Manila Standard - 2018 September 7 - Friday

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Maternity bill entails cost—SSS

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta TO BE able to support the proposed 100day paid extended maternity leave if it is passed into a law, the Social Security System would need to increase contributions from employers and employees.

Ma. Luisa Sebastian, SSS assistant

VOL. XXXII • NO. 204 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

vice president for media affairs, said based on a “scientific actuarial study,” they would need to ask for a P30 increase in the monthly contribution of each member of the SSS applicable for minimum wage earners receiving a monthly basic salary of P10,000.

The higher the wage, the higher the contribution, she added.

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Finance questions NFA moves Price spiral blamed on economic managers

P512 P23,438

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Thursday blamed the country’s economic managers for the nine-year-high in the rate of inflation, saying this could compel the Senate to reverse fuel excise taxes that were imposed in January under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

“The recent inflation figures show that our economic managers are obviously not on top of this issue. We cannot wait for prices to get further out of control. The economic managers do not seem to be serious in dealing with the problem,” Villanueva said.

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(Monthly estimate divided by 30 days)

Food expenditures .............................. P371.9 House rent .............................................. P131.26 Water, electricity, gas ......................... P75.80 Transportation ...................................... P41.40 Health ....................................................... P17.20 Furnishings/routine household .... P14.06 Clothing/footwear .............................. P13.26 Communication ................................... P13.26 Education ................................................ P10.16 Special family occasion...................... P8.60 Durable furniture/equipment ........ P5.46 Alcoholic beverages............................ P4.70 Recreation/culture ............................... P3.90 Miscellaneous goods/services ....... P44.53 Other expenditure ............................... P14.06 Savings ...................................................... P11.73

By Nat Mariano, Rey E. Requejo and Macon RamosAraneta THE Palace said Thursday that the resignation of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV from the military does not undo his violations of the Articles of War while he was still in the service.

In a statement sent to the press Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 declared Trillanes’ amnesty invalid from the very beginning.

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By Céline Cornu US COFFEE giant Starbucks opens its first branch in Italy on Thursday, with the sprawling M i l a n ‘roastery’ at the avant garde of an ambitious plan to conquer the spiritual home of espresso.

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—monthly expenses for a family of five based on the 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey of the National Wages and Productivity Commission

Daily expenses

Palace insists on court martial vs Trillanes

Starbucks starts to brew in Italy

—National Capital Region with P30 Cost of Living Allowance

PAL cancels more flights to typhoon-hit Osaka

By Joel E. Zurbano and Nat Mariano PHILIPPINE Airlines said Thursday it is canceling more flights to and from Osaka, Japan, until Sept.

12 next week in connection with the closure of the Kansai International

Airport.

The airport will be repaired and rehabilitated after Typhoon “Jebi” caused extensive damage to its facilities and access roads.

The airline made the announcement even as Malacañang on Thursday extended prayers to the people

affected by the 6.7-magnitude earthquake felt in northern Japan.

“Our prayers to the people of Japan who were affected by a powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake that struck their northern region this morning,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement. Next page

Cash-awash agency asked why it failed to boost rice supply

By Julito G. Rada

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HE Finance department has asked the National Food Authority to immediately explain why it bought palay or unhusked rice way below its projected buffer requirement in the second half of 2017 and revised its buying mix to heavily favor imports over rice from local farmers, despite ample funds at its disposal and standby credit.

AQUINO

DOMINGUEZ

In a letter to NFA administrator Jason Aquino, the DoF said that based on a review of the agency’s financial records, the NFA received a P5.10-billion subsidy from the national government in 2017, of which P3.01 billion was used to pay for accounts with the Bureau of the Treasury, leaving a balance of P2.09 billion.

The DoF, headed by Secretary Carlos Dominguez said this P2.09 billion from the subsidy fund could have been rolled over and used to procure more rice to beef up the NFA’s inventory. But the DoF found that the agency used the money instead to pay for its short-term credit facility with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

A review of the NFA’s cash position, without taking into account the P2.09 billion subsidy, also confirmed that the NFA had 1) a cash balance of P1.3 billion as of March 2017, which dropped to P1.2 billion as of endJune 2017; and 2) available government-guaranteed facilities of P3.58 billion as of March 2017, which fell to P2.1 billion as of end-June 2017.

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Ombudsman freezes all bids to suspend execs in crime cases

By Rio N. Araja

Brown Taipan Villar 2nd richest in PH BUSINESS B1

OMBUDSMAN Samuel Martires has barred the Office of the Special Prosecutors from pursuing the suspension of public officials facing criminal prosecution before the Sandiganbayan and any lower court.

“All concerned shall no longer be required to file motions to suspend the accused pendente lite before the Sandiganbayan or the lower courts,” Martires’ Aug. 28 memorandum read.

He ordered the Ombudsman prosecutors to withdraw all of the pending motions to suspend concerned government officials.

He invoked two Supreme Court decisions and said any suspension order must emanate from the courts and not Next page

MARHABAAN, ALSYD ALRAYIYS. President Rodrigo Duterte is welcomed by officials from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on his arrival at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman on Wednesday. Duterte is expected to meet members of the Filipino community in Jordan, where there are 16,000 Filipino workers—90 percent women—most of them housekeepers, domestic helpers, housemaids, hammam staff or factory workers. Presidential Photo

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Cops eye politics in mayor’s slay O

FFICIALS are looking at politics and a grudge in the killing of Mayor Mariano Blanco III of Ronda town in Cebu, a report on News To Go said Thursday.

A task group has been formed by Cebu Police to look into the killing that took place at Blanco’s office around 1 am on Wednesday.

OIC Mayor Rocky Gabatan said the mayor’s movements had been under surveillance for months, while Cebu Gov. Junjun Davide said Blanco had received a death threat after the killing of Ronda Vice Mayor Johna John Ungab in February.

Ungab was the lawyer of self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa.

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“In view of this, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has stated that the courtmartial proceedings against Senator Trillanes will continue,” he said.

“As some of you may recall, he was charged both for offenses tried before civilian courts and service-related offenses that are punished under the Articles of War. The Court Martial has continuing jurisdiction over violations of the Articles of War,” he said.

Roque also said the government wants to see Trillanes behind bars as the former Navy officer committed sedition and coup d’etat.

“That’s what the government wants to happen [to see him in jail]. Of course, that’s why we have a motion filed in Makati Regional Trial Court to bring him back to jail. There’s also a possibility that the military court will be the one to imprison him as the military tribunal has a concurrent jurisdiction,” Roque said.

“Now, he said he has an application, but in truth, there’s a certification saying they cannot find his application.

Anyone can get the document and say they filed it, but the point is where is the official copy?” Roque said.

“But more than that, did he already ask for forgiveness for his crimes? He attempted coup for two times both in Oakwood and Manila Peninsula,” he said.

Roque also denied that the revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty was an act of political oppression.

Trillanes on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to stop the AFP and the Philippine National Police from re-arresting him to face prosecution for cases arising rom his unsuccessful military coups against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

In his petition, Trillanes asked the Court to issue a restraining order to stop his arrest, after President Duterte issued a proclamation revoking the amnesty granted to him in 2011 by his political ally, President Benigno Aquino IV. President Duterte’s arch critic also asked the 15-member bench to declare as null and void Proclamation 572 for alleged violation of the Constitution.

Trillanes also submitted documents that he said would prove he met the requirements of his amnesty, particularly his formal application and express admission of guilt on the crimes charged. He did not, however, submit the actual application form that is now missing in the records of the military.

Trillanes argued that the proclamation specifically violated the constitutional grant of “shared power” between the executive and legislative branches in issuance and withdrawal of amnesty grant.

“The power to grant amnesty is not just the sole prerogative of the Executive. Under the Constitution, this power, to be validly exercised, requires concurrence of both Houses of Congress,” the opposition senator said.

He also argued that the presidential order was political harassment that violates his rights to due process and equal protection since it “singled out and specifically targeted” him, which showed the “illicit and malicious” purpose of the order.

He also argued that the proclamation violated the rule on double jeopardy since the cases against him have already been dismissed by the Makati City regional trial courts.

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“The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor the situation and stays in touch with the leaders of the Filipino community in Hokkaido to check the condition of our countrymen there and to ensure that everyone is safe and accounted for.”

PAL said 55 flights had now been canceled since Sept. 3 due to Jebi, which affected all routes between Osaka and Manila, Cebu and Taipei.

Among the flights canceled up to Sept. 12 are PR-408 Manila to Osaka

Blanco was among the local officials stripped of power over the local police after President Rodrigo Duterte linked them to the narcotics trade.

He was the 10th mayor killed under the Duterte administration.

In November last year, Blanco told reporters his life was in danger. He had just been stripped of his power over the local police back then after Duterte publicly accused him of being a narco-politician.

At 1:30 am on Wednesday his fears came true after he was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside his office.

“Witnesses said four armed men alighted from a white van and entered the municipal hall. The mayor was there as he was sleeping in his office,” Sr. Insp. Jayr Palcon told AFP. Since 2017, Blanco had been regularly changing his routine―including sleeping in his office―in a bid to deter would-be assassins.

Blanco’s death came seven months after his nephew, Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah Ungab, was also gunned down in Cebu City in February. A lawyer,

Ungab served as a legal counsel to selfconfessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa Jr. He was shot twice in the head a few meters away from the Cebu City Palace of Justice where he accompanied Espinosa.

In July, at least five politicians―including another mayor in Duterte’s narco-list―were killed in a span of six days.

On July 2, Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas, was shot dead while attending a flag ceremony at the city hall. A day after, Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, was repeatedly shot by a motorcycle-riding suspect while he was on board his Toyota Fortuner in Cabanatuan City.

P1-b extra budget for Dengvaxia victims hailed measure by voting 18-0.

Senators also hailed the Senate’s approval of the supplemental budget.

Senator Loren Legarda, sponsor of the bill and head of the Senate committee on finance, said the measure would provide medical assistance for the hospitalization and out-patient care services to all dengue patients, including those who received the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“Through this we hope to, somehow, allay fears of the almost 900,000 individuals who were administered with the Dengvaxia vaccine,” she said.

Senator Richard Gordon commended the passage of the bill seeking to allocate a supplemental budget.

The measure is expected to benefit nearly 900,000 children administered with the vaccine.

The P1.161 billion was sourced from the refund given by Zuellig Pharma, the local distributor of the anti-dengue drug manufactured by the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur.

The budget was given to the government for the unused vaccine doses and vials purchased during the Aquino administration.

underlying assumptions in the revised May 2017 projection showed a mix of 68:32 in favor of imported rice. However, actual stock flow for 2017 resulted in a mix of 94:6, in favor of imported rice, which was a substantial drop in the share of actual local rice procurement compared with the May 2017 projections,,” Cruz added.

Cruz bared that on top of its funds and NG-guaranteed credit facilities that the NFA can use if funds are insufficient to procure rice, the DoF can also provide national government advances for debt servicing or guarantees on the required additional credit to support the agency’s operations. Thus, the NFA was assured of enough funds to buy the projected volume of local rice at least up to the third quarter under its May projection.

The NFA is required to keep a buffer stock good for 15 days at any given time and a 30-day buffer stock during the traditional lean months of July to September.

Given its findings on the NFA’s cash flow and actual procurement done last year, the DOF told the agency to explain the drop in actual palay procurement as against projection for the second quarter of 2017; the decline in procurement turnout for the rest of the year; the drop in the share of local rice procurement; and its failure to roll over its NG-guaranteed facilities so that it could have funds available to augment its rice procurement capabilities.

“We would highly appreciate receiving your immediate responses to our queries,” Cruz said in her letter to Aquino.

The Department of Budget and Management and the rest of the Cabinet’s economic cluster on Thursday urged the Senate to pass the rice tarrification bill this month to respond to the in-

creasing prices for rice.

A similar bill that removes quantitative restrictions on rice imports has already been passed in the House.

“A shift from quantitative restrictions on rice in favor of tariffication will reduce its retail price by four to seven pesos,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.

In a press conference last Wednesday, the government announced that it will immediately release 4.6 million sacks of rice in NFA warehouses to markets all over the country while also allocating 2.7 million sacks to Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Some two million sacks of rice previously contracted to be delivered is also expected to arrive before the end of September.

In addition, the NFA Council authorized the importation of five million sacks of rice that will be arriving over the next six weeks. Another five million sacks will be imported early next year.

Earlier this week, the Philippine Statistics Authority said the rate of inflation hit 6.4 percent in August, a nineyear-high, and traced the increase to rising prices for rice, fish, vegetables and meat.

A spokesman for the NFA on Thursday said imported rice would not immediately bring prices down.

In an interview with radio dzMM, NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez said the imports would beef up the cheaper NFA rice distributed to the market, but this would not address high prices.

He also said the country’s economic managers had different opinions on rice imports.

“Some say if the country imports more rice, prices will go down. But if we say we want to buy at a higher price from local farmers, they’ll say it is inflationary,” he said in Filipino.

“We will have to consult with the labor groups and the employer sector as to how the arrangement would be.

Would it be 50-50 arrangement or a 7525 one? That would depend on our dialogue,” she told radio dzMM. Congress passed the proposed 100day expanded maternity leave on third and final reading, but various women’s groups wanted the SSS to improve its collection efficiency rate to be able to fund the bill once it is passed into a law, and said there is no need to raise monthly contributions.

Sebastian, however, said the SSS projected a 52-percent increase in benefit

payments should the measure become a law, and that this would hurt the agency’s fund.

From January to June this year alone, the SSS released P3.3 billion in maternity benefit payments.

“That is just the first half of the year.

We have 157,000 female members, most of them are in their productive years,” Sebastian said.

“We understand the problem of our workers [in the private sector],” she said.

“We do not want to put our funds at risk and at the same to sacrifice the welfare of the mothers,” she said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the extension of paid maternity leaves was a major victory for women and would improve their health.

“Enough rest will give new moth-

ers time for recuperation and recovery from childbirth,” said Hontiveros.

“It will also improve on families’ overall well-being, with newborn infants being properly taken care of, with enough skin-to-skin contact with their mother,” said Hontiveros who commended the passage on third and final reading of the 100-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Bill in the House of Representatives.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, championed the counterpart bill in the upper chamber that was approved in March last year.

The House of Representatives’ version seeks to improve on the country’s paid maternity leave policy by adding 40 days from the current 60 days.

(Kansai) and PR-407 Osaka (Kansai) to Manila, PR-410 Cebu to Osaka (Kansai) and PR-409 Osaka (Kansai) to Cebu, and PR-896 Taipei to Osaka (Kansai) and PR-897 Osaka (Kansai) to Taipei.

The affected Manila-bound PAL passengers who are currently unable to take their Kansai-Manila flights may reroute on any of the following flights: Nagoya-Manila, Tokyo Haneda-Manila and Tokyo Narita-Manila, and travel by land to Nagoya/Haneda/Narita airport.

The Cebu-bound PAL passengers of the canceled Osaka (Kansai)-Cebu flights may reroute on any of the following flights: Nagoya-Cebu and To-

kyo Narita-Cebu and travel by land to Nagoya/Haneda/Narita airport.

Osaka-bound PAL passengers of the canceled Manila - Osaka (Kansai) flights may reroute on any of the following flights: Manila - Nagoya, Manila - Tokyo Narita and Manila - Tokyo Haneda, and travel by land to Osaka.

Osaka-bound PAL passengers of canceled Cebu - Osaka (Kansai) flights may reroute on any of the following flights: Cebu - Nagoya and Cebu - Tokyo Narita, and travel by land to Osaka.

Osaka-bound PAL passengers of canceled Taipei - Osaka (Kansai) flights may reroute on any of the following flights: Taipei - Manila - Nago-

ya, Taipei - Manila - Tokyo Narita and Taipei - Manila - Tokyo Haneda, and travel by land to Osaka.

Taipei-bound PAL passengers of canceled Osaka (Kansai) - Taipei flights may reroute on any of the following routings: Nagoya - Manila - Taipei, Tokyo Haneda - Manila - Taipei and Tokyo Narita - Manila - Taipei, and travel by land to Nagoya / Haneda / Narita airport.

Passengers on any of the affected Osaka flights may also opt to rebook to PAL flights to or from Osaka on a suitable new date beyond Sept. 12, 2018.

Cebu Pacific Air also decided to cancel its Sept. 6 and 8 flight scheduled to and from Osaka.

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

MALACAÑANG on Thursday welcomed the Senate’s approval of House Bill 7448 seeking to provide a supplemental P1.161billion budget for the medical assistance of children who were injected with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

“The Palace appreciates the Senate’s prompt approval of the Dengvaxia supplemental budget,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said as the Senate approved on third and final reading the

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For its debt-servicing requirements in 2017, the NFA had a P5.4-billion advance from the national government that was favorably endorsed by the DoF to the BTr. This amount was for the NFA’s obligations that matured in October and November of that year, so that its available government-guaranteed credit facilities could be used to augment funds for rice procurement.

“Our analysis further shows that the NFA had ample resources coming from cash balances and available credit facilities, even without considering the subsidy receipts and uses, to procure the projected volume of local rice at least up to the third quarter under its May projection submitted to the DoF,” said assistant secretary Soledad Emilia Cruz of the DoF’s Corporate Affairs Group, in her Sept. 5 letter to Aquino.

The DoF-CAG is in charge of implementing policies affecting governmentowned and controlled corporations like the NFA, and in monitoring the cash flows of the government corporate sector.

Despite the availability of funds, in the second quarter of 2017 (April-June), when the NFA reported that its buffer stock was approaching critical levels, the actual palay procurement was only 6,331 MT versus the estimate of 22,552 MT submitted by the NFA to the DoF in May 2017.

Cruz pointed out ithat the actual palay procurement for the second semester of 2017 was only 13,714 metric tons, which was much lower than the 151,129 MT projection that the NFA submitted to the DoF for the same period.

“In terms of mix of rice procurement,

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“So now, we are considering the option of joining our colleagues in reversing the fuel excise tax to at least temper this runaway price surge,” he said.

Villanueva also called for the liberalization of rice imports and a lowering of the value-added tax to deal with rising prices.

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier this week said August inflation rose to 6.4 percent, a nine-year high, mainly due to high food and energy prices.

Senator Nancy Binay called on the Palace to implement measures to counter the increasing prices of basic commodities.

Binay also said that the high inflation rate will have a profound impact on the long-term anti-poverty programs if government does not intervene.

“We have to strengthen our initiatives to help ease the burden of inflation including the provision of financial assistance to poor families and discounts to the transport sector,” she said.

She cited the need to maximize government-to-government arrangements to source cheap petroleum products, particularly diesel, to mitigate the impact of the high cost of goods.

Vice President Leni Robredo said the August inflation rate was a confirmation that the price of basic commodities such as rice would continue to rise without effective government intervention, making it harder for families to make ends meet on a daily basis.

“Our previous call to this administration to do what needs to be done to ease the difficulties that ordinary Filipinos have to face has become even more urgent. Hunger and poverty—exacerbated by rising prices—are our country’s most serious concerns today; our government should address these problems at the soonest possible time,” she said.

She also asked that the government stop dismissing inflation as a sign of a growing economy.

“Economic growth is meaningless if it does not redound to the uplifting of the lives of the poorest segment of our society,” she said.

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from a prosecutor filing a formal motion.

In the case of Luciano vs. Mariano, the court could only suspend an accused upon the determination of the validity of the charges.

On the other hand, the ruling on Flores vs. Layosa, a suspension order, is mandatory “regardless of whether the prosecution files a motion.”

“All motions for suspension pendente lite which have been filed before the issuance of this memorandum but which remain unresolved by the trial courts are ordered withdrawn,” Martires said.

Unlike Martires, his predecessor, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, gave the prosecutors the power to seek a 90-day preventive suspension on incumbent government officials.

The Ombudsman’s prosecution filed a withdrawal of its urgent manifestation with the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division to suspend Senator Gregorio Honasan for his alleged involvement in the P30-million pork barrel fund scam.

Clarifying it did not want to cause a delay in the resolution of Honasan’s graft case, the prosecution said it filed the motion’s withdrawal in compliance with Martires’ order.

“The panel’s intent to withdraw the subject motion, however, does not necessarily convey that it is turning its back away from the mandatory character of preventive suspension of an accused pending litigation,” the manifestation read.

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The Seattle-based multinational is taking on a mainstay of Italian culture: A thick thimbleful of powerful black liquid served at the bar in cafés throughout the country, six billion times a year, according to Italian catering federation FIPE. Not surprising then that Starbucks, which is well-established elsewhere in Europe, has already delayed its entry into the Italian market, originally planned for early 2017.

Outspoken former CEO Howard Schultz—who quit the chain in June amid talk that he could run for the White House in 2020—has repeatedly said that the company would come to Italy with “humility.”

