Manila Standard - 2018 September 21 - Friday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circ@manilastandardtoday.com

New landslide kills 12 in Cebu Muddy slope crashes into 10 homes

By Nat Mariano

T VOL. XXXII • NO. 218 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Crime rate at record low —SWS; Palace lauds poll THE number of people falling prey to crime and violence continues to decline, Social Weather Stations said in a report released Thursday.

Its Second Quarter 2018 survey found 5.3 percent of the respondents, representing 1.2 million families, reporting being the victims of common crimes within the past six months.

In other developments: • Malacañang on Thursday welcomed the SWS survey showing

WELVE people were killed and dozens were missing after a landslide unleashed by monsoon rains struck Thursday in Naga City, Cebu.

The new tragedy comes just days after the year’s most powerful storm, Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut), pounded the nation’s north with heavy winds and rain, sparking a separate landslide that left dozens dead.

Emergency workers in helmets and locals with shovels rushed to search for survivors of the new disaster, which hap-

pened in the village of Tinaan in Cebu.

Days of heavy monsoon rains caused a steep slope of crumbly limestone to collapse and crash into at least 10 homes early Thursday when many people would still have been in bed.

“Even four-story houses are buried,” said witness John Rhay Repuesto Echavez, who also saw the human toll of the landslide.

Next page

the percentage of common crime victims at a “record-low” of 5.3 percent.

“The number of crimes has decreased and the people themselves said this,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

• The Philippine National Police said the results of the latest SWS survey was a testament to the merits and sincerity of the government’s campaign against crime and illegal Next page drugs.

SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS. Rescuers display Thursday some frenetic rush to look for survivors at a landslide site in Naga City in Cebu, where at least three people were killed and 10 homes swept away when savage monsoon rains triggered a landslide in a rural farming community. AFP

‘Ompong’ death toll rises to 88; Itogon searchers step up rescue

By Maricel V. Cruz RECOVERY efforts continued Thursday in areas hit by landslides in the wake of Typhoon “Ompong.”

Police counted 88 confirmed fatalities and said 64 were missing. Of the total deaths, 72 were from the Cordillera region.

In the town of Itogon, Benguet alone, 57 people remained trapped under the mud, where a landslide buried bunk hous-

16, not 10, mayors were missing at Ompong’s height

By Francisco Tuyay

Photo by Sonny Espiritu

Espenido rapped for Ozamiz raid

No more fancy rice if Piñol has his way

By Rey E. Requejo THE Justice department said Thursday its prosecutors had recommended the indictment of Ozamiz City police chief Jovie Espenido for six counts of homicide in connection with the June 2017 police raid that resulted in the death of several people.

The police claimed that the slain men were members of the Martilyo [Hammer] robbery gang operating in Ozamiz.

In a resolution dated July 30 but was only released to reporters on Thursday, the prosecutors said they had found probable cause to Next page

NOT 10 but 16 mayors from the Cordillera and Cagayan Valley regions, two of the hardest-hit areas of Typhoon “Ompong,” were given five days to explain why they should not be sanctioned for negligence for being away from their posts during the critical hours of the storm.

In a TV interview, Interior Undersecretary for Peace and Order Bernardo Florece said they have already identified the 16 mayors but declined to divulge their names pending the results of an ongoing investigation.

“We started from 10 and when we validated, now we have 16—all mayors,” Florece said.

Florece said they will determine from their explanation if their absence was justifiable.

Next page

74 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. With only 93 days to Christmas Eve in predominantly Christian Philippines, early Yuletide shoppers have started to feast their eyes on different lights at a Pasay City Mall. Ey Acasio

AGRICULTURE Secretary Manny Piñol said Thursday he would seek a ban on the importation of “fancy” varieties next year, now that the National Food Authority is under his supervision.

“What is happening is, instead of bringing down the price, [we have] imported fancy rice—asmine, long grains—[which] are actually being sold at as much as P58 per kilo. So where are the low prices?” Piñol said in Filipino on UNTV. “Next year, the importing of fancy rice should be disallowed. Let’s let local farmers plant the fancy rice and sell these at a good price. Our imported rice should fill the supply gap—and this should not be fancy rice,” he continued.

Next page

es for miners, Mayor Victorio Palangdan said on radio dzMM. As the grim search continued, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo expressed support for the total prohibition of open-pit mining to prevent the further degradation of mountains and waterways.

At a congressional hearing of the House committee on ways and means, Arroyo proposed the inclusion of a provision Next page

Palace: Much ado about anthem’s line

By Nat Mariano and Macon R. Araneta MALACAÑANG said there are more important things for Congress to tackle instead of amending the last line of the national anthem “Lupang Hinirang.”

Next page

Failed switch leads to cockpit mix-up MUMBAI—A cockpit mix-up left more than 30 passengers on an Indian plane bleeding from their ears and noses Thursday after the crew forgot to flick a switch regulating cabin air pressure. Next page

News

A2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

People's tribunal ruling a sham—Rody T

By Nat Mariano HE International People’s Tribunal’s conviction of President Rodrigo Duterte is a “sham” and “useless piece of propaganda,” the Palace said Thursday after the international court found the President guilty of crimes against humanity.

“That’s a sham decision. It has no official sanction. The validity of the findings will depend on the credibility of the tribunals,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

He said the IPT appeared to be “a propaganda body of the international left.”

“Therefore, we set it aside as being a useless piece of propaganda against the government,” Roque said.

He said in the field of international law, even if it was not official, the ruling could have a bearing depending on the stature of the individual sitting in the court.

“For instance, for comfort women, we had a comfort women tribunal here in Asia, but the people who sat there as judges include really individuals who later on were appointed to the international court of justice because they had the highest qualification,” Roque said.

“One who was a prosecutor for the UN war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia, another was appointed the high commissioner for human rights. It’s like that.

“But when I looked at the roster, I don’t really know them. It’s really just the leftists who happened to be ‘white’ and sympathetic to the Philippine left.”

IPT’s ruling, handed out by a jury, convicted Duterte for gross human rights abuses covering the President’s deadly war on drugs and the implementation of

martial law in Mindanao, among other things.

“We heard the summary testimonies of witnesses―many of them heart-wrenching, traumatic and horrific―experts and resource persons, as well as the digests of the wealth of data, information, facts, analyses and other evidence presented and submitted before us,” the jury said in its decision.

“The abundant evidence adduced before us leads to the indubitable conclusion that indeed Defendant Duterte’s policy pronouncements, statements, and actions are in brazen violation of a slew of people’s rights.”

Meanwhile, National Union of People’s Lawyers president Edre Olalia called the tribunal a “legitimate” people-initiated platform for looking for justice.

“Its biggest value is its strong moral suasion and political push that would complement the overall efforts from all

sources in the ultimate search for justice,” Olalia said in a statement.

“It delivers a message and a lesson to leaders, governments and institutions that they cannot simply get away with their responsibility and accountability to the people by using the very rules to oppress, exploit and repress them.”

The President’s co-defendants, such as United States President Donald Trump, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and unidentified “transnational corporations and foreign banks doing business in the Philippines” did not participate in the proceedings.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Karapatan presented the case against the President to the IPT this week.

The verdict will then be forwarded to the International Criminal Court where the President faces two sets of charges for alleged extrajudicial killings.

New LPA brewing over Mindanao

A WEEK after typhoon “Ompong” pounded Northern Luzon, another low pressure area is brewing to become a tropical cyclone, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Thursday.

Weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said the LPA was spotted at 2,300 kilometers east of Mindanao “or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility” is forecast to develop into another typhoon by Friday evening or Saturday morning.

It if enters the PAR, the tropical cyclone would be named “Paeng,” he said.

“Based on our [weather] satellite data, it [“Paeng”] would not make landfall,” he said, adding “but it would come closer to Batanes.”

“So far, we do not expect it [brewing tropical cyclone to affect the southwest monsoon,” he said.

“Still, we do not rule out the possibility to have strong rains,” he added.

Quitlong, however, said the cyclone could strengthen into a storm by Sunday or Monday.

“Based on our data,” the coming typhoon would not be that strong as that of “Ompong” that triggered landslides and floods, and wreaked havoc on the lives and properties of the people in Luzon, particularly in Northern Luzon.

Rio N. Araja

’Ompong’...

From A1 in House Bills 442 and 7994 that would explicitly disallow open-pit mining.

The two bills seek to establish a fiscal regime for the mining industry.

“Our bill will specifically, will explicitly prohibit open-pit mining as defined and give a grace period to be determined by the [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] during which they pay the tax that you say will kill the industry,” Arroyo said.

At the same time, Arroyo also pressed for a clear definition of “open-pit” mining as the House has yet define what it is.

Arroyo also urged the mining sector to confer with the Department of Finance on the sector’s proposal regarding the tax on mining.

She gave the DOF three days to submit their suggestions on her proposed provision. If none are received, the House would continue to draft the bills, she said.

Arroyo set the deadline after learning from Gloria Tan Climaco, a member of the board of trustees of the Chamber of Mines, that it was not the DOF’s priority to implement a fiscal regime in the mining industry.

“So I suggest that the industry submit the paper to him (Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez), since he has not yet sent a communication that says, notwithstanding the President’s statement, it is not his agenda, because that is what I am asking for,” Arroyo said.

“In the meantime, we presume it is his but we are not going to wait forever. Send it today, and if we do not hear from him in three days, then we will make our own committee report,” she added.

In his last State of the Nation Address, President Duterte warned the mining industry to improve its operations as the government will be imposing new mining policies.

“To the mining industry, I say this once again and maybe for the last time: Do not destroy the environment or compromise our resources,” Duterte said. “Repair what you have mismanaged. Try to change management radically because this time you will have respective policies. The prohibition of open-pit mining is one,” he added. With PNA

Palace:...

From A1

“We leave that up to Congress. There are more serious problems that we need to face,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

Roque’s statement came on the heels of the suggestion of Senate President Vicente Sotto III to replace the “defeatist” part of the national anthem—“Ang mamatay nang dahil sa ‘yo”—with “Ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo.”

The national anthem was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe while its lyrics were adapted from a Spanish poem written by Jose Palma in 1899.

Sotto made the suggestion as the Senate tackled Senate Bill No. 102 seeking to amend the flag by adding a ninth ray in its sun.

Senator Richard Gordon, who sponsored the bill, said there is a need to increase the rays of the sun to represent Filipino Muslims who fought against the Spaniards.

“I think inclusion should be the policy—to include our brother Muslims,” Gordon said.

DIGGING FOR LIFE. Rescuers dig for survivors at a landslide site in Naga City on the popular tourist island of Cebu on Sept. 20,

2018. At least 12 people were killed and 10 homes buried when heavy monsoon rains unleashed a landslide in a rural farming community, authorities said. AFP

New...

From A1

“[My neighbor] was crying right in front of her sister’s house. There was nothing left, not even the rooftop was visible,” he told AFP. “Her sister’s whole family was buried.”

Injured survivors were wheeled into the back of ambulances and the dead were laid on pews at a local church.

“We have 12 dead now,” civil defense spokesman Julius Regner told AFP, adding at least 50 people were still believed missing.

“There are more than 100 rescuers on the site. They are using backhoes [excavators] and other heavy equipment,” he added.

Civil defense officials in the region said landslides are fairly rare on Cebu, an elongated island with low hills.

As Thursday’s search for survivors unfolded, efforts continued in the hunt for bodies in the mining area of Itogon, Ben-

No...

From A1

Piñol said he check on the price of commodities at the Commonwealth Market Thursday, and found that traders have complied with the price ceiling on several vegetables, such as onions.

Red and white onions now sell at P50 to P60 per kilogram from the previous P100 to P120 per kilo, he said.

However, he expressed dismay over the price of well-milled rice, still stands at P55 per kilo.

Piñol said his priority as the new chairman of the NFA Council is to solve the rice mess and lower the price of the grain by increasing the volume of NFA rice in the market.

“The only way we could address this problem is to flood the market with NFA rice,” he said. “This is the only way we can control the price manipulation of the traders and middlemen in the market.”

Piñol said he already has President Rodrigo Duterte’s go-signal to push through with more imports to fill up all NFA rice outlets in the country, noting that the NFA still has P12 billion to use.

The Palace said the President expects the Department of Agriculture to be efficient, following his executive order transferring supervision of the NFA, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority from the Office of the President.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Palace expects closer coordination among the agencies, now that the DA is in control.

“We are expecting that the Department of Agriculture will be efficient in determining when the country needs to import rice because they have the data themselves,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing Thursday. “[They know] how much the local farmers have produced, and how much we need to import to supply the demand of the market,” he said.

“The agencies were separated in a time when Senator [Francis] Pangilinan needed a job,” Roque said, referring to the Aquino administration’s transfer of supervision of the NFA to a food czar. Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

guet, in the mountainous north, the area worst hit by the typhoon.

Most of those killed in the storm died in landslides in the Cordillera range, which includes Itogon and other towns in a region known for gold mining.

Police said on Thursday that the death toll rose to 88, primarily due to corpses recovered from the Itogon landslide.

Ompong swamped fields in the nation’s agricultural north and smashed houses when it tore through at the weekend.

Itogon is one of the country’s oldest mining hubs, with known gold panning activity stretching back to before the 17th-century Spanish colonial conquest.

Thousands of people from all over the country still flock to the upland town seeking their fortune in largely unregulated mining, which is accompanied by periodic deadly accidents.

The Palace said the government would study all options to prevent further loss of life following the deadline landslide in

Cebu, and would extend assistance to the victims of the latest disaster.

The series of landslides led Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to declare a halt to small-scale mining in the entire Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Palace on Wednesday already said the government wants to implement rehabilitation projects in areas of CAR similar to the cleanup in Boracay.

President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, has raised the possibility that he may ask Congress to repeal the mining law to shut down the industry.

Apo Land and Quarry Corp., which has quarrying rights to the area hit by the landslide, said it has not yet started operations there.

“Operating in the area is not part of our pipeline this year or next year,” a company representative, Chito Maniago, told the ANC news channel.

A statement issued by the company said it was cooperating with the local government in search and rescue operations. With AFP

Group rejects Uson apology for deaf video, files complaint

By Rio N. Araja and Nat Mariano THE Philippine Federation of the Deaf on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Drew Olivar before the Office of the Ombudsman for mocking the sign language.

Carolyn Dagani, the group’s president, along with Philippine Deaf Resource Center executive director Liza Martinez, Philippine Coalition on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities convenor Lauro Purcil, and their members filed the complaint against the two.

They said they could not accept their apology, and that Uson should be held accountable for her conduct unbecoming of a public official.

The complainants made their statement even as Malacañang said it will not object if the Office of the Ombudsman decides to dismiss Uson following her video mocking the sign language.

“If the Ombudsman decides she needs to be fired, we won’t object to that,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

He said the Executive Department will respect the decision of the Ombudsman.

“Let us wait for the decision of the Ombudsman because there is a complaint,” Roque said.

“The Ombudsman can order the dismissal of anyone in government because it is both an administrative and a criminal case.”

Said Dagani: What kind of a model is she?

Uson should resign, she said through an interpreter.

“Mocha Uson and Drew Olivar were laughing and making fun of us. Together, they stepped all over us and crushed us, killing our dignity. If only they realized what a rich visual language our Filipino sign language is,” her complaint read.

“Deaf people do not make fun of hearing people when they speak and use spoken languages and yet Mocha Uson and Drew Olivar mocked us. This is discrimination.”

Uson posted a 40-second video showing Olivar making fun of the sign language and making sounds as she was heard laughing in the background.

She even told Olivar that “you’re like a monkey.”

The duo had already apologized, but later on took down their public apology from their Facebook accounts.

But the deaf community rejected their apology, citing the disrespect, insult and ridicule they received.

“I have asked so many people and they do not want to accept their apology,” Dagani said.

Espenido...

From A1

16,...

From A1

performance of all other local chief executives to look at best practices that can be shared with other mayors.

Before the storm struck, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año had warned all mayors to be on site or face sanctions.

“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,” Año said.

If the mayor was out of the country on official travel, this would be a justifiable excuse, Año said.

Crime...

From A1

to street robbery, break-ins or carjackers within the past six months.

This was 1.0 point below the 6.1 percent in March 2018 and the lowest since the record-low 3.1 percent in June 2017.

Up to 61 percent of those who said a family member had been a victim of pickpocketing or robbery of personal property said the victims were women.

Families fearing burglaries fell by 12 points in Mindanao, from 54 percent in March 2018 to 42 percent in June 2018, the lowest since the 40 percent in September 2007.

Fear of burglaries, however, hardly changed in the Visayas, from 52 percent in March to 53 percent in June and rose by 9 points in Metro Manila, from 60 percent in March to 69 percent in June and in Luzon, from 52 percent in March to 58 percent in June.

Fear of unsafe streets went down in Mindanao, hardly changed in the Visayas and Metro Manila but rose in Luzon.

PNA, with Nat Mariano

hold Espenido, SPO4 Renato Martir Jr. and PO1 Sandra Nayag criminally liable for the death of the six suspects.

The department made its statement even as the Philippine National Police said Espenido had all the legal recourse to defend himself in court on the homicide charges filed against him.

Police spokesman Benigno Durana said they will be extending legal assistance to Espenido and two of his subordinates to defend themselves.

The case arose from the complaint filed

by Carmelita Manzano, wife of Francasio Manzano who was one of those killed in the police operation. Also killed in the operation are Manzano’s son Jerry, sonin-law Victorino Mirs Jr., nephew Lito Manisan, nephew-in-law Romeo Libaton and Alvin Lapeña.

Espenido and his co-accused earlier denied the charges and asked the Justice department to dismiss the complaint against them on the ground that what happened was a legitimate police operation. They said those killed were alleged members of the Martilyo robbery group involved in a series of robbery and shooting incidents in Ozamiz.

But the prosecutors led by Assistant State Prosecutor Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon said their admission that they killed the victims were adequate to warrant the filing of homicide charges against them.

“Unfortunately for the respondents, their admission of killing the herein victims is, on its own, sufficient to establish probable cause for the crime of homicide,” the prosecutors said.

They also cited a Supreme Court ruling that claims of lawful performance of duty were “not compelling enough to overcome a finding of probable cause.”

In the same resolution, the prosecutors dismissed the complaints for murder and arbitrary detention filed against Espenido and the other respondents for “lack of probable cause.”

Villordon said the qualifying circumstances needed to establish a case for murder, such treachery and cruelty, were not present in the crime.

With Francisco Tuyay

Failed...

From A1

scheduled duties pending investigation,” the company said in a statement.

People on board posted photos and videos of the calamity online, with one purported passenger, Darshak Hathi, uploading footage on Twitter showing travelers using oxygen masks.

“Panic situation due to technical fault in @jetairways 9W 0697 going from Mumbai to Jaipur,” he tweeted.

“Flt return back to Mumbai after 45 mts. All passengers are safe including me,” he added.

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a tweet it had sought an “immediate report” from official agencies.

The incident is the latest in a string of embarrassing incidents for the airline, which like other Indian carriers has been suffering financially.

In January, two Jet Airways pilots were grounded for getting into a brawl and storming out of the cockpit briefly during a New Year’s Day flight from London to Mumbai. AFP

“If not, we can file the complaint either through the Sangguninag Panlalawigan or the Ombudsman,” he said.

Penalties can range from a stern warning to dismissal from office.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government realized the mayors were not at their posts when they tried reaching them for updates and developments during the storm.

“These mayors were nowhere to be found,” Florece said.

Florece said they are also assessing the

The crimes reported by SWS include pickpocketing or robbery of personal property, break-ins, carjacking and physical violence.

“This is 1.3 points below the 6.6 percent in March 2018 and the lowest since the recordlow 3.7 percent in June 2017,” SWS said.

The survey also found a record-low 0.2 percent of families who reported members being hurt by physical violence within the past six months.

This was 0.4 point lower than the 0.6 percent in March 2018 and is 0.1 point below the previous record-low of 0.3 percent in June 2011 and June 2014.

Of those who reported to have had family members who had been victims of physical violence, the respondents said the victim was male.

The survey also found 5.1 percent or around 1.2 million families lost property

The Jet Airways flight to Jaipur had to turn back as the alarming symptoms became apparent, the airline said, with one traveler describing “panic” on board.

The plane carrying 166 passengers landed back in Mumbai and those affected were given medical attention while alternative flights were arranged, Jet Airways said.

The flight crew “has been taken off

News

A3

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House to work overtime to pass national budget —Nograles

ASSORTED VEGGIES. George Culaste, officer in charge director of Bureau of Plant Industry, inspects on Thursday one ton of assorted vegetables from Cagayan de Oro that will be on sold to the public under Department of Agriculture’s program ‘TienDAFarmers and Fisherfolks outlet’ at the BPI in San Andres, Malate in Manila.

Norman Cruz

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives will work double time to pass the proposed P3.757trillion national budget for 2019 before it adjourns session in October.

