Manila Standard - 2018 September 22 - Saturday

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No reason for nationwide ML

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has no reason to declare military rule over the entire country, his spokesman said Friday, saying the conditions today are very different from what they were 46 years ago, when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law.

“There’s a huge difference. The public will protest if there’s no democracy, and the President is a product of democracy,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.

Roque added that although martial law prevails in Mindanao because of a separatist threat, the rest of the country was under no such danger.

“There’s no reason to declare martial law in Luzon and Visayas,” Roque said in a radio interview Friday. “The public asked for a martial law in Mindanao,

unlike in the past… when it was used to violate human rights,” Roque said.

“The people gave the President Duterte a mandate,” he added. “Unlike before, 40 plus years ago, when the President [Marcos] lost a mandate.”

Opposition senators, meanwhile, said martial law will never solve the country’s problems.

“It’s time that we wake up to the truth that martial law is not the answer to the problems of the country,” said Senator Next page Paolo Benigno Aquino IV.

LANDSLIDES!

VOL. XXXII • NO. 219 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Enrile tells ‘truth’ on ML, critics howl

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

DEUCE INDEED. Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte gather at the sprawling Luneta Park Friday (above) to mark the 46th anniversary of the imposition of martial law in 1972 by then President Ferdinand Marcos while not far from them anti-martial law and anti-Duterte groups, many not yet born in 1972 (below) express their sentiments against the emergency given to the President by the 1935 Constitution. Lino Santos

FORMER senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who once confessed to staging an attack on himself to justify the declaration of martial law 46 years ago, said Friday that an alliance between the Liberal Party and the communists drove then President Ferdinand Marcos to impose military rule over the entire nation.

In an interview with the late dictator’s son, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Enrile said he learned Next page

‘Veggie traders exploiting prices’ AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Friday slammed some vegetable traders who, he claimed, had been manipulating market prices after Typhoon “Ompong” hit farmlands over the weekend.

The prices of vegetables usually rise in Metro Manila whenever bad weather affects the supply in the farming communities in other regions.

“The high price of food items in the market is not indicative of lack of supply. That price is artificial.

That is exploitation,” Piñol told ABS-CBN News.

In other developments: • Senator Francis Pangilinan has told Agriculture Piñol is to get his act together to address the rice crisis after control of the National Food Authority was returned to the Agriculture department. Next page

Calamity status for North urged ECONOMIC managers of the government suggest a state of calamity declared in areas whipped by powerful Typhoon “Ompong” earlier this month would soften the expected inflationary impact raised by the weather disturbance.

“A declaration of state of calamity

Delhi’s last elephants off to smog-free area NEW DELHI—The mighty Heera marched through a crowded slum chewing bamboo, oblivious that freedom from life as one of Delhi’s last six elephants at work in the polluted city could be just around the corner.

After years of pressure from activists who accuse the animals’ owners of flouting wildlife regulations by keeping them in a city, authorities have ordered the seizure of the elephants.

They plan to move the 40-year-old tusker—along with Dharamvati, Laxmi, Gangaram, Moti and Chandni—out of the smoggy Indian capital, but warn Next page

can temper inflation,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA chief Ernesto Pernina told newsmen on the sidelines of the AskNEDA media briefing in Pasig City Friday.

In related developments: • Damage to infrastructure and Next page

Cebu deaths 29, MGB execs fired

By Nat Mariano ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Friday fired the top officials of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Region 7, even as the death toll in the deadly landslide in Naga City, Cebu jumped to 29.

Cimatu also ordered a halt to all quarrying activities in eight regions, even as President Rodrigo Duterte visited the families of the landslide victims who fled their homes in Sitio Sindulan, Barangay Tinaan, Naga in the wake of the disaster.

Duterte was furious when he learned of a deadly landslide in Cebu, just days after some 79 perished in a mudslide in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Palace said Friday.

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GRIM FIND. This photo, taken Thursday, shows rescue workers retrieving a body at the landslide site in Naga City in Cebu. Twelve people were killed and dozens missing after a landslide unleashed by monsoon rains struck the Central Visayas this week. AFP

WEATHER WET WEEKEND THE country can expect another wet weekend—and complicate matters for rescuers in landslide areas—as the low-pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility developed into a tropical depression on Friday morning.

In a bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said the depression, which would be named “Paeng” once it enters the PAR, is located 2,160 kilometers east of Southern Luzon as of noon Friday.

The storm was moving north northwest at 20 km/h and has maximum winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 65 km/h.

Pagasa said it could become a tropical storm by Saturday, a severe tropical storm by Monday, and then possibly a typhoon by Tuesday, Sept. 25. It is unlikely to make landfall but may enhance the southwest monsoon, the state weather bureau added.

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New landslides threaten Itogon THREAT of landslides in Itogon, Benguet has forced the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to warn rescuers and residents as well as media members waiting for stories to dash to safer grounds.

The Office of Civil Defense in Cordillera said only 30 able-bodied rescuers would stay and continue the search for at least 57 people who remained trapped under the mud following a landslide last Saturday.

Powerful Typhoon “Ompong” whacked Northern Luzon with more than 200 kph winds and gustiness earlier this month, leaving an ugly trail of destruction and death in Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras.

The warning came as the Department of the Interior and Local Government on Friday issued Show Cause Orders against 16 local chief executives who were reported to have been absent or missing during the typhoon’s onslaught.

DILG Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said despite the reports of some absentee mayors, the vast majority of the mayors in Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) performed well.

Next page

Doon na lang siya sa sayaw-sayaw.

(She should stick to dancing.)

— Former Senate President Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel Jr. on Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux ‘Mocha’ Uson, a former dancer and entertainer, in saying she was better off not included in government efforts to promote federalism.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC zaps bid to reverse Imelda ruling

By Rey E. Requejo

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HE Supreme Court has denied a petition by the late former solicitor general Frank Chavez to reverse a lower court’s decision clearing former first lady Imelda Marcos of stashing millions of dollars in offshore bank accounts, particularly in Switzerland.

In a 53-page decision written by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the high court’s Third Division sustained the ruling of the Court of Appeals that denied Chavez’s petition seeking the inhibition of Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of the Manila City RTC, whom he accused of being biased in the handling of the government case against Marcos.

When Pampilo turned down Chavez’s plea for his inhibition in 2007, Chavez brought the case before the Court of Appeals, which also denied his petition.

Chavez then filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to reverse the appellate court’s decision.

Sandigan ends Bong Revilla plunder trial

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan First Division has ended the trial of the plunder case against detained former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. after the prosecution and the defense submitted the case for resolution.

Four years after the case was filed against the former movie star, the antigraft division on Friday formally submitted Revilla’s case for resolution.

Revilla was accused of pocketing P224.5 million worth of commissions from pork barrel funds under his control while in the Senate.

The Sandiganbayan will soon issue a resolution on Revilla’s plunder case after the prosecution and defense submitted their separate memorandum before the anti-graft court, which did not set a date of its promulgation.

Earlier, pork barrel scam whistleblower Marlina Sula withdrew her statement that Revilla signed the endorsement letters for the utilization of his pork barrel funds.

Upon direct examination of Revilla’s lawyer Reody Anthony Balisi, Sula, who was presented by the defense panel as its hostile witness, revealed that the prosecution asked her to affirm the statements of pork barrel scam star witness Benhur Luy. Sula claimed she saw that Luy allegedly forged at least three letters.

She also denied that she met Revilla during her stint as employee of the JLN Corp. of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

However, Sula admitted giving various supporting documents to Revilla regarding the bogus foundation Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc.

‘Veggie...

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He said this was a crucial time when the government should implement sound policies and show decisiveness in reforming the NFA. Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar said once passed into law, the bill liberalizing the importation of rice would help reduce the price of rice and provide enough support for local farmers who would be affected by the influx of cheaper rice from abroad.

• Government agents intercepted a shipment of smuggled red onions from China worth P16 million.

• To monitor the availability, visibility and accessibility of NFA rice in Metro Manila markets, the National Food Authority has deployed market watchers in all major and minor markets in Metro Manila, including the provinces of Rizal and Cavite.

• The government has awarded to 21 suppliers the importation of 100,000 metric tons of rice for Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi area after a successful auction conducted by LandBank and the National Food Authority Council on Sept. 20 at the LandBank head office in Malate, Manila.

Piñol said the price of carrots in Bukidnon remained at P35 per kilo even after the area experienced bad weather due to the southwest monsoon.

“Opportunist businessmen are just maneuvering the prices because they thought the government could not do anything to address the problem after Typhoon Ompong.

The Agriculture department held a twoday “Vegetable Festival” in San Andres, Manila, to show that market items could still be cheap after a typhoon when sourced from the areas spared from calamity.

Red chili could be bought for P300 per kilo, just a third of the P900-per-kilo price in the markets, Piñol said.

The department is now planning to put up “malasakit stores” or community stalls that would sell fish and vegetables at near-farm gate prices, he said. Macon Ramos-Araneta, Joel E. Zurbano and Othel V.Campos

In ruling against Chavez, the high court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals that upheld the ruling of Judge Pampilo not to inhibit from the case.

It said there was “no concrete proof” of the judge’s personal interest in the case.

“There was nothing remarkable about the denial of the Motion to Inhibit,” the high court said.

“It was not hasty, and whether to deny it orally in court is the prerogative of the judge, who could have decided it as soon as its factual basis had been clearly laid.

“The claim that [Chavez’s] testimony would have saved the prosecution’s case is baseless.”

In 2008, Pampilo absolved Marcos and Hector Rivera of the charges on grounds of reasonable doubt, citing “various failures” of the prosecution.

The Manila court found the government’s evidence deficient and based on hearsay, noting that despite the case being anchored on documents from Swiss authorities, only two witnesses with no personal knowledge of the papers were presented.

“Thus, the Regional Trial Court found that the prosecution failed to present competent proof of the alleged offense and of the conspiracy among the ac-

No...

From A1 “What we need are unity and cooperation.

Set aside politics and put the nation first,” he said.

Aquino noted that under martial law, there were over 3,000 alleged victims of extrajudicial killings, 34,000 cases of torture, 70,000 cases of illegal detention, and 75,730 cases of human rights violations.

The country was also buried under with a debt of about P395 billion or the equivalent of more than P3 trillion today, he said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said the Marcos dictatorship legalized plunder and brought hunger and misery to the people.

He said a large part of Marcos’ downfall was how low the economy plunged.

Gross domestic product, the main measure of economic growth, averaged 3.8 percent during the Marcos years, and rose to 4.5 percent in the 2000s, and 6.3 percent from 2010 to the present, he said.

Under Marcos, in 1984 and 1985, the country was hit by the worst recession in the postwar period: A 7.3-percent contraction for two successive years.

Debt shot up from $4.1 billion in 1975 to almost six times or $24.4 billion in 1982.

“We, including our children and maybe even their children’s children, are still paying for those debts,” Pangilinan said.

The value of the peso against the US dollar fell from P3.92 to a dollar to P18.61 from 1969 to 1985.

Underemployment peaked at 33 percent in 1984, meaning about one in three people who had a job either wanted to work more hours or were looking for additional jobs but could not

Enrile...

From A1

about the “coalition government” being planned by the two parties from then senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a leading opposition figure at the time.

“One of the reasons why President Marcos declared martia law is there was a working coalition between the Liberal Party and the New Peoples Army-Communist Party of the Philippines led by [Jose Maria] Sison at this point,” Enrile said in a video entitled BBM x JPE, Witness to History Episode 1 of Martial Law, posted on Marcos’s Facebook page.

When questioned if it was a formal agreement, Enrile said, “Yes. I met with Ninoy Aquino in the house of Ramon Silay. Paul Aquino is still alive. He was the one who reported that to me.”

He also divulged that Paul Aquino ― Ninoy’s brother and father of incumbent Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, discussed the forming of a coalition government with CPP leaders during a meeting.

Cebu...

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“Well, [he was] absolutely [mad] because the accident happened near another mining quarry site,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in an interview on radio dzRH. He said the new tragedy only strengthened the President’s conviction about closing down the mining industry over environmental concerns.

Cimatu said he will be sending an investigation team from Manila to conduct a thorough and independent investigation to see why and how it happened and what should the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should do.

“I ordered the suspension for 15 days, at least, of all quarry operations in Regions 1, 3, 4-A, 5, 7, 11, 10, and 13 until such time the review and assessment are completed, especially the surrounding communities from the

Calamity...

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agriculture caused by Ompong has been placed at P17.97 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Friday.

The NDRRMC’s 6 am update showed the agriculture sector suffered the most damage at P14.33 billion and P3.63 billion for infrastructure.

Damage had been concentrated in Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 4A (Calabarzon), 5 (Bicol) and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the NDRRMC said.

• The plan to tap a $500-million credit line

cused,” the high court said.

Chavez also attacked the judgment of the Manila City RTC clearing Marcos and her co-accused of the charges.

However, the appellate court ruled that Chavez’s challenge on the ruling of the Manila City court clearing Marcos and her co-accused of liability was improper, since his original petition did not cover it.

The court said Chavez failed to provide a legal basis to support his argument that Pampilo violated the its injunction by promulgating the ruling that acquitted Marcos.

The high court said the appellate court ruling that denied Chavez’s petition for inhibition “carried with it a contrary order dissolving the injunction.”

The Supreme Court also rebuked the government prosecutors for what it described as their “lackadaisical” resolve to prosecute Marcos.

“The lower court’s liberality in granting the various continuances does not seem to have been met by the presentation of evidence with a depth and quality that would have shown the diligence and seriousness of the prosecution,” the high court said.

find any. The jobs available were not enough to meet the workers’ needs.

Prices rose sharply. In 1984, the rate of inflation shot up to a record 50 percent.

From 1966 to 1985, the real wage rate for unskilled workers plummeted to P23.21 from P86.02; for skilled workers, it dropped from P112.9 to P35.55. This meant that an unskilled worker’s P100 wage in 1966 could only buy him or her P27 worth of goods and services in 1985.

He said Marcos used his dictatorial powers to amass from $5 billion to $10 billion in illgotten wealth.

“The Marcos family and their cronies have deliberately blocked and delayed efforts to get all that back for the Filipino people,” he said.

“So, today, on the 46th year of martial law declaration, we must remember: the dictatorship almost destroyed our economy, and we are still paying the price for that catastrophe.

We cannot let that happen again,” he said.

Detained Senator Leila de Lima vowed to fight any attempt to impose martial law under the administration of President Duterte.

“So, what do we do now? How do we ensure that the lessons under Marcos dictatorship will not be forgotten, and that the tragic experiences we are suffering under the current tyranny of Duterte will be stopped?” she asked.

“The simple answer: We fight! We fight with what’s remaining in our democracy.

We fight with what’s intact in our dignity,” she said.

The Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing the New People’s Army expressed solidarity with the tens of thousands of protesters demonstrating across the country.

They noted that the rallies also serve to

echo the clamor against burdensome taxes and sky-rocketing prices and press the people’s demand for wage increases, jobs and job security, land reform, state social subsidies and other urgent reforms for the people’s welfare.

“Duterte is desperately clinging to power amid a worsening economic and political crisis. His regime is being undermined from within by rising conflicts among allies over pork barrel and other bureaucratic perks. At the same time, it is increasingly isolated from the people who are made to suffer gravely from anti-people policies,” the communists said in a statement.

“The people persevere in waging various form of resistance despite all-out suppression

by Duterte’s police and military. The revolutionary armed struggle in the countryside, in particular, continues to grow and advance nationwide,” they added.

The Commission on Human Rights on Friday gave special recognition to the victims of human rights abuses during the martial law era “They [victims] are the motu propio cases handled by the former Human Rights Victims’ Claim Board, but they chose not to claim the financial reparation for the abuses and indignities they have suffered,” lawyerspokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.

“They will be immortalized through the establishment of the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Museum,” she added.

Civil society groups and human rights organizations joined the CHR in the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the Martial Law rule dubbed “Never Again, Never Forget: A day of remembrance for democracy and freedom.” With Rio N. Araja

“He [Paul] was a member of the Liberal Party,” Enrile said.

Enrile, who was defense secretary at the time, said Marcos then realized that the country was too fragile, and that it had very limited capability to contain the problem.

At the start of the interview, Marcos Jr. said he had chosen to talk to Enrile about martial law because he was the most authoritative person on the matter. He noted He noted that Enrile was not only a part of the action during the martial law regime, but also part of the decision-making.

It was also Enrile who along with Fidel Ramos turned against President Marcos in 1986, sparking the People’s Power revolt that overthrew the dictator.

The young Marcos said he came out with the video after receiving e-mail questions and inquiries on social media from millennials who wanted to know the reasons behind his father’s declaration of martial law in 1972.