“During my first trip to Milan in 1983, I was captivated by the sense of community I found in the city’s espresso bars—the moments of human connection that passed so freely and genuinely between baristas and their customers,” said Schultz, now chairman emeritus after masterminding Starbucks worldwide expansion. AFP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Planned Asean meet to focus on Boracay Island rehab THE government’s rehabilitation of Boracay Island is being eyed as one of the cases to be presented in the planned Asean meeting on mainstreaming biodiversity in the tourism sector.

The presentation will help Asean member-nations learn how the Philippines carried out Boracay’s rehabilitation to prevent further environmental degradation of the world-famous resort island, Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, executive director of Asean Centre for Biodiversity, said.

“From that presentation, Asean member-nations may be able to identify and even replicate best practices applicable to respective tourist areas,” she said on Wednesday (Sept. 5) at the sidelines of the ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes Regional Forum’s second leg in Metro Manila.

She said environmental conservation across Southeast Asia should be done, noting that the biodiversity-rich region is increasingly facing danger from climate change, habitat destruction and other threats, which may eventually drive species extinction in Southeast Asia, where even tourism will suffer if this happens.

“Biodiversity is among tourism’s attractions,” she noted, explaining need to mainstream or integrate conservation in tourism. Southeast Asia’s natural assets include the Coral Triangle which experts identified as the center of Earth’s marine biodiversity.

During the forum, the ACB highlighted the role of biodiversity— the variety of all life on Earth—as resource that “underpins good environmental health, food security, climate resilience and sustainable development and well-being of mankind.”

Among the conservation measures that the experts identified, and which the tourism sector can implement, are the use of renewable energy to help lessen climate change-driving greenhouse gas emissions, restoration of habitats, patronization of environment-friendly products and educating the public about biodiversity’s importance. PNA

BoC destroys smuggled expired goods MORE than P3.5 million worth of various seized smuggled goods, including expired candies from China and substandard helmets, were destroyed by the Bureau of Customs’ condemnation facility in Angat, Bulacan.

The destruction of smuggled goods was done in the presence of media members and representatives from the local government unit to comply with the directive of Customs chief Isidro Lapeña to dispose of forfeited goods in a transparent way and attuned with public interest.

All four abandoned containers containing expired jelly candies and helmets were condemned at the facility of Zafra Feed Milling, the customs chief said.

The BoC said the shipments were found to be unfit for human consumption, have no commercial value, and the release of the shipment was contrary to law and cannot be sold through public auction.

The two 40-footer containers containing expired jelly candies from China was consigned to Richco Marketing, but were seized for lack of importation permit. Vito Barcelo

Mrs. Binay asks court to allow her to travel to Italy

ALL ABOUT FOOD. Committee on Accounts chairman and Leyte (1st District) Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (right) comments on the concerns and needs of the food concessioners during the Committee Meeting on Food and Concession chaired by Rep. Gus Tambunting (left) and vice chairman Rep. Micaela Velasco (center). Romualdez vows to address the immediate processing of payments for the food concessioners to avoid delay. Ver Noveno

House backs Romualdez bill on DDR; debate opens

By Maricel V. Cruz

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HE House of Representatives has opened plenary debates on the Palace’s backed consolidated bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience that would exclusively focus on disaster response to drastically reduce the country’s vulnerability to natural hazards.

“We appeal to our colleagues to pass the measure with urgency,” said Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, chairman of the House committee on government reorganization in his sponsorship speech. “When there is an imminent calamity or during an actual calamity, the DDR may exercise command and control over other relevant government agencies.”

The House government reorganization committee and the national defense committee approved the consolidated DDR bill while the House appropriations committee gave the green light for the funding requirement of the measure.

Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie KittilstvedtRomualdez, one of the bill’s principal authors, said precious lives and properties are better protected from natural

hazards and disasters with the passage of DDR, saying “we need to be better prepared because nature’s wrath is inevitable.”

“It is high time that we create a Department of Disaster Resilience that will effectively reduce our vulnerability to natural hazards and bolster our resilience to the impact of national disasters and climate change,” said Romualdez, chairman of the House accounts committee and whose district, especially Tacloban City, was one of the hardest hit areas by Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ dubbed as ground zero.

“It is crucial to highlight that the struggle of my people during their fivehour with Haiyan [Yolanda]. It continued even weeks after the typhoon has long left our region. Deadlock and de-

lays caused by bureaucratic paralysis and poor coordination by different agencies rendered Tacloban City and most of the first district of Leyte completely helpless,” Romualdez said.

“Our experience with Haiyan is a clarion call for a stronger and a more robust response to disasters,” she added.

Other authors of the measure, including Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, also delivered their sponsorship speeches.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, another principal author of the measure, said the proposed DDR would oversee all programs and activities to reduce the country’s vulnerability to natural calamities and climate change.

“The government cannot achieve high and inclusive growth without making our country climate resilient. With the unfortunate distinction of being ground zero for climate disaster, the Philippines’ losses during the typhoon season amounts to around two percent of our GDP (gross domestic product), while reconstruction efforts after disasters costs another 2 percent of our GDP based on our estimates,” said Villafuerte.

Romualdez, meanwhile, thanked Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her commitment to pass the consolidated DDR measure.

App-based motorbike taxi service Angkas back on road IN A LANDMARK move, Angkas has been granted a preliminary injunction by the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City, allowing it to immediately resume its motorcycle taxi passenger service.

In a congressional hearing of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, committee chairman Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo lauded the court order and said that it’s a welcome development for the public, as a critical transportation lifeline reopens to them.

“We know that improvements to mass transport are underway, but people cannot wait any longer for MRT-7 and the subway. They need Angkas now.”

The court order, which Angkas operations head David Medrana presented to the committee during the meeting,

enjoins the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Department of Transportation “from interfering, whether directly or indirectly, with the petitioner’s operations; from apprehending Angkas bikers who are in lawful pursuit of their trade or occupation based on petitioner’s Angkas mobile application; and from performing any act or acts that will impede, obstruct, frustrate, or defeat (the) petitioner’s pursuit of its lawful business or trade as owner and operator of the Angkas mobile application.”

Angkas voluntarily suspended its operations last year after they were outlawed by the LTFRB. However, the persistent problems in the country’s mass transport system, with the constant breakdown of the MRT and

the traffic gridlocks in key thoroughfares, saw the intensifying of the clamor for an alternative mode of transportation in the last few months.

This drove transport advocacy group Transport Watch to lead the clamor for better mobility and wider transport options for the Filipino commuters.

“With the current problems on transportation and mobility hounding the country’s commuters, there is a need for the immediate regulation of motorcycle taxis. It is high time for the government to allow the operation of motorcycle taxis to legitimize their services and provide a faster, more efficient, more convenient, and safer alternative to illegal habal-habals,” Transport Watch lead convenor George Royeca pointed out.

FORMER Makati City mayor Elenita Binay has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow her to travel to Italy for a 15-day pilgrimage.

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

In her travel motion submitted to the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, Binay said she intends to join the Italy pilgrimage from Sept. 28 to Oct. 13, together with her husband, former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Don Bosco Philippines North Province has organized the trip, and the tour covers visits to Rome, Assisi, Padova, Venice, Turin, and Florence, Mrs. Binay said in her motion.

“Dr. Binay most respectfully asks for the Honorable Court’s kind indulgence, to allow her to travel to Italy,” Binay’s motion, filed by her lawyers, said.

Binay is also charged with graft and malversation of funds at the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division over the allegedly anomalous P45 million worth of purchase of beds and sterilizers for the Ospital ng Makati.

Her husband is also facing charges at the anti-graft court over alleged questionable construction of the Makati Science High School and the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Parking Building. Maricel V. Cruz

POEA orders deployment ban in Micronesia due to abuses

By Vito Barcelo THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has ordered a deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers to the Federated States of Micronesia due to increasing reports of abuses and maltreatment committed against Filipino workers in that country.

In a statement, the POEA said it issued resolution No. 05-2018, which cites that no OFWs, both newly-hired and returning, will be deployed to the island-nation.

“The POEA Governing Board resolves to impose a total ban on the processing and deployment of workers to the Federated States of Micronesia,” the POEA said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs recommended the deployment ban due to reports of OFWs abuses and maltreatment.

The resolution states that the ban would remain in effect until Micronesia “settles the unresolved cases and improves the working conditions of OFWs.” The POEA blacklisted the Chuuk State Hospital in Micronesia following reports of ‘‘maltreatment, contract violations, harassment, discrimination and abuse of OFWs” warning job seekers to refrain from accepting offers from the said hospital.

In the same advisory dated June 19, the POEA cited a report from the Philippine Consulate in Agana, Guam that “the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia has made no effort in improving the working conditions and guaranteeing the timely payment of salaries and benefits of workers.”

Solons warn vs ‘super legislative franchise’ HOT ONIONS.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña inspects several shipping containers filled with smuggled onions at a warehouse in Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, Manila, on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018.

Norman Cruz

TWO party-list lawmakers on Thursday warned Congress against granting a “super legislative franchise” that is being proposed to extend a windfall of tax and non-tax incentives to a power company, 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero and Eric Pineda was referring to House Bills 8013 and 8015 that is currently deliberated at the House of Representatives’ committee on legislative franchise, chaired

by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez.

In a joint statement, they said the proposal for a legislative franchise for Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. should be studied carefully in the wake of government’s bid to withdraw the various tax incentives extended to corporations.

They added that HBs 8013 and 8015, once passed, will defeat the Duterte administration’s bid to recall the tax incentives various laws have given investors and corporations as part of Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill.

HB 8013 is authored by Bohol Rep.

Arthur Yap; while HB 8015 is penned by Compostela Valley Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora.

Romero, a member of the House Committee on Legislative Franchise, said the twin measures, as proposed, will allow SPBC to enjoy exemption from a wide range of national government taxes and duties, such as the 12 percent value-added tax on sales and 32 percent corporate income tax, on top of exemption from local government taxes and fees.

HB 8013 is expected to be approved by the House legislative franchise committee soon after having deliberated in two hearings; while HB 8015 is still currently being deliberated.

Romero said “the perks and privileges granted by the proposed legislative franchise can be unfair to other players in the renewable energy industry.” The SPBC is being given a “privileged status” over the estimated 100 renewable energy companies operating in the country at present, Romero said. Maricel V. Cruz

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Opinion

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dengvaxia’s Sanofi pays up even the firm itself issued a number of caveats before it could be used for mass CROSSROADS immunization.

Those caveats were cavalierly igJONATHAN nored as Pnoy insisted that this was DE LA CRUZ surely the needed cure for a dengueepidemic-in-the-making which may TRULY, there is justice in this world. involve two million, mainly poor, FiliJust as the Dengvaxia scandal involv- pinos. Nice touch. All in good faith. ing the irregular disbursement of P3.6 Well, if these guys can make the public billion in public funds to buy this ex- believe this narrative, then they deperimental anti-dengue drug for the serve the commendation of a grateful test immunization of 830,000 unknow- nation. But let’s see if they can get the ing victims was fading from public families of the 830,000 children (and scrutiny, its proponent, Sanofi, the gi- some adults) to kiss and applaud them ant French pharmaceutical company, if they start a campaign to advise them was ordered by the US Securities and not to worry about the possible ill efExchange Commission to pay $25 mil- fects of the drug as earlier indicated in lion for engaging in bribery and related the WHO bulletins and as published in unprofessional practices in Kazakhstan the prestigious New England Journal of and other Middle East countries.

Medicine. But before they proceed with As it turned out, the experience such an operation, they should probof the countries involved in the New ably publish a list of the children they York case was injected with this eerily similar to drug. This will be what happened better so that the with the Aquino public can assist administration’s them in monitorWhat happened to purchase of Deng- the 830,000? ing the real situavaxia in record tion. time a few days Here’s what the before the end of SEC said in its the 2015 fiscal ruling against Sayear was done, in much the same way nofi as reported by the dailies: as with the pharmaceutical firm’s in“French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi troduction of this anti-dengue drug in will pay more than $25 million to setthe country. tle US charges over bribery committed In the case of Kazakhstan, for exam- in Kazakhstan and the Middle East, US ple, Sanofi injected a new set of prod- authorities announced Tuesday. ucts in that country’s menu of both preThe US Securities and Exchange scription and non-prescription drugs Commission said Sanofi employed a using a kickback system to win public kickback system in Kazakhstan to win contracts and increased prescriptions public contracts and increase prescripof its products. Of course, the main tions of its products. proponent of the Dengvaxia deal, then In the Middle East, the company emHealth secretary Janet Garin, wants the ployed “pay-to-prescribe” schemes to public to believe that a similar arrange- induce healthcare providers to increase ment was never, as in not at all, in place their prescriptions of Sanofi products, in the case of Dengvaxia. This even as the agency said.

Pnoy, through his most trusted Cabinet “Bribery in connection with pharmasecretaries, then Executive Secretary ceutical sales remains as a significant Jojo Ochoa and his law school buddy problem despite numerous prior enBudget secretary Butch Abad, scram- forcement actions,” said Charles Cain bled to have the purchase done in haste. a SEC enforcement official who leads Documents show that the deal was ap- the unit on the Foreign Corrupt Pracproved immediately after the last meet- tices Act. ing of Pnoy with Sanofi officials in “While bribery risk can impact any Paris. He had earlier met senior Sanofi industry, this matter illustrates that officials in Beijing. more work needs to be done to address It appears that Pnoy and his team the particular risks posed in the pharwere truly convinced of the efficacy of maceutical industry,” Cain said.

Turn to A5 this wonder drug even as the WHO and

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Alarm bell

T

HE inflation rate in the Philippines has consistently risen since January this year after staying at manageable levels in the last four months of 2017. Authorities must have seen the trend, especially in the first eight months of 2018, and should have sounded the alarm sooner before things could get out of hand.

From just around 3 percent in the last four months of 2018, the inflation rate steadily rose from 3.4 percent in January to 4.5 percent in April, the start of the second quarter. The rate rose further to 5.2 percent in June and alarmingly to 5.7 percent in July and 6.4 percent in August.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has adjusted the interest rate by one full percentage point since then in a bid to reduce the money in circulation and curb spending but the prices of goods and services just the same rose at a faster pace.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Nestor Espenilla has conceded that reining in the money in

circulation will not slow down rising prices. Cost-push pressures, or less supply of goods, are fueling inflation. This is evident in the prices of rice, fish and other food products, which have dramatically risen in the past few months.

The Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority, which are supposed to manage the country’s rice inventory and import rice to replenish its stocks, have not responded quickly to cost-push pressures.

The two agencies were not quick on the draw and allowed the rice supply situation to worsen.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that al-

coholic beverages and tobacco posted the highest price increase of 21.6 percent in August, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages at 8.5 percent. The weak performance of the fisheries and other crops in the first six months of 2018, with output falling 2.14 percent and 0.44 percent, respectively, resulted in lower supply and higher prices.

Adding to the inflationary pressures are increased transport cost and electricity rates following the rise of oil prices in the world market and a weak peso in relation to the US dollar.

The Bangko Sentral should not be totally relied on to tame the inflation rate. The Department of Agriculture and the NFA are responsible in stabilizing the supply of rice, fish and other agricultural products. They have been sleeping on the job and should be accountable for most of the inflationary pressures.

Amnesia arrested while the Senate is in session.

Even if it is not in session, the soldiers cannot touch Trillanes while he’s within the premises of the Senate. Senate President Tito Sotto and the rest of the ALEJANDRO senators closed ranks and took TrilDEL ROSARIO lanes into Senate custody instead.

MERRIAM Webster Dictionary defines He will remain in the Senate until he the word amnesty as “intentional forget- exhausts all legal remedies to nullify fulness.” In legalese, it means official President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamapardon for prisoners of conscience. tion revoking the amnesty.

Amnesty was first used in 1580 by The whole cause célèbre now rests in the Greeks from whom most of the the hands of Makati Judge Andres Soworld’s present and prevailing laws had riano who will decide on three essential its origin. In medical terms it’s called and fundamental issues. The primary amnesia and in more severe form as issue is can one man, the President in Alzheimer disease. this case, revoke an amnesty or official It seems that these days, there is a pardon granted by a former President widespread afand concurred fliction of amnein by Congress? sia. To wit: The Secondly, as TrilDepartment of lanes contends, he Defense and the cannot be tried by These are Department of court martial as he Justice cannot re- interesting but scary has been a civilian call whether the times for the country. since he ran and missing document won as senator. of former coup The third issue is plotter Navy Lt. whether Trillanes Antonio Trillanes can be seized IV is wherein he applied for amnesty. without an arrest warrant issued by the Trillanes, now a senator of the Repub- proper court. lic, showed reporters his amnesty cerJudge Soriano has been thrust into tificate granted him by then President the legal limelight. It will be up to Benigno Aquino III. him whether he will allow himself to Authorities could not show this cer- be co-opted or stand up for judicial tificate of amnesty which Trillanes independence. Before the case was showed Senate reporters. Did they for- raffled off to him, the judge was get where their copy of the certificate little known and was obscured by his is? Then, the arresting team of soldiers, more famous namesake, businessman sent to arrest Senator Trillanes, forgot Andres Soriano. to bring an arrest warrant making their Trillanes it will be recalled, staged mission a flawed warrantless arrest. a mutiny against then President GloThe legal experts in Malacanang must ria Macapagal Arroyo. He and his rehave forgotten their law that any arrest bel band took over the Oakwood Hotel to be served must be accompanied with where they holed out for several days. a warrant issued by the court.

Trillanes and the mutineers finally surThe authorities who dispatched the rendered and detained. The Oakwood soldiers to arrest the senator must have Hotel in Makati after the incident had also forgotten that a senator cannot be Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

Cleaning up Tokyo’s beaches: An Olympic task

By Kyoko Hasegawa ON A blazing hot Tokyo summer day, children squeal with delight as they splash about on a sandy beach, with the skyline of the world’s biggest city shimmering behind them.

The scene may seem unremarkable but it was unthinkable until recently when local activists decided to clean up the polluted water at city beaches, hoping to leave a legacy from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“Tokyo Bay used to have many swimmable beaches,” recalls one of these activists, 70-year-old Yuzo Sekiguchi. “But by the time the last Tokyo Olympic Games were held in 1964... the water was polluted by factory effluent.”

“I decided to bring back clean Tokyo beaches for the next generation,” he told AFP. Sekiguchi, whose ancestors fished these waters for generations, used natural elements like seaweed and oysters to purify the waters at a section of the beach in Tokyo Bay, which faces the vast Japanese capital.

“Each oyster can purify 400 liters of water every day,” he said.

The oysters gobble plankton and absorb bacteria, making the water clearer and cleaner. They remain edible though authorities don’t recommend consuming them thanks to the bacteria content.

The stretch of shore that Sekiguchi has been cleaning up first opened for swimmers in 2012, initially for just a

few days as an experiment.

But it has been available to swimmers almost all summer round since 2015.

This year it is open for 42 days, thanks to popular demand—a week longer than in 2017.

Sense of safety Each year, authorities test the water quality before giving permission for swimming at the beaches. And while Sekiguchi decided to start the clean-up work on his own initiative, he has since received backing, including financial support, from the local government.

Despite measures by people like Sekiguchi and improvements in sewerage facilities, pollution in the water around Tokyo has been a concern as the 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

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

The bad economics of price controls

Airport row VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ ANOTHER Asian airport has just been closed down, the two-runway Kansai International Airport of Osaka, disrupting at least 600 flights and stranding thousands of passengers.

Per Wikipedia, Osaka area has at least five airports—1) Kansai whose connecting bridge to the mainland was damaged Sept. 5, 2018 by an ocean tanker swept away by Typhoon “Jebi” (Japan’s strongest in 25 years); 2) the old Osaka International; 3) Chubu Centrair in Nagoya opened in 2005; 4) Kobe, less than 25 kms from Osaka and opened in 2006; and 5) Tokushima Airport in Shikoku whose runway was extended in 2007.

In 2016, Kansai, the disabled airport, handled 25-million passengers.

Osaka has five airports because Japan wanted to be the Asian hub of regional and international aviation, competing with Hong Kong and Seoul.

In Manila, the one-runway Ninoy Aquino International Airport was disabled for two days, Aug. 16 and 17, 2018 by the crash-landing of XiamenAir flight MF 8667, disrupting at least 600 flights and 500,000 passengers. Damage to the economy after two days: P5 billion. Penalty to XiamenAir: P31 million.

The conclusion from these two accidents—Kansai’s was by nature, and Manila’s by man: A major city can never have a surplus of airports.

Civil aviation is booming. There are four billion, yes billion, air passengers.

They will double to eight billion in 20 years. More than half of the increase of four billion will come from Asia.

Manila is at the center of Asia.

You can imagine how many of those billions of passengers Manila could capture if it had the airports to welcome and service them.

Ramon S. Ang sees the trend. Five years ago, he proposed a $15-billion brand new airport with four runways, initially, to service up to 100-million passengers a year, six years after completion, in Bulacan, 27 kilometers north of the present Naia.

