Manila Standard - 2018 September 20 - Thursday

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Landslide bloats death toll to 81 THE death toll from Typhoon “Ompong” has climbed to 81 and could hit triple digits as searchers dig through a landslide where dozens are presumed dead, authorities said Wednesday.

Ompong swamped farm fields in the nation’s agricultural north and smashed houses when it tore through at the weekend with violent winds and heavy rains.

Since then the toll has climbed mostly due to the corpses recovered from the massive landslide in the mining town of Itogon where dozens are still believed buried under the mud.

“From the list I saw 59 people are still missing [at Itogon],” Ricardo Jalad, civil defense chief, said. “If you add that to Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 217 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

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RICE PRICE ON THE RISE. While many consumers, including those from the middle income families, are shocked by the incorrigibly wicked rise of the price of grains, imported rice from Thailand arrive at the Paco Public Market (inset) and sold at P27 per kilo, the Trade department signs an agreement with the National Food Authority to allow rice retailers to sell NFA rice in groceries and supermarkets, with a quick comparison to prices of the grains. Norman Cruz, Jansen Romero

NFA rice to flood retail stores Agri regains control of NFA, two others

By Othel V. Campos

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HE Trade department signed Wednesday an agreement with the National Food Authority to allow rice retailers to sell NFA rice in groceries and supermarkets.

SALES PLUNGE. Vegetable stall owners at the public market in Manila’s San Andres district experience extreme low sales in their vegetable trade after powerful Typhoon ‘Ompong’ horsewhips Northern Luzon including La Trinidad, Benguet, the vegetable bowl of Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. Ey Acasio

Mining didn’t cause Itogon landslide, DENR says

By Rio N. Araja and Nat Mariano THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Wednesday the mine operations in Itogon, Benguet, did not cause the landslide that killed 20 small-scale miners in the area at the height of Typhoon “Ompong.”

Fay Apil, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional director at the Cordillera Administrative Region, said there was no mining operation in Itogon that could have caused the debris to fall and bury the victims alive.

“How could you consider a place a landslide-prone area? [First] See if it is covered in thick soil with fractured rocks, steep

slopes and monsoon rains,” Apil said.

She made her statement even as the Palace said Wednesday the government wants to implement Boracay-like rehabilitation projects in the Cordillera Administrative Region as President Rodrigo Duterte has hinted at repealing the mining law to shut down the mining industry in Next page the country.

World Bank eyed to bankroll rehab

By Julito G. Rada THE Finance department said it is ready to tap the $500-million standby loan facility from the World Bank to support the rehabilitation of the regions devastated by Typhoon “Ompong.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the loan will be tapped once President Rodrigo Duterte acts on the recommendation from his economic team and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare a state of calamity in the affected areas.

Dominguez said the World Bank’s Second Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan With A Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option Next page

The agreement, signed by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and NFA Deputy Administrator Judy Dansal, will help allocate 30 percent of rice inventory including imports to formal distribution channels such as groceries and supermarkets.

Retailers will repack government rice and sell them at a maximum volume of four kilos each per family at P27 per kilo.

The repacked rice will be sold in about 150 stores nationwide, initially. Next page

Missing mayors amid ‘Ompong’ face dismissal

By Francisco Tuyay and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Interior department on Wednesday threatened to impose the maximum penalty—dismissal from office—on mayors who were absent from their posts during the critical stages of Typhoon “Ompong.”

In this connection, a show cause order will be issued to at least 10 mayors who were reportedly not at their posts when the typhoon roared into their jurisdictions, said Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya.

The penalty will depend on the results of an ongoing investigation and on the explanations offered by the mayors, he said.

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‘Strawberry terrorism’ hit SYDNEY—The tainting of supermarket strawberries with sewing needles is comparable to “terrorism,” Australia’s prime minister said Wednesday, as he demanded tougher sentencing in response to a nationwide scare. Next page

Sesame Street’s puppets gay pair

By Issam Ahmed WASHINGTON—Bert and Ernie of “Sesame Street” may only be puppets, but that hasn’t stopped audiences from speculating over the years that the two roommates might be more than just best friends.

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‘Commissions’ spark House fracas—Lacson

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz STIRRING SCENE. The grim task of identifying casualties at the Ucab small scale mining tragedy begins, with police and other line agencies of the government assist relatives in claiming the bodies of their departed, victims of a massive landslide caused by ‘Ompong,’ at the PNP command post in Itogon, Benguet. Dave Leprozo

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said a ruckus in the House over budget insertions was caused by a fight over “commissions” on pork barrel.

“It’s clear why they are fighting over pork barrel. They’re not going to engage

in a fistfight for the country. Let’s face it.

There is a fight because of the commission,” Lacson told reporters Wednesday.

“If you talk to contractors, and I’ve talked to them, the rate is 10 percent.

They say 10 percent goes to the lawmakers. But they are still shelling out money for the agencies. So it’s still the same.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Suarez heads revived oversight panel

By Maricel V. Cruz

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HE minority bloc in the House of Representatives will lead the revived committee on oversight that is tasked to assess the performance of various government agencies and its failure to spend public funds amounting to billions of pesos.

The bloc’s leader, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, said Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had named him chairman of the panel that was abolished during the Aquino administration.

“I will have to take the chairmanship of the over-

sight. We will be busy,” Suarez told reporters, adding the panel will be composed of the entire members of the minority bloc.

Suarez said his oversight committee will monitor and evaluate the performance of government agencies.

Rep. Lito Atienza will be the vice chairman of the oversight committee, Suarez said.

Atienza cited the case of the unspent P30 billion of the Department of Tourism and other agencies that could have been used to create jobs.

“Congress badly needs an oversight committee. For instance, the Department of Tourism had P30 billion in unused funds for 2017 that should have been used for the massive cleanup of water bodies,” Atienza said.

The plenary is expected to formalize Suarez’s appointment as the new head of the House committee on oversight as soon as it gets done with the deliberations on the 2019 national budget.

Suarez, meanwhile, said his committee on over-

sight will give priority to the review of the performance of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Customs by looking at Republic Act 9335, or the Lateral Attrition Law to ensure that government-collecting agencies will be able to meet their targets.

The Lateral Attrition Act provides for a system of reward and punishment for officials and employees of the Customs and Internal Revenue who meet or fail to meet their target revenues.

Suarez, a former chairman of the House committee on oversight during the 14th Congress, said the revival of the panel would further promote transparency and accountability under the Duterte administration.

“The principle of checks and balances is embedded in our Constitution to ensure that there will be no abuse of power and to correct the mistakes or excesses committed by the other branches of the government,” Suarez said.

Landslide...

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those already recovered it’s possible the toll could top 100.”

The typhoon, the most powerful to strike this year, also battered Hong Kong and killed four in China’s southern province of Guangdong.

Searchers at Itogon continued their grim work on Wednesday, digging with shovels and their bare hands in the vast expanse of mud that crushed dwellings used by smallscale miners.

The area was primed for disaster before Ompong hit, as it came on the heels of nearly a month of continuous monsoon rains that saturated the soil of the already hazardous area.

Of the hundreds digging through the debris, many were miners themselves who were looking for friends and relatives, determined to make sure they received a proper burial.

The typhoon also damaged P2.27 billion in infrastructure in Northern Luzon that would take months to repair, with more than 30 bridges and roads destroyed, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.

Some 30 road sections in the Ilocos region, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region remained closed to traffic due to debris, fallen trees, mudflow and damage.

Most of the affected roads and bridges are in the Codillera region and Mountain province, including Kennon Road, which leads to Baguio City, the DPWH said.

DPWH Disaster Response Teams continue to undertake clearing operations and road and bridge restoration work. Vito Barcelo with AFP

‘Strawberry...

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Urging Australians to make a strawberry pavlova this weekend to help struggling farmers, Scott Morrison demanded a change in the law to put the perpetrators behind bars for 15 years.

“We’re not mucking about,” said Morrison, after at least 20 pieces of fruit were found to be contaminated with needles or pins. “This is not just not on in this country,” he said.

Calling the perpetrator a “coward and a grub,” Morrison called on parliament to quickly raise the maximum sentence for such deliberate food contamination from 10 to 15 years behind bars.

That, he said, would put the crime on par with “things like possessing child pornography and financing terrorism. That’s how seriously I take this.”

The scare has prompted a slew of supermarket recalls, and some stores in New Zealand have temporarily banned the sale of Australian strawberries.

Farmers have been forced to pulp fruit and layoff pickers because of slower sales and lower wholesale prices.

“Just go back to buying strawberries like you used to, and take the precautions that you should,” Morrison told Australians in a televised address. AFP

Sesame...

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A longtime writer from the beloved children’s show on Tuesday appeared to confirm they were in fact a “loving couple,” only for its creators to deny the pair are together or have a sexual orientation.

The writer, too, later seemed to backtrack.

Mark Saltzman, who was a staff writer on the program between 1981 and 1990, told the website Queerty he had based the pair’s dynamic on his own long-term relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman.

“I remember one time that a column from the San Francisco Chronicle, a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked ‘are Bert & Ernie lovers?’ And that, coming from a preschooler was fun,” he said.

“I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert and Ernie, they were. I didn’t have any other way to contextualize them.

“I was already with Arnie when I came to ‘Sesame Street.’ So I don’t think I’d know how else to write them, but as a loving couple.”

Saltzman added the Bert and Ernie’s interactions mirrored his own with Glassman, who was his partner for more than 20 years until his death in 2003.

“I was Ernie. I look more Bert-ish. And Arnie, as a film editor — if you thought of Bert with a job in the world, wouldn’t that be perfect? Bert with his paper clips and organization? And I was the jokester,” Saltzman said. AFP

BUDGET DEBATE. Members of the House of Representations attend the plenary deliberation on the P3.75-trillion 2019 national budget at the Batasang Pambansa building in Quezon City on Sept. 19, 2018. Manny Palmero

Lanao board exec, wife, three others face drug charges

By Lance Baconguis CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY―The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Wednesday it had caught what it described as the biggest narco-politician here to date and three other incumbent officials.

PDEA Region 10 and ARMM arrested Hussien Magandia, a Provincial Board member of Lanao del Sur, his wife Norhainah Magandia, son-in-law Amienquialed Dimal, an incumbent councilor of Marawi city and Aktar Magandia, former chairman of Maguing Proper village in Maguing Lanao del Sur. PDEA ARMM regional director Juvenal Azurin said they had conducted an almost year-long surveillance of the family.

PDEA, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National police, armed with a search warrant issued by judge Alandrex Betoya, executive judge of RTC branch 16, raided their house on White Flower Street, Sitio Bacayo in Tubod, Iligan City, on Sept.

19, 2018 and found one plastic sachet containing suspected shabu weighing 500 grams worth P3.4 million, a cal. 357 revolver, drug materials and financial and bank documents.

Azurin said Norhainah Magandia was also a first cousin of drug queen Lovely Adams Impal who was arrested in January 2017 by PDEA agents.

He said they were now extracting information from the suspects and the notebooks they confiscated to determine the extent of their illegal drug operations.

“They are the biggest narco-politicians that we arrested this year,” Azurin said.

He said the family did not appear in President Rodrigo Duterte’s “matrix” of politicians involved in illegal drug operations.

World...

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NFA...

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The Trade department is tapping more retailers to bring about greater access to affordable rice.

The NFA and the National Bureau of Investigation will also start monitoring rice outlets to ensure that no accredited establishments are hoarding rice. has ordered the importation of 2 million sacks of rice to arrive by September, 5 million sacks for delivery in October and another 5 million sacks to be imported by early 2019.

Based on government data, rice consumption in 2018 may hit 14.4 million

‘Commissions’...

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Give or take we waste 20 percent because of corruption and pork barrel,” Lacson said.

Lacson said the fracas in the House would help him and his staff more easily find where pork is hidden in the 2019 budget.

“First of all, we are very grateful to the lawmakers who almost engaged in a fistfight because they made our jobs easier.

Instead of us bearing the burden of looking for where the supposed pork is lodged, they already exposed it,” Lacson said.

He said he and his staff would continue to scrutinize the budget to find other insertions. He also assured the public that the administration and opposition senators are united to make sure that the 2019 budget is transparent.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said senators will cross party lines to ensure that the 2019 budget “is transparent and is consistent with the priorities as laid out in the economic plans.”

“What we can assure our people is that we will really scrutinize this. This cannot be concealed,” Drilon said.

“I think the whole Senate is unanimous on this,” said Drilon, when asked if the senators are united about looking into next year’s budget, including the realignment of more than P51 billion by the House of Representatives.

“We will check if this is really needed or if these are projects that are not a priority, and where the funds came from. It’s a ques-

Missing...

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The DILG said the 10 mayors are from Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The DILG declined to disclose the names of the mayors, pending the results of the investigation.

“As mandated by the Local Government Code, the presence and support of mayors in their respective areas of jurisdictions is imperative for them to carry out measures to protect their constituents from the harmful effects of disasters and calamities,” he said.

Malaya said if the mayor was away on official travel, this would be a justifiable excuse.

Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said he issued no travel orders to any mayor days

MT against estimated rice production of 12.6 million MT. The balance of 1.8 million MT will be sourced through importation from neighboring rice-producing nations.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday ordered control of the NFA, the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority returned to the Department of Agriculture.

Executive Order No. 62, signed by Duterte on Monday, rescinded the order of President Benigno Aquino III, which placed the three agencies, along with the National Irrigation Administration, under the Office of the President.

Also, the EO stated that the NFA Council must be reorganized, making

the Agriculture secretary and the NFA administrator its chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

The EO came three days after the President said in Cagayan that he needed to have a person in charge who could solve “the idiotic” rice crisis.

Also on Wednesday, Benguet Gov. Crescencio C. Pacalso said there was no shortage of vegetable supply in his province, saying that the damage caused by the recent monsoon rains was minimal.

He said the P73 million in damage caused by the monsoon rains to the province’s agriculture represented only 5 percent to 10 percent of overall crop production. With Nat Mariano

tion now of whether it’s a correct prioritization of projects for which public funds will be allocated,” Drilon said.

The opposition leader also warned against the danger in retaining the realignment, saying this was prone to corruption.

The House was convened into a committee of the whole Tuesday in a bid to resolve the questionable P51.7 billion alleged insertions by having the amount realigned to specific departments such as Education, Health, Agriculture and Public Works and Highways.

“The approved amendments in the budget will be itemized. There will be no post-enactment identification which is prohibited,” House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said.

Andaya said the proposed General Appropriations Budget for 2019, as contained in House Bill 8169, “complies with laws and judicial decisions on public expenditures.”

Compostela Valley Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, in her sponsorship speech, said the government has to borrow almost P1 trillion to provide funds for the ambitious projects of the Duterte administration.

Zamora, vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said P1.189 trillion or a total of P906.2-billion will be borrowed domestically while the government will get the remaining 24 percent or P282.7-billion from foreign creditors.

“Of the total borrowings, P624.4 billion will be used to finance the deficit, settle P146.3 billion in maturing debt obligations, and the balance includes contributions to the bond sinking fund, and to maintain sufficient cushion of cash in the Treasury,”

Zamora said in her speech.

She said the Bureau of Internal Revenue is expected to collect P2.331 trillion in revenues while the Bureau of Customs will collect P662.2 billion and other agencies of the government will generate P25 billion to support the national expenditures program next year.

“The balance of 5.9 percent will come from non-tax revenues amounting to P188.3 billion while P2 billion is expected from the sale of government assets,” said Zamora.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, the House committee on appropriation’s chairman, gave way to Zamora to put to rest the issue on the alleged insertions in the budget.

Nograles, whose committee approved HB 8169 early this month, said the amended committee report on the budget bill would restore P51.7 billion and subsequently provide additional funding for the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

He said the new Committee Report adopted by the House majority was an improvement as it would address the budget cuts suffered by SUCs, as well as agencies like the DepEd and DoH. “This is a better version of the budget measure that was approved by the committee of the whole. Because we see that from the reductions, the P51.7 billion were realigned to DepEd for school buildings, DoH for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, and state universities and colleges,” Nograles said.

before Ompong hit the province.

In an interview with GMA-7, Mamba said none of the mayors, who were reportedly in Metro Manila, had asked him for a travel authority.

Had they applied, he added, he would have stopped them from traveling.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Franklin Drilon hit the 10 mayors, who were reported missing in action during Ompong’s onslaught.

Lacson said the absence of the local executives would amount to negligence or insensitivity.

The mayors, Lacson said, should not have left their respective municipalities since authorities had warned of the strong typhoon before it hit the country.

He said the mayors could only leave their jurisdictions to attend to “life and death” matters outside their towns.

Drilon said the actions of the mayors represented gross neglect and said this should be sanctioned.

“Why are they here in Manila when their provinces and municipalities were being traversed by the typhoon? That to me is gross neglect and should be investigated,” he said.

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, proposed that slots in the government’s conditional cash transfer program be reserved for victims of Ompong, which ravaged Northern Luzon.

Poe said at least 5 percent of the funded number of CCT beneficiaries per annum should be earmarked for victims of natural calamities like typhoons and floods.

Poe said automatically including typhoon victims in the list of the program will guarantee “regular and scheduled assistance” for calamity victims.

(CAT-DDO2) would provide the government immediate liquidity to help finance its disaster relief and reconstruction efforts, and could be used 48 hours after the President’s declaration of the state of calamity.

A presidential declaration of a state of calamity is required to trigger the release of the funds available under the World Bank loan facility.

In other developments: • The United States on Wednesday pledged to provide assistance to the Philippine government response efforts in the areas devastated by Ompong.

• Customs collector Carmelita Talusan ordered her men to facilitate all shipment of relief goods at the airport coming from the countries helping the families affected by the recent Ompong.

• Commercial flight operations have resumed at the Tuguegarao Airport, which was shut down over the weekend due to the onslaught of Ompong.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said in its advisory that the facility officially resumed its commercial operations late Tuesday afternoon.

Dominguez said the Office of Civil Defense convened a technical working group on Tuesday and agreed to finalize a draft resolution endorsing to the NDRRMC a state of calamity in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The NDRRMC would then have to approve the recommendation for the presidential declaration of a state of calamity.

The loan facility, net of the 0.5 percent front-end fee, had an available balance of $497.5 million as of the end of August 2018, Dominguez said. With Rey E. Requejo and Joel E. Zurbano

Mining...

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“When we were in Benguet, we thought that the situation was the same with what happened in Boracay,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told dzMM radio.

“We will apply what we did in Boracay to solve the problems in Cordillera and Itogon.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Local Government Concerns Benny Antiporda said “with or without any mining operation, there will be a landslide. [Unfortunately}, the miners built their shanties there.”

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said he had sent an MGB team to identify those responsible why there were people staying at the mine site.

He said the DENR had not been remiss in its duty to remind the public that Itogon was a hazardous zone, especially during typhoons, but the residents refused to leave the area.

According to Apil, the operation of Benguet Corp. had actually closed in 1997.

She said the mining firm submitted a final mining and decommissioning plan to the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee in 2016.

“It had been under the company’s care and maintenance from 1997 to 2016,” she said.

She said the plan was submitted in 2016, during which Benguet Corp. decided not to go back to mining.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Romualdez lauds passing on 2nd reading of DDR bill

Asiatique’s Lee to remain in jail despite SC ruling—DoJ

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice on Wednesday said controversial Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee will remain in jail unless the Supreme Court decision downgrading the charges against him from syndicated estafa to simple estafa, a bailable offense, becomes final and executory.

Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, head of the DoJ’s National Prosecution Service, said that Lee remains in detention at the Pampanga provincial jail after the DoJ filed a motion for reconsideration on the SC ruling.

“He [Lee] cannot be granted bail just yet since the Supreme Court decision is not yet final and executory,” he said, adding that the controversial property developer could only post bail once the Court denies DoJ’s appeal with finality.

Fadullon said that in its motion for reconsideration, the DoJ had sought that the SC reverse the Court of Appeals decision in 2013 that downgraded the cases against Lee from syndicated estafa to simple estafa, for allegedly defrauding the government of P6.6 billion in housing loan proceeds using “ghost borrowers.”

“We believe that it is a syndicated estafa case which is non-bailable case, so he [Lee] should not be allowed to post bail,” the Prosecutor General said.

In its 47-page motion for reconsideration, the DoJ through Solicitor General Jose Calida, asked the SC to reverse its ruling and reinstate the syndicated estafa cases against Lee and company.

Sandiganbayan affirms junking of Floirendo’s plea to dismiss case THE Sandiganbayan has affirmed the junking of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr.’s plea to dismiss the graft case against him in connection with his stake in the Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. In denying Floirendo’s motion for reconsideration to its Aug. 7 ruling, the court’s Sixth Division, in a sevenpage resolution dated Sept. 11, said Floirendo’s argument on the supposed insufficiency of the allegations that he already used in his original motion to dismiss was merely rehashed.

Floirendo earlier pled not guilty to one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Floirendo’s case stemmed from Alvarez’s allegations of irregularities in connection with the Consolidated Joint Venture Agreement between Tagum Agricultural Development Authority, where Floirendo’s family is a major stockholder, and its subsidiary Anflo Management and Investment Corp., for the lease of land in DPC to be used as a banana plantation.

