women workers as may be applicable.”

Seno said Filipino women were at risk of physical and psychological violence in and out of the workplace.

Working women particularly those pregnant workers are vulnerable to diverse workplace hazards that affect their health and their reproductive health.

MAGSAYSAY AWARDEES. This year’s Ramon Magsaysay awardees pose for photographers during the press presentation in Manila on Tuesday. (From left): Viel Aquino Dee, representing her father-in- law Howard Dee (Philippines), Sonam Wangchuk (India), Youk Chhang from Cambodia, Vo Thi Hoang Yen (Vietnam), Maria De Lourdes Martins Cruz (Timor Leste), Bharat Vatwani (India). The annual Award is established to perpetuate President Ramon Magsaysay’s ‘example of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.’ Awarding will be on Aug. 31 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Norman Cruz

DFA wants oathtaking fee for dual citizens discarded

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

F

OREIGN Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday the Department of Foreign Affairs was considering junking the $50 (P2,600) oathtaking fee for Filipinos who want to reacquire their Filipino citizenship.

The DFA was addressing a proposal by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who authored a 2003 law on citizenship reacquisition.

“We are considering the comment and proposal of former Senate president Drilon to remove the fee for the oathtaking,” Cayetano said during the DFA’s budget hearing at the Senate.

He referred to an “experiment” by Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe Jones Lhuillier, who, for a month, shouldered the oathtaking fees of overseas Filipinos. He paid for the fee, and the applicants doubled or tripled in number,” Cayetano said.

Meanwhile, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros challenged Cayetano to bare the details of the so-called 50-100 diplomatic

actions his department made against China.

During Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate committee on finance, Hontiveros brought up Cayetano’s earlier claim the Philippines had filed about 50 to 100 diplomatic protests against China.

The opposition senator pressed from Cayetano transparency and integrity in the government’s foreign policy framework and implementation.

It was reported that Cayetano claimed in a congressional hearing that the Philippines had filed 50 to 100 protests and/or diplomatic actions against China over the past two years. However, Cayetano failed to provide details regarding the “diplomatic actions” against China.

“Can the DFA tell us what is the nature of the 50-100 diplomatic actions? How

many were in the form of notes verbal?

How many were diplomatic démarches?”

Hontiveros asked Cayetano.

“Can the DFA give us the exact date and time when these diplomatic actions against China were made? What channels and platforms were used? How many times did the Chinese government responded? What were the nature of China’s diplomatic responses?” Hontiveros added.

Cayetano refused to answer Hontiveros’ questions, saying his office was willing to divulge the details of the “diplomatic actions” only in a closed session.

“Honestly we haven’t counted, but we’re giving you the assurance that each and every incident, we take the appropriate diplomatic actions,” stressed Cayerano.

His answer though did not sit well with Hontiveros, who expressed disbelief that the government did not count its diplomatic protests.

“They asked me to estimate but I explained to them when the President talks to President Xi, that’s a protest,” Cayetano said, referring to China’s President Xi Jinping.

SIGN LANGUAGE.

Senators approve on third and final reading a bill declaring the Filipino Sign Language as an official medium of instruction and mode of communications in the country to promote the rights of deaf persons.

Senate Bill No. 1455, sponsored by Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, was approved with 20 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

Also in the photo are Senators Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Manny Pacquaio and Sonny Angara.

Sonny Espiritu

PCSO, AFP to fortify partnership for victims PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan on Tuesday said the agency would continue to partner with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the smooth delivery of medical assistance to victims of calamities.

Balutan said: “I really appreciate AFP chief General Carlito Galvez Jr. for paying a courtesy call to (sic) PCSO. I didn’t expect him to come to our office and say thank you to all the assistance that PCSO extended to the AFP specially during the Marawi crisis.

“He was then the commanding general of the Western Mindanao Command [Wesmincom] in charge of fighting the Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah and Maute terrorists.”

Balutan, a retired general from the Philippine Marine Corps, belongs to the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983; while Galvez, of the Philippine Army, is a member of PMA “Sandiwa” Class ’85.

For his part, Galvez said the AFPPCSO partnership was not only beneficial to the people who needed immediate medical assistance during time of calamities, but also to soldiers and their dependents during crisis.

Balutan recalled the case of baby Gabe, son of a Scout Ranger officer battling the terrorists in Marawi, who needed immediate operation to save his life.

Balutan said: “I can still vividly remember my long conversation with the junior officer sending all his appeals to me during lull moments in battle asking for financial assistance for his baby boy.

“I’m teary-eyed reading all his messages and prayed hard he will live for his kid and wife who didn’t know he was in Marawi for a very critical and dangerous mission.

“I said yes to all his appeals and assured him to save the life of his baby boy while praying hard also for his safety and his men doing the daring assaults to the wellentrenched positions of the terrorists.”

He said he personally delivered medicines and bottled water worth millions of pesos to the evacuation centers in Marawi and Iligan City during the military campaign against the terrorists, including the donation of a drone that ground troops used to penetrate enemy positions.

Customs turns over P37.3m worth of illegal drugs to PDEA THE Customs bureau has turned over to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency some P37.3 million worth of illegal drugs it earlier seized from the bonded warehouses of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The agency haul consisted of 5,239 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu which were concealed in various items like a baby carrier, camera, finance magazines and bar tools. The contraband were interdicted last May, June, and July respectively.

Aside from shabu, 1,000 pieces of party drugs known as Ecstacy, which was con-

cealed in wooden toys, were seized on July 20, according to Naia Customs District Collector Carmelita Talusan.

The seizures, Talusan said, were due to consistent “reform initiatives and his fivepoint program of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.”

She added some of the seized shabu was intended to be exported to New Zealand. The shabu mostly came from the United States while the Ecstacy came from Germany.

Talusan also noted that a thorough joint knowledge of X-ray scanners and frontlin-

ers also led to effective apprehensions.

Meanwhile, Lapeña said the bureau continued the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte and will continue to ensue vigilance in protecting the borders.

The Customs executive said the continuing apprehension meant that “we are winning the war against drugs.”

Since Aug. 30, 2017, the agency has been very proactive and relentless in its effort to combat the smuggling of illegal drugs.

The bureau was able to intercept an estimated P3.436 billion worth of illegal drugs

and arrested a total of 23 drug personalities.

“The Bureau of Customs is very much on board in the country’s war against drugs and we will exert our efforts to continue protecting our nation and prevent the use of our ports in the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country,” said Lapeña.

Shabu, marijuana and ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug syndicates, according to PDEA. Joel Zurbano

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PH vents ire on Japan, 113-80

By Riera U. Mallari

J

AKARTA —The Philippines vented all of its frustrations on an undermanned Japanese side as it pulled off an emphatic 113-80 victory to assure itself of at least a sixth-place finish in the 2018 Asian Games Basketball Competitions at the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall here Tuesday night.

The 33-point triumph, which arrested the team’s two heartbreaking losses to China and Korea, improved on the Philippines’ previous seventh-place ranking in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

But the Rain or Shine-led Philippine Team ain’t done yet.

It needs to face the winner of the scheduled Syria-Indonesia classifica-

tion match later in the night to get a crack at the no. 5 spot on Friday.

“We are assured of sixth place. But we still have to play one game against winner of Syria and Indonesia. We want to finish our campaign here (with a win), even if we don’t have a medal,” said coach Yeng Guiao.

For the first time in these games, the nationals looked like they were finally

having fun on the court.

They were led by NBA star Jordan Clarkson, who banged in 22 points and added a team-high nine assists, and Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, who frolicked inside with 27 markers and 13 rebounds.

Clarkson will be joining the team until its final game. He planes back to the US immediately after its game on Friday.

From a tight first half, the nationals broke away in the second period with a five-point swing from Standhardinger and a basket from Raymond Almazan, giving the team a 57-47 lead at the half.

They held the Japanese scoreless for over four minutes at the start of the third while scoring 11 to go up by 21

points at 68-47.

Japan, which sent four of its players home for paying prostitutes for sex, closed in to within 15, five times the last 78-93, but the nationals finished even stronger as a Clarkson dun triggered a 10-point explosion that gave them a 103-78 lead.

The scores: Philippines (113)—Standhardinger 27, Clarkson 22, Lee 17, Pringle 9, Belga 7, Almazan 6, Taulava 6, Norwood 5, Ahanmisi 5, Tiu 5, Erram 4.

Japan (80)—Nakamura 16, Kumagae 15, Vendrame 11, Shaefer 11, Ota 10, Harimoto 10, Tsuji 5, Tamaki 2.

Quarters: 27-27; 57-47; 82-64; 11380.

Abueva, Aces cross paths in PBA today

By Jeric Lopez AFTER separating ways weeks ago, Calvin Abueva and Alaska will cross paths for the first time in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Currently tied at the top, the Aces and the Fuel Masters, who both share the leadership with 2-0 starts, figure in an anticipated clash at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today to see who between them claims solo first place.

In the appetizer, NLEX (2-1) looks to regain steam when it goes up against still winless Columbian Dyip (0-2) at 4:30 p.m.

Looking to move forward, Alaska decided to part ways with Abueva more than a month ago in its off-season as it shipped him to Phoenix in exchange for a 2019 first-round pick and Karl Dehesa.

So far, the trade are benefiting both squads as they are enjoying early success in the tournament.

Both are coming off smashing victories just last Sunday.

With Simon Enciso’s career-high of 30 points, Alaska stunningly drubbed TNT KaTropa, 125-96.

Phoenix followed suit and annihilated Northport by 41 points, 132-91.

Abueva’s first two games in Phoenix were a smashing success as they both resulted in wins.

The 6’2” workhorse averaged 12 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists as he was critical in the Fuel Masters’ early success.

Facing his former team certainly brings excitement to the enigmatic swingman.

“Focused kami. It’s a good match-up with Alaska. Enjoy ‘yan,” said Abueva in terms of facing his former team for the first time since getting traded.

Marestella Torres-Sunang, shown here taking part in the women’s long jump, will be retiring after the 2019 SEA Games.

Obiena ready; Marestella to retire soon JAKARTA—For Ernest John Obiena, the seven-month rehabilitation period and the intense training that came after, all come down to this — the Asian Games.

Obiena, fully healed from a torn ACL injury he sustained prior to the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, will be hoping to duplicate or surpass his 5.6 meters in the pole vault competitions of the Asian Games here today (Wednesday).

Obiena’s mark is just .05 shy of the the Asian Games’ record of 5.65 meters, set

by Igor Potapovich of Kazakhstan 24 years ago in the Hiroshima, Japan Games.

During the 2014 Incheon Asiad, China’s Xue Changrui won the gold with 5.6 meters.

“EJ is in high spirits,” said his mother, Jeannete Obiena, an IAAF Level 1 Coaches Education Course Lecturer of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association. “He did 5.6 recently, which is very near sa games’ record.”

Only last June, Obiena cleared 5.45 meters at the Golden Spike of Ostrava and 5.51 meters in the International Stabboc Spring Meeting in Germany.

“EJ’s amazing performances bring him within striking distance of a podium finish at the Asiad,” said Patafa president Philip Ella Juico.

An IAAF scholar, Obiena was able to train in Formia, Italy under Vitaly Petrov, who was a coach of pole vault legend Sergei Bubka. Under Petrov,

Obiena has improved by leaps and bounds, something he hopes to transform into a medal of any color in these games, where athletics has been emptyhanded for the past 24 years.

Meanwhile, Marestella Torres-Sunang, after her 6.15 meters in the long jump here, is retiring but not before she makes one last leap in the 30th Asian Games the Philippines is hosting in November next year.

“It will be my final jump,” the 37-year-old Sunang said.

“I will end my career with a gold medal hanging from my neck,” Sunang vowed. “And I want to do it in front of Filipinos next year when we host the SEA Games.”

Nadal sends Ferrer Carlos targets 3rd PGT crown at Club Filipino into retirement NEWYORK—Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal sent close friend David Ferrer into Grand Slam retirement on Monday when his veteran compatriot was forced to quit their first round match with injury, but former winners Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka made successful returns to New York.

Ferrer, a former world number three but now standing at a lowly 148, called it quits on a hot and humid night on Arthur Ashe Stadium despite leading 4-3 with a break in the second set after twice receiving treatment on a left leg injury.

Top seed Nadal had taken the opener 6-3.

“This is my last Grand Slam,” said Ferrer who was runner-up to Nadal in the 2013 French Open final.

“I have great memories of this tournament and I am just sorry that I couldn’t finish it tonight.”

Ferrer, 36, will play his last tournament on home ground in Madrid next year.

“I am very sorry for David and sad for him,” said Nadal.

“We are close friends and have shared great moments -- the Roland Garros final and Davis Cup wins.

“He is one of the greatest players to have come from our country. He’s a great person and great player.”

Nadal, chasing his 18th Grand Slam title, will face Canada’s Vasek Pospisil for a place in the last 32.

Nadal’s potential semi-final opponent, Argentine third seed and 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, also reached the second round with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 win over American qualifier Donald Young.AFP

DANAO City, Cebu – Jobim Carlos sets out for another championship this week, armed with a solid game and a confidence reinforced not only by two victories but also by a couple of runner-up finishes in the last six tournaments of the Philippine Golf Tour.