After relentlessly nagging the administrations of Presidents Noynoy Aquino and Rodrigo Duterte, San Miguel Corp. obtained all the required government regulatory approvals, five in all, including approval by the super body National Economic

Dengvaxia’s...

From A4

The probe covered Sanofi and its affiliates in Kazakhstan, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrein, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates for activities between 2006 and 2015.

Sanofi did not admit or deny any wrongdoing.

This was not the first and will probably not be the last adverse ruling against Sanofi as it battles for market share with other pharmaceutical giants worldwide. Early on, in 2013, Sanofi was investigated by Chinese authorities also on charges of bribery. Reports had it that a whistleblower, who asked to remain anonymous, told authorities that Sanofi paid a total of CN¥1.69 million ($274,000) at 79 hospitals to 503 doctors in Hangzhou, Gangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. These bribes allegedly occurred in 2007 and were passed off as research grants. A year later, in 2014, the company had to pay a whooping

Cleaning...

From A4

city gears up to host the 2020 Games.

Organizers admitted in October last year that prolonged summer rain had temporarily brought high levels of bacteria to the triathlon venue, sparking concern from international Olympic officials.

But Olympic planners say they are confident that a combination of better sewerage facilities and the introduction of underwater screens will keep the water quality to international standards during the Games.

“We will create an environment that will enable athletes to perform at their best with a sense of safety,” Tokyo 2020 official Hidemasa Nakamura told a recent news conference announcing the triathlon courses.

Unlike other major bay-side cities, such as Sydney or San Francisco, the densely populated Tokyo bay area has few natural landscapes remaining—the result of years of development of public ports, container wharves, and Haneda airport.

and Development Authority and the Office of the President. You cannot go any higher than that, because above them is God. Still, SMC still has yet to be told to proceed with building the airport.

Why? Blame government technocrats and government bureaucrats.

The government has added four conditions that could render SMC’s airport project unviable and unprofitable.

On Aug. 22, 2018, the Department of Finance submitted four conditions on the SMC Airport Project. These are (per Jarius Bondoc’s recent column): (1) Waiver of payment in case government fails on commitments. It is standard for government justly to recompense the contractor for broken

SMC has yet to be told to proceed with building the airport.

Why?

promises, like clearances and permits. So long as obligations are legal, government must comply or else pay damages. It is natural in all deals. Yet, SMHC (San Miguel Holdings Corp.) is being asked to drop its right.

2) Waiver of recompense in case of change of laws or policy. Similarly, contractors are entitled to recompense in case new game rules are set that drastically alter the project viability.

Yet SMHC is being made to forgo its options.

(3) No rights-of-way. Government usually expropriates private land for public use, so long as justly compensated. In this case, SMHC is willing to pay for land that would be needed for access roads to the planned airport. Yet, the DoF does not want to expropriate any land for use in the airport works.

(4) Drop any plans at the MIA while the Bulacan facility is being built. Part of SMHC’s proposal is to improve MIA aviation equipment, runways, and terminals preparatory to complementing by the Bulacan gateway. But the DoF wants to give such operations instead to the seven taipans seeking to rehabilitate Naia.

At the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing on Aug. 29, 2018, Sen. Ralph Recto questioned Depart$40 million in fines after it was found guilty of payoffs to medical centers and doctors coursed through “consultants.”

According to Xinhua, China’s official news agency, the municipal health bureau of Beijing will coordinate with its equivalents in the other cities to investigate the matter. Xinhua added that determining at what point a research grant becomes an example of corruption will be key to the case.

A Sanofi affiliate, Sanofi Aventis, was also charged with using bogus data in seeking the licensing of an antibiotic drug for pneumonia, bronchitis and other chronic pulmonary diseases which was eventually processed and approved by the US FDA even as the company’s licensing team for the product were indicted and jailed. Even as the drug, Telithromycin, got into the market, it was monitored to have caused the death of four patients for liver failure. It was also pinpointed as the cause of 33 cases of acute liver failure and 53 cases of hepatotoxic damage. Just like in the case of Dengvaxia, the FDA’s Office of As a residential area, most of the bay is relatively unloved with rental and purchase prices there far below more fashionable areas of the expensive city.

Development of the area dates back to the 16th century but rapid construction and pollution from Japan’s postwar “economic miracle” made going for a dip there unthinkable to Tokyoites.

Kenji Morita, another activist trying to clean up the water, said: “After heavy pollution in the 1970s, people have long forgotten about the sea in part because the Tokyo beaches were transformed into harbors, which are off-limits in general.”

Olympic momentum Like Sekiguchi, the 60-year-old Morita is cultivating laver seaweed and clams in a bid to purify waters in Odaiba, the venue for the Tokyo 2020 triathlon and marathon swimming.

This year, beaches in Odaiba were opened for swimming for nine days as a trial, with the water quality checked daily before bathers were allowed to submerge themselves.

Morita said his project had the unexpected benefit of appealing to people with disabilities as Tokyo seeks to im-

ment of Transportation officials on the delay in the P750-billion SMC airport. Chairman Senator Grace Poe presided.

“If there is no government guarantee, government doesn’t spend anything. It’s a private sector risk. It could appear [San Miguel] is the most modern proposal or the biggest airport; 100-million passengers, 1,300 hectares, on a city of 2,500 hectares as well. Yet, there is nothing definite on it. There is really no final approval if there are discussions pending. Is there a notice to proceed?” Senator Recto asked Department of Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso.

Reinoso’s answer: None, sir.

Here is the rest of the Q/A with Reinoso: Recto: So what questions still need to be discussed, when there is no government guarantee involved?

Reinoso: There are certain provisions in the draft concession agreement that need to be clarified. Such as the obligations of the government on the acquisition of the right of way.

Recto: So there is a government guarantee on the right of way?

Reinoso: None. That is something that we really need to clarify with the proponent.

Recto: Kung dumaan ng Neda ’yan at may Neda board approval ’yan, dapat tapos na lahat ’yun. Napag-usapan na lahat ‘yun.

Reinoso: Ganoon din ho sana ang ine-expect ng DOTr but Neda and DoF still submitted some comments so we’d need to address them.

Recto: So this means there is no final approval yet?

Reinoso: Yes. There is a conditional approval but subject to the discussions with the proponent…

My Philstar colleague Boo Chanco wonders if the San Miguel airport is doomed.

By the way, along with his Bulacan airport proposal five years ago, Ramon Ang also offered to rehabilitate the NAIA airport while the new airport is under construction—for free.

Instead, the DOTr told SMC to lay its hands off Naia. This year, an obscure government agency gave a firstproponent status to a group of seven tycoons that offered only this year to rehabilitate Naia for a least P100-billion. If SMC offers it for free, it’s no go. Another group of tycoons makes the same offer, after five years, for P100 billion cost, it’s a go. Why? biznewsasia@gmail.com Surveillance and Epidemiology later on found that this antibiotic was 350 percent to 1000 percent more likely to inflict “serious adverse events.”

That strongly worded ruling should put Secretary Francisco Duque III and the Department of Health on the spot and back in the public eye. This time, not only to give an update on the measures which are already in place to assist those who have been injected with the drug under the agency’s rapid immunization plan two years ago to cope with their trauma. Duque and company should also be asked to explain why up to now the government has not thrown the book at Sanofi and its enablers, in and out of the DoH, despite all the unearthed irregularities and unanswered questions regarding the purchase, usage and post usage of Dengvaxia. Of course, the most critical issue is: Whatever happened to the 830,000 people, mostly children, immunized with Dengvaxia?

What has the DoH done to ensure that they do not suffer the fate of those who have fallen along the way? prove facilities ahead of the Paralympic Games.

“When I first started this five years ago, I didn’t realize it, but this place has easy access for everyone,” thanks to ramps and lifts, he said.

“People with a physical or mental impairment choose to come to Odaiba instead of going somewhere outside Tokyo.”

“I see a lot of potential here in building enthusiasm for the Tokyo Paralympics,” added Morita.

And many believe that the upcoming Olympics, now less than two years away, is the perfect opportunity for Tokyo to clean up its act.

The mayor in charge of the Odaiba area has pledged to “make a swimmable Odaiba sea a legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games.”

Sekiguchi, an architect who also runs his own museum, said his project was driven by “frustration for not being able to give my daughter the natural experiences that I had.”

“In 2020, if Tokyo can show the world a way of life that can coexist with nature, I think Tokyo will earn global respect.” AFP

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

world example of a price ceiling. The expected results—shortages, deterioration in quality with the appearance of rice weevils or “bukbok,” favoritERIC ism, corruption, and black market side JURADO payments are all observable in this WHY is the country experiencing rice situation. shortages?

A price floor establishes a miniDemand and supply economic anal- mum price that can be legally charged. ysis provides answers to this question When a price floor is imposed above and valuable insight on how markets the current market equilibrium, it will allocate resources. It is also enlighten- alter the operation of markets. At the ing to see what happens when the gov- higher price, the quantity supplied inernment uses the political process to creases while the quantity demanded fix prices and interfere with markets. decreases. A surplus will result at the Sometimes, either buyers or sellers controlled price. Like price ceilings, with special interests will seek to gain price floors also reduce the quantity by getting the government to impose of the goods exchanged and the gains price controls. Price controls may from trade. either be price ceilings, which set a As is the case with price ceilings, maximum legal price for a product, or non-price factors will play a larger price floors, which impose a minimum role in the rationing process. But belegal price. Imposing price controls cause there is a surplus rather than a may look like an easy way for govern- shortage, buyers this time will be in a ment to help buyers at the expense of position to be more selective. Buyers sellers (or vice versa). However, price will purchase from sellers willing to controls generate secondary effects offer them non-price favors—better that reduce the gains from trade and service, discounts on other products, often harm the intended beneficiaries. or easier credit terms, for example.

Let’s take a closer look at both price When it’s difficult to alter the prodceilings and price floors. uct’s quality—in this case, improve it A price ceiling establishes a maxi- to make it more attractive for the price mum price that that must be can be charged for charged — some a good, service, producers will be or resource. If the unable to sell it.

Good intentions do price ceiling is set When price below the natural not guarantee a desired floors are immarket equilibposed in the real outcome. rium, a shortage world, surpluses will emerge. Proand increased ducers are unwillimportance of ing to supply as non-price factors many units of the good as consumers are observable. Minimum wages prowould like to purchase at below the vide an example of a price floor. The equilibrium fixed price. In addition, minimum pushes the wages of variat the low fixed price, the quantity of ous categories of inexperienced, lowthe good exchanged declines, and the skilled workers (such as the youth) gains from trade of the buyers and above the equilibrium. In this case, sellers are reduced. the surplus takes the form of high If it were not for the price ceiling, the unemployment rates and few training price would rise, providing producers opportunities for workers in these catwith a greater incentive to supply the egories. While some low-wage workitem and consumers with more incen- ers are helped, others are thrust into tive to reduce their consumption. These unemployment and their opportunity natural forces would eliminate the oc- to acquire training and experience are currence of the shortage. But, the price severely restricted. ceiling keeps this from happening, and, Clearly, when analyzing price contherefore, other means must be used trols, it is important to consider the to allocate the smaller quantity among secondary effects. Remember, even if consumers wanting to purchase. the intentions are good, this will not Predictably, non-price factors will guarantee a desired outcome. become more important in the rationBecause of the bad economics of ing process. Waiting lines will some- price controls, I support the stand of times develop, allocating the item the Foundation of Economic Foundato those most willing to wait in line. tion and the call of Senator Cynthia Sellers will tend to favor their friends Villar, chairperson of the Senate Agor those willing to provide them with ricultural Committee, and Senator favors or illegal under-the-table pay- Sherwin Gatchalian for the abolition ments. Quality deterioration will also of the National Food Authority: play a greater role. It is important to “The NFA has only caused and agnote that there are two ways that sell- gravated the rice inflation and rice ers can raise prices. First, they can shortage in several regions, comraise their money price, holding qual- pounded the debt and losses of the ity constant. Or, second, they can hold national government, and provided the money price constant while reduc- opportunities for graft and corruption ing the quality of the item. (The latter for its officers and employees, from might also include reducing its size.) the purchase of imported rice to the While the price ceiling eliminates in- distribution and transportation of subcreases in money prices, reductions in sidized rice.” quality provide an alternative path for “With high average rice prices and price increases. Clearly, it is more dif- periodic shortages, the NFA has also ficult to repeal market forces than it contributed to the country’s high wage initially appears. costs and lower competitiveness.”

The current government policy on rice price controls provides a real eric.jurado@gmail.com FROM WHERE I STAND

Amnesia From A4

to change its name to Ascot Hotel to erase the bad image arising from the Trillanes takeover.

Magdalo Party-List Rep. Gary Alejano, another Duterte arch critic and brother in arms of Trillanes in the coup attempt against Arroyo. Will his amnesty or pardon also be revoked? To show his esprit d’corps with Trillanes, Alejano spent the night with the beleaguered senator at Trillanes’ office.

Two other former mutineers—Nicanor Faeldon and Danilo Lim—are serving under the Duterte administration.

Lim is Metro Manila Development Authority chairman while Faeldon, a former Customs Commissioner, is now deputy director of a proposed National Disaster Management Council.

Not being a lawyer, although I have enough grasp of the law having covered court cases, I still will not give my own opinion on the Trillanes case.

I could have written about it on the day the news broke but I refrained from doing so as I wanted to hear all the views of the parties concerned.

First, the government stand. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Presidential Legal Assistant Salvador Panelo and Solicitor General Jose Calida are of course on the same page that a warrantless arrest is legal. They say the amnesty granted by former President Noynoy Aquino was null and void from the start because Trillanes did not apply for amnesty—and therefore, it is void ab initio and flawed. This was the same argument that Solgen Calida used in ousting then Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno via quo warrant proceedings.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan defended Trillanes, calling the amnesty revocation by the President a brazen attempt to silence critics. Drilon stressed that if Trillanes has a copy of his certificate of amnesty, then it can only mean Trillanes applied for amnesty and it was granted.

These are indeed interesting times for the country. Interesting, but also scary for many Filipinos scary, according to Alejano who claims this is an undeclared form of martial law. His words, not mine.

Incidentally, where does Amnesty International stand in this case?

News

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MIAA chasing airlines with make-up flights sans authority THE Manila International Airport Authority has said it is going against airlines that mounted make-up flights without proper authority at the height of the chaos in Ninoy Aquino International Airport caused by a recent accident involving a Chinese commuter jet.

A fine of P5,000 per passenger will be slapped against both local and international airlines who made “uncoordinated flights” to pick up stranded passengers a day after the Xiamen Air plane overshot the Naia main runway on Aug. 16, MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal said Thursday.

“We are after some 37 out of 78 local and foreign airlines that made the uncoordinated fights that created congestion at the Naia right after the incident,” said Monreal.

He said the unauthorized flights resulted in airport/runway congestion as ramp controllers at the Naia terminal 1 experienced difficulties relocating the aircraft while some of which stayed at the remote parking bay and even at the taxiway of the runway.

The airlines reportedly coordinated with the Civil Aviaition Authority of the Philippines but not with MIAA. The uncoordinated flights also crammed passengers in departure halls and hampered the normalization of airport operations, MIAA said.

In related developments: • The building of a new secondary parallel runway at Clark may be the immediate solution to absorb the adverse impact of emergency incidents at Naia, an executive of the Clark International Airport Corp. said on Wednesday after a public hearing conducted by the House Committee on Transportation on the Xiamen incident in Manila’s airport last month that affected close to 200,000 passengers.

“Clark needs a new secondary parallel runway positioned to allow simultaneous takeoffs and landings to easily decongest the overcrowded Naia pending the construction of proposed airports either in Bulacan or in Cavite,” Alexander Cauguiran, CIAC president, said.

• The Cebu Pacific Air has announced it is expanding its route network at the Clark International Airport, boosting frequency by 75 percent by the end of the year.

CEB will also increase its flight service between Clark and Macau from eight times weekly to 14 times a week.

Cebu Pacific will now fly once daily from Clark to Macau at 9:25 pm, with the return flight departing from the Macau International Airport at 12:15 am the following day. Joel E. Zurbano

Community Board still accepting pleas TELUS International Philippines is still accepting funding applications from nonprofit and charitable organizations through the TELUS International Philippines Community Board.

This is in line with the organization’s commitment, “We give where we live.”

The TIP Community Board is a grantgiving body that looks for worthy-causes and innovative ideas to aid communities with unique needs in the areas of health, environment, and education.

The board distributes up to $100,000 every year, it said in a press statement.

Since it started operations in 2012, TIP has donated over $600,000 to help 66 advocacy projects and programs relevant to health, education, arts and culture, technology, and social values formation in the country.

The TELUS International Philippines Community Board has supported a wide range of initiatives in these areas.

More recently, the Mindfulness, Love, and Compassion Institute for Psychosocial Services utilized their grant to facilitate a workshop for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command, enhancing the capacity of army medical personnel to attend to trauma survivors of the Marawi siege. Meanwhile, the Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities Inc. conducted a workshop in reducing illiteracy among children with disabilities with their grant.

Moreover, projects on crop production for banana and organic black rice farmers, film productions for the youth, and the education of indigenous people have benefitted from grants provided by the TIP Community Board.

“We are always looking out for every possible opportunity to expand our reach and help causes that need support. There are many well-meaning and promising initiatives in the country that are challenged with resources. Through the TELUS International Philippines Community Board, we aim to infuse these projects with the necessary resources, so that they may create or amplify their positive social impact,” stated TIP Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Phoebe Carrera.

NEW BRIDGES. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurates Thursday three dream projects in Pampanga and Bataan: Pasac-Culcul Bridge 1, Pasac-Culcul Bridge 2, and Samal Bridge. The new bridges are all part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program. Arroyo and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar led the unveiling of plaques in Minalin, Pampanga. With them were Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc (4th District, Pampanga), Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, Minalin Mayor Edgardo Flores, Sto. Tomas Mayor John Sambo, Samal Mayor Generosa dela Fuente, DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, and project director Gil Villanueva.

MMDA to motorists: Brace for heavy traffic

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Metro Manila Development Authority on Thursday advised motorists and commuters to brace for heavy traffic in Manila beginning next week due to rehabilitation of two major bridges and one flyover in the city.

This, after the MMDA gave its go signal to the Department of Public Works and Highways to start the restoration of Old Sta. Mesa Bridge and repair works of Mabini Bridge and Nagtahan flyover, starting Sept. 15.

“The Old Sta. Mesa Bridge that connects San Juan and Manila cities will be closed for seven months,” MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. told a press briefing.

The bridge’s reconstruction is aimed at giving way to the construction of Skyway Stage 3 Project, an elevated expressway that will connect the cities of Makati and Quezon, the official explained.

“The bridge along N. Domingo Street has to be demolished so that barges that will carry equipment for

the Skyway 3 Project can pass the waterway,” said Garcia.

To guide affected motorists, the MMDA posted signages to inform them of the alternative routes they may take: F. Manalo Street or G. Araneta/Aurora Boulevard, Libiran, Boni Avenue, F. Blumentritt Avenue.

More than 8,000 vehicles use the bridge daily.

Meanwhile, repair works for the Mabini Bridge and Nagtahan flyover will last for four months.

The bridge and flyover’s reblocking works involve asphalt overlay and electrical works per lane for 120 days. An average of 37,000 vehicles is traversing the area daily.

Contractors are allowed to work only during night-time, from 11 pm to 5 am.

Garcia admitted that the projects would worsen traffic in Metro Manila, prodding them to intensify clearing operations on major thoroughfares and alternative routes (Mabuhay Lanes).

The MMDA advised motorists and commuters residing in Manila to allot longer travel time going to their destination with the impending restoration of the two bridges this “ber” month period when traffic is heavy.

To intensify their campaign against illegal parking, Garcia said they would declare designated alternate routes as “no parking zones.”

“No vehicle would be allowed to park on alternate roads during daytime,” said Garcia.

He warned that vehicle owners would receive citation ticket for illegal parking should they defy the 6 am to 9 pm “no parking rule.”

Edison Nebrija Jr., MMDA’s Task Force Special Operations chief, said they have started clearing illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions on designated alternative routes ahead of the scheduled bridge works.

HARVEST FESTIVAL.

Keeping true to its commitment to help in rehabilitating war-torn Marawi, SL Agritech, the major hybrid rice producer in the country, celebrates the first harvest festival in the 50-hectare technology demonstration farm planted with SL hybrid rice seeds. The recet milestone was also witnessed by Go Negosyo and the local government unit of Lanao del Sur together with the Maranao farmers.

SBMA eyes P10.2-billion infra program SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is pursuing the implementation of a P10.2-billion six-year infrastructure development program to be funded under the national government’s ‘Build-Build-Build’ program.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma said the projects were meant to improve core business infrastructure here and sustain the attractiveness of the Subic Bay Freeport as a globally competitive trade and tourism center.