The Consolidated JVA was executed in 1979 which extended the period of lease for 25 years and renewed in May 2003, when Floirendo was already a congressman. Maricel V. Cruz

WOMEN’S MARCH. Members of women’s organization ‘ORIANG’ marched to the Department of Agriculture with the pictures of Secretary Manny Piñol along with the printed photos of ‘sili, bigas and galunggong’ to demand price stability and a swift course of action to address the high prices that they said burden the women and other member of the households. They later broke open a ‘palayok’ to symbolize their sentiments. Manny Palmero

‘Consignee’ of magnetic lifters cited in contempt T

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

HE consignee of the four magnetic lifters believed to contain P6.8 billion of shabu was detained in the Senate after Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon cited her in contempt for lying.

Gordon warned Marina Signapan, owner of SMYD Trading, that she would be restricted in the detention facility of the Senate until she tells the truth about the smuggling of the ton of shabu that slipped through the Bureau of Customs last month.

“She will be confined here at the Senate premises. If she continues to lie after three days, we will bring them together with Mr. (Jimmy) Guban to the Pasay City Jail,” Gordon said.

After “several attempts at compassion and understanding,” Gordon said that Signapan had lied on her status as consignee.

“And she cannot claim that she was just consignee. She appears to be lying and for me she is lying. The chairman now declares Signapan under contempt of the Senate,” he said.

Gordon at first told Signapan that he didn’t want to cite her in contempt and detained in the Senate since she is a woman and especially because she is “a senior citizen.” Gordon even repeatedly gave her the chance to retract her statement. But Signapan stood her ground and reiterated her earlier statement that she was just a mere consignee who was paid P180,000 for the job. She even begged Gordon to spare her the contempt charge.

Gordon repeated his question, but again Signapan insisted that she was just tapped to be the consignee and a certain Joel Maritana paid her P180,000 for handling the fees, duties, and taxes.

But Maritana said that it was Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service officer Jimmy Guban who introduced him to Signapan.

The magnetic lifters were found empty at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite in August. Authorities believe that the seized magnetic lifters were used to transport illegal drugs, which they said had already slipped past them and could already be circulating in the streets.

Customs officer Jimmy Gordon has remained in the Senate custody after he was cited in contempt in last week’s Blue Ribbon committee hearing.

Meanwhile, Gordon directed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Director General Aaron Aquino to arrest certain Chan Yee Wah, alias KC Chan, Albert Chan, or Tony Chan, the alleged mediator of a drug syndicate suspected of bringing tons of shabu into the country.

In a related development, the Department of Justice on Wednesday said there is no need yet to seek assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization in determining the whereabouts or to arrest Cebu businessman and suspected drug lord Peter Lim who went into hiding after being indicted for conspiracy in the illegal drug trade.

LEYTE Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez on Wednesday lauded her colleagues on the approval on second reading of the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience which aims to spare the lives of many Filipinos and save properties from future disasters.

Romualdez, one of DDR’s principal authors who represents Tacloban City otherwise known as Ground Zero during the onslaught of Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ on Nov. 8, 2013, said the bill’s enactment drastically reduce the country’s vulnerability to natural hazards with the impending passage into law of DDR. “We can now look forward to the future with hope, knowing that the government is ready, better equipped and committed to exert its best effort to reduce the risks that come with natural disasters, to empower local communities to rise above the different vulnerabilities that surround them and to ensure that in the years to come, such a tragedy will never happen again,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on accounts, said.

The House, through viva voce voting, approved on second reading House Bill 8165, creating the Department of Disaster Resilience, which shall be the primary government agency responsible for leading, organizing and managing the national effort to reduce disaster risk, and prepare for and respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate.

The bill also provides that the DDR shall oversee and coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans, programs, and activities.

The DDR shall also provide leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation, and anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques and options.

It shall also augment the capacity of local government units in collaboration with relevant national agencies and other stakeholders to implement disaster risk reduction and management and climate change action plans, programs, projects and activities.

She thanked her colleagues for prioritizing the passage of DDR bill, one of the priority measures of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank my colleagues for passing the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience on second reading. Salamat sa malasakit,” said Romualdez.

CoA flags Duterte gov’t over low spending of ODA loans Palace tells former

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Duterte administration over its low spending of the Official Development Assistance loans.

In a 2017 audit report, state auditors said of last year’s P74.55-billion loans from ODA, the government was only able to spend P299.75 million.

The government received at least 10 foreign aid loans in 2017.

The CoA, however, said 99.60 percent of the loans were not withdrawn, adding that because of this, there were delays in the target date completion of 17 projects.

“Of the net loan commitments, only P299.75 million were availed leaving undrawn amount of P74.55 billion. This amount represents 99.60 percent of the total net loan commitments for the loans contracted during the year,” the report read.

The CoA said the government foot on the “commitment fees,” or penalties of P230.17 million because of “delayed withdrawal/availment of loans.”

The completion of 17 projects within the loan period is unlikely considering the reported project status. The benefits then to be derived therefrom will be delayed in addition to payments to commitment fees,” it added.

The Department of Transportation experienced delay to finish its seven projects, such as the capacity enhancement of mass transit system in Metro Manila as the recipient of a P20.796-billion loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The CoA also noted four delayed projects of the Department of Agriculture with 74 percent unspent fund of P16.322 million, citing the delayed projects of the departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Health and Social Welfare and Development; National Irrigation Authority, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

CPP’s Sison says Du30 ‘delusional’

BUDGET MATTERS. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo confers with Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta of Party-List SAGIP at the podium during the deliberation of the 2019 national budget at the House of Representatives. Manny Palmero

THE Communist Party of the Philippines said Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte is “delusional” after the President said that the five-decade long insurgency of communist rebels and revolutionaries in the country will end by 2019.

“Duterte is delusional by claiming that he shall have destroyed the CPPNPA and the entire revolutionary movement of the people by the middle of next year,” said CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison in a statement.

Sison claimed that Duterte is “pipe dreaming” and his remark was brought by too much intake of fentanyl, a pain reliever which the president admitted to use as medicine.

“He forgets that the campaigns of mass murder, mass intimidation, fake surrenders and fake encounters under Oplan Kapayapaan are angering the people and inciting them to íntensify

their resistance,” said Sison.

Sison added that the Duterte administration is bankrupt and weakened by bureaucratic and military corruption, excessive military and police spending, counterproductive projects, mounting debt burden and budgetary and trade deficits.

“The government has imposed regressive taxes on the consuming public and caused the prices of basic goods and services to soar to unaffordable levels,” Sison, who is also the National Democratic Front of the Philippines chief political consultant, added.

Sison also tagged Duterte as a clown for giving jobs and houses to the millions of people who participate in the revolutionary movement.

“He is now the target of people´s rising hatred. They reject the traitorous, tyrannical, murderous and corrupt character of his regime,” said Sison.

DILG secretary Roxas to shut up

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday told former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas to shut up and let the administration do its job after the former opposition senator asked President Rodrigo Duterte to consider his suggestions to lower rice prices.

“I haven’t heard what he [Roxas] said, but I think, with his experience in Leyte before, it will be better if he will just keep quiet,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday morning in a radio interview with DZRH. The Palace official brought up Roxas’ performance, a former Department of Interior and Local Government secretary, in the rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of super typhoon “Yolanda.”

“He does not need to add to the noises now. We all know what he did in ‘Yolanda.’ He said, ‘no one is in charge.’ That’s not what the country needs in a time of need, “ said Roque.

“We should let the process of giving assistance to the public proceed in times like this.”

In another radio interview, Roque also criticized Roxas for his “negligence” as a government official.

“I am really wondering because Mar Roxas let the people in Leyte suffer because of politics. What happened to him and what changed his perception of the world?” said Roque.

“My only message is if he would only do the things he did during ‘Yolanda,’ thank you very much, but we don’t need it,” he added.

Nat Mariano

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Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

We should move on

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

ing martial law. But I think we should remember the entire picture.

It is important for us now to move on EMIL P. as a nation. Sadly, many people, in purJURADO suit of their own agenda, dredged out the past and lay the blame on Marcos’ ON FRIDAY, September 21, the nation descendants.

Personally I believe the sins of the will mark the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by strong- father should not be transferred to their children. man Ferdinand Marcos. *** It was actually Defense Secretary In the same context, President DuJuan Ponce Enrile who wrote the deterte is confronted with multiple chaltails and implemented martial law.

I believe the implementation was a lenges far worse than what Marcos masterpiece. In one fell swoop, the na- faced in his time.

Aside from the communists, Dution was placed under the control of the terte is fighting terrorism from ISISArmed Forces of the Philippines.

All media outlets were shut down inspired fighters in the South who want and all means of transportation were to establish their own caliphate here.

Most importantly, the nation is faccanceled. Critics of the government and suspected members and supporters ing gut issues like the soaring prices of of the Communist Party of the Philip- food items, water, power and transport.

And then, as if we were not suffering pines were detained.

Prior to the 21st of September, there enough, last weekend Typhoon “Omhad been rumors about the declaration pong” caused damage in the billions of of martial law. But it was said that Mar- pesos to the agriculture sector.

These could push people to the brink! cos felt the number 7 and its multiples Band-aid solutions like the imporwould be lucky for him.

In justifying martial law, Marcos tation of meat and fish are just that— temporary. Just claimed that the how Mr. Duterte communist movewill face all these ment was alis the question. ready knocking How will he act, on the gates of It’s good to given that he is Malacañang so he also waging a war had to do some- remember, but we against illegal should see the bigger thing drastic. drugs and corrupAccording to picture. tion?

Enrile, the last *** straw of Marcos Despite all the was when he deproblems houndlivered his State of the Nation Address at the old Leg- ing our nation, some members of the islative Building and protesters threw a House of Representatives have inserted their own projects into the P3.7-trillion replica of a coffin.

For the record, Marcos was then national budget. All these insertions fighting on three fronts—the commu- amounting to P55 billion constitute nist movement, the secessionist move- “pork barrel” in any language.

It’s a good thing there is still the Senment in Mindanao, and civil society assisted by militants and media sym- ate, through which these insertions still pathetic to Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. have to go. Senator Panfilo Lacson, Recall that the Supreme Court up- an avowed enemy of pork barrel, and held martial law citing these threats Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, have vowed to oppose these insertions. that Marcos was facing.

It’s just despicable that amid all the The tragedy however was that those who were arrested and detained country’s problems, some House memclaimed atrocities were done on them. bers would still make their own interThis Friday, many will talk about ests a priority.

Unless the anomaly of pork barrel these alleged atrocities while forgetting that martial law actually made a funds is stopped, legislators will condent on the communist movement. If tinue to take the people for fools. *** the communists had not been stopped, There is another proposal of the diverwho knows what could have happened sified San Miguel conglomerate to build to our nation!

I do not mean to belittle the atrocities a P3-billion bridge connecting Caticlan committed on those who suffered durTurn to A5

Overboard

TO THE POINT

A

SSISTANT Secretary for Communications Margaux Uson has apologized for her latest infraction. This time, she and her friend, Andrew Olivar, were making fun of sign language.

In a video, Uson is seen and heard giggling as Olivar made gestures that mimicked those of a hearing-impaired person.

A contrite Uson, in a video on her social media page, said she was taking full responsibility for her friend’s actions. The friend, Olivar, said he knew he was wrong and would not even attempt to explain his actions.

The apologies were likely spurred by widespread condemnation of their acts. A senator slammed Uson for mocking sign language and said she had violated the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

The deaf community also made known its

displeasure at Uson and Olivar for their insensitive act. Some even said the video reminded them of the times they were bullied. Some were worried that it would set a bad example that the deaf could be objects of amusement.

This is not the first time that Uson, a public official collecting a salary paid for by taxpayers, misused her office to occasion divisiveness among Filipinos and alienate them from the Executive when it is her job to do otherwise.

That gaffes have become synonymous to the Presidential Communications Operations Office, and it does not help that it appears to operate unabated.

We wonder when Ms. Uson and her friends will realize that there is something better than apologizing—it is not doing anything damaging, or offensive, or stupid in the first place. With all the problems that this nation is facing, insensitive and inappropriate amusement from those whose job it is to convey a positive message is that last thing we need.

Ompong’s fury The mayor, in many media interviews, tried to justify their actions by saying that the area where the landslide happened together with the FLORENCIO bunkhouse which was also a place of FIANZA worship and where the people took AT WHAT point should we hold pub- refuge to escape the fury of the tylic officials accountable for their fail- phoon is still owned by Benguet Corure to forcefully evacuate people who poration. I fail to understand howare in danger zones during strong ever, why even if the property is still typhoons like “Ompong”? In view of owned by Benguet Corporation, the what happened in Itogon, Benguet at authorities did not insist on evacuthe height of the typhoon last Satur- ation. Anyone who is familiar with the topography of the Itogon municiday, this is a fair question to ask.

The problem is, there is probably pality and the Benguet mining conno set of criteria on which actions cession would know that there are could be based if responsible pub- really very few flat and safe places wherein dwelllic officials fail ings can be conto implement a structed.

Most mandatory evacare very mounuation order. The tainous as some next question is That landslide was of the TV footwhich agency a tragedy waiting to ages are showof government ing especially should be author- happen. where the landized to formuslide happened. late the rules and Because of popuregulations to be lation pressure, followed. Should it be the National Disaster Risk Re- people are constructing their houses duction Management Center or the in 45-degree slopes and some cases, Department of the Interior and Local even steeper slopes. And because the surrounding mountains are heavily Government?

In the case of the landslide tragedy tunneled because of the long years of that happened in Itogon, where a to- mining, the mountains cannot hold a tal of approximately 100 people were lot of water which makes them weak killed to include those still missing and dangerous when it rains not to and presumed dead, the people re- mention the damage done by the fused to move when told to transfer small-scale miners.

People in the area did not also to safer evacuation centers. It is, of course, unfortunate that the officials consider that before Ompong, it had who went to those people did not in- been raining every day in Baguio sist that they leave. Had they done so, and surrounding municipalities for the catastrophe could have been pre- more than a month. The people living vented. As the term suggests, manda- in those mountainous slopes should tory should mean exactly that.

Turn to A5

DUTY CALLS

MAIL MATTERS

Support Taiwan’s participation in the UN system and contribution to the SDGs AS THE 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly will convene on Sept. 18, 2018, at UN headquarters in New York, I am writing this letter to call for the kind support for Taiwan’s determination to participate in the UN system by the people of the Philippines.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, set bold goals to shift the world onto a sustainable, resilient

path. Here was also pledged the formation of a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development including all countries, all stakeholders and all people, such that no one would be left behind.

Despite such a pledge, Taiwan’s 23-million people have been left out of this global effort. This violates the principle of universality upon which the UN was founded and deprives Taiwan as well as the international community

of opportunities to work together for the common good.

To ensure the UN remains relevant to all people, the organization should stand up to the external pressures and open its doors to Taiwan.

I hereby urge the Philippines, a dynamic democracy in Asia, to support democratic Taiwan’ s campaign to participate in the UN system and to recognize Taiwan’s determination 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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can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Budget for the Filipino people OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ THE House of Representatives started the plenary deliberations of the 2019 national budget yesterday after being postponed for two days. For the next fiscal year, the Executive proposes a P3.757-trillion cash-based appropriations. This is the third budget of the Duterte administration and the first cash-based appropriations of the Philippine government as we shifted our budgeting scheme from obligationsbased to cash-based.

Approving the national budget is not an easy task for us lawmakers. It has to go through scrutiny of several congressmen during the Committee deliberations and it goes through a tougher debate on the floor. The plenary budget deliberations is a chance for us, most especially for me, as the Minority Leader, to interpellate the sponsors of the budget of government agencies to ensure that their respective budgets truly reflect projects and programs for the Filipino people. However, the challenge in approving the national budget is trusting that the government agencies will spend their respective budgets efficiently.

As I speak about efficiency, let us

take a look at how the government agencies have performed in the previous years with respect to their budget utilization. From 2011 to 2016, our government had an estimated average of over P350-billion unused appropriations annually. This amount was initially appropriated but not spent by the government agencies due to delays and discontinuation of implementation of several projects and programs. Given

Funds must be spent efficiently.

this track record of government underspending, I am deeply concerned that the P3.757-trillion proposed budget for 2019 would be underutilized, yet again.

It came as no surprise to us that government agencies continued to underspend under the new administration.

In 2017, most government agencies remained to have low absorptive capacities. The Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways had the highest alloca-

tions, yet they also had the highest underspending. DepEd had P57.6-billion unused appropriations, while DPWH had P114.5-billion unused appropriations. Other big agencies with unused appropriations were the Department of Tourism (P30.8 billion), Department of National Defense (P23.5 billion), Department of Social Welfare and Development (P23 billion), and the Department of Health (P16.2 billion).

In total, these agencies underspent in the amount of P265.6 billion. We must note that underspending in these agencies reflects poorly on the administration, who is supposed to be effecting urgent funding and implementation of much-needed government projects and programs.

I have been consistent about my stand against inexplicable underspending and low absorptive capacity of government agencies. To me, failure to spend the budget efficiently means depriving the people with the basic goods and services from the government. As the Minority Leader, I will take advantage of my role in the plenary budget deliberations to scrutinize the budget with a keen eye on the spending habits of several government agencies. If this is truly a budget for the Filipino people, then it has to be spent efficiently and exclusively for the Filipino people.

Replacing quantitative import restrictions on rice Senate Bill No. 1998: Replacing Quantitative Import Restrictions on Rice with Tariffs Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto (Part 1) I HAVE always said that there’s an unli-rice loving gene in our DNA. It shows in our per capita rice consumption, which is 108 kilograms a year.

But for most people, like me, it shows up in our abs.

Allow me to illustrate my point further, Mr. President, by computing how much rice we 24 senators, and our spouses, consume in a year, and how it is produced.

Forty eight people would require 5,177 kilos, or 103 and a half sacks, a year. But rice does not come milled— it has to be dehusked from palay.

To produce the equivalent of 5,177 kilos, or 5.17 metric tons, we need 7,803 kilos of palay. And to be able to harvest that amount, we have to plant rice in two hectares, or 20,000 square meters—the size of 48 basketball courts.

Just for 48 people alone. And we are 108 million crammed in this sliver of land. That is why we devote 4.8 million hectares of land to produce this staple.

Suppose the 48 of us hire a farmer to contract-grow our rice consumption.

What will be his net income? What travails will he have to go through so we can have a bowl of fragrant rice?

First, Mr. President, he needs water, because rice is one crop with a serious drinking problem.

To produce one Coke litro of rice, you need 1,000 Coke litros of water. So rice is dependent on the grace of God, meaning good weather, and good governance as well, which means manmade irrigation. Fortunately, we have a surplus of the former, and unfortunately, a shortage of the latter.

After marinating the soil, our contract-grower, or let us say, our senatorial tenant, will now be ready to plow.

Ompong’s...

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have been forced to evacuate even before Ompong. We still do not know how much rain that Ompong dumped in Baguio and the surrounding towns, but it must have been considerable because the rains simply continued to pour non-stop for more than a day making the roads like rivers. Living in the mountainous Benguet Corporation mining concession area is always a risk because building regulations are not enforced strictly. When the mine was still owned and operated by the Americans, building regulations were enforced more strictly. No one could simply build a house in non-designated areas. When the mine was taken over

by Filipinos, these regulations were somewhat relaxed and as Benguet Corporation continued to scale down its mining operations, relatives of employees and pocket miners started to invade the place until people started to build houses in very steep slopes that we see today.

We could say that the killer landslide

If he uses a carabao, he will slog through about 45 kilometers of thighdeep mud, with a plow in one hand, and the reins of a half-ton beast of burden on the other. Mas mahaba pa kaysa sa isang marathon.

If he uses a hand tractor, it will cut his man-hours by half.

Ang lupa po for rice planting ay mas mabusisi pa ang preparasyon kesa sa buhok ng isang dalagang ikakasal. Iaararo ng dalawang beses, isusuklay, isusuyod.

When the soil assumes champorado texture, pwede na magtanim. Dalawang paraan ang ginagamit: Direct broadcast of seeds o sabog, or transplant, where seeds will germinate in a plot, the seedlings uprooted, then transported to the field for transplanting.

Dito papasok yung national soundtrack ng rice planting.

“Magtanim ay di biro, maghapon nakayuko.”

To plant palay in one hectare of land, something like 200,000 clutches of seedlings will be pierced into the soil.

Kung sampu ang magtatanim, mga 20,000 repetitive motions are required of each.

Di hamak, talo ang 3,000 forward bends ng ating Pambansang Kamao na ginagawa niya tuwing umaga kapag siya ay nasa training.

Pag natanim, kailangan bantayan ang tubig. And the countryside is littered with the bodies of those who have fallen in these neighborhood water wars.

Then the field is fertilized, weeded and sprayed with pesticides.

After 12 weeks, the grains begin to sprout. When their color turns golden, they will be subjected to ceaseless attacks from air, ground, and water.

Early on, amphibian kuhols will wade to the stems. Later, mayas will divebomb from the air. Rats will burrow beneath.

The farmer’s protection against them is feeble—a scarecrow and a string of empty cans for some acoustic warfare.

Pagkalipas ng 30 araw, pwede na anihin. Mabilisan minsan, buong gabi

kung parating ang bagyong tulad ni Ompong. The clump of rice stacks can be cut by hand, or by small reaping machines, or those big boxy combines which spill out grains.

Kapag naani na, hindi pwedeng lutuin. Malayo pa ang lalakbayin bago masaing.

Kung manu-mano tulad ng dati, it has to be threshed and winnowed. Buti na lang mayroon nang mga makinang gumagawa nito.