That makes the Order of Merit frontrunner the prohibitive favorite in the P3.5 million ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational firing off today (Wednesday, Aug. 29) at the short but challenging par-71 CFdC layout which is hosting a tournament of this magnitude for the first time.

While the hottest player on the tour expressed confidence of chances for another victory, he hints at a wild finish given the makeup of the mountain-top course, including its narrow fairways, dogleg and blind holes and unpredictable putting surface.

“I like my chances to go back-toback,” said Carlos, who edged Aussie Tim Stewart by two to rule the Iloilo Golf Challenge last week. “But I have to be very careful off the tee and maybe I’ll be using my driver here just four times and relying more on my irons.

The course is tough with too many blind holes and tricky greens.”

For the veterans in the fold, stamina will also play a key role in the title hunt in the 72-hole championship serving as the penultimate stop of the 10-leg PGT sponsored by ICTSI. “The course is good but it will be tough for us to go up-and-down on some holes,” said Tony Lascuña, 47, who led his team composed of amateurs Kenneth Dyguani and Boboy Arevalo to yesterday’s pro-am victory with a 15-under 56.

Jobim Carlos will lean on his trusted irons at the tight, tricky Club Filipino de Cebu

“But let’s see what happens.”

Reigning Phl Masters champion Jerson Balasabas, with David Jarman, Paolo Alberto and Ted Almario, placed second in the pro-am with a 57 while Carlos, along with Edgar Aliño, Calvin Gothong and Edwin Robin, scored a 58 for third.

The 25-year-old Carlos, whose game went on an upswing after nailing his first win at PGT Asia at Riviera last June, is expected to make things happen right in the opening round as he slugs it out with Elmer Salvador and Nilo Salahog in the 7:30 a.m. flight on the first hole.

Lascuña, seeking an end to a year-long title spell, kicks off his drive at 8:30 a.m., also on No. 1, in the company of James

Ryan Lam and former PGTA leg winner Rene Menor.

Sixty-nine others brace for a challenging start in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., including a number of foreign aces led by Stewart and Iloilo leg joint third placers American Lexus Keoninh and Dutch Guido Van der Valk.

Stewart starts at 8:40 a.m. on No. 10 with Jelbert Gamolo and Jeffrey Pitoon, Keoninh clashes with PGTA Southwoods leg champion Jay Bayron and Albin Engino, while Van der Valk, winner of the PGT kickoff leg at Eagle Ridge, plays Joenard Rates and Reymon Jaraula at 8:20 p.m. on No. 1.

Ramirez lauds PH athletes THE job’s already well done.

For William “Butch” Ramirez, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, the delegation to the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang has already accomplished its mission with its haul of three gold medals.

“We went into the Asian Games just hoping to equal our 2014 performance,” Ramirez said. “Now, we have surpassed our goal.”

Team Philippines won golds in weightlifting through Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting and got two more in golf behind the Yuki Saso’s women’s individual victory that towed Bianca Pagdanganan and Louis Kaye Go to the team championship.

Twelve bronze medals from pencak silat (three), taekwondo (three), wushu (two), golf (one), ju-jitsu (one) and karate (one) were also thrown into the coffers, putting the Philippines at No. 19 on the medal tally just before sundown in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The Asian Games Games end on Sunday.

The success in Jakarta, Ramirez said, is not only credited to the PSC, but to all stakeholders.

“The PSC does not claim solo credit for this,” he said. “ This is a combined effort of all parties involved in ensuring that our athletes present their best form in the competitions.”

Ramirez could not help but praise all the athletes, even those who did not win a medal, who have prepared hard for the Games.

“I see our athletes everyday. They live detached from their families, train everyday and subject their bodies to punishing exertions,” he said. “As a former coach, I appreciate an athlete beyond the person we see on the mat, on the ring, on the court.”

Ramirez added: “Their journey is not easy. So while we celebrate the winners, let us also congratulate the others because whether they win or not, it is the journey that counts.”

Enriquez, Tangub win PPS titles ERIC Jay Tangub and Sydney Ezra Enriquez flashed top form and matched two title feats in the premier divisions of the PPS-PEPP Liloy regional age-group tennis tournament at the Liloy Lawn Tennis Club in Zamboanga del Norte last Monday.

The third seeded Tangub turned back No. 2 Lex Estillore, 6-3, 6-3, in the semis then foiled unranked Russel Daarol, 6-3, 6-4, to clinch the boys’ 18-and-under crown in the Group 2 tournament put up by the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Pera Padala and hosted by Liloy Mayor Roberto Lim Uy Jr. and club president Reginaldo Eroy.

The 16-year-old old find from Tucuran, Zambo del Sur earlier scored a 6-0, 4-1(ret.) win in his age group to complete a twinkill which local ace Enriquez matched in her side of the battle in the week-long event presented by Dunlop and backed by Asiatraders Corp.

Enriquez, from Salug, survived unseeded Princess Gom-os’ stubborn stand, hacking out a 1-6, 7-5, 10-6 decision to snare the girls’ 16-U plum then blasted the same rival, 6-3, 6-3, in the 18-U finals.

Tangub actually finished with three crowns as he teamed up with Divo Pepito to edge John Baje and Daarol, 8-6, for the 18-U doubles title.

“We always believe that a lot of talents remain untapped in the region.

With more tournaments lined up in the next two weeks, we hope to inspire and provide these young players the venue to hone their skills,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro.

The locals dominated the other categories of the tournament, sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg, with Daarol winning the 14-U title, Phillepe Baje winning the 10-unisex crown, Faith Regencia snaring the girls’ 12-U diadem, and Yvonne Cuevas pocketing the 14-U trophy.

THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD: THE NAYONG PILIPINO PROJECT The NayonLanding integrated resort project of Landing International Development Ltd. (LIDL), the Hong Kongbased resort developer, has been mired in controversy over erroneous and misleading allegations. At the center of it all is the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) whose trustees and officials have been unfairly accused of graft and corruption in connection with this project. The NPF, which owns the 9.57-hectare property in the Entertainment City in Parañaque City, approved the project and entered into a lease contract with LIDL, through its local subsidiary Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. (LRPDC).

Despite the fact that ALL procedural and legal requirements were strictly followed by the NPF Board in getting the project off the ground, opponents and critics of the project had shamelessly foisted lies about the project, and falsely and maliciously accused the NPF, its trustees, and its officials of graft and corruption in approving the deal with LRPDC. We were not given our day in court. We became targets of a vicious smear campaign solely aimed at derailing the NayonLanding project, ostensibly over charges of corruption. This is a blatant lie. The truth must be told, and this is the truth: Lease period The lease contract between NPF and LRPDC is for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years. There is a provision in the contract that states that if the application of the lessee (LRPDC) for the designation of the leased property as a Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) is approved by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), then the initial lease period shall be 50 years instead of 25. This is perfectly legal, and specifically allowed and granted by Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as the “Tourism Act of 2009,” and Republic Act No. 7652, otherwise known as the “Investor’s Lease Act.” Nowhere in the lease contract is it stipulated or even hinted that the lease period would be 70 years!

Lease rates The approved lease rate for the NPF property to be paid by LRPDC is P360per square meter per month or a monthly rent of P34,460,640. In addition, NPF will receive 10% of net profits from the operations of the three theme parks and attractions which translates to P210 per square meter per month. As such, the effective lease of the property to be paid by LRPDC is P570 per square meter permonth.

Also, LRPDC is obligated to pay advance rental for the succeeding 24 months equivalent to P827,055,360.

Other pertinent income provisions include an annual escalation of the monthly rent equivalent to the annual rate of inflation of the immediate preceding year, and a guarantee deposit equivalent to two months’ rent.

Finally, LRPDC will fully finance the construction of the three theme parks at a cost of $400 million or P21.4 billion. The parks shall be turned over to the government at the end of the lease term. These facilities will be stateof-the-art and they superbly depict the history, culture and traditions of the Philippines. We expect these facilities to be grander than Universal Studios and Disneyland. Ultimately, we expect them to catapult the Philippines into being the number one tourist destination in Southeast Asia.

It is important to note that the P360 per square meter per month basic lease rate is much higher than what other integrated resorts leasing government property in the area are paying. Basic lease rates of integrated resort operators range fromP156per square meter per month to P300 per square meter per month. It is important to point this out because our guiding principle when we were negotiating this contract with LRPDC has always been this: to give the government and the Filipino people the best deal possible because the nation deserves no less.

And yet we don’t hear these critics questioning these other lease contracts. Why? Public bidding: Not required Another issue raised by the project’s opponents is that of the need for public bidding. In this case, public bidding is not required, precisely because it is a lease. Under Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, and Executive Order No. 301 (Decentralizing Actionson GovernmentNegotiatedContracts, Lease Contracts and Records Disposal), the lease of the NPF property to LRPDC need not go through public bidding and is, in fact, specifically excluded from coverage of provisions on public bidding.

NEDA approval: Not required Much has been said about the alleged need for the NayonLanding project to be endorsed and approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). Again, the law—specifically Republic Act No. 6957 as amended by Republic Act No. 7718 (Build Operate Transfer Law)—says a Contract of Lease is not subject to prior approval by NEDA. The lease of the Nayong Pilipino property is, therefore, absolutely legal!

Our critics, and opponents of the NayonLanding project, have deliberately and maliciously peddled lies for so long at the expense of innocent people. Greed and vested interest were apparent in their actions, but their greatest crime was to manipulate and twist the facts and, in the process, fool and mislead the authorities. Ultimately, they intend to deprive the people of millions of pesos in government revenues that will be generated by the project and the more than 10,000 jobs that will be created when the facility becomes operational, not to mention the enjoyment and pride that every Filipino is bound to experience in the NayonLanding facility.

Tama na ang kasinungalingan at panlilinlang. We are innocent of the utterly baseless charge of corruption.

We shall not allow our names and reputations to be recklessly smeared by entities who have selfish and monopolistic business interests to protect.

As God is our witness, we firmly believe that we shall be exonerated of all the accusations raised against us simply because truth is on our side.

PATRICIA YVETTE OCAMPO PAID ADVERTISEMENT

IN BRIEF PH to tap foreign bond market in 18 months THE government plans to tap again the international bond market in the next 12 or 18 months, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Tuesday.

“As I mentioned to the Treasury... I told them that I don’t want to be absent from any major market. The renminbi is the first issue we had... we probably will go back within 12 or 18 months... the same with Japan,” Dominguez said at the sidelines of the second economic forum of the Economic Journalists’ Association of the Philippines held in Intramuros, Manila.

“We learned that it is very difficult to get back into a market if you are absent for like eight years... We were not in the Japanese bond market for eight years and it was a little difficult,” he said.

Dominguez said doing one issue every year or every 18 months should be good for the government. He did did not specify the amount of the next issue.

The government early this month returned to the Samurai bond market for the first time in eight years with the issuance of a multi-tranche JPY154.2 billion ($1.39 billion) Samurai bonds.

Julito G. Rada

Business

Phinma abandons oil drilling in Visayan Sea

PHINMA Petroleum and Geothermal Inc. has pulled out from two service contracts, namely SC 69 (Central Visayas) and SC 51 (East Visayas).

Phinma Petroleum said in its first-half income report it formally notified the Department of Energy of the decision to withdraw its 50 percent interest in SC 69 and 6.67 precent interest in SC 51.

The company said the SC 69 consortium decided to relinquish the block “in light of several oppositions to the project from various stakeholders and the recent issuances of local ordinances and resolutions for the protection, conservation and declaration of the Visayan Sea as a national protected area and marine reserve.”

Phinma Petroleum, meanwhile, said it would also no longer pursue its entitlement to Otto Energy’s participating interest in SC 51 under the deed of undertaking dated March 2, 2017.

The company, however, will continue its participation in the SC 6 Block A (Northwest Palawan).

Alena Mae S. Flores

ECONOMIC FORUM. Government economic managers discuss the economic prospects for 2019 during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines economic forum at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, Manila. With the journalists are (from second left) Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez. The forum centered on the theme ‘Tax Reform and Infrastructure Development: The Road to an Inclusive Philippine Economy.’

MetroPac, DOTr agree to drop arbitration case T

By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE Transportation Department and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. are open to an out-of-court settlement over a multibillion-peso compensation claim, stemming from the government’s refusal to approve toll adjustments since 2011.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government was in talks with MPTC, the toll road unit of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp., to resolve the compensation claim for failure to increase the toll at North Luzon Expressway and Manila-Cavite Expressway.

“We are asking a gradual implementation of toll adjustments and if there’s a possibility to terminate the

arbitration case, which is expensive,” Tugade said during an economic forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, Manila.

MPTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said his company was supporting the position of the government to find a “mutual acceptable way” of settling the issue on toll adjustments.

“We already considering that if we agree on adjustment it would be on a staggered basis. We are also committed to terminate the arbitration case,” he said.

NLEX and Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. each issued a notice of arbitration and statement of claim to the government, through the Toll Regulatory Board in April 2016 to obtain compensation amounting to about P3 billion for North Luzon Expressways and P877 million for Cavitex.