“We are now bidding out six major projects to set into motion the execution of a P530-million program to rehabilitate, upgrade and develop roads and other public facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Eisma said.

“These form part of the SBMA’s P10.2-billion six-year infrastructure development program that will be funded by the national government and set for completion by 2023,” she added.

Eisma said this would be the first time for the SBMA to avail itself of national funding for infrastructure projects.

“But we feel justified not only because of the scope, but also because we’d like to think that these projects are investments on the part of the government,” she said.

“These projects are necessary for Subic to sustain its position as one of the biggest revenue contributors among the investment promotions agencies in the country today”, Eisma said.

The SBMA chief said that ever since the Americans left in 1992, Subic had not yet seen any major investment in infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance of basic facilities like roads and docks, which are essential to business operations here.

“Even the security fence that defined the area of the former Subic naval base has already deteriorated,” she said.

The nationally funded projects for this year include various road rehabilitation work amounting to P369.7 million; Phase 2 of the NSD road network project, at P75.8 million; installation of navigational buoys, P47.5 million; installation of new traffic control systems, P9.6 million; repair of El Kabayo Road, P9.3 million; and drainage improvement at Argonaut Highway, P18 million. Butch Gunio

SL Agritech marks 1st harvest festival in 50-ha demo farm KEEPING true to its commitment to help in the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi, SL Agritech, the major hybrid rice producer in the country, celebrated the first harvest festival in the 50-hectare technology demonstration farm planted with SL hybrid rice seeds.

The milestone was also witnessed by Go Negosyo and the local government unit of Lanao del Sur together with the Maranao farmers.

The intervention was part of the rehabilitation efforts for the war-stricken Marawi city and agri-business development of the entire province.

SL Agritech said in a press statement it provided the technology and financing for the 50-hectare demo with total value amounting to P1.5 million. Technical assistance was also provided during the entire cropping season.

Classes and farmers’ meeting were conducted to educate the farmers on the proper crop management practices of SL hybrid rice seeds.

Lanao del Sur, which covers Marawi was identified by the Philippine Statistics Authority as the top province with highest poverty incidence per family.

The province’s average rice yield was only

3.73 metric tons per hectare predominantly using inbred rice varieties, which was proven to be insufficient to feed the entire province with more than one million population.

The 50-hectare demo farm will help the farmers of Lanao to adapt to a new technology which will help them double their production and ultimately improve their way of living.

“We want to bring the message to the people of Marawi that there’s hope. SL Agritech will put in the money for this techno-demo to inspire hope,” said SL Agritech Corp. chairman Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement.

“Our technicians are all over Mindanao.

Their marching order is to help the farmers of Mindanao to be a catalyst of change through the use of modern farming technology that will bring progress and economic growth in the rural community,” he added.

Two weeks after the festival, the farmers started to reap the fruits of their labor and the results were beyond their expectations.

One of the remarkable recorded yields was 7.63 metric tons, almost double their previous yield. Land owner Alanoding Seba, said he was extremely impressed with the performance of the SL varieties and promised to continue planting the same seed even after the pilot project.

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Bullpups nail 2nd win in Martin Cup BATANG Gilas standout Gerry Abadiano and Kevin Quiambao showed the way as the National University Bullpups prevailed over the San Beda University-B Red Lions, 116-90, over the weekend in the 16th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament.

Abadiano and Quiambao shot 15 points apiece for the Bullpups, who finished their Group A assignment with a 5-2 record at the St. Placid Gymnasium inside San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola.

With Dominic Dayrit adding 14 points, the Bullpups went on to gain the first quarterfinals slot, according to commissioner Robert dela Rosa.

It was the Bullpups’ second consecutive triumph after they won over La Consolacion College-Manila, 6151, the other week.

University of Perpetual HelpMolino picked up its first win in four games after beating Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, 102-97, in overtime.

The Diliman College Blue Dragons claimed win no. 2 at the expense of the NU Bullpups, 9484, in an earlier match.

In the junior division, the Chiang Kai Shek Blazing Dragons moved a win closer to a quarterfinals’ berth after posting their sixth straight victory over Diliman Preparatory School, 70-60.

Manila

Standard

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Weary Nadal, gritty Del Potro clash

N

EW YORK—World number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal will put his weary body on the line against a merciless Juan Martin del Potro on Friday with a place in the US Open final at stake.

Nadal, the three-time champion, faces 2009 winner Del Potro and is two wins from clinching an 18th Grand Slam title.

That would be just two behind Roger Federer and with an 11-5 career head-tohead advantage over the giant Argentine, he would usually be a comfortable favourite.

But this has been an unpredictable US Open with Federer knocked out by Australian world number 55 John Millman

an epic quarter-final which concluded at just after 2 am on Wednesday.

Now, in his seventh semi-final at the US Open, Nadal is braced for another marathon with Del Potro, the third seed.

In July, Nadal came back from two sets to one down to beat Del Potro in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after four hours and 48 minutes.

A month earlier, Nadal had cruised past del Potro in straight sets in the semi-finals at Roland Garros on his way to an 11th title in Paris.

“It will be a very tough one. Juan Martin is a great player everywhere,” said Nadal who will be playing in a seventh semi-fnal in New York.

in the fourth round and Nadal coming close to joining his greatest rival at the exit door.

Whoever gets through Friday will have yet another major challenge on their hands in Sunday’s final where either Novak Djokovic or Kei Nishikori will await.

The 32-year-old Nadal needed four hours and 49 minutes to get past Dominic Thiem 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5) in

“But the challenge of playing him on hard of course is even higher for me personally than playing against him on clay.”

Nadal has been on court at this US Open just six minutes short of 16 hours.

He played back-to-back four-setters against Karen Khachanov and Nikoloz Basilashvili before recovering from breaks down in the third and fourth sets against Thiem.

11th semi-final for Djokovic Del Potro has unleashed 66 aces and spent three and a half hours fewer on court than Nadal.

The 29-year-old is in his third semi-final at the US Open and sixth at the majors. AFP

Guest team Tibet joins 3x3 Golden League Manila

El Tigre capture 6th straight win MAKE that six wins in a row for Ray Parks and the rest of the Mandaluyong El Tigre.

The Dataland-backed squad walked the tightrope before surviving the Parañaque Patriots-F2 Logistics, 77-75, in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena.

Ray Parks dished out another solid performance as he knocked in 26 points, on top of six assists and five rebounds to lead the El Tigre to their sixth win in seven games.

Mandaluyong forged a tie for the lead with three other squads in the Northern Division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao, with PBA legend Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Mandaluyong, Manila, Bataan and San Juan, which blasted Zamboanga, 80-59, in the nightcap, each carry the same 6-1 slates.

John Wilson poured in 15 of his 23 points in the second half, including a 4-of7 shooting from beyond the arc as the GoFor-Gold-supported Knights were able to overcome a slow start to turn the tables on the Valientes.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

TODAY

GOLD MEDALISTS. Margielyn Arda Didal (left) and Hidilyn Diaz, both gold medalists in the recent 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games, show off their medals after attending the budget hearing of the Philippine Sports Commission at the Senate. Sonny Espiritu

Wack Wack shines, but Sta. Elena, Forest Hills gain WACK Wack pulled off a rare victory at home but Sta. Elena and Forest Hills came away solid finishes to press their respective charges in the overall race after six legs of the 2018 WGAP Circuit at WW West Course in Mandaluyong City recently.

The hosts broke a run of winless campaign by ruling Class B on a 150 with Andrea Dy Buncio firing 39 Stableford points, and Jay Crisologo, Sophia Araneta and Monique Arroyo adding 38, 37 and 36 points, respectively, as they edged their rivals from Forest Hills (148) and Sta. Elena (147).

But the Sta. Elena side struck back in Classes A and C which they ruled via a pair of one-point escapes, both over

Eze’s 36 points go down drain as Blazers edge Altas, 91 to 87 Games Friday

(Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan) 8 a.m.- JRU vs LPU (jrs) 10 a.m.- MU vs SBU (jrs) 12 noon- JRU vs LPU (srs) 2 p.m.- MU vs SBU (srs) 4 p.m.- EAC vs SSCR (srs) 6 p.m.- EAC vs SSCR (jrs)

COLLEGE of St. Benilde survived a career scoring effort by Perpetual Help’s Nigerian Prince Eze as it eked out a 91-87 victory yesterday to remain at third spot in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Yankie Haruna paced the Blazers with 19 points, including the go-ahead basket with 55 seconds to go that sealed them their seventh victory against three defeats, which was good to keep them the No. 3 spot behind the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates (10-0) and the San Beda Lions (9-1).

Justin Gutang hit a crucial triple, while Unique Naboa drained four key foul shots in the stretch to help CSB fend off Perpetual Help’s desperate fightback.

The 6’9” Eze dropped a career-best 36 points, including a threepoint play off a Haruna foul that gave the Altas an 83-82 lead with 1.14 minutes remaining.

But it turned out the Las Pinas-based school’s last taste of the lead as Haruna, Gutang and Naboa took charge to hold on to the win.

The Altas heavily missed starting guard Edgar Charcos, who missed his third straight game due to a knee injury.

The absence of Charcos, who averaged 17 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals a game before he hurt his knee, also coincided with Perpetual Help’s three-game losing skein that sent the team sprawling to a fifth defeat against the same number of wins.

CSB came into the game already receiving bad news after spitfire guard JJ Domingo suffered a season-ending ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury in a tune-up game last week.

Good thing several guards stepped up like Naboa, who chipped in 14 points, Rob Nayve, who added seven, and Prince Carlos, who hit a big three-pointer late in the game.

The scores: First Game CSB 91—Haruna 19, Pasturan 17, Naboa 14, Gutang 13, Nayve 7, Young 7, Leutcheu 5, Belgica 4, Carlos 3, Velasco 2, Pagulayan 0 UPHSD 87—Eze 36, Razon 18, Peralta 8, Aurin 7, Cuevas 7, Coronel 6, Tamayo 3, Mangalino 2, Pasia 0 Quarterscores: 17-20; 49-43; 68-62; 91-87

Forest Hills, in what proved to be the most tightly fought leg in the annual tournament organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Sta. Elena, behind Candice Yulo and Caret Ricamonte’s 36 and 35 points, respectively, and a pair of 32 points from Rio Co and Marit Yuchengco, pooled a 135 and nipped Forest Hills (134), paced by Grace Cho’s 36 points, by one with Canlubang claiming third place with a 131 in the premier class of the event among thea leading golfing ladies from the country’s top golf clubs.

Tagaytay came in fourth with a 131 followed by Villamor (130), Eagle Ridge (115) and Camp Aguinaldo (103) with

Alabang’s Joan Morales bagging the individual crown in Class A with 39 points.

Sta. Elena, behind Nancy Co’s 37 points, Barbara Park and Cheese Ong’s identical 33 points and Mary Jane Ishihara’s 32 points, also scored a 135 and foiled Forest Hills, led by Bernadette Jalosjos’ 38 points, again by one for the Class C plum with Alabang taking third place with a 133 followed by Tagaytay Highlands (131), Villamor (125), Canlubang, Eagle Ridge and Camp Aguinaldo, which both assembled 122s, Wack Wack (118) and Orchard (100). Ellen Chua of Wack Wack took the individual crown with 38 points.

Forest Hills’ Mi Jin Lim bagged the individual title in Class B with Villamor ending fourth in team play with a 139 fol-

A GUEST team from Tibet will be pitting their skills against Philippine squads in the 3x3 Golden League Manila to be held from Sept. 12 to 15.

Tournament commissioner Allan Caidic said the team from Tibet will serve as a guest team after it turned heads when they defied all odds to win the Chengdu leg of the SINA 3x3 Golden League 2018, thereby qualifying for the SINA 3x3 Golden League National Finals in October 2018. Caidic added that the Tibet squad will not be eligible to win prizes as it is considered a guest team.

Caidic said the victory by the squad of Tibet, roughly 2,000 kilometers away from Beijing, is a shining light of what the 3x3 Golden League Manila seeks to achieve, that is to help develop 3x3 basketball outside of Metro Manila and in the countryside.

“With 128 teams, it provides opportunities for other players to showcase their skills in 3x3 through this tournament. This is their chance to be noticed,” Caidic said.

Caidic is also a firm believer that the Philippines has the potential to do well in 3x3 basketball, with the format being competed in the ongoing 2018 Asian Games and the upcoming 2020 Olympics.

“With this tournament, we can already identify potential talents that we could tap for international competitions,” said Caidic.

Registration is still open for the 3x3 Golden League Manila to be held from Sept. 12 to 14 at the Taft Food by the Court and Sept.15 at the Vista Mall in Taguig City.

To register, go to the nearest Chris Sports outlets to register or call 09178982489. For details, go to the Facebook page of NBL Philippines.

AFFIDAVIT OF LOSS I, RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ, JR., of legal age, Filipino citizen and with residence address at B3 Lot 13-A Town & Country Estates, Sumulong, Antipolo City, do hereby depose and declare that:

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION

1. I am the Corporate Secretary of AIRLIFT ASIA, INC., a registered stockholder of theVALLEY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, INC. share of stock covered by the following stock certificate: CERT. STOCKHOLDER NAME STOCK NO. AIRLIFT ASIA, INC.

NO. OF SHARES

DATE ISSUED

1

4/11/2005

3928

2. That the above-mentioned certificate was lost and despite diligent search the same could not be found.

3. The said certificate has not been sold, pledged or in any way encumberedto any third party in any manner whatsoever and as of this request, Airlift Asia, Inc. remain to be the absolute owner of the share of stock covered, free from all liens and encumbrances.

5. In the event that the missing stock certificates is recovered, I shall immediately notifythe Corporation and/or the Issuer thereof and surrender the same to the latter.

6. I am executing this Affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing statements and torequest the Corporation and/or the Issuer to replace the subject stock certificate at our expense.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this _____ day of _____________ at _____________.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS/POSITION PAPERS This is to inform the public that the Tariff Commission received on 13 August 2018a request/petition from the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. (PAMPI) praying for the retention of the current Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates on the following products (Investigation No. MFN-2018-Chicken and Turkey Meat and Offals): Table 1. Subject Articles AHTN 2017 Codes (1) 0207.14.91 0207.25.00A (In-Quota) 0207.25.00B (Out-Quota) 0207.27.91A (In-Quota) 0207.27.91B (Out-Quota) 0207.27.99A (In-Quota) 0207.27.99B (Out-Quota)

*

AIRLIFT ASIA, INC. Stockholder By:

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ,JR. Corporate Secretary BEFORE ME, a Notary Public for and in the City of Makati, this ____ day of_____________, personally appeared affiant exhibiting his government issued ID: Name

Government Issued I.D.

Date/Place Issued

17 January 2018 and Ricardo N. Fernandez, Jr. Passport No. P5645377A expiring on 16 January 2028 at DFA Manila

Description (2) Mechanically deboned or separated meat of the species Gallus domesticus (chicken) Meat and edible offal of turkeys not cut in pieces, frozen Mechanically deboned or separated meat of turkey Meat cuts and edible offal of turkeys, frozen, other than livers or mechanically deboned or separated meat

MFNRates of Duty (%) Starting 01 January Starting 01 July 2018 – 2020** 30 June 2020* (3) (4) 5

40

20

30

20

35

5

30

5

40

20

30

20

40

Executive Order(EO) 23, s. 2017, Annex B, Columns 5-7 **EO 23, Annex B, Column 8

Please be informed that the tariff rates on subject articles are being implemented in accordance with Executive Order (EO) No. 23, s. 2017. EO 23 provides that the current tariff rates on subject articles (see column 3 of Table 1) are applicable until 30 June 2020 or until such time that a law amending certain provisions relating to rice tariffication in Republic Act (RA) No. 8178 is enacted, whichever comes first, after which the tariff rates provided for in Column 8 of Annex B of EO 23 shall apply (see column 4 of Table 1).

In the exercise of its function to conduct investigations in connection with any recommendation for tariff modification under Section 1608(b) of RA No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and its functions to “study the impact of tariff policies and programs on national competitiveness and consumer welfare in line with the economic objectives of the government” and “to provide the President and Congress with independent analysis, information and technical support on matters related to tariff and nontariff measures” under Section 1603 (b) and (e), respectively, of the CMTA, the Commission will conduct a public hearing on 19 September 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the Tariff Commission Conference Room, 4th Floor, West Insula Condominium, 135 West Avenue, Quezon City.

Interested parties shall be afforded opportunity to be present and present evidence in support of their positions during the public hearing.

Comments/position papers relative to the subject matter should be submitted on or before 13 September 2018 to the Commission. For reference, please see the position paper template provided on the Commission’s website www. tariffcommission.gov.ph/.

For inquiries, please get in touch with Director Ma. Lourdes M. Saluta, Research, Investigation and International Trade Analysis Service, at Telephone Number 9267476.

Issued this 5th day of September 2018, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS-SEPT. 7,14 & 21, 2018)

(MS- SEPT 7, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Responders want to start UNTV Cup bid with a win Games Sunday (Pasig City Sports Center) 3:30 p.m. – Agriculture vs PhilHealth 5 p.m. – PNP vs GSIS

THE Philippine National Police Responders hope to start their title drive on a high note even as the PhilHealth Plus target a memorable debut when they clash against separate rivals on Sunday in the 7th UNTV Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center.

Led by former University of the East player Ollan Omiping, the Responders collide with the GSIS Furies at 5 pm with the former slightly favored over the team that is seeking a finals’ appearance in the annual tournament for public servants.

The two-time MVP said they are going for redemption after their titleretention bid last year ended disastrously as they failed to get past the quarterfinal round.

“Kasi nawala kami sa Final 4, gusto naming makabawi at gusto naming nandoon kami sa Top 4. ‘Yun ang pinaka-goal namin,” said Omiping.

Aside Omiping, also expected to deliver the goods for the Responders is ABL veteran Harold Sta. Cruz, 6’4” Cyril Santiago, and Rollie Errano.

The PhilHealth Plus, on the other hand, tackle the Agriculture Food Masters at 3:30 p.m. in the event offering P4 million to the chosen charity of the champion team.

The winners in both matches will forge a three-way tie for the early lead with the Senate Defenders, who launched their title-retention bid with a thrilling 73-70 win over the Philippine International Trading Corporation Global Traders in the opener last Monday.

The 12 participating teams have been divided into two groups with Senate, AFP, PNP, GSIS, DOJ and PITC comprising Group A, while twotime champion Judiciary, MalacañangPSC, Agriculture, NHA, Ombudsman and PhilHealth making up Group B.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao drives to the basket during the Senate’s game against the Philippine International Trading Corporation Global Traders last Monday. The fighting senator scored 12 points, including two triples in the first quarter, in leading the Senate Defenders to a 73-70 win.

Guiao bares plans for Gilas 5

By Peter Atencio

I

F Stanley Pringle can play as naturalized player, Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao will have an easier time tweaking his rotation.

Efforts are currently being done to put Pringle’s documents in order as he had secured his Philippine passport after the age of 16.

“Hindi lang naman si Greg (Slaughter) ang gusto nating maging local, si Pringle din,” said Guiao before practices resumed last night at the Meralco gym.

In the next two games of Gilas Pilipinas, Guiao wants to alternate the exposure of Christian Standhardinger and Pringle in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers next week.

So far, Slaughter is expected to officially join the team as soon as his papers are in order.

The squad has members who competed in the 2018 Asian Games, namely

Standhardinger, Paul Lee, Pringle, Gabe Norwood, Poy Erram, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, and Asi Taulava.

Also coming aboard are Scottie Thompson, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, Ian Sangalang, Japeth Aguilar, Matthew Wright and Allein Maliksi.

Guiao is still finalizing the 12-man roster that will see action in the game against Iran.

Meanwhile, 16 athletes who have won medals in the recent 18th Asian Games in Indonesia were backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, a privately funded sports foundation of the Manuel V. Pangilinan Group of Companies.

Al Panlilio, in his capacity as head of the MVPSF, said this after the Philippines’ ranking improved to 19th place,

from the previous 22nd spot, in the 45-nation games.

“We’ve been quietly supporting our athletes since 2011. Given their performance in the 2018 Asiad, it seems that the sports programs that we are supporting are on the right track in creating champions and world-class athletes,” said Panlilio.

During the Philippines’ Asiad campaign, Hidilyn Diaz was the first to get a gold in weightlifting. Then, the women’s golf trio of Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go added two more.

The country’s fourth gold came from Margielyn Didal in skateboarding. All four are supported by the MVPSF, together with boxers Rogen Ladon (silver), Carlo Paalam (bronze) and Eumir Marcial (bronze), BMX cyclist Daniel Caluag (bronze), the taekwondo poomsae men’s team (Dustin Mella, Jeordan Dominquez and Rodolfo Reyes Jr.), the taekwondo poomsae women’s team (Janna Oliva, Faye Crisostomo and Rinna Babanto) and taekwondo Kyorugi bet Pauline Louise Lopez.