“We may have started the deliberations a little late, but we will do what is necessary to finish the budget on time, even if it means working until the wee hours of the morning,” Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said.

He added that the House will conduct exhaustive discussions and debates on the budget, as the chamber is now at a stage where it is required to scrutinize the National Expenditure Program submitted by the Executive Department.

The plenary debates on the budget measure has been delayed following the discovery of the alleged P50-billion insertions intended for specific legislative districts of some congressmen.

Nograles also said the House which was convened into committee of the whole “will decide where to put the money and what items will be funded.”

He said debates about the budget were a part of the process that would allow legislators to propose amendments to the budget so that funding can be made available for agencies they believe require it.

This developed as House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said the House was “off to a good a start” in deliberating on the money measure that was marred Monday by the alleged insertions in the next year’s appropriations.

“First day of budget debates was long but productive. Started 10 [o’ clock in the morning], finished almost 4 o’clock in the morning, the next day, or 18 hours, non-stop. This kind of marathon session is usually reserved for the last day. But the Speaker wanted all interpellation on agencies scheduled for the day to be finished regardless of time.,” Andaya said.

Last Wednesday, the House opened its plenary debates on House Bill 8169 after Compostella Valley Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, senior vice chairperson of the House appropriations committee, delivered her sponsorship speech.

US, PH reaffirm commitment under MDT

By Rey E. Requejo THE United States and the Philippines have reaffirmed their commitment under the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 during the official visit of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to the US Department of State in Washington, D. C. on Wednesday.

US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert disclosed that Lorenzana met with US State Secretary Michael Pompeo where the two officials tackled cooperation on addressing regional security challenges, including the militarization of the South China Sea. Nauert said that Pompeo has assured Lorenzana of the US readiness to continue its support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Lorenzana discussed cooperation on addressing regional security challenges, including the militarization of the South China Sea and the threats posed by terrorism and efforts to achieve denuclearization in North Korea,” Nauert said, in a statement released by the US State Department via US East Asia and Pacific Media Hub.

‘Sulu youths may have been killed by nerve suffocation’

By Nash B. Maulana and Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE seven young men earlier reported to have been killed in a military encounter with a bandits’ group in Patikul, Sulu, could have actually died of nerve gas suffocation, a resident helping seek justice for the victims’ families said on Thursday.

Dr. Raden Ikbala of the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Sulu said the victims’ bodies bore no gunshot wounds, and that this raised speculations that they were tortured and forcibly suffocated with something soaked into a Sarin nerve gas.

Ikbala, founder of the BassaKao (Read) Foundation, said the victims, whose age ranged 17-22, had sought permission from the 55th Infantry Battalion to harvest from fruit trees owned by their families in Sitio Bato, Barangay Kabuntakas, Patikul, near Jolo, Sulu last Friday.

Col. Gerry Besana, public affairs officer of the Western Mindanao Command, also said on Friday that seven Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed and that six others were wounded, including their leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

“Walang klarong putok sa ulo [There’s no visible gunshot wound in the head].

Each of the victims bore no gunshot in the body,” Ikbala said of the bodies of the seven young men.

Earlier, reports said the bodies of the victims, which were recovered the following morning at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force Sulu in Jolo, Sulu, “were riddled with bullets.”

Ikbala, however, said that no technical tests had yet been conducted to conclude that the victims were forced to smell the deadly Sarin nerve gas, or were injected with any deadly substance that might have caused their death.

But he said that residents and the victims’ families are still puzzled as how they died or were actually killed.

“Were they fed and forcibly made to swallow thorns of durian peels or were overfed with seeds of another fruit that could have possibly stopped their breathing?” Ikbala asked.

“Sarin is a nerve gas which victims of torture are forcibly made to smell or are suffocated with to cause instant death. It can also be mixed into a vial of medicine for a liquid injection,” Ikbala said.

Ikbala noted that the dead bodies in another photo of Sarin-poisoning victims had strong similarities with those of the young Tausug victims, who are now collectively known there as the “Patikul 7.”

Besana said a legitimate encounter took place between the Task Group Panther under Lt. Col. Samuel Yunque and Capt. Michael Asistores of the Scout Rangers and more than 100 Abu Sayyaf under Radulan Sahiron on Friday around 1:30 pm.

Their relatives said that on Sept. 14 at 9 a.m., the seven victims were allowed by the 55th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Issan to harvest fruits in Sitio Tubig Bato in Barangay Kabuntakas in Patikul.

But along the way, scout rangers reportedly from the 32nd Infantry Battalion allegedly “arrested them at 11:00 a.m.,” a relative of two of the victims said.

As this developed, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, a Muslim think tank based at the University of the Philippines, has called for an investigation into the deaths of the seven young men in Sulu and the recent bombings in several parts of Mindanao.

Gov’t to exercise maximum tolerance vs protesters

By Nat Mariano THE government will exercise maximum tolerance against protesters as anti-Duterte groups planned to stage demonstrations in various areas of Manila in commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, Malacañang said Thursday.

“Maximum tolerance is what is in the law and that is what the President follows even without the law, but more so since there is a law,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in a Palace press briefing Thursday afternoon.

Roque said that no one can complain that the Duterte is overly-sensitive as the President recognizes the importance of free speech.

“But more so, since there is a law, no

one can complain that the President is onion-skinned. He lets them protest as he recognizes the importance of free speech,” said Roque.

“So, we will give maximum tolerance to everyone, because after all the President was not the one who declared martial law on September 21 many years ago,” he added.

Asked to assess the threat against the administration, Roque said the anti-Duterte demonstrations are not something that the government cannot handle.

“It’s not anything that the State cannot deal with. Dream on to those who want to remove the President,” he said.

In his previous statement, Duterte claimed that several groups were planning for his ouster, or worse, assassina-

tion on Sept. 21.

“Someone said, that’s their plan now.

If they can’t achieve their goal through explosions, they will assassinate [me],” said Duterte in a one-on-one live interview with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo last week.

But he dares his perceived enemies to continue their plan early, and not wait until Sept. 21.

“Start it now, don’t delay your plan to sabotage on Sept. 21. Do it now,” he said.

Duterte earlier said he has in his possession a record of conversations, provided by sympathetic foreign governments, proving a “loose conspiracy” to oust him, involving the opposition Liberal Party, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and the communist rebels.

MWSS, Korean City seal MOU for water services

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco

IN A determined effort to improve Metro Manila’s overall sewerage coverage and wastewater management system, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Daegu Metropolitan City in a special ceremonies at the Korea International Water Week in Daegu Exco last Sept. 12, 2018.

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco signed the MOU with Daegu City Mayor Young Jin Kwon calling for mutual cooperation to meet head on challenges and opportunities that threaten the water supply system in the two metropolitan cities.

The MOU signing was part of the 2018 Korea International Water Week hosted by Daegu Metropolitan City where Velasco also served as one of the featured speakers at the 2018 International Water Business Workshop where he talked about water security and wastewater management as well as the relevance of the

MWSS-Daegu tieup.

Both leaders acknowledge the need to form an intercity network by developing the best solutions for common water problems and integrated water management.

Daegu is South Korea’s third largest city and the MOU is a welcome development for the Philippine water supply industry, particularly MWSS, following close bilateral relations forged during the June 2018 visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Korea.

The MOU calls for the two parties to work together to develop technical solutions to address water resources related challenges; develop the water industries in MWSS service areas as well as in Daegu; and, strengthen cooperation among water institutions in cities and municipalities covered by MWSS and in Daegu.

Based on mutual trust, the two parties have agreed to collaborate and support efforts to • Promote mutual cooperation to achieve the sustainable goals of MWSS

and Daegu; • Demonstrate leadership for water-centered urban development; • Strengthen cooperation networks between water-related businesses, universities, research institutes and water industry cluster-related organizations; • Jointly select, develop and implement regular cooperation programs such as workshops, seminars, and conferences for mutual exchange of information, policies and strategies necessary for water industry development; • Encourage mutual participation in water-related events of MWSS and in Daegu; • Strengthen information exchange and network between cities and institutions in order to cope with global water problems by developing integrated water resources management and seeking best solutions for water problems; and, • Cooperate to pioneer new markets and share strategic technologies in relation to two cities’ water and sewerage system.

Poe blasts ‘insensitive’ transport official

By Macon Ramos-Araneta A TRANSPORT official who said that driving a jeepney should no longer be viewed as a source of livelihood sparked outrage among drivers and operators and drew condemnation from Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee.

Poe slammed Transport Assistant Secretary Mark Richmund de Leon for his “insensitive” remarks in the face of uncertainties that jeepney drivers face when transport modernization fully rolls out.

“These people are so insensitive Ano, gigising ka nang napakaaga para mamasada, trip-trip lang ‘yon, para lang pampalipas oras? ‘Yung mga driver na nakapagtaguyod ng kanilang mga anak na nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral, bakit kaya nila ginagawa ang sakripisyong ito?” Poe said.

She also reminded transport officials to support those who will be affected by the modernization.

Poe noted that several transport groups have been complaining that the subsidy of P80,000 that they will receive is insufficient to purchase a “modern” jeepney that costs about P1.8 million.

“If P1.8 million, and then their subsidy is just small, how can they buy a jeep?

The DOTr should think about this matter,” she said.

“When you speak, you would think there’s no compassion, they’re insensitive,” Poe, who said that she was not against modernization nor the transport groups and leaders that she spoke with.

“Alam ko andiyan sila [Department of Transportation] para sa modernisasyon, nandiyan din naman ako, gusto rin naman nating maayos ang ating transportasyon. Pero ‘wag nilang kalilimutan na 600,000 mga driver ang naka-depende sa trabahong ‘yan,” Poe added.

‘Hike in prices will worsen malnutrition’ SENATOR Grace Poe has warned that the spike in rice and food prices will worsen child undernutrition—which afflicts 18 million children under 11— unless government spends in “full and without delay” this year’s P8.8 billion budget for school and day care feeding.

With food inflation hitting a record high of 8.5 percent last August, Poe said school and community kitchens are safety nets for children who are most vulnerable when food becomes more expensive.

“When food becomes scarce at home, then let us augment it with meals in schools and day care centers,” said Poe, the main author of Republic Act 11037 or the national feeding program law.

For 2018, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has been given P3.428 billion to provide 1.746 million “underweight and underheight” children five years old and below one meal a day for 120 days in more than 53,000 day care centers and community centers nationwide.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The blame game post-Ompong suspended by then DENR Secretary Lopez even as she was aware that there CROSSROADS had been no operations years before her assumption into office. Unfortunately, JONATHAN Lopez proceeded to do whatever suited DE LA CRUZ her as far as Benguet was concerned.

But, wonder of wonders, even as Lopez went about parading her ill impleIT’S blame throwing time after “Om- mented mining ban which ensnared pong.” Soon after it left the Philippine Benguet and other big miners, she Area of Responsibility and even as the never bothered to do anything about rescue and relief operations in the dev- the small-scale illegal miners including astated areas were in full swing, critics those in the Antamok area. It was clear started the finger-pointing game. she had made up her mind that Benguet The administration was ill prepared and the big miners were the ones doing to deal with the storm. It did not do all the damage she imagined happening enough to get people out of harm’s way. in the mining areas. She was oblivious It did not pre-position the required re- to the bigger and more permanent damsources. Relief was slow in coming. age done by illegal small mining opThere was neglect and selective distri- erators. And, of course, the dangers of bution of basic assistance. letting such runaway, unregulated opOther critics offered tips on how erations to proliferate. But Lopez had things should have made up her mind been done as if and that was that. they were able to Never mind that do things the right Benguet had aland responsible ready closed down We should look way during their its operations for solutions. time. in that landslide But the most prone area. Never ironic cut of all was mind that Benguet the outcry against had done all it can mining and in particular, Benguet Min- to ensure that mining operations cease ing Corporation, whose Antamok min- in Antamok. ing area was where the landslide—which Never mind that the company had killed at least 60 people in advised all concerned not to allow any Barangay Ucab—is located. Immedi- kind of mining and even habitation in ately, the anti-mining groups including the landslide-prone parts of the claimed former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez area. Never mind that the company pounced on the company as if its opera- even went to court against the illegal tions caused the said landslide. Worse, miners who defied its close-down inicritics like Fr. Edu Eriguez, the patron tiative and dug dog holes all over the of the anti-mining NGO Alyansa Tigil place.

Mina even accused BMC of negligence Never mind that Benguet told Lopez and lack of empathy and respect for the in 2017 that due to the continued operadead and their families. The facts belie tions of the illegal small-scale miners these charges. who may have been emboldened by her DENR-CAR said that as early as demonization of the large scale opera2011, the small miners have been ad- tors it was already going to turn over vised to stay out of the Antamok area the property to Lopez and the DENR. because it had been declared a geohazMore than that, it even advised the ard area, prone to landslides. Earlier, DENR to legalize the operations of the in 1992 Benguet suspended its under- small scale miners by organizing them ground mining operations and subse- into a Minahang Bayan so that their quently, in 1997, it also suspended its activities can be properly regulated by open-pit mining operations. government.

From then on, it closed down its unDespite that initiative and all its efforts derground tunnels and implemented to drive away the illegal operators in its its close-out plan under the supervi- Antamok area continued. In desperation, sion of the regulatory bodies. It also Benguet wrote DENR in May 2018, retold the local government unit and all questing assistance to permanently close stakeholders including the small-scale all illegal operations in the claimed area miners and the Itogon community not and the relocation of any and all displaced to venture into the area. The company miners to other more secure areas. even asked that temporary bunkers and It even offered DENR to allow it to shelters should be moved away from the duplicate its successful Big Brother abandoned areas. In fact, as Benguet project in its Acupan area of operations went about implementing its approved where the small miners were organized closed-down plans, its operation was Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

S

In no mood for rainbows OCIOECONOMIC Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia believes that the Philippines can hit upper-middle income status by next year.

By World Bank standards, upper middle income economies are those that have a gross national income per capita between $3,956 and $12,235.

Pernia is confident we would soon join our neighbors China, Thailand and Malaysia in the upper middle income category soon because GNI per capita is seen to hit over $4,000 next year.

Our current levels put us in the company of Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia in the lower middle-income group.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez added we should focus on our economy’s strengths – namely good rev-

enue, good credit rating, and a budget deficit that is within expectations.

We should see past the clouds, he said, and appreciate the rainbow instead.

“Upper middle income” is a nice phrase to hear, indeed.

It does not evoke uncertainty caused by soaring prices of goods and services, specifically rice and other food items. What record-high inflation rate of 6.4 percent in August? We are coming from an era of low inflation, Palace officials say. What P54-to-$1 exchange rate? Things could be worse, they add.

We should really not complain too much. That’s being

a crybaby—no less than the Budget Secretary, Benjamin Diokno, said.

But statuses and classifications are just terms. The World Bank could call its income groups by any other name for its own purposes.

For the greater lot of Filipinos, however, nomenclature has no value if they feel the pinch of difficult economic times from the time they rise to when they fall asleep.

We know our economic managers are doing everything they can to solve our difficulties. They should do so without belittling the sacrifices many are making.

After all, for millions of Filipinos, economic woes are not just numbers and categories but real and compelling daily experiences.

Why Cagayan mayors were in Manila Enrile said he would be willing to testify at a Senate or Department of the Interior and Local Government investigation on why the mayors were there.

ALEJANDRO Enrile said he too was in MalacaDEL ROSARIO ñang because of concern for his fellow Cagayanos whom he felt were not beTHERE’S a lot of furor over reports ing served well Governor Mamba. He that the Cagayan vice governor and 10 also revealed the vice governor, some municipal mayors were in Manila at provincial board members and the 10 the height of hurricane “Ompong.” The mayors were bitter political enemies of truth of the matter was the mayors were Mamba. Hence, the false report to put called to Malacanang by President them in a bad light.

Duterte to discuss contingency plans Lest Mamba impute political reason for Ompong’s onto his defending slaught in Cagayan the mayors and The mayors why he is often in traveled the nearCagayan on weekly 15-hour drive ends, Enrile emThey were called to from Cagayan to phasized neither Manila not even discuss how to serve he nor his son, stopping to rest their province best.

Jackie, want to go because they did into politics again. not want to be late “I’m fine where for the MalacaI am, out of poliñang meeting.. tics and merely Unfortunately, Ompong hit Cagayan, offering my thoughts and experience to Isabela and the northern parts of the President Duterte when asked. My son country. They couldn’t return right Jackie, on the other hand, is engrossed away but did so the next day. in new business ventures in Silicon False reports from Cagayan Gover- Valley with his Harvard classmates,” nor Manuel Mamba were fed to Palace said Enrile. reporters. The mayors decried the misleading reports denouncing their being Going for the Senate in Manila while the cities and towns Who said there will be no elections next were being devastated by Ompong’s year? From all indications, the 2019 midgale-force winds and heavy rains. term elections will push through. Both the “The mayors were called to Malaca- opposition Liberal Party and the ruling ñang at the instance of the President,” PDP Laban of President Duterte in coalisaid former Senator Juan Ponce En- tion with Hugpong party of his daughter rile. He said no one—not even Vice Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte have come President Leni Robredo—gets inside out with their respective senatorial slates.

Malacañang without an invitation.

Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

Ghost properties: Cruel legacy of Venezuela’s migration crisis

By Alex Vasquez THREE years ago, asphyxiated by Venezuela’s economic meltdown, Francisco Rojas and his wife Elena packed up four suitcases with the barest of essentials and walked out of their Caracas apartment.

It has remained empty ever since.

Toothbrushes are still perched on the bathroom sink, the refrigerator runs with only ice and tomato sauce inside, and the bar is empty except for a lone bottle of rum.

Deserted homes, desolate apart-

ment blocks and stagnant markets for both renters and buyers are yet another disheartening byproduct of the South American country’s dire economic straits, which have prompted a mass exodus.

Elena, 33, was offered a job in Ecuador and there was no looking back. She can now earn as much in one month as she did in four years in Caracas.

When the couple left Venezuela, they simply locked the doors to the apartment rather than selling it, even though the money would have helped. Bought

for $100,000 in 2014, their home had already lost half of its value.

“We wanted to see how things would go. Now that we’re established, it would be absurd to sell,” Francisco Rojas, a 28-year-old sports journalist, told AFP from Guayaquil, Ecuador’s most populous city.

In Venezuela, more and more apartment blocks have turned into ghost buildings.

Lights are never turned on, parking spaces remain empty and mailboxes are jammed with letters that are never 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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Gulle City Editor Romel J. Mendez Art Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

Doldrums VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE biggest question these days is this: What is happening to the Philippines and to its economy?

Among non-economists, President Duterte has proved to be the most perceptive. Back on June 22, 2018, the former prosecutor of nine years and mayor of 23 years declared that “the economy is in the doldrums, actually, now.” “Interest rates are picking up,” he reported. Metro Manila was a bit lucky because of mega projects, he said, “but in the provinces, it’s a doldrum thing.” A maritime term, doldrums refers to inactivity, stagnation or depression, per Wikipedia.

Three months after that speech, the president-mayor whose feet are firmly on the ground, has proved to be prophetic, with remarkable prescience. Actually, Duterte could have been harsh when he used the word doldrums. But his speech should have prodded the economic managers to go into full gear to attend to the most basic problem of the economy—a gnawing food shortage and revolting high prices of food items.

In the second quarter of 2018, economic growth, measured by the increase in the annual output of goods and services or Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was a disappointing 6 percent—the lowest in 12 quarters or three years. The best Duterte achieved was the 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2016, when he was just president for three months If the 6-percent GDP growth rate repeats itself in the third and fourth quarters, a strong likelihood, then overall 2018 growth, will only by 6.2 percent.

That will be the lowest in three years since the 6.1 percent posted in 2015. The economy grew by 6.7 percent in 2016 and by 6.6 percent in 2018.

In April 2018, the Manila-based Asian Development Bank projected a GDP growth rate of 6.8 percent for the Philippines for the whole of 2018. That 6.8 looks to me now as overly optimistic.

The Philippines used to be the fastestgrowing economy in Asia, after or even ahead of China. This year, per ADB forecast last April, five other countries will grow faster than us and that include

four ASEAN neighbors—Vietnam 7.1 percent GDP growth rate; Cambodia 7.0 percent; Laos 6.8 percent, and Myanmar, 6.8 percent. China will grow 6.8 percent. These countries are supposed to be more corrupt than the Philippines, so our slow-growth mode this year is not a question of corruption.

Three factors are a burden on the economy: a 10-year record-high inflation of 6.4 percent in August 2018, with inflation likely to hit 7 percent this year before it averages to a little above 5 percent for the whole of 2018; two, a dampened consumer spending because of excessively high prices of basic goods like rice, corn, sugar, meat and vegetables (food is half of the consumer basket); and three, a delay in the much-vaunted Build, Build, Build (BBB) infra program of the government.