In his opening statement, the 95-year-old Enrile said history was totally distorted to favor one group.

But Enrile expressed hope that little by lit-

tle, the truth will come out to correct the distortion in history. Enrile also said he is willing to challenge anyone to debate with him about the events surrounding martial law.

“I remember President [Emilio] Aguinaldo all the way to President [Rodrigo] Duterte.

That’s my advantage over most of the people in this land now. I’ve seen history from the time of the Americans all the way now,” he said.

The Liberal Party denied such an agreement with the communist rebels took place, saying it was a lie that Marcos used to justify his desire to stay in power.

“That was the lie peddled by Marcos to justify his desire to perpetuate himself in power to include the staging of the fake ambush of Enrile, which he himself admitted to during the onset of the EDSA People Power Revolution,” said LP president Senator Francis Pangilinan.

The party’s vice president, former Quezon Representative Erin Tañada, in an interview on News To Go, said it is unfair for Enrile to make such an allegation since most of the people supposedly involved in the negotiation are all dead.

impact of quarry operations and geohazards,” the environment chief told reporters in Naga.

He ordered a review and assessment of all quarrying operations across the country to determine the safety of their operations, especially to the surrounding communities “or the sitios under the quarry.”

On Thursday, the Palace said the government will consider all options to prevent further loss of lives and damage to properties following the deadly landslide in Naga, where the death toll rose to 29.

“We will look for ways to prevent tragedies like this in the future,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing, suggesting a major clean-up similar to that on Boracay Island.

The President, meanwhile, said he could ask Congress to repeal the mining law to shut down the industry because of the environmental damage it does.

Police on Friday said the death toll in Naga City, Cebu landslide rose to 29 as rescuers frantically dug for survivors.

Dozens were still missing as authorities probed whether a nearby rock quarry could have played a role in the massive hillside collapse Thursday that hit rural communities in Naga on the tourist island of Cebu.

The rescue effort came as the nation was still reeling from Typhoon “Ompong,” whose toll hit 95 dead on Thursday, mostly from a massive landslide in the country’s mountainous north.

Rescuers on Cebu have pulled 29 corpses from the debris, the Philippine National Police said, as people living in homes spared from the landslide were evacuated as a precaution.

Hundreds of police, firemen, and specialists using heavy equipment were looking for about 50 people, provincial disaster office spokesman Julius Regner said.

Naga, Cebu Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong said she has asked the council to place the city under state of calamity amid rescue efforts. She added that they will seek additional help from the national government.

With AFP

from the World Bank is meant to increase the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund to boost rehabilitation efforts following Ompong.

The available NDRRMC funds at the moment amount to P1.19 billion out of the total P19.6 billion under the 2018 budget, NEDA Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro said.

Navarro said the government could access the $500-million standby credit line for the Philippines from the World Bank.

Navarro said while it was still difficult to predict the exact impact on inflation of Ompong, what the government could do was to manage expectations.

“Inflation is driven by inflation expectations and declaration of State of Calamity is one measure,” Navarro said.

“Our recommendation to declare a state of calamity is a manifestation of the government’s swift action,” she said.

Among the price control measures to be imposed once the President declares a state of calamity are the imposition of price ceiling on basic necessities; and the monitoring, prevention, and control of overpricing/profiteering and hoarding prime commodities, medicines, and petroleum products.

The Department of Agriculture estimated the damage incurred by the agriculture sector from Ompong has reached P16.76 billion.

The number of families affected by Ompong had reached 388,136 or equivalent to 1,633,746 persons living in 4,414 barangays in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B (Mimaropa), National Capital Region and the CAR.

‘IPT ruling mere propaganda, must be ignored’

By Nat Mariano THE Palace on Friday criticized the International People’s Tribunal’s ruling against President Rodrigo Duterte, saying it was “propaganda” that must be dumped and ignored.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a radio interview that the ITP was a “kangaroo court.”

“That court doesn’t have the power to judge against anyone,” Roque said.

“There is not even a law to create that, so no one gave them the mandate other than the Left to hear the alleged crimes of President Rodrigo Duterte.”

Roque said the tribunal’s decision had no effect as it was only propaganda.

“In simpler terms, they only brought their criticisms about the President in Europe. They asked their allies abroad for help and that was the decision made,” Roque said.

“A decision was handed over after two days, what kind of judicial proceeding is that?” he said, adding only the United Nations could give a mandate in the field of international law.

“Since they [IPT] don’t have a mandate, that needs to be trashed and disregarded,” Roque said.

Asked on how to balance Duterte’s strong leadership with the growing concerns on the alleged human rights violations under the administration’s war on drugs, Roque urged Duterte’s critics to use the rule of law.

“If there’s someone complaining he’s a victim of human rights violations, then file a case. The problem with the Left is that they will do propaganda [instead of] filing a case even though they have lawyers.”

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it could take months to find a new home for them.

“They are kept away from their natural habitat,” a senior Forest Department official said, highlighting “reports of insufficient food, water, shelter and veterinary care, all which could expose them to disease.”

Fifty years ago, the Indian capital housed more than 200 elephants, covered in garlands and carrying grooms to weddings, or being sought by the faithful for blessings at temples.

But now the city―overcome by cars, a population of 20 million and choking on pollution―is no longer a suitable home for the animals, with Heera and his five bedraggled companions the last elephants to live there.

Media reports say authorities are struggling to relocate the elephants because four are sick.

Officials hope to find a new home resembling the luxuriant farm belonging to consumer goods tycoon Vivek Chand Burman in Delhi where a seventh, female street elephant was recently taken.

She has her own mud pool and quarters complete with fans and sprinklers, a world away from her poorer relatives who wade in the Yamuna, one of the world’s most polluted rivers.

But while animal rights campaigners welcome the move, it is a difficult moment for their owners― who deny any neglect.

Mehboob Ali likened it to snatching a legacy passed on by his ancestors.

“My family has been keeping elephants for six generations,” he said. “They are like our family and have been with us through thick and thin. We cannot live without each other.” AFP

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“While some mayors were reportedly absent, we are glad that the vast majority of the mayors performed well in accordance with Oplan Listo. In fact, there were few casualties outside of Itogon, Benguet,” Malaya said.

He said Undersecretary Bernardo Florece, DILG officer-in-charge, signed the Show Cause Orders.

“The department has given the said mayors five days from receipt to comment and explain on the matter and inform the DILG on the actions their respective offices have undertaken with regard to the recent calamity that affected their areas,” he said.

Nine of the mayors are from Region 2, while seven are from the CAR. In the Order issued to the 16 mayors, the DILG said it issued an advisory dated Sept.

14, 2018 for all mayors to be present in their respective areas once Ompong strikes to ensure immediate government response.

Officer-in-charge Secretary Eduardo Año also issued a statement, directing the mayors to be physically present in their respective local government units with the aim of “zero casualties.”

“Since they are elected public officials, we assure them that they will be given due process but if the investigation comes to the conclusion that they have been negligent or derelict in the performance of their duties, we will not hesitate to recommend appropriate sanctions against them,” Malaya said.

Under the Local Government Code, an elective local official may be disciplined, suspended, or removed from office for gross negligence, dereliction of duty, or misconduct in office. PNA

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace refutes opposition senator’s remarks MALACAÑANG on Friday refuted opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ “destabilizer-in-chief” remark against President Rodrigo R. Duterte, saying the chief executive continues to gain high public acceptance.

“It is ironic that Senator Risa Hontiveros, who spends so much of her time undermining the efforts of this administration, would refer to the President as ‘destabilizer-in-chief,’” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.

Last Thursday, Hontiveros hit Duterte for accusing the opposition of plotting moves to unseat him.

Roque defended Duterte, saying the President has made “significant strides” in his election promises to fight illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.

“There is high public appreciation and acceptance of his actions,” Roque said.

“Many Filipinos agree that when there is peace and order, the economy thrives. Adult joblessness as well as crimes are decreasing,” he added.

Roque emphasized the need for all government officials to focus on helping the Filipino people, particularly those affected by landslides in Itogon, Benguet and Naga in Cebu.

“During this challenging time when the nation must stand as one because of the tragedies that befell our farmers from Northern Luzon, the miners of Itogon, Benguet to the residents of Naga, Cebu, what our people expect is a moratorium from excessive politicking from our elected leaders,” Roque said. PNA

Eighty prisoners released through SC’s Enhanced Justice on Wheels

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court, through its Enhanced Justice on Wheels project, has paved the way for the release of 80 prisoners in La Union and Benguet on Thursday after their cases were terminated inside two buses converted into mobile courts.

Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro supervised the proceedings for the termination of cases of the prisoners. The SC staff headed by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and the trial court judges in the two provinces conducted the speedy resolution of their cases.

EJOW, which was launched in 2004, targets poor prisoners whose cases range from as petty as vagrancy and domestic problems to the more serious cases of homicide or murder in places where there are lack of judges or where the jails are congested.

Marquez said the EJOW in La Union was held in Agoo last Thursday, while in Benguet, it was conducted at the provincial capitol in La Trinidad yesterday.

According to Marquez, simultaneous hearings were held inside the two EJOW buses by trial court judges in the two provinces. Those qualified for release were ordered freed from detention.

REFORESTATION.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo planted a Lunas Bundok tree in Brgy. Villa Maria in Porac, Pampanga. She took part in the tree planting activity held by the Civil Service Commission in celebration of its 118th anniversary, with the theme ‘Lingkod Bayani: Kilos Para sa Kalikasan.’ In her message, Speaker Arroyo highlighted that forest protection and rehabilitation would be beneficial to the country’s environment, food security, and even tourism. She further noted that if ever the mining industry enters Pampanga, it should be ensured that responsible mining will be practiced.

With her were Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, Porac Mayor Conrado dela Cruz, Porac Vice Mayor Dexter Albert David, CSC Chairman Alicia dela Rosa-Bala, and DENR Asec. Joselin Marcus Fragada, among others.

Pecto Camero

Solons worried over lack of budget for BOL plebiscite

By Maricel V. Cruz

L

AWMAKERS are worried over the lack of funds allocated for the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite in the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019.

Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte noted that the Commission on Election’s proposed budget of P10.079 billion for next year does not include the P857 million allocation for the holding of the plebiscite for the ratification of BOL, which has been scheduled on Jan. 21, 2019.

Dimaporo made the disclosure after AMIN Party-list Rep. Makmod Mending asked him how much the Comelec has allotted for the conduct of the BOL plebiscite.

“Do we have funds or appropriations intended for the plebiscite on January 21, 2019?,” Mending asked.

In response, Dimaporo said the BOL plebiscite will entail a budget of P857 million.

He said it would be unfortunate if Congress fails to provide adequate funding for the Bangsamoro to hold a plebiscite for the BOL ratification.

The ratification will ensure that the Moro people inside the Autonomous

Region in Muslim Mindanao can finally experience the fulfillment of a commitment to have a Bangsamoro law during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dimaporo said the House of Representatives of the 17th Congress under the leadership of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must fully support the wish of President Duterte for peace to reign in Mindanao.

“This budget deliberation should resolve the P857-million funding shortage of the Comelec,” said Dimaporo.

In the event the funding problem is not settled, Dimaporo said the Comelec can source some of the funds from its savings from the conduct of the barangay elections and the rest will be up to Malacañang to resolve.

“I put my faith in our President that he will not fail the people and he will not fail the Bangsamoro,” said Dimaporo.

Mending said the 2019 GAB should contain the necessary appropriation for the BOL plebiscite.

“I believe there is enough time for us here in the House of Representatives to be able to put in our General Appropriations Bill the necessary fund or appropriation to cover the expenses for the conduct of the plebiscite and ensure that our constituents will be able to determine the sovereign will of the constituents involved in this exercise,” said Mending.

President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11054, or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao last July 26, three days after his third State of the Nation Address.

Meanwhile, he submitted the proposed 2019 national budget to Congress on SONA day.

The law creates the region that will replace the ARMM. The BARMM would cover the current provinces of ARMM, six towns in Lanao del Norte, 39 barangays in North Cotabato, Cotabato City and Isabela City in Basilan.

The six towns in Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays in North Cotabato will be included in the BARMM only if their “mother units”—cities or provinces—also agree to it in a plebiscite.

Meanwhile, two militant lawmakers assailed the zero allocation for mass housing in the proposed national budget for 2019 even as billions are being “parked” in several agencies including the Department of Public Works and Highways as alleged pork barrel.

Pichay wants Sandiganbayan to junk graft case

By Maricel V. Cruz DEPUTY Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay wants the Sandiganbayan to summarily junk the case against him over his alleged irregular sponsoring of a chess tournament.

He said the evidence presented against him by the Ombudsman was weak.

In his Sept. 10 appeal to the denial of his earlier demurrer to evidence he earlier filed at the antigraft court’s Fifth Division on September 10, Pichay said the prosecution failed to prove its allegation that he violated Section 7(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethial Standards for Public Officials.

“Accused Pichay, consistent with his

constitutional right to be presumed innocent, respectfully prays that the instant case be dismissed for insufficiency in evidence,” Pichay said in his appeal to the denial of his demurrer.

Pichay, former Local Water Utilities Administration Board of Trustees chairman, is facing charges owing to his approval of the release of P1.5 million to sponsor the 2nd Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Chess Championship.

Ombudsman investigators claimed Pichay benefitted from the contract because he was also the president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines at the time it was signed.

Pichay in his plea said his duties at the

NCFP “are not opposed to or affected by the faithful performance of his official duties with LWUA.” He also denied having financial interests in the contract since the NCFP is a non-profit organization that is tasked to oversee the sport in the country.

“While the NCFP may have indeed held a chess tournament in the name of accused Pichay Jr., nonetheless, such act alone will not amount to or may not be considered as pecuniary or propriety interest on the part of accused Pichay as contemplated,” the motion said.

Pichay also noted the prosecution’s inability to prove he benefitted from the chess tournament.

Ex-Davao del Sur mayor ordered jailed

FLASH FLOOD. A sudden heavy downpour due to a thunderstorm resulted

in a flash flood along Timog corner Scout Tobias in Quezon City on Friday. Manny Palmero

THE Sandiganbayan has ordered the imprisonment of a former mayor in Davao del Sur who allowed firecrackers to be sold in the public market in his town.

Former Mayor Edwin Granada Reyes of Bansalan, Davao del Sur was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment by the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division.

Reyes was also barred from holding public office for graft. He was found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” for violation of Section 3(e) of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act. Reyes’ co-accused, former Bansalan chief of police Solomon de Castilla and then-Business Permits and Licensing officer Rita Domingo, were also meted the same sentence.

In its decision, the Sandiganbayan said prosecutors proved that Reyes issued a Mayor’s Permit for the sale of firecrackers in the Bansalan Public Market, which was razed by fire in December 2009 when a cigaret butt ignited the stored fireworks in Building 2 of the market.

The incident led the filing of a graft charge against Reyes and his coaccused due to their failure to implement Municipal Ordinance 357 that prohibits the display of firecrackers in the public market and the lack of a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate from the vendors. Maricel V. Cruz

Road to Mactan airport under repair PHILIPPINE Airlines has advised passengers using the Mactan Cebu International Airport to head there earlier to avoid traffic on Sept. 20 to 26, as the bridge on the way would be closed for repair at that time.

In a social media post, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the Marcelo Fernan Bridge is currently being rehabilitated. Thus passengers need to allow ample time to head to the airport so they could make it to their flights.

There will be partial closure in the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, she said, adding that the bridge would be totally closed from 10 pm to 6 am from Sept.

20 to Sept. 26.

“Slow moving traffic should be expected,” she said.

Meanwhile, in an advisory, PAL said passengers going to Barangay Mactan can make a right turn to Barangay Pusok, and do a U-turn near the city’s abattoir located at Sitio Semento.

Light vehicles may also opt to use the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, the flagcarrier added. PNA

353 judges assigned to probe media killing A TOTAL of 353 prosecutors in different parts of the country have been appointed to lead the investigation of media-related cases being handled by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security.

Department of Justice Secretary and PTFoMS chairman Menardo Guevarra issued a department order on Aug. 28, directing the 353 prosecutors to become concurrent prosecutors under Administrative Order No. 01 that created PTFoMS. The prosecutors had been previously designated to investigate cases assigned to the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and other Grave Violations of theRight to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons, which, former President Benigno Aquino III created by virtue of AO No. 35 in 2012.

Under their new assignment, the 353 prosecutors will spearhead the Special Investigation Task Groups tasked through AO1, which President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued in October 2016 in a bid to solve media killings in the country. PNA

GSIS offers loan condonation STARTING October, the Government Service Insurance System will offer a 100-percent waiver of unpaid penalties and surcharges to housing buyers and borrowers with past due accounts and are willing to settle their housing obligations in full. The deadline for the submission of application to the condonation program is on Dec. 31.