Pagkatapos ay isasako. Pero bago dalhin sa gilingan, ibibilad muna, para mawala ang moisture content, tumigas ang butil at hindi mapulbos kapag giniling.

Solar drying is a tedious process.

You transport the bags to the roadside—kasi nga ang kalsada sa atin ay drying pavements din—ibubuhos mo, you rake it, then rebag it.

Ready na for milling. During milling the palay will lose about 35 percent of its weight. Ito yung tinatawag nila na milling, or retention, or conversion rate. Isasako muli. Dadalhin sa palengke. Pwede na lutuin.

Pati sa pagluto, sobrang arte ng bigas. Dapat 1:1 ang ratio ng water to rice, under the right amount of fire otherwise it will turn into a congee or toasted rice. Pag nahilaw, ang ginagawa dati, nilalagyan pa ng asin sa takip, na may sabay na sign of the cross.

Kapag luto na, highly perishable, hindi pwede abutan ng hapon.

And all these troubles, for rice high in carbs and sugar, which has transformed us into a nation of Diabetics Anonymous.

Magkano naman ang kita nung magsasaka na kinontrata ng 48 na tao para magsupply ng bigas sa kanila?

Kung hindi siya mamalasin, per cropping, two hectares of rice land will gross about P152,000, a year ago.

Deducting expenses, the net was about P74,000.

In two croppings per year, in perfect weather conditions, pest- and pestilence-free: about P148,000. Or P12,333 per month, about minimum wage level. (Continued tomorrow)

last Saturday was a tragedy waiting to happen. What should be done now is not only to suspend and stop all the small mining operations but also move the people living on very dangerous steep slopes to safer places. If not, this kind of tragedy will surely happen again. Secretary Roy Cimatu is right in putting a stop to small mining operations. The damage to the environment as a result of pocket mining far outweighs the economic benefits derived from it. Mountains are weakened and rivers become polluted due to mercury. The government, however, will have to see to it that the order is enforced strictly because it should expect a lot of resistance from the small-scale miners. It is difficult to police their compliance unless every tunnel is visited and closed and this is not easy to do. Secretary Cimatu, during his press conference, urged those pocket miners to go back to their provinces but it would seem to me that these people will most certainly not comply.

Whether the DENR could eventually come out with viable and balanced regulation to protect the environment while at the same time allowing people

to earn a living, is something that we have to wait and see. It will probably be difficult to come out with something that will please everyone.

The problem in Baguio and the surrounding towns is that they have become the magnet for people coming from Mt. Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Apayao because of lack of opportunities in these provinces. The consequence of this is that people will continue to build houses in mountainous slopes making them prone to more landslides during typhoons and the monsoon rains. People should therefore expect the remaining mountains to be dotted with more houses rather than pine trees. The sight will be obviously ugly by international standards especially if the city is being marketed as the summer capital of the country.

Yes, people still go to the city because of the comfortable temperature allyear round but other than that, the city has lost its old allure.

Let’s hope that the unfortunate tragedy will spur local officials to strive harder and plan better so that such tragedy will not happen again in such a scale.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DTI has no solution for worsening trade “(T)he government needs to fasttrack the crafting of the Ease of Doing Business Act’s implementing rules and regulations,” Dr. Pernia said in his RUDY ROMERO statement. “(T)o boost exports, there is a need to promote forward and backPSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) ward linkages,” he said. “This (will has reported that the hemorrhage on be) through the Agribusiness Support the current account of this country’s and Investment in Regional ExposiBOP (balance of payments) continued tions, which integrates marketing deunabated in July. The current account velopment support services to farmers, is accounted for largely by the balance fisherfolk and MSMEs and (through) of Philippine merchandise trade. In the linking exporters to source of export first seven months of 2018 this coun- financing.” try’s total imports of merchandise exDr. Pernia went on to say this: “(T)he ceeded its total exports by $22.49 bil- high cost of domestic and international lion. The 2017 seven-month figure was shipping and cargo handling also needs just over $13 billion. to be addressed.”

To put it in perspective, the Fast-tracking of the drafting of rules, $22.49-billion deficit figure repre- promotion of forward and backward sents approximately 10 months’ worth linkages, integration of marketing deof OFW (Overseas Filipino workers) velopment support services, lowering remittances. Our Bagong Bayani can- of the high cost of shipping and cargo not be blamed for saying that their handling—this is language that we hard work away from home is not be- have all heard before. It is soft, impracing matched by a tical, no-sense-ofcommensurate urgency language. foreign-exchangeIt sounds good, earning effort on but that’s about it. the part of DTI Considering that This is a truly bad (Department of there is a monster Trade and Indus- state of affairs. of a merchantry) and this coundise trade deficit try’s producers of staring Juan dela Cruz in the face, a goods. tougher, more creThe trend of the balance of merchandise trade is noth- ative and with-great-sense-of-urgency ing short of alarming. At its current approach is needed from this country’s rate of increase, the merchandise trade economic managers. deficit could conceivably reach $40 In all fairness to him, revving up billion by the end of 2018. Imports of Philippine export trade is not the prigoods for the Christmas trade are start- mary responsibility of Secretary Pering to exacerbate the problem. nia. Than primary responsibility beThe most disturbing aspect of the longs to the Secretary of Trade and present merchandise trade situation is Industry, Ramon Lopez. that, while the Duterte administration’s By now Mr. Lopez and his people infrastructure people have their Build should have pinpointed the industries Build Build import plans all set, its eco- and specific products capable, with allnomic team—the heads of DTI, NEDA out government support, of narrowing, (National Economic Development Au- if not closing, the ever-widening merthority), DOF (Department of Finance), chandise trade gap. Unfortunately, Mr. DA (Department of Agriculture) and Lopez has done nothing of the sort. InDBM (Department of Budget Manage- deed, the feeling is inescapable that DTI ment)—don’t appear to have a firm idea really has nothing to offer the nation by as to where the needed incremental mer- way of export trade energization. chandise exports will be coming from.

In the meantime, the worsening of Consider the statement issued recent- the BOP puts downward pressure on ly by the Security of Socio-Economic the peso, with consequential effects on Planing (and NEDA Director-General) the inflation rate, and the cost of serErnesto D. Pernia in the wake of PSA’s vicing the nation’s external de and the announcement of the seven-month Philippines credit rating. A truly bad merchandise trade outturn. state of affairs.

BUSINESS CLASS

Support...

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and isolation. As we have pointed out before, this resolution neither addresses the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the UN system, nor defines the relationship between Taiwan and China. The socalled one-China principle has been challenged by many UN Member States. It is wrong for the UN, an organization created to serve all of humankind, to unilaterally define Taiwan’s status.

Article 1 of the UN Charter proclaims that the purposes of the organization are to “achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights.” At this critical juncture when humankind is facing multiple challenges, global cooperation that includes all countries, all stakeholders, and all people is ever more important. By excluding a willing and able partner like Taiwan, the UN not only violates the fundamental human rights of Taiwan’s 23-million people but also greatly harms human welfare.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

People in Taiwan are ready and wellprepared to make meaningful and substantial contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all human beings on earth, including the people in the Philippines.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Respectfully yours,

to contribute to regional and global affairs.

Taiwan provides development assistance to other countries. Through the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), Taiwan’s official development assistance organization, we have launched various programs in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

These programs aim to help countries in these regions to achieve clean energy, food security, food safety, sustainable agriculture, better education, health and well-being for all age groups, and disaster reduction and adaptation. TaiwanICDF also works with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to assist countries in Central Asia and Central and Eastern Europe to develop market economies and a green economy.

While Taiwan’s valuable contributions have been widely acclaimed around the globe, the UN continues to ignore what Taiwan can offer. Taiwan’s tourists, experts and professionals are denied entry into UN premises simply because the UN does not accept the Republic of China (Taiwan)’s passport, which is recognized by almost every country in the world. The UN has refused to accredit Taiwan’s journalists covering its meetings and activities, yet the work of such people is in the interests of the people of Taiwan and the world.

MICHAEL PEIYUNG HSU We are extremely disappointed that Representative the UN continues to misuse 1971’s Taipei Economic and Cultural Office General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) to justify Taiwan’s exclusion in the Philippines

We...

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in Aklan to Boracay. But it seems like government is dragging its feet.

SMC has another proposal—that P750-billion aerotropolis on 2,500 hectares of land in Bulacan. This is also being delayed.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the bridge would enable the transport of waste

from Boracay island and hence prevent it from becoming a cesspool again.

Continuous electrical power is also assured. The proposed bridge is 1.1 kilometers. Vehicles and pedestrians will pay user’s fee.

The SMC proposal should provide synergy with the Caticlan airport, another SMC project.

All these could solve a lot of the government’s problems! www.emiljurado.weebly.com

News

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NPA rebels use mines, wound 7

By Francisco Tuyay

SEIZED FIREARMS. President Rodrigo Duterte leads the inspection of the firearms recovered from former communist rebels during his vist to Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela on Tuesday. Malacañang Photo

Du30 hand sought in Road Board

By Macon Ramos- Araneta TWO senators on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to interfere after the House of Representatives voided its earlier approval of a bill to abolish the graft-ridden Road Board.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon stressed there was a legal issue in the House move since it was being discussed by the bicameral conference committee.

Senators approved Senate Bill 1620 which seeks to abolish the Road Board, on Feb. 12, 2018.

On May 15, the House, then under the leadership of bill author Pantaleon Alvarez, approved the counterpart measure House Bill 7436.

Both chambers have nominated their respective members to compose the bicameral conference committee but it was not convened.

“The Senate accepted the House version that will abolish the Road Board.

When they heard that the Senate adopted their version, they rescinded their approval,” he said.

But on Sept. 12, the House, upon the motion of Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., voided the House approval of the measure.

There was no objection and the motion was implemented.

Drilon also questioned the Road Board’s release of funds worth P13 billion while Congress was still deliberating on the bill that sought to abolish it.

“They know they would be abolished and yet they still released such a huge amount,” he said.

Drilon and Senate President Vicente Sotto III said it was up to the President to solve the issue, especially as he himself had expressed support for the abolition of the agency.

Sotto said he had informed the President about it.

“We’ll wait for executive action because we know the President wants it abolished,” he said.

According to Drilon, he said the issue involved a “political process and a political decision.”

He said the key here was for the President to tell the House of Representatives to accept the Senate’s position that “we already adopted the House version because the President himself believes the Road Board is graft-ridden.

“So he should tell the super majority to accept and approve the bill, and send it to Malacañang as an enrolled bill.”

Okada warns PSE about Asiabest-Tiger agreement

By Rey E. Requejo

G

AMING tycoon Kazuo Okada has warned the Philippine Stock Exchange regarding the share purchase agreement recently entered into by Asiabest Group International Inc. and Hong Kong-based Tiger Resort Asia Ltd.

In his Sept. 13, 2018 letter to the stock exchange, Okada stressed the PSE must ensure transparency in the transaction to properly inform the public and for him to take the needed action to protect his interest in Tiger Asia.

Okada asked the PSE to order ABG to fully disclose details of its agreement with Tiger Asia, owner of Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment, Inc., operator of Okada Manila.

“ABG, as a publicly listed company, should make a full disclosure of its impending sale transaction with Tiger Asia, particularly that there is a legal controversy on Tiger Asia’s authority to enter into such transaction,” Okada said in a letter signed by his lawyers Ramon Esguerra, Carlos Villaruz and Vivian Tan-Dela Cruz.

According to Okada, who owns 34.41percent beneficial interest in both Tiger Asia and TRLEI, he was never consulted about Tiger Asia’s intended purchase of

two-thirds (2/3) stake in ABG. The business tycoon warned he would file appropriate criminal, civil and administrative cases against those responsible for entering into the reported illegal Share Purchase Agreement.

In his letter, Okada also informed the PSE he filed an intra-corporate lawsuit against Tiger Asia and TRLEI and their respective directors and officer on Aug. 29, 2018.

In his lawsuit, Okada asked the court to nullify his illegal removal in June 2017 as a shareholder and director of TRLEI and immediately reinstate him to his old post.

In a separate letter dated Sept. 17, 2018, Okada’s lawyers asked the Capital Markets Integrity Corp. to investigate ABG’s disclosures in connection with its share purchase transaction with Tiger Asia.

CMIC is tasked to regulate and monitor activities of market participants, with the primary mandate to maintain the integrity of the market.

CONNECTING BRIDGE. A backhoe drill on Wednesday starts to demolish the bridge connecting San Juan and Manila in Santa Mesa—to be closed for seven months—to give way to the skyway stage 3 project. MMDA task force operations head Bong Nebrija says the bridge will be demolished so that barges carrying the equipment for the Skyway Stage 3 project can pass through the waterway. Norman Cruz

Gascon takes swipe at Uson, Olivar

By Rio N. Araja COMMISSION on Human Rights chairperson Chito Gascon on Wednesday took a swipe at Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Drew Olivar for mocking the deaf community and the Filipino sign language.

The Philippine Federation of the Deaf filed a complaint against the duo, prompting the CHR to initiate an investigation.

“The controversial video making fun of the sign language used by deaf people is utterly appalling and unacceptable especially that it involves a government official and a blogger affiliated to a government office,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.

“Such behavior is extremely degrading, derogatory, and further perpetuates discrimination of the vulnerable deaf people,” it added.

De Guia said sign language is “fundamental human

right” of the deaf community and is part of its “higher right to self-determination.

“Making a mockery of this right is an attack on their dignity and makes them even more vulnerable in our society where only a few understand their mode of communication,” the CHR said.

Despite an apology from Uson and Olivar, the commission said “we welcome the public apology the duo recently issued. However, for an apology to be genuine, it must be coupled with a full sense of accountability, concrete actions to rectify the wrong done, and future actions should manifest efforts to protect and promote the welfare and dignity of the PWDs (persons with disabilities),” it explained.

On Sept. 4, in a video, Uson asked Olivar to do a sign language and he proceeded to make fun of it.

On the other hand, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde called on the government to “take action” against Uson and Olivar for mocking the deaf community and Filipino sign language.

2 Britons, American arrested

NEW People’s Army rebels set off a roadside bomb at a military convoy Tuesday, wounding seven army soldiers shortly after an encounter in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte the military described as a violation of International Humanitarian Law. Maj. Gen. Ronald Vilanueva, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the NPA violated the provision of the IHL relating to the use of anti-personnel mines during hostilities.

“NPA terrorists have again violated International Humanitarian Law by using landmines that cause severe damage to a person and may decapitate his body,” Villanueva said.

Troops from the 23rd Infantry Battalion were heading back to their barracks preceding an encounter with NPA rebels at Sitio Afga, Brgy Lower Olave, Buenavista town when NPA rebels detonated a landmine on their path.

Reports said the landmine exploded few minutes after troops and the NPAs from Alias Yolly from Guerrillas Front Committee 4A of Northern Central Mindanao Regional Command figured in a clash, wounding seven soldiers.

Villanueva said the seven soldiers suffered minor bruises from shrapnel and were immediately evacuated to a nearest medical facility.

But Villanueva said such incident “will not shake our will to fight. In fact it will push our troops to exert more effort.”

He said the encounter occurred after a tip-off from individuals regarding the presence of NPAs in their area, prompting the 23rd IB “to launch combat operations,” said Lt. Col. Francisco Molina Jr., Commanding Officer of the 23rd IB. Prior to the incident, troops encountered the same NPA terrorist group of Alias Yolly in Sitio Bulak of the barangay and municipality.

The firefight lasted for 30 minutes with more or less 15 members of GF4A.

Budget cuts questioned

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration ordered the deportation of three foreigners who have been overstaying in the country, one of them staying illegally for almost 20 years.

Detained at the bureau’s detention cell in Taguig, the three foreigners were identified as Kevin Hadfield and Kevin Stanley Eifert, both Britons and were arrested last Sept. 3 in Bacoor and Dasmariñas, respectively.

The American, 49-year-old Todd Allen Null, was arrested last Sept. 17 in Pasig City, has been overstaying since 2015 Hadfield has been in the country since 2008, while Eifert has been staying in the Philippines since 2013, according to immigration commissioner Jaime Morente.

“They will be deported for overstaying, as these foreign nationals never bothered to extend their stay when their tourist visa expired,” Morente said.

BI Acting Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said the aliens were currently detained at the Bureau’s detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

“We requested the Commissioner to issue a mission order for their arrest after informants tipped us about the presence of these aliens illegally staying in the country,” Manahan said.

Morente reiterated his warning to foreigners not to overstay in the country as it could lead to their arrest and deportation for violating Philippine immigration laws.

“Foreigners staying in the Philippines have a responsibility to ensure that their visas are valid and updated,” said Morente.

He also stressed there would be no letup in the BI’s campaign against illegal aliens.

TWO senators—JV Ejercito and Paolo Aquino—have questioned the decision of the Department of Budget and Management to cut the budget for 2019 of the Department of Health amd the Department of Education.

Ejercito warned the decision to cut the Department of Health budget would adversely affect the delivery of health services for the Filipinos – and he vowed to oppose it.

“The Senate will not allow budget cuts for health programs,” said Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health.

As this developed, health workers denounced budget cut that would result to possible removal of 15,000 health workers.

“The Alliance of Health Workers and Aksyon Health Workers, strongly condemned the budget cut being implemented by the DBM for 2019 in which around 15,000 health workers will be removed from the service because of budget cut,” it said.

Aquino himself questioned the DBM 90-percent budget cut of the Department of Education for construction of classrooms from P116 billion to just P10.2 billion.

Aquino who presided over the hearing of the DepEd’s budget as vice chairman of the Committee on Finance, considered the DBM’s move as negligence “since the education of our children should be a priority of the government.”

He said the amount earmarked by the DBM was enough to build just around 4,000 classrooms.

“Originally, the DepEd asked DBM for funds to build around 47,000 classrooms for 2019,” he said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Quezon Ave., Cebu BRT get DoTr nod THE Department of Transportation on Wednesday said it would be proceeding with the implementation of two out of three Bus Rapid Transit systems—the Cebu BRT system and the Quezon Avenue BRT system.

DoTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon bared this following a recent inspection of both BRT systems’ routes with representatives from the DoTr, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the World Bank— which funds the project.

“The Bus Rapid Transit project of DoTr for Cebu and Quezon Avenue will push through,” De Leon told a press briefing in Malacañang.

“We conducted inspection with

World Bank team and also joined

by NEDA, and evaluated conditions of the corridor of Cebu and also Quezon Avenue and we found it is possible to run the BRT in these corridors,” he added.

However, De Leon said the EDSA BRT system was “still undergoing evaluation “after its supposed funder backed out of the project.

“We’re undergoing evaluation of the BRT in EDSA,” De Leon said.

“The other two will push through because they have a different funder, it’s under World Bank,” he added.

De Leon said the DoTr had signed the contract for the technical service consultants for the Cebu BRT and had written the Department of Finance about its intention to pro-

ceed with the Quezon Avenue BRT. “We just signed the contract for the TSC in Cebu so we’re already pushing for the BRT to push through.

For Manila, we have signed a letter to DoF that we will push through with the program,” De Leon said.

Meanwhile, the agency is now working on the detailed engineering design of both BRT systems.

Last July, DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade bared that only the implementation of the Cebu BRT would push through, considering Metro Cebu’s road profile and the need for efficient mass transport systems in interconnected cities.

The Cebu BRT is a 23-kilometer system, which will run through Bulacao, Ayala and Talamban. PNA

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Lucena tankers dominate games Out-of-town games spice

B

AGUIO CITY—Lucena City took the spotlight in the threeday swimming competitions of the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships after harvesting 13 golds, four silvers and a bronze medal at the Baguio City Swimming Pool here.

Mervien Jules Mirandilla spearheaded the squad with four gold medals after topping the boys’ 13-15 200m fly (2:13.12), 100m freestyle (58.38sec), 100m fly (59.92sec) and 50m fly (27.27sec), while teammate Markus Johanne De Kam contributed three golds in boys’ 12-under 100m free (59.11sec), 50m back (32.27sec) and 200m free (2:10.03).

Laguna Province came in second with 13 golds, two silvers and six bronzes courtesy of four gold medals from Roz Encarnacion in the girls’ 12-under 200m individual medley (2:40.97), 50m breast

(37.33sec), 200m breast (2:55.02) and 100m breast (1:19.70), while Quezon City finished third with 10 golds, four silvers and two bronzes —four golds coming from Zoe Hilario in the girls’ 13-15 200m free (2:17.73), 400m IM (5:44.26), 200m backstroke (2:31.67) and 200m IM (2:38.57).

At the Baguio City National High School gym, Karl Jahrel Eldrew Yulo swept the men’s artistics’ gymnastics with seven gold medals in the Class 1 division.

Yulo, a 10-year-old Grade 5 student

of Aurora Quezon Elementary School, won in the floor exercise (9.10 points), vault (9.55), pommel horse (9.70), parallel bars (9.10), rings (9.15), horizontal bar (9.50) and individual all-around (56.10).

Pasig City’s Rhendz John Castillo, meanwhile, ruled the Class 2 division by scooping four gold medals in pommel horse (9.3), rings (8.75), horizontal bar (9.45) and individual all-around (54.55).

In karatedo, Cebu Province pocketed four gold medals courtesy of Rome Metante (14-15 cadet boys’ advance kata), Elenna Benitez (14-15 cadet girls’ in-

termediate kata), Janine Narboada (1011 girls’ advanced kata) and Precious Avegail Belicario (12-13 girls’ advanced kata).