Only one of 75 BBB flagship projects has been completed and seven have been started. Of the 75 BBB projects costing

Our politicians will feel their own troubles come election time in May 2019 when all these create a perfect storm.

P8 trillion, only three have the best potential to be completed during Duterte’s presidency—a nondescript bridge connecting Mandaluyong to Makati; a railway from Manila to Malolos, and a 100km railway in Davao.

As if those factors were not enough to douse cold water on one’s enthusiasm, there is the sharp drop in the value of the peso against the dollar, by 8 percent, to P54 to $1, and an even sharper rise in the price of crude oil, by 33 percent to above $70 a barrel. The Philippines imports half of its energy needs. Yet, oil and the peso together are now 41 percent more expensive. Fuel and transportation are half of the cost of prices of rice, corn, sugar, meat and vegetables. The result is a spiral in prices of basic commodities never experienced by consumers in the last 10 years.

Then comes bad weather. Ompong alone is estimated to cause damage of at least P12 billion to Philippine agriculture, aside from killing at least 150 Filipinos in its aftermath.

Philippine agriculture has been growing at a paltry 0.2 percent average per year in the last 10 years, at a time when the population was growing by 1.7 percent or 1.8 million Filipinos per year. In the last ten years, the number of Filipinos increased by 20 million, while the amount of available food for the entire population of 106 million was stagnant.

The Philippines is not investing enough in agriculture. In fact, our tycoons invested more in casinos, $5 billion, in the last five years, than in irrigation, processing and warehousing facilities for rice during the same period.

The country has devoted only 1.19 million hectares of land to grow rice and each hectare produces only 4.1 metric tons (6 to 9 metric tons in our ASEAN neighbors).

It costs our farmers P12.72 to produce a kilo of palay. Thailand produces a kilo of palay for only P8.86 and Vietnam P6.22.

The government will liberalize importation of rice but will slap a tariff of 30 percent, from zero at present (because the biggest importer is the government, it does not tax itself).

Add 30 percent tariff to Thai rice, you get P11.51 per kilo; add 30 percent to Vietnam rice, you get P8.06 per kilo. Says agriculture scientist William Dar: “Even with 30 percent tariff on rice from Thailand and Vietnam, most locally produced rice will still be expensive.”

Yet, our Filipino rice farmers get only 47 percent of the wholesale price of palay they produce. Most of the profits goes to traders and middlemen. In India, notes Dar, rice farmers get 62 percent; in China, 94 percent.

As a result, since they don’t even get half of the profits, our farmers, who are aging, don’t produce the rice.

Our farmers are in the doldrums. Agriculture is in the doldrums. Consumers are in the doldrums. Growth is in the doldrums. Our politicians will feel their own doldrums come election time in May 2019 when all these doldrums create a perfect storm worse than a tsunami. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Ghost...

From A4

broker Carolina Quintero told AFP. Mariana Garcia, a 41-year-old accountant who fled in 2017 with her husband and two children, says her house “lost more than half its value” but they held onto it.

“We locked the house, (left it) intact, and left with just two suitcases,” she said from the United States, where her husband accepted a job offer after first emigrating to Ecuador.

“Even if you have money, there’s nothing to buy or there’s no water,” said Garcia, explaining that she and her family took off before it was too late, Buyers’ market The Rojases were tired of the insecu- worried that as international airlines rity, the lack of food and medicine and shut down, they could be stranded in the inflation—predicted by the Interna- Venezuela. tional Monetary Fund to reach a stagFear of squatters gering one million percent this year— As well as a reluctance to sell, homethat rendered their salaries practically owners who have moved abroad don’t worthless.

Hope springs eternal, though, even want to rent their properties for fear of being unable to reclaim them from tenfor those who have already left.

“If the situation improves, we’ll see ants, as authorities often prevent evicif we return to Venezuela or sell the tions, even in the case of rental contract violations. apartment,” said Francisco.

Rental laws oblige proprietors to sign Right now, it’s not a sellers’ market.

Roberto Orta, president of the Met- contracts with their tenants of at least ropolitan Chamber of Real Estate in one year that must be extended for six Caracas, says properties have lost 70 to months to three years.

According to Orta, the rental market 80 percent of their value over the last is operating at just five percent of its five years.

“An apartment that cost $170,000 potential.

Carlos Gonzalez, president of the is worth no more than $70,000 today.

Someone offers $50,000 and the owner National Real Estate Chamber, told prefers to leave it locked,” real estate AFP that “hyperinflation means it’s not claimed.

The crisis has sparked a new business —management of deserted homes.

Such services include the payment of public services bills, representation at condo meetings and even the switching on of lights at various times to ward off burglars.

According to the United Nations, some 1.6 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2015 and a total of 2.3 million live abroad -- some 7.5 percent of the total population of 30.6 million.

worth renting in bolivars,” but few people have access to dollars which, since 2003, have only been available on the black market.

Squatters are also a worry for homeowners.

In some condominiums, neighbors have been asked not to answer questions from people asking about unoccupied properties.

“People are walking past and can see apartments with the lights off,” said Quintero.

In Los Palos Grandes, a middle-class neighborhood on the east side of Caracas, several “squatters have been evicted by police,” Rafael Guerra, from the local neighborhood watch group, told AFP. In the capital’s western area of La Florida, squatters settled into a property that has been occupied by a business while the workers were on vacation.

“They stole everything. The police evicted them but they weren’t arrested,” said one of the employees.

Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro blame the invasion of properties on a 2011 law passed by his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, to “rescue urban land.”

Rojas and his wife are among the many who fear they will lose their home to squatters.

“We’re afraid of being invaded— there are many empty apartments. Our family is always keeping an eye on it,” Rojas said. AFP

Why...

From A4

What is the implication of this latest political development? Political observers expressed the view that this means the prospects of the proposed federalism and parliamentary form of government with huge financial cost could be dead in the water. The same observers also lamented the quality of the current Senate composition which would deteriorate further if certain candidates win in next year’s polls.

Old timers recall the glory days of the Senate when the illustrious names of Claro M. Recto and Lorenzo Tannada. Their intellectual debates filled the halls of the old Congress, which was then located on Burgos and Ka-

law Streets.

We are not going to comment on the proposed senatorial slate of the PDP Laban—Hugpong coalition. I have made enough enemies by calling a spade a spade so I shall leave it to the readers and voters to separate the chaff from the grain.The PDP Laban-Hugpong coalition party line-up: Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, former Philippine National Police director and now Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa, former broadcaster Jiggy Manicad. Mindanao Rep. Zaid Mangudadatu, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque,

relectionist senators Cynthia Villar, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.III, JV Ejercito, Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano who is seeking a return to the Senate.

In a worst-case scenario, we are going to have in the Senate, a SAP, a former policeman, a former broadcaster, a Muslim, a presidential mouthpiece and boxer Manny Pacquiao.

The administration party slate is not yet final and could undergo some changes depending on the outcome of poll surveys to be conducted before the filing of candidacies in the third week of October.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A gold standard is better for the economy ounce. In today’s modern markets, the government doesn’t need piles of gold to maintain a gold standard.

ERIC Nor does the government need to JURADO promise to exchange gold at a fixed rate for pesos. All the central bank has to do is look at the market price WE wouldn’t have these infla- of gold: if it moves outside a certion problems if the value of the tain narrow range, the monetary Philippine peso remained stable. authority should react by either That’s why many free market tightening or loosening the money economists advocate construct- supply.

Today, many economists ridiing a new gold standard—setting the value of the peso based on a cule the gold standard as “crazy.” fixed quantity of gold, or at least However, for centuries, gold was having it fall within a range of, the touchstone of money. From say, P62,000 to P68,000 ($1,150 the days of American founding to $1,250) an ounce at current father, Alexander Hamilton, until market prices. Anchoring the the 1960s (except briefly in 1933peso to gold would restore stabil- 34), it was an article of faith that, ity to the market. It would sharp- barring a major war, the dollar ly reduce the role of government should be fixed to gold in order to and politics in determining the remain strong and stable.

The biggest objection to gold is value of the currency.

Today, for example, a country that the fixed nature of the system seeking to fund massive social and restrains economic growth. But this infrastructure spending will often thinking is based on the illusion that do so by printing more money. a central bank can create prosperity What happens? The added money by printing more money. Another in circulation ends up lowering the objection is that a major discovery could increase the outstanding supvalue of its currency.

Gold is exceptionally well suit- ply, which will cause inflation. But ed to anchoring currency values experience demonstrates that even because its intrinsic value is con- major finds such as the 1849 California gold rush stant. All the or the mamgold that has moth amounts been mined of gold that is still in exPredictability and Spain took istence: gold out of Latin cannot be de- stability are necessary America led stroyed. Even only to a mild a major find conditions for business increase in wouldn’t be investment in all prices, and large enough markets. then not for to dramativery long. cally alter The disrupprices. Thus, tions of such you don’t get supply shocks and the kind of up- discoveries are minimal compared heaval that, say, a typhoon might to the damage politicians routinely wreak when a currency isn’t anhave on the price of rice.

In a report for the Cato Insti- chored to gold.

An additional argument against tute, University of Missouri economic historian Lawrence White gold is that it caused the Great wrote that while gold is not per- Depression of the 1930s. This is fect, studies have shown it to be also a myth. The Great Depresthe best way to create an orderly sion was the product of bad policy—excessive tariffs. Gold was global market.

“A gold standard does not guar- the victim of the resulting global antee perfect steadiness in the trade wars. Amidst an atmosgrowth of the money supply, but phere of heightened economic historical comparison shows that and political uncertainty, people it has provided more moderate and around the world exchanged their steadier money growth in practice currencies for gold. With governthan the present day alternative, ment supplies under pressure, napolitically empowering a central tions led by Great Britain broke banking committee to determine the link to gold. Its central role growth in the stock of fiat money.” was restored at the end of World Fiat currency encourages in- War II with the creation of the flation because governments can gold-based Bretton Woods intercapriciously print more money. national monetary system.

Richard Nixon blew up the sysThe opposite is true of gold: in the years that the US maintained tem in 1971 because of concern a classical gold standard—from over the America’s increasing 1880 to 1914—inflation was vir- trade imbalance (he and his advisers mistakenly thought an imbaltually zero.

In the old days, Washington ance hurt the economy) and his was obligated to convert to gold declining poll numbers. So he sucthe dollars that were presented to cumbed to the temptation to try to it. This became a problem in the “fix” the situation by devaluing the mid-1960s to early 1970s, when dollar. His unilateral abandonment the Federal Reserve (the US cen- of Bretton Woods and imposition tral bank), attempting to lubricate of 90-day wage and price controls economic growth, printed too were the “Nixon shocks.” They left many greenbacks. It became im- the US and the world economy reelpossible to maintain the dollar’s ing and set the stage for the stagflation of the 1970s. Sadly, succeedvalue at $35 an ounce.

The US abandoned the gold stand- ing administrations did not learn ard, as Lawrence White had ob- from this lesson. America and the served, not because of any flaw in world paid the price in 2008.

The lesson: the system, but because of politics.

Predictability and stability are Former President Richard Nixon was under pressure to do something necessary conditions for business about America’s balance of pay- investment in all markets. Stabilizing the peso’s value through a tie ments and trade deficits.

For the gold standard to work with gold is the best way to create a today, the government has to keep stable foundation in currency marthe value of the peso pegged to gold kets and the economy. at a value—as previously mentioned—of P62,000 to P68,000 per eric.jurado@gmail.com FROM WHERE I STAND

The blame...

From A4

into a cooperative under the guidance and supervision of the company, the DENR and the LGU. The said experiment has since been considered a success. In fact, unlike in Antamok, no untoward incident happened in Acupan during “Ompong”.

So there. If Lopez and the anti-mining chorus had only shown a bit of objectivity and listened to the voices of reason out there, probably we could have prevented the tragedy that was Barangay Ucab. Probably, some balance and science would have been injected in the national conversation on mining which would have resulted in

better ways to avoid tragedies such as what happened. If only we heeded President Duterte’s call for responsible mining early on, we would have come to some realistic solutions to the complex web of challenges and divergent interests in the country’s mining industry—environmental protection and safety, jobs and livelihood, investments and revenues, sustainable development. Instead of fingerpointing we should look for solutions if we are to move forward and let our resources serve our people and secure a sustainable future for us all.

News

A6

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Customs destroys mock items

MONUMENT FACELIFT.

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Bureau of Customs has destroyed P3 billion worth of counterfeit products seized at a warehouse in Tondo, Manila early this year.

Hundreds of boxes containing items such as fake lotions, perfume, shampoo, make-up and lipstick, and one labeling machine bearing the brand names of Gio Armani, Dior, Olay, Nivea, Cetaphil, and other signature brands were crushed, poured, and shredded in an accredited condemnation facility owned by Tritek Reverse Logistics Corp. located at San Pedro in Laguna.

Officials of the bureau’s Enforcement and Security Service said Thursday the fake goods were among those intercepted during a warehouse raid at Unit 8-1, 10-A, 10-B, Vicente Tower, 1275 Dagupan Street, Tondo.

The operation stemmed from the investigation by ESS agents and surveillance in the warehouse.

The products were seized in February and consequently forfeited last June 27 by the Office of the District Collector of the Port of Manila.

The seized fake goods violated Section 1113 (f) and (l) of the CMTA and Section 118(f) of the same Act, in relation to Section 166 of RA 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines).

Pursuant to Section 1146 of the CMTA, all prohibited goods like counterfeit goods shall be destroyed.

“Our crackdown against fake products is going well. However, the public must be made aware that continued patronage and exposure to counterfeit items pose health risks to the user,” said Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña Jr. He added “the items we destroyed today bears the same brand but the quality and the materials or chemicals used are different. These are substandard products and did not undergo quality control and safety inspection.”

Garin drags Ubial in cases FORMER Health secretary Janette Garin has filed a criminal complaint against her successor, Paulyn Jean Ubial, accusing the latter of involvement in the deaths of school children inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

Garin is facing preliminary investigation before the Department of Justice on charges arising from the deaths of at least 17 children who had been inoculated by the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The former health secretary, who already denied charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide under the Revised Penal Code and violations of Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act, asked the DoJ to prosecute Ubial for alleged violation of Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code.

Garin alleged that Ubial should be the one prosecuted by the DoJ because she was the one who decided to shift the dengue immunization program from being school-based to communitybased contributed to alleged reported deaths among immunized children.

According to her, such shift to community-based immunization weakened the screening and monitoring mechanisms that were set supposedly set in place during her tenure.

“Community-based immunization is prone to abuse by local politicians who use it as a political tool to facilitate access to free vaccines for their constituents who are unqualified,” Garin said, in the complaint. Rey E. Requejo

Workers clean Thursday the Bantayog ng mga Bayani memorial on the eve of the anniversary of martial law, imposed by then President Ferdinand Marcos, acting under the 1935 Constitution, to check what he said was a state of rebellion in 1972.

Manny Palmero

Reelectionist Binay new UNA president

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATOR Nancy Binay was named the new national president of the United Nationalist Alliance during the national leaders conference held in Makati last Sept. 12, based on the statement released by her office on Thursday.

The senator, who will seek reelection in the coming May 2019 midterm elections, accepted her new post and vowed to continue UNA’s legacy of service.

“On this day as new party president, I wholeheartedly accept the challenges to push for genuine reform,” she said.

In her speech, the senator also reminded her partymates of UNA’s program of government, which she classified according to three pillars—“social inclusion/improvement of basic services,” “economic dynamism,” and “effective and caring governance.”

“This is also the direction I wanted our

party to continue—that UNA be known as the party that takes care and gives services to every Filipino,” she added.

She cited “the need to learn from our moments of doubt and make sure that the vision and platform of UNA shall remain relevant to the people.”

She urged UNA members to become instruments of real change in society by advancing UNA’s core agenda of competence and service.

“As we undergo changes and reforms in this administration, our unity is now more important than ever. I therefore ask your continued support as we create prac-

tical solutions to address the root cause of our nation’s problems,” Binay said.

UNA Secretary General JV Bautista said the party leadership unanimously selected Binay because her advocacies and programs were with UNA’s vision of uplifting the lives of the marginalized.

“We believe Senator Nancy’s advocacies and her unique brand of service will help unite members as we consolidate and forge alliances for the upcoming local and national elections,” Bautista said.

The UNA national leadership consists of former Vice President Jejomar Binay-party chairman, Senator Nancy Binay-party president, Senator Gregorio Honasan-party vice president, Atty. JV Bautista-secretary general and Former secretary Gary Teves-national treasurer.

The UNA leaders conference was attended by almost 200 leaders of UNA nationwide.

DoJ prods RTC to order Trillanes arrest

By Rey E. Requejo

2 bidders in airport project held TWO bidders for the M’Lang Airport Development Project of the Department of Transportation were arrested Wednesday for falsifying public documents during the opening of bids for the project.

In a news release issued Thursday, the DoTr said representatives of Granby Trading and Construction and Kwan Sing Construction were asked to submit a list of equipment that their companies would pledge as part of the contract.

However, upon careful evaluation, the technical working group of the DoTr Bids and Awards Committee discovered that the two companies submitted similar Land Transportation Office documents.

The Certificates of Registration for the vehicles showed different company details, but some reflected same registration dates and chassis numbers, the DoTr said.

Both companies were also reported to have authorized the same person, Alexander Ullani, to drop the bidding documents and represent the companies, hinting at a possible conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Raymundo Vargas Sr., who claimed he was representing Granby Trading and Construction on behalf of a colleague, was not allowed to represent the company due to lack of authorization.

He was allowed to stay as witness to the proceeding.

Ullani and Vargas denied they knew each other.

However, a TWG member who could understand Ilocano overheard the two speaking in the the language and that their conversation hinted that they did. PNA

THE Department of Justice on Thursday reiterated its plea for the Makati City Regional Trial Court to issue hold departure order and alias warrant of arrest against opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and subsequently proceed with the stalled trial of the coup d’etat charges against him.

In a 10-page reply, the DoJ asked Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati City RTC Branch 150 to grant its motion for the issuance of an HDO and alias warMEDIA organizations in Bacolod City rant of arrest against Trillanes. denounced the strafing incident at the The DoJ’s reply signed by Acting residence of broadcaster Reynaldo SiaProsecutor General Richard Anthony son in Talisay City, Negros Occidental Fadullon stressed that Trillanes failed to on Wednesday night. show “received” copy of duly accomThe Negros Press Club and the Naplished amnesty application form durtional Union of Journalists of the Philiping the RTC hearing, and news reports pines-Bacolod on Thursday issued sepaindicated he refused to admit guilt over rate statements condemning the attack.

2007 Manila Pen siege.

“While no one was hurt, we believe The DoJ noted that during the Sept. the act is despicable an affront to CYAN MAGENTA YELLOWand BLACK 14 court hearing on its motion, Trillanes members of the Fourth Estate. It is also failed to present proof of his duly accoman assault against press freedom,” said plished amnesty application form with NPC president Renato Duran. stamp “received” by the Department of NUJP-Bacolod chairman Marchel National Defense, which processed the Espina said an attack on journalists was amnesty applications, contrary to his a threat to democracy. claim that he faithfully complied with Siason, a veteran radio broadcaster said requirement. and a former president of NPC, is an “As aptly pointed out by this honoranchorman of 107.7 FM Muews Radio able court during the motion hearing, the Negros based in Talisay, the next city best evidence that accused could submit to from Bacolod to the north. prove his claim is a copy of his application He was not home when the shooting form bearing the receiving mark/stamp of happened around 10:45 p.m. and was the DND. This, the accused failed to do,” informed by his 16-year-old daughter stated the reply also signed by Senior Asabout the incident through a phone call. sistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro NavThose at home with his daughter era, and Assistant State Prosecutors Josie were his mother-in-law and four other Christina Dugay and Evee Eunice Keyser. family members, who believed they “As to the requirement of admission heard at least three gunshots. of guilt, the DoJ explained that Trillanes Siason showed in his Facebook Live also failed to comply with this based post, the bullet shell of a .45 caliber pison a media interview he gave where he tol found outside his house. was quoted to have said, “I would like The police report said seven bullet to qualify that we did not admit to the fragments were recovered. charge of ‘coup d’etat’ or anything we Witnesses said unidentified men on filed because we believe those were not board two motorcycles fired at the Siason the appropriate charges against us,” the residence at Carmela Valley Homes SubDoJ prosecutors said. division in Barangay Zone 12-A. PNA

Bacolod media decry strafing

CEREMONIAL BLESSING. National Capital Region Police Office-Regional Director Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar leads Thursday the Blessing and Ceremonial Turnover of Vehicles and Equipment at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. The equipment: 35 Hyundai Starex, 24 Toyota Hilux, 5 Negev Rifles, 3 Hyundai Elantra. Manny Palmero

Manila

Standard EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TODAY DEPARTMENT

COMELEC ADVISORY ON LAST DAY OF FILING OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION FOR THE 2019 SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL, LOCAL, AND ARMM REGIONAL ELECTIONS: 1. SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 (SAT), (8 AM - 5 PM) - LOCAL VOTERS 2. SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 (SUN), (8 AM - 5 PM) - OVERSEAS FILIPINO VOTERS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, VISIT www. comelec.gov.ph (COMELEC WEBSITE) OR CALL 527-0821/525-9294 (COMELEC HOTLINES) OR 521-2952/522-2257 (COMELEC OFOV HOTLlNES).