Que takes charge in rain DASMARINAS, Cavite—Angelo Que stumbled and recovered coming off a first weather delay and took the clubhouse lead over Aussie Damien Jordan and Zanieboy Gialon when play was stopped the second time around due to heavy rain halfway through the $100,000 Aboitiz Invitational at the Orchard’s Palmer course here yesterday.

The long-hitting, late-starting Japan PGA Tour campaigner extended his birdie-binge in his solid first round 65 with back-to-back feats from No. 2 to draw level with Jordan and Gialon, who had wrapped up their respective morning rounds with 70 and 71, respectively, before play was stopped due to lightning threat.

Que actually stumbled with his first bogey in 23 holes on No. 5 at resumption of play but quickly got his game going again, hitting three straight birdies from No. 6 from short range to move ahead by three.

But two bogeys at the back in tough condition slowed down his charge though he hit another birdie on No. 15 to go three-under

for the day before play was suspended due to heavy rain and darkness.

“The strong rain affected my game on No. 13, otherwise it was pretty okay,” said Que, who had a provisional 10-under overall card with three holes to play, moving him 39 holes away from nailing his first Aboitiz crown after two runner-up finishes in 2013 and last year. “I’ll try to finish this tomorrow morning (today) and let’s see what would be my strategy given the wet condition.”

All stranded flights will finish their respective rounds at 6:30 a.m. today with the third round set right after the last flight will have completed play.

Gialon, meanwhile, tied Jordan at 135 with Ira Alido posting a one-under card and eight-under overall with three holes to play.

Thai Namchok Tantipokhaul, on the other hand, shot a 69 for a 136.

Jobim Carlos and Tony Lascuña had identical three-under cards after 15 holes for seven-under total while Korean Kim Dae Won also went three-under and six-under overall with three holes to play.

Rain slows down Angelo Que’s charge at the back

Team Kuago is Ninja 100 champion AFTER long hours of grueling competition, Team Kuago ruled the recent Ninja 100 Team Challenge Asia, which featured head-to-head races covering eight obstacles on a 100-meter course.

It’s the first obstacle course race team event in Asia, and organizers led by Ninja 100 founder Noel Agra are even looking at a “longer, better and tougher” Ninja 300 by yearend.

A total of 37 teams of three members each (two male and one female) vied in the event that caught the attention of the weekend crowd at Bonifacio High Street at BGC. The course, which featured obstacles that were designed only for the fittest athletes, brought out the best from the competitors, both local and foreign.

Team Kuago, composed of Nate Sanchez and Jennifer Gabriel of Davao City, and Charles Or of Manila, defeated Team Trojan in a thrilling finale.

Sanchez, a 29-year-old CrossFit athlete, electrified the crowd with his style, strength and agility during the event sanctioned by the Pilipinas Obstacle Course Federation, headed by Atty. Al Agra.

To typify the level of difficulty of the course, only three men made it to the top of the eighth and last obstacle, the 12-foot wave wall.

“This is tougher that other obstacle races because it’s one obstacle after another, with no runs. It was very difficult to recover,” said Sanchez.

Among the teams that made it to the closing stages of the competition were Beast Force, ABC 3, H2O Blue, Guerero and World Pull-Up Day.

Olympic dreams are made of these

By Peter Paul Duran

DRINK OF CHAMPIONS. Swimmers from the Elementary Division drink a cup of MILO after their respective heats during the 2018 MILO Little Olympics in Marikina. Peter Paul Duran

SILENTLY watching at the sidelines of the Rhythmic Gymnastics’ event of the 2018 MILO Little Olympics in SM Masinag, Dominga Villadoris claps as a fifth gold medal is placed around her granddaughters’ neck.

She could not hold back the tears at the sight.

Finally, the dream tucked in her heart for over 50 years, has been realized not by herself but by her own blood.

“Pangarap ko talaga maging gymnast noong bata ako,” she said during the closing ceremonies of the 31st edition of the MILO Little Olympics NCR-South Luzon leg, which ran from Aug. 24 to 26, with more than 5,000 participants.

“Kahit hindi ko natupad para sa sarili ko ‘yun, ‘yung apo ko naman ang nagpatuloy,” said 60-year-old Dominga of her granddaughter, who received the Most Outstanding Athlete Award for Gymnastics.

Her grandkid, Charmi Desiray Flores of the AC Herrera Elementary School, not only became a gymnast, she excelled in the sport, too.

Big time.

The school’s goal this year was just to im-

prove on the lone gymnastics’ gold medal, which interestingly was courtesy of the shy 11-year-old as she personally also had two silvers and the same number of bronze medals in the MILO games last year to place second in her age group.

There was only one concern, though. She was the only gymnast left to carry the fight for the school this year.

No problem though.

Dang, as she is fondly called by relatives, dominated the Elementary Division of Gymnastics, where she hauled five golds in the ball, clubs, freehand and ribbon categories to likewise cop the individual all-around gold medal in the Little Olympics.

“Nalungkot po ako dahil lahat po ng teammates ko, wala na sa team. Kaya siyempre po, mas naging disiplinado po ako sa training, mas nag-focus dahil ako na lang ang representative ng school namin,” said the Grade 6 student.

“Pinaghusayan ko po talaga ngayon sa bawat category, kasi halos isa, kalahating puntos lang ang lamang sa akin nu’ng mga kalaban last year,” she added. “Pero hindi ko po talaga ine-expect na ganito karaming

gold makukuha ko.”

But with regular training sessions everyday after class, which go as much as two whole weeks of non-stop training during competition season, the result did not seem that farfetched in retrospect.

At her young age, she has learned to go through the pain amid light injuries and body aches in training, sharing that she learned how to always be disciplined both in life and in gymnastics.

And in competitions like the MILO Little Olympics, she learned that she can bring life’s lessons into her promising young career as a gymnast.

But the most important mindset she learned which she holds dear from her Lola is: “Huwag na huwag pong bibitaw sa pangarap. ‘Yun po ang pinakamahalaga.”

It is interesting to note that despite her youth, she is already thinking of the future generation.

“Pangarap ko po mag-compete sa Olympics.

Gusto ko rin pong maging trainer sa gymnastics para marami pa po ang mahilig sa sport na ‘to,” said Desiray.

One by one, her Lola’s dreams are coming true.

Businessmen less bullish in Q3—BSP poll

BUSINESSMEN turned less optimistic in the third quarter, following the implementation of the first package of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law and the increase in prices of basic commodities in the global market, results of a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey show.

The quarterly Business Expectations Survey showed that business optimism, as measured by confidence index, declined to 30.1 percent in the third quarter from 39.3 percent in the second quarter.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the third-quarter result was the lowest since the first quarter of 2010. The index is measured as the difference between the percentages of optimistic and pessimistic respondents.

Results of the survey identified the reasons for the sluggish outlook for the period, including the rising overhead costs and lack of supply of raw materials; the impact of the rainy season to business operations and crop production; lower consumer demand as households prioritized enrollment expenses and the suspension of commercial fishing in the Davao Gulf from June to August.

Respondents also noted the weakening peso and stiffer business competition.

Businesses, however, are more upbeat for the next quarter, with the business confidence index rising to 42.6 percent from 40.4 percent, suggesting that growth maybe sustained in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Among the reasons for the rosy outlook were the expected uptick in demand during the harvest and holiday seasons, continued increase in orders and projects, expansion of businesses, continued rollout of government projects, more favorable weather conditions for agricultural products and opening of high seas fishing operations in October.

Respondents in the National Capital Region and areas outside NCR were both less optimistic in the third quarter.

For the next quarter, outlook improved in the NCR and remained steady in areas outside NCR. Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF

WB to fund study of Agus plant rehab

THE World Bank will finance the feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the 982-megawatt Agus-Pulangi hydro power plants in Mindanao, National Power Corp. president Pio Benavidez said Thursday.

“The World Bank will finance through grant, the feasibility study,” Benavidez said, adding that the study was ready to be implemented.

Benavidez said Napocor would provide counter funding for the Agus-Pulangi feasibility study that was expected to take one year.

He said the feasibility study would determine how to conduct the rehabilitation of the hydro plants, which would be needed prior to privatization.

He said the options would include increasing the rated capacity, safety and security of the plant and improving the water efficiency.

Benavidez said the government was looking at other multilateral agencies to finance the actual rehabilitation program.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Cebu Pacific boosts Clark route network

CEBU Pacific said it continues to expand its route network from Clark International Airport, with the goal of boosting frequency by 75 percent by end-2018.

The budget airline said on top of two new domestic routes from Clark, it would also increase frequency of its flights between Clark and Macau from eight times weekly to 14 times a week.

The carrier earlier announced it would add an additional daily flight between Clark and Cebu starting Oct. 28, 2018. It would also add two new routes―between Clark and Davao and between Clark and Tagbilaran starting Nov. 9, 2018.

The new routes and additional frequencies will bring the total number of Cebu Pacific flights in and out of Clark to 3,711 by end2018, representing 620,540 seats.

Cebu Pacific also mounts direct flights from Clark to Singapore and Hong Kong and will resume direct flights to Caticlan (Boracay) by Oct. 28.

“We are excited over the opportunities that our Clark hub presents and are looking forward to serving travelers from North and Central Luzon over the coming months. We are committed to being a partner in the over-all economic development of the Clark area through the expansion of our route network,” JR Mantaring, vice president for corporate affairs of Cebu Pacific, said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Solar firm agrees to serve remote areas

SOLAR Philippines on Thursday accepted the challenge of electric cooperatives to prioritize remote and underserved locations, instead of tourist and high-growth areas in the rollout of its solar facilities for rural electrification.

The National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives and Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association last week criticized Solar Philippines for allegedly rolling out solar systems selectively.

“We accept Nagmec’s challenge, so we hope they stop opposing attempts by the private sector to enter these poorly served areas, as we’ve already done in 12 towns. The towns’ requests for better electric service have been ignored for years. Yet now they’re being served by an alternative provider, certain coops would prefer these towns have no power at all,” Solar Philippines founder and president Leandro Leviste said.

Nagmec president Sergio Dagoog questioned Solar Philippines’ missionary electrification program and challenged them and other private entities “to not be choosy and instead prioritize remote, underserved locations.”

Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

B1

ICTSI raises North Harbor stake to 50%

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PAG-IBIG PARTNERS. Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Acmad Rizaldy Moti (second row, seventh from left) is shown with Mindanao’s top-performing partner-developers after the awarding ceremony during the Home Lending Accomplishment Report in Davao City. With Moti are Pag-IBIG Fund officers (second row, second from left onward) Davao housing business center loans origination department manager Noli Armada and business development department manager Cesar Bazan, acting senior vice president Benjamin Felix, Jr., deputy CEO Marilene Acosta, trustee Pedrito Angeles, senior vice president Fermin Sta. Teresa Jr., vice president Marie Antoniette Diaz, Cagayan de Oro HBC head Reynaldo Cue, Davao loans management and recovery department manager Cesar Virgilio Labuguen, and Zamboanga HBC head Eric Ignacio Matutino.

Peso slumps to 13-year low of 53.80 vs US dollar T

By Julito G. Rada

HE peso extended its slump Thursday, hitting the lowest level in nearly 13 years at 53.80 against the US dollar, in line with the fall of other Asian currencies and following reports that inflation rate accelerated to a nine-year peak.

The peso shed P0.25 Thursday to close at 53.80 from 53.55 a dollar Wednesday.

It was the local currency’s weakest finish in almost 13 years, or since it settled at 53.985 against the greenback on Dec. 7, 2005.

The peso lost 7.8 percent of its value since the start of the year, making it one of the poorest performing currencies in Asia.

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, September 6, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.5470

Japan

Yen

0.008967

0.4802

UK

Pound

1.290600

69.1078

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127408

6.8223

Switzerland

Franc

1.029124

55.1065

Canada

Dollar

0.759129

40.6491

Singapore

Dollar

0.727061

38.9319

Australia

Dollar

0.718900

38.4949

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653717

142.0986

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

14.2762

Brunei

Dollar

0.724428

38.7909

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030492

1.6328

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.5793

Euro

Euro

1.163000

62.2752

Korea

Won

0.000894

0.0479

China

Yuan

0.146454

7.8422

India

Rupee

0.013937

0.7463

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241196

12.9153

New Zealand

Dollar

0.658800

35.2768

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032502

1.7404

Source: PDS Bridge

Total volume turnover reached $911 million Thursday, lower than $1.38 billion Wednesday.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo remained optimistic of the current level of the peso, saying it could withstand the impact of the surging dollar.

“Yesterday, there was a weakness of regional currencies because of the strong US dollar. There is also higher demand for foreign exchange on the back of higher importations,” Guinigundo said in a news briefing.

Guinigundo said other reasons for the peso’s weakness were the government’s settlement of its foreign debts and companies’ prepayments of their foreign obligations.

“I think we have enough buffers that can support the peso against the US dollar,” Guinigundo said.

Both the peso and the local stocks tumbled Wednesday after the government announced that inflation in August

hit 6.4 percent, the fastest in more than nine years.

This brought the average inflation in the first eight months to 4.73 percent, above the official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said an extended period of emerging markets risk-off sentiment would keep the peso under pressure.

“A combination of such inflows, hawkish BSP, and BSP’s direct intervention [also due to additional government foreign denominated bond issuance that keeps FX reserves equivalent to seven months of imports of goods and services] would be needed to keep the peso from weakening beyond P53.55 area,” Cuyegkeng said.

Philip Wee, foreign exchange strategist of DBS Group Research, said in an earlier report that Asian currencies were facing depreciation pressures because of monetary policy divergences that had supported the US dollar globally.

PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said it is acquiring an additional 15.17-percent stake in Manila North Harbor Philippines Inc. for P910 million, raising its total equity to 50 percent.

ICTSI, led by businessman Enrique Razon, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed a share purchase agreement with Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. for the acquisition of 4.55 million shares in MNHPI. The shares represent 15.17 percent of the total issued and outstanding shares of MNHP. ICTSI said the completion of the share purchase agreement remained subject to a number of conditions such as the approval by the Philippine Ports Authority and the Philippine Competition Commission.

Upon completion of the transaction, ICTSI’s shareholdings in MNHPI will increase from 34.83 percent to 50 percent.

“This transaction will further improve the returns of ICTSI’s shareholders through this value-accretive acquisition,” ICTSI said.

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp owns a 43.44-percent stake in MNHPI. MNHPI won the 25-year contract to manage, develop and operate the 52-hectare seaport terminal.

The company earlier committed to invest P14.5 billion to develop the port facility. Aside from developing passenger port terminal with a capacity to serve two million to three passengers a year, the company plans to build a container yard.

The port serves close to 4,000 vessel calls annually.

ICTSI earlier reported a net income of $97.7 million in the first half, down 6 percent from $103.6 million it earned a year ago. Revenue increased 10 percent to $661.8 million from $603.7 million during the same period.

The company handled consolidated volume of 4.71 twenty-foot equivalent units in the first six months, or 4 higher higher than 4.54 million TEUs in the same period last year.

Villar trebles wealth to become 2nd richest man in PH

By Jenniffer B. Austria RETAIL tycoon Henry Sy maintained his ranking as the country’s wealthiest person for the 11th straight year with a net worth of $18.3 billion, according to Forbes Asia magazine’s 2018 list of 50 richest Filipinos.

Former Senate president Manuel Villar trebled his net worth over the past year to $5 billion from $1.6 billion to make him the country’s second richest, dislodging tycoon John Gokongwei.

Villar significantly increased his net worth, as the share price of Golden Bria, which is engaged in memorial parks and mass housing business, surged 1,300 percent in the first quarter.

“Investors saw in the mix a basis for the magnate building telecom infrastructure, an especially attractive play,” the magazine said.

Gokongwei moved to third with a net worth of $4.4 billion, followed by Jaime Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corp. with $4 bil-

lion and ports and casino operator Enrique Razon with $3.9 billion.

Rounding up the top 10 are Jollibee’s Tony Tan Caktiong ($3.85 billion), beer and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan ($3.8 billion),

San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang ($2.85 billion), Metrobank’s George Ty ($2.75 billion) and Alliance Global Group chairman Andrew Tan ($2.6 billion).

Forbes said the ranking of the country’s top 50 richest faced volatility, as 19 tycoons saw their net worth shift 20 percent or more over the past year.

Seven newcomers made to the top 50 list, including Isidro Consunji and his siblings (No. 12 with $2.45 billion) who replaced their founder father, David, who died in September; William Belo (No. 22 with $600 million) of big-box chain Wilcon Depot; Necisto Sytengco (No. 41 with $180 million) of chemical-trading outfit SBS Philippines; Alberto Villarosa (No. 42 with $170 million) and Rafael Simpao (No. 44 with $155 million) of Security Bank; selfmade fashion designer Josie Natori (No. 45 with $150 million) and Jerry Liu (No. 46 with $145 million) of semiconductor maker Cirtek Holdings.

Meralco rates declined in September

By Alena Mae S. Flores ELECTRICITY rates in the franchise area of retailer Manila Electric Co. declined by P0.1458 per kilowatt-hour to P10.0732 per kWh in September from P10.2190 per kWh in August.

Meralco said for a typical household consuming 200 kWh, this would mean a reduction of around P29 in their monthly bill.

“We are pleased to announce that despite the recent figures released on inflation and a slight depreciation of the peso, Meralco customers can find some relief in the decrease of power rates this month, as this goes against the current trend that we see with other basic goods and commodities,” said Meralco spokesperson and head of public information office Joe Zaldarriaga.

Meralco’s generation charge dropped

P0.0772 to P5.2719 per kWh in September from P5.3491 per kWh in August.

Meralco attributed the lower generation chargeto the P2.0768-per-kWh decrease in Wholesale Electricity Spot Market charges.

WESM acts as the country’s trading floor of electricity.

“WESM prices decreased this month as a result of both less power plant capacity on outage and lower average demand for power in Luzon,” Meralco said.

The power distributor purchased 21 percent of its power requirements from WESM. Meralco said lower WESM charges offset the P0.6112-per-kWh and the P0.3287-per-kWh rise in the cost of power from power supply agreements and independent power producers, respectively.

TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC HEARING. Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive Alexander Cauguiran (center) answers inquiries about the vital role Clark International Airport played in the aviation crisis on Aug. 17 and 18 caused by the excursion of a Xiamen Airlines aircraft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport runway during the House committee on transportation public hearing. With him are Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla (left) and CIAC vicepresident for airport operations and management Jaime Alberto Melo.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks extend slump; Jollibee falls

S

TOCKS tumbled Thursday for the second straight day, pulled down by concerns on rising inflation and fears of a spillover from the economic crises in some emerging markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 113.56 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,638.71 on a value turnover of P6.7 billion. Losers routed gainers, 161 to 37, with 41 issues unchanged.

Analysts fear the nine-year high inflation rate of 6.4 percent in August could force the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise the interest rate again this month, after a 100-basis-point adjustment in three separate Monetary Board meetings this year.

Higher prices cut into the budget of consumers, while increased interest rates will raise the production cost of companies.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-

food chain, dropped 3.2 percent to P276, while Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan, which has a stake in Jollibee rival McDonald’s, slumped 6.4 percent to P13.48.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. fell 3 percent to P944, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in terms of assets, declined 2.6 percent to P70.30.

The rest of Asian equities suffered fresh losses Thursday, extending the previous day’s rout as concerns about contagion from emerging markets fray investor nerves, while sentiment is also being dampened by the possibility of further US tariffs on China.

And while emerging market currencies—which have taken a battering in recent weeks—enjoyed a much-needed breather, there are warnings of further pain to come in foreign exchanges.

Worries that financial crises in

Argentina, South Africa and Turkey will spill over into major economies fueled a blood-letting across Asia on Wednesday, which filtered through to Europe.

“Contagion is a normal reaction,” George Boubouras, director at Salter Brothers Asset Management, said on Bloomberg Television. The contagion “will get worse”, he warned.

Tokyo ended 0.4 percent lower, while Hong Kong shed 1.3 percent after diving 2.6 percent Wednesday. Sydney fell 0.4 percent and Wellington lost 1.4 percent.

Shanghai lost 0.5 percent, Seoul sank 0.2 percent and Singapore was 0.3 percent off.

Jakarta, which lost more than three percent Wednesday, was 0.6 percent higher.

Wall Street ended mixed with the Dow edging up but the Nasdaq took a hit from a sell-off in tech firms as top officials at Facebook and Twitter

struggled in congressional testimony and the White House warned of a possible legal crackdown.

Trump “has the tech giants in his sights” following his claims of political bias against conservatives, said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

“That’s important for global markets because the only thing between where we are today and a complete rout is the relative stability of US stocks. And we know a big chunk of the S&P’s rally has been the performance of tech stocks whose rally has been going increasingly vertical.”