The two tollway operators filed the notice of arbitration after TRB’s inaction on the toll adjustments which were

in the passage of succeeding tax packages,” he said. The first package or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion took effect in January which slashed personal income tax but raised excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco, fuel and automobile.

Dominguez said the Finance Department submitted to Congress the remaining four tax reform packages in July.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno echoed Dominguez’ statement, by saying that “we are committed to maintain fiscal deficit at 3 percent of GDP.” Diokno expressed optimism that some of the packages would be signed

by President Rodrigo Duterte before the end of 2018.

The economic managers earlier described as “tough advice” the International Monetary Fund’s recommendation for the government to adjust the budget deficit program to 2.4 percent of

GDP this year and in 2019 from the current 3 percent.

Reducing the budget deficit was one of the IMF’s policy recommendations to help keep inflationary pressures in check and maintain economic stability.

The IMF said the adjustment in the fiscal deficit program would ease the burden on monetary policy in managing inflation.

Dominguez said it was a “tough advice,” given that the government was already proceeding full steam ahead in its infrastructure development program.

“Given deliberate improvements in our process, projects are in full steam to realize benefits envisioned in a timely manner. We do acknowledge that adjustments may be necessary to adequately respond to the changing macroeconomic landscape both internal and external,” Dominguez said. Julito G. Rada

due since January 2011 for NLEX and January 2012 for Cavitex.

MPTC earlier said foregone revenues from the government’s failure to adjust tariff already exceeded P8 billon.

MPIC, the parent company, earlier committed to spend about P122.7 billion in the next five years to build highways and toll roads around the Philippines.

MPIC said the amount would depend on the satisfactory resolution of various overdue tariff adjustments, now ranging between 20 percent and 48 percent on different parts of the network. It said without the government’s approval for toll adjustments, further investment would be delayed.

MPTC reported a core net income of P2.3 billion in the first six months, up 12 percent from P1.2 billion a year earlier.

Average daily vehicle entries for NLEx, Manila-Cavite Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway rose 9 percent to 480,711 in the six month period from 440,904 entries a year ago.

B1

the limited supply of TNVS vehicles.

“The Philippines, despite being the first Asian country to legalize ridehailing in 2015, is facing a big setback with the current supply crisis. Supply is struggling to meet the massive demand from the riding public and only the LTFRB has the authority to address this,” Gonzales said.

“Grab gets about 600,000 daily bookings but there are only 35,000 daily active drivers available to serve this demand. None of the other countries in the region have a supply problem like this.

In fact, Grab’s allocation rate in Metro Manila is the lowest in Southeast Asia as only four out of 10 bookings are able to be efficiently served,” he said. Data showed that of the proposed 65,000 vehicle cap, 55,000 slots were allocated to vehicles in the master list LTFRB created in February 2018.

Darwin G. Amojelar

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said Tuesday the current monetary policy remains appropriate, but the Monetary Board is ready to take action to rein in inflation.

Espenilla said inflation rate, or the movement in consumer prices, was expected to remain elevated in 2018, but would likely settle within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2019.

“The upside risks continue to dominate… [such as] additional wage adjustments, transport fare hikes, policy normalization in advanced economies,” Espenilla said during an economic forum organized by the Economic Journalists’ Association of the Philippines at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, Manila.

Espenilla said the proposed rice tarriffication, or the opening of the local market to rice imports, would reduce the inflation path in the coming months.

“The BSP’s move on policy will remain data-dependent,” he said, adding the “economy can accommodate monetary policy tightening.”

Espenilla earlier said was not seeing inflation rate hitting 6 percent this year. “In our forecast, we are not seeing 6 percent. It might be close to the last one [5.7 percent]. It is hard to predict,” Espenilla told reporters.

Inflation rate accelerated to 5.7 percent in July from 5.2 percent in June, bringing the first seven months’ average to 4.5 percent, above the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

“The August inflation may actually be higher than July. The peak may be in August or September,” Espenilla said.

He said if other goods―aside from food and fuel―would also see faster price increases, it would be a “red flag for the BSP.” The Bangko Sentral was compelled to raise interest rates again on Aug. 9, the third time this year by a rare 50 basis points to 4 percent in a bid to rein in inflation.

The interest rates on the overnight lending and deposit facilities were also increased accordingly. The BSP earlier raised the policy rate by 25 bps each in May and June 2018.

Manufacturers commit to hold off any price increase until December

By Othel V. Campos Manufacturers of basic commodities and prime commodities agreed to hold off any price increase until December this year to partly relieve consumers from the high prices of goods and services.

“We requested manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities to hold off any price increase at least for the next three months. Response in principle is very positive, although we hope to get their commitment in writing,” Trade Undersecretary for consumer protection group Ruth Castelo said Tuesday.

She said while the government could not impose a moratorium on price ad-

justment as it does not have the authority under the Price Act, the manufacturers agreed to postpone the price hike on the basis of their social contribution and responsibility.

Castelo said the Trade Department also appealed on manufacturers to defer any price adjustment next year, and it received positive feedback from many firms.

She said the companies gave their word not to add to the burden of consumers during the holidays.

“For [manufacturers of] coffee, noodles, laundry and bath soap, soy sauce, fish sauce, vinegar, bread and candles, [they] agreed in principle to ‘no movement’ soon so we hope this will be till next year, if they can stretch it till Feb-

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Grab asks LTFRB to approve more vehicles GRAB Philippines on Tuesday asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to increase the common supply base of transport network vehicle service providers in Metro Manila from 65,000 to 80,500 vehicles to serve the current passenger demand.

Leo Gonzales, Grab Philippines’ head of public affairs, said in a statement LTFRB’s decision to open 10,000 new vehicle slots was a step in the right direction towards resolving the current lack of supply on the road, but it would not be enough.

Replacing the inactive vehicles in the master list would be an additional measure that could go a long way in improving TNC service, he said.

Ride-hailing service providers like Grab are a viable alternative for commuters facing the current mass transport challenges in Metro Manila. The overall riding experience is constrained by

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

By Julito G. Rada

Economic managers vow to keep budget deficit ceiling ECONOMIC managers on Tuesday vowed to keep the budget deficit program of 3 percent of the gross domestic product, despite the opposition to the second set of tax reforms being pushed by the Duterte administration.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said while the tax reform package faced an ‘uphill climb’ in Congress, the government would not adjust the fiscal deficit target.

“We will not prejudice the economy by exceeding 3 percent or around that area,” Dominguez said during an economic forum organized by the Economic Journalists’ Association of the Philippines at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, Manila.

Dominguez said contrary to the opinion of some quarters, the tax reform packages would have lasting effect on the economy.

“Surely, we are facing an uphill climb

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BSP expects inflation to ease in 2019

FSR finally released, says BSP’s Espenilla THE Financial Stability Coordination Council chaired by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. announced Tuesday the issuance of the country’s Financial Stability Report.

“This is a milestone because this issuance is the first collaborative publication of the FSCC as well as the first FSR of the Philippines that will be made publicly available,” Espenilla said in a briefing.

He said “a well-functioning financial system is the centerpiece of the financial stability agenda and it is essential that stakeholders make well-informed choices within an environment of financial risks.”

He said the report played an important role because it was the main tool for communicating the balance of cross-cutting risks. “Making this FSR publicly available is then all the more critical,” he said.

The FSR takes a thematic assessment of the various risks that could pose a challenge to the growth of the Philippine economy as well as the resilience of the Philippine financial system.

Julito G. Rada

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

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

MINDANAO DEVELOPMENT.

About 600 businessmen attend the economic forum hosted by BDO Unibank Inc. in Davao City with the theme ‘Progressive Philippines’. Addressing the attendees are (from left) Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. president and chief executive Tomas Lorenzo, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Megawide Construction Corp. chairman Edgar Saavedra, Alter Energy Partners founder and chief executive Vincent Perez and BDO Capital and Investment Corp. president Eduardo Francisco.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.4950

Japan

Yen

0.009003

0.4816

UK

Pound

1.289500

68.9818

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127393

6.8149

Switzerland

Franc

1.020929

54.6146

Canada

Dollar

0.771426

41.2674

Singapore

Dollar

0.734160

39.2739

Australia

Dollar

0.735000

39.3188

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

141.9041

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266631

14.2634

Brunei

Dollar

0.731475

39.1303

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030694

1.6420

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.5652

Euro

Euro

1.167900

62.4768

Korea

Won

0.000903

0.0483

China

Yuan

0.146714

7.8485

India

Rupee

0.014253

0.7625

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.244021

13.0539

New Zealand

Dollar

0.669400

35.8096

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032605

1.7442

Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market gains; ICTSI, Globe rise

T

HE stock market surged Tuesday as shares played catch-up with the rest of Asia after Monday’s holiday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange rose 78.14 points, or 1 percent, to 7,844.61 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion.

Gainers beat losers, 112 to 94, with 38 issues unchanged.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, advanced 3.5 percent to P2,068, while Manila Electric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, climbed 3.8 percent to P380.

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, gained 2.9 percent to P95.15, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. added 2.3 percent to P970.

The rest of Asian investors extended a

rally on Tuesday, tracking another Wall Street record as they cheered a fresh trade deal between the United States and Mexico—ending one row picked

by Donald Trump that had rattled global markets.

The agreement raises hopes the North American Free Trade Agreement, rejected by the White House soon after Trump’s election, can be salvaged after Canada rejoins talks on Tuesday.

The pact was described by the US president as “a big day for trade” and it sent the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh all-time highs, while the Dow broke 26,000 for the first time since January.

Equities, which enjoyed a healthy run after Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell indicated Friday the bank would not aggressively raise interest rates, mostly rose in Asia but gains from an early rally

were pared.

Tokyo ended 0.1 percent higher, with Toyota boosted by news it will invest about $500 million into Uber as part of a deal to work on mass-producing selfdriving vehicles.

Hong Kong was up 0.2 percent in the afternoon after jumping more than two percent Monday, while Shanghai finished 0.1 percent off.

Sydney climbed 0.6 percent and Singapore was 0.8 percent higher, with Seoul adding 0.2 percent and Taipei 0.8 percent stronger.

Wellington and Jakarta were also in positive territory.

Mizuho Securities said in a note to clients that investors are monitoring “the US-Canada negotiations... and the impact on US-China trade talks.”

Monday’s agreement comes after officials from Washington and Beijing held

talks last week aimed at easing trade tensions that have seen them hit each other with tariffs on tens of billions of dollars worth of goods.

While the meeting did not achieve any breakthrough, the fact it took place was seen as a good sign.

Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA, said dealers were “in a festive mood” as the deal removed “one major hurdle that has been haunting North American investors for months.”

He added: “Markets are reveling in any trade positives... After all, a deal is a deal.”

However, Trump appeared to temper expectations for a fresh round of talks with China, saying after announcing the new pact that “it’s just not the right time to talk right now” before adding “eventually, I’m sure that we’ll be able to work out a deal”. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.8 22,300 93.55 1,186,850 2.7 12,000 130.8 2,430,360 1.74 91,000 31.75 285,600 7 1,200 16.4 6,200 14.44 101,300 4.08 128,000 8.67 1,000 810 10 0.57 173,000 73.85 2,246,080 0.99 78,000 11.8 6,700 22.4 1,100 48.8 178,000 197 1,270 109.9 4,090 85 1,110 29.2 219,800 203.4 155,830 83.5 573,830 1.22 1,000

1,324,408.50 111,102,248.50 32,370 315,680,628 155,630 8,949,990 8,400 101,702 1,463,288 514,930 8,670 8,100 95,600 166,142,796 77,040 79,260 24,140 8,572,310 249,300 439,348 94,475 6,412,585 31,457,444 47,915,221.50 1,220

592,210 -37,118,749.50 47,668,540 -7,699,120 -609,396 -51,297,119 11,938 -266,590 -1,986,100 9,926,666 -21,715.50 -

36.35 17 1 1.2 0.234 3.23 14.5 210 29.8 19.9 42.35 70 1.8 7.49 10.16 15.62 10.2 7.25 7.04 15.8 63.5 27 7.22 13.62 2.07 287 4.97 24.1 13.4 18.08 366 0.195 6.85 2.13 4.2 8.91 5.1 7.65 1.02 11.4 56.1 6.21 4.8 2.46 3.08 1.69 13.14 90 5.4 1.01 142 2.08 20.5 1.77

INDUSTRIAL 37 2,646,200 17.12 827,400 1.02 7,873,000 1.21 475,000 0.24 530,000 3.23 1,342,000 14.5 99,800 210 100 32 1,760,400 20.4 7,600 45.5 380,500 70 790 1.84 35,000 7.5 1,600 10.2 805,500 15.88 889,400 10.34 40,100 7.27 885,000 7.04 10,406,900 16.06 1,110,900 63.8 125,990 27.4 346,500 7.3 7,400 13.7 133,000 2.14 608,000 290.2 836,640 5.05 1,800 24.15 678,700 13.62 720,400 18.12 5,698,900 380 375,970 0.198 1,820,000 6.85 5,000 2.15 204,000 4.2 54,000 8.91 789,700 5.12 215,000 7.84 36,000 1.04 965,000 11.48 51,000 56.9 224,280 6.21 100 4.82 3,402,000 2.54 232,000 3.18 105,000 1.74 148,000 13.16 1,677,900 94.95 1,512,470 5.6 184,000 1.03 202,000 143 1,129,050 2.12 2,404,000 20.5 1,000 1.83 5,234,000