“Majority of our existing borrowers stand to benefit from this program as almost 55 percent of our remaining 29,000 housing accounts are for cancellation, foreclosure or have incurred several months of arrears,” GSIS president and general manager Jesus Clint Aranas said.

“The program will lighten the burden of our borrowers as it saves them from the heavy load of having to pay the accumulated penalties and surcharges that have been imposed from unpaid amortizations. More importantly, it will give them the opportunity to save their homes,” the pension fund chief added.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rising up to hold Duterte accountable in the Philippines working in defense of life and protection of human rights particularly against drug-related killings, and six victims of Duterte’s war on drugs. Thankfully, the victims of the massacre of the poor have finally IN THE wake of the thousands of vic- risen up to make Duterte accountable tims of extrajudicial killings resulting for what his government has done and from President Duterte’s murderous what it has failed to do.

This column is the first of a series war on drugs, lawyer Jude Sabio filed last April 27, 2017 the first communi- based on this latest communication. I cation and complaint against the Presi- have no knowledge of the state of the dent before the International Criminal preliminary examination currently beCourt. Sabio argues in his complaint ing conducted on the Philippines case that the deaths of thousands of Fili- and whether or not the prosecutor will pinos in a brutal war on drugs is Du- decide to bring this case to the next terte’s method of controlling crime, level of a formal investigation that and that he used the tactic effectively will eventually lead to the issuance of during his 22 years as the mayor of an arrest warrant against Duterte and Davao City in the south of the country. other officials. But my sense is that this could come to a He wants Duterte head soon. Doing arrested. this article is thus A 45-page supa public service to plemental comhelp people undermunication was I would like to help stand why Presithereafter filed dent Duterte is so

by Senator An- explain what the ICC afraid of the ICC tonio Trillanes process is all about. and what this proand Magdalo cess is all about.

Party-list Rep. The 50-page Gary Alejano to Com mu nication provide updates to the submitted communication of and Complaint charges Duterte with Atty. Jude Sabio. Trillanes explained: committing Crimes Against Human“The case of crimes against human- ity under Article 7 of the Rome Statity against Duterte is very solid. He ute of the International Criminal Court repeatedly, explicitly and clearly pro- for: I. the acts of Murder under Article nounced a national policy of killing 7, paragraph 1 (a) for the extrajudicial drug suspects and the PNP executed killings of thousands of Filipinos; and it. Moreover, the Philippines, be- II. other Inhumane Acts under Article ing a state party and Duterte being a 7, paragraph 1 (k) for causing great sufFilipino, satisfy jurisdictional require- fering to the victims and their families.

Complainants aver that President ments. Any Filipino lawyer who says otherwise, should read the ICC policy Duterte is guilty of Crimes against Humanity, specifically murder and papers first.”

Last Aug. 27, 2018 a second Com- other inhumane acts constituted by: munication and complaint was filed (a) Widespread and systematic attacks against Duterte before Prosecutor against civilians in the form of murder Fatou Bensouda of the International of thousands of civilians proscribed Criminal Court. The complainants are under Article 7, paragraph (a) of the the Rise Up for Life and for Rights, Rome Statute through his publiclya network of church people, human pronounced policy against drug susrights advocates and the victims and pects, through police directives Oplan families of the affected communities Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Mining a tragedy

A

T LEAST 40 people are still missing after a landslide in Itogon, Benguet, but the Office of Civil Defense has ordered rescuers to stop because of the threat of further landslides.

Residents of Barangay Ucab have also been told to evacuate.

On Saturday as Typhoon “Ompong” battered Northern Luzon, a landslide buried a church where small-scale miners and their families

sought refuge. So far, 32 bodies have been recovered.

Amid the tragedy, it is easy for local officials and other entities to lay blame on anybody but themselves.

For example, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said his administration was not able to stop families from living in the area because the structure they called the bunkhouse was guarded by personnel of Benguet Corp.

The men were engaged in small-scale mining and gold processing in the Antamok area. The company, however, said they were undertaking these activi-

ties without its permission.

Even former Environment secretary Regina Lopez was quick to point the finger of blame. She stayed on at the department until her appointment was not confirmed, waging a war against the mining industry, but doing nothing to stop the arguable more dangerous and unregulated practice of small-scale mining in areas like Itogon and Diwalwal in Mindanao.

Tragedies leave valuable lessons on their path and it is up to us to mine them for lessons so that they do not occur again.

Funny not funny—why Mocha should go mockery of persons with disability whether in writing, or in words, or in action due to their impairment/s.”

Moreover, Sec. 46 of the same law penalizes first offenders with fines of not less than PhP50,000.00 but not exceedMOCHA and Drew struck again. After ing PhP100,000.00, or imprisonment of their controversial pepe-dede-peped- not less than six months but not more ederalismo video on federalism that than two years, or both at the discretion made social media explode with criti- of the Court. cism, Presidential Communications Clearly, what Uson and Olivar did was Operations OfficAssistant Secretary a violation of the law. The thing is, Uson Mocha Uson and her friend blogger is not an ordinary person. She holds a Drew Olivar are again in hot water— key government position. Thus, she may this time, for making fun of and mim- be subject to disciplinary action and this icking sign language, the very same seems to be what PFD is after. means by which deaf and mute persons Perhaps Uson does not have an inkuse to communicate with each other, ling of why her and Olivar’s antics and the rest of the were far from beworld. ing funny. Unlike Persons with ordinary people, disabilities are PWDs’ lives are She has been in protected from made signifid isc r i m i nat ion , government for two cantly more difridicule, insults, ficult because of and mockery un- years and surely, this their conditions. der the Magna is more than enough Whereas, peoCarta for PWDs time for her to learn ple normally exor Republic Act press themselves No. 7277. The so- her responsibilities. through spoken ciety of deaf peoword, this is not ple, the Philippine the case for the Federation of the deaf and the mute.

Deaf, has filed Their inability to a complaint with the Commission on communicate results in their marginHuman Rights against Uson, a rank- alization and exclusion from society. ing government official. Another com- Their access to education is quite limplaint was filed by the same group with ited and opportunities for development the Office of the Ombudsman. The and advancement are very rare.

PFD said that Uson’s and Olivar’s acSign language is very important to tions mocked and insulted not only the them. This is the means for them to be deaf but all PWDs. educated and know what’s happening Uson and Olivar have since apolo- in their country and the world. Othergized admitting that their video was wise, they will remain ignorant. It is disrespectful. However, the PFD re- their way of communicating with othjected the apology and is bent on pur- ers so they are also able to socialize, suing its complaint. The organization make friends, and build relationships. said that such rejection reflects what It is their way of expressing themselves their members want. so they can understand and be underSec. 39 of RA 7277 defines Public stood. Sign language is their means to Ridicule as, “an act of making fun or survive, not a laughing matter.

Turn to A5 contemptuous imitating or making

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

Santa Clara: Che’s city but also Cuba’s gay haven

By Moises Avila JOSE Augustin Hernandez is a 53-yearold local government official in Cuba— who is transgender, sports a flamboyant pink wig and goes by the name Adela.

Hernandez works in Caibarien, a town close to Santa Clara—a city synonymous with revolutionary icon Che Guevara but also Cuba’s most LGBT-friendly town.

“I’m more revolutionary than gay,” says Hernandez, who has photos of both her boyfriend and the famous Argentine guerrilla on the wall behind her.

“And look, no one is more gay than me, because I was born gay.”

Sixty years ago, Santa Clara is where Guevara derailed one of US-backed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista’s military trains during the guerrilla resistance, and the city adopted him as one of its own.

His remains and those of some of his Bolivian comrades in arms are buried there.

Santa Clara is located just 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Placetas, the

birthplace of current Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who took over from Raul Castro in April.

Over the last few decades, the surrounding Villa Clara province has developed into a haven for the LGBT community.

Santa Clara is home to a gay-friendly hotel and the El Menjuje cultural center, which has put on drag queen shows since 1984, when homophobia was rampant in the Caribbean island nation.

The city of 200,000 people has been at the forefront of the push to legalize gay marriage in Cuba, something that will be put to a referendum in February as part of a new constitution.

“Santa Clara is something else—nothing is strange or surprising here because anything can happen,” said Ramon Silverio, the 69-year-old founder of El Mejunje.

A space for everyone Built on the ruins of a hotel, El Mejunje offers young artists a theater, concert hall and dance space where they can show off their talents. The entrance

fee is five pesos ($0.20).

“My idea was to have a space for everyone and everything, regardless of who they were or what their preferences were,” Silverio told AFP. “During the first years, El Mejunje was seen as hell, this place that brought together those people who, stereotypically, weren’t accepted by society.”

That was during a time when homosexuals faced hostility and marginalization.

But little by little, “the image changed and people realized it was something they couldn’t deny,” Silverio explained.

“Diaz-Canel came here to El Mejunje before he was (provincial) first secretary of the party because he brought his children here for the kids’ activities we offer,” he said.

“El Mejunje changed the city and the way the country looked.”

On the terrace, computer geeks, skaters, artists, singers, parents and children all mix freely. Some are gay, some are not.

“This is the society of the future,” Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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Opinion

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

A5

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Shooting from her glasshouse

China or US debt trap?

ministrative charges were filed against the former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary at the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a 41-page complaint filed by Citinickel Mines Development Corp., the mining firm accused Lopez of not only disregarded their duly-entered 25-year Mineral Production Sharing Agreement with the DENR when she ordered for their suspension, but throwing impediment after impediment as well against them, effectively ensuring non-enforcement of the MPSA. Lopes, it could be recalled, required mining firms she arbitrarily suspended to put up multi-million trust funds for the rehabilitation of affecting mining areas before they could be allowed to remove their stockpiles from the affected areas.

Third, when the US decided to detach the dollar from the gold standard, the first casualty was the system of interest rate. It effectively abrogated the anti-usury law such that nobody goes to jail for usury. This was followed by THIS column is appalled at the desper- the abrogation in 1999 of the landmark ate propaganda floated by the Liberal Glass-Steagall Law which separated Party and their acolytes fearing that banking from investment. From therethe country is about to be entrapped on, banks competed with investors in debt with China. These lackeys and traders. Adding burden was the should better analyze the disinforma- relaxation on foreign the investment tion given them by their handlers that and remittance of profit.

This was followed by the liberaliinject the usual prognostication that the country is about to sink deeper zation of the banking industry. The in debt consequent to President Du- miserable Noynoy Aquino governterte’s move to improve the country’s ment signed RA 10641, an act alloweconomic, trade and political relations ing the full entry of foreign banks in the local banking industry. The new with China.

The oligarchs, the usual beneficiary law amended RA 7721 promulgated in of the US financial largess, the shame- 1994 under the Ramos administration.

Otherwise known as the Foreign less but tax-evading Church, the hypocritical mainstream media, and the se- Bank Liberalization Act, RA 7721 nile leadership in the communist party was instrumental in the entry of forand their front organizations failed to eign banks through either of the three logically connect that the US, which modes: acquisition of up to 60 percent is the source of their moronic disin- of an existing domestic banks voting formation, is the world’s number-one stock; establishment of branches with debtor having a $21.48-trillion debt full banking authority; or investing up many fear is likely to incur a default to 60 percent of the voting stock of a new banking subsidiary incorporated payment.

These pathetic cynics sidetrack the under Philippine laws. Since July 2014, truth that the country has an external foreigners have been allowed to own debt of $73.097 billion. They fail to 100 percent of Philippine domestic banks. take note that 61.5 Fourth, bepercent of this is cause of the dollar-denominatvolatility of the ed, 13.5 percent in The opposition is just dollar in relation yen, 14.5 percent to their external in multi-currency so illogical. debt obligations, borrowed from often denomithe World Bank nated in US doland ADB, and lars, countries 10.5 percent in like the Philipobligations to 17 other countries. According to Foreign Affairs Secretary pines adopted the debt-to-GDP-ratio Cayetano, only 1 percent of our ex- in servicing our external debt upon ternal loans come from China. From the advice of US bankers. This has there, we could deduce that our loan become mandatory to countries fallwith China would be somewhere be- ing within the sphere of US financial jurisdiction that sought loans for tween $700 million to $800 million.

These anti-Chinese wrigglers make their developmental projects, as filler their doomsday prediction of the $25 to their huge trade deficit or shortfall billion in economic assistance in the in revenue collection. In our case, the form of grants, loans and investment. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has set Logic will tell us that one can never put the ratio to what its GDP can produce. interest on something it has yet to re- It reached its peak in 2001 at 68.2 ceive. Chinese ambassador to the Phil- percent. The ratio has significantly ippines Zhao Jianhua explained that fallen to 27.3-percent ratio at the end the two bridges that will cross Pasig of 2014.

For instance, for every P100 worth River from Binondo to Intramuros of goods and services the country prowould come in the form of grant or to duces, it must use around P42 to P55 be exact, given to us for free.

Setting aside development projects for debt repayment. Thus, if one has being sponsored by China, let us just to combine the debt-to-GDP ratio and point out how illogical the opposition the CERA that would point to a bleak can be. First, the US is ranked as the chance for debtors-states to escape one debtor in the world, and the Philip- from the debt trap to which the Amboy pines ranks number 56 out of the 194 hecklers attribute to China.

It is worth noting that loans extendstates listed. This figure alone should have put them on guard that in the event ed by China to countries needing fithe US incurs a default payment of its nancial assistance seldom experience external debt, this country be doubly the burden of paying their debt oblihard hit more than the US. Nonetheless, gation on the basis of debt-to-GDP to avoid this, the US devised a trick of ratio or are under pressure to observe just revaluing its currency or by inject- the CERA formula. One can honestly ing more money into the market known say this because the renminbi is stable. The Chinese government seldom as “quantitative easing.”

This now allows the US to postpone revalue or devalue their currency just its day of reckoning, but in the mean- to overcome the financial exigencies time our peso continues to tumble. of using them as weapon to exert faBecause these hypocrites pretend not vorable business deal.

To simplify, if we have a P1.6-trilto know why the peso keeps on sinklion budget say for this year, and the ing, they would rather attribute the increase in the prices of goods to in- debt-to-GDP ratio is pegged at 30 perflation to blame Duterte, and not on cent, that automatically means we will the volatility of the dollar where 61.5 be deducting P450 billion from that per cent of our external debt is with appropriated budget just to service our debt obligation. This does not include the US. Second, there is no way the country the increases in the value of the dolcould avoid the financial tremors that lar which would hit us twice because may occur in the US because our cur- that would correspondingly decrease rency is in chained to the dollar but not the value of the peso. If one adds, say on its value. We now have a P54-to-a the three to four percent interest, then dollar rate and whatever tremors the we could rightly predict that there is US will experience will be absorbed no way the country could escape from by us because we allowed to be put in the manacle that has chained us into place all the devices to make sure we absolute penury.

What is more, the debt-to-GDP ratio lose in all our contracts. The currency exchange rate adjustment (CERA) is and the CERA are financial formula that will always favor the creditors and one good example.

If we borrow, say $100 million from never to debtors. Thus, the creation of the US through their controlled finan- the Asian International Infrastructure cial institutions, and there occurs a fi- Bank (AIIB) has created troubling nancial crisis, that would readily affect crisis for the Western financial inthe peso. From the current P54 to a dol- stitutions like the ADB, World Bank lar, the rate could easily jump to P60. and IMF. Should developing countries The principal to our loan obligation shift to the AIIB for credit, that will will thus automatically increase. This be their end because that will expose does not include the interest although their true nature as surviving usury. they have been bragging that their inrpkapunan@gmail.com terest rate is low compared to others.

THERE she goes again. From obscurity following the rejection of her appointment as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Gina Lopez, scion of the powerful Lopez clan, is struggling to gain some relevance.

In the aftermath of the tragic Itogon mining disaster, Lopez has been making herself felt in the media, again brandishing her supposed environmental cloak, this time lashing at legitimate mining firms including Benguet Corporation, blaming the mining firms for the death of dozens of small-scale miners.

According to Lopez, Benguet Corp. was instrumental in the proliferation of these ilegal mining operations as they have an agreement with the small-scale miners that all gold they would extract, would be sold to the giant mining firm.

Nice try Gina! No less than Itogon Mayor Victor Palangdan, whose wife used to be involved in buying gold from these small-scale miners, bared that miners prefer to sell their hoard to the black market and smugglers to evade paying taxes.

Before picking up the microphone again and start projecting herself as a no-nonsense environmental crusader at the expense of legitimate business companies just to make herself relevant again, Lopez should re-examine her checkered past and address the issues whioch brought her disgrace as an environmental secretary wannabe.