On currency markets, the Indonesian rupiah edged up after hitting its lowest level since the Asian financial crisis 20 years ago though it skirted the 15,000-tothe-dollar mark. The Mexican peso also posted gains but the South African rand was flat after paring an early rally.

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.05 90 123.6 1.7 30.9 16.42 14.3 4 8.69 1.54 816 0.58 72.1 1.01 11.6 47.95 194.1 87.9 28.6 195.3 1,860 75.8 1.2

59 90.05 124 1.7 30.9 16.44 14.3 4.1 8.69 1.61 816 0.58 72.1 1.09 11.6 47.95 197 87.9 28.6 195.3 1,860 76 1.2

58.05 88.6 118 1.7 30.7 16.42 13.94 3.94 8.63 1.51 815 0.56 70.2 1 11.6 46 194.1 87.65 27.65 192.6 1,860 75.8 1.2

FINANCIALS 59 3,460 89 3,405,910 120.3 5,187,040 1.7 16,000 30.7 123,700 16.42 22,400 13.94 1,526,000 4.07 285,000 8.63 1,100 1.61 51,000 815 100 0.58 529,000 70.3 3,992,800 1 3,769,000 11.6 1,000 46.1 124,300 197 310 87.65 20 27.65 343,200 195 958,400 1,860 50 75.8 31,020 1.2 14,000

203,731.50 303,056,227 628,336,656 27,200 3,806,745 367,816 21,554,016 1,151,040 9,523 77,830 81,550 300,920 283,242,891 3,911,020 11,600 5,833,760 60,200 1,755.50 9,604,500 186,216,770 93,000 2,355,900 16,800

172,908 -76,222,540 -347,122,935 -2,578,345 -4,926 -4,602,486 -54,267,686 -106,830 -6,163,535 36,074,851 -

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE B 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 MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

36.7 17.2 1.01 1.22 0.225 3.18 14.16 33.65 19.8 45.05 80.25 1.8 7.65 10.28 15.7 9.7 7.26 7.04 16.7 64.25 29.95 7.2 13.52 2.13 282.2 4.92 3.1 24.55 12.5 17.9 374 6.7 2.06 4.09 8.98 5.81 7.85 1.1 11.5 54.8 6.1 4.8 2.4 1.68 12.94 98.9 5.89 0.127 1.13 141.3 2.5 2.04 19.5 1.88

36.85 17.2 1.01 1.23 0.226 3.18 14.2 34.3 19.8 45.05 80.25 1.8 7.66 10.32 15.88 10 7.27 7.04 16.7 64.95 30 7.23 13.52 2.17 282.2 4.92 3.1 24.55 12.5 18 379 6.71 2.07 4.09 8.98 5.81 7.9 1.12 11.5 54.8 6.1 4.8 2.49 1.72 12.98 98.9 5.89 0.127 1.15 142.2 2.5 2.1 19.5 1.9

35.8 17.02 0.99 1.19 0.213 3.11 14 33.15 19.1 43 80.25 1.78 7.4 10.08 15.5 9.5 7.25 7.03 16.08 64.25 29.25 7.2 13.36 2.1 275.4 4.88 3.1 24.05 12.1 17.42 366.2 6.7 2.06 4.01 8.92 5.34 7.85 1 11.22 52.9 6 4.8 2.4 1.67 12.8 95 5.7 0.126 1.05 139.4 2.46 2.03 19.5 1.81

INDUSTRIAL 36.85 1,314,900 17.1 431,500 1.01 4,688,000 1.23 237,000 0.213 13,320,000 3.11 2,251,000 14 555,300 33.8 1,946,900 19.5 1,300 43 1,600 80.25 90 1.78 1,077,000 7.6 6,400 10.12 11,994,200 15.5 700,500 9.5 784,400 7.27 438,400 7.03 8,204,600 16.08 2,752,800 64.9 80,530 29.65 193,200 7.23 156,300 13.4 423,200 2.17 441,000 276 745,500 4.88 31,000 3.1 3,000 24.05 634,300 12.14 606,900 17.5 1,004,500 379 414,820 6.71 3,400 2.07 57,000 4.02 169,000 8.97 477,000 5.34 1,009,200 7.9 6,800 1 4,386,000 11.3 26,600 53 1,022,390 6 700 4.8 10,000 2.41 56,000 1.67 241,000 12.8 106,600 96.3 1,165,450 5.8 38,700 0.126 510,000 1.09 367,000 142.2 1,193,160 2.46 33,000 2.04 6,115,000 19.5 400 1.81 12,607,000

47,664,025 7,384,126 4,690,310 286,800 2,891,810 7,055,760 7,821,216 65,442,355 25,330 70,745 7,222.50 1,918,220 47,783 121,495,618 10,931,570 7,500,044 3,182,880 57,736,934 44,608,446 5,224,401.50 5,754,040 1,129,061 5,683,184 930,580 207,474,490 152,140 9,300 15,463,780 7,412,722 17,631,278 154,865,220 22,784 117,780 680,470 4,269,310 5,561,954 53,530 4,606,380 303,202 54,344,604.50 4,250 48,000 136,860 405,070 1,367,976 112,981,291.50 224,033 64,320 398,580 168,797,869 81,900 12,731,580 7,800 23,113,200

18,125,565 -13,582.00 46,150 -1,202,040 -6,626,202 1,026,920 -77,400 14,800 21,497,922 2,469,554 437,655 -2,594,028 -25,582,208 -10,456,006 4,191,330.50 -17,700 1,541,416 -33,900 -24,907,692 -352,935 -86,586 -13,698,988.00 10,966,906 -43,470.00 -346,630 -214,325 -270,090 -827,100 -28,988,356.50 48,000 -1,680 -8,990 -34,037,304 30,386,085 -239,290.00 242,240

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

0.435 53.3 14.26 0.94 6.1 37.5 1.41 1.42 965 5.99 12.82 7 4.8 890 5.95 57.4 0.6 4.98 17 0.63 5.3 0.038 1.24 2.74 178 2.6 949 1.47 391 304 0.34 0.206

0.44 53.3 14.26 0.94 6.1 38.6 1.42 1.44 965 6 12.82 7.25 5.25 890 5.95 57.4 0.61 4.98 17 0.63 5.32 0.039 1.24 2.74 178 2.6 960 1.47 400 304 0.34 0.206

0.405 51.8 13.26 0.94 6 36.05 1.33 1.36 940 5.97 12.02 7 4.8 867 5.8 55 0.57 4.9 16.66 0.61 5.05 0.038 1.18 2.7 174.7 2.59 928 1.47 391 298 0.33 0.206

HOLDING FIRMS 0.41 27,980,000 52.75 1,864,060 13.48 6,817,800 0.94 5,000 6.1 25,300 36.75 189,500 1.34 32,562,000 1.37 3,791,000 944 424,510 5.98 4,315,100 12.16 2,443,900 7.02 5,500 5.25 3,100 884 98,750 5.8 40,500 56.3 1,895,860 0.6 492,000 4.94 394,300 16.68 2,355,200 0.62 2,493,000 5.05 29,998,800 0.039 14,900,000 1.19 787,000 2.71 1,456,000 175.2 386,230 2.59 10,000 959 288,290 1.47 26,000 391 120 300 5,600 0.335 5,360,000 0.206 100,000

11,721,900 97,723,190.50 92,851,034 4,700 154,294 6,986,455 44,542,130 5,240,910 401,947,125 25,806,276 29,850,992 38,958 14,925 86,323,010 236,785 105,319,236.50 289,230 1,936,461 39,430,698 1,533,240 153,445,011 571,300 941,320 3,943,470 67,653,125 25,970 271,310,600 38,220 47,010 1,683,258 1,788,200 20,600

-72,850 8,354,794.50 -54,275,800 153,094 923,265 1,726,670.00 -104,451,455 -4,914,430 -12,263,982 -13,390,480 -17,810 -13,395,089.50 31,350.00 301,139 -5,725,672 -122,000 -63,045,444 -76,000 -190,040 -2,845,300 -54,396,470 47,636 -23,100 -

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 DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY

7.2 0.97 13.02 2.14 0.76 43.4 3.05 4.52 5.64 0.425 0.9 0.97 0.235 9.11 25.15 0.57 0.123 1.46 1.2 1.86 4.51 0.64 0.47 0.495

7.34 0.97 13.02 2.14 0.76 43.4 3.05 4.55 5.64 0.43 0.9 0.99 0.235 9.11 25.25 0.57 0.123 1.47 1.2 1.86 4.51 0.65 0.475 0.495

7.11 0.95 12.76 2.05 0.71 42.35 2.99 4.48 5.55 0.425 0.9 0.97 0.225 8.77 24.55 0.56 0.116 1.44 1.19 1.81 4.42 0.63 0.46 0.48

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

3.65 21.5 2.02 3.22 37.55 1.12 7.84 6.4

3.78 21.5 2.02 3.22 37.7 1.14 8.3 6.5

3.56 20.85 1.98 3.19 36.5 1.09 7.32 6.25

3.65 20.95 2.02 3.19 37.3 1.12 7.34 6.4

2,748,000 3,629,800 209,000 188,000 11,148,100 2,290,000 7,838,600 2,442,800

10,102,930 76,017,455 418,090 601,810 412,779,535 2,531,930 61,323,938 15,568,935

73,250 514,975 -172,451,005.00 -112,060 1,225,252.00 -4,154,778

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

13.4 23.2 1.41 0.485 0.046 13.68 2.9 9.22 0.063 75.2 8 6.27 8.5 2.26 25 2,100 5.5 315 3.75 2.11 92.25 12 7.83 0.125 3.01 3.44 15 4.08 1.04 19.32 5.1 6.44 2.84 1.99 8.16 10.7 8.8 3.64 109.9 5.09 1,435 0.85 0.385 44.7 80.05 8.02 2.12 0.87 0.62 5.17 0.83 11.2

13.5 23.3 1.41 0.485 0.047 13.68 2.93 9.3 0.063 75.2 8 6.27 8.5 2.26 25 2,116 5.5 317 3.75 2.11 93.6 12 7.83 0.125 3.03 3.56 15 4.15 1.04 19.5 5.15 6.44 2.84 1.99 8.2 11 8.8 3.64 109.9 5.14 1,435 0.86 0.43 44.8 82 8.3 2.17 0.88 0.63 5.17 0.85 11.26

13.3 22.9 1.41 0.47 0.045 13.68 2.8 9.1 0.062 72.5 8 6.13 8.5 2.26 23.85 2,030 5.46 315 3.4 2.11 91.3 12 7.83 0.121 2.86 3.4 15 3.92 1.02 18.98 5 6.1 2.7 1.94 8.05 10.6 8.8 3.61 109.7 5.05 1,403 0.84 0.37 44.5 79.6 7.98 2.11 0.82 0.6 5.12 0.77 11.02

SERVICES 13.3 23.2 1.41 0.47 0.045 13.68 2.84 9.3 0.063 72.5 8 6.17 8.5 2.26 24 2,078 5.5 316.8 3.45 2.11 92.4 12 7.83 0.122 2.9 3.54 15 3.95 1.04 19 5.1 6.14 2.7 1.94 8.05 11 8.8 3.61 109.7 5.06 1,425 0.84 0.425 44.8 82 7.98 2.12 0.82 0.6 5.12 0.77 11.1

16,800 26,200 2,000 6,630,000 12,200,000 300 10,290,000 3,913,900 23,030,000 197,310 6,000 1,284,200 1,000 1,000 39,500 277,270 72,100 1,370 3,721,000 8,000 629,370 200 27,000 2,770,000 16,081,000 52,000 4,000 1,574,000 90,000 680,500 111,600 2,351,800 249,000 49,000 1,675,000 14,000 14,500 2,000 40 237,300 74,295 4,193,000 10,690,000 131,000 305,750 22,100 3,447,000 11,007,000 41,245,000 864,900 20,070,000 697,200

225,060 605,130 2,820 3,154,550 551,900 4,104 29,024,360 35,960,565 1,429,130 14,456,771.50 48,000 7,956,601 8,500 2,260 961,535 577,049,740 395,164 433,346 13,241,540 16,880 58,042,367 2,400 211,410 339,500 46,445,950 178,700 60,000 6,242,170 92,460 13,014,398 566,366 14,617,704 679,550 95,650 13,565,560 150,860 127,600 7,250 4,390 1,202,356 105,531,940 3,540,810 4,318,750 5,855,295 24,767,904.50 176,542 7,303,240 9,194,060 25,224,500 4,431,570 16,053,740 7,762,460

-20 0 -13,800 227,600 -412,223 -1,267,681 -2,635,144 -312,350 148,281,270 762,990 15,921,685 -61,000 929,090 -41,280 -816,900 -6,057,570.00 -9,370,976 -10,870 463,372 -216,762 26,882,950 702,340 43,450 -2,921,705 9,705,111.50 2,567,510 -1,661,050 63,890 535,078 -88,020 -2,686,010

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A 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

0.0026 1.51 3.31 20.35 1.31 1.94 0.305 7.49 1.98 0.218 0.122 0.129 1.37 5.1 1.17 0.62 1.25 0.014 0.013 0.012 3.98 4.1 14.78 30 0.0085

0.0027 1.52 3.32 20.9 1.31 1.94 0.305 7.49 1.99 0.225 0.123 0.129 1.4 5.1 1.17 0.62 1.26 0.014 0.013 0.013 3.98 4.1 15 30 0.0087

0.0025 1.5 3.31 20.2 1.31 1.92 0.305 7.29 1.95 0.218 0.121 0.128 1.36 4.8 1.1 0.59 1.19 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.76 4.01 13.98 29 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0025 444,000,000 1.5 1,161,000 3.32 11,000 20.2 35,400 1.31 2,000 1.94 688,000 0.305 20,000 7.43 900 1.95 5,137,000 0.225 750,000 0.121 3,550,000 0.128 360,000 1.38 147,000 4.82 2,343,900 1.14 176,000 0.61 1,006,000 1.21 3,676,000 0.013 52,900,000 0.013 1,400,000 0.013 32,500,000 3.87 125,000 4.02 923,000 14.02 4,207,100 29.5 1,298,300 0.008 24,000,000

1,112,200 1,753,460 36,420 716,720 2,620 1,331,250 6,100 6,642 10,062,180 167,080 431,080 46,320 200,510 11,431,099 195,880 615,900 4,465,640 690,100 18,200 393,400 488,210 3,735,280 60,314,888 38,224,480 196,100

20,000 -15,100 -3,320 -362,205 38,600 190,000 -2,012,651.00 -147,720 -7,800 -785,460 -1,336,110 -22,717,550 -

PREFERRED AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

502 101.7 5.28 974.5 1.03 1,050 100 109.9 77.2 80 75 75.2 75.6 75.5 77

502 101.7 5.28 975 1.04 1,050 100 109.9 77.2 80 75 75.2 75.9 75.5 77

500 100.5 5.25 974.5 1.03 1,050 99.6 109.9 77.2 79.5 75 75.2 75.6 75.5 76

500 100.5 5.25 975 1.04 1,050 100 109.9 77.2 79.5 75 75.2 75.9 75.5 76

1,360 40,080 96,800 250 288,000 100 34,600 80 120 17,530 4,100 3,000 25,920 400 1,450

680,730 4,030,645 509,657 243,660 299,480 105,000 3,448,000 8,792 9,264 1,396,870 307,500 225,600 1,961,962 30,200 111,400

-253,255 26,000 -774,330 -

LR WARRANT

2.78

2.8

2.5

WARRANTS 2.55 553,000

1,478,020

-

33,680,114 1,434,720

-930,670 13,650

2,184,447

11,450

51,207 56,212.20

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.16 0.96 12.76 2.05 0.72 43.1 2.99 4.55 5.6 0.425 0.9 0.98 0.228 8.8 24.55 0.56 0.12 1.44 1.19 1.84 4.43 0.64 0.465 0.485

275,700 5,677,000 89,000 54,000 3,541,000 9,504,000 1,083,000 745,000 14,400 6,530,000 128,000 92,000 7,340,000 948,000 629,100 281,000 4,790,000 4,609,000 351,000 10,518,000 30,852,000 30,645,000 1,390,000 2,200,000

1,978,866 5,449,850 1,136,940 111,410 2,581,720 406,796,025 3,255,480 3,358,990 80,350 2,780,600 115,200 89,530 1,670,500 8,418,073 15,595,955 158,860 557,160 6,678,780 418,210 19,342,670 137,040,910 19,506,580 642,800 1,064,850

680,906 -58,168,970 -1,332,310 -1,441,180 -22,344 -643,750 -185,170 401,619 -8,604,675 -575,700 712,530 -57,939,360 -1,489,340 -37,200 -

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS XURPAS

6.3 2.74

6.8 2.74

6.28 2.72

FIRST METRO ETF

115.5

115.5

113.1

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.14 10.02

10.14 10.02

10.14 10.02

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

20,815,422

INDUSTRIAL

85,393,774

HOLDING FIRMS

141,610,217

PROPERTY

152,844,151

SERVICES

183,623,743

MINING & OIL

581,736,501

GRAND TOTAL

1,171,670,214

6.78 2.72

SME

5,099,100 527,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113.3 19,170 DDS 10.14 10.02

5,050 5,610

VALUE 1,723.39 (down) 30.45 1,481,114,657.05 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,127.86 (down) 98.47 1,254,848,255.25 HOLDING FIRMS 7,560.38 (down) 148.85 1,458,502,033.912 PROPERTY 3,810.12 (down) 46.86 1,525.97 (down) 10.81 1,222,269,642.60 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,624.78 (down) 283.06 1,123,886,557.85 PSEI 7,638.71 (down) 113.56 136,662,394.546 All Shares Index 4,661.66 (down) 70.36 6,714,588,362.61 Gainers: 37; Losers: 161; Unchanged: 41; Total: 239

Taiwanese tech company pushes IPO in October

By Jenniffer B. Austria CAL-COMP Technology (Philippines) Inc., a leading consumer technology company engaged in the manufacture of multiple product lines, plans to push through with its P6.77-billion initial public offering and list the shares next month.

Cal-Comp, according to the latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, plans to offer the shares from Sept. 18 to 15 and list the shares tentatively on Oct 2.

The company is securing approval from corporate regulators SEC and the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Cal-Comp Tech plans to sell up to 378,071 million in primary common shares with an over-allotment option of up to 19,898 million common shares, at price of up to P17 each.

The shares represent 26.77 percent percent of the company’s total issued stocks to the public.

The company plans to use the proceeds from the IPO to finance expansion. Cal-Comp Tech is building new factories in the Philippines to increase production and introduce new products to the domestic market.

Cal-Comp said its unit Kinpo Electronics (Philippines) Inc. plans to add 48,000 square meters of manufacturing space in First Philippine Industrial Park.

KPPH is also looking to lease an additional 300,000 sqm of land within FPIP for capacity expansion and in search of a new manufacturing site.

Cal-Comp appointed BDO Capital & Investment Corp. as the issue manager and sole book runner of the initial public offering.

Cal-Comp Tech is a member of global technology conglomerate New Kinpo Group, the largest Taiwanese investor in the Philippines.

NKG is a $6.3-billion firm company in global electronic manufacturing services and original design manufacturing, producing multiple product lines including external hard disk drives, TVs, all-in-one PCs, laser printers, smart home appliances, power supplies, 3D printers, innovative smart beauty mirrors, AI humanoid robots and integrated circuits for cloud computing.

Cal-Comp posted a net income of $6.3 million in the first quarter of 2018, up 116 percent from $2.9 million yearon-year.

PLDT’s enterprise business registers revenue increase

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said its enterprise business posted a 9-percent increase in revenues to P18.7 billion in the first half of the year, driven by strong demand for data and digital services as more companies and government agencies go digital.

Enterprise wireless services set the pace, posting a revenue growth of 26 percent to P3.3 billion. The higher revenues was powered by a 46-percent rise in Internet of Things/Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions, a 23-percent increase in corporate postpaid, and a 20-percent improvement in broadband revenues.

Fixed revenues grew 5 percent year-on-year to P13.64 billion, as the 17-percent increase in broadband revenues and 8-percent rise in domestic data revenues compensated for declines in corporate voice and international data services.

ICT revenues, meanwhile, reached P1.8 billion, still growing at almost twice the rate of the overall market.

Cloud and software-as-a-service revenues surged 35 percent and data center revenues grew 15 percent.

“The thinking among business and government managers is shifting from just improving productivity to ensuring future growth and competitiveness.

They see that tech is changing the rules of the game,” PLDT senior vice president and head of Enterprise Business Juan Victor Hernandez said.

PLDT Enterprise recently signed agreements to provide wireless connectivity services to several established and new transport network vehicle service companies.