Cebu City won three golds from Lloyd Quilaton (8-9 boys’ intermediate kata), Rowela Barredo (12-13 girls’ intermediate kata) and Gift Loyd Canencia (10-11 boys’ advanced kata).

At the Baguio Athletic Bowl, Mary Grace Joson of Camarines Sur gained her second gold medal after topping the girls’ javelin throw with a heave of 36 meters on her second attempt.

The 15-year-old Joson, who was the tournament’s first gold medalist after ruling the discus throw on Monday, also went home with a silver medal in shotput.

Red Lions try to extend win run to 6 Games Thursday

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

SAN Beda University aims to stretch its streak to six, while Emilio Aguinaldo College hopes to halt a five-game losing slump as the two collide today in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Lions downed their archrivals, the Letran Knights, 74-68, on Sept. 11 that sealed them their fifth straight win and 11th in 12 outings. They will aim for another win in their 4 p.m. duel with the Generals, who have lost five straight to slide to 2-9 (win-loss).

The defending champions are currently one game behind the Pirates, who lead the league with a perfect 12-0 record and should inch closer by half a game with a win.

San Beda will come into its game versus EAC as the favorite having smashed the latter, 61-46, in the first round on July 31.

Cameroonian Donald Tankoua will try to ride the crest of his 19-point performance in a win over Letran that earned him the nod from the NCAA Press Corps as its Chooksto-Go Player of the Week.

San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, however, wasn’t surprised on the effort of Tankoua, who has averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds an outing.

“Since the first day, Donald has been doing what we’ve expected him, which is to score inside, rebound and defend,” said Fernandez.

In the other game, San Sebastian eyes a third straight victory and fourth overall against nine setbacks as it faces off with Jose Rizal, which is currently at 10th and dead last with a 2-10 card, at 2 p.m.

The Stags survived College of St. Benilde Blazers, 66-65, on Sept. 11 to claim their first streak of the season.

Michael Calisaan led the team in that win as he unloaded 18 points, including the free throw that sealed the deal.

GONE TOO SOON. In this file photo taken on Feb. 28, 2015, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto of Japan walks to his corner after an illegal eye-poke in his bantamweight bout with Roman Salazar during the UFC 184 event at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Tributes flowed for charismatic Japanese mixed martial artist Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, who died on Sept. 18, at age 41, three weeks after announcing a battle with cancer. AFP

ALLIANZ has signed up as a global Olympics sponsor from 2021 to 2028, the International Olympic Committee, announced yesterday, adding that the global insurer will join the “Worldwide Olympic Partner” Programme.

Through this sponsorship agreement, Allianz will work with the IOC to provide innovative and integrated insurance solutions to support the Olympic Movement, including the Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games, with the objective of providing those insurance solutions to the National Olympic Committees around the world and their Olympic teams and athletes. The support will include existing products, such as fleet and property and casualty insurance, but also insurance solutions for future products and services, driven by technological changes. The partnership will run from 2021 until 2028.

Both partners are aiming at using the power of sports to connect with new audiences via digital channels, including the Olympic Channel. Engaging the next generation in their preferred way gives Allianz the opportunity to cover their insurance needs.

The sponsorship period will cover the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the Olympic Winter Games 2026 and the Olympic Games LA 2028. In China, France and Spain, Allianz will already have marketing rights from 2019 onwards.

Allianz PNB Life Chief Marketing Officer Gae Martinez said the partnership emphasizes the values of integrity, teamwork, and inclusivity, which are relevant values for Filipinos. Martinez added that engaging digital natives is an important strategy undertaken by Allianz in the Phil-

ippines, seeing how digital conversations have dominated consumer behavior.

On the other hand, Allianz PNB Life Director for Brand and Communications Rei Abrazaldo explained further that Allianz and the Olympics coming together will amplify the message of Allianz to dare individuals to pursue the best versions of themselves and as families and communities to work in collaboration to advance a better working environment.

“This new partnership demonstrates the global appeal and strength of the Olympic Movement, and we are delighted to be working together in the long term with Allianz to support sports around the world. Allianz has built a global business founded on trust.

With this partnership, together we are building a foundation based on mutual trust. Allianz also has a strong sporting

hearing the good news from Sarawak.

“I’d like to congratulate the team for the great performance they have showed at the ATF tourney in Malaysia. They have dominated the competition and proved just how talented and dedicated they are. More than that, they showed great potential—delivering a message to our friends in Asia that they are the players to look out for the years to come,” Lhuillier said.

“I have always believed that Philippine tennis has so much potential—and that the way to deliver champions is to make the game more inclusive, develop and scout for young Filipino talents, no matter where they may come from and have a solid grassroots program that will hone the skills of upcoming talents. The fact that our juniors’ national team has been doing so well in three straight international tournaments is a testament to that,” he added.

Prior to be being part of the UTP Juniors National Tennis Team and clinching

leagues, particularly the PVL Open Conference.

“Banko Perlas Spikers is a fairly new team, as the girls have been playing together for just two years. Their exposure to Vin Lonh Volleyball tournament is a great opportunity for the ladies to further hone their skills, individually and as a squad,” said Charo Soriano, Team Manager of BanKo Perlas.

“While this is an overseas competition and the teams that we will be up against are considered giants, at the end of the day, we will focus on the learning and experiences. More

heritage and, in line with the Olympic Agenda 2020, we share a digital ambition of connecting with young people around the world to promote the Olympic values and the power of sport,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

Allianz CEO Oliver Bäte said: “I am thrilled that we are joining a global community of athletes and people enthusiastic about sport and team work—in addition to our existing strong partnership with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Through the IOC’s digital and social channels, we can connect with more people than ever before and offer them our expertise in insurance. We believe the world is a better place when people have the courage to leave differences behind and stand together to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for the societies they live in.”

Arceegee 3-on-3 tournament set

Shown in photo are (from left) Coach Roland Kraut, John David Velez (Boys’ Singles Champion and Boys’ Doubles Runner-Up), Alexa Milliam (Girls’ Singles and Girls’ Doubles Champion), SLTA President Patrick Liew, Brent Signmond Cortes (Boys’ Doubles Champion, fifth place Singles), Rupert Tortal (Boys’ Singles Runner-Up and Boys’ Doubles Champion) and Rainier Selmar (Boys’ Doubles Runner-Up, 6th Place Singles).

their victory in Sarawak, all five members Lhuillier Age group tennis tourney, as saw action in various tennis grassroots pro- well as other junior circuits by other grams, most notably the annual Cebuana companies.

BanKo Perlas Spikers to keep ball alive in Vietnam, PVL Season 2 FOLLOWING their successful stint in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, BanKo Perlas Spikers ride on the momentum as they prepare for the back-to-back competitions in PVL Season 2 Open Conference on Sept. 22 and the upcoming Vin Lonh tournament in Vietnam on Sept. 28 to Oct. 3.

The BanKo Perlas Spikers will face three Vietnamese teams and a squad from Thailand in the prestigious Vietnam tournament.

The team’s participation in the conference is a strategic move to train them for the different

IN its continuing effort to bring the sport closer to the fans and give them front-view seats of top-notch volley action from the country’s leading players, the Premier Volleyball League will hold six out-of-town games for Season 2 Open Conference which unwraps Saturday (Sept. 22).

The Malolos Sports and Convention Center in Bulacan will host the IrigaTacloban and Pocari-PetroGazz matches on Sept. 26 before action shifts to the Imus Sports Center in Cavite on Sept.

9 featuring the Iriga-Pocari faceoff and Creamline-PetroGazz duel.

The Baliwag Star Arena, also in Bulacan, will next stage the PocariBanKo-Perlas clash and the AteneoCreamline game on Oct. 21 while Batangas will host the next PVL stop on Oct. 28 featuring the Tacloban-Iriga and Ateneo-Creamline 2 matches.

Legazpi City, meanwhile, will hold the second Pocari-Creamline duel on Nov. 11 and Creamline and BanKo-Perlas will tangle in Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 17.

All other games will be held at the league’s home at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan, according to the organizing Sports Vision president Ricky Palou.

The country’s premier league has previously held out-of-town games in Batangas, Tuguegarao, Iloilo and Bacolod.

Meanwhile, eight teams gear up for the grueling double-round elims of the season-ending conference of the league backed by Mikasa and Asics with Tacloban and PetroGazz clashing at 4 p.m. and BanKo-Perlas colliding with Iriga-Navy in Saturday’s opener in San Juan.

Others in the fold are Ateneo-Motolite, Pocari-Air Force, Adamson-Akari and Creamline, which ruled the recent Reinforced Conference.

The comebacking Lady Eagles and the Lady Warriors square off in an early clash of fancied teams at 4 p.m. on Sunday with the Angels and Perlas Spikers mixing it up at 6 p.m.

Allianz signs up as Olympic Games sponsor for 2021 to 2028

UTP netters score in Malaysia JUNIOR tennis players from the Philippines continued to dominate regional competitions as the Unified Tennis Philippines Juniors National Tennis Team showed exemplary performance at the recent 13th Asian Tennis Federation tournament held in Sarawak, Malaysia.

John David Velez and Alexa Milliam dominated the Boys’ and Girls’ Singles Under 14 category, respectively.

Velez defeated Rupert Tort, also from the Philippines, 6-1, 5-7 and 6-1; while Alexa Milliam defeated Malaysia’s Lim Lim Zan Ning, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, to emerge on top of the competition.

A day earlier, Rupert Tortal and Brent Signmond Cortes won the championships for the Boys Doubles, while John David Velez and Rainier Selmar were runners-up.

Meanwhile, Alexa Milliam also brought home the championships trophy for the Girls’ Doubles.

Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and founder of UTP expressed elation upon

up PVL Open

than winning, the team is concentrated on giving a good fight every game,” Soriano added.

The ladies of BanKo Perlas Spikers gave a breakthrough performance in the PVL Reinforced Conference earlier this year, posting an unbeaten streak in the quarterfinals round that earned them a spot in the Final Four. This incredible feat has fortified the trust and support of their fans.

Before flying off to Vietnam, the team will face Iriga-Navy and PetroGazz at the Flying V Centre, San Juan City on Saturday and Sun-

day, respectively. The team will return on Oct. 6 to continue playing against the PVL teams.

The team’s mindset to put their supporters first was emphasized further through their partnership with BPI Direct BanKo (BanKo), the microfinance subsidiary of Bank of the Philippine Islands. Sponsoring a sports team is almost unheard of from the banking industry. BanKo, however, found the perfect marriage with the PVL third placer, who constantly get in touch with the grassroots to promote the sport.

PINOY Youth Dreamers, the most successful youth basketball program, and Arceegee, the fast-growing sportswear provider, are teaming up to hold a major 3-on-3 tournament starting Sept. 22.

To be known as Arceegee X PYD Tatluhan Showcase, the four-part tournament will be held in Pasig, Quezon Province, Bulacan and Malabon with the aim of discovering young and talented players and providing them with the necessary training and exposure.

The overall champion will earn the right to represent the country in the Dreamers International 3on3 Basketball Challenge scheduled Nov. 2 to 4 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

“This is a good opportunity for our young players to hone their skills and train with the best while geting the chance to play against their foreign counterparts,” said Rinbert Galarde of Arceegee.

“Arceegee is very happy to work with PYD and coach Beaujing Acot, for working with us in this 3-on-3 tournament, “ said Galarde, a well-known supporter of basketball in Makati and Malabon.

The complete schedule: Manila leg-Venue: Barangay San Antonio Pasig City, Sept. 22. Contact person: Coach Vengie Gabales (0998-9620294).

Quezon Province leg-Venue: Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel Lucban, Quezon.

Sept. 23. Contact: Chicoy Capistrano.

Bulacan leg-Venue: Villa Desta Basketball Covered Court, Brgy. Atlag, Malolos Bulacan, Sept. 29. Contact: Coach Mel Arcena (0906-3564625), Coach Mark Domingo (0915-1231873).

Malabon leg-Venue: Barangay Tonsuya Basketball Court, Malabon, Oct. 6. Contact: Coach Okkin Cartago (0945-8443086.

Sports

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

A8 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Manila Southwoods leads Pradera by 5 points DAVAO CITY—Five-time champion Manila Southwoods drew balanced scoring from three players to take a five-shot lead over defending titlist Pradera Verde at the start of the 13th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Rancho Palos Verdes here.

Smarting from its 43-point defeat last year in Cebu City, the Carmonabased squad assembled a young, talented team which did not disappoint.

Sofia Chabon, the team’s most decorated member, shot even par 72 for 54 points and got solid support from Eagle Ace Superal and Mafy Singson who each scored 51 as Southwoods collected 156 points.

Asian Games champion Yuka Saso made five birdies against two bogeys for 57 points to lead the defending champions, but the rest of her teammates struggled.

Malaysian Charlyne Chongshinling and 11-year-old Rianne Malixi had 47 points apiece.

Annika Guangko of Southwoods and Korean Luna Sheen of Pradera failed to count following identical 46s.

“We had a very, very good first day,” said Claire Ong, Southwood’s non-playing captain. “Our plan was to just really stay close and not let something like last year to happen. Being in the lead is a very good thing.”

After its wire-to-wire win last year, Pradera suddenly finds itself in a big fight with Southwoods.

“I expected it to be very close because they (Southwoods) are better prepared this time,” said Pradera captain Norman Sto. Domingo who only had two holdovers from last year’s champion team.

Meanwhile, Del Monte Golf Club seized the lead in the Founders division after collecting 136 points, 12 ahead of Negros Occidental.

Alabang Country Club was running third with 121.

In the Sportswriter class, Pueblo de Oro was on top with 121 followed

by Rancho Palos Verdes 1 and Lady Eagles Australian Golfers 2 with 109 and 101, respectively.

Sofia Chabon shot an even par 72 for 54 points and got solid support from Eagle Ace Superal, who had a 51, as Manila Southwoods collected 156 to lead lead the 13th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Rancho Palos Verdes by five.

Blackwater turns back NorthPort, grabs lead

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE hot start continued for Blackwater.

The Elite powered their way in the clutch to get past NorthPort, 113-111, and earn a share of the lead in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Henry Walker, Mike DiGregorio and seldom-used Chris Javier joined hands in crunch time to show the way for the still unbeaten Blackwater.

The trio led the way for the Elite in its game-turning 11-2 run down the stretch that gave the team a key 108-101 lead with 1:49 remaining after back-to-back baskets from Javier.

Prior to that, DiGregorio and Walker combined for seven straight points to push Blackwater in the driver’s seat.

While NorthPort continued to

fight until the last second, the damage was already done as the Elite held on.

As a result, Blackwater tied Barangay Ginebra at the top with their identical 3-0 cards.

On the other hand, the Batang Pier s t a y e d without a win, dropping to 0-5 at the bottom.

Walker led Black water

with 24 points, while getting help from DiGregorio and Poy Erram, who each finished with 19 markers.

With Rashad Woods and Stanley Pringle off to a good start, the Batang Pier seized control, opening up a sizeable 24-11 spread right away after the first six minutes of the game.

Northport grew its lead to 39-23 at the end of one.

However, the stubborn Elite fought back brilliantly in the second canto, returning the favor by outscoring the Batang Pier, 33-20, to get itself back in the game, trailing by only three, 56-59, at the half.

From there, the Elite kept in-step with the Batang Pier before finally getting over the hump when it mattered in the closing minutes.

Woods led all scorers with a gamehigh 31 points.

PH sepak takraw vows to bounce back in SEAG

By Lito Cinco TAKE it from local sepak takraw head Karen Tanchanco Caballero, also currently Deputy Secretary General of the Philippine Olympic Committee, her sport will come back in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after failing to win any medal at the recent Asian Games in Indonesia.

“Before we won a world championship title in sepak in 2016, there was no pressure on my athletes. But after we won, expectations also went up even in the Asian Games,” Caballero said.

“I admit that together with my officials in the team, we failed to level up on our side. When you have world champion athletes, you need to come up with a new program, they are to be treated differently and we did not,” Caballero candidly admitted, though she also cited one athlete who was not mentally prepared during the actual competition.

When asked if the training her athletes got was sufficient, again she went straight to the point.

“I would say about 70% only, the other 30% was for the quality training that we missed. The problem was we could not get a slot in the training camp in Thailand, which we used in 2016 before we won in the world championships. The Thais did not want to accommodate us anymore, maybe fearing that what happened in 2016 will recur. The good thing is the Koreans have agreed to take in my athletes in the future,” she replied.

The sepak takraw team will be leaving for the world championships, with Caballero sending some of her “B team” athletes to toughen them up in preparation for the SEA Games, which the Philippines hosts next year.

“We will come back for sure, our sepak Philippine league will take off, too, by next year with qualifying tournaments in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, then a national championships.

This we aligned with the SEA Games, too. Sports psychology and sports nutrition will be part of our program already,” Caballero added.

Blackwater’s Henry Walker is rejected by Northpoint’s Moala Tautuaa in a PBA Governors’ Cup game at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Manganti’s season-high show carries Adamson Games Saturday (Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. Adamson vs UST 4 p.m. NU vs Ateneo

SEAN Manganti came up with a seasonhigh performance as he towed the Adamson Falcons to a 90-76 whipping of the University of the East Warriors—and into their best start in years.

Manganti scored 27 points in leading the Falcons to their second straight win Wednesday in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After making only four points in their 74-70 upset of the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, the 6’5” Manganti contributed big time to the Falcons’ best start in 15 years.

This almost eclipsed the game of Alvin Pasaol, who finished with his second career-high output of 36 since his last season’s 49 points for the Warriors, who now have dropped down the standing with their second straight setback.

The Falcons treated their game with the Warriors with urgency, with Jerrick Ahanmisi and Papi Sarr adding 17 and 15 points, respectively. Sarr also had 21 rebounds, his most since last year.

They took control of the game with a 17-0 blast in the last six minutes of the second period.

Sarr got things started with a jumper off Ahanmisi’s rebound.

Then, Ahanmisi took over, hitting 13 points, including three triples in the last 1:17 to lead Adamson to a 42-28 advantage.

“Nothing against UE, but we made it a very important game on our part,” said Falcons’ coach Franz Pumaren after they forced UE to 19 turnovers.

It was Manganti’s turn to score big for the Falcons in the third period, where he unloaded 14 points.

His triple and dunk in the remaining 6:46 allowed Adamson to grab a 14-point edge, 60-36.

The Falcons went on to take their biggest lead of 67-47, behind Jonathan Espeleta’s three-pointer in the final 1:24 of the fourth.

The Falcons played without point guard Jerie Pingoy, who was benched for reporting late for the team’s call time.

Justine Baltazar scored on a pass by Andrei Caracut in the last 28 seconds as La Salle grabbed an 80-76 win over National University.

After NU turned the ball over, Caracut made two charities in the final 10.7 seconds, sending the Archers to their first victory in two games. Peter Atencio

PGA chief Monahan: Golf boosted by Tiger effect

Tiger Woods, shown here chipping onto the 16th green during the weather delayed final round of the BMW Championship, will bring the curtain down on a largely successful comeback this week when he tees off in the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake in suburban Atlanta. AFP

ATLANTA—PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan believes the return of a fullyfit Tiger Woods has had a “tremendous and significant” impact both on and off the golf course.

Woods will bring the curtain down on a largely successful comeback this week when he tees off in the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake in suburban Atlanta.

It is the first time that Woods has qualified for the elite 30-strong event since a 22nd place finish in 2013.

While Woods has yet to taste a tournament victory this year, Monahan said the former world number one had nevertheless had a huge impact, boosting television ratings and indirectly raising the profile of other players on tour.

“To have a fully-fit Tiger Woods back on the PGA Tour has been tremendous and significant,” said Monahan.

Monahan said at the Valspar Championship, where Woods finished runnerup behind Paul Casey, ratings had increased from a figure of 3.2 to 5.1.

“That is a lot more people seeing Paul Casey and hearing his story and the other players in the mix,” Monahan said.

“Also, if you are Brooks Koepka and you win back-to-back US Opens and then win the PGA Championship with Tiger in the mix with a TV rating that Sunday in St. Louis of a 5.4 then that is a 75% increase in the ratings. That is more people seeing Brooks, hearing Brooks and learning about Brooks talent.

“So, if people ask me if that is a good or

a bad thing my answer is that Tiger’s return has been so positive as you only have to witness the fan reaction at the tournaments Tiger has elected to play this year.”

Monahan was speaking at the confirmation of major changes to the 2018/19 PGA Tour schedule with the Play-Off Series to be reduced from four to three events and with a new final event scoring system.

The will be a 50% increase in prizemoney, with the winner receiving $15 million as FedEx Cup champion while the FedEx Cup bonus pool is being increased from $25m to $60m.

“As a result of these changes, you’ll see a comprehensive player earnings jump to over $500m in 2019, a jump of 12%, and something we are very proud of,” said Monahan. AFP

IN BRIEF

PEMC readies transfer of spot market operation PHILIPPINE Electricity Market Corp. and Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines Inc. executed the operating agreement to formalize the transfer of all functions, assets and liabilities associated with the operations of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

The two parties said that with the signing of the agreement on Sept. 26, IEMOP was poised to take over the market operations of WESM, a function that is currently performed by PEMC. “This is an auspicious occasion that PEMC and the IEMOP have undertaken to further the development of the electricity market and to ultimately fulfill the legal mandate for IMO transition,” said PEMC chairman Noel Aboboto.