COMELEC ADVISORY: RECYCLED ELECTION FORMS WILL BE USED DURING THE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS (BSKE) IN MARAWI CITY ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2018. THESE FORMS WERE USED DURING THE 2010 BSKE, 2015 SK ELECTIONS, 2017 BSKE, OCTOBER 23, 2017 AND 2018 BSKE.

BRP Tarlac leaves for Russia Friday THE Philippine Navy will conduct today a send-off ceremony for the 440-man contingent aboard strategic sealift vessel BRP Tarlac (LD-601) which is scheduled for a port visit to Russian Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok, Russia.

Send-off ceremonies will take place 7 a.m. at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor, Navy spokesperson Commander Jonathan Zata said in a statement Thursday.

Aside from the Russian port visit, BRP Tarlac and all naval personnel, including a helicopter detachment afloat, will also participate to the International Fleet Review from in South Korea.

“This is the first time that a Philippine Navy contingent will visit the Russian Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok and likewise its first time to participate in the International Fleet Review in

Jeju, South Korea,” Zata added.

The port visit aims to strengthen cooperation and relationship with regional counterparts in addressing common maritime challenges.

Zata earlier said the voyage from the Philippines to Vladivostok, Russia would take “ eight to 10 days.”

He added that BRP Tarlac’s port visit would last five days.

The scheduled PN portcall reciprocates the visit of Russian warships in Manila last June and those of last year, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said.

The Tarlac-class SSVs are the largest PN ships in service as of this posting and consists of the BRP Tarlac and BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602).

These vessels have an overall length of 120 meters, breadth of 21 meters, draft of five meters and can carry a payload of 2,800 tons. PNA

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Senate eyes 2-0 start in UNTV Cup Games Sunday

(GSIS gym, Pasay City) 2 p.m. – NHA vs PhilHealth 3:30 p.m. – PITC vs PNP 5 p.m. – GSIS vs Senate

Disyembreasais is Lakambini champ D

ISYEMBREASAIS made her move in the final 200 meters and pulled off a two-length victory at the 2018 Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) ‘Lakambini Stake Race’ at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite last Sunday.

With a guaranteed top purse of P900,000 on the line, Disyembreasais played it patiently by following her game plan before releasing a burst of speed at the last 200 as she emerged queen over her rivals in the stakes race open to locally born 3-year-old fillies that have already participated in a past Philracom race.

It was all part of the plan, according to

DEFENDING champion Senate goes for a 2-0 start while former champion Philippine National Police tries to rebound from a shock defeat as the 7th UNTV Cup resumes on Sunday at the GSIS gym in Pasay City.

The Senate Defenders collide with the GSIS Furies at 5 p.m. with the winner taking the early Group A lead in the annual tournament for public servants.

Mentored by Mike Fermin, the Defenders are hoping to follow up a 73-70 win over newcomer Philippine International Trading Corporation while the Furies are fresh from a stunning 87-83 win over the PNP Responders.

Senate’s opening day win was worthy to remember as Sen. Manny Pacquiao buried two triples right in the first frame to highlight a 12-point performance.

Aside from Pacquiao, also expected to deliver the goods for the Defenders are Senators Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara, former PBA player Jeff Sanders and Gari Sevilla.

On their part, the Furies will have to squeeze the best from James Abugan and Rene Boy Banzali to have a chance of stopping the Defenders.

winning jockey Jordan (JB) Cordova after he steered the Alfredo R. Santos-owned filly to its second stakes race victory of the year—six in total in 2018—after clocking in with 1:14 in the race offering a guaranteed total prize of P1,500,000.

“Ang naging diskarte namin nu’ng trainer (Edwin M. Vittali), antabay lang kami sa likod, hanggang sa magrekta, dire-diretso na pagdating sa dulo,” said

Cordova after the 1,600-meter race.

“Si Disyembreasais, maasahan sa mga ganyang distansiya, lalu na kapag may nagbabakbakan sa harapan. Hayan ang gustong-gusto niya, nakasunod lang siya,” added the 36-year-old jockey.

The James Albert Dichaves-owned Ava’s Dream and rider JP Guce ended up in second and settled for the runner-up purse of P337,500, while Polilio Island, ridden by JA Guce and owned

by Wilbert Tan, came in third with P187,500.

Talitha Koum, owned by George R. Raquidan, with RG Fernandez on the reins, placed fourth and pocketed P75,000 after a quick lead right from the

start but slowly faded in the stretch.

Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez was present to hand the trophies to the winners, led by AR Santos and trainer Vitalli, who received the Breeder’s Purse of P60,000 on behalf of Disyembreasais winning breeder Leonardo M. Javier Jr. Other winners of the 12-race Manila Jockey Club Inc. Sunday schedule were Above the Knee (Race 1), Sky Hook (Race 2), Wild Grass (Race 3), Reconstruction (Race 5), I Love Jane (Race 6), Mighty Pride (Race 7), Hot and Spicy (Race 8), Run and Gun (Race 9), Pride of Laguna (Race 10), Barrio San Jose (Race 11) and Brown Sister (Race 12).

National U, La Salle win

Alfredo R. Santos (second from right), owner of winning horse Disyembreasais, raises his trophy during the awards rites of the ‘Lakambini Stake Race’ at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite last Sunday. He is joined by trainer Edwin Vitalli, who received the Breeder’s Trophy on behalf of Leonardo M. Javier Jr., and jockey JB Cordova (with his kids), together with MJC assistant manager J-Fel Cuevas (left), racing manager Ding Magboo and Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez (right).

Sotto, Vargas, Panlilio, Chot lead PSA Cup golfers Former PBA player Jeff Sanders (No. 71) and Senator Manny Pacquiao are expected to lead Senate when the Defenders collide with the GSIS Furies on Sunday.

SENATE president Tito Sotto and former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes will see action in the revived Philippine Sportswriters Association Golf Cup presented by Manila Southwoods, San Miguel Beer and the Philippine Sports Commission on Tuesday at the Legends course in Carmona, Cavite.

The 18-hole event that aims to raise funds for the PSA’s medical projects for its members has gathered great support from the sports community.

Leading the guests is Sotto, who repre-

The Philippine Ports Authority now calls for the submission of eligibility documents

by Consultancy Firms to provide technical/application support and maintenance services to the PPA Computerized Systems. Eligibility documents of interested consultancy firms must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat on or before 02 October 2018 at 1:00 p.m., at the BAC Office, 5th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Opening of Eligibility Documents is on 02 October 2018 at 2:30 p.m. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

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

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by shortlisted Bidders on 02 October 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of P25,000.00. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted Expression of Interest, including the eligibility documents, and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184) otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of not more than FIVE (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: 1.

Applicable experience of the consultant and members in case of joint ventures, considering both the overall experiences of the firm or, in the case of new firms, the individual experiences of the principal and key staff, including the times when employed by other consultants;

2.

Qualification of personnel who may be assigned to the job vis-à-vis extent and complexity of the undertaking; and

3.

Current workload relative to capacity.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA 9184. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

The Philippine Ports Authority shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The weight to be allocated for the Technical Proposal is 80% while for the Financial Proposal, the weight is 20%. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

The contract shall be completed within TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

campaign in Jakarta last month, has also been invited, together with Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone and NLEX assistant Jojo Lastimosa.

Ricky Vargas and Al Panlilio, representatives of the PLDT and Meralco franchises in the PBA, are also set to play with TNT KaTropa and the Meralco Bolts supporting the noble project as major sponsors.

A round-trip ticket to the US courtesy of Philippine Airlines will be staked as holein-one prize.

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 136,670,234.17 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construction of Backup Area and Port Operations Building, Port of Mauban, Quezon (LFP MRQ No. 034-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 25,384,964.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construction of Back-up Area for Motorpool, Office Storage and Ticketing Office, Port of Tagbilaran, Bohol (LFP BHL No. 035-2018. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Back-up Area and Widening of Rock Causeway B. Construction of Port Operations Building. Completion of the Works is required in 450 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Backup Area. Completion of the Works is required in 270 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

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

•

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

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

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 02 October 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 02 October 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 16 October 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 16 October 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 16 October 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

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

For further information, please refer to:

Bid opening shall be on 16 October 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

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

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

For further information, please refer to:

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

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

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

www.ppa.com.ph

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

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 21 September 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 25,000.00).

For further information, please refer to:

:

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

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 21 September 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

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

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 954-88-00 loc. 539

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BACK-UP AREA AND PORT OPERATIONS BUILDING, PORT OF MAUBAN, QUEZON

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

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

NATIONAL University and De La Salle opened their titleretention bids in the men’s and women’s division by topping Ateneo in the opening round of the UAAP Season 81 chess tournament Wednesday at the University of Santo Tomas’ Quadricentennial Pavilion.

With reigning MVP IM Paulo Bersamina leading the charge, the four-peat seeking Bulldogs blanked the Blue Eagles, 4-0.

The Lady Woodpushers, with WCM Mira Mirano now playing at the top board, overpowered the Lady Eagles, 3-1.

Aside from Bersamina, also emerging victorious for NU are Christian Magtabog, Robin Ignacio and rookie Arnel June Iligan.

Ella Moulic and Samantha Revita supported Mirano by providing wins for De La Salle.

In other men’s results, University of the Philippines nipped De La Salle, 2.5-1.5, Far Eastern University overwhelmed University of the East, 3.5-.5, while Adamson University downed UST, 3-1.

Women’s action also saw Adamson University edging FEU, 2.5-1.5, UP nosing out NU, 2.51.5, and UE and UST battling to a 2-2 draw.

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BACK-UP AREA FOR MOTORPOOL, OFFICE STORAGE AND TICKETING OFFICE, PORT OF TAGBILARAN, BOHOL

FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PPA’S CORE APPLICATION SYSTEMS The Philippine Ports Authority, through its Corporate Budget for CY 2018 intends to apply the sum of P13,000,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Technical Support Services for PPA’s Core Application Systems (BAC-PGCS-76-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

sented the Philippines in several international tournaments as a bowler, counting the World Cup. Tee-off time will be at 7 a.m. shotgun style, with the tournament using the System 36 method of scoring and staking championship trophies in several divisions, including the overall title where Sotto, Reyes and pro star Kiefer Ravena will be eligible to win, Richard Gomez, the chef de mission of the Philippines’ successful Asian Games

INVITATION TO BID

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

PPA Website

A7

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Cost of Eligibility Documents : P 1,000.00

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

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

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Goods and Consultancy Services M. Standard – Sept. 21, 2018

M. Standard – Sept. 21, 2018

M. Standard – Sept. 21, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

Gin Kings, Blackwater chase solo leadership

By Jeric Lopez THE top spot is at stake as unbeaten league-leaders Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater cross paths in the continuing 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. The Gin Kings and the Elite, who both hold excellent 3-0 slates, go different ways when they tangle at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Hours prior, San Miguel Beer (11) is looking to return to form when it goes up against cellar-dweller Columbian Dyip (0-5) at 4:30 p.m. in the curtain-raiser.

With their respective resident imports and locals playing beautiful music thus far, Ginebra and Blackwater are both enjoying splendid starts.

Just over a month after winning the Commissioner’s Cup, the twotime defending champions went right back to work, racking up three straight wins to start their title defense.

“We got the start that we wanted.

At this point, it’s really about developing our game more,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, whose Gin Kings topped NorthPort, 104-98, before the league’s two-week break.

While Ginebra’s strong start is no surprise to many, the Elite’s blistering run is catching attention.

Blackwater is looking like a solid playoff team thus far, taking down a big fish in San Miguel, 103-100, the last time out.

It hopes to continue its run as it looks for another upset over Ginebra.

Following that loss to the Elite, the Beermen are now looking to vent their ire on the woeful Dyip, who are still yet to list a win.

Dasmariñas bet sprints to Batang Pinoy win BAGUIO CITY—Dasmariñas City bet Jason Jabol and Cebu Province’s Jeanna Cañete each snared three gold medals in their respective sports in the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships here.

The 15-year-old Jabol conspired with Jherwin Ricaforte, Charles Antones and Lord Angel Santos to rule the boys 4x100-meter relay event with a time of 44.83seconds at the Baguio Athletic Bowl, following up his previous feats in the boys 200m (22.70sec) and 100m dash (11.59sec).

Cañete, a 13-year-old student from Talisay City Science High School, for her part, dominated the cycling competitions after prevailing in the 13-15 girls individual time trial (11:16), the 1.5-kilometer road race (4:43.86) and the twolap criterium race.

In karatedo, Cebu Province collected three gold medals in the kumite events at the SM Baguio courtesy of Janine Narboada (10-11 girls -140cm), Trexie Joy Ogoc (10-11 girls +140cm) and Precious Avegail Belicario (12-13 girls -150cm).

In chess, International Master-elect Daniel Quizon of Dasmariñas City reigned supreme in the boys 15-under standard event after finishing the fiveround tournament with 4.5 points on four wins and a single draw in the final round.

The 13-year-old Quizon, who has been representing the country in numerous international age-group competitions, edged eventual silver winner Jave Mareck Peteros of Cebu City (3.5 points) and bronze medalist Reishi Boy Polan of Tubigon, Bohol (3 points).

He guns for a sweep of all events when he competes in the blitz and rapid competition today.

Fellow Dasmariñas City bet Kylen Joy Mordido, meanwhile, ruled the distaff side with 4.5 points also on four wins and one draw, beating General Santos City’s Rhea Jean Rafols (4 points) and Pasig City’s Josemier Panol (3 points).

Blackwater Elite big man Poy Erram (7) challenges the defense of Barangay Ginebra center Greg Slaughter even as other Gin Kings, from left: Joe Devance, Marc Caguioa and Sol Mercado look on.

Manila Southwoods keeps Pradera at bay D

AVAO CITY—Manila Southwoods hung on to a slim three-point lead over defending champion Pradera Verde Thursday, promising a thrilling weekend in the 13th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

Marielle Tee bucked a double bogey on the 16th hole to salvage a one-over par 73 for Southwoods which finished the day with 154 points.

Aside from Tee’s 53 points, Southwoods drew 51 from Laurea Duque and 50 from Samantha Dizon. Sunshine Baraquel did not count with 46.

Pradera Verde rode on Malaysian Ika Nasser’s 53 points, Annyka PinedaCayabyab’s 52 and Eliza Mae Kho’s 51 to cut Southwoods’ overnight lead with 156 points. Vinisha Gunaseelan failed to count with 50.

Cayabyab, 14, drained a difficult eightfoot putt to save par on the final hole.

Southwoods captain Claire Ong was happy to retain the lead.

“It’s good that we have the options. At least we’re still in the lead. That’s what we want, and who knows?” said Ong. Despite trailing halfway through the 72hole event, Pradera skipper Norman Sto. Domingo remained confident of victory.

“Whatever the outcome would be tomorrow, whether we are on top or not, I feel we’re going to win. About four to five strokes,” said Sto. Domingo, who plans to reserve Asian Games champion Yuka Saso and Nasser in the final round.

In the Founders division, Lady Eagles Australian Golfers 1 shot the day’s best round—158 points—to share the lead with overnight leader Del Monte with 274 apiece.

The Australians leaned on Kelsey Benett’s 58 and Taylor Dunn Newlin’s

55 to catch Del Monte which managed 138 points.

Major sponsors for the 13th PAL Ladies Interclub include Airbus, Bombardier, People Asia, UM Broadcasting Network and Primax Broadcasting Network.

Other sponsors are TFC, Mastercard, Resorts World, SEDA Hotel, SM Supermalls and Banco de Oro. Donors are Asia Brewery and Philippine National Bank.

The results: Championship: Manila Southwoods 310, Pradera Verde Golf Club 307 Founders: Lady Eagles Australian Golfers 1 274, Del Monte 274, Alabang Country Club 1 257, Negros Occidental 254, Orchard 234, Wack Wack 224 Sportswriters: Aguinaldo 227, Tagaytay Highlands 226, Pueblo de Oro 220, Rancho Palos Verdes 1 212, Lady Eagles Australian Golfers 2 200, Manila Golf 200, Camp John Hay 185, Eagle Ridge 183, Fairways and Bluewater 177, Alta Vista 168, Iloilo 140 Friendship: Rancho Palos Verdes 2 192, Orchard 179, Apo 168, Bacolod 166, Alabang 2 161, Victorias 136

Mabulac sets MPBL record ANOTHER night of upset and a couple of record-setting feats.

On Wednesday night, two players were able to shatter feats in rebounding even as Laguna became the latest giant slayer in the MPBL Datu Cup while Davao Occidental continued its winning ways.

Michael Mabulac shattered a sevenmonth record held by Gian Abrigo for most rebounds by any player in an MPBL game while helping steer the Krah-supported Laguna Heroes to a 7468 triumph over the powerhouse Manila Stars-Robust Energy Capsule.

It was the third straight win by the Heroes, who improved their win-loss record to 5-3 to move up to third spot in the Southern Division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and 40 Greatest Member Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

This is the third straight game a lower-ranked squad was able to shock their more fancied rivals and Commissioner Duremdes said the games are becoming more exciting because of the unpredictability of the results.

Ika Nasser of defending champion Pradera Verde grimaces after missing a putt on Hole No. 6. Nasser’s 53 points helped cut Southwoods’ lead to just three points.

SSC Stags shoot down Jose Rizal Bombers

By Peter Atencio THE well-rested San Sebastian Stags team banked on the huge effort of Allyn Bulanadi to dispose of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 82-75, yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

Pouring in 27 points, Bulanadi was there when the Stags broke away in the first period. The Heavy Bombers rallied in the third and closed the gap in the closing minutes. But Bulanadi’s presence keyed the Stags’ fourth win in 13 games in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

“What’s good about this win is that the boys were able to rest before the game. The break was long,” said Stags coach Egay Macaraya, citing the week-long break the team got after their game with the Arellano Chiefs was called off last Friday because of inclement weather.

Bulanadi shot 10 points in the first period, with his first basket finding its mark during a 9-2 run at the start of the first period. He handed the Stags their biggest lead, 23-9, with 1:16 to go in the quarter.

As the Heavy Bombers rallied, 37-41, Bulanadi scored twice in succession, sparking a 6-0 blast and the Stags went on to move away, 52-43, with 5:39 left.

Regille Ilagan and Alvin Capobres had 16 and 14 points. They teamed up with Bulanadi in the final 1:01 which allowed the Stags to stay out of range, 79-70.

The Heavy Bombers, with their 2-11 card, are out contention for the Final Four.

In junior action, former National University standout Winderlich Coyoca banged in 18 points to lead the San Beda Red Cubs to a 81-71 victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers.

The Red Cubs got three defensive stops from Cyrus Llarena, and his assist to Coyoca in the last 1:57 allowed the Taytay-based cagers to take a 7667 cushion, and pull off their ninth triumph in 13 outings.

“It’s a good thing we were able to have stops and force turnovers in the last three minutes. This game was more on team defense,” said Red Cubs coach JB Sison.

Belingon gets second crack at champion Fernandes FILIPINO MMA fighter Kevin Belingon guns for the ONE Bantamweight World title of Bibiano Fernandes at ONE: Heart of a Lion on November 9 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The 30-year-old Belingon of Team Lakay hails from Kiangan, Ifugao province. He made his professional cage debut in 2007, winning his first nine bouts while capturing a local flyweight title.

After joining ONE Championship in 2012, Belingon put together a series of tremendous performances, including several highlight-reel finishes, to earn a shot at ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano

Fernandes in early 2016.

Although Belingon failed to capture the title, he has since been on a warpath back to world title contention, putting together a sensational win streak which includes huge knockout wins over several former world title challengers. In his most recent outing, Belingon scored one of the biggest wins of his career, defeating two-division ONE World Champion Martin Nguyen.

The 38-year-old Fernandes of Brazil is the reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion, and widely considered one of the best martial artists in the world bar none.

He made his ONE Championship debut back in 2012 and captured the bantamweight world title in 2013. Since then, Fernandes has remained unbeaten inside the ONE Championship cage, showcasing tremendous striking and grappling ability and an unwavering will to win.

In his most recent bout, Fernandes defeated two-division titleholder Martin Nguyen by split decision in a World Champion vs.