Similarly, there is rising interest in PLDT’s cyber security services as more companies shift more of their operations and customer services online.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE VIGA PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, BRGY. TAMBONGON, VIGA, CATANDUANES The Philippine Ports Authority, through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2017 (DOTR), intends to apply the sum of P 8,908,101.74 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Viga Port Development Project, Brgy. Tambongon, Viga, Catanduanes, (PPA-DOTR No. 010-2018 for projects downloaded to PPA for implementation). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

AFTERMATH. Damage to a road by an earthquake is seen

in Atsuma town. The powerful 6.6-magnitude quake rocked the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on September 6, triggering landslides, collapsing houses and killing at least eight people with dozens missing. AFP

Japan quake, landslides leave at least eight dead T OKYO―A powerful 6.6-magnitude quake rocked the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido Thursday, killing at least eight people, collapsing homes, and triggering landslides that left dozens missing.

Multiple, large-scale landslides struck the sparsely populated countryside, which was also hit by the edge of a powerful typhoon that surged through Japan earlier this week.

Aerial views showed dozens of houses destroyed at the bottom of a hill that was engulfed by a landslide, with a rescue helicopter winching a resident to safety.

Around three million homes lost power after the quake damaged a major thermal plant supplying the region.

The Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido, which was not operational before the quake, was forced to turn to emergency back-up power to keep its cooling system working, NHK said.

Kazuo Kibayashi, 51, a town official at hard-hit Abira town, told AFP: “There was a sudden, extreme jolt. I felt it went sideways, not up-and-down, for about two to three minutes.”

“It stopped before shaking started again. I felt it come in two waves. I am 51, and I have

never experienced anything like this. I thought my house was going to collapse. Everything inside my house was all jumbled up. I didn’t have time to even start cleaning,” he added.

Moments after the initial quake, an aftershock measuring 5.3 rocked the area and dozens more aftershocks followed throughout the night and into the morning.

Akira Fukui, from the main city of Sapporo, told AFP: “I woke up around 3am with a vertical jolt. I put the light on but it went out shortly afterwards.

All the traffic lights are out and there’s no power at work.”

No tsunami warning was issued after the relatively shallow quake, which struck 62 kilometers southeast of the regional capital Sapporo.

Around 20,000 rescue workers, including police and members of the Self-Defense Forces were responding to the disaster, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said. Another 20,000 SDF troops are expected to join the effort. AFP

IN BRIEF Two Koreas to hold summit SEOUL―The leaders of the two Koreas will hold a summit in Pyongyang in September, Seoul said Thursday, as Kim Jong Un renewed his commitment to the denuclearization of the flashpoint peninsula.

The announcement of the September 18-20 summit―the third between the North’s leader Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in this year―comes as US efforts to dismantle Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal have stalled.

The two leaders will meet in the North Korean capital to discuss “practical measures to denuclearize” the peninsula, South Korean National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong told reporters.

Chung on Wednesday flew to Pyongyang where he handed over a personal letter from Moon to Kim, as Seoul seeks to kick-start the diplomacy that led to the landmark June summit between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader.

The two pledged to denuclearize the Korean peninsula at the Singapore meeting but no details were agreed, and Washington and Pyongyang have sparred since on what that means and how it will be achieved. AFP

UK: Putin to blame for spy poisoning LONDON―Britain said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “ultimate” responsibility for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent in England, as it prepared to brief the UN Security Council.

London has accused two members of Russian military intelligence of using Novichok to try to kill former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the southwestern city of Salisbury.

Security Minister Ben Wallace said Putin bore ultimate responsibility for the poisoning.

“Ultimately he does in so far as he is the president of the Russian Federation and it is his government that controls, funds and directs the military intelligence, the GRU, via his ministry of defense.”

He told BBC radio: “I don’t think anyone can ever say that Mr Putin isn’t in control of his state.... And the GRU is without doubt not rogue.

“It is led, linked to both the senior members of the Russian general staff and the defense minister, and through that into the Kremlin and the president’s office.”AFP

B3

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FOR THE PROPOSED CODON PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, PORT OF CODON, BRGY. CODON, SAN ANDRES, CATANDUANES The Philippine Ports Authority, through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2017 (DOTR), intends to apply the sum of P 18,079,620.13 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Codon Port Development Project, Port of Codon, Brgy. Codon, San Andres, Catanduanes (PPA-DOTR No. 011-2018 for projects downloaded to PPA for implementation).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Rock Causeway. 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.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Backup Area/Pier Approach (Area = 104.28 sq. m.) B. Construction of RC Pier (Area = 243 sq. m.). Completion of the Works is required in 210 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 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.

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.

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 07 September 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).

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 07 September 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 25,000.00).

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.

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 18 September 2018 at 10:00 a.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.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 18 September 2018 at 10:00 a.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 02 October 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 02 October 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 bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration:

Small 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.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 02 October 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 02 October 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 bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration:

Medium A – 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.

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 Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 27-83-56 Loc. 539

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 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 – Sept. 7, 2018

M. Standard – Sept. 7, 2018

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE PROPOSED BANAGO PORT EXPANSION PROJECT, PORT OF BANAGO, BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

FOR THE DESIGN, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF VRFHVAC SYSTEM AND GENERATOR UNITS FOR THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING, PORT OF CAGAYAN DE ORO, MISAMIS ORIENTAL

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 363,575,987.67 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Banago Port Expansion Project, Port of Banago, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental (LFP NBB No. 031-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Back-up Area With RORO Ramp on Piles (Area=7,353.54 sq. m.) B. Widening of Access Road on Piles (Area= 1,795.68 sq. m.) C. Port Lighting System. Completion of the Works is required in 660 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 07 September 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 18 September 2018 at 10:00 a.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 03 October 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 03 October 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 bidder’s representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration:

Large A – 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.

For further information, please refer to:

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 106,775,507.59 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Design, Supply and Installation of VRF-HVAC System and Generator Units for the Passenger Terminal Building, Port of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental (LFP MOC No. 032-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Design, Supply and Installation of VRF-HVAC System and Generator Units. Completion of the Works is required in 120 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 07 September 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 18 September 2018 at 10:00 a.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 03 October 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 03 October 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 bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Medium B - Mechanical Work

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. 527-47-35 527-83-56 loc. 539

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 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 – Sept. 7, 2018

M. Standard – Sept. 7, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

QC to ink deal with PLM for study program

LocaL government units

friday, september 7, 2018

By Rio N. Araja

Searca launches manual for agri entrepreneurs

By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture or Searca has released a manual that will help farmers and investors determine profitability and guide them in evaluating costs and returns of target ventures.

The manual, titled “Financial Viability and Profitability Analysis of New Technologies and Enterprises: A Training Manual,” was published in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).

DA-BAR Executive Director Nicomedes Eleazar said this investment guide for prospective agricultural entrepreneurs aims to help identify highvalue crop ventures.

“We have lauched the publication on August 30 during the 14th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition held in SM Megamall,” Eleazar said, adding that copies may be availed from the DA-BAR. “We believe that farmers and fishers can become ‘agripreneurs’ if given the right opportunities, training and innovations,” he said.

Eleazar said the DA-BAR will continue to leads and coordinate research and development (R&D) on agriculture and fisheries in the country.

“We will continue disseminating our research results to improve agricultural and fisheries output and encourage farmers and fishers to engage in agripreneurship,” the director added.

Senator Cynthia Villar, Senate Food and Agriculture Committee Chair, has also expressed support to the DA-BAR and Searca agricultural entrepreneurs projects.

Swiss line MSC eyes Subic Bay as cruise stop

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A Swiss cruise line, considered one of the largest privately-owned cruise companies today, has become the fourth international cruise line to make this premier freeport its next destination.

MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and the top cruise line in Europe, South America and South Africa, is scouting the area because of the tourist spots in the Subic Freeport and those found in its nearby communities.

MSC Cruises officials led by Port Operations Assistant Ian Meachem, met with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma recently to discuss the possibility of making Subic part of its itinerary.

Meachem was accompanied by Antonio Calingo Jr., assistant general manager of Wallem Philippines Shipping, Inc., the leading ship agent in the Philippines.

MSC Cruises is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., the world’s second biggest container shipping operator.

DOCTOR ANWAR. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila chairman Dr. Benjamin Espiritu and PLM president Dr. Maria Leonora Vasquez-de Jesus (from left) confer on Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim (second from left) a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, on Tuesday in a ceremony at the capital city’s premier university. Ey Acasio

Makati regularizes 383, promotes 116 workers

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE city government of Makati has granted regular status to 383 City Hall employees and promoted 116 since Mayor Abigail Binay took office in July 2016, giving emphasis to the importance of providing job security and career advancement opportunities in promoting excellence in public service.

Binay said other applications for regularization and promotion are lined up for review and evaluation by the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), and will be subsequently turned over to the Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board.

“I envision a professional, highly competent city government work force that is capable of delivering excellent public service. We need to strengthen our drawing power as an employer to be able to compete with the private sector for the recruitment of the best and brightest,” said Binay.

The city chief executive ordered the

HRDO to prioritize the processing of proposals for regularization and promotion endorsed by the different heads of office to ensure that those who are qualified under Civil Service guidelines are given permanent employment status and promoted.

Apart from a competitive compensation package, the mayor also cited the need to keep the morale of employees high to optimize their work performance, and to retain high performers for the long term.

“The city government must aspire to be a preferred employer for talented and highly-driven individuals. At the same

Shell turns over P3-m donation to Liter of Light for off-grid villages

Manila

Standard

TODAY

PAUNAWA

Nais naming ipabatid sa lahat na ang PCSO ay nagpatupad ng ilang pagbabago sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa ilalim ng Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) simula nuong Martes, Ika-28 ng Agosto, 2018 bilang pagtugon sa lalong dumaraming lumalapit sa PCSO ng nasabing programa.

Base sa aming datos, 236,595 na ang bilang ng ating mga kababayan na humingi ng tulong mula sa PCSO sa unang bahagi ng 2018 (Enero - Hunyo), katumbas ng 27.93% na pagtaas kumpara nuong 2017 na may kaukulang 5.6B na halaga ng tulong medical ang naipagkaloob ng PCSO. Ang desisyon na baguhin ang pamamaraan ng pagtulong ay kailangang gawin upang masiguro na patuloy kaming makapagbigay ng karampatang tulong pinansyal sa alalahaning pangkalusugan sa mas maraming nangangailangan nito.

Makakaasa po kayo na ang pamunuan ng PCSO ay patuloy na nagsisikap upang mabigyang kalutasan ang usaping ito at hangad naming ang pang-unawa ng lahat.

Maraming salamat.

time, we must make sure to retain current employees who have consistently delivered outstanding service by rewarding them with security of tenure or a promotion,” Binay said.

The mayor also pointed out that her administration took the initiative last year to grant loyalty incentives to longtime city employees who have been in the service for ten straight years and longer as of end-2016.

Called the Loyalty Cash Gift, the program covers regular, casual, and contractual employees. “We take pride in having started the first-ever incentive program for loyal civil servants who have served Makatizens for at least a decade,” she said.

Based on HRDO records, the city government spent almost P80 million for the pioneer batch of loyalty awardees, which consisted of 3,208 regular employees (P67,730,000); 814 casual employees (P11,870,000); and 12 contractual employees (P125,000).

THE 37-member Quezon City council has approved a resolution giving Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to implement an off-campus program for city hall employees at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Under City Resolution 7501, PLM shall offer degrees in Bachelor of Government Management, Master of Government Management, and/or Doctor of Government Management under the off-campus program.

Under Book V of Executive Order No. 292 and Omnibus Rules of the Civil Service Commission, Rules VIII, Career and Personal Development, specifically Sections 1 and 7, every department or agency shall establish a continuing program for every career and personnel development for all agencies at all levels.

The same office “shall create an environment or work climate conducive to the development of personnel skills, talents and values for better public service,” the CSC rules add.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday called on solo parents suffering from symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders to take advantage of the city government’s medication and counseling.

In observing World Suicide Prevention Day, she told an association of solo parents and mothers: “Recently, it came to my knowledge that many of you are suffering from depression.

I know the difficulty you are going through as single mothers.”

Belmonte lamented that many parents feel embarrassed to report mental health problems due to stigma.

“A mental health problem is just like having a hearth ailment or any health problem that you do not have to be ashamed of,” she said.

This month, the vice mayor is spearheading programs to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention to citizens of Quezon City who may be at risk. She vowed to coordinate with psychologists to provide mental health awareness seminars this month.

In another development, the city council also passed a resolution strongly supporting the establishment of a senior high school in Barangay Tandang Sora.

City Resolution 7435 shall pave the way for the establishment of school for grades 11 and 12 to known as Tandang Sora Senior High School.

“The local government of Quezon City deems it necessary to create more public senior high schools in the City, including Barangay Tandang Sora, to be able to fulfill its constitutional mandate of providing access to basic education for all,” the resolution read.

Liter of Light founder and executive director Illac Diaz (left) receives a facsimile check of the P3-million donation from Pilipinas Shell from Shell V-Power brand manager Mark Malabanan in a ceremony in Makati City. Shell has been collecting PET bottles at its stations (inset) to support Liter of Light’s efforts to bring light to offgrid communities.

PILIPINAS Shell has turned over a P3-million donation to the Liter of Light Foundation to support its efforts to provide light to more off-grid communities and augment their residents’ sources of income.

Mark Malabanan, Shell V-Power Brand Manager, turned over the check to Liter of Light Founder and Executive Director Illac Diaz in a ceremony at the Shell headquarters in Makati City.

The donation forms part of Shell’s larger commitment to reduce waste across its organization and provide livelihood support to the communities it interfaces with.

“Knowing how extensive our Retail network is around the Philippines, we wanted to find a way we could reduce waste at the operational level,” said CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Malabanan.

“But we also challenged ourselves to do it in such a way that we can also create a positive impact on society.

This is where Liter of Light plays a vital role,” he added.

Under their agreement, collection bins were deployed to participating Shell stations to enable customers to take part in recycling efforts.

Since last year, Shell has been able to collect over 5,000 PET bottles, which are being used as material to create various types of solar-powered lamps. Shell employees volunteered and trained to be able to build some of the lamps to be donated to the community.

In addition, for every liter of fuel sold at participating Shell gas stations during an appointed day of donation, one peso was granted to the Liter of Light Foundation.

Diaz said Shell’s donation could significantly help the Foundation’s efforts to light up more homes.

Life

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @mstandardLife

culture and media

friday, september 7, 2018

c1

Spoliarium’s boceto makes its way home O

THE STUDY. Salcedo Auctions director Richie Lerma presents to the press the boceto, or sketch/study, of Juan Luna's greatest masterpiece, Spoliarium, which he obtained from a private collector based in Spain.

nE of the country’s most important art treasures, if not the most, is Juan Luna’s Spoliarium.

The oil on canvas painting depicting dead gladiators being dragged from the arena won a first class medal at the Exposición nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884, and is currently displayed at the main gallery on the ground floor of the national Museum of Fine Arts.

More than 100 years later, art collector and Salcedo Auctions director richie Lerma received a mysterious email from a private collector based in Spain, saying they are in possession of the boceto (sketch or study) of Luna’s Spoliarium.

The email, Lerma said, had photographs of the boceto showing the details of the brush strokes and, the detail which intrigued the Filipino art collector the most, the signature of Juan Luna—done in the artist’s distinctive bold letters SPOLIArIvM = boceto, the baybayin symbols that reads BU LA = LvnA (bulan is the Ilocano word for moon), and r1883 which refers to where and when Luna painted the artwork, in this case in rome in the year 1883.

“The signature area on the bottom right hand corner of the painting was what convinced me to investigate further more,” said Lerma.

He continued, “When you look at that particular painting, the manner in which the artist signed it is

unhesitating. The r is very telling, it’s the same r that you see in the roma of the 1884 Spoliarium.”

Lerma’s catalogue on the analysis of boceto stated “the writing on the boceto and those on art historically accepted, exhibited, and published works

by Luna matched: from the block letters that spell out the title of the artwork and the artist’s name, to the distinctive manner in which the ‘r’ preceding the year ‘1883’ echoed the manner in which the ‘r’ in ‘roma’ had been inscribed on the other known works by Luna that he had painted in the city.”

Finally, Lerma said that under the Uv light test, the signature disappears, which means the signature was painted at the same time the picture was being painted.

The artwork, which made its way to Spain is now in the Philippines as part of the art pieces to go under the hammer at Salcedo Auctions’ The Well-Appointed Life auction on Sept. 22-23 at the rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila.

Aside from the boceto, other notable works by Felix resurreccion Hidalgo, Felix Martinez, and Fernando Amorsolo, as well as fine jewelry and timepieces, rare automobiles, and connoisseur colGuests check out the artworks to be auctioned off at Salcedo Auctions' The Well-Appointed Life auction on Sept. 22-23. lector items will be auctioned off.

The living legend of Legazpi EvEry nation around the world, including the Philippines, has an epic or legend that serves as a reflection of the cultural identity of its people. These age-old stories are often immortalized in books and are handed down from one generation to the next.

In the quaint city of Legazpi, situated by the foot of Mayon volcano in the Bicol region, its own epic does not remain in books, but has been living on the streets for the past 27 years through an annual extravaganza called the Ibalong festival.

The region’s biggest non-religious festivity is based on folklore and is perhaps the country’s only cultural event which relives an epic rescued from the dustbins of history.

Rabot is the half-man, half-beast villain in Ibalong.

The Ibalong festival is contemporary recreation of a mid-19th century fragments of 60-stanza epic poem penned by Franciscan friar Bernardino de Melendreras inspired

by Bicol’s rich precolonial heritage.

Written in the mold of ancient mythologies, Ibalong begins with an old man named Kadunung, a wandering minstrel and bard in prehistoric Bicolandia who narrated the epic to the young children.

Its main characters are the superhuman heroes—Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong—who rid the land of fearsome beasts and helped it attain its golden era.

Arriving at various ages in history, these mythical warriors from a faraway land vanquished the dreaded creatures

which sowed terror among the populace—the giant wild boar Tandayag and half-man, half-beast rabot.

Another prominent character is the villain-turned-heroine Oryol, a beautiful half-woman, half-serpent, who had a change of heart as she fell in love with Handyong, and joined him in defeating the monsters of the land.

The three legendary heroes cultivated the land and established systems in agriculture, government and navigation, a syllabary, which was followed by an age of discovery, and invention which helped the civilization flourish.

After recounting their exploits, Kadunung suddenly stopped his narration and promised to resume telling the story at another time. Many history scholars believe that the epic was designed to be an unfinished story, to make it a living legend where the readers can freely continue the saga with their own interpretations through modern-day versions and acts of heroism.

Ibalong got into mass exposure in 1895 when ed itor

Ibalong's legendary warrior heroes: Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong.

Wenceslao retana compiled and annotated its fragments in the book Archivo del Bibliofilo Filipino. While the original Spanish manuscripts were lost, what exists is the portion copied by Fray Jose Castaño and included in the Bibliofilo of retana published in Spain.

The title was given by prominent essayist and propagandist Jose Ma. Panganiban of Camarines norte in reference to “Tierra de Ibalon,” the moniker given by the Spaniards to the region.

Most of the places mentioned in the narrative traces their roots to the presentday province of Camarines Sur, but it was the city government of Legazpi, through the late-mayor Imelda roces who inaugurated the festival in 1992, that plucked it from oblivion and made it a source of pride for all Bicolanos.

It was later adapted in 2013 as a dance musical by Tanghalang Pilipino and playwright rody vera at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

According to Mayor noel rosal, Ibalong festival puts to the fore Bicol’s rich heritage and resilient character amidst adversities and calamities, such as frequent typhoons and eruptions of Mayon

volcano, the most recent of which was in February this year.

He said that in transforming a forgotten legend into a colorful pageantry, the city has put a visual touch to make it more understandable by the people. The locus of the two-week festivity in the street presentation, which reenacts the important scenes of the epic in a theater, parades along Legazpi’s main road.

Ligao national High School romped off with the overall championship in the contest and top honors in the exhibition, costume and props, and warrior princess contest categories.

In addition to the usual pompous street dance, the tell-tale epic is also taught in school, produced as a popular literature, and reinterpreted in theater plays and shows for the duration of the festival. rosal concludes that the annual Ibalong observance is also a unique opportunity to showcase the city’s strides in tourism, economic development, and governance, especially with its recent award as the country’s overall most competitive component city in the 2019 Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index of the Department of Trade and Industry.

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Jinggoy puts movie on hold, prepares for 2019 elections SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada told members of the movie press he will run in next year’s mid-term elections to reclaim his seat in the Senate.

Detained for three years at the Camp Crame, Estrada is out on bail. He was released in September last year. It will be recalled that the Aquino administration charged him with plunder and graft charges for allegedly misuse of his discretionary funds or “pork barrel.”

Estrada said he is now certain he would run again for the Senate.

But, what happens to the movie he is planning to do this year? The former senator said he is temporarily shelving it pending the leading lady’s acceptance of the project.

“But since I am filing my COC (certificate of candidacy) in October (for the May 13, 2019 elections), I can’t start shooting after the elections. The movie can wait after the campaign and the elections,” he said.