PEMC was represented by Aboboto and president Oscar Ala, while IEMOP was represented by chairman Ralph Villanueva and president Francis Saturnino Juan.

Republic Act No. 9136 requires PEMC to divest itself of this function in favor of a separate entity that is independent of the market participants.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi approved the transition plan in February calling for the formation of an independent market operator and the transfer of the market operation functions to it. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Phoenix agrees to freeze fuel price

PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. said it extended the price freeze to gasoline and diesel products in their retail outlets located in areas declared under state of calamity.

Phoenix Petroleum is currently implementing the price freeze on kerosene and household liquefied petroleum gas in typhoon Ompong stricken areas as mandated by the Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau.

“Phoenix Petroleum shall implement a price freeze for all products in all its stations located in areas which have been declared under a state of calamity. Heeding the call of the DoE, this is our little way of helping the public who have been at the receiving end of the recent typhoon,” Phoenix vice president for external affairs Raymond Zorrilla said.

The Energy Department said it was optimistic that other industry players would follow Phoenix’s lead.

Phoenix Petroleum responded to the call of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday to suspend this week’s implementation of oil price adjustments in areas declared under a state of calamity which were hit by typhoon Ompong over the weekend. Alena Mae S. Flores

ABS-CBN reports data breach on two online stores MEDIA company ABS-CBN Corp. said Wednesday it temporarily shut down two online stores, following a report of data breach of its online shopping facility.

ABS-CBN said it took down ABSCBN Store (store.abs-cbn.com) and the UAAP Store (uaapstore.com) websites at 9:30 a.m.

It warned that personal information and credit card details of customers could have been exposed.

“As of this time, there are 213 customers who may have been affected.

However, the investigation is still ongoing,” the broadcast company said.

The network said the data breach incident was isolated only to the ABSCBN Store and the UAAP Store websites and would not affect other ABSCBN digital properties.

The company said it informed the National Privacy Commission about the incident and would work closely with them.

“We have started reaching out to all our affected customers. We also advise our customers not to give out additional personal and financial information to anyone who may be claiming to be an ABS-CBN representative. Should they have any questions or concerns, they may email ABS-CBNStore@abscbn.com,” the company said.

“We assure our customers that their privacy and the security of their personal data are important to us and we will take measures to prevent this incident from happening again,” ABSCBN said. Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

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ADB approves $300-m loan to boost financial services in PH

Cal-Comp vows to sustain expansion ELECTRONICS manufacturer Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines). Inc said its growth and expansion plans for the Philippines remain on track, despite its decision to defer the planned P6.77-billion initial public offering.

“Despite this deferment, our growth and expansion plans in Philippines remain on track. We will continue to invest in the Philippines, bringing more business to country, hiring and training more local talents, and introducing our innovative products to the Philippine market,” Cal-Comp said in a statement.

Manila Standard on Monday reported that Cal-Comp decided to defer its IPO to next year given the poor market conditions this year. This was confirmed by Cal-Comp.

Cal-Comp said while it received the official pre-effective letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission on its registration statement for the planned IPO, the company decided to defer its maiden share offering due to current market conditions and investor sentiment of the market.

“We believe that deferring our IPO will better realize the value of our company for our shareholders and for the investing public. We will resume our IPO at an appropriate time in the future depending on overall market conditions,” Cal-Comp said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

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

BAKERY FAIR. The Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association Inc. holds a forum to discuss the evolution of the baking industry into an essential food industry from its beginning during the Spanish colonial period. Shown during the forum in Quezon City are (from left) moderator and Kamuning Bakery Cafe owner Wilson Flores, FCBA president Peter Fung and former president Henry Ah. FCBA will hold the Bakery Fair 2019 on Feb. 15 to 17 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Manny Palmero

Balance of payments rebounded in August T

By Julito G. Rada

HE country’s overall balance of payments position, an important indicator that influences the value of the peso and foreign reserves, rebounded with a surplus of $1.27 billion in August, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

It marked the first time that the monthly BoP yielded a surplus this year, improving from a $455-million deficit in July and a $7-million shortfall recorded in August 2017.

Inflows in August stemmed mainly from net foreign currency deposits of the national government and income

from the BSP’s investments abroad during the month.

“These were partially offset, however, by the payments made by the national government for its foreign exchange obligations and foreign exchange operations of the BSP during the month in review,” the Bangko Sentral said.

The strong BoP surplus cut the cumulative BoP deficit in the first eight months to $2.44 billion from a high of $3.7 billion recorded as of July. However, it was still higher than the $1.39-billion BOP deficit registered in the first eight months of 2017.

“The higher cumulative BoP deficit for the period may be attributed partly to the widening merchandise trade deficit [based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s preliminary data] for the first seven months of the year that was brought about by the sustained rise in imports of raw materials and intermediate goods as well as capital goods to support domestic economic expansion,”

the Bangko Sentral said.

Data from the PSA showed that the country incurred a merchandise trade deficit of $22.49 billion in January to July, up from a shortfall of $13 billion a year ago.

Strong remittances from Filipinos working overseas helped offset this trade deficit. Data from the Bangko Sentral showed that cash remittances hit $16.6 billion in the seven-month period, up 3 percent from $16.1 billion a year earlier.

The Bangko Sentral said the BoP position was consistent with the gross international reserves level of $77.93 billion as of end-August.

“At this level, the GIR represents a more than ample liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.1 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to 6.4 times the country’s shortterm external debt based on original maturity and 4.4 times based on residual maturity,” it said.

Transportation endorses 2 unsolicited airport proposals

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation endorsed to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines two unsolicited proposals to develop, operate and manage airports in the Visayas and Mindanao for P61 billion.

“Based on the analysis or the evaluation undertaken by the DOTr, they’re [CAAP] now looking into the details of the proposal and they will invite the proponent for some discussion on the content of the proposal and come into conclusion or agreement on whether it is acceptable to the CAAP,” Transportation Undersecretary for planning Ruben Reinoso said.

Reinoso said once the project was found acceptable, the CAAP would endorse it to the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordinating Committee.

Reinoso said Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy submitted a new unsolicited proposal to develop and maintain the Davao International Airport for P49 billion.

The agency earlier rejected the offer of Chelsea to operate, maintain and expand the Davao International Airport and New Bohol International Airport following a policy change.

Mega 7 Consortium, on its part, submitted an unsolicited bid to develop and operate the Kalibo International Airport for P12 billion, Reinoso said.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. also submitted an unsolicited offer to develop and maintain New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport.

The DOTr was also looking at developing new international airports in Luzon to help address congestion at the

Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“We have our Aviation Roadmap. Phase 1 is to improve and enhance our primary gateways such as Naia and Clark International Airport. It also includes new airports such as Sangley and Bulacan,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Expansion of the Clark International Airport, which is pushed as an alternative to Naia, is currently underway. The new passenger terminal building (broke ground on Dec. 20, 2017, only six months after the Neda Board approval.

The new PTB is designed to accommodate an additional 8 million passengers every year. Construction of the new terminal, which is now 10-percent complete, will complement other infrastructure projects in the area such as Manila-Clark Railway, Subic-Clark Cargo Railway and the New Clark City.

THE Asian Development Bank said Wednesday its board of directors approved a $300-million loan to support the Philippine government’s effort to expand financial services across the country.

It said the loan was expected to benefit entrepreneurs, small businesses, farmers, workers and individuals, including women and vulnerable households. It would support the policybased Inclusive Finance Development Program which aimed to help the Philippines develop a resilient and inclusive financial sector.

The project will help the government strengthen the country’s institutional and policy environment for expanding financial services, invest in support networks and infrastructure such as the national retail payment system and the new national identification system and improve the abilities of financial institutions, including rural banks, to offer financial products, particularly through the application of new technologies.

The bank said more people were expected to open bank accounts, save more at financial institutions and have access to a wider range of other financial products and services.

“The program reflects the strong commitment of the government and ADB to expand financial inclusion in the Philippines and address the challenge of high inequality, which has persisted despite rising and sustained economic growth,” said ADB senior financial sector specialist Kelly Hattel.

“The program builds on important actions taken by the government to strengthen the policy framework for financial inclusion and the infrastructure that supports the delivery of these services. We believe this program has all the right ingredients to achieve positive gains in financial inclusion and to improve the lives of Filipinos from Tawi-Tawi to Batanes,” Hattel said.

Public and private sector entities that provide financial services will benefit from the program, Hattel said.

Businesses, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals would also benefit as they would have better access to a wider range of appropriate financial services and stronger protection against economic shocks.

The Philippine economy grew 6.7 percent in 2017, the fastest among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. But the country ranks among the highest in income inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.44 in 2015, compared with 0.38 in Thailand.

Only 34 percent of Filipino adults had a bank account in 2017, compared with 82 percent in Thailand and 49 percent in Indonesia. Only 12 percent of Filipino adults borrowed from a formal financial institution in 2017 and 35 percent of cities and municipalities had no banking offices. Julito G. Rada

Poultry growers contest meat processors’ petition

By Othel V. Campos LOCAL poultry and livestock producers opposed the petition of meat processors who seek to retain the 5-percent to 20-percent tariff on mechanically-deboned meat.

The United Broiler Raisers Association of the Philippines, during a hearing Wednesday at the Tariff Commission, debunked claims that prices of processed and canned meat products would increase by as much as P17 per can as alleged by the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. if the government failed to retain the 5-percent tariff on MDM. “Apart from nondisclosure of their cost of production and the huge profit they get while using MDM instead of real meat, there is also the issue of labeling on top of safety issues

and smuggling,” Ubra vice president Elias Jose Inciong said, in rebuttal to the presentation of Pampi.

Inciong said there were cases when the declared shipment was MDM, “when in fact, the shipment is laden with chicken leg quarters”.

MDM is an imported meat byproduct used as fillers and extenders for certain processed food such as corned beef, sausages, hotdogs and luncheon meat.

The country imported as much as 248 million kilos of MDM in 2017.

Meat processors sent the Tariff Commission a petition dated Aug. 13, 2018, seeking for the retention of current MDM tariff rates.

The tariff on MDM imports was tied to the previous negotiation for the quantitative restriction on rice where the WTO agreed to retain rice QR in exchange for less tariff on MDM.

PARTNER OF THE YEAR. PLDT unit ePLDT, a leading provider of digital enterprise solutions in the Philippines, is recognized as FY18 Tier 2 Partner of the Year and FY18 Top Tier 2 Enterprise Storage Partner by Dell EMC. The milestones underscore the company’s strong partnership with Dell EMC in helping Philippine customers’ IT transformation journey throughout fiscal year 2018. Shown receiving the awards during the recent Dell EMC Partners Appreciation Night in Makati City are ePLDT partner management officer Roby Villanueva (second from left) and head of strategic partnership Lalaine De Persia from Dell EMC country general manager Ronnie Latinazo (left) and senior director and general manager for South Asia channels Tiang-Hin Ang (right).

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Business

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines; SM Prime up S TOCKS fell for a second day amid thin trading, as investors stayed on the sidelines while authorities continued to assess the extent of damage left by Typhoon Ompong over the weekend and its impact on consumer prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 65 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 7,221.23 Wednesday, with all six subsectors ending in the red.

The broader all-share index declined 34 points, or 0.8 percent, to settle at 4,454.71, on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 153 to 36, while 41 issues were unchanged.

Two of the 20 most actives stocks ended in the green, led by SM Prime Holdings Inc. which gained 1.2 percent to P36.95. Universal Robina Corp. rose 0.8 percent to P144.10.

Meanwhile, Asian markets rose Wednesday as new tit-for-tat tariffs by China and the United States were seen lighter than feared, while there are hopes the two sides will eventually avert a damaging trade war.

Donald Trump on Monday said he would press ahead with 10-percent levies on another $200 billion of imports, prompting Beijing to target $60 billion of US goods with five to 10 percent taxes.

The developments were a clear escalation in the months-long standoff between the world’s top economies. But analysts said dealers had been expecting the measures and essentially took the lower rates as a positive sign.

“It’s more likely that there will be some negotiated resolution coming through in the near term,” George Schultze, founder and CEO of Schultze Asset Management in New York, told Bloomberg TV. “Cooler heads will eventually prevail, because otherwise both sides are shooting themselves in the foot,” Schultze said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday hit out at “unilateralism” during a speech at the summer session of the World Economic Forum.

He told delegates problems must be worked out through consultations, adding: “It is essential that we uphold the basic principles of multilateralism and free trade.”

Li also denied accusations China was allowing its yuan currency to weaken to offset the effects of Trump’s tariffs, saying “there is no evidence”.With AFP

Wall Street’s three main indexes rallied and Asia picked up the baton.

Tokyo rose 1.1 percent, with a shift out of the safe-haven yen supporting Japanese exporters, while Hong Kong was up 1.3 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai ended up 1.1 percent.

Sydney rose 0.5 percent, Singapore was up one percent and Taipei increased 0.9 percent. Wellington, Bangkok and Jakarta also posted strong gains but Seoul was flat.

“The bottom line why the market didn’t react negatively was the lack of shock and awe given the tariffs were so well telegraphed,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at Oanda.

Dealers are now keeping eyeing possible talks between Washington and Beijing after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sent an invite to avert a trade war, which many fear could destabilise the world economy.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

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ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK

59.8 81.3 112.2 1.5 30.1 16.4 12.66 4.3 1.51 0.55 66.1 1 43.9 190 26.05 172 67

59.8 83.2 113.8 1.53 30.25 16.4 12.84 4.3 1.51 0.55 67 1 43.9 192 26.15 173.4 67.5

58.25 78.9 111.8 1.46 29.95 16.4 12.6 4.2 1.5 0.51 64.8 0.99 43.25 189 25.5 169 66.5

FINANCIALS 59.25 13,690 79.5 4,959,940 112 1,275,290 1.53 61,000 30 44,000 16.4 500 12.64 2,527,600 4.28 271,000 1.5 45,000 0.54 1,089,000 64.9 5,532,940 0.99 242,000 43.3 179,400 189 2,620 25.5 209,600 169 1,163,330 66.85 57,100

812,915 396,778,377.50 143,023,319 89,670 1,321,140 8,200 32,110,244 1,148,390 67,610 566,580 362,325,308 239,820 7,780,390 497,422 5,387,575 197,627,012 3,814,277.50

794,548.50 -208,398,806.50 -44,935,616 -24,900 -24,715,348 -86,000 -108,207,853.00 37,620 1,870,490 17,055 -4,417,085 -23,652,954 -1,118,352.50

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA 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 MG HLDG 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 VULCAN INDL

35.6 18.08 1.18 1.16 0.215 3.01 13.2 193.3 31.95 18.26 1.74 7.35 10.2 15.48 9.05 7.02 7.05 17.1 65 28.3 7.12 11.6 2 272 4.84 3.08 23.5 11.68 16.8 365 0.178 6.23 1.97 4.1 8.9 5.07 8.5 1.01 10.88 53.45 5.8 5 2.59 1.56 12.2 95.5 5.75 0.13 1.01 144 2.44 2.07 2.35

36.2 18.1 1.23 1.19 0.22 3.02 13.68 193.3 40 18.88 1.74 7.35 10.2 15.48 9.1 7.12 7.07 17.1 65.1 28.5 7.12 11.7 2 272 4.84 3.23 23.6 11.68 16.9 365.6 0.187 6.23 1.97 4.12 9.01 5.53 8.62 1.01 11.16 53.5 5.8 5 2.65 1.56 12.2 95.7 5.75 0.13 1.01 146.2 2.44 2.12 2.45

35.05 17.7 1.06 1.15 0.215 2.94 13.18 193.3 31 17.86 1.73 6.55 10 15.12 8.9 6.99 7.05 16.78 64.8 28.2 7.02 11.3 1.98 258 4.84 3.03 23.35 11.38 16.68 360 0.178 5.16 1.85 4.02 8.75 5 8.5 1 10.56 52.4 5.8 4.8 2.59 1.43 12.18 93.8 5.65 0.124 1 142.8 2.44 2.01 2.18

INDUSTRIAL 35.45 1,902,600 18.1 1,946,000 1.06 31,780,000 1.19 833,000 0.216 410,000 3 2,758,000 13.68 4,617,100 193.3 30 40 970,400 17.86 500 1.73 10,000 6.56 81,600 10.04 1,321,200 15.12 244,000 8.91 1,020,800 7.04 1,391,300 7.05 2,013,700 16.98 1,310,000 64.9 1,015,480 28.2 54,200 7.07 162,100 11.54 1,580,700 2 434,000 264 542,930 4.84 43,000 3.23 71,000 23.45 125,500 11.46 169,300 16.7 721,500 361 175,730 0.187 200,000 5.79 17,400 1.9 254,000 4.09 70,000 9.01 1,444,400 5.37 209,400 8.5 19,900 1 499,000 11 60,400 52.7 417,930 5.8 37,800 4.8 11,000 2.65 1,170,000 1.45 702,000 12.2 16,500 94.45 572,680 5.66 42,400 0.124 210,000 1.01 197,000 144.1 1,453,700 2.44 30,000 2.02 5,614,000 2.18 29,217,000

67,606,170 34,990,846 36,136,720 960,090 88,470 8,201,790 61,169,042 5,799 38,190,320 9,152 17,360 570,809 13,239,464 3,693,192 9,235,988 9,778,960 14,202,242 22,237,966 66,005,993.50 1,531,540 1,146,073 18,277,060 861,090 142,660,632 208,120 216,290 2,949,460 1,940,598 12,124,980 63,730,570 36,020 101,837 489,720 283,840 12,956,820 1,075,885 169,210 499,960 656,090 22,180,956 219,240 53,000 3,062,840 1,021,000 201,248 54,329,645 239,985 26,130 197,640 209,387,725 73,200 11,667,200 67,304,030

-21,258,555 5,840,522.00 -92,900 150,720.00 0 -1,937,740 29,105 1,733,812.00 -24,435 -3,249,896 -7,373,725 -13,332,088 80,236 11,984,514 -72,997,630 124,640 -286,480 -340,362 -946,868 10,454,780 8,900 -82,830 -289,349 -3,781,811.50 -8,700 -158,190 -79,280 16,448,850.50 -39,029 111,543,456 48,800 20,720 648,850

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

0.4 46.45 12.36 0.94 5.97 1.33 1.34 906 5.77 12.6 7.1 0.205 820 5.7 52.05 0.61 4.9 15.98 0.63 5.18 0.041 1.22 2.6 167.2 895 1.35 348 281 0.3 0.203

0.41 47.9 12.44 0.94 6.04 1.34 1.34 909 5.85 12.6 7.1 0.205 832.5 5.7 53.45 0.61 4.95 16 0.63 5.2 0.041 1.22 2.6 169 910 1.35 348 282 0.305 0.203

0.39 45.95 12.26 0.94 5.97 1.3 1.3 885 5.77 12 6.91 0.205 805.5 5.7 52.05 0.57 4.86 15.66 0.6 4.86 0.038 1.2 2.52 165 888.5 1.33 348 278 0.26 0.2

HOLDING FIRMS 0.395 12,310,000 45.95 1,560,300 12.34 1,835,200 0.94 1,000 6.04 10,500 1.3 6,883,000 1.3 681,000 886 391,720 5.85 263,200 12.18 2,392,900 6.92 12,400 0.205 10,000 820 29,620 5.7 22,400 52.1 778,540 0.6 66,000 4.86 167,000 15.84 403,700 0.61 5,343,000 5 31,007,500 0.038 50,100,000 1.2 253,000 2.53 379,000 169 283,500 890 241,000 1.35 63,000 348 20 278 7,660 0.265 15,400,000 0.2 110,000

4,922,850 72,327,530 22,637,292 940 63,094 9,050,350 904,220 350,531,915 1,531,166 29,477,486 87,696 2,050 24,205,400 127,680 40,863,033 38,200 818,670 6,377,178 3,222,580 153,897,833 1,923,600 303,800 964,190 47,534,600 215,141,465 84,150 6,960 2,143,380 4,318,250 22,080

28,350 26,653,360 -1,092,300 61,900 33,130 -109,676,725 811,342 -4,312,822 -9,627,650 -3,021,612.50 59,500 -337,258 2,029,800 -27,882,225 83,600 -7,561,500 -13,605,855 -1,048,580 53,300 10,050

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND

7.39 0.87 12.5 2.1 0.71 40.5 2.85 4.38 5.38 0.435 0.91 0.232 0.395 8.7 21.1 0.57 1.42 1.16 2.37 4.13 0.67 0.44 0.44 4.18 19.8 1.95 3.18 36.5 1.16

7.49 0.88 12.5 2.1 0.71 41.2 2.85 4.47 5.38 0.445 0.91 0.232 0.395 8.74 22.9 0.58 1.45 1.17 2.45 4.2 0.7 0.45 0.44 4.3 19.96 1.95 3.19 37.15 1.16

7.25 0.8 12.5 2.1 0.7 39.9 2.74 4.27 5.37 0.43 0.91 0.226 0.39 8.49 21 0.55 1.42 1.13 2.2 3.98 0.65 0.44 0.4 4.02 19.76 1.91 3.17 36.05 1.13