Has she forgotten that mere hours before she was rejected by the Commission on Appointments, she was slapped with a graft case.

For allegedly usurping the legislative powers of Congress by overstretching requirements mandated by the mining laws, including trying to force a mining firm to put up at least P130 million in a non-government organization essentially controlled by her, graft and ad-

Rising...

From A4

Double Barrel, Oplan Tokhang2, Oplan Double Barrel Alpha, and Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded, resulting in the death of at least 4,410 persons in police operations (as of July 31, 2018) to up to 23,000 since he assumed office on June 30, 2016; and, (b) Widespread and systematic attacks against civilians in the form of inhumane acts intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or mental or physical health proscribed under Article 7, paragraph (k) of the Rome Statute under his anti-drug policy and anti-criminality campaign including Oplan Double Barrel and its permutations, and Oplan Tokhang.

Complainants assert that the President is guilty of crimes against humanity, for the above acts: President Rodrigo Duterte is criminally responsible and liable for the above mentioned murders, and other inhumane acts, under Article 25, paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Rome Statute being the most senior leader and

Funny...

From A4

The Magna Carta for PWDs is there to provide solutions to problems faced

by PWDs, facilitate their substantial participation in society, respect their rights, and prohibit discriminatory and abusive behavior against them. The law is there so our society becomes inclusive.

Uson seems to be oblivious of the law and ignorant about human rights and political correctness. She was laughing and enjoying the antics of Olivar, had it recorded on video, and posted on social media for everyone to see. She is an official of the PCOO, the office that takes care of Malacañang’s communications, where political correctness and respect for people’s rights must be part of standard operating procedures.

What did Uson want to accomplish in

Santa...

From A4

said Silverio.

Nearby, in a house with a bright yellow door, Saily Gonzalez and her husband opened up an inclusive hotel three years ago.

“It started with a guest, who’s now a friend, who came to do a documentary about cross-dressers. He interviewed several drag queens here in this house. Their

She herself is beset with legal issues arising from her environmental masquerade.

However, the same is separate from and on top of the existing rehabilitation trust fund set up by the government as required under Article 71 of the Republic Act 7942 and DENR Administrative Order 2010-10.

DENR documents showed that on Jan. 30, 2017, Lopez, in a Memorandum, ordered all suspended mining firms to each open a trust fund account in the amount of P2 million per every hectare of disturbed land before they can be allowed to remove their stockpiles from mining areas and given export permits.

Several suspended mining firms are reported to have been required to put up a trust funds ranging from as low as P150 million to as high as P300 million depending on the volume or area of affected mining sites before they are allowed to remove their stockpile and be

issued a Mineral Ore Export Permit.

Incidentally, Gina is now blaming large mining firms for the death of small-scale miners in the Itogon disaster. But last year, she was caught blaming small-scale miners in Aroroy in Masbate for threatening marine life in that particular area resulting from tons of mine waste dumped into a river, when in fact, residents in the area had been pointing at a mining company Filminera as the culprit.

Reportedly showing her biases for Filmenera which was said to have pledged P150 million for her project, Lopez was said to have passed on the blame to small-scale miners whom she described as having no track record compared to her.

Lopez also earned the ire of DENR employees for insisting on her appointment of Philip Camara as one of her undersecretaries even as he lacks civil service requirements for such.

According to sources, Camara’s appointment had something to do with his being a former president of Biochar, a company engaged in mining rehabilitation. Sources add Biochar was allegedly accorded a P9-billion contract by Gina herself.

Had enough? No, Gina herself had admitted lobbying with the Department of Energy to “fast-track” the release of the permit for a $100-million solar farm in Zamboanga on behalf of the French company, EcoGlobal Inc. whose head was her former subordinate at the DENR. EcoGlobal Inc. reportedly footed the bill for hertrip to Paris purportedly to thresh out matters about the Pasig River Rehabilitation Project to be carried out

by EcoGlobal Inc. Not only was the trip illegal as it wassponsored by a private contractor, but how she carried out the Pasig River rehabilitation is questionable as Pasig river remains today as it was then—filthy.

And the list goes on.

It would be better if Gina stopped hurling stones form her glasshouse as she herself is beset with legal issues arising from her environmental masquerade. Her words might be tainted with interest and lack of moral turpitude.

most responsible for these crimes. And that the President is criminally responsible, under the principle of command responsibility under Article 28, paragraphs (a) and (b), being the commander and superior authority over the police and other state security forces who committed the above mentioned acts of murder, inhumane acts, and other forms of persecution in the implementation of his policy against suspected drug and crime suspects.

Complainants further argue that they have satisfied the admissibility requirements under the Rome Statute because firstly, the extrajudicial killings, mass arrests, and other inhumane acts committed by and under President Duterte are so grievous and so heinous that is of sufficient gravity to justify further action of the Court; Secondly, President Duterte is not being investigated or prosecuted and he has not been previously investigated or prosecuted for the extrajudicial killings that he ordered and allowed to persist during the period of his presidency, nor has he been previously tried for conduct which is subject of the complaint.

The complainants assert that the Philippines’ deposit of a written notification with the United Nations to withdraw from the ICC is of no moment and does not deprive the ICC of jurisdiction.

Based on the Rome Statute, according to complainants, a party’s withdrawal, as what the Philippines supposedly did under the present administration, shall not take effect until one year from its deposit of the notification of withdrawal or until March 16, 2019. Since the Complaint is filed during the period that the Philippines is a State Party, the Court is not ousted of its jurisdiction by such notice of withdrawal. Furthermore, according to the complaint, the provision is clear that said withdrawal shall not prejudice―any matter which was already under considerationǁ by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective, on or before March 16, 2019.

In the next columns, I will provide more details on the case against Duterte while reserving my personal assessment on the case for the final column.

doing that video? Did she want people to laugh as she did? Joke-joke lang ba like what her boss does? What was the message she wanted to impart? I did not see any. Did she simply want people to emulate her and Olivar, and also mock and ridicule deaf people? Is this her idea of fun?

I seriously do not see any good reason for such video. I can understand the pepe-dede-pepedederalismo video. It was Uson’s attempt to lighten the complex and unfamiliar issue of federalism though the means was unacceptable.

This one on PWDs has absolutely no use except to make fun of, and thereby, mock deaf and mute persons.

Uson has been given all the chances to prove herself. She has been in government for two years and surely, this is more than enough time for her to learn her responsibilities. She does not show that she has learned any. Instead, she continues to bring shame not only to

her person, the office she holds, but the entire government.

Uson’s salaries of more than P100,000 a month excluding perks are paid for by people’s hard-earned money, including taxes paid by PWDs, and she gives us this. She does not deserve a centavo of what she gets.

With all the problems Uson has caused this administration, it’s puzzling why she is still in PCOO. Some people think she is untouchable. PCOO chief Martin Andanar even said that only President Duterte can discipline her. When asked about this issue of mocking PWDs, Presidential Spokesperson said that they would not oppose it if the Ombudsman orders the removal of Uson.

What people want is for Duterte to fire Uson. Funny or not, it is time for her to go.

stories were touching,” said Gonzalez.

The 27-year-old believes the constitutional change could attract LGBT tourism.

“That a little Caribbean island, like Cuba, with its complicated and contradictory political history, is ready to approve marriage for all is going to be ‘the big deal’,” she added.

There was a lot of cruelty Hernandez lives in a small house in Caibarien where she has been elected

councilor three times.

“Caibarien is a municipality that stands out for being open towards sexual preferences,” she said.

Hernandez went to live there following a two-year stint in prison after she was denounced for a crime by a father who wouldn’t accept his son’s homosexuality.

It was a time when it was tough being gay in Cuba.

“There was a lot of cruelty. You couldn’t be gay because you were mar-

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@bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

ginalized by society and the government,” said Hernandez.

But in Caibarien, she found acceptance, where even conservative voters told her: “I prefer a queer leader to a thief.”

She wasn’t always destined for a career in politics. Hernandez originally wanted to be a soldier, but she didn’t fit in at cadet school and was instead sent to nursing school.

She now works in electrocardiogra-

phy in a local clinic and lives with her partner, a 27-year-old gardener.

After 11 years together, they hope to marry.

“It’s an evolution of the human race,” said Hernandez, pointing out that Raul Castro’s daughter Mariela was the driving force behind the proposed constitutional change.

“The time has come to change everything that needs to be changed, as our commander-in-chief Fidel said.” AFP

News

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Emergency ‘go bags’ given to 500 houses in Makati

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay led the distribution of emergency “go bags” to over 500 households in the city whose properties are situated near the West Valley Fault which, according to seismologists, is already ripe for movement and could generate a magnitude7.2 earthquake in Metro Manila.

The recipients came from four barangays transected by the fault: East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal. The distribution for the first two was done at East Rembo Covered Court, and for the latter two at Pembo Barangay Hall.

Binay said the provision of “go bags” to at-risk households was aimed not only to equip them with basic sur-

vival tools and essentials in preparation for any untoward incident, such as a strong earthquake, but also to emphasize their perilous location.

A “go bag” is a portable survival kit recommended by emergency response experts for every household or facility.

It is meant to help an individual or a family survive at least in the next 72

hours after a disaster, and contains essential needs such as food and drinking water, aside from handy tools.

“While our main objective is to help them survive should the dreaded magnitude-7.2 earthquake finally happen, we also intend to drive home the fact that they are in grave danger while they remain within the declared danger zones,” she said.

In March last year, Binay initiated a series of dialogs with affected residents in the four barangays to raise their awareness about the dangers of living within the five-meter easement on both sides of the fault.

She urged them to relocate and offered financial assistance from the city government.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SOUTHWEST LUZON POWER GENERATION CORPORATION, WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Ancillary Service

PhP2.25/kW/hr

Non-firm Regulating Reserve

The nominated price in PhP/kW/hr or PhP3.00/kW/hr, whichever is lower

Non-firm Contingency Reserve

The nominated price in PhP/kW/Hr or PhP2.25/kW/Hr, whichever is lower

Non-firm Dispatchable Reserve

The nominated price in PhP/kW/hr or PhP1.25/kW/Hr, whichever is lower

13. NGCP and SLPGC submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery of its opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS. ERC CASE NO. 2018-074 RC

Applicants. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 12 July 2018, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation (SLPGC) filed an Application dated 02 July 2018, seeking the approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA), with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

In their Application, NGCP and SLPGC alleged, among others, the following: NATURE OF THE CASE

14. The rates under ASPA was subjected to a simulation by NGCP, the results of which are as follows:

This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) between the NGCP and SLPGC dated 29 May 2018, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006049RC entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services — Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority;”

Indicative Rate Impact

3.

ANTECEDENT FACTS 4.

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”), adopted and promulgated by the Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system;2

5.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid AS and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and AS tariffs to the ERC;3

6.

AS as defined in Section 4(b) of the EPIRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids;

7.

8.

9.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (“ASPP”) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services-Cost Recovery Mechanism (“AS-CRM”) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049 RC; Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on different dates published in newspapers of general circulation a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services Providers, inviting all grid-connected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services. Upon receipt of the intention from SLPGC to provide ancillary services, NGCP commenced negotiations with SLPGC for the execution of an ASPA; NGCP agreed to procure and SLPGC agreed to supply AS in the form of: (a) RR under a firm and non-firm arrangement; and (b) CR, and DR under a nonfirm arrangement. A copy of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement between NGCP and SLPGC dated 29 May 2018 with Addendum to the ASPA dated 29 June 2018 is attached in the Application.

10. During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on the Generation Facility, and certified that the generating units have met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing RR, CR and DR. A copy of the NGCP Accreditation Certificate No. 2017-L011 dated 1 October 2017 is also attached in the Application; FIRM AND NON-FIRM CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATE AND IMPACT SIMULATION 11. Under Clause 3 of the ASPA, SLPGC shall provide NGCP with the following AS as specified in Schedule 1 of the ASPA: A.

Firm Contracted Capacity: Regulating Reserve - up to 23 MW per unit from 0801H to 2100H for the entire Contract Term.

B.

Non-Firm Contracted Capacity: From 0001H to 0800H and from 2101H to 2400H for the entire Contract Term, the type of Ancillary Services that can be nominated: Regulating Reserve - up to 23 MW per unit Contingency Reserve - up to 23 MW per unit Dispatchable Reserve - up to 25 MW per unit

These capacities are the maximum offer. However, for clarity, the basis for AS Provider’s maximum declaration or nomination and scheduling shall be the capacities listed in its valid AS Certificates.

12. The Applicable Rates for the capacity covered by the ASPA as provided in Schedule 4 are as follows: 1 2 3

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes; Section 9 (d).

Section 6.3.1.2.

P/kWh Equivalent

RR (with Pmin)

6.6178

0.0127

CR

4.0371

0.0078

DR

2.7132

0.0052

16. The ASPA shall be effective for a period of five (5) years, to commence immediately upon the effectivity of the provisional approval (“PA”), or in the absence thereof, the final approval (“FA”) of the instant Application. In the event that the PA or FA, as the case may be, does not state a particular date of effectivity, the Agreement shall be effective on the date agreed upon by the Parties.

17. Other than the ASPA, there are no other existing power supply agreements executed by SLPGC covering the capacity of the Generation Facility.

Attached in the Application is the Certification dated 27 June 2018 issued by Charlie V. Robles, Plant Manager of SLPGC, attesting to such fact.

18. SLPGC, as a generation company, falls within the ambit of Sections 6 of the EPIRA. Attached in the Application are copies of relevant documents proving SLPGC’s due registration as a generation company, relevant permits to operate the Generation Facility and audited financial statements, as follows: Document Articles of Incorporation Latest General Information Sheet filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Latest Audited Financial Statement Certificates of Compliance covering the Generation Facility SLPGC’s WESM Registration in respect of the Generation Facility

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through highvoltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system; SLPGC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal place of business at Barangay San Rafael, Calaca, Batangas. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its counsel. It is the owner and operator of the 2X25MW Modular Gas Turbine Power Plant (“Generation Facility”) located at Barangay San Rafael, Calaca, Batangas, which was certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Ancillary Services (“AS”) in the form of Regulating Reserve (“RR”), Contingency Reserve (“CR”) and Dispatchable Reserve (“DR”);

P/kW-mo

15. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Luzon Grid.

THE PARTIES 2.

Applicable Hourly Rate

Firm Regulating Reserve

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND SOUTHWEST LUZON POWER GENERATION CORPORATION (SLPGC),

1.

FISHING ISSUE. Lawyer Gloria Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines, calls attention to illegal fishing in the Philippines during the ‘Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan’ monthly forum on the environment at Kamayan Restaurant in Edsa Greenhills in San Juan City. Manny Palmero

While SLPGC is a co-applicant, it manifests that the instant Application shall neither modify, diminish or constitute a waiver of SLPGC’s rights nor expand its obligations and responsibilities as a generation company under EPIRA. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 19. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2(b), EPIRA). To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. 20. The current levels of available contracted AS in the Luzon Grid have not yet reached the desired levels necessary for the system security and reliability.

Thus, Applicants executed the ASPA. A copy of the relevant actual data showing the required and available levels of AS in the Luzon Grid, entitled as “Luzon Regulating Reserve Availability”, Luzon Contingency Reserve Availability, and Luzon Dispatchable Reserve Availability which were attached as Annexes in the instant Application.

21. As the demand for power in the Luzon increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability, and security likewise increases.

Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth. The importance of AS, from SLPGC to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Luzon Grid cannot be overemphasized.

22. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Commission is a necessity to maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Luzon Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lisaflor Bacani-Kater of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP. 23. NGCP and SLPGC prayed for the following: a)

Issuance of a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA executed on 29 May 2018; and

b)

Approval, after notice and hearing, of the subject ASPA.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and evidentiary hearing on 11 October 2018 (Thursday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 PM) at Building 2 Calaca Power Complex Housing, Brgy. San Rafael, Calaca, Batangas.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

Pasig City, 11 September 2018.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson & CEO

M. Standard – Sept. 22 & 29, 2018

Bangon Northern Luzon starts emergency drive VOLUNTEER workers of Bangon Northern Luzon have mounted emergency relief operations in areas of Cagayan province hardest hit by Super Typhoon “Ompong’s” fury.

As of Tuesday, the relief operation already distributed 1,500 packages to families and individuals in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon under Secretary Raul Lambino.

Lambino is also administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority through which the relief effort is being coordinated.

Spokesman Joseph Garcia of the lead organization Andres P. Tamayo Sr. Foundation Inc. said “our aim is to help address the immediate needs of families affected by the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year.”