97,582,790 14,166,924 8,032,310 581,480 126,010 4,349,810 1,464,304 21,000 55,409,650 152,368 17,505,755 55,306 63,520 11,999 8,219,338 14,114,026 414,668 6,429,940 73,321,152 17,755,302 8,022,954 9,444,340 53,538 1,831,368 1,304,830 242,684,612 8,962 16,418,165 9,830,160 105,446,418 140,402,186 360,280 34,304 444,870 227,010 7,094,457 1,102,380 275,740 997,140 591,140 12,744,999.50 621 16,333,020 584,510 328,940 253,740 22,081,242 140,938,548.50 1,024,863 207,020 161,414,819 5,076,730 20,500 9,513,800

-32,868,570 -12,792 -284,580 -2,854,290 -1,083,390 -15,098,615 -1,856,510 -4,920 159,668 10,514,528 -107,752 -2,799,291 -64,495,618 11,558,282 710,414 16,200 552,000 15,180 49,492,508 -13,942,715 -6,462,144 -59,372,948 64,781,914 -295,650 -189,000 -2,521,527 -8,320 -621,000 8,075,426 -144,900 38,400 13,779,638 -55,694,142 40,676,334 -53,540 -20,500 654,240

0.385 56.7 13.4 0.92 6.1 36.5 1.53 1.54 1,003 6 12.1 7.1 0.224 887 6 57.95 5.56 0.61 4.5 17.58 0.67 5.13 0.039 1.31 2.87 170.8 983 0.78 1.55 449 301 0.38 0.207

0.335 53.5 13.16 0.91 6 35.25 1.48 1.48 980.5 5.93 11.72 7 0.223 862 5.99 54.85 5.06 0.59 4.46 17.2 0.65 5.02 0.038 1.24 2.81 163 948.5 0.77 1.52 400 290.2 0.355 0.205

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 42,740,000 54 3,307,820 13.4 6,265,600 0.92 57,000 6.1 41,900 36 131,800 1.51 25,905,000 1.52 4,355,000 991 272,430 5.98 20,031,700 12 5,581,700 7.09 107,000 0.224 50,000 862 171,930 6 1,600 57.95 1,512,930 5.56 5,100 0.61 7,000 4.5 2,181,000 17.34 546,900 0.66 1,264,000 5.06 23,746,500 0.038 6,900,000 1.24 1,437,000 2.85 1,222,000 166.1 624,900 970 454,680 0.78 14,000 1.54 792,000 449 320 292.2 156,920 0.36 42,830,000 0.207 90,000

15,824,700 179,201,646.50 83,416,430 52,420 254,790 4,720,090 39,176,270 6,613,610 270,696,935 119,771,316 66,937,724 749,674 11,160 149,786,955 9,585 86,487,438 25,856 4,170 9,806,320 9,497,190 833,040 120,545,357 264,600 1,815,450 3,470,930 104,805,402 442,658,605 10,910 1,214,130 133,070 45,834,516 15,735,750 18,530

-239,800 22,020,334.50 30,895,660 206,790 190,800 -1,267,150 39,935,115 -23,024,311 -1,395,210 -75,229,460 50,075,806.50 -25,300 225,950 1,273,566.00 85,150 50,098,089 -8,460 -30,480,027 155,316,950 -548,750 -

7.6 0.99 13.6 1.96 0.73 44.5 3.14 4.59 5.72 0.455 0.95 0.99 0.246 0.46 9.75 26.95 0.59 0.12 1.53 1.2 1.77 4.76 0.64

7.23 0.96 13.24 1.96 0.72 43.55 3.08 4.53 5.6 0.445 0.94 0.97 0.238 0.43 9.4 26.1 0.57 0.113 1.49 1.18 1.69 4.62 0.62

5,473,451 2,177,560 270,280 107,800 255,260 726,277,365 295,090 240,460 70,583 1,465,800 204,610 639,970 1,575,190 131,650 4,650,734 5,795,990 33,400 168,770 4,316,880 2,348,570 38,902,780 141,829,890 18,147,530

222,433 -15,520 92,982,680 -133,620 -229,500 9,400 86,330 1,969,950 -332,770 1,180 -618,090 -47,000,180 -194,040

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

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

57.55 92.7 2.69 128.1 1.7 31.75 7 16.4 14.4 4.12 8.67 810 0.55 72.5 0.99 11.96 21.9 47.3 196.2 105 85.3 29.5 198.2 83.6 1.22

59.8 95.2 2.7 130.8 1.75 32.25 7 16.42 14.5 4.12 8.67 810 0.57 74.6 1 11.96 22.4 48.8 197 109.9 85.3 29.5 203.4 83.6 1.22

57.55 92.65 2.69 128 1.7 31.1 7 16.36 14.4 4.02 8.67 810 0.55 72.5 0.98 11.8 21.9 47.3 196.1 105 85 29.1 198.2 83.5 1.22

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS 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 TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

37.15 17.18 1.02 1.3 0.24 3.24 14.7 210 34.65 20.6 42.35 70.05 1.84 7.5 10.16 15.62 10.2 7.26 7.05 15.8 63.9 27.05 7.22 14 2.1 287.2 4.97 24.45 13.4 18.86 366 0.195 6.87 2.19 4.27 9 5.2 7.65 1.03 11.7 56.1 6.21 4.8 2.56 3.08 1.69 13.14 95.3 5.4 1.03 143 2.08 20.5 1.77

37.15 17.2 1.05 1.3 0.24 3.26 14.7 210 36 20.75 46.15 70.05 1.84 7.5 10.26 15.9 10.4 7.3 7.06 16.3 63.9 27.5 7.3 14 2.18 294 5.05 24.5 13.72 18.86 381.6 0.2 6.87 2.19 4.27 9.1 5.2 7.84 1.04 11.7 57 6.21 4.83 2.56 3.18 1.74 13.5 95.6 5.64 1.03 144.7 2.14 20.5 1.84

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV 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

0.34 56.7 13.18 0.92 6 35.25 1.49 1.51 990 5.97 12.04 7.1 0.223 887 5.99 54.85 5.06 0.61 4.48 17.22 0.66 5.1 0.038 1.29 2.86 170 948.5 0.77 1.53 400 301 0.36 0.205

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 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED

7.3 0.99 13.24 1.96 0.73 43.9 3.08 4.59 5.6 0.45 0.95 0.99 0.24 0.435 9.7 26.4 0.59 0.116 1.5 1.19 1.7 4.75 0.62

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VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.56 0.49 3.5 20.6 2.02 3.21 38.5 1.15 7.25 0.78 6.35

0.6 0.495 3.5 21.1 2.03 3.21 39.2 1.15 7.25 0.81 6.41

0.485 0.485 3.41 20.6 2 3.2 38.5 1.13 7.2 0.77 6.32

0.485 0.49 3.43 20.95 2.01 3.21 39 1.14 7.21 0.77 6.41

84,935,000 1,030,000 1,765,000 2,464,200 172,000 134,000 12,455,000 197,000 234,300 117,000 4,166,300

46,064,750 504,000 6,087,420 51,456,900 346,610 429,730 484,963,020 222,860 1,689,032 93,720 26,599,688

-497,420 1,916,540 -22,291,190 362,518,640 -36,720 12,734,175

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

14 25 1.46 0.59 0.045 13.5 2.95 9.52 0.061 72.1 6.5 8.6 2.3 25.35 902 1,999 5.5 318 4.18 2.07 91.5 7.7 0.122 3.03 3.53 14.66 3.75 1.04 20 5.5 7.09 2.89 2.1 2.1 8.2 10.52 8.21 3.6 8.95 113 5.13 1,439 0.88 0.375 46.5 81.4 8.2 2.26 0.94 0.7 5.13 0.8 11.58

14 25.15 1.46 0.6 0.046 13.5 3.07 9.78 0.064 74 6.58 8.6 2.3 26 902 2,070 5.54 318 4.18 2.07 95.7 7.85 0.124 3.21 3.67 15 4 1.04 20 5.7 7.09 2.94 2.12 2.1 8.35 11 8.69 3.7 8.95 114 5.18 1,447 0.88 0.375 46.85 81.4 8.2 2.26 0.95 0.71 5.13 0.86 11.8

13.74 24.8 1.46 0.55 0.045 13.5 2.91 9.09 0.061 72.1 6.45 8.45 2.26 24.5 900 1,999 5.5 318 4.05 2.07 91.5 7.7 0.12 3.02 3.53 14.66 3.7 1.03 19.84 5.41 6.68 2.87 2.04 1.93 8.19 10.52 8.21 3.47 8.95 112.5 5.08 1,416 0.85 0.36 46 79.9 8.14 2.2 0.92 0.69 5.09 0.8 11.58

SERVICES 13.86 24.85 1.46 0.56 0.046 13.5 2.93 9.12 0.063 72.65 6.49 8.55 2.26 25.9 900 2,068 5.5 318 4.06 2.07 95.15 7.84 0.122 3.17 3.67 14.66 3.88 1.04 19.9 5.6 6.78 2.93 2.04 2 8.25 11 8.69 3.5 8.95 114 5.17 1,428 0.87 0.37 46 80 8.14 2.2 0.92 0.7 5.1 0.82 11.6

5,200 10,100 50,000 14,906,000 1,500,000 104,000 3,774,000 23,184,800 40,400,000 116,470 1,155,400 1,600 3,000 44,700 1,480 100,215 507,700 400 478,000 7,000 6,442,090 22,500 4,090,000 8,067,000 6,000 6,500 533,000 70,000 166,300 108,200 3,986,900 174,000 156,000 93,000 1,190,600 13,300 500 309,000 157,800 4,240 333,000 73,160 3,572,000 1,340,000 429,900 703,150 68,600 4,899,000 17,947,000 33,983,000 756,600 12,684,000 1,775,800

71,630 252,210 73,000 8,458,360 68,600 1,404,000 11,252,020 214,490,993 2,537,780 8,489,342.50 7,498,259 13,605 6,820 1,122,740 1,332,020 205,721,915 2,793,024 127,200 1,951,460 14,490 611,494,349.50 175,990 495,300 25,279,890 21,320 95,936 2,020,540 72,750 3,310,780 611,946 27,422,563 502,620 325,120 182,610 9,818,881 145,628 4,249 1,080,710 1,412,310 483,093 1,702,963 104,990,050 3,095,340 487,800 20,037,575 56,310,893 560,768 10,913,180 16,910,760 23,873,490 3,864,013 10,598,660 20,604,048

-8,760 1,404,000 65,260 -121,813,485 -630 -1,957,983.50 -4,461,845 -14,760 139,253,185 260,460 -23,668,733 -2,390 2,860 4,113,864 37,340 -156,060 2,459 460,530 5,090 35,832,010 388,060 7,300 6,862,800 -48,048,696.50 105,222 4,017,750 11,384,360 -644,210 -481,737 -9,140 -19,391,246

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

0.0027 1.64 3.53 21.1 1.98 0.3 7.38 1.97 0.212 0.121 0.127 1.39 4.72 1.11 0.55 1.17 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.49 4.04 16.64 29.5 0.0074

0.0028 1.66 3.53 21.7 1.98 0.31 7.38 2 0.212 0.123 0.127 1.42 5.3 1.14 0.58 1.18 0.012 0.012 0.013 3.5 4.2 17.1 29.5 0.0093

0.0026 1.61 3.49 20.9 1.96 0.3 7.22 1.95 0.206 0.121 0.127 1.39 4.72 1.1 0.55 1.12 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.39 4.04 16.08 29.1 0.0074

MINING & OIL 0.0028 441,000,000 1.62 5,074,000 3.49 399,000 21 31,400 1.96 841,000 0.3 210,000 7.35 2,800 2 5,785,000 0.212 520,000 0.123 1,250,000 0.127 10,000 1.4 406,000 5.3 12,527,000 1.14 51,000 0.58 16,000 1.16 1,659,000 0.012 5,400,000 0.012 600,000 0.013 123,500,000 3.5 127,000 4.1 821,000 16.9 7,075,600 29.2 2,375,300 0.0082 254,000,000

1,184,700 8,262,820 1,400,240 665,015 1,652,090 63,100 20,422 11,431,700 108,080 153,040 1,270 569,890 63,779,870 56,360 8,860 1,893,440 64,800 7,200 1,476,900 437,500 3,354,630 118,776,480 69,429,970 2,146,000

700,270 -225,160 -222,350 -45,000 -914,200 32,960 -1,270 6,787,240 33,350 -2,944,950 2,748,084 -28,192,830 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