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

6.95 0.79 6.24

7.1 0.79 6.29

6.56 0.79 6.24

6.56 0.79 6.29

702,200 17,000 2,830,800

4,771,067 13,430 17,762,873

273,002 -8,515,229

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

11.8 20.8 1.4 0.49 0.046 1.99 8.12 0.061 70.8 7.55 6.23 8.5 2.33 19.1 910 2,200 5.44 310 2.45 92.2 13.28 7.8 0.114 2.92 3.4 14.32 3.65 0.92 16.68 5.8 7.04 2.61 1.72 1.77 16.36 7.18 11 8.8 3.31 102.8 4.7 1,424 0.92 0.43 44.25 81.95 7.69 2.15 0.63 0.51 5.15 0.7 10.4

12 21.35 1.4 0.49 0.046 2.04 8.35 0.062 72 7.55 6.24 8.82 2.33 19.5 919 2,222 5.44 314 2.55 93.5 13.3 7.8 0.114 2.92 3.57 14.32 3.72 0.95 16.68 6 7.05 2.61 1.72 1.77 16.36 7.25 11.02 8.8 3.31 102.8 4.7 1,426 0.94 0.435 45 81.95 8.04 2.2 0.64 0.53 5.16 0.72 10.48

11.8 20 1.4 0.465 0.044 1.82 8.02 0.06 70.75 7.55 5.86 8.4 2.26 19.02 910 2,156 5.3 310 2.36 92.1 13 7.8 0.112 2.72 3.4 14.32 3.55 0.91 16.34 5.8 6.99 2.4 1.54 1.75 16.36 7.05 11 8.8 3.3 102 4.44 1,395 0.88 0.39 43.85 78 7.68 2.14 0.59 0.5 5.12 0.68 10.4

SERVICES 11.9 20.1 1.4 0.465 0.045 1.85 8.05 0.061 71.5 7.55 5.9 8.82 2.26 19.02 919 2,162 5.37 314 2.38 92.7 13 7.8 0.113 2.84 3.57 14.32 3.57 0.92 16.48 5.99 6.99 2.45 1.6 1.76 16.36 7.05 11.02 8.8 3.3 102 4.5 1,400 0.89 0.395 45 80 8.04 2.14 0.61 0.5 5.16 0.68 10.46

17,400 83,800 9,000 5,720,000 19,400,000 7,555,000 4,567,000 19,600,000 91,710 100 754,600 99,200 15,000 25,500 1,170 77,990 144,200 40 3,498,000 287,800 23,000 5,000 940,000 3,463,000 19,000 600 1,536,000 427,000 2,694,400 201,300 20,257,600 837,000 168,000 8,000 100 2,165,300 17,100 2,200 53,000 120,410 537,000 71,265 19,421,000 11,860,000 267,700 1,359,230 21,500 4,023,000 25,447,000 33,430,000 2,250,300 5,071,000 4,021,500

206,830 1,726,925 12,600 2,701,600 867,400 14,533,790 37,132,226 1,193,540 6,529,845 755 4,503,729 853,928 34,040 490,576 1,072,080 169,708,230 773,081 12,440 8,473,820 26,663,740 300,198 39,000 105,950 9,778,020 64,770 8,592 5,546,850 390,490 44,470,444 1,202,140 142,050,492 2,081,940 277,370 14,110 1,636 15,409,768 188,260 19,360 175,230 12,283,775 2,430,200 100,313,430 17,566,320 4,791,650 11,925,755 108,461,470 167,560 8,668,890 15,507,000 17,275,110 11,565,901 3,541,650 41,998,250

110,370.00 -9,964,716.00 -4,869,911 1,075,917 87,459,180 125,280 8,274,711.50 -346,690 -868,150 7,385,612 -299,400 -35,201,903 -1,360 -8,850 463,449 132,300 -33,554 -16,051,620 -133,890 270,150 -2,432,385 -22,798,665 2,137,600 -3,078,350 -242,700 -1,024,429 -681,180 -7,485,058

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING 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

0.0024 1.52 3.2 18.08 1.14 1.93 7.21 1.93 0.203 0.118 0.122 0.0075 0.0075 1.28 4.49 1.07 0.67 1.27 0.013 0.012 0.011 3.99 3.77 15.62 27.9 0.0066

0.0024 1.56 3.2 18.08 1.14 1.94 7.33 1.94 0.205 0.12 0.124 0.0075 0.0075 1.28 4.5 1.1 0.73 1.27 0.013 0.012 0.012 4.07 3.77 16.26 28.2 0.0085

0.0024 1.5 3.16 16.8 1.14 1.92 7.18 1.9 0.203 0.11 0.119 0.007 0.0074 1.2 4.45 1.06 0.66 1.1 0.013 0.012 0.011 3.76 3.49 15.48 26.95 0.0066

MINING & OIL 0.0024 25,000,000 1.5 2,444,000 3.16 155,000 17 13,400 1.14 3,000 1.93 774,000 7.2 42,800 1.92 3,440,000 0.203 1,140,000 0.117 4,750,000 0.12 2,180,000 0.0072 54,000,000 0.0074 6,000,000 1.23 353,000 4.46 240,000 1.09 87,000 0.7 6,681,000 1.12 10,654,000 0.013 200,000 0.012 1,700,000 0.012 8,400,000 3.76 307,000 3.51 6,359,000 15.5 2,484,600 27 2,111,600 0.0085 35,000,000

60,000 3,694,300 491,010 228,386 3,420 1,494,190 309,142 6,602,580 231,980 546,210 263,880 383,700 44,500 442,190 1,072,310 92,750 4,717,630 12,522,510 2,600 20,400 96,600 1,190,320 22,564,440 39,514,538 57,642,065 266,900

-25,280 -21,990 -11,520 -26,400 64,000 -98,310 -109,000 -499,990 -11,970 -6,728,720 1,009,282 -35,714,270 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H

20 485 495.2 495 5.18 960 95.3 1.01 1,011 102 78.15 75 75 75.2

20.1 485 502 495 5.18 974 99.9 1.01 1,011 102 78.15 75 75.4 75.2

19.88 485 495.2 490 5.18 960 95.1 1.01 1,011 102 78.15 75 75 75.2

PREFERRED 19.88 94,800 485 14,580 502 20 493 3,020 5.18 77,900 974 8,880 99.9 1,600 1.01 1,000 1,011 50 102 150 78.15 11,570 75 2,000 75 123,300 75.2 71,700

1,893,106 7,071,300 9,972 1,485,930 403,522 8,524,940 152,358 1,010 50,550 15,300 904,195.50 150,000 9,292,505 5,391,840

-1,891,101 -362,600 -357,145.50 -

LR WARRANT

2.4

2.4

2.31

WARRANTS 2.31 398,000

934,280

35,550

107,769,553 1,980,420

212,456 47,850

5,168,502

11,995

29,959.20

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.49 0.84 12.5 2.1 0.7 40 2.76 4.45 5.37 0.435 0.91 0.228 0.39 8.49 21.85 0.56 1.43 1.13 2.2 3.98 0.67 0.44 0.42 4.02 19.9 1.95 3.18 36.95 1.15

2,337,400 10,866,000 70,000 18,000 191,000 7,033,900 1,621,000 586,000 2,000 5,610,000 59,000 2,280,000 820,000 458,400 481,500 506,000 1,074,000 2,069,000 40,525,000 23,781,000 71,756,000 1,990,000 3,370,000 2,046,000 2,089,300 285,000 132,000 7,877,400 97,000

17,159,892 9,060,360 875,000 37,800 134,210 282,407,955 4,541,890 2,584,720 10,755 2,445,800 53,690 521,370 320,450 3,943,579 10,409,480 285,380 1,537,990 2,360,990 93,989,640 96,181,970 48,141,680 884,200 1,412,650 8,424,470 41,464,090 551,150 419,920 290,337,625 111,490

-2,967,400 1,671,140 -64,575,545 -4,291,790 -13,170.00 -26,150 3,115,260 -59,280.00 245,730 -21,046,400 -38,306,440 -135,760 -57,450 -4,400 455,190 -9,470,310 98,110 8,914,230 1,130

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS XURPAS

7.48 2.14

7.86 2.15

6.3 2.06

FIRST METRO ETF

109.7

110

108

USD DMPL A2

10.26

TRADING SUMMARY

10.26

SHARES

FINANCIAL

17,674,985

INDUSTRIAL

100,181,972

HOLDING FIRMS

131,559,732

PROPERTY

193,630,474

SERVICES

212,437,032

MINING & OIL

177,239,889

GRAND TOTAL

848,725,364

10.26

6.4 2.08

SME

15,007,500 944,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 108 47,630 DDS 10.26

2,920

VALUE 1,577.27 (DOWN) 25.80 1,153,618,265.52 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,892.14 (DOWN) 52.50 1,019,931,738.714 HOLDING FIRMS 7,048.43 (DOWN) 53.10 1,171,741,387.139 PROPERTY 3,644.40 (DOWN) 6.87 1,493.26 (DOWN) 15.93 943,367,710.36 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,108.06 (DOWN) 248.58 935,288,341.25 PSEI 7,221.23 (DOWN) 65.11 154,529,061.913 All Shares Index 4,454.71 (DOWN) 34.00 5,493,406,804.82 Gainers: 36; Losers: 153; Unchanged: 41; Total: 230

Security Bank issues $300m worth of notes

By Julito G. Rada SECURITY Bank Corp., the sixthlargest lender in terms of assets, said Wednesday it issued $300 million of 4.5-percent senior unsecured fixedrate notes due September 2023 as a drawdown of its $1-billion mediumterm note program.

Security Bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the issuance followed a successful roadshow with London, Singapore and Hong Kong investors this month.

A drawdown refers to a gradual accessing of credit funds.

“Proceeds of the notes will be used to extend term liabilities, expand funding base, improve liquidity gaps, to fund investment and other general corporate purposes,” the bank said.

It said book momentum was strong from the onset with orders totaling close to $1.1 billion at the peak covering the intended size 3.7 times. After pricing at the tight end of final guidance, the order book was in excess of $800 million from 68 accounts.

“The offering was distributed to high-quality investors with 55 percent allocated to global fund and asset managers, 20 percent to insurance companies, and the rest to banks, private banks and other investors. It also said 73 percent was allocated to accounts in Asia and 27 percent in Europe.

“The transaction is expected to settle on Sept. 24, 2018. The notes will be listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange,” it said.

Global debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service assigned an investment grade rating to the $1-billion mediumterm note program of Security Bank.

Moody’s said the rating was underpinned by Security Bank’s “baa3” baseline credit assessment and incorporated one notch of uplift to reflect Moody’s expectation of a moderate probability of support for the bank from the Philippine government in times of need.

“Security Bank’s ‘baa3’ BCA is underpinned by the bank’s above-industry-average asset quality and strong capital buffers, boosted by a capital infusion from its new strategic partner, MUFG Bank Ltd.,” it said.

Cebu Landmasters fully utilize P2.15-b proceeds from IPO

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. said it fully utilized the P2.15-billion proceeds from an initial public offering in 2017.

Cebu Landmasters said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it spent 70 percent of the total proceeds to build up its land bank to 976,302 square meters.

“Cebu Landmasters is committed to the fast turnaround strategy of the company,” Cebu Landmasters president and chief executive Jose Soberano said.

“We have developed 420,573 sqm of our landbank after IPO. We now have 52 projects in various developments and we’ve already expanded to eight key cities in VisMin,” he said.

The company said 41 percent of its landbank is in Mindanao, 33 percent in the Visayas and 26 percent in Cebu.

Cebu Landmasters purchased a total of 767,917 sqm of land in Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro and added inventory in new locations in Bohol, Bacolod and Iloilo.

This increased the developer’s landbank to 976,302 sqm, after using 420,573 sqm in various vertical and horizontal projects.

Cebu Landmasters was listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on June 2, 2017 by selling 430 million shares at P5 per share.

The company, which aspires to be the leading and most preferred local developer in the Visayas and Mindanao by 2020, currently has 52 projects in various stages of development.

It recently launched the P3.6-billion Astra Centre, its second mixed-use property strategically located on a 1.2-hectare lot at A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City, Cebu.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY extrastory2000@gmail.com

World

B3

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THIRD SUMMIT. This

picture taken on September 18, 2018 and released by the Korean Central News Agency via KNS shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju welcoming South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook during a ceremony at Pyongyang airport.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Pyongyang on September 18 for his third summit this year with Kim Jong Un as he seeks to reboot the stalled denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States.

AFP

IN BRIEF Woodward’s Trump book sells 1.1 million NEW YORK―Investigative journalist Bob Woodward’s incendiary “Fear: Trump in the White House” has become the fastest selling book in Simon and Schuster’s history, the publisher said Tuesday, shifting 1.1 million copies in its first week.

The tell-all account of the inner workings of US President Donald Trump’s administration sold a staggering 900,000 on its September 11 release day, according to the company’s figures, which include print, audio and digital versions.

“There is only one word to describe the sales of ‘Fear’―and that word is huge,” said Jonathan Karp, president of the 94-year-old publisher.

“What’s especially gratifying is the appreciation readers and reviewers have for the integrity and importance of Bob Woodward’s reporting.”

Massive demand for the 357-page work has forced the publisher to go back for a 10th print run, it said, and the rights have been sold in 24 countries.

“Fear” is the latest in a string of accounts of the Trump White House coming from those close―or sometimes apparently not so close―to the president.AFP

Child marriage draws UN condemnation KUALA LUMPUR-The marriage of a 15-year-old Malaysian girl to a man almost three times her age drew condemnation from the United Nations Wednesday, putting fresh pressure on the Muslim-majority country to halt such unions.

The teenager became the second wife of the 44-year-old in July after an Islamic court gave permission for the pair to wed in the conservative, rural state of Kelantan, local media reported.

It was the latest such case in Malaysia―there was widespread anger in June after the marriage of an 11-year-old Thai girl to a 41-year-old Malaysian rubber trader, who was also from Kelantan.

While the legal minimum age for marriage in Malaysia is 16, members of the country’s Muslim majority can wed at a younger age if religious authorities give approval.

“It’s unacceptable that yet another child has got married to an elder man,” said Marianne Clark-Hattingh, Malaysia representative of the UN children’s agency UNICEF, adding it was urgent to “bring legislative change to ban the practice”. AFP

Scientists hopeful of finding ‘Endeavour’ SYDNEY―The centuries-long hunt for the remains of the famed ship Endeavour―the vessel used by James Cook on a voyage of discovery to Australia and New Zealand―could be nearing an end.

A team of marine archaeologists from Australia and the United States said Wednesday they believe they may have found the site where the vessel was scuttled in 1778.

“Early indications are that the team has narrowed the possible site for the wreck of HMB Endeavour to one site, which is very promising,” said Kevin Sumption, head of the Australian National Maritime Museum.

That site is in Newport Harbor in the US state of Rhode Island.

“A lot more detailed work, analysis and research has to happen before we can definitively say we have found the remains of James Cook’s HMB Endeavour,” Sumption cautioned.

The Endeavour has entered popular lore thanks to Cook’s voyages, which brought the British into contact with New Zealand and eastern Australia and foreshadowed the colonization of the continent.

Today a replica of the cramped and surprisingly small vessel sits in Sydney’s Darling Harbor, as a reminder of a pivotal point in the history of modern Australia. AFP

US McDonald’s workers slam sexual harassment C HICAGO― McDonald’s workers in 10 US cities staged a day of protests Tuesday inspired by the #MeToo movement, accusing the fast food giant of failing to address pervasive sexual harassment at its restaurants.

Billed as a strike, organizers said the protests were the first of its kind aimed at getting the company to start taking serious action to curb incidents including groping, lewd comments and propositions for sex in the workplace.

The protests are part of a broadening of the #MeToo campaign―mostly aimed at high-profile targets in enter-

tainment, media and politics―into the realm of low-wage, blue-collar work, where employees without wealth or influence can be particularly vulnerable.

“When you feel that your livelihood is threatened, and you feel like you can’t bring home a paycheck, it can be really scary,” said Ali Baker, a restaurant worker speaking at a small but boisterous protest in front of McDonald’s global headquarters in Chicago.

Dozens of the company’s workers and their supporters held banners, chanted, and detailed examples of their own experiences.

“I’m on strike and standing here today for change,” said one longtime McDonald’s employee who claimed she knew of managers regularly harassing employees.

“Sexual harassment is a universal issue. It’s a disease,” she added, standing in front of other workers who had fixed their mouths shut with blue tape dis-

playing the words “on strike” and “me too.”

Similar scenes played out in nine other cities, including Kansas City and Saint Louis, Missouri, as well as Durham, North Carolina.

In Los Angeles, a loud crowd of demonstrators took to the streets, while in San Francisco there was a silent protest by employees who also had their mouths taped.

The protests drew the attention of US Senator Bernie Sanders, whose nationwide progressive movement is seen as having pulled the Democratic Party to the left.

Sanders said on Twitter that the harassment being alleged by fast-food workers was “simply unacceptable.”

“We must stand with the brave McDonald’s workers walking out today to demand the company address this epidemic of sexual harassment,” he said. AFP

North Korea’s leader says he will visit Seoul soon

ODYSSEY. Venezuelan migrant Jefferson Alexis pushes his father Jose Agustin Lopez’s wheelchair along the road linking Cucuta and Pamplona, in Norte de Santander Department, Colombia, on September 15, 2018. Lopez started an odyssey to Bogota looking for the medicines he could not get in Venezuela. AFP

Anger at Singapore ads offering Indonesian domestics for sale SINGAPORE―Online ads in Singapore offering Indonesian maids for sale were Wednesday condemned as “unjust and demeaning”, in a rare flare-up of tensions between the neighbors over domestic helpers.

Singapore is home to almost 250,000 maids, mostly from poor parts of Indonesia or the Philippines, who head to the wealthy city-state to earn higher salaries than they can back home.

While Indonesia regularly protests about abuse and exploitation of helpers in Malaysia and parts of the Middle East, complaints about the treatment of maids in tightly-regulated Singapore are less common.

However, reports that Indonesian helpers were being offered for sale in the city-state on the online marketplace Carousell quickly drew condemnation from rights groups.

The ads under the user name “maid. recruitment” reportedly offered the services of several helpers from Indonesia, while some ads indicated maids had been “sold”.

The posts on the e-commerce site, which operates in several Asian countries and describes itself as “a simple way to sell the clutter in your life”, have now been removed.

Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Indonesian NGO Migrant Care, said the group “strongly condemned” the ads and called for those behind them to be brought to justice.

“This is very unjust and demeaning to the migrant workers’ dignity,” he told AFP. Singapore’s labor ministry said it was aware of cases where maids were being “marketed inappropriately” on Singapore-headquartered Carousell, and had got the ads taken down and launched an investigation.

“Advertising [foreign domestic workers] like commodities is unacceptable and an offense” under local laws, a statement from the ministry said.

Employment agencies found guilty of such practices will have their licenses revoked or suspended, it said. AFP

SEOUL―North Korea’s Kim Jong Un will soon make a historic visit to Seoul, he said Wednesday, and has agreed to close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors, as a rare inter-Korean summit unfolded in Pyongyang.

However, progress on the key issue of dismantling the North’s nuclear arsenal was limited, even though the South’s President Moon Jae-in had hoped to bring fresh momentum to the stalled talks between his hosts and the United States.

Kim said he would travel to Seoul “in the near future”, adding that the agreement he signed with Moon “carries the people’s fresh hope and the people’s strong, flaming desire for reunification”.

The visit would be the first by a Northern leader to Seoul since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, when hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the divided peninsula technically in a state of war.

Talks in Pyongyang built on a growing rapprochement, with the two leaders agreeing Wednesday to hold family reunions on a regular basis, work towards joining up road and rail links, and mount a combined bid for the 2032 Olympics.

Moon said Kim’s visit to Seoul could happen this year and would be a “turning point in South-North relations”.

The North had agreed to “permanently close” a missile engine testing site and launch facility in Tongchang-ri “in the presence of experts from relevant nations”, he added.

At Kim’s historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June―which was brokered by Moon―he declared his backing for denuclearization of the peninsula. AFP

US surgeon and girlfriend charged with sexual assault LOS ANGELES―An orthopedic surgeon in California who once appeared on a dating reality show and his girlfriend have been charged with drugging and sexually assaulting two women, in a case prosecutors suspect might involve hundreds of other victims.

Authorities told AFP on Tuesday they had received dozens of leads in the probe, just hours after a press conference held to try to encourage other women to come forward.

“I am being told by investigators that their phones have been very active this afternoon,” said Michelle Van Der Linden, a spokeswoman for Orange County prosecutors.

“People are calling with additional information and we will be busy tracking down all the additional leads.”

The surgeon, 38-year-old Grant William Robicheaux, and his 31-year-old girlfriend, Cerissa Laura Riley, were charged on September 11 with rape as well as drug and weapons-related offenses in connection with two alleged assaults.

But investigators found hundreds of videos on Robicheaux’s phone after he was arrested, showing women “in various states of undress, consciousness and being assaulted,” Van Der Linden said.

“We’re still going through those videos.”

Robicheaux―who once appeared on the Bravo television show “Online Dating Rituals of the American Male”―and Riley are due to be arraigned on October 25.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told reporters that Robicheaux and Riley are believed to have worked in tandem at restaurants and bars to identify their victims and make them feel comfortable.

“We believe the defendants used their good looks and charm to lower the inhibitions of their potential prey,” Rackauckas said.

“We’ve all heard of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Well, a wolf can wear scrubs or doctor’s clothing. Or a wolf can be a beautiful woman.”

The pair apparently used ecstasy, date rape drugs and cocaine to incapacitate their victims before assaulting them at Robicheaux’s home in Newport Beach, he said.