The relief drive also includes rehabilitation assistance, Garcia said, and will reach across parts of Northern Luzon that bore the brunt of Ompong’s destructive 205-kph winds.

Each relief pack, Garcia said, contained basic goods such as blanket, sleeping mat, medicines, rice, noodles, bottled water and water pail.

A second batch of 1,500 relief packs was en route to Cagayan Wednesday while another truck load of relief packs were sent to Nueva Vizcaya, he said.

“DDT Construct Inc. and Whiteport Inc., two construction companies behind the APTSFI, jump-started the relief operations through the two companies corporate contributions,” Garcia said.

Aside from the APTSFI and CEZA, both entities have carried out relief works in the past, Garcia identified five partner organizations in the Bangon Northern Luzon relief effort.

These are the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rotary Club of Makati South, Rotary International District 3830, APO United International Organization Inc. and the Association for PhilippinesChina Understanding.

DENR details guidelines on sewage construction THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources released its recent memorandum order, which detailed the guidelines on the installation or construction of Sewage Treatment Plants in Boracay Island.

The Memo Order 2018-04, dated Sept. 18 and signed by Secretary Roy Cimatu, states that hotels, resort, and similar establishments can now connect to Concessionaires, such as BoracayIsland Water Company, ordering the Concessionaires to collect and treat the wastewater of their own respective clients.

The Memorandum directs the Concessionaires to issue certifications that their respective customers are either connected to the sewer line or have their own compliant individuals STPs. This certification will serve as a requirement for the hotel or establishment to operate.

As part of this directive, the Concessionaires are also asked to provide DENR with data on water billed volume and volume of wastewater received for treatment for monitoring and planning purposes.

In relation to this Order, DENR strictly requires all hotels and similar establishments along the White / Long beachfront with 40 rooms and above to establish or construct their own STPs that are fully operational with capability of full treatment for Class-SB effluent not later than Oct. 28, 2018.

Hotels, which are unable to comply, will not be allowed to open and operate their business until they have established their own compliant STPs. All other hotels outside the White/Long beachfront with 50 rooms and above are ordered to establish or construct their own STPs that are fully operational with capability of full treatment for Class-SB effluent not later than Nov. 30, 2018.

While the STP establishment is ongoing, these hotels are directed to connect to the existing sewer line or if not available, avail of the existing sewerage services of the concessionaires until completion of their compliant STPs.

Pag-IBIG offers condonation PAG-IBIG Fund is offering a onetime opportunity for delinquent and unregistered employers who were previously disqualified from availing themselves of the Fund’s penalty condonation programs to settle their obligations.

“Among President Rodrigo Duterte’s directives is prioritizing workers’ benefits. It is important that Filipino workers enjoy government benefits like those from Pag-IBIG Fund,” said PagIBIG Fund Board of Trustees and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairman Eduardo del Rosario.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executiveofficer Acmad Rizaldy Moti added, “The ongoing Penalty Condonation Program or PenCon is specific to employers who deducted their employees’ monthly members’ savings but did not remit these to Pag-IBIG Fund. We encourage

these employers to take advantage of the PenCon and comply with the program, and enable their employees to avail of Pag-IBIG Fund benefits and services.”

The Penalty Condonation Program gives employers the opportunity to comply with the mandate of Republic Act 9679, or the Pag-IBIG Fund Law of 2009, to register their employees with Pag-IBIG Fund and remit their employees’ members’ savings.

Also covered under this program are employers who have pending applications for plan of payment.

Employers who opted for plan of payment will be granted discount on the total assessed penalties.

A 70 percent discount on the TAP will be given to employers who will fully settle their total unremitted monthly mandatory savings, deprived dividends, and the remaining 30 percent of the TAP.

Sports

Manila

Standard

A7

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Baguio bets show way in Batang Pinoy B AGUIO CITY―Host Baguio City currently leads the overall medal standings with a few events left on the last day of the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships here.

The hosts relied on their wushu and taekwondo bets to haul a total of 46 gold medals and move closer to defending their overall crown.

Wushu collected 13 golds, while taekwondo pocketed 10 mints.

Baguio bets in judo and wrestling each won eight gold medals, while other athletes prevailed in in archery (2), athletics (2), karate (1), swimming (1) and triathlon (1).

They also clinched 46 silver and 57 bronze medals.

Quezon City trails behind at second with 21 gold, 12 silver and 49 bronzes―leaning on 10 gold medals in swimming and four in wrestling.

At close third is Cebu City with 20 golds, 25 silvers and 28

SEC. 13. Non-Disclosure Agreement. The parties, groups and their reviewers must sign the non-disclosure agreement before participating in the local source code review.

TODAY

bronzes, while Laguna Province (20-8-20) and Cebu Province (169-15) are in the current Top 5.

Competitions are still ongoing in arnis, chess, muay, badminton, basketball, boxing, softball and baseball.

According to the PSC, the overall champion will receive a total of P3 million worth of incentives, while runners-up will go home with P2.5 million (second), P2 million (third), P1.5 million (fourth) and P1 million (fifth).

However, these incentives will have a Memorandum of Agreement with the PSC to indicate what it may be spent for.

The weeklong tournament is part of PSC’s grassroots development program aimed at discovering potential members of the national team.

SEC. 14. Walkthrough of the systems to be reviewed. After signing the nondisclosure agreement, the parties, groups, and their reviewers shall attend a brief walkthrough of the system to be reviewed, conducted by the Commission through the system provider, wherein they will be oriented on the following:

Republic of the Philippines Commission on Elections Manila GUIDELINES ON THE CONDUCT OF THE LOCAL SOURCE CODE REVIEW OF THE AUTOMATED ELECTION SYSTEMS FOR THE 13 MAY 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

BY INTERESTED PARTIES AND GROUPS

ABAS, S. M., PARREÑO, A. A., GUIA, L. T. F., GUANZON, M. R. A. V., INTING, S. B., CASQUEJO, M. S., KHO, Jr., A. T., Promulgated:

Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

September 21, 2018

RESOLUTION NO. ______________ WHEREAS, Section 12 of Republic Act No. 93691 provides that “once an AES2 technology is selected for implementation, the Commission shall promptly make tlle source code of that technology available and open to any interested party or group which may conduct their own review thereof “; WHEREAS, the conduct of the local source code review by any interested party as provided under Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9369 will enhance public acceptance of and build public confidence in the Automated Elections System;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 9369, and other election laws, and after taking into consideration the recommendation of the local source code reviewers in the last 2016 National and Local Elections, the Commission has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to approve and adopt the following guidelines in the conduct of the source code review by interested parties or groups of the Automated Elections System for the 13 May 2019 National and Local Elections:

REVIEW PROPER SEC. 17. Workstations. The Commission shall provide the workstation inside the secured location or facility with a clean computer system.

SEC. 18. Source code. The Commission shall provide and install a read-only copy of the source code on the workstations inside the secured location or facility.

To ensure the identity of the source code under review, hash codes may be generated and used.

SEC. 2. Coverage. The review shall cover the source codes of the following systems:

SEC. 21. Notices of scheduled activities. The schedule of the local source code review activities shall be posted in the official website of the Commission on Elections.

i. ii. iii. iv.

Election Management System (EMS); Vote-Counting Machine (VCM); Consolidated Canvassing System (CCS); Other related systems as may be deemed necessary;

SEC. 3. Review Phases. The source code review shall involve two phases.

The first phase shall cover a preliminary review of the source codes of the AES implemented in the 2016 National and Local Elections with initial enhancements for the 2019 National and Local Elections as required by the Commission. The second phase shall cover the review of the final release or version of AES software on Election Day.

SEC. 22. Duration. The period of tile source code review shall be determined by tile Local Source Code Review Ad-hoc Committee.

VIII REPORT AND DOCUMENTATION SEC. 23. Contents. The report must contain the following details: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii.

II INTERESTED PARTIES AND GROUPS SEC. 4. Participants. Parties or groups interested in conducting a local source code review must belong to any of the following: i.

Political parties or coalition of parties duly registered and/or accredited by the Commission. This includes parties and organizations registered under the Omnibus Election Code and the Party List System of Representation;

ii.

Legitimate organizations or groups accredited by the Commission which includes previously accredited citizen’s arms in the last 2016 National and Local Elections;

Name of the reviewer Party or Group Represented; System being reviewed: VCM, CCS, EMS, etc.; Description of the findings; Location of the findings; Description of risks/comments; and Recomrnendations

SEC. 24. Daily report. The reviewer must submit a daily report on his or her findings. Copies of the report shall be furnished to the Ad-hoc Committee.

SEC. 25. Final Report. After the end of the review, the reviewer may submit within five (5) days a final report collating all of his or her findings for the entire duration of the review to the Comrnission. The five (5)-day period shall be counted from the last day of each of the review phase. This may be in the form of a collation of the reports submitted, which must be signed by the code reviewer.

SEC. 26. Certification. In me absence of a major or critical findings observed in the source codes of AES reviewed, which could affect the proper, secure, and accurate operation of the AES, the code reviewer shall sign a certification stating that no major or critical findings were observed and found in the code at the end of the code review.

IX

Host academic institution if any;

LOCAL SOURCE CODE REVIEWER

WACK Wack Golf and Country Club holds its 18th President’s Cup today with a full-packed field of 330 clashing for top honors in various divisions at the West course.

“I am very impressed with the turnout. I think this is the biggest number in all of the President’s Cups,” said newly elected club president Lawrence Tan, who also thanked the event’s sponsors, led by co-presentors Aureo La Union, San Miguel Corp. and Transview.

A brand-new Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubshi Xpander, Peugeot 3008, Mazda CX-5, Harley Davidson Motor, Inada Massage Chair and Yamaha Cart are up for grabs for hole-in-one feats.

Other backers are Premiere sponsors Stradcom, Steel Asia, K&G, Eva Air, 1st Sunday Group, Security Bank, Powerball Corp., DDT Konstakt, Century Canning, Champion/Hana, Yakult, Unioil, and Lucerne/Wrist Pod with supporters MAA Gen. Insurance, Motolite, PAGCOR, Larry Villarreal, Kenny Rogers, SM Prime, Seattle’s Best, Ortigas & Co., Landers, NC88, Cebuana Roasters, Fortune Tobacco, VMJ, TCM, W Group, Cherrylume, Nickel Asia, Mikey Arroyo and Dunn Edward Paints.

VII

SEC. 20. Compilation and demonstration of the AES systems reviewed.

Subject to the agreement of tile participants of the local source code review, the Commission, through the system provider, may schedule the compilation and demonstration of the systems reviewed for testing purposes only.

III

18th President’s Cup gets going at Wack Wack GCC

SEC. 16. Virtual extension of the review room. The video - without audio recording - may be fed live, adjacent to the secured location as may be practicable.

It shall be open to the media, political parties, electoral reform organizations, other interested parties, and the general public in order for them to view the conduct of the local source code review. Depending on availability and prior request for visit, the Commission may designate a person to answer any queries from the visiting public.

SECTION 1. Objectives. The local source code review seeks to provide interested parties and groups with opportunity to inspect and examine the source codes of the Automated Elections System (AES). By doing so, it seeks to build public trust and confidence on the AES.

If because of limited space, all interested parties and groups cannot be accommodated in the venue of the source code review, preference shall be given to: 1) major political parties, as determined by the Commission; 2) duly accredited citizen’s arms of the Commission; and 3) to the host academic institution, if any. After preference is given to the above-mentioned parties and groups, the remaining slots shall be filled-up according to the date of submission of the written request of other parties or groups. Other parties or groups which cannot be accommodated shall, with prior authority by the Commission, be entitled to collectively appoint one set of reviewers which shall collectively represent them.

Robles contributed 13 points each for Cocolife, which sent Pasay to its third straight home-court defeat that gave them a 2-7 record.

It was a low-scoring ballgame for both teams, but Davao Cocolife still shot better with a 37 percent clip in the field to grab 20 points at the paint and secure a 56-39 advantage off the boards.

Pasay had a 32 percent shooting norm.

“It was a low-scoring game as both teams focused on defense. We have to bleed for every point. Good thing we got the better end,” said Tigers’ coach Don Dulay as the team managed by Bong Baibar and Ray Alao posted its sixth victory in nine games.

Yee’s 24 caroms shattered the 21 record by Michael Mabulac of Laguna Heroes.

SEC. 15. Venue. The Commission shall provide a secured and enclosed location or facility for the conduct of the local source code review. All entries and exits in this area shall be properly recorded. Access to this area shall be regulated by the Commission. To strengthen the transparency and integrity of the review, the Commission may provide video and audio recordings in the facility.

LOCAL SOURCE CODE REVIEW

v.

A STERLING double-double performance by ex-pro Mark Yee powered Davao Occidental-Cocolife Tigers to a 68-61 victory over the Pasay Voyagers in the elimination round of the 2018 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup on Thursday at the Pasay Astrodome.

Yee topscored for the team, owned by Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental LGU and backed by Cocolife president Elmo Nobleza, FVP Josep Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan, with 16 points and had a recordbreaking 24 rebounds to help push the Tigers to solo second in the Southern Division of the league, organized by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Former PBA veterans Bonbon Custodio, Leo Najorda and Billy

VI VENUE

SEC. 19. Availability of software engineers. The Commission, through the system provider, shall make accessible software engineers who are competent and knowledgeable in the source code under review, through on site consultation at least once a week.

I

iv. Civil Society Organizations known for their involvement in election reform activities as may be determined by the Commission;

Cocolife Tigers turn back Voyagers in MPBL meet

Organization of the source codes per system to be reviewed; How to use the manuals to be distributed if any; and Other matters which may aid the reviewer in conducting the review.

WHEREAS, based on the recommendations and comments of the previous code review participants the Commission fine-tuned its existing guidelines;

iii. Information Technology (IT) Groups known and recognized as existing in the IT community, preferably recommended by the COMELEC Advisory Council (CAC) and/or the Department of Information and Communications Technology Office (DICT);

GOLF SPONSOR. Raphael Simpao, Jr. (center) chairman of Security Bank Foundation, and Dr. Rosalind Wee (right), wife of Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hiong Tan Wee, sign the contract making Security Bank one of the Platinum sponsors of the 13th Highlands Ladies Cup set Sept. 29 at Tagaytay Midlands. With them are organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter members (from left) Marissa Vergara, Faye Celones and Deenna Mendiola.

i. ii. iii.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SEC. 27. Documents; Limitations. No copy of the source code, documentation, any material supplied by the Commission or any part thereof may be taken out from the secured location/facility, whether physically or electronically unless expressly authorized by the Commission.

SEC. 28. Electronic Device; Limitations. No electronic device of any kind, including but not limited to laptops, mobile phones, cameras, USB drives and other storage devices shall be permitted inside the secured location/facility unless expressly authorized by the Comrnission.

SEC. 29. Authority of the Local Source Code Ad-hoc Committee. The committee is authorized to issue implementing procedures on the conduct of the local source code review.

SEC. 5. Qualifications. The source code reviewer must be duly-authorized by the interested party or group and must be knowledgeable in computer programming languages and must be able to understand computer language preferably on the following programming languages and systems: C/C++, Java application development, Bash, Object Oriented Programming Language, Unix-like systems, and Linux operating system.

RESOLVED FINALLY, that the Commission may modify the above guidelines as it may deem fit and necessary.

The prescribed qualification is to ensure that the code reviewer can understand and appreciate the source codes of the AES to be reviewed. The interested parties and groups are expected to choose their reviewers based on this consideration.

SO ORDERED.

Let the Education and Information Department cause the immediate publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

SEC. 6. Number of Reviewers; Limitations. Each interested party or group may appoint primary and secondary code reviewers for each system. However, depending on the availability of space at any given time, each party or group may be limited to field only one (1) qualified reviewer at a given time.

IV APPLICATION FOR THE LOCAL SOURCE CODE REVIEW SEC. 7. Procedure. The interested party or group must submit a written request addressed to the Local Source Code Review Ad-hoc Committee signifying its intent to participate including its attachments. The written request must be signed by the duly-authorized representative of the party or group.

In lieu of personal filing, said request including its attachments must be scanned and sent to localsourcecodereview@comelec.gov.ph not later than 28 September 2018. Successful receipt of the request will be acknowledged.

SEC 8. Written Request, Contents. The written request shall contain the following details: i. ii. iii. iv.

Name of the interested party or group; Intent to participate in the conduct of the local source code review; Name of the local source code reviewer/s and the latter’s credentials; Signature of the duly-authorized representative of the interested party or group.

For this purpose, interested parties and groups shall completely fill-out Annex “A” of this resolution.