23.6 501 101 104.9 5.24 975 100.2 1,050 77 80.2 75.85 75.5 77 75.9 75.5 77

24.9 501 101 104.9 5.25 975 100.2 1,050 77.1 80.2 75.85 75.5 77 75.9 75.6 77

23.6 501 100.5 104.9 5.24 975 100.2 1,050 77 79 75.85 75.3 77 75.9 75.5 77

PREFERRED 24.2 18,600 501 20 100.5 9,500 104.9 100 5.24 430,300 975 500 100.2 50 1,050 10 77.1 12,590 79 34,400 75.85 20 75.3 4,300 77 8,750 75.9 1,300 75.5 56,900 77 38,530

456,850 10,020 956,735 10,490 2,254,972 487,500 5,010 10,500 970,368 2,735,420 1,517 324,108 673,750 98,670 4,296,880 2,966,810

-38,850 -2,171,132 -5,010 -1,580,540 -

LR WARRANT

2.31

2.4

2.31

WARRANTS 2.35 152,000

358,330

-13,860

4,077,503 31,680 1,000,510

-500

730,753

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.26 0.98 13.6 1.96 0.72 44 3.1 4.53 5.71 0.455 0.94 0.99 0.238 0.46 9.4 26.3 0.58 0.12 1.5 1.19 1.73 4.72 0.63

740,000 2,253,000 20,000 55,000 351,000 16,531,900 95,000 53,000 12,600 3,260,000 216,000 658,000 6,570,000 300,000 489,800 218,900 58,000 1,480,000 2,873,000 1,973,000 22,444,000 30,226,000 28,844,000

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.08 2.88 2.9

5.21 2.88 2.9

5.06 2.88 2.83

FIRST METRO ETF

115

116.6

114.6

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

7,906,143

INDUSTRIAL

60,252,652

HOLDING FIRMS

193,546,162

PROPERTY

228,248,048

SERVICES

196,605,526

MINING & OIL

865,178,607

GRAND TOTAL

1,552,897,049

5.16 2.88 2.84

SME

791,500 11,000 350,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.4 6,330

VALUE 1,827.17 (up) 30.11 700,939,704.50 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,333.34 (up) 67.53 1,236,960,281.85 HOLDING FIRMS 7,677.39 (up) 68.71 1,853,344,278.455 PROPERTY 3,935.01 (up) 29.91 1,546.15 (down) 0.19 1,610,666,684.435 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,018.40 (up) 181.59 1,955,279,919.43 PSEI 7,844.61 (up) 78.14 287,002,157.054 All Shares Index 4,759.13 (up) 30.31 7,650,037,603.69 Gainers: 112; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 38; Total: 244

Petron set to sell P20b in fixed-rate retail bonds

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETRON Corp. sought permission from the Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday to sell P20 billion worth of peso-denominated fixed rate bonds.

Petron disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange the bond issue was part of an earlier shelf registration worth P40 billion approved on October 12, 2016.

The board of Petron approved early this month the sale of up to P20 billion worth of peso-denominated fixed-rate retail bonds.

The company appointed BDO Capital & Investment Corp and BPI Capital Corp. as joint issue managers, with China Banking Corp. as joint book runner and lead underwriter.

Petron officials previously announced plans to invest in a catalytic reforming unit that will pave the way for the company to produce petrochemicals, such as mixed xylene, toluene and xylene for sale to the export market.

Petron plans to complete the basic engineering design study on the unit this year and an investment decision by the first quarter next year.

The company is in talks with several technology providers, including those in South Korea, Japan and the US, over the petrochemical facility in its refinery complex in Bataan province.

Petron plans to build up a hydro treater unit at its 88,000 barrel-per-day Port Dickson refinery in Malaysia that will require investments of about $100 million.

Petron reported a net income of P9.5 billion in the first half of the year, up 16 percent from P8.2 billion year-on-year, on higher sales volumes from its Malaysia and Philippine operations.

Consolidated revenues increased 32 percent to P273.5 billion from P207 billion on year.

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

Singapore-based fund acquires 31% of ISM’s holdings

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ISM Communications Corp. has agreed to sell P1.22 billion worth of treasury shares to a Singapore-based equity fund.

ISM Communications said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the sale of 841.945 million treasury shares to Accion Common Development Fund SPC at an offering price of P1.45 apiece.

The shares are equivalent to 30.07 percent ISM Communications’ outstanding capital stock.

“The Executive Committee mandated the company’s management to execute the sale and purchase documents no later than the end of September 2018,” the company said.

At least 25 percent of the P1.22 billion worth of shares will be paid upon purchase and the balance before the end of the year.

Accion is a special purpose company owned, controlled and managed by Accion Management Pte. Ltd., a registered fund management company based in Singapore. It invests in growth-stage companies in Asia with strong fundamentals.

This is the second share sale conducted ISM Communications this month.

Early in August, ISM Communications reported that Dennis Uy-led Dennison Holdings Corp. was acquiring a 45.13-percent interest in the company for P1.28 billion.

Uy is buying the company’s 883.730 million unissued common shares also at a subscription price of P1.45 apiece.

The shares subscribed by Dennison were equivalent to 45.13 percent of the resulting outstanding capital stock of the company.

With the two sale transactions, the company will raise P2.5 billion in total proceeds.

ISM Communications said it planned to use the proceeds of the issuance to fund the investment opportunities being pursued by management.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PPA PORT POLICE HEADQUARTERS The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 7,606,826.19 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construction of PPA Port Police Headquarters (LFP NCS No. 028-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Demolition & Removal Works B. Construction of PPA Port Police Headquarters C. Construction of PPA Guardhouse. Completion of the Works is required in 150 calendar days.

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

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

ANSWERS DEMANDED. Members of the Iranian Parliament vote after questioning President Hassan Rouhani (not pictured) in the capital

Tehran on August 28, 2018. Portraits of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) and the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (L) are seen on the wall. It was the first time Rouhani had been summoned by parliament in his five years in power, with the MPs demanding answers on unemployment, rising prices and the collapsing value of the rial, which has lost more than half its value since April. AFP

Trump bows to pressure to honor the late McCain W

ASHINGTON―Donald Trump bowed to pressure Monday to honor the late John McCain, ordering that flags be lowered to half-staff across the country, as the late senator fired a parting shot at the president in a farewell message to the United States.

Trump’s about-face came after he found himself mired in controversy over his rather conspicuous failure to pay tribute to McCain, who died Saturday at 81 after a yearlong battle with brain cancer.

When veterans’ groups launched appeals for a more fitting salute to McCain, a Navy veteran who was imprisoned for more than five years in Vietnam, the Republican leader―who had no love lost for the Arizona senator―blinked.

“Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s ser-

vice to our country,” Trump said in a statement as he ordered the flag atop the White House and elsewhere to fly at half-staff until McCain’s burial on Sunday.

He later told evangelical leaders that “we very much appreciate everything that senator McCain has done for our country.”

The White House flag was lowered after McCain’s death on Saturday―but it was once again at the top of the flagpole on Monday morning.

Trump’s initial silence about McCain underscored the isolation of the US leader and fueled criticism that he is incapable of bringing a divided nation together even as it mourns a man widely seen as an American hero and a political icon.

In Phoenix, where a week of tributes to McCain was soon to get under way, the twotime presidential candidate’s former campaign manager Rick Davis confirmed that Trump would not be attending the funeral.

However, Vice President Mike Pence is set to speak at a ceremony honoring McCain

at the US Capitol on Friday.

White House chief of staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis and National Security Advisor John Bolton will represent the administration during services.

In Phoenix, Davis read a posthumous statement that made a final jab at Trump.

“We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe,” McCain said.

“We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been,” he said―an apparent reference to Trump’s plans for a border wall.

McCain, who served as a senator from Arizona for more than 30 years, clashed repeatedly with Trump even though they were both Republicans, and the president initially paid scant tribute to the senator after his death. AFP

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

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 29 August 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P 10,000.00).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 September 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 19 September 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 19 September 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Small B – Building and Industrial Plant

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

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-47-35 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) M. Standard – Aug. 29, 2018

IN BRIEF

Moscow to respond to US sanctions

MOSCOW-Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Moscow will take reciprocal measures in response to Washington’s latest sanctions, in an interview to a Slovak newspaper published on Tuesday.

His comments are the latest by a number of Russian officials indicating Moscow will retaliate against the measures.

“We will continue to act calmly and pragmatically, reacting to all attacks in accordance with the principle of reciprocity,” Lavrov told the Slovak paper Pravda.

The interview was also published in Russian on the Russian foreign ministry’s website.

“At the same time we remain open to building normal mutually respectful relations with Washington based on a genuine consideration of each other’s interests,” Lavrov added.

This month the US imposed new sanctions on Russia over the attempted assassination of a former spy in Britain using a lethal nerve agent.

The sanctions include halting foreign aid to Russia, blocking the sale of items or services related to defense and national security, and banning any government credit support for any exports to Russia.

The sanctions, first announced August 8, are a response to the March 4 failed attempt to kill former Russian intelligence agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal using Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The British government says the attack in Salisbury, England, was undertaken

by Russian operatives.AFP

Japan says North Korea still poses a threat

TOKYO―North Korea still poses a “serious and imminent threat”, Japan said Tuesday in its first annual defense review since the tensions eased on the Korean peninsula.

Japan’s 2018 defense white paper also took aim at China’s rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking “strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan”.

Last year’s defense review was published at the height of the tensions with North Korea, amid nuclear and missile tests and with US President Donald Trump threatening to rain down “fire and fury” on Pyongyang if it kept up its threats.

But since then, a spectacular diplomatic detente has taken place, culminating in the historic summit between Trump and the North’s leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12.

Nevertheless, Tokyo insisted on Tuesday: “There is no change in our basic recognition concerning the threat of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles.”

Pyongyang continues to post “an unprecedentedly serious and imminent threat to Japan’s security and (to) significantly damage the peace and security of the region and the international community”, according to Tokyo.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera acknowledged in the document that North Korea had begun dialogue with former foes the US and South Korea.

“But we cannot overlook the fact that, even to this day, it possesses and fully deploys several hundred missiles that put nearly all of Japan within range,” stressed the minister.AFP

Cambodia frees 14 opposition prisoners

PHNOM PENH―Fourteen Cambodia opposition supporters jailed for insurrection were released Tuesday, the largest pardon since Premier Hun Sen extended his grip on power in an election that turned the kingdom into a one-party state.

The main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved months before the July election, giving Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodia People’s Party a clean sweep of seats in parliament, and many CNRP members and government critics were rounded up in a crackdown on dissent.

The 14 released Tuesday from Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh were pardoned by the Cambodian king for convictions that carried between seven and 20 years behind bars.

Their pardons came after they all apologized to Hun Sen in letters.

They were arrested in 2015 and charged with insurrection after clashes that left dozens of security officers and protesters wounded.

“We could work together. We may argue when it comes to politics, but we shouldn’t kill each other,” Meach Sovannara, a former press officer who had been sentenced to 20 years, said in a Facebook Live broadcast after he was released.

Last week Cambodia’s strongman ruler said more pardons were likely, but rejected suggestions he was bending to international pressure following his onesided election win.

Analysts have said Hun Sen could use pardons and the kingdom’s pliant courts to help deflect criticism, as he has in the past, after July’s vote was widely decried as a sham. AFP

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATION OF AIDS TO MARINE NAVIGATION AT PORTS OF OZAMIZ, JIMENEZ AND PLARIDEL, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 281,763,045.67 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Construction and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation at Ports of Ozamiz, Jimenez and Plaridel, Misamis Occidental (LFP MOZ No. 030-2018).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction, Delivery and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation System B. Supply, Construct and Delivery at Staging Area of Solar-Powered Lighted Buoy Assembly C. Offshore Commissioning, Testing and Observation of Aids to Marine Navigation. Completion of the Works is required in 130 calendar days.

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

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

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

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 29 August 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 September 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 19 September 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 19 September 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Medium B – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATION OF AIDS TO MARINE NAVIGATION AT PORTS OF DUMAGUETE, TANDAYAG, LARENA AND SIQUIJOR, PMONEGROS ORIENTAL/SIQUIJOR, NEGROS ORIENTAL AND SIQUIJOR PROVINCE The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 168,002,507.12 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Construction and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation at Ports of Dumaguete, Tandayag, Larena and Siquijor, PMO-Negros Oriental/Siquijor, Negros Oriental and Siquijor Province (LFP NOS No. 029-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction, Delivery and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation System B. Supply, Construct and Delivery at Staging Area of Solar-Powered Lighted Buoy Assembly C. Offshore Commissioning, Testing and Observation of Aids to Marine Navigation. Completion of the Works is required in 90 calendar days.