World Champion super-bout. In his next title defense, Fernandes is set to defend his championship Kevin Belingon (left) batters opponent Toni Tauru with a against Kevin Belingon in a high- two-fisted attack during their MMA battle which Belingon won by TKO. ONE Championship ly-anticipated rematch.

IN BRIEF PT&T spending P7b to expand broadband PUBLICLY-LISTED Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. said it is spending P7 billion over two years to expand its broadband network nationwide.

“We would need to spend in the vicinity of about P7 billion to build a nationwide backbone,” PT&T president and chief executive James Velasquez told reporters after the company’s stockholders’ meeting.

“As soon as we sign the final agreement with TransCo, we’re look at 24 months roll-out period. By phases. Luzon, within six months. And then within one year, Visayas. And the other 18 to 24 months would be Mindanao,” he said.

Velasquez said PT&T planned to increase its fiber footprint from 10,000 kilometers to about 20,000 kilometers. PT&T sign an agreement with the National Transmission Corp. on March 15 that would pave the way for the use of the government’s national fiber optic backbone facility.

Under the memorandum of understanding, PT&T and Transco would create a technical working group to firm up the preparation for the eventual use of dark (unused) fiber in the country’s network of transmission lines. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

PAL discloses plan to add more flights PHILIPPINE Airlines said it is increasing domestic and international flight frequencies on key routes this year and next to meet the rising passenger demand.

The airline company controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan said the expanded selection of flight timings starting from Oct. 28 would enable travelers to connect more easily across the airline’s international and domestic route network of 42 overseas and 34 Philippine destination airports.

“This offering marks the first time that PAL is deploying for an entire season its full fleet of brand-new high-technology aircraft, including the long-range Airbus A350-900 and mid-range A321neo airliners so that more flyers can experience the 4-Star branded service that won accolades for the flag carrier in recent months,” PAL said.

It would start a regular service to Sapporo in Japan’s Hokkaido island and a nonstop flight to New York City from Manila that sets a new long-haul record for Philippine aviation. It would also mount a five times weekly route to Palawan’s new gateway at San Vicente airport and new routes from Clark to Cauayan (Isabela) and San Jose (Mindoro). Darwin G. Amojelar

CHEAPER SUGAR. The sugar industry, with the support of the Universal Robina Corp. through its sugar division, is making available sugar at reduced prices in response to the Duterte administration’s call for businesses to help address the rising inflation, t. URC’s sugar products are available under the Robinsons Supermarket’s house brand Supersavers in all of the supermarket chain’s 160 branches nationwide. Shown during the sugar industry officials visit to Robinsons Galleria branch are (from left) Philippine Sugar Millers Association Inc. executive director Francisco Varua, PSMA deputy director for legal affairs Cocoy Barrera, Sugar Regulatory Administration administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, URC sugar and renewables business unit general manager Rene Cabati, SRA deputy administrator Rolex Beltran and Robinsons Supermarket Galleria store manager Anthony Laping.

ADB agrees to lend $7.8b to support infra projects T HE Asian Development Bank said Thursday it plans to lend $7.8 billion to the Philippines until 2021 mainly to support infrastructure projects, including two major railways.

The target loan amount is a part of the new six-year country partnership strategy approved by the ADB board of directors that lays out the bank’s support to the Philippine government in sustaining high and inclusive economic growth.

Under the new strategy, ADB said it was expecting to lend an estimated $7.8 billion, or nearly $2 billion annually, from 2018 to 2021, the highest for any four-year period. The annual average also doubles the current estimated yearly lending pipeline.

ADB said it would actively pursue

co-financing arrangements with development partners to better assist the government attain its goal of lowering poverty to 14 percent of the population by 2022.

Under the new strategy, ADB’s programs and projects in the Philippines will focus on three priority areas: accelerating infrastructure and long-term investments, promoting local economic development in Mindanao and Visayas, and investing in people.

“Our country partnership strategy aims to improve the standard of living of Filipinos, particularly the poorest half of the population, and allow them to feel the benefits of a growing economy through better education, jobs, and income opportunities. Our operations are leveraging resources to support the government’s transformative social and economic agenda,” said ADB vice-president Stephen Groff.

It said that to sustain the country’s high growth rate, investments in climate-resilient infrastructure to significantly improve links between regions,

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

Dollar

1.000000

54.0600

Japan

Yen

0.008907

0.4815

UK

Pound

1.314700

71.0727

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127468

6.8909

Switzerland

Franc

1.034019

55.8991

Canada

Dollar

0.774473

41.8680

Singapore

Dollar

0.730567

39.4945

Australia

Dollar

0.726300

39.2638

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653928

143.4713

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

14.4148

Brunei

Dollar

0.727908

39.3507

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030836

1.6670

UAE

Dirham

0.272294

14.7202

Euro

Euro

1.167400

63.1096

Korea

Won

0.000894

0.0483

China

Yuan

0.145973

7.8913

India

Rupee

0.013822

0.7472

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241458

13.0532

New Zealand

Dollar

0.661400

35.7553

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032533

1.7587

Source: PDS Bridge

PITC AWARD. The Department of Information and Communications Technology recognizes the Philippine International Trading Corp. for its efficient and effective procurement service and support to ensure the success of the implementation of DICT’s Provincial Wi-fi Infrastructure Network. Shown during the 45th anniversary of PITC at the Philippine International Convention Center on Sept. 7 are (from left) DICT acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., PITC president and chief executive Dave Almarinez, vice presidents Ma. Victoria Magcase and Christabelle Ebriega, department manager Maria Gudelia Guese and officer-in-charge vice president Myra Chitella Alvarez.

Power distributors group warns of power crisis in Iloilo

By Alena Mae S. Flores A POWER crisis is expected to occur in Iloilo City and nearby towns if the franchise of an existing utility operator is not renewed and given to an applicant that has yet to put up the needed infrastructure for electric distribution utility, according to the umbrella organization of private power distributors.

The Private Electric Power Operators Association issued this warning as it questioned the franchise application of a new applicant contesting the renewal bid of current distributor Panay Electric Co. “We are shocked to learn of the hasty approval of the franchise application of More

communities and people needed to be increased.

ADB said it would rebalance its financing assistance to support the Philippine government’s massive ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure development program to address connectivity issues, allowing the country to catch up with its regional peers in infrastructure competitiveness and achieve its goal of reaching upper middle-income status by 2022.

Reflecting the rebalanced lending pipeline, transport will make up 47 percent of ADB’s Philippine operations from 2018 to 2021, up from 2.2 percent in the last seven years.

Projects include big-ticket items such as the Malolos-Clark Railway, NorthSouth Commuter Rail, Metro Manila Bridges, Bataan-Cavite Long-Span Bridge, and Edsa Greenways projects.

ADB will also support capital market development, private sector participation, and innovations such as green finance solutions to create more options for long-term infrastructure finance.

Union worried over big drop in seafarers deployments in 2017

Thursday, September 20, 2018

United States

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

B1

By Julito G. Rada

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Currency

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BSP’S income surged 289% to P33.07b in seven months

PSE to lift trading suspension on ABG THE Philippine Stock Exchange said it will lift the trading suspension on Asiabest Group International Inc. today after the company submitted a detailed disclosure on the planned backdoor listing of Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc., which owns and operates Okada Manila, an integrated resort and casino in Parañaque City.

The PSE said Asiabest would resume trading starting 9 a.m., after eight days of trading suspension. Shares of Asiabest were last traded on Sept. 10 when it closed at P41.10.

Asiabest said that its majority shareholders signed a share purchase agreement to sell 200 million common shares to Tiger Resort, representing two-thirds of the company’s total authorized capital stock at P3.2325 per share for total of P646.5 million.

The selling shareholders were Sunplaza Development Corp., which owns 98.07 million shares and other public shareholders which own 83.6 million shares. Vittorio Paulo Lim also agreed to sell 18.32 million shares out of the 100.001 million shares he owns.

After the buy-in, Tiger Resorts will own a 66.67-percent stake in Asiabest while Lim’s ownership would be reduced to 27.22 percent. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

Minerals Corp. to the detriment of the incumbent distribution utility Panay Electric Company,” the Private Electric Power Operators Association said in a letter to Rep. Franz Alvarez, chairman of the House legislative franchises committee on Sept. 19.

“This development is deeply concerning to us as it puts a highly urbanized city like Iloilo at risk,” the letter stated.

PEPOA president Ranulfo Ocampo alleged the MMC was primarily a mining company, and hence, did not have the technical capability to operate and maintain a power distribution utility.

“Even if MMC were to change its primary purpose into power distribution, no company can get the required expe-

rience and qualifications in just a few days,” Ocampo said.

Ocampo, a lawyer by profession, said MMC did not have the track record nor the experience in running an electric distribution utility.

He said Peco has been in the business for 95 years and belonged to the top performers in the country, as public records showed that its system average interruption frequency index was among the top in the country.

“They [Peco] are among the top 15 percent in terms of positive reliability performance compared to the other 146 electric distribution utilities in the country,” the PEPOA leader said.

THE United Filipino Seafarers, a globally-recognized union of maritime professionals with 57,000 members, expressed concern over the declining number of Filipino seafarer deployments.

Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency showed there were only 387,072 sea-based workers deployed in 2017, down by almost 65,000 from 442,820 deployments in 2016.

“You look at these figures and think of what it really means―that there are 64,748 seafarers who used to have jobs but no longer. That’s tens of thousands of families whose livelihood are at risk.

This is alarming,” said UFS president Nelson Ramirez.

Ramirez, a seasoned seafarer himself, said industry analysts were predicting more of this drop over the next few years amid the slowdown in global shipping.

“We can expect to see thousands more seafarers loitering in Kalaw, as we lose more principals and shipowners,” he said.

Ramirez likened the phenomenon to the dearth of employment opportunities experienced by Filipino registered nurses in 2016, amid the huge gap between demand and supply.

Ramirez said that in addition to the international economic turmoil and the swelling of unemployed maritime graduates each year, the proliferation of corrupt practices such as ambulance chasing severely aggravated the situation.

Ambulance chasing is a case where a complainant seeks compensation based on fictitious or frivolous claims of injury, disappointing and disheartening foreign shipowners from continuing to hire Filipino seafarers.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday it posted a 289-percent increase in net profit in the first seven months to P33.07 billion from P8.50 billion a year ago, on higher revenues and lower expenses.

Latest data showed that revenues increased to P42.53 billion from P37.56 billion a year earlier, as interest income climbed to P42.61 billion from P32.39 billion.

Expenses in January to July declined to P34.33 billion from P40.61 billion.

The BSP also posted P24.89-billion gain on foreign exchange fluctuations, or more than double the P11.19 billion a year ago.

Prudent management made the Bangko Sentral post net profits since 2016. Prior to that, the regulator incurred losses from 2010 to 2015. The biggest net loss was recorded in 2012 at P95.38 billion. The losses were trimmed to P17.51 billion in 2013, P9.86 billion in 2014 and P4.42 billion in 2015.

The BSP posted a net income of P17.51 billion in 2016 and a record P22.51 billion in 2017.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo earlier said that “if exchange rate improves and strengthens, which means the economy is improving, BSP incurs losses. But if the peso depreciates, BSP profits.”

The peso ended in July at 53.095 against the US dollar, pulled down by the trade war between the US and China, and the possibility that the US Federal Reserve might increase interest rates further in the coming months.

Economists said another reason for the peso’s decline was the widening trade deficit on higher imports that outpaced exports amid the growing economy.

The Bangko Sentral has been pushing for the passage into law of a bill seeking additional P150-billion capitalization.

The government released in January 2014 an equity assistance of P10 billion to the Bangko Sentral that completed its P50-billion capitalization, or 20 years since its creation in 1993.

Meat importers support retention of current tariffs on deboned meat

By Othel V. Campos A GROUP of meat importers expressed support to the petition of meat processors to retain the current tariff rate on mechanically deboned meat amid the rising inflation rate.

The Meat Importers and Traders Association said meat processors presented legitimate arguments in asking for the retention of the current tariff on MDM imports at 5 percent.

“At this time when the country is facing severe food inflation such that government is contemplating reducing import duties on meat, maintaining the existing tariffs on MDM and turkey items would be the logical thing to do,” said Mita president Jesus Cham.

A position paper submitted Thursday before the Tariff Commission claimed that despite its form, MDM has nutritional values that can be easily validated in the laboratories, kitchens and dining tables, timing and apt supplement for meat and meat products.

MDM has become a very important raw material for both large and small processors, the paper said.

Industry estimates showed that independent meat processors or those who are not members of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. use about 30 percent to 35 percent of the total MDM imports, producing low cost food items such as siomai, lumpia shanghai and longanisa and servicing mainly the lower economic classes.

Meat importers alleged that any increase on the cost on MDM would impact consumption and nutrition.

MDM and turkey items are not in direct competition with any locally produced products, the group claimed.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops; MRC, Jollibee up

S

TOCKS fell for a third day, dragging the benchmark index below the 7,200-point market for the first time in nearly three months, as investors stayed on the sidelines amid lingering concerns over the rising inflation rate.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 86 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 7,134.73 Thursday amid thin trading.

The heavier index, representing all shares, shed 42 points, or 1 percent, to settle at 4,411.96, on a value turnover of P4.6 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 113 to 82, while 33 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 20 most actives stocks ended in the green, led by MRC Allied Inc. which jumped 7.5 percent to P0.72

and Jollibee Foods Corp. which rose 2.6 percent to P271.

Meanwhile, the latest rally in most Asian markets stumbled Thursday, though emerging market currencies held gains after Beijing’s pledge not to weaponise the yuan in its trade standoff with the United States.

Regional markets have been on the rise this week after the latest tit-for-tat tariffs from China and the US were considered lenient and allowed for talks, with observers suggesting a further escalation was unlikely in the near term.

And while China on Wednesday hit back at Donald Trump’s accusation that it is using the trade conflict to affect November’s key mid-term elections, the generally upbeat sentiment continued into Thursday morning.

However, investors began to step back as the day wore on. Tokyo ended barely moved, Shanghai was slightly lower and Hong Kong and Singapore also drifted

in afternoon trade.

Seoul put on 0.7 percent and Wellington edged up 0.2 percent following data showing the New Zealand economy grew at its fastest in two years during the second quarter.

Sydney, Taipei and Manila dropped but Jakarta jumped 0.9 percent.

“With both the US and China likely to resume negotiations, expectations are still there for a resolution before President Trump deems it necessary to double down on tariffs,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at Oanda.

Wall Street had provided a positive lead with all three main indexes hovering near record highs.

However, while equities ran out of steam embattled emerging market (EM) currencies were enjoying some muchneeded buying support, having been beaten down by trade war fears in recent months, as well as concerns of a spillover from crises in Argentina, South Af-

rica and Turkey.

Analysts said that as well as the easing trade tensions, a key boost for the currencies was Premier Li Keqiang’s statement that China would not devalue the yuan to fend off the effects of any tariffs.

“China will never rely on the depreciation of the renminbi (yuan) to stimulate exports, because a one-way depreciation of the renminbi exchange rate will have more disadvantages than advantages,” he told an economic forum.

“The premier’s comments are encouraging as they indicate that China won’t actively use its currency as a weapon in its trade scuffle with the US,” said Rodrigo Catril, senior forex strategist at National Australia Bank.

However, he added: “As we have seen in recent months this doesn’t necessarily mean that China will prevent the yuan from weakening if market forces push the currency lower.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING 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 SUN LIFE UNION BANK

59.25 79.8 2.4 112 1.53 30.1 16.4 12.6 4.28 1.5 0.52 64.95 0.99 43.15 188.8 25.5 171 1,817 68.95

59.9 81.05 2.4 113 1.53 30.1 16.4 12.88 4.28 1.58 0.53 65.85 1.02 43.5 189 25.5 171 1,821 68.95

59 79.7 2.4 110.5 1.47 29.6 16.4 12.6 4.1 1.5 0.51 64 0.99 43.15 188.8 25.15 168 1,817 67

FINANCIALS 59.9 20,570 80 2,147,200 2.4 18,000 112.1 1,358,570 1.47 15,000 29.65 387,400 16.4 100 12.66 183,000 4.24 329,000 1.58 52,000 0.53 153,000 64 2,914,690 1 198,000 43.35 157,500 189 260 25.15 135,000 169 563,170 1,821 60 67 41,040

1,219,520 172,325,630.50 43,200 151,967,003 22,440 11,520,920 1,640 2,324,384 1,367,340 78,160 79,580 187,894,889.50 197,540 6,825,885 49,108 3,416,420 95,114,746 109,060 2,750,630.50

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

35.9 18 1.03 1.19 0.215 2.95 13.8 36.05 18.5 42.1 1.72 6.8 10.04 15.2 8.95 7.04 7.05 17 64.95 28.15 7.11 11.78 2 271 5 23.95 11.46 16.7 361 5.81 1.9 4.02 9.01 5.2 8.5 1.01 10.96 52.8 4.85 2.66 2.96 1.45 12.16 94.5 5.66 0.125 1.01 144.1 2.45 2.02 19.02 2.2

35.9 18.04 1.09 1.19 0.219 2.98 13.8 38.95 18.5 42.1 1.73 6.8 10.1 15.6 8.95 7.06 7.08 17 65.05 28.5 7.11 12 2 273.2 5 24.45 11.5 16.78 361.6 5.82 1.9 4.05 9.01 5.3 8.58 1.02 11.1 53.5 5 2.66 2.96 1.55 12.16 94.5 5.74 0.129 1.01 144.1 2.45 2.05 19.02 2.31

35.4 17.78 1.03 1.18 0.215 2.84 13.66 35.1 17.9 40 1.72 6.62 9.98 15.12 8.67 7.02 7.05 16.62 64.8 28.15 7.02 11.54 1.94 264.2 5 23.95 11.44 16.02 351 5.8 1.8 4.01 8.68 5.08 8.3 1 10.58 52.8 4.8 2.63 2.71 1.45 12.1 92.65 5.66 0.125 1 142.5 2.43 2.01 19.02 2.18

INDUSTRIAL 35.4 1,851,100 17.98 777,500 1.05 11,279,000 1.18 21,000 0.218 1,290,000 2.85 8,141,000 13.76 707,300 35.5 1,457,000 17.9 2,000 40 341,100 1.73 43,000 6.62 4,800 10.1 13,401,200 15.3 116,800 8.67 253,700 7.04 606,200 7.06 1,740,000 16.82 513,200 64.95 1,447,890 28.2 16,500 7.04 56,100 11.86 1,040,700 1.97 963,000 271 361,700 5 1,000 24.2 2,118,800 11.5 149,100 16.02 492,600 351 111,370 5.8 30,800 1.8 237,000 4.01 35,000 8.76 518,500 5.3 17,700 8.58 451,800 1 437,000 11.1 89,300 53.35 115,340 4.8 3,101,000 2.63 883,000 2.73 96,000 1.51 85,000 12.12 125,200 94.5 594,840 5.66 47,400 0.129 250,000 1 170,000 142.5 301,700 2.43 21,000 2.04 1,801,000 19.02 200 2.26 13,741,000

65,719,190 13,961,078 11,908,040 24,890 278,530 23,627,940 9,733,006 52,226,945 36,096 13,885,740 74,270 32,150 134,196,500 1,783,256 2,211,593 4,268,235 12,288,035 8,637,026 94,105,163 465,980 395,066 12,347,964 1,888,010 97,701,682 5,000 51,159,400 1,710,550 7,992,042 39,545,672 178,742 432,490 140,480 4,534,458 91,493 3,857,642 438,170 969,698 6,153,776 14,885,120 2,331,020 273,640 127,470 1,518,820 55,702,308 268,405 31,610 170,100 43,058,059 51,050 3,641,650 3,804 30,796,580

31,977,065 4,249,608 -332,350 -86,020 3,909,100 -2,736 27,145.00 -73,740 9,268 -48,696,992 648,716 -1,014,607 -2,742,243 -692,633 -1,083,672 -995,237.50 -19,705 4,080,438 1,980 19,637,808 -6,512,035 -969,814 -2,002,024 365,692 -394,160 -184,821 -4,010 -256,402 185,159.50 -360,270 -196,826 -884,158.50 -69,052 -4,601,743 48,600 12,180.00 160,380

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

0.395 46 12.3 0.93 5.97 1.31 1.3 890 5.86 12.18 7.2 820 53 0.61 4.85 15.84 0.6 5 0.038 1.19 2.53 168.7 2.58 900 1.34 279 0.265

0.395 47 12.44 0.93 6 1.31 1.3 895 5.89 12.18 7.21 825 53 0.61 4.92 15.84 0.62 5.06 0.039 1.22 2.56 168.7 2.58 900 1.38 280 0.275

0.385 44.1 12.1 0.93 5.97 1.2 1.23 885 5.74 11.92 6.92 803 52.05 0.59 4.8 15.2 0.6 4.92 0.038 1.19 2.52 165.9 2.58 862 1.34 279 0.255