1

2

An Act Authorizing The Commission On Elections to Use An Automated Election System In The May 11, 1998 National Or Local Elections And In Subsequent National And Local Electoral Exercises. To Encourage Transparency, Credibility, Fairness And Accuracy Of Elections. Amending For The Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 881. As Amended, Republic Act No. 7166 And Other Related Election Laws, Providing funds Therefor And For Other Purposes, Republic Act No. 9369 (2007).

Automated Election System.

SEC. 9. Annexes to the written request. The written request shall attach the resume of the local source code reviewer specifically mentioning his or her experience in computer programming or related field. Said résumé shall be under oath.

For IT Groups, a favorable recommendation from the CAC and/or the DICT shall also be attached.

For Civil Society Organizations, a brief summary of the electoral reforms initiated or supported shall also be attached.

In the event that the interested parties or groups cannot submit the complete requirements, a reasonable explanation must also be attached.

SEC. 10. Approval. All requests filed within the specified period shall be subject to the approval of the Local Source Code Review Ad-hoc Committee. The approval or denial shall be based on the following: i. ii. iii. iv.

Request and its attachments; Presence of Qualifications; Date and time of the request received, if applicable; and Availability of slots/space in the source code review room.

The approval or denial of the request shall be sent to the e-mail address of the interested party or group used in the application.

The approval of the request shall also be posted in the official website of the Commission on Elections.

SEC. 11. Date of Receipt. The date of receipt shall be determined by the system generated date and time of receipt on the above-mentioned e-mail address.

V PRE-REVIEW CONFERENCE SEC. 12. Pre-review Conference. Before the start of the review proper, approved parties and groups and their reviewers shall attend a conference wherein they will be given an overview of the local source code review process and the design of the AES. They will also be oriented on the following matters: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii.

Security Protocols; Working Hours; Scope of the Review; Duration of the Review; Review Process; Proper Report and Documentation; House Rules; and Other matters agreed upon by all of the parties present

The external stakeholders, media, and the general public shall also be invited to the pre-review conference.

(MS-SEPT. 22, 2018)

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

A8

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

Sports

Annika Guangko (left) and Eagle Ace Superal led Manila Southwoods to a three-point lead over champion Pradera Verde going into the final round of the 13th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

SMBeermen annihilate Dyip Falcons try to keep win run going Games Today

(Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. Adamson vs UST 4 p.m. NU vs Ateneo

THE Adamson Falcons will be in their guard when they clash with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 2 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Falcons are on top of the standings after posting their second straight win over the University of the East Warriors, 90-76, last Sunday in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Coach Franz Pumaren urged members of the team not to be complacent this early in their campaign, now that they ahead in the solo lead.

“It’s a bonus for us that this early, we’re in this position. We just have to seize the moment, enjoy the moment and not to feel that way, that we are unbeatable,” said Pumaren.

The San Marcelino-based cagers are enjoying their best start in more than 15 years by being ahead of the pack.

Jerrick Ahanmisi is among the team’s top performers, following a three-game average of 20 points and four rebounds, along with Sean Manganti with 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, an assist and 1.5 steals.

Papi Sarr, who made a season-high 21 rebounds against the Warriors, norms 11.5 points and 15 rebounds.

On the other hand, UST coach Aldin Ayo has two good scorers in Henri Subido and rookie CJ Cansino.

Subido and Cansino normed 16.5 points and 13.5 points after two games.

Last Sunday, Sean Manganti came up with a season-high performance when he provided 27 points in their game with the Warriors.

By Jeric Lopez

S

AN Miguel Beer woke up when it needed to.

After a sluggish opening half, the Beermen suddenly came to life and unleashed their wrath the rest of the way to waylay hapless Columbian Dyip, 143-119, getting back in the winning column in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Arwind Santos showed up with his best game of the conference, unloading a game-high 29 points, sinking seven triples in the process, to go with nine rebounds, while Marcio Lassiter was back in his groove, draining five triples of his own on his way to 28 points for San Miguel.

It was a tale of two halves for San Miguel as it took awhile for it to finally get going.

The Beermen set a record for dropping 99 points in the second half alone as their offensive repertoire was in full display.

Trailing, 64-66, heading the second half, the Beermen stepped hard on the gas pedal to uncork a gametur ning third quarter surge, exploding for 43 huge points in the quarter compared to only 18 for the Dyip to emphatically seize control and take a gigantic 107-84 cushion, breaking the game wide open in the process.

That onslaught was all San Miguel needed to take its second victory.

The Beermen improved to 2-1 to move up the ladder, while the Dyip stayed winless and fell to 0-6 as its chances of making the top eight now look bleak.

San Miguel reinforcement AZ Reid had a woeful first

half, scoring only two points on 1-of8 shooting.

However, the resident import bounced back strongly in the second half to finish with 16 markers, while Christian Standhardinger was steady with 21 markers.

Columbian actually led, 52-44, briefly midway in the second period, but San Miguel Beer stayed within striking distance before turning the corner around completely in the second half.

The Dyip was led by Akeem Wright and Jeramy King’s 22 points each.

The scores: San Miguel 143—Santos 29, Lassiter 28, Standhardinger 21, Reid 16, Nabong 14, Cabagnot 12, Pessumal 11, Ross 7, Heruela 5, Mamaril 0, Vigil 0.

Columbian 119—Corpuz 28, King 22, Wright 22, McCathy 18, Khobuntin 7, Escoto 6, Cabrera 5, Reyes 2, Celda 2, Gabriel 2, Cahilig 2, Sara 2, Tubid 1, Ababou 0.

Quarters: 34-26, 64-66, 107-84, 143-119

Southwoods leads Pradera by 3 points DAVAO CITY—Manila Southwoods will take a three-point lead over defending champion Pradera Verde going into the final round of the 13th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

Sunshine Baraquiel scored 52 points while Mafy Singson and Annika Guangko added 50 and 48, respectively as Southwoods matched Pradera Verde’s 150-point effort to keep the lead with 460.

Southwoods got a big lift from the disqualification of Korean Luna Shin who signed a wrong scorecard.

Shin inadvertently submitted 53 points after scoring a par on the eighth hole where she actually made bogey.

As a result, Pradera Verde slipped back to 147 from a share of first place with Southwoods.

Malaysian Ika Nasser again led Pradera Verde with 52 and got a pair of 49s from Annyka PinedaCayabyab and Malaysian Charlyne Chongshinling.

Southwoods captain Claire Ong said she’s happy to be in front.

“I think we’re pretty even tomorrow. We are excited to play,” said Ong. Pradera Verde skipper Norman Sto. Domingo shrugged off the disappointment of losing three points due to disqualification.

“We’re still going to win by two or three points tomorrow,” Sto. Domingo said.

Asian Games champion Yuka Saso will carry Pradera Verde’s hopes against a Southwoods crew led

by Sofia Chabon.

In other divisions, Del Monte leads Founders, Tagaytay Highlands paces Sportswriters and Rancho Palos Verdes 2 is ahead in Friendship.

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 scores: CH A M PIONSH I P— Pradera Verde 460 (151-156-153), Manila Southwoods 460 (156-154-150) FOUNDERS—Del Monte 406 (136-138-132), Lady Eagles Ace 395 (116-158-121), Negros Occidental 380, Alabang 1 373 (123-136-116), Orchard 349 (117-117-115), Wack Wack 338 (119-105114)

Knights rout Cardinals to boost semis bid Games Tuesday

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

SMB’s Marcio Lassiter drives to the basket against Columbian Dyip’s Reden Celda as Beerman rookie Christian Standhardinger rushes into

POC to award Asiad cash Net winner to represent PH at WTA tilt incentives at PBA game THE Philippine Olympic Committee’s cash incentives for medalists in the recent Asian Games will be awarded tomorrow in between games of the PBA doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas announced in his first General Assembly as head of the organization early this year that they would give out incentives of P2 million or each gold, P500,000 for silver and P300,000 for bronze.

The money will be sourced from the P76 million Vargas was able to raise from corporate donations from San Miguel Corporation (P50 M), the MVP Group (P20 M) and the PBA (P6 M).

Assembly time is at 5:30 p.m. at the Owner’s Circle restaurant with access at the Big Dome South Gate, according to POC secretary-general Patrick Gregorio.

The POC official also reminded the athletes to bring their medals and wear their official Asian Games uniforms. NSA officials, reps, coaches, family, guests and athlete representatives are asked to wear smart casual attire.

SIXTEEN girls representing various cities nationwide are competing in the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls’ Tennis Challenge Under-14 and Under-16 Qualifying Tournament which will conclude on Sunday at the Makati Sports Complex.

Winners in both categories will have the honor of representing the Philippines in the coming Women’s Tennis Association Future Stars to be held in Singapore in October.

Cebuana Lhuillier president Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed elation on the good turnout of competitors for this year’s tourney “Since 2016, we have witnessed the potential and talent of many junior tennis players from all over the Philippines through the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls’ Tennis Challenge. And they never fail to make us proud once they’re already in Singapore competing on the global stage. I am very happy with the turnout for this year and have only the fondest wishes for each and every one of them.

May the best girls win,” he said.

Lhuillier also highlighted the importance of grassroots tennis competitions in honing future

global stars: “I’ve always believed—both in my capacity as the president of Unified Tennis Philippines and as a sports enthusiast—that the best way to develop future world champions is to train them and expose them to as many local competitions, grassroots tennis programs and workshops as possible. Our current line-up of competitors is also a testament on the diversity of the talent we currently have,” he added.

Competing for the Under-14 category are Macie Carlos from Mandaluyong City, Julia Asaliah Ignacio of Lucena City, Tiffany Claire Nocos of Cebu, Corazon Lambonao of Ormoc, Tennielle Madis of North Cotabato, Casey Padilla of Cagayan de Oro, Mica Ella Emana of Manila and Sittie Nur Jillian Manangking of Cotabato Province. Meanwhile, Rovie Baulete of Iligan City, Bliss Bayking of Negros Occidental, Anna Laura de Myer of Pangasinan, Ellaine Rose Bahonsia of Siquijor, Pherl Bless Coderos of Cebu, Shodel Aighey Gica of Cebu City, Justine Hannah Maneja of Quezon City and Minette April Bentillo round off the Under 16 category.

AS veterans, JP Quinto and John Calvo provided the needed leadership.

And their huge effort in the second period propelled the Letran Knights to a 84-69 smothering of the Mapua University Cardinals yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.

This kept the Knights within reach of a Final Four semifinals slot with the College of St. Benilde Blazers yesterday in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

The Blazers, behind Justine Gutang and three other teammates who scored in double digits, clobbered the Arellano University Chiefs, 89-73, and spoiled the debut of new coach Junjie Ablan.

“We executed the game plan na maganda kaya nanalo kami convincingly.

It was a total team effort. And it started with the veterans with the leadership of Bong (Quinto) and JP(Calvo),” said Letran coach Jeff Napa.

The Cardinals were held down to just nine points in the second period as the Knights quickly worked their way out of a 19-all deadlock at the end of the first period.

Calvo led with 26 points and joined hands with Quinto for a 17-4 run that handed the Knights a 45-28 edge and full control of the game. Arvin Gamboa tallied 17 for the Cardinals.

The Knights went on to post their eight win in 12 outings to stay in third spot, while the Blazers are behind at 7-5.

Meanwhile, Gutang shot 23 points for the Blazers, including eight points he made as they quickly moved away, 2214, at the end of the first period.

“Definitely, we saw ourselves today.

We gained our identity and that’s after our loss to Mapua. It has been a long journey.

We’ve been through a long journey,” said Blazers’ coach TY Tang.

In the junior division, Joel Cagulangan finished with a career-best 38 points for the La Salle Greenhills as they swamped the Arellano High Braves, 91-77, and hiked their win-loss record in the solo lead at 11-2.

IN BRIEF Clark ranks second office space market

CLARK Freeport is now the second major office space market in the country as cited by an executive of a developer company.

Clark Global City chief investment officer Evan McBride cited a recent statistic by Leechiu Property Consultants showing that Clark ranked second among the preferred office locations in the country.

“For the first time ever, in the brand new statistics just released by the Leechiu and Associates for real estate, Clark surpassed Cebu as top choice area for office space,” McBride said during a recent economic briefing.

The briefing was organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in cooperation with Bases Conversion Development Authority, Clark Development Corp. and Clark International Airport Corp.

Among the presentors in the event were Udenna Corp.―which is now developing 177-hectare area in Clark and Megawide Construction Corp. which is constructing Terminal 2 at Clark International Airport which can accommodate 8 million passengers a year.

Statistics provided by LPC showed that from January to September this year, Clark recorded 111,000 square meters of area for office space transaction, surpassing Cebu with 76,000 square meters for demanded office area.

Finance asking for lower budget

THE Finance Department asked Congress to approved its proposed 2019 budget of P18.68 billion, after the House committee on appropriations endorsed it Thursday.

The budget is under the new cash-based system in which the implementation of projects and the procurement of goods and services are done within the given fiscal year.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the DoF’s budget for 2019 would represent a decrease of 3 percent or P630 million from this year’s P19.31 billion.

Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda, the senior vice chairman of the appropriations panel, sponsored the approval of the DoF budget before the House plenary.

“As in this year’s budget, the DOF has voluntarily submitted a lower allocation under the proposed GAA [General Appropriations Act] for 2019 to set an example for other departments to operate efficiently,” Dominguez said.

“Next year’s budget for the DoF is also moored to the new cash-based budgeting system of the Duterte administration that is designed to improve the absorptive capacity of all government agencies,” he said.

The DoF’s 2018 budget is lower than its 2017 budget of P21.5 billion. Julito G. Rada

Business NTC opens bidding for third telco player

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE National Telecommunications Commission is inviting local and foreign telecommunication companies to submit bids for the right to become the third major player in the country on Nov. 5 this year.

Under the final terms of reference issued by NTC and the Department of Information Communications and Technology, the potential bidders will be chosen based on the highest committed level of service for over a period of five years.

The three criteria are national popu-

lation coverage with a weight of 40 percent, minimum average broadband speed of 25 percent and capital and operating expenditure with 35 percent.

The rules stated that the minimum population coverage for the first year should be 10 percent, a figure that should reach 50 percent in the fifth year.

The new player is expected to invest a minimum of P40 billion in the first year and P140 billion in five years.

The selection committee will use a point system based on the documents submitted by the potential players.

The bidders should post a participation fee of P700 million, or equivalent to 0.5 percent of the minimum capital and operational expenditure at the end of the commitment period.

NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba told reporters the rules would take effect on Oct. 6 and the bid documents could be purchased for P1 million each from the agency.

“Interested bidders should really work double time,” he said.

He said the submission and opening of bids would be set on Nov. 5. After the evaluation of the documents of the highest bidders, which include the roll-out plans, the new major player is expected to be identified in December this year.

Acting DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio earlier said China Telecom, LG Uplus Corp., Korea Telecom, Vietnam Telecom, AT&T, Telenor [of Norway] and a Japanese telco company expressed interest to join the bidding.

Local telco players that were also keen on joining the selection process included Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp., Converge ICT, Transpacific Broadband Group Inc., EasyCall Communications Phils. Inc. and TierOne. The NTC will assign the frequencies 700 megahertz, 850 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2010 MHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.3 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 10.5 GHz to the new major player.

DBP to support 2,500 scholars

STATE-RUN Development Bank of the Philippines, the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, strengthened its corporate social responsibility program for education through a new scholarship initiative that targets underprivileged high school graduates across the archipelago.

DBP president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo said the bank would support the education of more than 2,500 scholars in the next five years through the DBP Resources for Inclusive and Sustainable Education which is financed by a P500-million seed fund.

“As one of the top government financial institutions, the DBP is being tasked to do more so that the administration’s poverty alleviation efforts will be felt by more Filipinos,” Borromeo said.

“DBP Rise is one project which can make a substantial difference in the lives of many of our poor countrymen,” she said.

Borromeo said that with DBP Rise, the bank would support students enrolled in courses such as accountancy, engineering, education and information technology. DBP will shoulder tuition fees, board and lodging expenses, living allowance, cost of apprenticeship, residency training and expenses during review for board exams. Julito G. Rada

Banana firms push for talks with Korea over high tariff rates

By Othel V. Campos BANANA exporters urged the government to pursue bilateral talks with South Korea over the unresolved issue of high import tariff imposed on Philippine Cavendish.

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association said the planned Preferential Trading Agreement with Seoul should include the long-standing issue on banana import tariff.

“We understand the government is in current negotiations with Turkey and Chile for respective bilateral trade issues. Although we are not intentionally undermining the importance of such negotiations with our other trade partners, we are still urging Malacañang to immediately and seriously look at the plight of the country’s second-largest agricultural export being charged with atrociously high import tariffs in South Korea,” said PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig.