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

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

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

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 29 August 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 September 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 19 September 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 19 September 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration:

Medium B – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

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

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

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

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

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

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-47-35 loc. 539

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-47-35 loc. 539

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) M. Standard – Aug. 29, 2018

M. Standard – Aug. 29, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

CROWD DRAWER. Local officials of Southern Luzon join the top brass of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in rallying businessmen to seek new growth opportunities at the 27th South Luzon Area Business Conference (SOLAB) at The Oriental Legazpi Hotel in Legazpi, Albay. Hosted by the Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event drew PCCI president Ma. Alegria “Bing” Sibal- Limjoco (front row, 3rd from left); PCCI past president Samie Lim (2nd from left), who is also PCCI director for Tourism; PCCI vice president for South Luzon Teresita Leabres; PCCI vice president for Mindanao Merlou Quisumbing; PCCI Region 4 governor Juan Martin Barredo; PCCI Region 5 governor Clarine Tobias; Albay Chamber president Rosemarie Quinto Rey; PCCI chapter presidents of Southern Luzon; National Competitiveness Council former co-chairman Guillermo Luz; and other PCCI officials. They led the two-day conference with Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal.

East Visayas party-list backs National ID

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—The enactment into law of the Philippine Identification System Act got the support of Jude Acidre, the first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan party-list in Eastern Visayas region.

“It is good that finally, the National ID System Act has been signed into a law. This law has also been on the legislative agenda of Tingog Sinirangan,” said Acidre, while thanking Leyte First District Rep Yedda Romualdez, one of the co-authors of the law signed

by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 6.

“There are privacy concerns regarding this law, but it is important to note there are probably more personal information shared on Facebook than what would end up in your National ID,” he reasoned.

Acidre said he has been hoping for Filipinos to have their own National ID card.

“Not only for the convenience of a portable proof of identity, but more so because it becomes a tangible marker of citizenship. In fact, a significant number of Filipinos do not have birth certificates, or have yet to be registered with the local civil registry. In a way, they have yet to be ‘counted’ and oftentimes, they have to wait until school age before they finally are issued a birth certificate,” he said.

Acidre, who is married to a Thai, maintained that having a national ID makes every transactions that require a proof of identity seamless and convenient, as what he experienced in Thailand.

3 dams near critical spill levels

By Orlan Lahora Mauricio

M

ALOLOS—Despite the early exit of Typhoon “Luis” over the weekend, the water levels of the three dams in the province of Bulacan have almost reached its critical spilling level or flood season high water level.

Angat Dam, the biggest water reservoir in Bulacan, is fast approaching its flood spilling level of 210 meters. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Bulacan reported that as of 8 am Monday, its water elevation stood at 209.50 meters, half a meter away from its critical level.

Ipo Dam was monitored at 100.83 me-

ters, exactly 0.17 meters away from its spilling level of 101 meters. The water level at Bustos Dam, meanwhile, stood at 17.49 meters against its spilling level of 17.50 meters.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado has called an emergency meeting with the National Water Resources Board today (Wednesday) regarding the

schedules of release of excess water from Angat Dam’s water reservoir towards Bustos Dam, which has been noted to aggravate the flood problems of Calumpit and Hagonoy towns.

As of presstime, Liz Mungcal, PDRRMO chief, could not confirm whether any of the dams have started releasing water on their spillways, nor has she received the latest bulletins from the operators of the dams.

Angat Dam primarily serves the irrigation needs of farmlands in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga, and complements the water level of Ipo Dam that supplies water to La Mesa and Balara for the water needs of Metro Manila.

The governor also has not yet received any advisory when Angat Dam will release excess water to protect the struc-

tural integrity of the dam.

Low-lying towns of Bulacan, particularly Bustos, Pulilan, Calumpit and Hagonoy, suffer from flooding, especially when the dam releases coincide with the high tide in the coastal areas.

Sy-Alvarado last week called on concerned government agencies, particularly the National Power Corp. and the National Water Resources Board, to help address the perennial flooding in the province through the enhancement of the water management of Angat.

The governor expressed belief the only thing that can resolve the present flooding problem in the towns of Hagonoy and Calumpit is proper water management, particularly in the operation of the big turbine of Angat dam. With PNA

DoH-Calabarzon unveils new Batangas MC surgery center

By Macon Ramos-Araneta Department of Health-Calabarzon Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo and local government officials of the Province of Batangas recently led the inauguration and blessing of the new surgery center at the Batangas Medical Center that will deliver advanced surgical care services the region.

“This surgery center will provide top of the line surgical services not only to the people of Batangas but to nearby southern provinces and can accommodate more patients needing surgical operations,” Janairo stated during the opening program on Aug. 24.

“It offers a wide range of surgical procedures, from outpatient surgeries to more complex surgical cases requiring hospitalization. Patients need not go specialty hospitals in Manila because all the available surgical services will be read-

ily available for them,” he added.

Janairo said the BatMC Surgery center offers six spacious operating suites and provides the technology needed to perform a wide variety of surgeries. It also features modern equipment known as boom technology and digital imaging displays.

The new Surgery “B” building with Operating Room Complex was funded through the DOH-Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) with an allotment amounting to P155.9 million.

Six old operating rooms are subject for renovation.

In 2017, the OPD-Psychiatry Building was completed including the MRI Building with a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine that is used to produce detailed pictures of the body’s organs and structures.

BatMC is also ISO 9001-2015 accredited.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD East Avenue, Quezon City Application for a Certificate of a Public Convenience to Operate a TOURIST TRANSPORT Service.

CASE NO. 2018-23367

ATILUZ TRANSPORT SERVICE COOPERATIVE, Applicant/s x------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant request authority to operate a TOURIST TRANSPORT Service within SAN ILDEFONSO, BULACAN and from said place to any point in the Philippines accessible to motor vehicle traffic and vice versa with the use of FOUR ( 4) unit/s.

NOTICE is hereby given that this application will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 03, 2018, at 1:00 P.M. at its Office at the above address.

At least five (5) days prior to the above date, applicant/s shall publish this Notice once in one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Luzon.

Parties opposed to the granting of the application must file their written oppositions supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the applicant/s and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This application will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Witness the Honorable ATTY. MARTIN B. DELGRA III, Chairman this 9TH day of AUGUST 2018.

Atty. FREDERICK L. VALERO Attorney IV Hearing Officer

(MS-AUG. 29, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

DIABETES FORUM. Speakers at the ‘Sweet Escape’ forum on the early prevention of diabetes answer questions in the second leg of

their information tour at the Activity Center of Starmall Alabang on Friday. Seated (from left) are Avigail Zubia, Frazdic Sta. Ana, Dr. Aurora Macabullag, Dr. Augusto Litonjua and Dr. Joy Fontanilla. Diana Noche

Joy: Relocate families hurt by landslide now QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday called for an inter-agency coordination to relocate families affected by a severe landslide in Barangay Roxas.

“From identifying danger zones to evacuating families and relocating them, we need good coordination between the disaster council, the housing authority and other related agencies,” she said.

Belmonte urged “urgent action” from concerned agencies so the 66 families with damaged houses situated beside a creek in Barangay Roxas be relocated to new homes “before a more severe accident occurs as a result of unpredictable and inclement weather.”

She lamented that the nearly nonstop onslaught of inclement weather this month had endangered the foundations of residences near creeks and other areas prone to landslides. Rio N. Araja

QC okays funding for PRC, Scouts

By Rio N. Araja THE 37-member Quezon City council has approved a resolution giving Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to extend P6.3 million in aid to the Philippine Red Cross to defray the accident and health insurance for members of the city’s Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

District 2 Councilor Godofredo Liban II authored City Resolution 7462 in response to a Department of Interior and Local Government circular that would form part of Bautista’s capability to build a program to ensure health benefits and priority to blood donors in case of emergency.

Under the agreement, the Philippine

Red Cross will provide accidental and medical assistance benefits to members and insurance coverage for one year, and build up Red Cross youth councils in each school and district of Quezon City.

“It is a form of good governance to utilize the resources and funds of the City as efficiently and as effectively as possible to finance the delivery of basic services, and the enhancement of various social and economic activities for the prosperity and progress of the people of the City,” the resolution read.

Meanwhile, councilors also passed a resolution urging Bautista to allocate an office space within the city hall compound for the Parents-Teachers Association of Quezon City.

Free bus rides prelude to Davao City bus system

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The “Libreng Sakay sa Kadayawan” program was a success after almost two weeks of giving free rides to Dabawenyos from SM Lanang to SM Ecoland in line with the Davao City’s 33rd Kadayawan Festival, organizers said Tuesday.

Lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo, Assistant City Administrator for Administration, said

that based on the survey the city conducted on the passengers of the Libreng Sakay, Dabawenyos were satisfied and happy with it.

“The initial feedback that was received by the city would show that the passengers were all satisfied,” he said. “Most of the top comments that we received said the bus was safe and convenient.”

Domingo said this positive feedback is a good sign especially that it manifests that the

Davaoeṅos are open for the bus system the city was planning to implement.

The city’s primary consideration before transitioning from jeepneys is the safety and convenience of the passengers, he added.

“We do think that we really deserve the best here in Davao in terms of public transportation, and we think that we can achieve that through the implementation of the bus system,” Domingo said.

Life

fashion and beauty

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE wEdnESday, auguSt 29, 2018

C1

NO FRILLS, JUST BASIC. Simple yet versatile denim pieces, such as jeans, denim blouses and shirts, and jackets in a variety of shades, reign supreme this season.

Denim goes back to basics Denim with anything white for a clean, fussfree look.

L

ast year’s denim trends had all that drama—extreme flares, pearl embellishments, distressed patchwork. This time, it’s all about going back to its playful, classic character.

Instead of novelty items with add-ons that’ll get quick likes on Instagram, these pieces are versatile building blocks for one’s wardrobe.

Think of Bella Hadid in stellar denim-on-denim outfit or Kendall Jenner in her distressed jeans.

Surplus offers a wide range of versatile denim pieces that transcend seasons and trends.

Skinny jeans with straight leg jean that is the silhouette for many brands—from Balenciaga and Saint Laurent to high street denim agenda setter Weekday—may not have left the trends but they sure are hotter now.

Meanwhile, white denim returns as the coolest denim trend, cooler still with frayed edges.

Play with shapes in similarly opposing silhouettes, for instance, a slim denim jacket worn with a wide leg bottom. Or go tonal by mixing shades of blue—a deep dark wash with a slightly lighter indigo for a softer, more modern take on the denim-on-denim look.

Fashion loves contrast, and denim is no exception. Try mixing a thicker, heavier denim with a lighter fabric to add a nice, unexpected sense of texture.

Surplus carries a wide range of denim and other versatile and trendy pieces. Its stores are located in most SM Supermalls.

SPOTTED

Beyoncé in custom head-to-toe Burberry BeyOncé wouldn’t be “queen” if she can’t rock everything.

In her On the Run II tour performance at new Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Queen Bey wore a custom-made Burberry ensemble

The singer rocked the stage in Burberry bodysuit, cropped jacket, thigh high boots, and a pair of sunglasses—all in the British label’s vintage check pattern.

It truly was a show-stopping debut for

Burberry’s new chief creative officer, Riccardo Tisci.

In the Philippines, Burberry is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati, and Rustan’s Shangri-La.

Beyoncé debuts Riccardo Tisci’s new design ideas for British fashion label Burberry on MetLife Stadium’s stage in New Jersey.

Heart Evangelista loves the new L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte 16HR Liquid Lipstick in Cowboy.

Crazy rich Asian?

Heart Evangelista’s

favorite 390-peso lipstick

US fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar recently featured actress/artist Heart evangelista as among the “real crazy rich Asians” owing to her expensive taste in fashion, love for haute couture, and collection of Hermes bags. evangelista may be “living a life of imperial splendor,” as Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians and a good friend of the actress, puts it, but her new favorite lipstick is truly affordable—only P390.

In a series of Instagram stories, evangelista shows how L’Oreal Paris’ new Infallible Pro-Matte 16HR Liquid Lipstick is smudge-proof and transferproof—using her crisp white shirt’s Evangelista users her shirt’s collar to blot collar to blot her red lips. her lipstick. equipped with a triple matte gel topcoat, the new Infallible Pro-Matte Liq- uid Lipstick is not only food-proof and crack-proof, but also provides long wear and comfort. In just one glide, its prosculpt applicator lets the wearer easily shape and reach the contours of their lips for a perfect, no-mess application. evangelista’s favorites are the reddish-brown cowboy and the bluebased red Matador.

Other shades available are Shake Down, nudist, Plum Bum, Stirred, Roseblood, and Petal Potion.

This new range is available at L’Oreal Paris makeup counters in SM, Watsons, and other leading department stores. It’s also available online at Lazada.

Evangelista wears Matador

Life

C2

wednesday, august 29, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

T

Red Charity Gala fetes Rajo Laurel He Red Charity Gala, the country’s premier annual fashion affair for a cause, marks its 10th anniversary with Rajo Laurel.

Laurel’s creations will be featured in a fashion show on Oct. 27 at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel Manila.

For his special collection, Laurel, a creative and entrepreneurial powerhouse who is marking his 25th year in the fashion industry, will pay homage to Philippine history and culture, its roots and origins, through the persona of his modern muse—the intelligent and quietly powerful Filipino woman.

Trained in the new York Fashion Institute of Technology and the Central Saint Martin’s in London, Laurel has received several local and international awards for fashion de-

sign and entrepreneurship. His creations are infused with elegance, romance, and luxury—modern yet feminine, a blend of hard and soft elements.