HOLDING FIRMS 0.39 6,660,000 44.1 1,728,900 12.1 3,108,600 0.93 1,000 6 2,800 1.26 21,315,000 1.26 2,670,000 885 263,530 5.85 2,571,800 11.92 1,449,400 7.2 3,560,700 803 104,650 53 1,500,000 0.6 13,000 4.8 328,000 15.24 1,745,400 0.62 1,562,000 5 36,341,300 0.038 16,700,000 1.22 123,000 2.52 279,000 167.1 335,300 2.58 3,000 862 284,060 1.38 21,000 280 310 0.27 5,330,000

2,575,200 77,617,845 37,961,714 930 16,785 26,705,670 3,351,170 234,334,725 15,044,934 17,387,590 25,287,792 85,381,585 79,320,960.50 7,710 1,585,830 26,995,002 948,740 181,713,669 645,500 147,460 704,270 55,859,536 7,740 248,237,615 28,540 86,790 1,404,600

-31,205,055 -13,745,908 13,800 1,190,420 -95,115,365 460,926 -9,240,614 755,548 -7,302,635 -4,892,774 -1,045,040 3,351,864 187,200 -1,748,719 -50,600.00 -22,113,536 -56,126,540 5,350

13,520,272 739,630 161,420 473,200 384,825,295 8,496,550 991,120 125,025 1,814 2,736,650 87,310 288,720 1,930,916 50,541,450 3,300 3,288,100 1,962,600 43,385,160 12,270 59,399,880 102,865,200 1,111,800 502,550 2,056,860 35,230,634 53,940 6,138,580 245,303,995 59,320 5,594,833

-504,087 7,510 -6,211,730 -8,104,580 -1,075,350 -3,204,725 -2,461,030 -7,121,230.00 30,951,440 -364,910 -58,200 218,490.00 -4,212,272 -19,140 6,100,540 -47,937,890 158,216

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

7.46 0.84 12 0.7 40.5 2.76 4.3 5.37 5.82 0.435 0.91 0.226 8.44 22.6 0.55 1.44 1.14 2.16 4.09 4 0.67 0.44 0.405 4.15 19.86 1.93 3.19 36.95 1.14 6.51

7.48 0.85 12 0.7 40.65 2.76 4.43 5.37 6.5 0.435 0.91 0.229 8.59 22.6 0.55 1.44 1.14 2.32 4.09 4.2 0.72 0.45 0.44 4.16 19.86 1.97 3.2 36.95 1.15 6.51

7.2 0.82 10.84 0.7 39.8 2.6 4.3 5.25 5.82 0.43 0.9 0.218 8.42 21.45 0.55 1.41 1.12 2.16 4.09 4 0.66 0.44 0.4 4.04 19.38 1.92 3.16 36 1.14 6

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

541,835 -43,757,934.50 -36,000 -19,089,528 8,820 -1,296,185 -1,527,406 -86,847,742.50 1,783,785 18,888 -3,416,420 5,093,214 -1,841,993.50

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.77 6.25

0.77 6.27

0.75 5.97

0.76 6

216,000 11,820,900

164,160 71,417,763

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG 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

11.9 20.25 1.45 0.465 0.044 13.5 1.86 8.08 0.061 71.5 7.98 5.9 8.82 2.3 19 2,162 5.36 306 2.38 91.7 13 7.75 0.112 2.85 3.36 14.32 3.57 0.91 16.48 0.43 6 7 2.47 1.53 1.47 7 11.04 8.8 103 4.48 1,400 0.9 0.395 44.6 80 7.7 2.14 0.61 0.51 5.17 0.68 10.46

12 20.9 1.45 0.475 0.044 13.5 1.96 8.2 0.061 72.75 7.98 5.95 8.88 2.3 19.5 2,210 5.37 316 2.48 91.7 13 7.75 0.115 2.91 3.57 14.58 3.76 0.92 16.5 0.43 6 7.02 2.54 1.64 1.5 7.16 11.04 8.89 105 4.48 1,410 0.91 0.41 45 80 8.05 2.21 0.74 0.52 5.18 0.71 10.46

11.9 20.15 1.44 0.465 0.043 13.5 1.83 8.04 0.06 71 7.98 5.81 8.52 2.3 19 2,120 5.35 303.8 2.32 89.1 12.98 7.7 0.112 2.74 3.35 14.2 3.57 0.9 16.32 0.43 5.95 7 2.45 1.53 1.46 7 10.98 8.6 102 4.25 1,370 0.89 0.38 44.5 78.2 7.7 2.14 0.6 0.5 5.13 0.68 10.3

SERVICES 11.9 20.7 1.44 0.47 0.044 13.5 1.87 8.1 0.06 72 7.98 5.9 8.88 2.3 19.48 2,120 5.35 315.8 2.32 90 12.98 7.75 0.113 2.86 3.54 14.58 3.62 0.92 16.32 0.43 5.97 7 2.5 1.61 1.49 7.09 11 8.6 104 4.46 1,370 0.89 0.405 44.8 79 7.8 2.16 0.74 0.52 5.13 0.69 10.38

6,900 15,800 20,000 1,440,000 5,500,000 3,700 2,645,000 6,748,700 12,310,000 108,590 100 650,000 159,900 9,000 15,800 57,545 42,600 1,190 1,784,000 584,290 17,200 8,100 870,000 1,468,000 29,000 6,600 670,000 192,000 525,000 10,000 459,000 3,801,700 1,337,000 285,000 114,000 1,421,200 1,400 1,400 85,820 320,000 54,430 2,234,000 5,880,000 1,247,200 650,030 13,500 18,496,000 80,125,000 17,056,000 188,000 1,462,000 4,382,400

82,130 326,000 28,900 672,950 238,100 49,950 4,970,380 54,566,292 740,680 7,774,859.50 798 3,819,502 1,412,612 20,700 301,402 124,094,490 228,237 372,200 4,197,430 52,713,888 223,260 62,625 98,100 4,158,070 99,880 94,760 2,420,000 175,250 8,583,640 4,300 2,745,840 26,625,732 3,347,360 442,310 169,530 10,036,354 15,436 12,129 8,860,590 1,387,320 75,022,825 2,000,830 2,342,100 55,943,280 51,251,366.50 105,575 40,296,140 52,744,130 8,722,700 965,226 1,009,940 45,529,786

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

0.0025 1.5 3.16 17.4 0.97 1.93 7.3 1.92 0.203 0.117 0.111 0.0072 0.0073 1.2 4.44 1.08 0.7 1.12 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.76 3.53 15.8 27.05 0.0076

0.0025 1.5 3.16 17.5 0.97 1.93 7.55 1.92 0.208 0.117 0.121 0.0072 0.0073 1.25 4.45 1.1 0.77 1.16 0.013 0.014 0.012 3.76 3.54 15.8 27.2 0.0079

0.0024 1.48 3.1 15.1 0.97 1.91 7.16 1.9 0.202 0.109 0.111 0.0072 0.0073 1.2 4.4 1.03 0.7 1.06 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.48 3.4 15.2 26.6 0.0076

MINING & OIL 0.0024 100,000,000 1.48 1,660,000 3.1 400,000 17.28 24,800 0.97 10,000 1.91 549,000 7.47 83,100 1.92 1,562,000 0.208 920,000 0.112 3,660,000 0.121 30,000 0.0072 11,000,000 0.0073 3,000,000 1.25 23,000 4.4 450,000 1.08 421,000 0.76 15,591,000 1.07 5,650,000 0.012 7,600,000 0.014 300,000 0.012 9,600,000 3.61 327,000 3.4 1,269,000 15.38 851,400 26.6 616,700 0.0079 5,000,000

240,800 2,474,420 1,244,000 411,070 9,700 1,051,640 606,754 2,984,040 188,120 407,500 3,520 79,200 21,900 27,650 1,986,150 436,540 11,628,230 6,255,880 91,500 4,100 110,600 1,157,790 4,427,440 13,118,308 16,606,310 38,300

149,000 -68,360 47,960 -1,668,120 -234,600 -14,140 1,300 -17,700 -2,358,110 241,242 -2,561,520 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G

20 485 495.4 100.4 5.2 95.25 1.04 101 1,011 100 1.91 75.15 78.2 75.35 75.2

20 485 495.4 101.3 5.2 99 1.04 101 1,011 100 1.91 75.2 78.2 75.35 75.2

19.88 485 495.4 100.2 5.2 93 1.04 100.2 1,010 100 1.85 75.15 78.15 75 75.2

PREFERRED 19.88 40,500 485 4,810 495.4 10 100.2 8,960 5.2 5,500 99 12,750 1.04 5,000 100.2 21,000 1,010 2,470 100 290 1.85 14,000 75.15 51,500 78.2 15,190 75 16,500 75.2 67,200

807,184 2,332,850 4,954 899,148 28,600 1,191,598.50 5,200 2,120,840 2,495,150 29,000 26,620 3,870,326.50 1,187,119.50 1,237,675 5,053,440

-807,184 28,600 -751,545 -14,858 -4,978,240

LR WARRANT

2.31

2.35

2.31

WARRANTS 2.32 171,000

399,400

ITALPINAS XURPAS

6.3 2.08

6.62 2.08

5.63 2.02

5.7 2.06

FIRST METRO ETF

108.6

108.8

108.3

USD TECH B2

0.8

0.8

0.8

MS

PROPERTY 7.48 0.83 10.84 0.7 39.8 2.61 4.42 5.37 6.5 0.43 0.91 0.219 8.42 21.45 0.55 1.41 1.12 2.3 4.09 4.17 0.72 0.45 0.42 4.1 19.5 1.94 3.2 36 1.14 6.44

1,844,900 887,000 13,500 676,000 9,641,700 3,191,000 225,000 23,300 300 6,360,000 96,000 1,300,000 228,200 2,335,700 6,000 2,324,000 1,750,000 19,281,000 3,000 14,325,000 146,264,000 2,490,000 1,190,000 505,000 1,798,600 28,000 1,919,000 6,768,600 52,000 899,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

8,953,124

INDUSTRIAL

76,622,216

HOLDING FIRMS

108,161,689

PROPERTY

238,512,503

SERVICES

175,767,685

MINING & OIL

170,719,456

GRAND TOTAL

792,145,721

SME

12,435,200 958,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 108.3 14,440 0.8

DDS

10,000

-28,848,371 13,850 49,950 7,490 4,240,993 -2,423,894.50 1,033,381 -458,752 15,029,600 -5,985,662 -70,400.00 -16,750 -466,150 244,996.00 -840,000 -6,273,507 2,173,710.00 207,004 -23,800 17,600 16,815,835 8,890 4,050 26,873,165 -15,299,219.50 -77,750 11,848,640 -8,580,610 -48,950 -768,506 -197,880 1,132,754

-

74,489,177 1,958,700

654,977 29,610

1,567,485

66,243

8,000

-

VALUE 1,574.95 (down) 2.32 668,587,010.86 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,862.52 (down) 29.62 929,709,089.27 HOLDING FIRMS 6,927.50 (down) 120.93 1,137,163,994.92 PROPERTY 3,594.83 (down) 49.57 SERVICES 1,474.66 (down0 18.60 1,045,637,422.31 MINING & OIL 8,978.41 (down) 129.65 663,428,990.59 PSEI 7,134.74 (down) 86.50 65,646,656.75 All Shares Index 4,411.96 (down) 42.75 4,588,194,222.72 Gainers: 82; Losers: 113; Unchanged: 33; Total: 228

Metrobank plans to sell P100b worth of debt papers

By Julito G. Rada METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in terms of assets, will issue up to P100 billion worth of commercial papers to fund expansion and lending activities.

Metrobank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday its board of directors approved the P100-billion bond and commercial paper program in a meeting on Sept. 19, 2018.

It said the issuance would be conducted in one or more tranches and tenors of at least three months.

“The objective of the program is to support Metrobank’s lending activities and to diversify funding sources. Timing of the issuances will be subject to market conditions,” Metrobank said.

Metrobank remained one of the leading universal and commercial banks in the country in terms of assets, loans and deposits.

The bank posted a net income of P11 billion in the first half, or 16 percent higher than the same period last year, fueled by the sustained strength of core businesses. Net income jumped 31 percent in the second quarter to P5.2 billion from P3.9 billion a year ago.

Metrobank president Fabian Dee said the solid performance was driven by the core business, as the doubledigit growth in loans and sustained Casa (current and savings account) ratio lifted margins, while recurring expense growth was kept at a manageable level.

“We are pleased to see that our efforts continue to bear fruit. Coming from the heels of a successful capital raising at the start of the second quarter, we have started to build good momentum that should allow us to meet our growth targets,” Dee said.

“Together with achieving sustainable profitability, we are likewise making good progress in strengthening our risk management and operating controls,” he said.

The company said its loan growth guidance of high-teens was met, as the total portfolio expanded 18 percent year-on-year to P1.3 trillion. The commercial segment led the growth at 21 percent, driven by the strong performance of top corporate accounts followed by middle market and SMEs.

BPI unveils plan to raise P50b from bond sale BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, is putting up a peso bond and commercial paper program to raise P50 billion for general corporate purposes.

BPI said in a statement to the stock exchange Thursday its board of directors approved the planned issuance in a meeting Wednesday.

“The board of directors of the Bank of the Philippine Islands approved the establishment of a peso bond and commercial paper program in the aggregate amount of up to P50 billion,” BPI said.

The bond program follows BPI’s successful $600-million debut issuance last month of five-year senior unsecured fixed rate notes under its $2-billion medium-term note program.

The notes fetched a coupon of 4.25 percent. The issuance marked the first in the bank’s 167-year history and the largest-ever debut issuance for a bank in the Philippines.

The issuance was part of the bank’s initiatives to maximize flexibility in accessing offshore funding. The offering came after the successful fixed-income investor calls and roadshow meetings in Hong Kong and Singapore on Aug. 24 and 27, 2018.

BPI president Cezar Consing said the capital-raising initiative allowed the bank to diversify its sources of liquidity, lengthen the maturity profile of borrowings and manage the growth of its balance sheet more efficiently.

The offering was about three times oversubscribed, with the order book allocated predominantly to Asia, with the rest to Europe. By investor type, the distribution comprised more than half of the offer allocated to asset managers and fund managers, around a third to banks and the rest to insurance and pension funds, private banks and other investors.Julito G. Rada

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

Facebook pledges to fight election meddling

SUMMIT. This picture taken on September 19 and released by the Korean Central News Agencyvia KNS shows South Korean President Moon Jae-iin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walking to a meeting room for their summit at Paekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang. Kim and Moon visited the spiritual birthplace of the Korean nation on September 20 for a show of unity after their summit gave new momentum to Pyongyang’s negotiations with Washington. AFP

SAN FRANCISCO―Facebook on Wednesday said it will have a “war room” up and running on its Silicon Valley campus to quickly repel efforts to use the social network to meddle in coming elections.

“We are setting up a war room in Menlo Park for the Brazil and US elections,” Facebook elections and civic engagement director Samidh Chakrabarti said during a conference call.

“It is going to serve as a command center so we can make real-time decisions as needed.”

He declined to say when the “war room”―currently a conference room with a paper sign taped to the door―would be in operation.

Teams at Facebook have been honing responses to potential scenarios such as floods of bogus news or campaigns to trick people into falsely thinking they can cast ballots by text message, according to executives.

“Preventing election interference on Facebook has been one of the biggest cross-team efforts the company has seen,” Chakrabarti said.

The conference call was the latest briefing by Facebook regarding efforts to prevent the kinds of voter manipulation or outright deception that took place ahead of the 2016 election that brought US President Donald Trump to office.

Facebook is better prepared to defend against efforts to manipulate the platform to influence elections and has recently thwarted foreign influence campaigns targeting several countries, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said last week in a post on the social network.

“We’ve identified and removed fake accounts ahead of elections in France, Germany, Alabama, Mexico and Brazil,” Zuckerberg said.

“We’ve found and taken down foreign influence campaigns from Russia and Iran attempting to interfere in the US, UK, Middle East, and elsewhere―as well as groups in Mexico and Brazil that have been active in their own country.”

Zuckerberg repeated his admission that Facebook was illprepared for the vast influence efforts on social media in the 2016 US election but added that “today, Facebook is better prepared for these kinds of attacks.”

Facebook has started showing who is behind election-related online ads, and have shut down accounts involved in coordinated stealth influence campaigns. AFP

AFFIDAVIT OF LOSS I, RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ, JR., of legal age, Filipino citizen and with residence address at B3 Lot 13-A Town & Country Estates, Sumulong, Antipolo City, do hereby depose and declare that: 1. I am the Corporate Secretary of AIRLIFT ASIA, INC., a registered stockholder of theVALLEY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, INC. share of stock covered by the following stock certificate: CERT. STOCKHOLDER NAME STOCK NO. AIRLIFT ASIA, INC.

NO. OF SHARES

DATE ISSUED

1

4/11/2005

3928

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

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

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

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

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

Manila

Ex-leader Najib faces suit over $681m in funds

K

UALA LUMPUR―Malaysia’s ex-leader Najib Razak arrived in court Thursday to face a barrage of charges relating to $681 million of state funds that allegedly ended up in his personal bank account.

Najib, who suffered a shock election defeat in May, was arrested Wednesday by officials probing claims the former prime minister and his cronies looted billions of dollars from the state fund 1MDB in an audacious fraud.

Police say he will face 21 money-laundering charges related to the mysterious transfer of huge sums into his personal bank account, a key episode in the long-running scandal.

He may also face additional charges under anti-corruption laws.

He has already been arrested twice and hit with several counts related to 1MDB since losing power, but observers say the latest charges represent a major step forward in efforts to bring him to justice.

Allegations Najib and his cronies pilfered huge sums from the investment vehicle and spent them on everything from high-end real estate to artwork were a major factor in the defeat of his long-ruling coalition to a reformist alliance headed by Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, 93, who is in his second stint as premier after coming out of retirement to take on scandal-mired Najib, has ramped up probes in the 1MDB scandal and vowed to have the ex-leader prosecuted.

The 64-year-old was initially detained Wednesday by the Malaysian Anti-Cor-

IN BRIEF Firm punished after ‘maids for sale’ ads SINGAPORE―Singapore has suspended a maid employment agency’s license and threatened to prosecute the company over “undignified” online ads offering Indonesian helpers for sale, after the postings sparked fury.

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

The conditions for Indonesian maids in tightlyregulated Singapore are generally regarded as better than in other places, such as Malaysia or parts of the Middle East, but the ads on online marketplace Carousell sparked a rare flare-up of tensions over the issue.

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 postings triggered an outcry in Indonesia, with NGO Migrant Care slamming them as “unjust and demeaning”, and they were later removed from the site.

Singapore’s labor ministry said in a statement late Wednesday the employment agency SRC Recruitment LLP’s license had been suspended, meaning it could no longer place maids with employers, and authorities were investigating them with a view to filing charges.

“We strongly condemn the advertising of foreign domestic worker services in an undignified manner,” said Kevin Teoh, commissioner for employment agencies. AFP

ruption Commission over the alleged bank transfers, before facing further questioning by police Thursday morning.

Afterwards, deputy national police chief Noor Rashid Ibrahim said in a statement that “as many as 21 charges involving $681 million have been prepared”.

The charges include “nine counts of receiving illegal money, five counts of using illegal money and seven counts of transferring illegal money to other entities,” he said.

The police statement did not mention 1MDB. However the US Department of Justice, which is seeking to recover assets allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB money, claims that $681 million from the fund was funneled to Najib’s accounts.

Najib has already been charged with moneylaundering, criminal breach of trust and abusing his position over claims he pocketed some $10 million from a former unit of 1MDB. He denies any wrongdoing.

But the latest charges are more significant and relate to a key episode in the 1MDB scandal.

When reports surfaced in 2015 that huge sums from 1MDB flowed into Najib’s bank accounts before a hotly contested election, it dramatically ratcheted up pressure on the leader and his inner circle over the scandal. AFP

Official fired for trucks with 273 smelling bodies GUADALAJARA―A state government in Mexico has fired a prosecutor over a spectacle in which a fetid-smelling tractor trailer carrying 273 bodies was driven around aimlessly for lack of room in the morgue.

“I am not willing to tolerate this kind of mistake, which shocks and horrifies public opinion,” said the governor of western Jalisco state, Aristoteles Sandoval, as he fired prosecutor Raul Sanchez.

The state’s chief coroner was fired earlier in the week over the sad drama in the state capital, Guadalajara.

The bodies were in the refrigerated truck because the morgue in Mexico’s second-largest city was full.

Officials originally put the number of bodies at 157 but on Wednesday they raised it to 273.

The truck was parked for two weeks at a warehouse in a downtrodden neighborhood on the city outskirts until residents complained of the stench and the flies it attracted.