The Trade Department raised the possibility of forging a bilateral PTA with South Korea to improve market access for the country’s banana exports.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez raised anew the Philippines’ request for lower tariffs and greater market access for bananas during his meeting with Korean Trade Minister Kim Chun during the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership meetings in Singapore in August.

“We have an open discussion and we are considering options on a better process moving forward, either bilateral thru a Preferential Trade Agreement or under the Asean-Korea Free Trade Agreement,” said Lopez.

MINI-GRID FORUM. The National Electrification Administration encourages electric cooperatives to pursue the use of minigrids and distributed generation. A mini-grid refers to electricity generators interconnected to a distribution network that supplies to a localized group of customers not connected to the main power grid. Shown during the Philippines Mini-Grid B2B Forum at Manila Hotel are (from left) Energy Secretary Felix William Fuentabella, Alliance for Rural Electrification vice president Katarina Hasbani and Alliance for Rural Electrification executive director Marcus Wiemann. The forum was organized by the Department of Energy and the Alliance for Rural Electrification in cooperation with the European Union’s Access to Sustainable Energy Program. Lino Santos

Century, Mitsubishi spending P28b in 15 Luzon projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria PHIRST Park Homes Inc., a joint venture of Century Properties Group Inc. and Mitsubishi Corp., plans to spend P28 billion to launch 15 masterplanned communities in Calabarzon and Central Luzon.

PHirst Park Homes president and chief executive Ricky Celis said during the formal launch of the newly-formed joint venture that while company would initially launch projects in Luzon, it would also expand to the Visayas and Mindanao once it established technical and market scale.

The joint venture company earlier announced plans to roll out 33,000 units with total sales value of P57 billion. The housing projects will

primarily cater to the broader market of first homebuyers.

PHirst Park Homes launched its first housing project in Tanza, Cavite. The project’s first phase was already sold out with 1,200 units valued at P1.4 billion.

Around 600 units of town homes and single attached models are expected to be completed this year.

The company also launched PHirst Park Homes Lipa, a 20-hectare development in Lipa City, Batangas with 1,867 units valued at P2.8 billion.

“We are pleased to announce this new chapter in the company’s history of serving the housing needs of our Filipino first home buyers in a much larger scale.

It has always been Century’s desire to contribute to nation-building, and

through PHirst Park Homes we will provide the increasing middle-class segment with quality homes that inspire pride of ownership,” said Century Properties chairman and chief executive Jose Antonio.

“Mitsubishi Corp. has been instrumental in PHirst’s initial success in Tanza, Cavite. We thank Mitsubishi for its continued trust and confidence in CPG and we look forward to working with them on more projects in the future,” said Antonio.

Mitsubishi Corp. senior vice president Takuya Kuga said the joint venture partnership would help address the housing backlog in the Philippines.

The joint venture company is 60-percent owned by CPG and 40-percent controlled by Mitsubishi.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

B1

Oil imports surged 34% to $6.31b in first half

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL imports surged 34.4 percent in the first six months, on the back of higher shipments and value of crude oil and finished products in the world market, data from the Energy Department show.

The country’s total oil import bill reached $6.311 billion in January to June, up from $4.695 billion recorded in the same period last year.

“This was attributed to the combined effects of higher import cost and increased import volume of crude oil vis-à-vis last year,” the DoE said.

About 53.8 percent of the total oil import bill involved finished products and 46.2 percent crude oil.

Imported crude oil increased 54 percent in the six-month period to $2.915.1 billion from $1.892 billion in the first half of 2017. This was due to higher cost, insurance and freight price per barrel which went up to $69.827 this year from $52.559 a barrel last year.

Product import cost went up 21.2 percent to $3.396 billion at an average CIF cost of $74.812 per barrel from $2.802 billion at an average CIF cost of $57.962 per barrel in the same period last year.

The department traced the increase to “higher import cost this year and increase in the volume of total imports.”

Average dollar rate in the first half also rose to P51.974 from P49.928 a year ago.

Total crude oil import reached 41,747 million barrels in the first six months, an increase of 15.9 percent from 36,016 MB in the same period last year.

About 90 percent of the total crude mix was sourced from the Middle East, of which 37.7 percent came from Saudi Arabia, the top supplier of crude oil into the country.

Kuwait came next with a 24.6-percent share, followed by the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

Meanwhile, the country’s net oil import bill amounted to $5.678 billion in the first half, up 32.8 percent from $4.277 billion in the same period last year. The net oil import bill is the difference between imports and exports of oil products.

Petroleum exports climbed 51.5 percent to $633.1 million in the first half from $417.8 million in the same period last year.

National demand for petroleum products totaled 83,621 MB in the first half, up 1.6 percent from 82,277 MB a year earlier.

“This can be translated into an average daily requirement of 462 MB compared with last year’s level of 454.6 MB,” the agency said.

Diesel oil demand was up by 50 percent while demand for LPG and gasoline increased by 10.6 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.

Govt asked to form housing department

SM CINEMA IN LEGAZPI. SM Cinema continues to lead the entertainment scene as it further expands across the country and rolls out its Reel to Real life initiative to more moviegoers. SM Cinema formally opens its latest branch at SM City Legazpi in the province of Albay. Shown during the opening ceremony of SM Cinema Legazpi are SM Prime Holdings Inc. chairman Hans Sy (second from right) and Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda (fourth from left) together with guests.

THE country’s largest real estate and housing group asked the government to form a full-fledged department to address the perennial and increasing housing backlog.

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. made the call after the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council announced that the housing shortage reached at least 6.57 million units last year.

“The backlog couldn’t have risen to this level had Creba’s long-proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development bill been enacted into law. Only a full-fledged department can consolidate government efforts to attain our national housing goals with a Housing Secretary clothed with ample powers, functions and corresponding administrative accountabilities implementing a clear and sustainable housing vision,” said Creba national chairman Charlie Gorayeb.

The DHUD bill has been pending in Congress for more than two decades.

Gorayeb said while several Philippine presidents certified the creation of a housing department an ‘urgent bill’, the proposed measure lagged behind in the legislative mill.

Creba national president Noel Toti Cariño said housing and urban development was not just about the creation of residential structures and communities.

“It involves planning, finance, regulation, resource allocation, administration, production and many other activities to ensure a highlybeneficial, cost-efficient, growthoriented and sustainable national housing program,” he said.

The two Creba leaders said that with only a coordinating council at the moment, the national housing program was losing the keen attention and priority it deserved. A study by the Asian Development Bank showed that government spending for housing was less than one percent of its total budget and the lowest in Asia.

Othel V. Campos

B2

Business

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rebounds; BDO climbs

S

TOCKS rebounded Friday, on bargain hunting and as investors looked past the China-US trade row to focus on the booming American economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, jumped 248 points, or 3.5 percent, to close at 7,383.00. It was the biggest single-day gain this year.

The broader all-share index also climbed 95 points, or 2.2 percent, to settle at 4,507.40, on a value turnover of P11.6 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 114 to 86, while 43 issues were unchanged.

All the six subsectors advanced, led by the financial companies which

surged 4.7 percent. Sixteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest bank, which soared 7.6 percent to P120.60 and conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. which climbed 6.4 percent to P46.90.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second largest lender, gained 6.3 percent to P68, while food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. added 6 percent to close at P151.

The upbeat mood on trading floors was being felt across the board, with embattled emerging market currencies seeing a recovery, while some observers suggested a fear of missing out was also providing some lift.

Regional dealers were given a strong lead from Wall Street, where the Dow and S&P 500 chalked up record closes as easing concerns about Washington and Beijing’s tit-for-tat tariffs were mixed with a string of positive US data,

including on jobless claims and household net worth.

“Make no mistake, the US economy is running on all cylinders,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at Oanda.

“Robust growth, soaring employment and rising capital investments, suggesting the healthy US economy is more than just a short-term knock-on effect from the intravenous elixir of easy credit and fiscal glucose,” Innes said.

That filtered through to Asia where Tokyo ended 0.8 percent higher, Hong Kong climbed 1.8 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai surged 2.5 percent.

Sydney gained 0.4 percent, Singapore jumped 1.3 percent and Seoul added 0.7 percent. Taipei and Jakarta were also well up.

In early trade London and Frankfurt each rose 0.6 percent, while Paris was 0.4 percent higher.

“Fundamentals in many places are

very strong, particularly the US,” Grant Forster, Principal Global Investors’ chief executive officer for Australia, told Bloomberg TV. “We don’t expect this [trade row] to really derail US growth at all.”

Emerging market currencies—beaten down in recent weeks by fears of contagion from crises in Turkey, South Africa and Argentina—were also basking in the optimism as traders sought out higherrisk assets.

South Korea’s won rose 0.4 percent, while the Indonesian rupiah added 0.3 percent and the Indian rupee was up 0.7 percent, pulling it away from recent record lows. South Africa’s rand and the Turkish lira jumped more than one percent.

China’s yuan extended gains after Premier Li Keqiang said this week that Beijing would not devalue the unit to offset the impact of Donald Trump’s import tariffs. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 61,670 83.9 2,809,060 2.43 21,000 120.6 3,919,450 1.51 27,000 29.8 87,000 7.65 400 16.26 41,000 12.86 382,600 4.24 26,000 8.59 900 0.64 10,000,000 1.6 112,000 835 30 0.52 19,000 68 3,613,190 0.97 996,000 11.52 36,800 43.5 44,400 188.9 10 108 500 24.85 754,000 168.5 1,660,520 1,822 395 66.6 40,790 1.19 30,000

3,629,362 233,694,692.50 50,960 465,738,297 39,800 2,587,100 3,060 666,308 4,942,344 108,500 7,733 6,400,000 173,980 25,050 9,720 244,431,670 974,600 423,936 1,931,575 1,889 53,814 18,893,695 281,184,476 718,880 2,718,864.50 35,700

2,181,814 -7,730,163.50 223,786,682 20,580 -1,329,240 -629,262 -254,036 2,989,721 -15,520 -1,332,290 -13,327,915 -86,222,192 -163,470 -2,580,243.50 -

35.35 17.76 1.03 1.16 0.215 2.74 13.7 33.05 17.2 40 68 1.72 4.5 7.2 10 15.08 8.45 7.02 7.05 1.6 16.76 63.05 28 6.98 11.56 1.88 269.8 5.09 23.45 11.44 16 350 0.18 5.8 1.66 4.01 8.69 5.15 8.5 1 10.56 52.25 4.8 2.61 2.91 1.5 12.1 93.5 5.66 0.125 0.96 144.9 2.44 2.02 2.21

INDUSTRIAL 36.6 1,709,000 18 1,279,700 1.07 5,840,000 1.19 1,192,000 0.227 810,000 2.74 6,378,000 14 10,993,300 38 2,737,800 18 4,400 40 96,600 70.95 210 1.73 33,000 4.5 1,000 7.5 3,900 10.28 8,801,000 15.2 727,100 8.48 264,700 7.05 17,404,800 7.05 5,062,200 1.6 303,000 17 1,243,200 63.05 5,686,870 28 56,600 6.98 304,700 12.04 2,022,200 1.91 803,000 272 694,330 5.1 4,100 24.25 2,969,000 11.44 408,800 16 2,316,900 365 566,000 0.186 370,000 5.85 12,500 1.66 943,000 4.02 81,000 9.15 1,708,600 5.16 74,900 8.75 81,000 1.01 1,067,000 10.96 68,000 52.25 423,380 4.8 3,074,000 2.69 1,255,000 2.91 6,000 1.6 85,000 12.2 504,600 95.5 352,200 5.66 123,900 0.125 80,000 1.03 175,000 151 2,193,430 2.44 20,000 2.07 2,606,000 2.22 6,595,000

62,192,410 22,883,666 6,222,630 1,401,530 176,380 17,863,690 153,904,790 100,684,070 79,190 3,872,200 14,325.50 56,930 4,500 28,583 88,353,308 11,032,664 2,258,900 122,663,649 35,698,677 484,800 21,075,720 358,841,076 1,588,560 2,133,862 24,329,968 1,535,180 189,165,662 21,110 72,542,750 4,730,666 38,049,374 204,716,278 66,660 73,459 1,612,270 327,690 15,578,783 390,330 694,972 1,077,880 730,392 22,328,690.50 14,755,240 3,359,940 17,780 132,340 6,181,176 33,532,212.50 710,989 10,040 173,940 329,204,605 48,800 5,382,730 14,749,640

9,715,165 11,286,824 69,280 -8,301,660 1,679,526 8,454,045 -545,400 -12,110 -19,860 226,278 2,090,484 -1,363,231 -48,911,513 -24,320,687 -3,652,150 -92,371,278 -410,212 21,784,592 191,000 2,522,830 -3,780 -15,175,730 -528,640 -2,054,728 -3,002,358 -1,249,500 8,860,796 -34,000 -761,540 -320,232 -9,402,155.50 -345,620 0 2,547,434.50 -36,736 -3,960 88,714,267 30,950 -91,120

0.405 48.85 13 0.93 41.6 1.25 1.25 908.5 6.06 12.42 7.2 0.204 857.5 5.7 54.1 0.59 4.9 15.14 0.62 5.08 0.039 1.22 2.59 2.74 172 892 1.37 280 0.27

0.385 44.1 12.28 0.93 29.05 1.21 1.23 890 5.86 11.88 7.16 0.203 805 5.7 52.5 0.54 4.71 14.86 0.59 4.92 0.038 1.2 2.51 2.74 167 866 1.35 276 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.405 7,380,000 46.9 37,964,300 13 5,786,500 0.93 2,000 29.05 3,028,100 1.22 12,502,000 1.24 543,000 898 448,620 5.86 29,999,800 12.14 5,287,900 7.2 111,200 0.203 70,000 838 215,580 5.7 100 54 4,591,530 0.56 1,366,000 4.71 22,260,000 15 7,882,300 0.62 2,855,000 4.92 45,270,800 0.039 25,500,000 1.2 83,000 2.51 535,000 2.74 5,000 168 343,750 892 786,440 1.35 95,000 280 7,500 0.27 3,490,000

2,899,300 1,778,710,390 74,196,666 1,860 99,928,670 15,341,220 673,800 403,712,755 176,815,952 64,394,142 799,178 14,250 181,139,460 570 246,601,279 757,870 105,787,560 118,121,946 1,722,650 224,479,926 975,000 100,140 1,363,430 13,700 58,266,296 694,741,315 128,860 2,078,488 931,700

-246,305,230 19,597,662 -6,384,575 37,500 -40,680,865 -16,359,549 -2,008,996 359,300 -12,210.00 49,706,330 -4,084,547.50 143,160 -18,896,010 -22,055,064 629,430 -100,380,326 82,800 127,500 20,867,079 33,763,150 10,800 18,600

7.38 0.86 12 2.11 0.7 41.75 2.65 4.42 5.3 0.445 0.9 0.95 0.229 0.4 8.69 22 0.57 0.11 1.46 1.12 2.32 4.42 0.77 0.455 0.45

7.2 0.83 11.02 2 0.67 39.9 2.59 4.29 5.25 0.43 0.9 0.91 0.219 0.395 8.08 21.05 0.55 0.11 1.41 1.1 2.26 4.19 0.72 0.445 0.43

673,226 1,951,070 91,308 674,500 1,406,260 465,420,615 36,311,350 6,064,810 285,625 2,943,950 12,600 18,566,250 428,040 43,500 6,040,292 237,772,400 51,170 11,000 5,228,490 7,497,640 38,265,470 121,204,160 300,712,650 222,400 498,700

-537,823 -21,350 68,000 16,186,010 -22,360,220 -2,712,820.00 -310,350 -9,900,185 570 -670,880 -1,110 -13,810,850 81,198,190 25,900 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.25 81.25 2.36 112.1 1.47 29.75 7.65 16.1 12.72 4.24 8.6 0.64 1.5 835 0.51 65 1 11.52 43.35 188.9 107 25.8 169.5 1,821 68.9 1.19

59.8 83.9 2.43 120.6 1.51 30 7.65 16.26 12.98 4.24 8.6 0.64 1.6 835 0.52 68.85 1.02 11.52 44.25 188.9 108 25.95 173 1,822 68.9 1.19

57.55 81 2.36 112.1 1.47 29.65 7.65 16.1 12.68 4.15 8.59 0.64 1.5 835 0.51 64.9 0.97 11.52 43.3 188.9 107 24.85 168 1,815 66.6 1.19