Laurel joins fellow Filipino designers and past honorees Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, ezra Santos, Jojie Lloren, Lesley Mobo, Chito Vijandre, and Joey Samson—all world-renowned talents.

This year, the Red Charity Gala is partnering with Bench and The Manila Marriot Hotel, as main presenter and co-presenter, respectively.

Furthermore, the fashion-cum-fundraising event will have a new beneficiary, the MInT Fashion School, an

innovative partnership between Lesley Mobo and the Meridian International College. A full four-year scholarship in the school will be awarded to aspiring and deserving students of fashion.

On its 10th year, the Red Charity Gala is bigger than ever—with an allnew and grander venue, more generous sponsors, and a new beneficiary.

It also remains committed to bringing Philippine fashion and Filipino creativity to the world stage while touching the lives of others in a meaningful and profound way.

The event’s founders, society figures Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Kaye Tinga have been unwavering and tirelessly committed to championing the best in Filipino creative talents in fashion, while supporting the Philippine Red Cross and the Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation since they held the first event in 2008.

Rajo Laurel will present his special collection at the Red Charity Gala on Oct. 27.

VANITY CORNER

3-step Korean skin care regimen KOReAn skin care is known for its multiple, often complicated steps that can be overwhelming, if not tedious, especially for people on-the-go.

Direct selling company Amway has applied its unrivaled knowledge of plant extracts to develop a skin care product line that combines K-beauty routine into three easy steps.

MIYU, which means “beauty within you,” is composed of 3-in-1 whitening cleanser, 3-in-1 whitening toner, and whitening moisturizer with SPF 30.

An active ingredient of MIYU, buckwheat extract, is proven to provide protection against sun’s harmful rays, thus preventing premature skin aging while making skin look fairer and nourishing it to its deepest layer.

The Pore Me Down toner, on the other hand, contains chaga mushrooms that help reduce excessive sebum production and tighten pores.

Go to www.amway.com.ph to know where to get these new skin care products.

Red Charity Gala founders Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Kaye Tinga with this year’s featured designer, Rajo Laurel.

Wedding ideas,

cash prize at expo

The upcoming Wedding Expo Philippines will feature more than 400 of the country’s top wedding professionals

THeMeS & Motifs will pick the winner of half a million pesos on the last day of the forthcoming Wedding expo Philippines on Sept. 8-9 at the SMX Mall of Asia.

Aside from awarding the P500,000 cash prize to the lucky raffle winner, the event, as in the past 33 years, will open its door to thousands of soon-toweds from all over the country and the rest of the world.

During the two-day fair, the entire SMX Convention Center will be converted to a 10,000-sqm wedding wonderland with the most creative and most popular wedding suppliers showcasing only the finest and the best wedding ideas. More than 400 of the country’s top wedding professionals will be at this event.

Wedding-related product and service professionals such as fashion designers, caterers, photographers, videographers, limousine providers, invitation makers, hotels, venues, florists, and others will offer their new promos and great deals to soon-to-weds visiting the expo.

In addition, five exciting sub-events

will put the spotlight on the most popular supplier categories.

Wedding Banquets Manila, the country’s biggest food tasting festival dedicated to weddings, will feature the country’s top four wedding caterers in a free sampling session of wedding menus: Hizon’s Catering, Josiah’s Catering, Juan Carlo The Caterer, and Richgold Weddings.

The wedding banquet experts will create an ambiance of wedding day grandeur and offer their wedding culinary delights to guests.

At KasaLitrato, a photo and video festival, photographers and videographers will come together to present their services. A special gallery of celebrity weddings plus free souvenir studio photo shoots await guests at the Studio 1 Photography exhibit area.

Wedding ensembles and fineries for the entourage will be showcased at Wedding Fashion extravaganza, a catwalk-inspired sub-event in Wedding expo Philippines.

Hair and makeup artists will take center stage at I Do HMU sub-event, where participating exhibitors will offer free trial makeup

Flushed cheeks, luscious lips eVeR Bilena makes makeup application easier with its lip and cheek tint with roller ball applicator.

The new eB Lip and Cheek Roller is a convenient makeup product that can give wearers a healthy, natural glow.

To achieve healthy-looking lips, it’s best to prep them with a lip exfoliation product to remove dry skin, then swipe the tint onto lips, and top it off with lipgloss or moisturizer to ensure soft and smooth puckers that last a whole day. For gradient lip look, dab it at the center of lips then smack them together to blend the color toward the edges. Top with concealer or foundation and add more tint to the center if the color is too light. With clean fingers or brush, blend the edges to soften the look.

To apply on cheeks, ever Bilena advises to dab tint on index, middle, and ring fingers then onto cheeks, blending upwards from the apples of cheeks toward the hairline for a more natural flushed look.

The eB Lip and Cheek Roller is available in Uptown Red, night Berry, and Red to Go, and in the newly developed shades of Mandarin Muse, Toast of new York, Whipped Blush, Coral Crush, and Red Bomb.

This multipurpose makeup product is available at Ever Bilena counters in leading supermarkets, drugstores, convenience stores, and department stores nationwide.

Clean in one swipe

Finally, event stylists and florists will wield their magic to present an ambiance that will give guests a preview of their wedding day grandeur and splendor at the Floral Fete.

WePS18 official event stylist Henry Pascual will likewise present his grand display at the main exhibit hall, showcasing his style forecast for 2018 and his grand styling tableau exclusively set up for Wedding expo Philippines.

All soon-to-weds visiting Wedding expo Philippines will be given the latest issue of Inspirations for Weddings magazine. For its 12th issue, Inspirations presents a thousand and one wedding ideas as brought to life by the country’s most trusted wedding professionals.

On DAYS when one can’t be bothered to go through multiple cleansing steps, micellar water comes in handy.

Garnier Micellar Water, which the brand claims the no. 1 micellar water in the Philippines and worldwide, features a unique formula with micellar technology that works as a gentle yet effective cleanser that swipes away makeup, excess oil, and acne-causing dirt and impurities.

It comes in two variants: a pink hydrating cleanser for dry and sensitive skin and a blue mattifying cleanser that’s perfect for oily and acne-prone skin.

The All-In-One Cleanser can be used anytime and anywhere. It just takes three easy and quick steps: pour on a cotton pad, then press onto skin, and swipe away impurities.

Micellar water is effective in removing makeup even those smudge-proof eyeliners.

It also helps refresh skin at midday after being exposed to pollution and dirt.

Both variants are available at Garnier counters in leading supermarkets and drugstores nationwide.

Entertainment Simply Red...

From C4

young man searching for his mother who left them many years ago. He finds himself working in a museum in Canada where he encountered Magni/Magnus who handed him a compass before he left earth for their own version of eternal life. The compass directed him to his “destiny” where he also discovered the hammer called mjonir.

In the series, Thor has been declared as dead and the wife Sif or Ms. S (Andrea Torres) is sent to the land of mortals to guide Victor in his mission as the keeper of mjolnir.

In Filipinizing the myth, Zapata has achieved something not quite usual on Philippine TV. And it seems the audience of this series has embraced the idea that Victor Magtanggol is, indeed, the chosen one to be the worthy custodian of Thor’s mjolnir.

What makes it different from the Hollywood film Thor and its subsequent sequel Thor: Ragnarok, is that this is happening post Ragnarok. Thor has died and his son, Móði (Pancho Magno) is fixated in finding the hammer and sends his ally the half-god Loki (John Estrada) to the land of the mortals to find it.

Naturally, as the series is Filipino, we find a number of subplots interwoven into the core of Victor, the mjolnir, Loki and Móði. Hence, there’s the search for Victor’s mother (played by Coney Reyes), Victor’s liking of Gwen Regalado (Janine Gutierrez), and I am certain a number more that will be introduced as the series moves on.

With the series’ computer generated imagery (CGI), the audience, particularly children as young as six-years old, are hooked for 45 minutes, five days a week.

And if this would remain as the crux of the series audience, it would really give Cardo Dalisay big trouble, unless he’s ready to pack up and bid the city goodbye.

TNT singers now recording stars Tawang ng Tanghalan formed TNT records, home of original Pilipino music (OPM), a new generation of singers, and a fresh sound.

For the first time in the country, a singing competition paves the way for the launch of a record label that intends to create a platform in which world-class performers can further improve their skills and enrich their craft. It can also showcase their talents as singers under the guidance of ABS-CBN and Star Music.

TNT Records first artists are the TNT Boys and the Janine Berdin, the competition’s grand champion, now the new gem of OPM. Also signed were folk-rock mover Ato Arman, powerhouse performer Eumee, songwriter Froilan Canlas, ballad prince Anton Tenorcruz, all out teen diva Arabelle de la Cruz, spectacular performer Reggie Tortugo, Inday wonder Sheena Belarmino, and Mr. Rhythm Steven Paysu.

Coming together to create exceptional music are the group Cove (composed of JM Bales, Christian Bahaya, and Sofronio Vasquez) and the newest belting duo called Bukang Liwayway (made up of Lalainne Araña and Pauline Agupitan).

The new singles under the TNT label are Eumee’s “Bratatat” and Janine’s “Biyaya,” both penned TNT Records’ producer Chochay Magno.

Prior to TNT Records’ launch, fans enjoyed the TNT singers’ finest renditions of popular hits on the TNTV on YouTube now with more than 120K subscribers.

TNTV has recently expanded to air an on-line show called TNTV Now in which fans can watch the singers having some chitchats with Yeng Constantino, Jaya, Kyla, and Ogie Alcasid.

The TNT singers will have busy months ahead, with Sam Mangubat, Marielle Montellano, and Noven Belleza promoting their singers as part of Star Music family.

They also headlined their first major outing at Smart Araneta Coliseum on July 28.

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HILDREN get to experience responding to disasters while learning basic survival skills at KidZania Manila’s newest attraction—the Disaster Preparedness Training Center—an all-in simulation facility where they will discover different types of natural dangers and the threats these pose to citizens in a community.

The latest establishment adds another thrilling role play activity at KidZania Manila, which is celebrating its third year in the country this month. It teaches young disaster response trainees, aged seven to 17 years old, how to plan, prepare for, survive and recover from natural disasters.

Aside from the training, the young trainees also undergo a lifelike disaster scenario which will challenge them to assess the emergency situation and secure the area, find survivors and help carry them to safety, and locate exits and escape safely.

The new KidZania Manila establishment aims to promote disaster preparedness and resiliency among children, while seeking to develop their collaboration, communication, and critical thinking, when disaster strikes.

Opened in August 2015, KidZania Manila is the 20th metropolis in the KidZania Nation around the globe.

The educational family entertainment facility is a replica of a real city scaled down to kids’ size—with its own history, culture, language, and currency. It welcomed its millionth visitor in March this year and continues to provide children with over 100 engaging role play activities that teach valuable skills in a safe environment.

Join the third anniversary celebration of KidZania Manila until August 31 and let the kids take on the disaster response challenge. Get 30 percent off on tickets on weekends and holidays of August via walk-in or online purchase at ktx. abs-cbn.com. Weekday visitors may also avail 33 percent off on tickets via dealgrocer.com.

KidZania Manila is located at Park Triangle, Bonifacio Global City. For more details, visit manila.kidzania. com or follow the play city’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) @kidzaniamanila.

Rebuilding Marawi project GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), GMA Network’s socio-civic arm, inked a partnership with Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, Inc., a premier ceramic tile producer in the Philippines and Asia, in support to GMAKF’s Rebuild Marawi Project.

Under the partnership which was signed on Aug. 24, Mariwasa Siam is providing ceramic tiles for the schools that GMAKF is rebuilding and rehabilitating in the war-torn Marawi City.

Present during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement were Mariwasa Siam President Phaskorn Buranawit and Vice President for Sales & Marketing Jakkrit Suwansilp, and GMAKF Institutional Marketing and

Communications Supervisor Tracy Cruz, on behalf of GMAKF EVP & COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog.

Buranawit expressed his appreciation to GMAKF for continuously bringing help where it is needed the most.

“We are very glad that GMA Kapuso Foundation allowed us to also become a part of this meaningful project to help Filipinos in need, especially the children in Marawi. We do hope that we can work again together in the future,” he added.

Under GMAKF’s Rebuild Marawi Project, a total of 10 (ten) classrooms are currently being rebuilt and rehabilitated at Pendolonan Elementary School and Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Elementary School in Marawi City.

From left: Mariwasa Siam Vice President for Sales & Marketing Jakkrit Suwansilp, President Phaskorn Buranawit, and GMAKF Institutional Marketing and Communications Supervisor Tracy Cruz.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

61 Gold unit 62 Roman poet 64 Jai — 65 Hold forth 66 Onetime Trevi Fountain coins 67 Huff and puff 68 Patriot Ethan — 69 Finely sharpened 70 Fencer’s blade DOWN 1 Purse closer 2 Container weight 3 Writing fluids 4 Hieroglyphics stone 5 Secure 6 Increase 7 Startled cries 8 If not 9 Went backpacking 10 Home furnishing (2 wds.)