Authorities say Robicheaux and Riley traveled to various festivals since 2015, including Burning Man in Nevada, as well as landmarks in Arizona, where they may have preyed on other women.

Attorneys for Robicheaux and Riley issued a joint statement on Tuesday, denying the charges. AFP

For fast ad results, please call Advertising Department 832-5547

Notice to the Public Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Linda Esmena and Alexander Esmena has been duly adjudicated to Judith Esmena as sole heir as per Doc. 76 No. 74-A; Book No. 17; Series of 2017; before Atty. Benjamin F. Alfonso, Notary Public F Alfonso, Notary Public.

(MS-SEPT. 6,13 & 20, 2018)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that AMANALAND CORPORATION with office address at 2F, Centro Mall Cabuyao, Barangay Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Villa Arcadia) with a capacity of 605 house and lot units on a non-pioneer status, with project site at Brgy.

Carsadang, Bago I, Imus City, Cavite.

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) MARY ANNE E. RAGANIT Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-SEPT. 20, 2018)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CUMBERLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION with office address at Unit 1603-1605 The Orient Square Building, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project under the Preferred List - Mass Housing (Morgan Residences) with a capacity of 465 house and lot units on a NonPioneer status, with project site located at Brgy.

San Bartolome, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) MARY ANNE E. RAGANIT Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

(MS-SEPT. 20, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

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LocaL government units

thursday, september 20, 2018

BFAR-10: Just enough fish for region’s needs

By Lance Baconguis CAGAYAN DE ORO CiTY—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources here in Northern Mindanao said there is just enough fish supply in the region, most of which is highly dependent on the supply from Zamboanga peninsula.

BFAR regional Director Teoduro Bacolod Jr. in a media briefing Tuesday afternoon, said the region is not dependent on the catch of fisherfolk from the region. “We have supply from other regions like Zamboanga and General Santos, with support from catch in the region,” Bacolod said.

Data from the National Economic Development Authority in Region 10 showed the region produced 32,719.34 metric tons of fish in the first quarter of 2018, a 2.4-percent drop in production compared to the first quarter of 2017.

Bacolod clarified that he could not provide data on how much fish is enough, ample or abundant that the region consumes or needs.

“We cannot really see now how much do we really need and there are many factors on why the dwindling supply of fish. What we can say is that we are ready if Zamboanga cannot supply us,” he said.

Bacolod blamed overfishing and pollution as the main factors on the dwindling supplies of fish in the region. “pollutants from industries, mining and loss of forest covers are some of the factors,” he added.

BFAR has released tens of millions of tilapia fingerlings in different rivers in Northern Mindanao to augment the needed fish. “in Cagayan de Oro alone, we have seeded around 10 million tilapia along iponan and Cagayan de Oro Rivers and Tagoloan river in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental,” Bacolod said, adding that seedings are done every year.

BFAR also developed aquaculture marine parks in Northern Mindanao—one in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, another in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, and one in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte, Bacolod said.

Makati fetes 49 , 50 centenarians for 2018 th

th Singapore model

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Makati City government on Wednesday named the two new centenarian awardees for this year, bringing to 50 the number of centenarians in the city who were given plaques of appreciation and checks worth p100,000.

Mayor Abigail Binay shared a light moment with 100-year-old Mamerta A. Aquino when she visited her at her home in Barangay Cembo last Tuesday, where she handed over the p100,000check traditionally awarded by the city government to centenarian residents.

The city chief executive also presented Aquino with a plaque of recognition and a bouquet of flowers.

“Our centenarians are living pieces of history and it is only proper that we honor and appreciate them for their contributions,” said Binay.

Born on May 11, 1918, Aquino also known as “Nanay Mameng,” spent her married life at home to attend to the needs of her family while her husband worked as a soldier in the philippine Army.

Binay also visited the other centenarian, Mrs. Cipriana J. Caballero, a resident of Barangay Bel-Air, who was born on September 21, 1917.

The latest awardees were able to meet the criteria set by the Makati Social Welfare Department, the lead implementer of the Blu Card program, as follows: 1) must be a Filipino citizen; 2) must be a bonafide resident of Makati; 3) must have reached 100 years old between January to December of the current year; and 4) must be a Blu Card and White Card holder for at least five years.

To date, 50 Makati centenarians have been awarded the p100,000 cash gift since 2012 following the passage of City Ordinance No. 2012-099.

Mayor Binay was accompanied by Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo during the home visits.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay shares a light moment with 100-year-old Mamerta A. Aquino (seated) during her visit at the latter’s home in Barangay Cembo on Tuesday, where she handed over the P100,000 check traditionally awarded by the city government to centenarian Makatizens. Also in the photo are Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and Nelia Operaña, the awardee’s daughter.

City Ordinance 2012-099 entitles Makati senior citizens who are Blu Card holders to a one-time p100,000 cash gift upon reaching 100 years old. it serves as a tribute for their significant contributions and role in the history and development of the city.

“Reaching 100 years old is a great

reason to celebrate. it will be wonderful to reach that age and be surrounded by your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. i personally look forward to meeting our centenarians because i like hearing their stories – both of joy and hardships,” Mayor Binay said.

N. Vizcaya reports P25.3m worth of damages to roads and bridges

By Ben Moses Ebreo

STUDENT AID. As part of his administration’s educational thrust, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada distributed cash to the city’s elementary and high school students during a simple ceremony held at Bulwagang Villegas on Sept. 13. Estrada extended P315,000 in financial aid to 63 students, all from District 3, where each child enrolled in public schools received assistance worth P5,000. Also in photo is Nanette Tanyag, OIC of the Manila Department of Social Welfare.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya―Typhoon ‘Ompong’ has left at least p25.3 million worth of damages to provincial roads and bridges in the province, officials here said.

Citing a final report, Governor Carlos padilla said the damaged roads and bridges in the province’s southern part are the Oyawe Overflow bridge in barangay Kayapa proper, Kayapa proper Bailey Bridge, Welness Center Building in Lt. Tidang Memorial Hospital; Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet Junction, rehabilitation of Lt. Tidang Memorial Hospital, Baliling-Sinapaoan road, Balete-Buyasyas road, all of Kayapa and St. Fe towns; Oyao-Ganao road, Makatbeng-Kimbutan road and Ganao-Biruk road in Dupax del Sur town; Batu-Sto. Domingo road and rehabilitation of the Bambang-Salinas-San Fabian-pingkian road in Bambang town.

The damaged roads in the northern part of the province are the ibung-Nagbitin-Calao road in Villaverde town, Calaocan-Diffuncianan road in Quezon town, Bascara-Singian-Aggub road in Solano town and the NagsabaranDecabacan-Ampakleng road in Diadi town.

“The damages were done by rampaging flood waters and landslides brought by typhoon ‘Ompong’ over the weekend. These are now the focus of our rehabilitation efforts with the concerned barangay and municipal local government units,” padilla said.

The road and bridge projects suffered washed-out, collapsed, and slipped portions. padilla said personnel from the provincial Engineering Office have been mobilized to conduct survevs on the damaged infrastructures to hasten their repair and rehabilitation through the provincial government.

for education, says QC’s Joy

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday said Singapore is seen as model for education.

She promised to further collaborate with Singapore and even with the other countries in the Southeast Asian region to help improve the quality of education in the city.

“The Singaporean government has been very supportive of Quezon City and other cities as well with regards to education,” she said.

“Singapore invested tremendous amounts of capital on the education of their children to the point that they have reached the stage where the children of Singapore are considered one of the highest educated in the whole world,” Belmonte added.

Quezon City could learn from Singapore’s willingness to experiment with educational methods, she cited.

“Whenever there is a new pedagogy, new teaching style, there is an assessment that goes on. They consistently check whether these styles are appropriate or helpful and they are open to changing their modules of teaching,” she said.

The vice mayor took in pride saying that the country also chooses the “best teachers” by hiring from among top graduates and giving high salaries.

She said she is looking forward to continuing to partner with Singapore and other countries as the city had already collaborated with the nation-state through Singapore’s Temasek Foundation, the Center for Livable Cities, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Fresnedi donates ambulances to 9 Munti villages MUNTiNLUpA Mayor Jaime Fresnedi on Monday led the turnover ceremony of eight ambulance units to local barangay chairmen during the city’s flag raising ceremony.

The ambulance units amounting to p12.8 million were supplemental to emergency response vehicles of Brgy.

Tunasan, Brgy. poblacion, Brgy. putatan, Brgy. Bayanan, Brgy. Alabang, Brgy. Ayala Alabang, Brgy. Cupang, Brgy. Buli, and Brgy. Sucat.

Fresnedi ordered local executives to augment efforts on disaster risk response in view of provision of additional equipment. He said additional fire trucks will soon be turned over to barangays. “i hope that each barangay officials will utilize these vehicles efficiently in improving medical services and emergency response to the communities,” the mayor added. public information Officer Tez Navarro said the local government unit will continue to purchase vehicles and DRR equipment for rescue operations in preparing Muntinlupa to be a disaster-resilient city.

On top of response vehicles procurement, Navarro noted the City Government have been conducting communitybased capacity development trainings on basic life support and disaster management to improve preparedness and response at grassroots levels.

For emergency cases, Muntinlupa residents may contact the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in the following hotline numbers: 925-4351 or 862-2664.

CIAC: Royal Air to boost N. Luzon, Clark tourism

By Romeo Dizon CLARK FREEpORT, pampanga—The granting of authority for the scheduled commercial international and domestic flights of Royal Air will surely boost the tourism industry of the country especially in Northern Luzon.

Alexander Cauguiran, president and CEO of Clark international Airport Authority, said the granting of authority by the Civil Aeronautics Authority last July 26 will surely boost the tourism and passenger capacity of the airport.

Starting Nov. 12, the Royal Air will start to schedule domestic flights from Clark to puerto prinsesa, Cebu, Caticlan, Tagbilaran, and San Vicente in palawan, Cauguiran said.

Royal Air has also provided chartered service from Clark To Cagayan North (Lal-lo) on a weekly basis since April 29, he said.

No schedule on international commercial flights was

reported by the company.

According to Cauguiran, the new airline company will be using the four-engine British Aerospace aircraft with 97 seating capacity in its domestic operations.

Established on Aug. 22, 2002, Royal Air provides domestic and international non-schedule airline and cargo services to Manila, Batanes, Cebu, Laoag, Kalibo, Maconacon, San Vicente, palawan and Macau.

There are now 21 airline companies operating in CRK with a total of 436 flights—275 domestic and 162 international flights that service about 7,000 passengers daily.

CRK is being groomed as an alternative to the congested Ninoy Aquino international Airport in Manila as it can service up to 1.8-million passengers a year currently.

Upon the completion of the ongoing p12.55-billion new passenger terminal, the airport can service about eight million passengers a year come 2029, Cauguiran added. Romeo Dizon

AGRIPRENEURSHIP. Speaking during the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research 14th Agricultural and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition at SM Megatrade Hall, Mandaluyong City, Senator Cynthia Villar (third from right) cites the need for concerted efforts to improve our standing in the area of mechanization due to its benefits to the agricultural sector. As chairman of the Senate agriculture committee, stresses that mechanization can bring down the cost of labor particularly for labor intensive crops. ‘Let us give competitive edge to our farmers and fishermen to get them out of poverty,’ said Villar. Lino Santos

Bring

Sherwood Sofa, Emerald Panel, and mix of green plants from Crate & Barrel’s fall 2018 Green Means Go line.

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com

life into your

@manilastandardlife @mstandardLIFe thursday, september 20, 2018

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home S

paceS filled with worldly ideas and life are spaces that welcome and rejuvenate. A home furnishings specialty retailer celebrates the art of living this fall season with three new collections.

Life

Furnish your home with pieces from Crate & Barrel’s Modern Global, Green Means Go, and Mixology collections, each with a distinct look that welcomes change in any living space.

For Modern Global, Crate & Barrel has traveled the world to bring home the best of artisan traditions to create an aesthetic that embraces the ideas and cultures of others. Each piece in itself makes for a one of a kind treasure.

The Green Means Go collection features home items that celebrate life and nature, as the green trend is symbolic of energy, anticipation, and all the ways homeowners can bring life into their spaces.

Finally, the Mixology collection is composed of pieces that let homeowners concoct special treats for themselves and for their guests. Crate & Barrel curates a collection that shows chemistry between different, even unlikely, ingredients.

The Crate & Barrel fall 2018 collection is available at Crate & Barrel stores in the Philippines located at SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Aura Premier, and SM Makati.

Prospect Decanter and Glass Ice Bucket, a dramatically angled decanter fashioned with a wood base and topped with a faux leather stopper.

household

Sherwood Sofa puts a premium on comfort as the sofa contours a deep, comfortable seat with webbing suspension. The Stow Olive Ottoman, on the other hand, is a concealed storage cube in soft, pebbled bonded leather in rich olive that does stylish double-duty.

The Hayes Marble and Wood Serving Board whose gorgeous black marble, polished to showcase its natural color and unique veining, creates a stunning board for cheeses and charcuterie.

The Midnight Botanical Black and White Collection features off-white ceramic plates with leafy silhouettes hand-painted in black, making each piece a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Atwood Queen Bed with Bookcase’s eclectic nature blends contemporary design with rustic materials for an earthy look that’s modern and bold.

Leaving a Lasting Legacy LEAvinG a legacy of a life well lived is almost every person’s aspiration.

With this in mind, one of the country’s top insurance companies, organized recently a panel discussion to introduce its latest product and inspire its Filipino clients to think about creating a legacy for the future, free from financial worries.

Guest speakers were invited to talk about the importance of leaving a lasting legacy. Entrepreneur nico Moreno of homegrown watch brand ibarra Watches, third-generation jewelry designer Janina Dizon, and renowned artist and glass sculptor Ramon Orlina—each highly successful in their field—shared their insights and personal experiences during the panel discussion.

A physicist by training, long-time watch aficionado Moreno thought of creating the first Filipino watch brand.

“The scientist in me fell in love with the art of watchmaking,” shares Moreno. “And, being a staunch nationalist and an admirer of Dr. Jose Rizal, i thought of the brand ibarra (the main protagonist in one of Rizal’s famous novels, Noli Me Tangere).”

Dizon comes from a family of wellknown jewelers and designers. Jewelry Renowned glass sculptor Ramon Orlina Janina for Jul Dizon chief executive officer Ibarra Watches chief executive officer Nico making is in her DnA. Janina Dizon Moreno “it runs in my blood,” says Dizon.

“When there was a decline in my painting on glass because modern “My grandmother was a jeweler, a trade interact with her clients. i would also architectural practice in the ‘70s, i architecture is steel and glass,” reshe passed on to my mother so i’m the sort stones and count diamonds.”

Orlina is a licensed architect; he prac- began to pursue art, which had al- lates the visual artist. third generation now. My mom would For these accomplished individuals, let me sit next to her in her shop, let me ticed architecture before moving on to art. ways interested me. i started with

living well means being happy with what you do, having peace of mind, and enjoying a fulfilling family life.

Moreno says, “A happy worker enjoys what he’s doing,” while Dizon thinks, “Living well is having the luxury of time as well as being secure in whatever the future will bring.”

For his part, Orlina says, “i’m pleased to have a happy married life, a wife who has been supportive, and kids who excel in their fields.”

To ensure that their respective legacies are preserved for the future, Moreno has a 10-year plan for his business, while Dizon feels it is vital for her children to carry on her mother’s legacy, especially now that the firm has marked its 40th anniversary. Orlina, on the other hand, opened a museum in Tagaytay City to showcase his works and those of other sculptors.

To help individuals leave a lasting legacy, Axa offers Asset Master. it is designed as a single-pay, investmentlinked insurance plan that allows a person to build a diversified investment portfolio of local and global investments—a solid foundation on which to build a financial legacy.

“Asset Master is your gateway to truly diverse global investments. We want you to leave a lasting legacy for your loved ones so they can continue to live well after you’re gone,” says Rahul Hora, Axa Philippines president and chief executive officer.

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Furry campus cuties

P

et parents had a chance to showcase the cuteness of their furbabies at a recent pet costume party at the SMX Convention Center.

Dog and cat owners dressed their pets in preppy and geeky school-inspired outfits for the Pet express Campus Cuties: A Pet Costume Party, one of the events of the Pet express Dog and Cat expo 2018, staged in partnership with CARA Welfare Philippines. there were teacher dogs and cats; feline school nurses; as well as lab professor and cheerleader dogs at the costume party. Pets dressed as anime students and varsity dogs were crowd favorites. the expo also featured a new segment Pet X tALKS, wherein a series of fun and dog training talks were featured.

Actor and model Daniel Matsunaga shared his daily “pawsome” fun experiences with his Alaskan Malamute Julie. Gen Reyes, the first female recruit of renowned dog whisperer Cesar Millan, gave some tips on Canine Counseling; while BetterDog Philippines Jojo Isorena started his first C.L.A.S.S. (Canine Life and Social Skills) using ezydogs gears and toys.

Booths of top pet food brands like Alpo, Pedigree, Friskies, Acana, Good Boy, and Royal Canin; as well as health products like Nature’s Protection, Vitality, Virbac, and Vitakraft were also present. Pawsh Couture and Oodra Pooch Couture featured a lot of pet fashion fun, while ezydog, Wags n’ Whiskers, and Acuaverde drew a lot of interest among pet parents. the Dog and Cat expo was also an event for a cause, as donation was given to CARA for every participant who took their best scholarly selfie with their pet and uploaded it on Facebook and Instagram using #dogandcatEXPO2018forCARA.

Homeschool Global president Edric Mendoza with wife Joy

Education experts talk about wired kids, homeschooling

Daniel Matsunaga with his Alaskan Malamute Julie

Aeronautics student Gino Magbanua and his co-pilot Princess Sophie

The Campus Hearthrob and his canine babe

BUILDING materials company Cemex holdings Philippines has launched this month an innovative digital platform that enhances builders’ operating efficiency and competitiveness.

A first of its kind, Cemex Go is a fully digital customer integration platform on which customers can get more businesses done in less time by being able to transact and interact with Cemex anytime, anywhere using their mobile devices. the platform offers four pillars of benefits for customers such as better accessibility, efficient tracking of accounts, and transparency. It also enables printing of documents such as invoices and official receipts, among others.

Cemex Go allows customers to place orders, review their history of transactions, track their shipments real-time via GPS, receive instant notifications of their order status, adjust their orders, and enjoy full visibility of all the information they need to better manage their business.

Currently, over 10,000 customers have already embraced Cemex Go across three continents, which cover close to a quarter of the company’s customer base worldwide. By the end of 2018, it is expected to be available in

Campus Cuties Karla Solero and Emma won the Campus Cuties tandem category.

all of Cemex’s geographies, serving approximately 45,000 customers.

“A customer-centric mindset is at the core of our relentless pursuit of continuous innovation and improvement,” said Ignacio Mijares, president and chief executive of Cemex holdings Philippines. he continued, “this is why Cemex Go creates an experience that is superior to anything that has been provided in the past and is a pioneering platform in the global building materials industry.”

Cemex Go allows customers to place orders, review their history of transactions, and track their shipments real-time via GPS, among others.

teChNOLOGICAL advancements have pushed everything to move at a faster pace, even education. While it is undeniable that latest innovation helps in children’s learning and development, experts believe technology’s impact is not always positive.

With more distractions that are available for young learners, it has been increasingly difficult for educators to engage students in the traditional classroom setting.

Brad huddleston, author of Digital Cocaine: A Journey Toward iBalance and The Dark Side of Technology: Restoring Balance in the Digital Age, is an expert on the effects of technology in molding young minds. he talks about the dangers of digital addiction.

“In its simplest form, when someone cannot do without their digital device, they are addicted,” posits huddleston. “this not only applies to entertainment media accessed through digital devices, but also includes technology that is required for work and school.

When any activity, including interacting with digital devices, interferes with normal life, they are addicted.” this poses a problem for both parents and educators, he adds, thus he goes around the world to help them mitigate the effects of tech. he also explains that because the world is connected to the same “pipe” known as the Internet, the resulting problems created by this relatively new medium are generally the same around the world. “this means that the rise in ADhD, cognitive breakdown, depression, and anxiety disorders, etc. are common regardless of country or economic status,” he says. the good news is that parents can actually provide their children a curriculum that is richly designed and tailor fit to their learning styles. this intentional parenting is at the heart of homeschooling, the learning movement that has been fast gaining ground in the Philippines and in the world.

With homeschooling, there is a way to harness the powers of tech to truly build up kids in their studies and make gadgets a healthy part of a holistic learning experience.

As Debra Bell, homeschool mom and author of the best-selling book The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling explains, “homeschoolers are early adopters of the technologies that are revolutionizing education and how we deliver learning around the globe. It continues to rise in the United States, as recent research has shown, and is on the rise dramatically around the world.”

Brad Huddleston

the 21st century is about learning anytime, anywhere, through any means and homeschooling gives families the flexibility they need to balance work, family, travel, hobbies, and education.

Bell expounds that parents can actually marry being high-touch and hightech through homeschooling. “[By] learning right beside your children with an iPad or smartphone in hand. talking about what you are learning and they are learning online around the dinner table and throughout the day.” the intentional parenting core of homeschooling keeps technology usage in check, wielding its power only for good so children #LearnBetter. this and other topics on how to enrich learning in the digital age and how to make intentional parenting work will be discussed by Brad huddleston, Debra Bell, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael tan, and other expert educators at the 1st Global homeschool Conference on Oct. 13 at SMX Aura, SM Aura Premier in BGC, taguig City. the event is organized by homeschool Global, a learning enrichment services provider.