Fellow senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Estrada were detained in 2014 over allegations they funneled congressional funds to bogus projects, allegedly with help from businesswoman Janet LimNapoles. Revilla has remained in detention after the Sandiganbayan denied him bail.

Estrada said a successful Senate bid in 2019 would serve as a “vindication” from the politically motivated charges the previous administration has hurled upon him.

Jinggoy feels positive about his case saying, “The truth will come out and I know deep in heart that I am innocent” adding that his three years in detention has made him closer to God and that he prayed for enlightenment and guidance on what he should do to be extricated from his incarceration.

His half-brother and also senator, JV Ejercito, is a re-electionist.

Would they be campaigning under one political party? Jinggoy merely shook his head and said, “I don’t think so.”

Janella Ejercito in San Juan Jinggoy’s eldest child, Janella, current vice mayor of the city of San Juan, is all set to take center stage at the coming elections in May next year. San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez steps down after completing his third and last term as the chief executive of the flourishing Metro Manila city.

“The mayor has endorsed me to be the next after her,” she told members of the press over lunch at Annabel’s in Quezon City recently.

She was with her father for that small luncheon with the entertainment press.

Jinggoy said that Janella, among his children, seems to be natural in politics. “I started as a vice mayor, then I was elected mayor, and on to the Senate. It seems Janella is actually following in my footsteps in politics.”

Janella laughed off his dad’s remark saying she was only following the logical path to where her fate in politics would take her. “Di ba after being a vice-mayor for three terms, it is but logical that my aspiration should be to be the next mayor. While my dad also followed the same political path, it is but a coincidence that I do the same.

After all, I am Jinggoy’s daughter.”

Isn’t she bothered by talks that her family’s political rivals are also itching to get their hands on the city’s mayoralty?

“No, but I am aware that some people are interested to sit on the Mayor’s chair when the present mayor ends her term. But, they might have a problem because I have been endorsed to be the official candidate for mayor at next year’s elections.”

As the daughter of Jinggoy, did Janella ever think of being in show business? “Well, having been born to a showbiz family, of course, children think of being like their parents, but being born also to a political family, I think I was more drawn to public service that show business.”

Well, the elections are still seven months away, but as days pass by swiftly, in a wink it’s campaign time for both father and daughter. Good luck, Jinggoy and Janella!

Outstanding Charterholder of the Year Award The Chartered Financial Analyst Society of the Philippines, the local chapter of CFA Institute named SEAOIL President for Retail and CFO Mark L. Yu Outstanding Charterholder of the Year.

The award was given at the recently concluded Philippine Investment Conference 2018, a bi-annual event that looks at current trends in business and investment.

Yu accepted the award before a huge audience of business leaders. He recalled that becoming a certified CFA required a huge investment of his time and energy to complete all three levels of the program.

Since taking over as CFO in 2002, Yu has led SEAOIL from insolvency to becoming the leading independent fuel player in the Philippines. Concurrently, he is the president of Novel Finance Company, Inc., a boutique investment and financing firm based in Asia. Yu is also a board adviser for CFA Philippines. He was previously the finance director for Asia Pacific of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global organization of entrepreneurs with over $160B in combined annual revenues. In 2017, the organization gained a total of 156,800 members.

SEAOIL is the leading independent fuel provider in the Philippines with over 400 retail stations in high growth regions and a network of depots strategically located across the country.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

‘The Hows of Us’

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elevates Kathryn’s artistry

more mature and versatile Kathryn Bernardo brought tears, broke expectations and blossomed into a full-fledged actress in her latest big screen offering The Hows of Us with perennial leading man Daniel Padilla.

Kathryn has been continuously wowing the moviegoers for her exemplary performance as the aspiring doctor who gave a huge portion of her life for her seven-year romance with aspiring musician.

One of the most praised moments in the latest Cathy Garcia-Molina opus was the crucial jeepney and final scene where George (Kathryn) had to choose between her dream and her love for Primo (Daniel). According to the director, Kathryn winged that scene with just a single take.

Netizens raved about how the film has elevated Kathryn’s artistry and how it proved her doubters wrong about what she can offer this business. Her remarkable performance impressed many with some netizens claiming that only Kathryn could portray such kind of emotional role for she cried excellently on the film particularly on the last scene.

Maturity certainly became Kathryn as the actress readily did scenes, which she’s not known for doing in the past, among them cracking some expletives and showing off her sultry side.

The latest Cathy Garcia-Molina blockbuster hit has earned over P36 million on its opening day and almost P300 million on its opening weekend, which is the highest regular opening day ticket sales that the tandem has raked in out of the eight films that they have headlined to date. The whopping second and third day box office sales also saw a doubling of figures and sold-out cinema screenings much to the moviegoers’ satisfaction. The Hows of Us is currently screening in over 435 cinemas as of press time.

While their past films have focused mostly on bringing out kilig, The Hows of Us brought out Kathryn’s depth and openness to take on roles that are very much realistic and relatable.

The Hows of Us started screening in Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Middle East yesterday, in Malaysia, Saipan, US and Canada starting today, Thailand and UK tomorrow, in Austria, Denmark, Spain, Malta and Italy starting Sunday. Those in Australia and New Zealand can see it starting Sept. 13, as those in Singapore can catch it starting Sept. 14, while those in Taiwan, Florence and Greece can see it starting Sept. 16.

Kathryn Bernardo delivers a compelling dramatic performance in the latest Cathy Garcia-Molina romantic movie, 'The Hows of Us."

Mr. and Ms. Chinatown airs on ABS-CBN

Lawrence Chua (right) and Sabrina Ng (left), with with Dr. Mary Elizabeth Marigomen (center) from GAOC, gained an edge in the competition after being awarded Mr. and Ms. GAOC during the Cultural Costume Competition held at the Resorts World Manila.

Awarded for their winning smiles, both candidates will become ambassadors of GAOC.

TWENTY-EIGHT of the best and brightest young Filipino-Chinese men and women vie for the titles Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Philippines as the pageant airs on ABS-CBN on Sept. 9.

Competing for Miss Chinatown are Rachel Rialubin Tan, Shiela Mae M.

Tan, Lara Christle Ching, Chinzen Viernes, Sabrina Ng, Jann Caitlin N. Jao, Frances Que, Marie Que, Judie Chang, Carly Chua, Patricia Ann Tan, Danica Jade Yao, Mikel Villamora, and Chrizelle Anne So. The men seeking the Mr. Chinatown title

are Robert Tanchip, Ryan Aaron Y. Balila, Lance Oliver B. Gan, Renz Wycliff Manabat, Kyle Dustin C. Yeung, Moises Limyuen, Brian Christopher Gocheco, Martin Leonard Chua, Lawrence Chua, Jason Dy Tan, Marc Ferdinand Lee Gan, Matthan Michael Yu, Joel Chang, and Ian Tan. Hosted by Robi Domingo, Gretchen Ho, Janeena Chan, and Willord Chua, the coronation night will air after Gandang Gabi Vice.

A contract signing for the show’s airing was held last Aug. 30. Present were ABSCBN chief operating officer of Broadcast Cory Vidanes, head of Finance for Broadcast & INCA Catherine Lopez, head of Programming, Content Monitoring and OnAir Management Ralph Menorca, Fil-Chi Media Productions, Inc. president Alvin Kingson Tan, Miss Chinatown Foundation chairman Wilson Agbayani, and Fil-Chi Media Productions, Inc. chief operating officer Loraine Tan. This year’s pageant is also being produced by Miss Chinatown Foundation, and sponsored by Tak Chun Group and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ kicks off star-studded new season

Father and daughter Jinggoy Estrada and Janella Ejercito

THIS month on Lifetime, The Ellen DeGeneres Show returns for Season 16 featuring even more fun, unparalleled generosity, and Ellen DeGeneres’ signature dance moves.

The star-studded lineup kicked off on Sept. 5, with hip-hop queen Nicki Minaj as she sat down with Ellen to talk about her newest album.

On Sept. 6, Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg joined the show to chat about his upcoming comedy Instant Family, while former athlete turned actor John David Washington discussed his breakout role in the critically acclaimed summer film BlacKkKlansman. Iconic rock band Fleetwood Mac also took the stage for a performance of their greatest hits to jumpstart their North American tour.

Today, Hollywood favorite Anna Kendrick dishes on her upcoming mystery thriller, A Simple Favor, while legendary filmmaker Spike Lee keeps the BlacKkKLansman ball rolling as he talks about the box office hit he

wrote, directed, and produced. Diva Cher also sits down with Ellen for a quick chat and a special performance of a song from her upcoming ABBA tribute album Dancing Queen.

The following week, GMA Day co-hosts Michale Strahan and Sara Heins appear on the show on Sept. 10, along with 7-year-old Dalton Dailey to talk about his viral video dancing to Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” in his bathroom.

More stars join Ellen that same week, with America’s Got Talent judge Heidi Klum and The Predator star Olivia Munn making appearances on Sept. 11, followed

by NBA legend and newly-minted Los Angeles Laker Lebron James and blockbuster hunk Channing Tatum discussing their upcoming animated film Smallfoot on Sept. 12. Comedy actress Kristen Bell also joins the fun and talks about Season 2 of her ellentube original digital series Momsplaining, where she gives advice about motherhood, and her role on NBC’s

critically acclaimed show The Good Place.

Finally, hilarious Saturday Night Live stars and Primetime Emmy Awards co-hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che close out the week with more hijinks on Sept. 13.

Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65 and Lifetime™ HD Ch 199; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is back for its 16th season with a star-studded lineup of celebrity guests.

Motoring

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

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INCE it was first launched in the Philippines in 2014, the EcoSport has become a familiar sight on city streets across the country, having gained wide appeal for its unmistakable combination of agility, affordability, and fuel efficiency of a compact car with the ground clearance, flexibility, and spaciousness of an SUV. With the EcoSport, Ford pioneered the mini SUV segment and led it over the last four years, including a nearly 50 percent share in 2017.

The new EcoSport features enhancements in both exterior and interior design, new and upgraded smart and safety features and driver-assist technologies (DAT), and a 1.0L EcoBoost engine.

“The Ford EcoSport is an SUV in a league of its own - combining quality design, rugged capability, best-in-class features, superior fuel economy, and great value for money, all into a single and fun vehicle,” shares Bert Lessard, managing director, Ford Philippines.

At the heart of the new EcoSport are two engine variants: the award-winning 1.0L EcoBoost and the new and more powerful 1.5L Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (TiVCT) engine, producing 125 and 123 horsepower, respectively.

The 1.0L EcoBoost engine features direct fuel injection technology and variable camshaft timing with turbocharger.

The new and more powerful 1.5L engine features TiVCT that helps improve efficiency. Together with the new 6-speed automatic transmission, this upgraded engine allows for smoother and faster acceleration.

Designed to suit urban traffic conditions, the new Ford EcoSport has a compact size yet trendy look, perfect for maneuvering in cities. It has a ground clearance of 209mm and its exterior features a refreshed grille, a new hood design, headlamps, and lightweight and extra durable 17-inch alloy wheels.

Meanwhile, its interior enhancements put driver and passenger comfort and

FIRST LOOK:

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

A league of its own FORD ECOSPORT. Millennials mill around the new Ford EcoSport which boasts more features. convenience as top priority. The Titanium variant sports a more stylish design and features a leather dashboard, power sunroof, and an 8-inch multicolor touchscreen with a redesigned interface and intuitive smartphone-like actions. The Trend and Ambiente variants are equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen display.

The new EcoSport is also more adaptable than ever with added smart storage

FOLLOWING the March unveiling of a sedan in Geneva, the French capital will provide the venue for the first showing of the new Toyota Corolla Touring Sports station wagon, which will go on display at the Paris Motor Show from October 4 to 14, 2018.

In 2019, the new Toyota Corolla range will take over in showrooms from the Auris nameplate, which is being retired.

The hybrid station wagon has a low center of gravity, a generous 2,700 mm wheelbase and a sloping roofline, which is complemented by a raked rear windshield and full-LED rear lights. The idea put forward by the Japanese manufacturer is for a tough, elegant and comfortable wagon.

The generously proportioned interior is modern and spacious, and particularly appealing to rear passengers, who will ben-

spaces. It can handle a load of up to 1,178 liters, with 25 smart storage compartments for coffee cups, smartphones, tablets, umbrellas, bottles and other accessories. Its trunk is spacious enough to accommodate luggage for out of town trips for city dwellers.

Smarter and more technologically-advanced than ever The new EcoSport is equipped with

efit from plenty of legroom. The version that will go on display in Paris has been specifically designed with the European market in mind.

As for the engine, the Corolla Touring Sports is available in two petrol-electric hybrid options, a122 hp version with a 1.8-liter motor and a 180 hp version with a 2-liter motor. Some models will also ship with high-end adaptive variable suspension (AVS).

Isuzu sets 4x4 Xtreme Xperience FROM Cebu to Iloilo, the Isuzu 4x4 Xtreme Xperience continues to bring fun and excitement Fueled by the success of the Isuzu “4x4 Xtreme Xperience” in Cebu City last August, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) now brings its interactive 4x4 public exhibition at the Festive Walk Mall at the Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City from September 21 to 23, 2018.

The highlight of the weekend remains to be the 4x4 Xtreme Xperience Action Ramp, wherein brave volunteers/passengers experience riding a 4x4 3.0-liter Isuzu D-Max up and down a twostory-high steep, narrow metal ramp.

The Isuzu “4x4 Xtreme Xperience”, which opens to the public at 12 noon until 10 in the evening, has been expanded to include more fun and engaging activities for all members of the family such as the 12-station “Consumer Journey”.

Special activities during the Isuzu” 4x4 Xtreme Xperience” Iloilo City leg include the dance competition, performances by Isuzu brand ambassadress, actress and singer Maja Salvador during the opening on September 21, and rapper Gloc 9 to close out the “Xtreme Xperience” on the night of September 23.

Isuzu enthusiasts also have a chance to view the accessorized versions of the Isuzu D-MAX and Isuzu mu-X and test drive the Isuzu mu-X powered by the RZ4E engine.

Promos and discounts exclusive to the “Xtreme Xperience” are also offered during the three-day event. Admission to this weekend event is free.

The “Isuzu 4x4 Xtreme Xperience” is organized in partnership with Isuzu Iloilo, Globe Telecom and Pilipinas Shell.

multiple smart and DATs that make driving saf er and more convenient. These include the Rear View Camera with Rear Parking Assist, Rain Sensing Wipers, Automatic Headlights, and Smart Keyless Entry.

The new EcoSport also comes with a slew of safety features including Hill-Start Assist Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution System, Elec-

Toyota has already announced a list of items that will be fitted as standard on top of the range models and offered as options on others. These include a 3D

JAPANESE car giant Toyota on Wednesday recalled more than one million hybrid cars globally due to a technical problem which could in the worst case cause a fire in the vehicles.

About 1.03 million vehicles built between June 2015 and May 2018 will be recalled for safety checks, the Toyota said. The affected models include Prius, Prius PHV and C-HR. Of the 1.03 million, 554,000 are in Japan, 217,000 in North America and 219,000 in Europe.

“The electrical wiring... could short circuit and generate heat as it wears down due to vibrations during driving,” the company said in a recall document submitted to the transport ministry.

tronic Stability Program and Anti-Locking Brake System are available in all EcoSport variants.

The new EcoSport is available in four variants with the following price points: 1.0L EcoBoost Titanium AT at P1,168,000 1.5L Trend AT at P1,028,000 1.5L Trend MT at P968,000 1.5L Ambiente MT at P918,000

driver’s meter, a premium head-up display, a JBL GreenEdge Premium sound system, a wireless mobile phone charger and the Toyota Touch multimedia system. AFP

“In the worst case, this could lead to a fire in the vehicle.”

A spokeswoman for Toyota Japan said she had no knowledge of any injuries occurring in Japan as a result of the possible defect.

“It is difficult to know if and how many times exactly such an incident has occurred,” she told AFP. Toyota has sold more than 10 million hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles globally, including the Prius, since 1997.

In 2016, Toyota announced the recall of 3.37 million vehicles globally over problems with air bags and a fuel emission control unit.

The biggest recall ever for the Prius was in February 2014, with 1.9 million vehicles involved. AFP

Safety recall on Prius hybrids

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Motoring

WHAT CAR

YOUNGER

BUYERS PREFER?

A

N INCREASING number of younger buyers (29 years old and younger) are seeking a more engaging and seamless convergence between their online and offline vehicle-shopping experience, according to the J.D. Power 2018 Philippines Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study, SM released today.

These younger buyers are more satisfied when they use a combination of both online channels, such as the website, and offline channels, such as visits to dealerships when purchasing a vehicle.

The study finds that this group of customers are active both online and offline when researching their vehicle purchase.

When searching for a vehicle, nearly 60% of shoppers 29 years and younger use the internet vs. 43% of those 30 years and older. Additionally, 80% of younger buyCEBU CITY—Hino Motors Philippines (HMP), the exclusive distributor of Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines, through its dealer— Hino Cebu, recently supplied five mixer trucks to Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV).

HMP delivered five out of ten FS2PMUM 9-cubicmeter mixer trucks from the Hino 700 series to Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV) during the turnover ceremony.

CLJV is a multinational consortium with the vision to complete the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), a project that reflects the booming infrastructure industry in the Queen City of the South.

Hino is keen to provide the best products and services to ensure smooth logistics and operations for projects such as those being undertaken

ers compare prices from different dealerships online vs. 68% of older buyers.

When interacting with the dealer, 63% of younger buyers contact a dealership directly to schedule an appointment vs.

54% of older buyers. At the dealership, 28% of younger buyers engage with a staff member with deep product knowledge, such as product specialists, compared with 20% of older buyers. In addition, 81% of younger buyers take a test drive vs. 80% of older buyers.

A SEA OF SUVs. Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors Philippines Inc. “The use of such digital tools as virtual and augmented reality demonstrations, ‘live’ consultations and videos of cardriving experiences are likely to provide a more engaging purchase journey, while equipping sales consultants with deep product knowledge, encouraging interaction with product specialists and offering test drives are likely to enhance the instore experience,” said Sigfred M. Doloroso, Country Manager, Philippines, J.D. Power. “When deciding on their next vehicle, younger buyers are not just looking online, so it is crucial for manufacturers to redefine both their digital and traditional strategy if they want to improve the customer experience.”

The following are additional key findings of the study: Digital media increases satisfaction: Satisfaction among customers who stay engaged via digital devices—such as tablets, smartphones and touch screen monitors/ kiosks—during shopping and delivery is higher than among those who do not (827 vs. 750, respectively, on a 1,000-point scale). Satisfaction is higher

when salespeople use digital media to demonstrate vehicle features during the purchase decision (839 vs. 815, respectively) and of vehicle features at delivery (840 vs. 817).

Finding the right channel: Younger buyers are more inclined than older buyers to follow recommendations from the dealer and salesperson (39% vs. 27%, respectively) and are more influenced by inmall displays when making their purchase decision (38% vs. 33%). Older buyers opt to refer to information gathered from the television, compared with younger buyers (16% vs. 10%, respectively) and newspapers (25% vs. 20%).

Closing the deal: Overall satisfaction is higher when the sales consultant has total authority in agreeing to the terms of a deal, compared to when the consultant needs to get permission from their supervisor (831 vs. 788, respectively).

Study Rankings Among the 10 brands ranked in this year’s study, Kia ranks highest across all factors, with an overall score of 842. Suzuki ranks second with a score of 831 and

Hino delivers mixer trucks to Cebu JV

HMP officials present a symbolic key to one of five mixer trucks for the use of the Cebu Link Joint Venture.

Toyota ranks third with a score of 826.

The 2018 Philippines Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study is a comprehensive analysis of the new-vehicle purchase and delivery experience. The study is based on responses from 2,072 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicle between August 2017 and May 2018 and was fielded between February and July 2018.

Now in its 18th year, the study has been entirely redesigned and now examines six factors—including dealer website— that contribute to overall customer satisfaction with the new-vehicle purchase experience. In order of importance, they are sales consultant; dealer facility; delivery process; paperwork completion; working out the deal; and dealer website.

SSI performance is reported as an index score based on a 1,000-point scale, with a higher score indicating higher customer satisfaction.

The study now also includes the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures customers’ likelihood to recommend both their vehicle make and model on a 0-10 in Cebu. With its premium Japanese quality, Hino offers Total Support to all its business partners from the engine, chassis, cab, body to aftersales, a 360-degree support that reflects the company’s commitment to serve Filipinos nationwide.

HMP Chairman Vicente T. Mills, Jr. expresses his gratitude for Hino’s involvement in the project. “Hino is honored to be part of the construction of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. We are also grateful for the trust Cebu Link Joint Venture has given us, and as such we will always aim to surpass customer expectations with our products and services. We assure our business partners of our total support all the way from day one until this project is finished and beyond,” Mills said.