11 Roasting ear 12 Surrounded by 13 Fiber-rich grain 21 Dweeb 23 Rare gas 25 Cute pooch 27 Strong opposition 28 Sound 29 Deride 31 Ess molding

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

KidZania’s new attraction enables kids learn basic survival skills

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Recipe verb 5 Woodwind 9 Chocolate bean 14 Billionth, in combos 15 Move along rapidly 16 Scent 17 Havens 18 Discard 19 Type of badge 20 Spanish coins 22 Get bigger 24 Gibes at 26 Constantly, to Poe 27 Tie down 30 Behavior 34 Type of eclipse 35 Comic swamp critter 36 Delighted 38 Lime cooler 39 Be a sign of 42 GP org.

43 Ukraine city 45 Paper toy 46 Use force 48 Paper-folding art 50 Loud and rude 51 Brother 52 Gives off 54 Debutante’s bow 57 Long journey

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

32 Keeps time 33 Makes docile 35 Ever so proper 37 “What’s My Line?” host 40 Approves 41 Grimy 44 Quiver 47 Spa offering 49 Acquired 50 Invited 53 Ripple pattern 54 Reiner or Sagan 55 Europe-Asia range

56 Egg part 58 Give a high-five 59 Self-confidence 60 Exclamation of fright 61 Campground initials 63 Engage in rivalry

Team Yey kids Lukas Magallano and Lady Pipay Navarro with KidZania Manila's EO Masilungan and Tourino Dilaga.

Carla Abellana ventures into the business of pampering APART from her hectic schedule shooting for her next project for the GMA Network, Carla Abellana is now the proud owner of a Posh Nails franchise, a business venture she calls a dream come true.

“I have always been a loyal client of Posh Nails. I was going there with my mom as our bonding time back when I was in high school, when it was just starting out in its first branch at Greenhills. I even remember seeing owner Cat Ilacad there at the counter every time I went for my pampering treatments,” she smiles in recollection.

Even during those days, she promised herself that she would own a franchise someday.

“Natuwa lang ako with the concept, because it was the first of its kind in the country. Before, if you wanted your nails done, you did it in a beauty parlor or called a neighbourhood manicurista for home service.”

She was enchanted with the pink and purple décor and the themed services that could not be found anywhere else, and kept coming back even when showbiz beckoned.

When the opportunity came, she first became an ambassador for the homegrown brand, and has now fully immersed herself in it by taking on a franchise. Carla first approached the possibility of becoming a franchisee two years ago, but had to wait until she found the perfect spot for her business at the Level 3 Ayala Malls Feliz.

“We started construction last December 2017 and opened shop early this year on March 14,” she shares.

The business is doing well, she says. And she would know, as she was hands-on at her branch for the duration that she was in between projects.

“I have partnerships in other businesses. I am a co-owner of Holy Smokes in Poblacion, Makati and we also have an online business, but I am not fully involved in those. With my Posh Nails franchise, I am at the store, making sure that everything runs smoothly. Since there is no one else to delegate the work to, I am on top of everything, from Marketing, to hiring, to customer service,” she says proudly.

She has regular clients, some of whom are fans who travel all the way from Makati, Laguna or Pampanga.

“I am so happy with the support that the fans have given, even when I am not there especially now that I am

shooting my series, they still come over.”

The other large percentage of clients are those who come because they love to experience the Posh Nails brand of pampering.

“I made sure that we hired technicians who can provide the best customer service, especially since the market at my location in an Ayala mall is more upscale. We trained our staff to be polite and proactive and to provide the clients with really good service.”

She still loves getting her “manipedis” and says that she personally prefers two colors – either light pink or dark red.

“Sometimes I will switch it up and go for other pastel polishes, but I still go back to my two basics. Because I have been with Posh Nails for a long time, I really look forward to my treatments as my time to relax. When it makes you feel this good, hahanapin na siya ng katawan mo to the point that it almost becomes an addiction,” she laughs.

She encourages other busy professionals to take time off for some pampering, as it helps to de-stress from a busy schedule. The specialised treatments at Posh Nails are a good way to unwind while making sure that your nails are always in tip-top condition.

For more information about Posh Nails, visit their official Facebook page and Instagram account.

Carla Abellana is now a proud owner of Posh Nails business franchise

Entertainment

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

C4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

A comingof-age crime thriller opens in PH cinemas

ISAH V. RED

'Miss Granny'

breaks box-office records SARAH Geronimo’s Miss Granny racked up P21M last Sunday, the highest single day gross so far for a local movie in 2018.

The movie, a remake of a Korean movie of the same title about a 74-year old who feels she is becoming a burden to her family and is magically stuck in a 20-year-old body.

The local version seems to have struck a chord with the audience of mostly mothers and grandmothers.

Writes lmcrstll I. jadine in her socmed account, “Nakakarelate sya kase isa rin syang byuda. Yung paghihirap ni Sarah dun simula nung nagkasakit anak nya, dun nakarelate si mama. And sabi nya ang galing galing ni Sarah mag portray kase pati sya natuwa at naiyak sa movie.

(She’s able to relate. She’s a widow and when Sarah’s son got sick that’s when she started to relate to the movie. She added Sarah’s performance was really good because she made her laugh and cry at the same time.)”

Says another, also in her socmed, “Kaya tayo, pahalagahan talaga natin magulang natin. Yung sa simpleng bagay na ginagawa natin sa kanila, and yung paglaan pa lang natin ng oras sa kanila, sobrang laking bagay na nun para sa kanila. (That’s why we need to give importance to our parents. The simple things we do for them, giving time for them, those are things they are able

Two GENERATIONS

OF DIVAS IN ONE

grand concert VOCAL POWERHOUSE. Morissette Amon (left) and Lani Misalucha are set to enchant concertgoers as they take them on a musical journey filled with timeless hits and memorable numbers.

By Nickie Wang

ANI Misalucha and Morissette Amon are set to tell their stories in a concert entitled A Lani Morissette – Musical Journey, as they sing a medley of unexpected song choices that showcase their versatility, vocal range, and own style of performance.

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to appreciate.)”

The movie will be on its extended run nationwide. It also has screenings in other countries.

Kapuso’s 'Victor Magtanggol' remains Cardo Dalisay’s nemesis Come to think of it, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’s Cardo Dalisay has never seen a rival that’s giving him reason to worry more those villains he has to face on his own turf.

The premiere of Kapuso’s prime time series Victor Magtanggol was seen by many observers as perhaps the show to make Cardo Dalisay think of ending his mission and finally retiring.

While many has criticized the Kapuso network for putting up a show that is taken from a Germanic mythology, also the origin of Thursday (Thors day), it is not as much as an imitation of the Hollywood film Thor with Chris Hemsworth, but it is Dominic Zapata’s take on a Western mythology. Watching the show from the pilot to its current episodes made me understand what Zapata was trying to make out of the Germanic mythology.

Victor Magtanggol, the character Alder Richards play, is a compassionate Turn to C3

At the grand media launch for the concert, the seasoned chanteuse and rising vocal powerhouse were hesitant to provide any details of the concert repertoire but the two assured that they have prepared for the show really well as they wanted to give the audience a great show.

“We want to give them a show they’ll enjoy and remember. We included songs that we usually sing but, we also chose ones that aren’t expected for that surprise factor,” Morissette told reporters.

“After the concert, we want our fans to leave feeling good, and with them is the message that we want to convey: We all go through different journeys in life, but if we focus on the plans that we have, we can achieve them,” Lani added.

According to the senior singer, they’ve been receiving a few requests from fans on what they would want to see and hear during the colloboration concert.

“They’re asking for a showdown, although we don’t want the concert to appear like a showdown between Morissette and I, we might give the audience a little of what they’re asking for,” Lani mused and asked reporters to share the news about their concert happening at The Theatre at Solaire on Sept. 22 and 23.

As for preparations, the two singers reveal where they are at in their respective careers. Being rather new under a bigger spotlight, Morissette admits that even though she has spent some time with Lani before, she still gets shy around her.

“It’s important that when you’re collaborating with another artist, there is that rapport. I just tell myself that, ‘Sette, you can do this. Don’t be shy.’”

Lani, on the other hand says that she will have to prepare physically to keep up with the 22-year old. “I don’t have the same stamina that I used to when I was younger, so I really need to prepare myself.”

Despite the contrasts between both artists, they are on the same page when it comes to what they want their fans to experience.

“Lani and Morissette are on different stages of their musical journey. Lani is at the pinnacle of her career while, Morissette is still venturing into hers,” says Audie Gemora, Solaire’s Director for Entertainment.

Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha moved to the United States in 2000 and began performing in various Las Vegas hotel and casino properties, gaining the name “New Siren of the Strip”. The singer, reaching the high point of her Philippine success, made the bold move to spread her

SOON in local cinemas is A.X.L. is a fascinating action-adventure movie inspired by the sevenminute short film titled Miles, also by its director Oliver Daly.

Presented by VIVA International Pictures and MVP Entertainment, A.X.L. is a top-secret, robotic dog that has advanced artificial intelligence created by the military. After an experiment gone wrong, A.X.L. is discovered hiding in the desert

by Miles, a kindhearted outsider who finds a way to connect with the robot.

The two soon develop a special friendship based on trust, loyalty and compassion. Helping Miles gain confidence, A.X.L. goes to any length to protect his new companion, including facing off against the scientists who want their creation back.

Portraying Miles is Alex Neustaedter, who was Daly’s top choice for the role. He describes Neustaedter as “a bit of Luke Skywalker character, but with a James Dean quality as well.”

Neustaedter didn’t miss the opportunity to take on the role and was also “impressed with how

wings wider to only shine brighter under the City of Lights.

She is known by many for her highoctave vocal range, and iconic songs such as “Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko”, “Tunay na Mahal”, “Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi” and “Bukas Nalang Kita Mamahalin”. She is back for a short while to visit family and to fulfill commitments here in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the young Morissette Amon started in Cebu and made it to Manila’s rigorous talent shows where big voices dominate and are always in fierce competition. After countless attempts at victory, she rose from the ashes like a phoenix to claim her rightful place. She recently reached a milestone with her first solo concert, Morissette is Made held at the Big Dome, and is now being toured around the world.

She rose to stardom for her powerful vocal range catapulting her to become one of the country’s new generation of power belters.

A Lani Morissette—Musical Journey proves to be a story of reinvention that will relate to an audience that have their own challenges to face, and to inspire them to make the decisions that they fear to take.

For tickets to A Lani Morissette— Musical Journey, you can call Ticketworld at 891-9999.

Man’s best friend has now evolved

Alex Neustaedter (left) as Miles Hill, and Becky G as Sara Reyes with a robotic dog named A.X.L.

FILMMAKERS Jonathan and Josh Baker make their feature directorial debut with Kin, which is based on their acclaimed short film, Bag Man. The movie features an all-star cast including Jack Reynor, Zoë Kravitz, Carrie Coon, Dennis Quaid, James Franco, and Myles Truitt.

Kin is a pulse-pounding crime thriller with a sci-fi twist, the story of an unexpected hero destined for greatness.

Fourteen-year-old AfricanAmerican Eli (Myles Truitt) lives in Detroit with his adoptive father Hal (Dennis Quaid), a compassionate yet strict construction site supervisor and widower who senses Eli falling into delinquency.

While exploring an abandoned building site looking for materials to scrap for extra money, Eli happens upon the aftermath of an otherworldly shoot-out. In the debris, he finds an unusuallooking metallic box and takes it home. He doesn’t know what it is, but holding it seems to activate it, and Eli decides to guard it preciously.

At the same time, Eli’s older, white brother Jimmy (Jack Reynor)—Hal’s biological son—has just come home from a prison stint, eager to reconnect with Eli and mend an estranged relationship with their father. But Jimmy also harbors a most pressing need: to pay back local gangster Taylor (James Franco), the man who kept him alive inside.

After Jimmy’s dangerous attempt to secure the money ends tragically, he hits the road, with Eli—and his strange new possession—in tow. Chased by a criminal bent on revenge, and two otherworldly beings in pursuit of their missing hardware, Jimmy and Eli are forced to go on the run. With the help of a friendly stranger named Milly (Zoë Kravitz), these lost brothers realize quickly the consequences of their actions, and their secrets.

But for Eli, learning what this mysterious and powerful weapon can accomplish becomes more than just a case of protection—it might also reveal his destiny.

Kin opens in cinemas nationwide today from Pioneer Films.

Dennis Quaid (left) and Myles Truitt in a scene from the American science fiction action film, 'Kin.'

passionate Oliver was about the film.”

Sara, “the true hero of the story,” according to Daly, was played by actress, pop star, and model, Becky G, who collaborated with the director on making important decisions about her character. Becky G hopes that the youth would embrace Sara’s spirit, strength, and independence.

Although the main character is a robot, Daly still “wanted the actors to have the experience of working with something that’s actually on set.” So to give him a more lifelike appearance, they decided to incorporate a suit performer inside to give the character a “sense of genuine body language.”

AXL deals with important real-life issues, particularly about the dangers of unchecked technological advancement. Daly wanted people to realize that artificial intelligence isn’t necessarily the problem, but it’s the people that control them.

“Apart from new technologies being often considered as weapons, the biggest danger is that the people with these technologies have a lot of power, and that power can corrupt us very quickly,” Daly said.