The authorities then moved the truck to an empty lot in another poor neighborhood far from the city center, until residents there protested Saturday.

Officials then moved it to a prosecution storage facility in the city center, where it remains parked for now.

News outlets broadcast footage Wednesday of the open trailer of the truck, with piles of bodies in black bags and a man in white boots stepping on the bags.

Officials have said the bodies were of victims of violent crime, so under Mexican law they cannot be cremated.

Authorities said they were looking for a longer-term solution.

The coroner who was fired over this case, Luis Octavio Cotero, said the state government was working on a site to bury 800 bodies outside Guadalajara. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Standard Department of Finance

AIRLIFT ASIA, INC. Stockholder

TODAY

Securities and Exchange Commission

IN THE MATTER OF

By:

: : REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL PAPERS

CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION x----------------------------------------x

: :

RICARDO N. FERNANDEZ,JR. Corporate Secretary

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 7 September 2018 a sworn Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION for the registration of One Billion Four Hundred Million Pesos (Php1,400,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers.

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the officers/directors of the corporation: Name Andrew I. Liuson Stephen C. Roxas Grace C. Liuson Josef C. Gohoc Atty. Sabino R. Padilla, Jr. Peter S. Dee George Edwin Y. SyCip Alice C. Gohoc Helen C. Roxas Emma A. Choa Rudy Go

Position Director/Chairman of the Board Director/Chairman of the Executive Committee Director/Vice Chairman of the Board Director/President Director Independent Director Independent Director Director Director Executive Vice President/Treasurer Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/ Compliance & Corporate Information Officer/ Data Protection Officer/Investors Relations Officer Melita M. Revuelta Vice President/Alternate Compliance Officer Melita L. Tan Vice President Romeo E. Ng Vice President Rosario D. Perez Vice President - Executive Affairs Winefreda R. Go Vice President Atty. Emma G. Jularbal Vice President-Legal Affairs/Corporate Secretary Dorothy U. So Assistant Vice President-Head of Internal Audit Department Catherine Grace T. Wong Assistant Corporate Secretary

BEFORE ME, a Notary Public for and in the City of Makati, this ____ day of_____________, personally appeared affiant exhibiting his government issued ID: Name

(MS-SEPT. 21 & 24, 2018)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Mortgagee, -versus-

FRE NO. 12389

GUIDO M. ESTORCO Mortgagor. x-------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended

by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed on JUNE 28, 2018

by GUIDO M. ESTORCO, - Blk. 5, Lot 6, Sunville 5, Ampid 1, San Mateo Rizal, Mortgagor in favor of PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK., Mortgagee to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of Php 1,392,558.59 as of AUGUST 15, 2018, outstanding balance, plus accruing interest, penalty and expenses and other charges, together with all the lawful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on OCTOBER 24, 2018 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will sell thru public auction to the highest bidder for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit: CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2018005743 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City SUN RESIDENCES TOWER 2 FLOOR LEVEL: UNIT: DESCRIPTION: UNIT AREA: VIEW (MARKETING):

21ST FLOOR 2127 STUDIO TYPE UNIT 20.00SQ.M. FACING QUEZON CITY

In the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE N-332801; N-332802; N-332803; N-332811; N-332805; N-332804; N-332792; 2010005992 which embraces and describes the land located at ESPAÑA BOULEVARD CORNER MAYON ST., QUEZON CITY with an area of (265.40, 121.10, 512, 274.00, 239.50, 3,080, 2,665, 4,163.20) Square Meter. xxx xxx All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid office on the above stated date and time.

Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

In the event that public auction should not take place on said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a nonworking holiday, it shall be held on OCTOBER 31, 2018 at the same time and place without further notice.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, September 13, 2018.

(Sgd.) RANDY C. BERNARDO Sheriff IV (Sgd.) GREGORIO C . TALLUD Clerk of Court VII and Ex-Officio Sheriff WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface, or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law.

COPY FURNISHED: ATTY. NICEFORO L. AVILA, JR. GUIDO M. ESTORCO, 4th Floor PSBank Center Blk. 5, Lot 6, Sunville 5, Ampid 1, 777 Paseo de Roxas, corner San Mateo 1850 Rizal Sedeño St., 1226 Makati City (MStandard-Sep. 21, 28 & Oct. 5, 2018)

Date/Place Issued

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

(MS-SEPT. 7,14 & 21, 2018)

Said registration statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively known as “RS”) are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to any party, upon request, at such fees as the Commission may prescribe. The RS and the Prospectus dated 07 September 2018 and the corresponding updated version may be downloaded from www.cityland.net.

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director Markets and Securities Regulation Department

Government Issued I.D.

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE InvItatIon to BId no. Goods-050-2018 050

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Special Education Fund intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening.

Name of Project

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

1. Printing of Instructional Materials for distribution to Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools in the Division of Bataan

=P= 109,208,457.70

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement.

Delivery of goods is required within 30 Days. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committeeand inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00 75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 28, 2018 at 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan.

Bids must be delivered on or before October 10, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 or Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities Schedule 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid September 21 - 27, 2018 2. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents September 21 – October 10, 2018 4. Request for Clarification October 1, 2018 5. Opening of Bids October 10, 2018 The Provincial Government of Bataanreserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Ms. Aileen C. Sagun Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, BalangaCity, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph (SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN (MS-SEPT. 21, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

LocaL government units

friday, september 21, 2018

RELIEF EFFORT. Workers of the Andres P. Tamayo Sr. Foundation Inc. are repacking relief goods at the command center at Shore 2 Condominium, MOA Complex in Pasay City, meant for distribution in Northern Luzon areas affected by Typhoon ‘Ompong.’ Joseph Muego

SBMA eyes P10.2-b infra work In BrIef Qc backs Pcoo gender advocacy QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday backed the advocacy of the Presidential Communications Operations Office to foster the fair portrayal of women in media and entertainment.

“Quezon City supports such kind of advocacy to ensure equality among women. The media is one of the most powerful forces to let our people learn [things],” she said.

The PCOO has just released the “Philippine Revised Gender-Fair Media Guidebook.” Rio N. Araja

1 drug suspect slain, 11 nabbed in Bulacan

By Butch Gunio

S

UBIC BAy FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is actively pursuing the implementation of a P10.2billion six-year infrastructure development program to be funded under the national government’s Build-Build-Build program.

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

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

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

completion by 2023,” she added.

Eisma said this will be the first time for the SBMA to avail of national funding for infrastructure projects. “But we feel justified not only because of the scope, but also because we’d like to think that these projects are investments on the part of the government,” she explained.

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

The SBMA chief pointed out that ever since the Americans left in 1992, Subic has not yet seen any major invest-

ment in infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance of basic facilities like roads and docks, which are essential to business operations here.

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

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

Other projects in the P10.2-billion infrastructure development program will be implemented in phases starting with P524.5 million in 2019; and then P573.1 million in 2020; P1.32 billion in 2021; P2.35 billion in 2022; and P1.4 billion in 2013.

CAMP GEN ALEJO S SANTOS, Bulacan—A suspected drug peddler was killed while 11 other suspects were arrested in separate anti-illegal drug operations conducted by Bulacan police on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning.

Senior Supt. Chito G. Bersaluna, Bulacan Police Provincial Director, identified the fatality only as alias “Ronel.”

Bersaluna said the other drug suspects were arrested in various anti-illegal drug operations conducted by operatives in the City of Meycauayan, Bocaue, Paombong, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Marilao, Balagtas and Santa Maria. PNA

vizcaya pushes water summit BAyOMBONG—Gov. Carlos Padilla here has called on concerned Novo Vizcayanos to join and attend the upcoming Water Summit organized by the provincial government to heighten awareness on water conservation and protection of watersheds in the province.

Padilla said the summit is expected to draw close to 600 stakeholders from the Cagayan Valley region on Sept. 21 at the Nueva Vizcaya Convention Center in this town.

“This summit aims to draw up people’s initiative that would unite all stakeholders to protect our commons—the source of our much needed water,” he said.

John Peterson (second from right), Managing Director of FedEx Express Philippines, paints the walls of Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School with FedEx volunteers and employees in time for the opening of classes last June.

San Fabian hit hard by storm, suffers P315m in damage SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan—The municipal government has placed this town under state of calamity due to P315 million in damage to agriculture and infrastructure, and affecting more than 25,000 individuals due to Typhoon “Ompong” (Mangkhut).

The Sangguniang Bayan members approved Resolution No. 90, series of 2018 on Monday, noting the need for the local government unit to declare the municipality under state of calamity to entitle it to immediate attention by the proper authorities, and enable them to address properly the disastrous effects of the typhoon.

Engineer Lope Juguilon, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said Ompong caused P104.4 million in damage to the town’s agriculture industry.

“Some 2,566 hectares of rice field were devastated, and some plantations of corn, other high-value crops, as well as aquaculture, were also destroyed,” Juguilon said Wednesday.

The typhoon’s heavy rains, especially in Benguet province that is connected to the Bued River tributary of the town, have caused flash floods with depths of four to eight feet, he added.

Meanwhile, in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, as the death toll of Ompong continued to rise in neighboring Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla was “jubilant” when Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu swiftly issued an order to check mining operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“The order of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu to stop small-scale mining operations in the Cordilleras in the wake of a tragedy brought by Typhoon Ompong is a timely move,” Padilla said.

Brenda Jocson with PNA

Navotas opens Navohomes Kaunlaran

By Jun David SIxTy Navoteño families now have new homes after the Navotas city government formally opened the five-story housing project at Barangay North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS)-Kaunlaran, Navotas.

Mayor John Rey Tiangco and Rep. Toby Tiangco, together with Engineer Juancho Corpuz of National Housing Authority, Brgy. Chairperson Toto Natividad and other city officials, led the blessing and inauguration of NavoHomes Kaunlaran on Wednesday.

“We are glad that you now have a safe haven for your family. you can now live comfortably and sleep peacefully at night knowing you are safe here,” Mayor Tiangco said in his speech.

Residents of NavoHomes Kaunlaran previously lived in danger areas and along easements of Navotas waterways.

“New home, new life. We hope having a house of your own will inspire you to dream for better things in life and work to achieve them,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, Tiangco advised the residents to keep NavoHomes Kaunlaran clean, orderly and peaceful.

FedEx Express, AmCham awards highlight CSR role in localities FEDEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, recently underlined its commitment to serving local communities at the 10th American Chamber of the Philippines (AmCham) CSR Awards.

The awards recognize member companies through their outreach initiatives, bringing economic and social impact to beneficiary communities.

Themed “Business for Better Life,” the AmCham CSR Photo Exhibit included six different categories highlighting the importance of the environment, education, healthcare, livelihood, disaster risk management, and maintaining peace in conflict-ridden areas.

This year, FedEx featured its community outreach in Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila, which benefited 3,500 public

BPI arm, WWF ‘climate-proof’ farms

BPI Foundation and World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines announced the culmination of “Climate-Proofing Agricultural Landscapes” or AgriClima, their joint initiative promoting climatesmart agriculture.

Climate-smart agriculture is the transforming or re-orienting of agricultural practices patterned to the new realities of climate change.

Established in 2016, AgriClima aims to “climateproof” or make farms profitable and productive despite extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change.

The project assessed the impact of climate change to agricultural sectors and devised sustainable strategies to mitigate its negative impact.

“This joint venture with WWF-Philippines is our way of investing in our Filipino farmers to make the best happen for them,” said Maricris San Diego,

school students.

A total of 53 FedEx volunteers repaired tables and chairs, repainted the nutrition center, planted fruits and vegetables in the school garden, and painted a mural to remind students of the importance of eating a well-balanced meal.

Over the years, FedEx Express has conducted a multifaceted approach in community development, guided by its Purple Promise commitment to make

every FedEx experience outstanding for communities.

Previous FedEx CSR activities include educating about 200 Makati Science students on environmental sustainability; tree planting activities in Buhay Punlaan nursery in Lumban, Laguna; and the donation of 80 solar-powered lanterns and five lampposts to the community of Villa Porac in Pampanga that served 220 indigenous families.

BPI Foundation Executive Director.

“AgriClima further strengthens their resilient spirit by inspiring a proactive response to their new climate conditions so they can protect their families and livelihood, and our economy.”

“For three years now, we have been a proud partner of BPI Foundation given our shared mission of propelling sustainable projects for society and environment,” said Moncini Hinay, WWF-Philippines Project Manager.

“The combination of our organizations’ respective expertise allowed AgriClima to contribute to economic development.”

The BPI Foundation and WWF-Philippines project is in alignment with the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009 (RA 10000), which aims to improve the productivity of the agriculture and fish- WWF Philippines president Joel Palma, Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles, DENR-EMB Region 6 Director Dr. Sophie eries sector by helping them have access to credit, Manuel, La Carlota City Vice Mayor Rex Jalando-on, and BPI Foundation program manager Aimee Terrenal (from left) show their signed agreement for AgriClima. insurance, and financing systems.

Life

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

culture and media

friday, september 21, 2018

c1

Reminiscing childhood games

through furniture

C

hildhood games sungka, Chinese garter, kite-flying, and jolens (marbles), among others, were perhaps the major reason why many kids of the pre-smartphone and social media era weren’t able to clock in more afternoon nap time.

These toys and games hold a lot of childhood memories, which select furniture design students intended to revive through their furniture pieces.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Interior Design program and SM Aura Premier recently staged an exhibit that showed how children’s development can be correlated with design, both as an inspiration and as an output.

Dubbed Batibot, from the popular Philippine television program that aired from 1980s to 1990s, the exhibition showcased designs derived from various childhood games made by Furniture Design class students.

There was an accent chair inspired by the classic sungka game, a chair derived from the tiyakad racing game, a saranggola-inspired throne chair, and a bar stool that took after the traditional trumpo.

The Palad accent chair by Darryl Bher Algodon is inspired by the classic Philippine sungka game.

Former DsWD secretary Dinky soliman (second from left) attends the Batibot exhibition of De La salle-college of saint Benilde students at sm Aura. With her are interior Design program chairperson Arch. Larry carandang, student heads Franchesca Juliano and Jenn gongora, sm senior vice president for marketing communications group millie Dizon, and professor iDr. Randy Pabona.

The students opted to rely on these traditional and local games to translate their skills and creativity into furniture design On the other hand, Benilde’s Interior Design Exhibit class students renovated a day care center in Manila.

Thirteen graduating students lent their skills to renovate Barangay 753 Kabaka Day Care Center in Arellano Street, Singalong, Manila.

Benildeans conducted fundraising

sigayhan by Jenn gongora is a space-saving sliding coffee table.

drives, such as the collection and sale of pre-loved clothes and blankets, books and toys, and kitchen and household items. The proceeds were used for the restoration of the day care center.

Interior design professor Randy Pabona proposed a classroom development plan, based on principles and theories from lectures, which included the classroom, restroom, kitchen, and exterior play area.

“Our main objective was to give a proper design for day care students. If the space is clean, well-ventilated, and beautiful, kids would be more productive,” said Pabona.

Learning materials such as storybooks, building blocks and wooden peg letters, numbers, and shapes were likewise integrated to keep the kids inspired and motivated.

The refurbishing took a month to complete.

“Through this project, we were able to maximize our skills and create a significant impact on the children as well as the community,” enthused Fanchesca Juliano, Interior Design student and head of the Batibot Project.

The team also distributed school supplies and toys to help the kids get a head start for the school year.

Angelica del Rosario's Tiyakad chair was derived from the tiyakad racing game which uses bamboo or branches.

Vert bar stool by Tai in Wang, inspired by the traditional trumpo.

The saranggola throne chair by Patricia mallari and Jallf Alora is made of antirust coated steel with strengthened weave and synthetic rattan.

New CITEM head keen to elevate PH creative industry ciTem head Pauline suaco-Juan seeks to strengthen the Philippine creative industry.

As The new head of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the export promotion arm of the trade and industry department, Pauline Suaco-Juan aims to strengthen the Philippine creative industry as an engine of economic growth.

In 2014 alone, the Philippine creative industry has contributed over P660 billion to the economy based on a report by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

This is equivalent to about 7.34 percent of the country’s growth domestic product on that same year.

In terms of employment, the contribution of the sector to the economy is among the highest in the world. Filipino workers in the advertising, film and video, music, performing arts, publishing, broadcasting, visual, game development, and graphic arts make up around 11 percent of the country’s labor force as of 2014.

However, Filipino creatives only ranked 22nd in their contribution to the country’s GDP despite taking up a big portion of the labor market based on the same WIPO report.

“There is a significant disconnect between how much we depend on the creative industries for employment and how much we value their contributions to the economy,” lamented Suaco-Juan.

“That is why there is a strong need to advance the Philippine creative industry. While relatively in its infancy development stage, the sector continues to demonstrate its economic potential and viability largely thanks to Filipino talents who are recognized worldwide,” she added.

Filipino creatives’ capabilities will be highlighted at the second CREATE Philippines 2018, happening on Sept. 22-23 at the basement 1 of the Globe Tower, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

CREATE Philippines is the country’s first international creative industry trade platform that promotes continued learning, knowledge exchange, and business networking.

The lineup of activities includes masterclass and lecture sessions, portfolio exhibit, business consultation and networking event, and workshop and talks.

Visit www.citem.com/createphilippines for more information.

This year's shell nsAc looks for student-artists with a unique take on the future.

51st NSAC calls for entries

The 51st National Students Art Competition or NSAC, Shell petroleum’s highly-anticipated student art contest, is looking for young artists who can offer their unique take on the future.

With the theme “Perspective,” NSAC encourages today’s new breed of artistvisionaries to create masterpieces that showcase the future of the arts or to illustrate magnificent future sustainable cities.

The theme also provides an opportunity for student-artists to inspire families to shoot for quality of life amidst rapid development, to urge inventors to rise up to the energy challenge, and to open the eyes of the nation to help amidst environmental change.

“Through this year’s NSAC, we continue to discover young artistic talents whose art pieces not only promote our nation’s art and culture but also inspire a bright perspective of the future,” says Sankie Simbulan, Pilipinas Shell social perfor-

mance and social investment manager.

“We are excited to see how our young student artists paint and create their picture of tomorrow.”

The Shell NSAC is open to all college students enrolled with at least 12 units in a recognized Philippine school in the school year 2018-2019. Participants can submit a maximum of two entries only in the following categories: oil/acrylic, watercolor, sculpture, and digital fine arts (print).

Grand prize winners across all categories will each be awarded P60,000 cash prize, while second and third prize winners will receive P40,000 and P30,000, respectively.

Metro Manila-based participants can submit their entries on Oct. 4, 5, and 6 at the Shell House, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

Visit www.shell.com.ph/shell_art for more details.

C2

Entertainment

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

Maris Racal’s new MV launched

Singer/songwriter and television personality Maris Racal marks her official entry to the world of music recording.

ACTRESS-SINGER Maris Racal makes her much-awaited entry into recording scene with her freshly launched debut album Stellar under Star POP, a sublabel of ABS-CBN’s Star Music, followed by her “Love Is Easy” music video, which was launched on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

“Love Is Easy” is one of the five tracks in Maris’s solo album produced

by Rox Santos, which bares not only her lovely singing voice but also her

songwriting skills in a pop compilation.

“Love is meant to be celebrated, no matter what aspect, gender, or belief.

Love is free, and love is for everyone,” expressed Maris during a recent blog conference. The young talent also shared the inspiration behind the song.

Stellar includes four of her original compositions “Tala,” “Ikaw Lang Sapat Na,” “Tayo Na Di Tayo,” and “Love Is Easy.” Her recording entry

tackles young love, youthful feelings, and relatable issues, which are also depicted in the album’s other track “Hi Crush.”

First seen in Pinoy Big Brother: All In as the “Singing Sunshine of Davao” who emerged as the season’s Second Big Placer, Maris captivated the audience with her sweet singing and guitar skills. She won as Best New Artist Of The Year in MOR Pinoy Music Awards 2018.

ERIK SANTOS

celebrates 15 years in showbiz A DECADE and a half is no mean feat to be in show business, especially if you’re a singer.

Either you make waves as a one-hit-wonder or never at all. And lucky for those who pass the one-single hit to gain a foothold on the music scene which market is defined first by age, second by social status, and third, by cultural circumstances that define each one’s taste in pop music.

Erik Santos, winner of ABS-CBN’s star search, Star in A Million in 2003, has remained on the scene, collected awards while earning accolades from critics and fans, and even bestowed upon with labels, among which is “King of OPM Theme Songs.

Tomorrow, the “king” marks his day on his turf with a concert called My Greatest Moments at the Mall of Asia Arena. Indeed, the venue is fit for a “king” as it is now the most august of performance halls in the metropolis.

Santos is teary eyed recalling how he started in the business, incredulous that he snagged the search grand championship and then staying on for well over a decade singing songs he loves to perform for his friends, family, and fans.