GhC 2018 will also feature special workshop tracks for teens and educators.

It features exciting keynote messages and workshops by homeschool pioneers and alumni alike, a homeschool exchange (business opportunities for homeschoolers by homeschoolers), various fun-filled activities for kids, and more. to cap off the day, homeschool Global will be hosting a “Showcase of talents,” featuring talented homeschoolers who shine in their chosen fields, as well as sought-after band Ben & Ben, whose member, Poch Barretto, is a product of homeschooling.

For more information on Homeschool Global, visit www.homeschoolglobal.com or call (02) 234-0432.

Digital platform

increases builders’ productivity

Entertainment

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

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Freestyle at Winford Manila WINFORD Manila Resort and Casino proves that the best things in life can indeed be free as it brings Freestyle, one of the Philippines’ best loved bands, for its Saturday Special show at the Hippodrome Bar and Lounge, located on the 2F gaming area on Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m.

Showing impressive flexibility and longevity, Freestyle has been making waves in a broad range of genres – from pop music, contemporary R&B, jazz, soul, funk, and pinoy rock – since the 1990s. Winford Manila guests will surely be swept off their feet upon hearing Freestyle classics such as “Before I Let You Go”, “So Slow”, “This Time”, and “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang.”

Freestyle is made up of Ava Santos (vocals), Joshua Desiderio (vocals/ keyboards), Mike Luis (vocals/ keyboards), Rommel dela Cruz (bass guitar), along with Gerald Banzon (drums) and Top Suzara (lead guitar/ backing vocals) who have both been with the band since 1996.

Free admission for casino floor viewing for all Winford Manila members and guests who are 21 years old and above.

Winford Manila members and guests who want a more intimate concert experience can avail of VIP tickets for only P1,250 nett per person. Each ticket includes a prime seat near the Hippodrome stage and is inclusive of food and drinks.

Winford Manila offers world-class indulgences for the entire family, from the elegantly-appointed rooms, fine oriental cuisine, grand event halls, and world-class gaming and entertainment.

The resort also features a well-equipped fitness center, wellness spa, and heated roof deck pool.

Visit www.winfordmanila.com for more information or call the Winford Manila Resort and Casino reservations hotline at +63 (2) 528-3600 for inquiries and bookings.

Members of the R&B show band Freestyle

Lady Gracia a.k.a Ms. Trendy

WORK HARD, PLAY HARDER Barangay LS DJs on dealing with pressures of modern life J

UST Like everyone else, Papa Jepoy, Mama Belle, Papa Bol, and Lady Gracia also take time to pause and relax when the workday is done.

Aptly dubbed as ‘The MVP’, Papa Jepoy loves to play basketball during his free time and shared that it is also his way of bonding with his sons.

“Playing basketball helps me focus and it helps me think clearly. Healthy lifestyle na rin for the body and mind.”

Mama Belle is the Barangay’s ‘Squad Leader’ who looks after her fellow DJs as a reliable friend during challenging times.

Whenever she feels stressed, she makes sure that she is surrounded by supportive friends. Having a pet dog named Bong Soon also keeps her company and cheers her up during bad days.

“She is my stress reliever whenever she plays games with me. Ako kasi, kapag alam kong may masaya dahil sa akin or sa ginawa ko, nakakapagpasaya na rin ‘yun sa akin.”

On the other hand, listeners got even more kilig to know that Papa Bol’s current hobby is archery as ‘Mr. Dreamboy’ is slowly becoming a real-life cupid just like what he does in his on-air dating program Wanted Sweetheart.

“I really fell in love with archery. Lalo na when you fix your gaze on the target, it’s like setting your goals and hitting the mark. It helps me focus so I can achieve my goals and helps me fight stress.”

Lady Gracia, the latest addition to the Barangay, shared that solo

travelling is her way of spending ‘me’ time. She also says that going to the beach helps ‘Ms. Trendy’ maintain a balanced outlook in life.

“Kapag beach ang pinupuntahan ko, sinisigurado kong naaabutan ko talaga yung sunset kasi ang sarap lang umupo sa sand habang nakatingin ka sa papalubog na araw.”

For them, such activities help them have a more positive attitude in their daily lives. They also encourage their listeners to learn something new and do something they really enjoy in order to keep the negativity at bay.

“When you play basketball, you can develop your confidence and self-esteem.

Mage-enjoy ka na, nakakapayat pa,” said Papa Jepoy.

“We should look at things in a positive way. Kasi kung wala kang outlet or support group, mahihirapan ka talaga.

Kaya nga we have friends, pets, sports, etc.,” Mama Belle added.

“Don’t be afraid to venture in life because it has a lot of exciting things to offer,” Papa Bol assured.

“Dapat meron ka talagang time for yourself. Look for popular destinations online. Ang uso ngayon ay mga undiscovered locations,” encouraged Lady Gracia.

To get to know more of Papa Jepoy, Mama Belle, Papa Bol, and Lady Gracia, catch them on Barangay LS 97.1 Tugstugan na! Listeners may also tune in via live audio stream at www.gmanetwork. com/radio/streaming/dwls.

Acclaimed tenor Arthur Espiritu performs for CCP Special Concert Series WORLD renowned tenor Arthur Espiritu’s performs a solo concert for the CCP Special Concert Series on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater The acclaimed classical artist will sing works

by Donaudy, Faure, Gounod, Schubert, Richard Strauss, Lizst, Tchaikovsky and Gerry de Leon. Collaborating pianist is Mariel Ilusorio.

Arthur Espiritu finished his studies in Music Performance with an Artist Diploma from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music under the studio of the late Vocal Pedagogy Richard Miller. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master in Music Performance from the University of New Orleans under the studio of Dr. Raquel Cortina.

His current teachers are Dr. Raquel Cortina in New Orleans and Dr. Robert C. White Jr. in New York.

Mr. Espiritu has portrayed many leading tenor roles in North America, Europe, and Asia. He just returned from European tour where he performed the role of Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata with Oper Klosterneuburg in Vienna over the summer then once again played the role of Cassio in Verdi’s Otello with Frankfurt Opera.

Mr. Espiritu has sung in notable places and organizations such as Teatro alla Scala, Théâtre des Champs-Élysée, Sydney Opera House Opera Australia, Teatro Piccolo Milano, Oper Leipzig,

Santa Fe Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Marlboro Music Festival, Louisiana Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Opera of Versailles, Brucknerhaus in Linz, La Verdi Symphony Orchestra in Milan, Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore, Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert hall, Baden-Baden Festspiele, and many more through the years since 2008 when he started his professional career.

Arthur Espiritu is a winner of the distinguished 2009 George London Award. Furthermore he won the La Scala award at the Belvedere Competition in 2007. He then won top prizes in voice competitions such as The Irene Dalis Competition Opera San Jose, California, Opera Birmingham Voice Competition, Alabama, Finalist and 2nd Prize winner of The Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, winner of numerous NATS competitions both regionals and nationals, and 2nd Prize winner of the National Opera Association Competition in New York.

Arthur will give a voice masterclass to 12 of the most advanced music students from colleges/conservatories of music on Sept. 27 to 29, with a Culminating Recital on Sept. 30 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

For ticket inquiries please call 832-3706. For more information on the masterclass please email ccp.artist.training@gmail.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, September 20, 2018

ACROSS 1 Airline ticket word 4 Engrossed 8 Sir’s companion 12 Blackjack 13 To be, to Henri 14 Emmy-winning Ed 16 Earthenware pot 17 Au — (nanny) 18 Stricter than strict 19 Festive night 20 Tropical bookworms?

(2 wds.)

22 Air passage 24 Face-off 25 That ship 26 Livy contemporary 28 Gulf st.

31 Strides along 34 — Zeppelin 35 Wheedle 36 Teacup handles 37 Pepys’ book 38 Ready a razor 39 Wing tip 40 Skillfully 41 Gave a leg up 42 It may be tidy 43 Sourdough strikes 44 Financial mag 45 Like French

toast 47 Comedy trio 51 Aromatic pod (2 wds.)

55 Sumac of Peru 56 Drool over 57 Bona fide 58 Tar’s jug 59 Policy addendum 60 — spumante 61 1970 Kinks’ tune 62 Animal shelters 63 Autumn pear 64 Mao — -tung DOWN 1 Car import 2 Specks on a globe 3 Triumphant shout 4 Mend 5 — — costs 6 Straitlaced 7 Yukon, briefly 8 Raid 9 Stage whisper 10 Airy cake (2 wds.)

11 Israel’s Golda 12 “Fargo” director 15 Hwys.

20 CEO, often 21 Uplift 23 Those here 26 Paperless

exams 27 Fluctuate 29 Bowling alley part 30 Pink-slipped 31 Smaller quantity 32 Magnum venue 33 Stroll 34 Mocking comment 35 Baja youngster 37 Hannah of “Splash” 41 Prolific auth.

43 Gawkers

44 Slanted 46 Contributed 47 Airliner capacity 48 Pita treats 49 Rousseau novel 50 Extended narrative 51 Tape player 52 Dry as dust 53 Sheik or sultan 54 “Eso —” (Paul Anka tune) 58 Lunch counter order

Janeena gets a boost at DARE

By Robbie Pangilinan TV PRESENTER, online influencer, lifestyle blogger and model Janeena Chan attributes her energy and beauty to a new-found secret shared to her by clinical and cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Jean Marquez, founder of DARE Clinic.

The IV Nutrient Therapy is a customizable cocktail of electrolytes, essential amino acids, nonessential amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals that gives conditionspecific solutions to each patient. It has everything Janeena needs with her busy lifestyle – a brain, immune, sports, anti-inflammatory, metabolism and detox booster. It also has a skin bright and skin rebirth effect.

“The IV Nutrient Therapy may be used weekly over a course of three to five weeks. It boosts the brain by increasing energy and blood flow to the nerves, and providing antioxidants to the brain,” explains Dr. Jean, one of the most prominent and sought after dermatologists in the country today.

“It boosts the immune system by improving cell energy and membrane strength, reducing oxidative stress, and providing micronutrients to strengthen and help immune function.

And it is an anti-Inflammatory boost, combating inflamation and addressing migraine, fatigue, asthma, allergies, sinusitis, upper respiratory infections, and even side effects of hangovers,” she adds.

Besides brain boost and immune

boost, what Janeena likes about the IV Nutrient Therapy is the effect it has on her skin. The IV drip improves dry skin, sun spots, and dull skin by delivering rich antioxidants, reducing melanin production, and hydrating the skin. It makes the skin look younger by hydrating and rejuvenating the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production, restoring radiance, cleansing vital organs, and preventing and reversing the effects of free radicals.

Currently the TV Host in Upfront at the UAAP on S+A (Sports and Action) and ABS-CBN, and the main host of Chinoy TV on ANC, Janeena also feels that the therapy boosts her energy levels. Dr. Jean, a huge advocate of natural-looking results, says that it infuses only the most natural components that can naturally be found in your body.

“Not that Janeena needs these, but the treatment is also good for melanoma, rhytides, sun spots, dry skin, eczemas, acne, chronic fatigue, and dull skin from smoking. It boosts detoxification for smokers, for those with unhealthy diets, and for those who have been exposed to toxic chemicals and radiation during travel or in construction sites. And it combats weight gain by enhancing your metabolism to promote natural weight loss,” adds Dr. Jean, a pioneer in laser treatments in the country.

For other patients, the IV Nutrient Therapy helps combat brain fog, improve memory and concentration, and provide support for persons with brain atrophy atherosclerosis, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. The treatment is good to fight off active infections, aid in surgical wound healing, provide pre-surgery health reinforcement, and support for those undergoing antimicrobial therapies and chemotherapy.

Try the IV Nutrient Therapy like Janeena. Visit DARE at ESNA Building, Timog Avenue, Quezon City. Call 374-8087 / 374-1076 for your appointment.

TV personality and online influencer Janeena Cha

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Karla’s way to soothe away stress Karla Estrada joins Danarra brand manager Sheena Labor in a media launch held at Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC.

By Darwin Pesco HOW to be happy amid busy days?

Celebrity mom Karla Estrada imparted that all she needs is simplicity to find happiness in spite of daily challenges in her family and in work.

“It sounds cliché-ish but simple things really make you happy.”

Asked regarding her routine to get away from stress, Estrada shared that having time with her children makes her happy as she said the obstacles of being a mom and a celebrity in the launching event of Danarra Aromatherapy Oil. “Lahat ng material things na magaganda lilipas, pagsasawaan mo talaga,” Karla said.

As a “rock n’ roll” mom, listening to music is a therapy for her to cope with stress for at the age of 9, she already started singing.

Despite being busy, Karla and her children still have time to bond. Movie time in a room and going to a beach sans extravagance are their definition for a perfect family moment.

“I’m so thankful because my children don’t just listen to me, they also follow whatever I say,” the Magandang Buhay host said as she also praised her children for still having time with their family amid their busy schedules.

“If you’re generous you’ll get all the blessing,” she said with emphasis as she also believes that generosity is essential in everyone.

Just like Karla, most Filipino workers

are hustling daily. Stressful environment plays part in everyone’s daily routines.

Soothing balms are usual ally to relax.

With the effects that are enhanced by the relaxing and refreshing fragrances, Danarra Aromatherapy Oil has fine fragrance oils, which outstands the other brands.

Derived from the word “Nadarra,” which in the Scottish Gaelic vocabulary means “natural”, Danarra and its symbol Celtic knots imply interconnectedness between a person and nature.

With the promise of relieving stress, Danarra Aromatherapy Oil helps boost mental activity, provide a calming effect to relieve headache, nervous exhaustion, and restlessness and makes everyone feel fresh and energized.

Danarra Aromatherapy Oil, with its sleek and handy roll-on packaging for purse- and pocket-friendly use is available in six variants: Danarra Classic Menthol Destress for sinus care and help with motion sickness and itchiness due to insect bites; Danarra Green Tea Clear Mind helps to relax, calm and soothe you making you feel fresh and energized; Danarra Lavender Relaxing Sleep for eliminating nervous tension and aids in providing relaxing sleep; Danarra Young Cool and Fresh for cooling wind effect and freshness of air; Danarra Flowery Citrus Energy Giving with hint of citrus and flowers; and Danarra Sport Mood Booster for active lifestyle.

Danarra Aromatherapy Oil can be anyone’s ally against stress at the price of P89.00 only and available at all Mercury Drug Stores nationwide.

BIG STARS

to CELEBRATE

with teachers in tribute concert

A

T THE grand press gathVERY ering for Gabay Guro WANG 2018 held on Monday, an NICKIE entertainment columnist pointed WANG out, “Gabay Guro has done more for the teachers than what the concerned agency should be doing for them. We hope the government starts recognizing your contribution.”

The day John Lennon quit Lennon and McCartney responded, “I thought it was you three.” To cut the story short he YUGEL returned, with George LOSORATA arranging for his drum kit to be decked with flowers.

While Lennon was coaxed not to tell the public of his announcement, he kept his word and never came back to see the other three in one room. He was on vacation when a Beatles session took place in January 1970 to properly record the Harrison-penned “I Me Mine.”

In his book Here, There and Everywhere, recording engineer Geoff Emerick looked back and said, “Nothing got done unless Paul approved of it.” Interestingly it was Paul’s marketing ploy to promote his solo album that word officially got out they were no more. In a press release he somewhat prepared himself, he revealed he sees no resumption of the LennonMcCartney partnership, resulting to the April 1970 global headline, “Paul quits The Beatles.”

The dissolution of The Beatles while they were still relatively on top of their game was, for me, fittingly right.

Recording a swan song like “Abbey Road” highlighted by that much-hailed zebra crossing album cover was Michael Jordan hitting the championship clinching shot in his last game in Chicago Bulls uniform.

Somehow they knew it was coming since “Abbey Road” finishes with a group track called “The End.” The decade they so dominated was about to give way to a new. The dream, as Lennon would say in a post-Beatles number, is over.

A photograph taken on Sept. 20, 1969 at the meeting where John Lennon blurted out he was leaving The Beatles for good. From left, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, Allen Klein (band representative at the time renegotiating The Beatles contract with EMI/Capitol), Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. (photo from beatlesbible.com)

Filipino teachers, the star-studded event features celebrity performances led by Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Jaya, Gabby Concepcion, Randy Santiago, and Christian Bautista, among others.

As a grand treat to teachers, Gabay Guro is also raffling off exciting prizes, including gift certificates, smartphones and gadgets, home appliances, livelihood packages, vehicles, and a brand new house and lot.

“Gabay Guro’s annual Grand Gathering is our big ‘Thank You’ to all our beloved teachers who dedicate their life to the invaluable role of educating our children,» said Gabay Guro Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla.

“They are our partners in nationbuilding through education, and we look forward to continuing our mission to support and uplift them as we mark our 11th year,” she added.

Award-winning advocacy program

THE BEATLES

ON THIS same day in 1969, the late John Lennon informed the other lads he was leaving The Beatles.

It was at a business meeting where he decided to tell the others, “I want a divorce” and “the group’s over.” Surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were present whileGeorge Harrison, who died in 2001, was visiting his mom and not around to hear Lennon’s bold declaration.

The meeting took place at the Apple headquarters in London’s 3 Savile Row where on its roof they performed their remarkable last public performance months before. On their way out that day, Lennon told his then new wife Yoko Ono, “It’s just you and me now.”

Exactly a month before that, all four Beatles were together for the last time at their famous recording studio in Abbey Road. Two days after at John’s Georgian county house called Tittenhurst Park, the band reconvened for what became their final photoshoot.

The Beatles began 1969 in front of the camera being filmed rehearsing. At one point George snapped and sarcastically told the supposedly overbearing Paul that “whatever you want me to play I’ll do it.”

He eventually ‘quit’ but then came back a few days after to wrap up the “Let It Be” shoots.

Of the four, it was Ringo who first made the move to leave while recording the tension-filled White Album in 1968, or some 50 years ago. He did not attend sessions for Back in the USSR and Dear Prudence because he felt “the others were close and he wasn’t playing great.” Both

Music icons Jaya, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid performing in one of the previous editions of Gabay Guro Grand Gathering.

Gabay Guro Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla at the unveiling of this year’s Gabay Guro Train, an experiential ride for student and teacher passengers of LRT.

True enough, since its inception, Gabay Guro has built and donated over 40 classrooms nationwide and provided over 1,300 scholarship grants through its 47 partner schools. Of its scholars, 800 have graduated, with 234 finishing with honors. Over 500 graduates have also passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.

Established in 2007, Gabay Guro aims to honor and empower teachers across the country through seven pillars: housing and educational facilities; scholarships; trainings; livelihood programs; broadbanding and computerization; innovations; and the Teachers’ Tribute.

Over the years, more than 40,000 educators have also benefited from Gabay Guro’s regular training programs,

which include personality development, emotional intelligence, English proficiency, information technology, leadership, and creativity, among others. To promote an innovative mindset and unlock opportunities for teachers, school leaders, staff, Gabay Guro also links schools to communities and industries through workshops and interactive seminars.

In time for National Teacher’s Month, PLDT-Smart Foundation’s education advocacy and flagship program Gabay Guro is celebrating its 11th anniversary by bringing together thousands of teachers from all over the country for the muchawaited Grand Gathering 2018 on Sept.

23, Sunday, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Organized as the biggest tribute for

Korea’s biggest action-fantasy ends with a bang HWAYUGI: A Korean Odyssey,, bannered by Lee Seung Gi and Oh Yeon-So,, is down to its finale week on ABS-CBN. The modern Korean take on the Chinese literature classic Journey to the West pits Lee Seung Gi’s Son Oh-gong against the love of his life Yumi, played by Yeon-So, in numerous trials.

The last week promises to be full of action, twists, and turns, as Oh-gong and Yumi face the possibility of sacrificing their love for each other. The bracelet on Oh-gong’s wrist remains to be the key in averting the crisis with the Black Dragon spirit, but may make him fall out of love with Yumi once he takes it off, as they are destined to battle each other.What happens now that Oh-gong knows he is also destined to end the life of the love of his life? Are there preparations enough to beat the Black Dragon’s spirit? Will he choose duty over love or will he follow what his heart is yearning for in Yumi?

Will they save the world but at the same time lose each other?

Don’t miss the finale of Hwayugi: A Korean Odyssey after Halik on ABS-

Over the years, Gabay Guro has teamed up with various organizations, including companies within the PLDT Group, to improve the quality of life of teachers and their families by launching livelihood programs for teachers.

The organization has also partnered with local government units to bring the “Grand Gathering” experience to the provinces through the “Teacherfest” celebration, which was recently held in Bataan, Butuan, and Bulacan, and will soon be staged in Ilocos, Cebu, and Davao.

Gabay Guro’s efforts have been recognized by various award-giving bodies including Gawad Tanglaw, Anvil Awards, Philippine Quill Awards, and the Philippine Association of National Advertisers Awards.

The event is exclusive to teachers, and admission is free. For a chance to secure tickets, teachers may visit Gabay Guro’s official Facebook account at www.facebook.com/gabayguro and follow its official accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @PLDTGabayGuro for updates.

South Korean actors Lee Seung-gi and Oh Yeon-seo, stars of fantasy series 'Hwayugi: A Korean Odyssey.'