The winning moment at that time became his jumping board in carving a niche on the music scene.

He said, “As a way of looking back and thanking everyone that has made me what I am now in the music business, I have a total of 15 guests in my show.” He’d like to name all of them, but he’d rather that his followers, friends, and colleagues come and watch the show.

The concert also cements Santos’ directing flair. John Prats is co-directing the show.

The show, he added, will have a “musical” feel and that’s how his 15 guests that include Christian Bautista, Kyla, Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto, Jay-R, Vina Morales, Daryl Ong, Jason Dy, Moira dela Torre and “power couple” Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez come into play.

“About 80 percent of the repertoire are original and I will do all of them with a twist. The show will show my journey in the music industry,” Santos noted.

Erik Santos’ My Greatest Moments concert on Sept. 22, Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena. The concert is produced

by Cornerstone Concerts and Lucky7 Koi Productions and presented by Advanced Aesthetics by Dr. Venia Javellana.

For tickets please call SM Tickets at 470-2222 or log on to www.smtickets. com.

Disconnect to connect Fans of NPR Tiny Desk concert, Warehouse Eight co-founder Kayla Dionisio and Kwago founder Czyka Tumaliuan started a series of gigs for musicians to freely express who they are and to closely connect with people in a no-frills setting.

They recorded most of the performances and are exclusively launching them all on a no-shoes and no-phone gathering called Echoes at the Warehouse 4:00 p.m. tomorrow until a little close before midnight at Warehouse Eight, La Fuerza Plaza.

“There’s just too much distraction right now. People go to gigs and events to either take photos and videos for their IG stories, or to watch other people’s IG stories. It feels like people always want to escape the present, their current circumstance. You know what I mean? It feels like we’re all discontented, peering into other people’s lives, checking other possibilities of being. Kay and I designed Echoes to help people be at peace with where they are,” Tumaliuan shared.

The event will be divided into two areas: Echoes garage and Echoes bedroom.

Musicians and homegrown art brands that inspire conversations will be at the garage selling merchandise and products, while the performances will happen in the bedroom.

Everyone has to take off their shoes at Echoes bedroom.

“There will be a wall where people will have to pledge not to use their phones

so they can focus on soaking in the magical performances and on conversing with other people and directly looking into their eyes,” Dionisio added.

D u b b e d Echoes, the project started as a music and video production, but has evolved into a tight-knit community.

“Sometimes, I feel secondary lang ‘yung gig. It came to a point that we’re not announcing who’s playing anymore. But people still look forward to the experience of hanging out with other people who are willing to put their guards down and chill after hours before midnight,” Dionisio said.

“Echoes was supposed to be a nightcap and a YouTube channel, but it has become a family we go home to every month,” Tumaliuan shared.

With no knowledge of music and video production, the two inevitably encountered problems setting up the gig and their YouTube channel. People from the community saw the struggle and started helping. Organically, the two found a new partner to take care of the production, Michael Lorenzana.

“I met Mike when I launched Kwago.

He’s a bookworm who loves music and even plays the drums. We discovered that he is a professional photographer and a videographer. He really loves the creative platform Kay and I built. We’re so thankful that we have him on the team,” Tumaliuan said.

“Mike started out as a guest. He sent us a video of his experience of our events and even photos, and we fell in love with these photos and videos every time.

There’s just so much love in every shot and sequence. We’re happy to have him on board,” Dionisio shared.

A regular in big gigs, Lorenzana shares that what he loves about Echoes is it brings people closer to the musicians.

“People always use the word ‘intimate’ to describe gigs, but it’s never authentic.

Echoes is the only place where you really feel that there’s no gap between the audience and the artists. It doesn’t feel like a performance,” Lorenzana said.

Door charge is P350. But children below 10 years of age will only be charged P150. Tickets come with receipt poem by Dutch poet Roy Voragen.

OPM icon Erik Santos has earned the ‘Prince of Pop’ moniker for being one of the more relevant recording artists of his generation.

STAY ‘WOKE’

with Quest and Juan Miguel Severo REFRESHING COLLAB. Rapper Quest and spoken word pioneer Juan Miguel Severo join forces in the second episode of Coke Studio.

T

HEY’RE only words, goes the refrain of an old pop song, but rapper Quest and spoken word pioneer Juan Miguel Severo wield words as mighty weapons. And their love affair with words began very, very early.

Quest remembers: “My childhood was not easy. Both my parents had problems so I spent a lot of time with my cousins. And I would borrow cassette tapes from them. That’s how I fell in love with both words and music. It happened at the same time. Imagine, I started with cassettes and now there’s streaming.”

Meanwhile, Juan Miguel’s memories are actually his mom’s stories.

“My mom said that when I was two years old, I would give her a flower and recite a poem when I handed it to her.

She would write down these poems and save them. Sadly, we live in a flood prone area and those poems are now lost. I read my first book at 5 and wrote my first poem at 11. And I also love performing and so it all comes together

with spoken word,” he shares.

Quest discovered his talent for rap with his church but then moved on to more mainstream works. Recognized as an eminent urban storyteller and a “microphone revolutionary,’ Quest’s song “Sige Lang” was named in 2012 as the official song of Gilas Pilipinas, the national men’s basketball team. Juan Miguel began performing his spoken word works in university venues and smaller clubs until he was given a role in the JaDine TV series On the Wings of Love and he brought spoken word to the world of television and thus, more popular recognition.

The life of the artist is itself a quest, and both these artists cherish the journey. Quest says, “I want my listeners to go on a journey from darkness to light;

from sadness to joy; from confusion to clarity.” Juan Miguel sees a more personal view of it. “I know what I want to be and that’s better. The quest is to be better; to face wanting to be better.”

Inspired by the theme of the homecoming and the dynamic energy of their collaboration, Quest and Juan Miguel was eloquent on the very essence of home.

“Home is not tangible,” Quest declares. “It is a personal message to find home; like a ‘note to self.’ To find home is to find what makes you feel alive, to solidify what you are as a person.” Juan Miguel says, “I know that this collab is a big thing for myself, but it is also bigger than myself. We need to push boundaries. What I want to express is to let everyone know that their journey, their story is valid. I want to give them hope.”

Watch how Quest and Juan Miguel Severo collaborate for a refreshing kind of music that celebrates their own genres in the second episode of Coke Studio. Catch it every Sunday at 11:15 a.m. before ASAP on ABS-CBN or on www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH.

AXN welcomes David Foster, Anggun and Jay Park to AGT’s new season DAVID Foster, Anggun and Jay Park have arrived in Singapore to start filming for the third season of the record-breaking Asia’s Got Talent on its flagship channel, AXN. The trio’s arrival coincided with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia’s announcement early this week that the three will return to the judges’ table of AGT. “David, Anggun and Jay are a fantastic team and we’re delighted to welcome them back for season 3. Each judge brings a very different vibe to the show as they draw on their respective talents and vast industry experience to critique the acts,” said Virginia Lim, SVP and General Manager, SPT Networks, Asia.

“The new season will be our most surprising yet, with a bigger variety of acts and incredible stories of dreams and determination,” she added.

The Asia’s Got Talent casting team concluded its pan-regional open audition tour in July and has shortlisted over 150 colorful acts from 17 countries in Asia. The three judges will take the hot seats to help discover Asia’s next superstar.

Billed as the biggest talent competition in the world, Asia’s Got Talent features a variety of acts of any age and with any dream competing for the winning crown and a grand prize of $100,000. Over 15 countries were represented in season two and were beamed into 46 million AXN households in 19 countries across the region. On social, Asia’s Got Talent content garnered over 310 million collective video views on Facebook and YouTube, making the show the region’s hottest entertainment series of the year.

Asia’s Got Talent is supported by regional sponsors Princess Cruises, the official cruise line of Asia’s Got Talent and Great Eastern, the market leader and a well-established trusted brand in Malaysia and Singapore.

The Got Talent franchise was created by Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and is co-produced and owned

by Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia. It is entered in the Guinness World Records as the Most Successful Reality Television Format in history with 70 local ver-

sions produced across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle-East, Africa and the Americas. Around the world, the Got Talent format airs in a total of 186 countries.

AXN Asia is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which also operates leading channels including Animax, Sony Channel, ONE and GEM.

‘Asia’s Got Talent’ season 3 judges David Foster, Anggun and Jay Park

Motoring

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

C3

VW SANTANA AT

WINSOME THREESOME Vokswagen PH rolls out Santana AT,

Santana GTS, and Lamando

VW LAMANDO

G

REAT things come in threes. After making available its first three groundbreaking new models last May—the Santana 1.4 MPI Manual Transmission Trendline, the Lavida 230 TSI DSG Comfortline, and the Tiguan 280 TSI DSG Comfortline—Volkswagen Philippines has announced that three more will be available by November.

These are the mid and high variants of the Santana model, 1.5 MPI automatic transmission Trendline and Comfortline; Santana GTS 1.5 MPI AT Comfortline; and, the Lamando 280 TSI DSG Comfortline and Highline.

The Santana 1.5 MPI AT Trendline and Comfortline and the Santana GTS 1.5 MPI AT Comfortline offer more power with its 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder, in-line MPI gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology generating maximum power output of 110 Ps at 6,000rpm and maximum torque of 150 Nm at 4,000rpm.

Available exterior colors for the Santana 1.5 MPI AT Trendline and Comfort-

line are Deep Black, Polar White, and Reflex Silver with introductory prices of P898,000 (Trendline) and P962,000 (Comfortline) while available exterior colors for the Santana GTS 1.5 MPI AT Comfortline are Polar White, Toffee Brown, and Red Rock Metallic with introductory price of P998,000.

The Lamando 280 TSI DSG Comfortline and Highline variants, on the other hand, are both powered by the 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder, in-line TSI gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology that generates maximum power of 150 Ps at 5,000rpm and maximum torque of 250 Nm at 1,750 to 3,000rpm. Available exte-

A GTS NTAN A S VW

‘End of the road for iconic Beetle? Never say never ‘ VOLKSWAGEN has announced it would end production of its iconic “Beetle” cars in 2019 after adding a pair of final editions of the bugshaped vehicles.

The curvy-topped sedans, which shook off Nazi origins to become a global auto phenomenon, are being sidelined as Volkswagen emphasizes electric cars and larger family-oriented vehicles.

But company officials, still trying to completely turn the page after 2015’s costly “dieselgate” scandal, opened the door to reviving the model at some point, alluding to the company’s 2017 decision to unveil a revamped Volkswagen Bus as a possible template.

“As we move to being a full-line, family-focused automaker in the US and ramp up our electrification strategy...there are no immediate plans to replace it,” Hinrich Woebcken, chief executive of Volkswagen Group of America said in a statement.

“But, I would also say, never say never,” he added.

“The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle’s many devoted fans,” Woebcken said.

Volkswagen plans to offer the two final edition models in both coupe and convertible styles. The cars will include nods to earlier versions and be priced at $23,045 and up, the company said.

- ‘60s icon The vehicle’s history goes back to the Nazi era, having first been developed by Ferdinand Porsche with support from Adolf Hitler, who in 1937 formed the state-run Volkswagenwerk, or “The People’s Car Company.” After the war, the Allied countries eventually made Volkswagen a priority in an effort to revive the German auto industry.

The sedans made their US debut in the 1950s, but sales were weak, in part owing to the company’s Nazi origins.

The advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernback in 1959 rechristened the car the “Beetle,” and began touting the vehicle’s small size as an advantage to consumers, according to the History Channel.

The car attained further popularity with the 1968 Disney movie “The Love Bug,” the story of a racing Volkswagen with a mind of its own.

Andy Warhol did prints featuring the car and a Beetle featured

prominently on the cover of “Abbey Road,” the final Beatles album to be recorded.

US sales ceased in 1979, but the vehicle continued to be produced in Mexico and Brazil, according to Car and Driver. VW revived the “New Beetle” in the United States in 1997.

But sales of the Beetle slipped 3.2 percent to 15,667 in 2017 in the United States, a fraction of the sales for the Jetta and Passat sedans.

At the Detroit Auto Show in January, the German automaker unveiled a revamped version of the Jetta and also touted the Atlas, a new mid-sized SUV. VW continues to deal with fallout from the “dieselgate” scandal that broke in September 2015.

The company, having already paid out costly government settlements, is fighting billions of dollars in additional claims lodged by shareholders who saw their stock plummet in value after authorities cracked down on VW over the installation of so-called “defeat devices” into 11 million cars worldwide to fool regulatory emissions tests.

Even as Volkswagen announced it would end production of its iconice Beetle cars in 2019, Volkswagen Group of America’s chief executive still said in a statement, ‘‘Never say neverâ’’ about the idea of a future revival of the model

A new player enters the transport service trade

OWTO officials pose with LTFRB Chairman Martin B. Delgra (3rd, left).

IN THE interest of providing better service to the riding public, a new player, OWTO enters into the transport service. A 100% Filipino company, OWTO offers better and safer alternative for people who travel. The company promises fairer fares as rates are very competitive, if not lower than the others. There are no hidden charges or surprises. The company employs professional and courteous drivers who are always ready and happy to serve the riding public. “As part

of our commitment to provide superior service to everyone, we are doing our best to accredit as many drivers as possible. In line with this, we’re also hoping that the LTFRB considers its stand when it comes to the current shared supply of all TNCs and would eventually decide to increase it for the benefit of the riding public,” explained Paolo S. Libertad, OWTO chief operating officer and vice president. For more information, visit https://web.facebook.com/owtophl/.

rior colors are Mangangrey, Polar White, Coriandolo (Comfortline only), Dark Bronze (Comfortline only), and Misano Red (Highline only) with introductory price of P1.569 million for the Comfortline while the Highline variant goes for P1.703 million.

And just like the first three models launched in May, these three new ones will have comprehensive warranty coverages. Aside from the three years or 100,000-km general warranty, whichever comes first, Volkswagen Philippines also offers a 3-year warranty for paint and another 3-year warranty for through-corrosion of the main steel body structure.

The periodic maintenance service (PMS) interval schedule for these new models is also structured for its owners’ convenience. The PMS interval is once a year, or every 10,000 kms, whichever comes first. This is more convenient and more cost-efficient compared to the industry-standard 5,000-km PMS interval.

The special introductory prices of the Santana AT, the Santana GTS and the Lamando are all in line with the celebration of 5th anniversary of Volkswagen Philippines as a member of the Ayala Group of companies this September.

Hyundai’s

August sales dip HYUNDAI Asia Resources, Inc, the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, has consistently maintained a conservative growth trajectory for 2018.

Nevertheless, the brand has remained competitive with the popularity of the recently released Kona gaining momentum in the subcompact SUV market. The brand showed a minimal dip of 8.3% or 22,223 units from last year’s 24,233 units as it closed its 2018 eightmonth sales. August performance alone was exceptional given that it is the third best performing month for the brand with 2,987 units sold.

The Passenger Car (PC) segment maintains its frontrunner status of the brand by covering two-thirds of its total vehicle sales, or 13,935 units from January to August 2018. Led by the Accent, the model has remained as a favorite among the passenger cars in the industry.

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) takes the remaining share with 8,288 units, but has grown significantly from the same period of 2017 with 10.4%. With the introduction of the Kona, August saw monthly LCV sales surpassed that of PC for the first time.

Sales and Economic Outlook Increasing global oil prices and higher retail prices due to the excise tax put on automotive vehicles appear to be the delimiting factors for automotive sales in the Philippines. As inflation grew to 6.4% in August, consumers have set expectations that they will spend more on basic goods and services until the end of the year. As a result, this outlook would dampen the buying conditions for big-ticket items such as automotive vehicles. The BSP cited that OFW households would increase the allotment of their remittances to the purchase of cars/motor vehicles; their value significantly increasing due to the slowdown of the Philippine peso. Paired with positive sentiments from investors on the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, this would be enough to counteract the negative effects the Philippine economy would have on the automotive industry. The performance of Hyundai only reflects that of the industry, the brand has made strides to remain on top as it manages its growth rate to remain below the industry’s average.

“Even with the conservative economic outlook, Hyundai has proven itself to endure the odds. Backed by a strong community of Hyundai users in the country, we have proven time and again that our products and services remain relevant in the automotive industry”

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

Motoring

A huge crowd of bikers and enthusiasts gathered in Baguio City last July during the kick rites for the Shell Bike Fair.

SHELL BIKE FAIR 2018

B

Epic finale shaping up

IKE riders, club members, and enthusiasts are expected to pack the Philippine International Convention Center as Shell Bike Fair 2018 culminates in Manila on the 22nd of September, 2018.

One of the highlights of this much-awaited event is the search for the Shell Outriders Best Bike Club, a nationwide competition for groups that exemplify the values of a responsible and socially-active riding community.

To qualify for the Shell Outriders Best Bike Club award, nominees should show passion for achieving their goals, exhibit personal and social courage that benefits the riding community, have the mindset to overcome social barriers, and support a cause with a spirit of fun and youthfulness.

A screening committee will then evaluate entries and vote for representatives for each of these participating regions: NCR, Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Winners will be announced during the event in September with the grand prize being P100,000 cash plus P50,000 worth of fuel vouchers.

“Shell Bike Fair 2018 is our way of solidifying our commitment to the Filipino bikers. Through this event, we hope to recognize the bike clubs’ positive contributions to the community,” said Lorrie Ramirez, Shell Advance Brand Manager. “It’s their courage that inspires us at Shell. And it is the goal of Shell Advance to help our riders outride any obstacles they encounter by protecting their engines and helping improve the smoothness and responsiveness of their bikes.”

With this year’s theme, “Together We Ride Stronger,” Shell Bike Fair 2018 kicked off in Baguio last July with close to 3,000 bikers braving the rains to take part in the event held at the CAP John Hay Convention Center.

Now on its fourth year, Shell Bike Fair 2018 treated riders to a day full of exciting activities: with contests for helmet design and bike modification, on top of fun booth games and freebies sponsored by Shell VPower, Shell Advance, and other sponsors. To top it off, five brand new motorcycles were given away in a raffle draw.

Celebrity guests like Daiana Menezes and Roxanne Barcelo also entertained the crowd while performances from Rico Blanco and other local bands rocked the night away. Certified motorcycle enthusiast and Shell’s newest brand ambassador Drew Arellano also shared his personal journey as a rider, the challenges that he encounters while on board his bike, safety riding techniques, and how Shell V-Power and Shell Advance served as his road partner throughout filming his travel show “Biyahe ni Drew.”

“We recognize our bikers’ passion for driving and the challenges they face on the road every day. That’s why we at Shell continue to develop products designed to be their reliable companion on the road. Right alongside Shell Advance, we have the Shell V-Power fuels line designed to deliver both performance and efficiency for our customers to ride well,” adds Mark Malabanan, Shell V-Power Brand Manager.

Vios Cup

season ender

slated

TOYOTA Motor Philippines is gearing up for the third and final race of the Vios Cup Season 5 on September 22, 2018 at Clark International Speedway, Pampanga.

Bringing the race back at Clark follows a thrilling race last July at Filinvest, Alabang.

Motorsports fans can expect a whole new level of intense driving from 53 racers composed of 46 drivers and 7 celebrity racers as they battle out for the title of Champion for this Vios Cup Season 5.

Gearheads should also expect heart-pounding races from celebrity racers such as Sam Milby, Diego Loyzaga, Sofia Andres, and Chie Filo-

Ferrari tries hand at

hybrids

meno with returning celebrities from last season’s race – Japanese-Brazilian model Fabio Ide, Sportscaster Gretchen Ho, and actor Troy Montero.

The event will once again be hosted by racers & motorsports enthusiasts, James Deakin and Gaby Dela Merced.

Capping off this exciting season, Toyota promises nothing short of Waku-Doki for their motorsports fans at the event with various food concessioners, a selfie park, and other activities such as arcades and skid carts catered to the whole family. Gates open at 9:00AM. Be there to meet & greet your favorite racers and watch them race up to 5:00PM. MOST of the cars made by Ferrari will be hybrid petrol-electric by 2022, the Italian sports car manufacturer said on Tuesday, including its first SUV. “By 2022, nearly 60 percent of the models we produce will be built around hybrid powertrains,” new CEO Louis Camilleri said at the company’s Maranello headquarters.

The company known for its lowslung aerodynamic sports cars will also launch its first SUV -- Purosangue -- after the end of the current business plan in 2022.

Gas-guzzling Ferraris are faced

with more and more anti-emission regulations around the world, as well as increasingly environmentally aware would-be owners.

Ferrari stock tumbled 8 percent in August as investors wondered if the company could stay on track for its profit targets after the death of historic boss Sergio Marchionne.

Announcing the SUV, former Philip Morris boss Camilleri said he initially abhorred the idea.

“It just does not sit well with our brand and all that it represents,” he admitted, but insisted that the new design will “redefine expectations.”

AFP