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

36 17.86 1.04 1.19 0.215 2.86 13.7 34.15 18 42 68.2 1.72 4.5 7.2 10.1 15.28 8.66 7.04 7.06 1.6 16.82 64.95 28.25 7.04 11.56 1.97 273.8 5.4 24.5 11.5 16.4 350 0.18 6 1.76 4.05 8.76 5.15 8.5 1 11 53.35 4.8 2.61 2.98 1.51 12.1 94 5.74 0.129 0.98 145 2.44 2.06 2.26

36.6 18.02 1.09 1.2 0.227 2.88 14.4 38 18.5 42 70.95 1.73 4.5 7.68 10.28 15.28 8.67 7.08 7.07 1.6 17 65.5 28.3 7.04 12.08 1.97 275.4 5.4 24.8 11.72 16.6 367 0.186 6 1.78 4.18 9.15 5.32 8.75 1.02 11.1 53.5 4.81 2.7 3 1.6 12.26 96 5.77 0.129 1.04 151.4 2.44 2.1 2.29

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

0.39 44.9 12.4 0.93 41.1 1.25 1.25 890 5.92 12 7.2 0.204 819 5.7 53.1 0.58 4.9 15 0.62 4.98 0.038 1.2 2.52 2.74 168.4 870 1.37 278 0.27

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

7.33 0.83 12 2 0.7 39.9 2.62 4.42 5.3 0.43 0.9 0.91 0.229 0.4 8.41 21.3 0.55 0.11 1.41 1.11 2.3 4.19 0.74 0.455 0.435

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

4.14 19.5 1.95 3.17 35.95 1.15 6.39 0.77 6

4.21 20.3 1.97 3.2 37 1.16 6.55 0.77 6.1

4.03 18.78 1.92 3.17 35.9 1.12 6.19 0.77 5.96

4.21 18.78 1.97 3.2 37 1.16 6.27 0.77 5.97

1,374,000 9,128,000 167,000 261,000 14,766,800 981,000 301,400 10,000 10,731,300

5,687,140 174,544,277 324,380 827,670 545,777,190 1,120,040 1,900,665 7,700 64,153,980

-169,930 -63,453,359 85,360 9,810 44,138,510 23,577 -29,063,011

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM 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 PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

11.9 20.7 1.43 0.47 0.044 1.88 8.1 0.06 72.3 7.98 5.9 8.81 2.23 19.48 919 2,130 5.3 314 2.33 2 89.1 12.02 7.75 0.115 2.83 14.7 3.6 0.93 16.32 0.43 5.96 7 2.49 1.52 1.49 7.15 10.98 8.5 3.19 104 4.46 1,415 0.91 0.41 44.85 78.9 7.81 2.18 0.73 0.52 5.13 0.69 10.36

12 20.95 1.43 0.485 0.045 1.96 8.27 0.061 72.8 7.98 6.08 9 2.23 21.7 919 2,196 5.49 314 2.59 2 93.4 12.02 7.75 0.115 2.95 14.7 3.8 0.94 16.78 0.43 5.97 7.02 2.49 1.61 1.49 7.62 11 8.5 3.19 106.3 4.5 1,438 0.91 0.415 44.85 80 7.81 2.26 0.73 0.55 5.17 0.7 10.36

11.62 20.7 1.43 0.465 0.044 1.83 7.98 0.059 70.1 7.98 5.8 8.65 2.23 19 919 2,130 5.3 313 2.33 2 89.1 12.02 7.7 0.113 2.78 14.7 3.6 0.92 16 0.43 5.8 6.99 2.47 1.48 1.36 7.02 10.92 8.5 3.17 101.9 4.35 1,397 0.88 0.395 44.5 78.35 7.77 2.18 0.7 0.51 5.13 0.67 9.94

SERVICES 11.62 20.9 1.43 0.475 0.045 1.9 7.98 0.06 72.8 7.98 5.9 8.99 2.23 20.9 919 2,170 5.49 314 2.53 2 92.95 12.02 7.7 0.115 2.91 14.7 3.68 0.94 16.1 0.43 5.9 7 2.49 1.48 1.49 7.44 11 8.5 3.17 101.9 4.48 1,438 0.89 0.41 44.8 79 7.77 2.2 0.7 0.54 5.17 0.67 10.12

49,900 45,100 14,000 1,670,000 11,900,000 2,589,000 16,200,200 11,750,000 225,890 500 994,900 100,600 2,000 49,200 10 94,920 135,600 210 3,487,000 4,000 1,525,100 1,000 7,000 1,960,000 6,351,000 1,100 961,000 68,000 409,600 20,000 266,900 18,257,700 245,000 452,000 62,000 3,608,100 5,300 300 54,000 140,980 279,000 250,360 4,251,000 2,180,000 2,352,300 1,237,730 44,400 21,884,000 8,943,000 29,481,000 32,000 6,929,000 10,150,100

591,722 939,185 20,020 799,100 533,900 4,935,440 132,128,563 700,180 16,064,680.50 3,990 5,886,854 899,636 4,460 1,004,532 9,190 205,883,330 736,350 65,800 8,596,640 8,000 141,506,637 12,020 54,050 222,920 18,412,050 16,170 3,572,350 63,170 6,645,342 8,600 1,574,366 127,952,386 609,770 682,220 88,470 26,913,884 58,092 2,550 171,300 14,518,350 1,234,370 356,881,085 3,794,030 876,750 105,225,445 98,085,454.50 345,800 48,163,670 6,386,030 15,680,480 164,476 4,683,370 102,530,081

238,000 -49,500 9,700 -10,625,952 -3,316,814 78,810 -296,235 45,840,100 494,970 8,000 66,576,049.50 -3,410 -828,090 -1,951,740 -551,650 -61,138,930 -1,094,062 -258,200 128,372,460 -632,740 -4,000 22,759,405 9,415,745 -70,220 34,370,000 2,706,580 -37,720 -517 -647,070 -19,230,160

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

0.0024 1.48 3.1 17.5 1.01 1.13 1.9 7.45 1.9 0.208 0.109 0.113 1.24 4.4 1.07 0.78 1.07 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.5 3.41 15.22 26.6 0.007

0.0024 1.5 3.1 17.5 1.01 1.2 1.93 7.47 1.92 0.211 0.116 0.122 1.24 4.55 1.07 0.78 1.14 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.9 3.48 15.68 27.6 0.0078

0.0024 1.48 3.1 16.5 0.98 0.87 1.9 7.3 1.85 0.203 0.109 0.113 1.24 4.32 1.03 0.75 1.06 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.43 3.38 15.16 26.6 0.0066

MINING & OIL 0.0024 43,000,000 1.5 533,000 3.1 20,000 17.2 11,700 0.98 11,000 1.2 248,000 1.93 200,000 7.3 6,100 1.89 7,308,000 0.207 100,000 0.111 160,000 0.122 20,000 1.24 1,000 4.32 1,666,000 1.07 61,000 0.77 3,288,000 1.12 1,531,000 0.012 12,300,000 0.013 200,000 0.012 1,300,000 3.84 165,000 3.38 1,614,000 15.28 1,320,700 27.15 3,215,400 0.0078 24,000,000

103,200 795,360 62,000 201,084 10,950 231,940 383,670 45,401 13,805,070 20,750 17,600 2,350 1,240 7,257,660 63,110 2,512,920 1,702,850 149,500 2,600 15,600 599,520 5,489,600 20,256,718 87,322,245 170,700

-30,000 -209,280 -5,605,330 -140,080 -8,960 2,600 -304,160 2,939,278 -28,854,580 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

19.9 485 99 100.2 493 99 1.01 100 988 76.5 78.2 72 75.65 75.3 74.9 75

19.94 485 99 100.2 495 99 1.04 100.2 1,000 76.5 78.2 75.85 75.7 75.3 75.2 75

19.88 485 99 100.2 493 93.1 1.01 100 988 75.2 78 72 75.65 75 74.9 75

PREFERRED 19.9 92,000 485 1,040 99 100 100.2 7,000 495 3,980 96 22,980 1.04 23,000 100.2 30 1,000 6,700 75.2 400 78.2 3,300 75.85 1,500 75.7 13,160 75.1 15,870 75.2 13,600 75 253,300

1,830,866 504,400 9,900 701,400 1,966,140 2,158,217 23,260 3,002 6,654,000 30,236 257,818.50 109,925 996,112 1,190,752 1,018,700 18,997,500

-1,711,466.00 -157,182 37,500

LR WARRANT

2.32

2.45

2.3

WARRANTS 2.44 200,000

476,050

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.69 2.07

6.05 2.15

5.47 2.07

5.7 2.08

26,149,011 2,159,920

352,764 -203,880

FIRST METRO ETF

108.7

110.7

108.7

1,533,806

328,673

29,446.20

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.37 0.85 11.06 2.11 0.68 41.75 2.59 4.31 5.25 0.44 0.9 0.95 0.226 0.395 8.08 21.05 0.55 0.11 1.46 1.1 2.3 4.42 0.76 0.455 0.44

92,800 2,307,000 7,800 337,000 2,046,000 11,311,800 14,007,000 1,407,000 54,000 6,720,000 14,000 20,182,000 1,930,000 110,000 721,300 11,287,300 93,000 100,000 3,621,000 6,770,000 16,671,000 27,714,000 401,113,000 490,000 1,140,000

USD DMPL A2

10.26

TRADING SUMMARY

10.26

SHARES

FINANCIAL

25,715,569

INDUSTRIAL

103,812,500

HOLDING FIRMS

218,826,697

PROPERTY

568,020,829

SERVICES

172,072,545

MINING & OIL

102,583,367

GRAND TOTAL

1,196,644,840

10.26

SME

4,570,700 1,027,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.7 13,990 DDS 10.26

2,870

VALUE 1,649.30 (UP) 74.35 1,384,995,169.94 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,121.75 (UP) 259.23 2,191,198,834.95 HOLDING FIRMS 7,109.43 (UP) 181.93 4,314,114,949.80 PROPERTY 3,707.99 (UP) 113.16 1,505.24 (UP) 30.58 2,049,646,129.56 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,039.25 (UP) 60.84 1,471,303,483.80 PSEI 7,383.00 (UP) 248.27 141,240,085.74 All Shares Index 4,507.40 (UP) 95.44 11,582,345,606.83 Gainers: 114; Losers: 86; Unchanged: 43; Total: 243

PSBank plans to sell P10b worth of notes for expansion

By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE Savings Bank, the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group, said it plans to raise P10 billion from the issuance of medium-term fixed or floating rate notes to finance its growing consumer banking business.

PSBank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday its board of directors passed a resolution approving the bank’s request to issue the notes.

“The final terms, including the offering period and interest rate, will depend on market conditions,” said PSBank president Jose Vicente Alde.

“The MFN issuance will give PSBank an opportunity to access mediumterm and stable funding as the bank further expands its consumer banking business,” Alde said.

The bank’s board of directors approved in July the issuance of longterm negotiable certificates of time deposits of up to P15 billion, which is also aimed at expanding its consumer banking business.

LTNCTDs are bank products with long tenors which are offered to investors looking for a higher interest rate compared to regular savings accounts or shorter-term deposits. They are tax-exempt for qualified individuals if held for at least five years.

They are insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. up to a maximum coverage per depositor, currently at P500,000. The final terms, including offering period and interest rates, will depend on market conditions.

PSBank remains among the top players in the thrift banking industry in terms of assets, loans and deposits.

PSBank posted a 14.7-percent increase in net income in the first half to P1.35 billion from P1.18 billion a year ago, fueled by the sustained strength of its core businesses.

Net interest income improved 8.8 percent to P5.85 billion from P5.38 billion a year earlier.

Loan portfolio in the first half showed a double-digit growth of 10.7 percent to P151.62 billion from P137.01 billion in 2017.

Cebu Pacific set to fly from Cebu to Macau in December

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific said it is expanding its Cebu hub with the launch of a new route to Macau starting Dec. 7, further promoting the province as the gateway in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Cebu Pacific is very proud to be the first to make this commercial connection available for everyJuan, banking on the opportunity to grow our other hubs outside of Manila. We believe that this new connection is not only an answer to our passengers’ demands, but will also stimulate both the trade and tourism aspects in both destinations as it makes available both passenger and cargo services,” Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs JR Mantaring said.

Cebu Pacific currently owns majority of the connection between Philippines and Macau, holding over 50 percent of the capacity share as it now flies direct from three hubs―Cebu, Clark and Manila.

The airline would also increase the frequency of its flights from Cebu to Narita (Tokyo) from four times a week to daily, effective Dec. 1, 2018.

Direct flights to Hong Kong would also be increased from only seven times a week to 10 times weekly, beginning Nov. 26, 2018.

Aside from Cebu, the airline also operates flights out of six other strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: Manila, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. The airline’s extensive network covers over 100 routes across 26 international and 37 domestic destinations, spanning Asia, Australia, the Middle East and USA. Cebu Pacific and subsidiary Cebgo fly to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations, with over 108 routes spanning Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the US.

World IN BRIEF Vietnam’s president dead at 61 HANOI―Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang, a former police chief known as a tough politician with little tolerance for dissent, died Friday at age 61 after a serious illness, state media reported.

His death is not likely to dramatically alter politics in a country where the communist state oversees almost every facet of society-salthough the death of a sitting leader is rare.

Coverage on state media was sombre Friday, with a Vietnam Television anchor dressed in all black as she announced the news of the leader’s death, first reported by the official news agency.

He passed away from a “serious illness despite devoted treatment by professors and doctors”, the official Vietnam News Agency said.

A member of Quang’s staff confirmed his “very sad” death to AFP. In office as president since April 2016 after more than four decades at the powerful Ministry of Public Security―including five years as minister until 2016―Quang had a reputation as a hardliner and dedicated communist party member.

Though he held one of the country’s top four positions and was officially the head of state, his role as president was seen as largely ceremonial, greeting visiting leaders and hosting diplomatic events in a bid to boost Vietnam’s profile on the world stage. AFP

At least 79 dead in ferry sinking NAIROBI―At least 79 people died when a ferry capsized in Lake Victoria, Tanzanian state media said Friday, citing a regional governor as the search for survivors continued.

“At the moment the death toll is 79,” said Mwanza governor John Mongella, quoted on state television.

The number of those found alive after Thursday’s disaster remains 37, with no more survivors found since rescue operations resumed Friday morning.

The MV Nyerere may have been carrying as many as 200 passengers―double the ferry’s capacity―when it capsized close to the pier at Ukara Island on Thursday afternoon, according to state media.

Tanzania’s Electrical, Mechanical and Services Agency, which is responsible for ferry services, said it was unknown how many passengers were aboard the MV Nyerere.

The ageing ferry was also carrying cargo, including sacks of maize, bananas and cement, when it overturned and then sank around 50 meters from Ukara dock.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, but overloading is frequently to blame for such disasters. AFP

Chinese nanny executed for arson SHANGHAI―A Chinese nanny was executed on Friday for setting a fire that killed her employer’s wife and three children, a crime that shocked the country and raised questions over the official handling of the blaze.

Mo Huanjing, who had a gambling problem, was found guilty of arson earlier this year following the June 2017 fire in the eastern city of Hangzhou.

The 35-year-old woman’s execution was carried out after it was approved by China’s supreme court, according to the Zhejiang province prosecutor’s office.

“The devil Mo Huanjing is finally executed,” Lin Shengbin, the father of the family of five, wrote to his 2.6 million followers on the Twitter-like Weibo platform.

“We have waited too long for this day,” added 37-year-old Lin, who was away when the fire occurred.

“This is a measure of comfort for Xiaozhen [Lin’s wife] and the kids’ souls in heaven.”

The case went viral in China due to the tragic circumstances and reported delays in the firefighting response.

Mo was allegedly an obsessive gambler who stole jewelry and borrowed money from Lin’s family as her debts mounted.

The Zhejiang court said items and money belonging to the family worth more than 300,000 yuan ($44,000) remained missing in June.

The court said Mo admitted to starting a fire in the living room of the family’s 18th floor apartment, planning to put it out quickly to play the hero and use the resulting goodwill to seek more money from her employers. AFP

B3

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ROAD CLOSED.

Police block off roads near the location of a shooting in Aberdeen, Maryland, ON September 20, 2018 after an unidentified assailant opened fire at a warehouse complex north of the US city of Baltimore, killing and wounding multiple people, authorities said.

A lone suspect was in critical condition at a local hospital, according to Harford County sheriff Jeffrey Gahler.

Police would not confirm reports that the shooter was a woman, but revealed that the suspect had not been shot by police. AFP

Afghan war killing journalists

K

ABUL―Moments after Afghan journalist Samim Faramarz wrapped up his live report on the latest suicide attack in Kabul, a car bomb exploded just meters away, killing him and his cameraman Ramiz Ahmadi.

Their colleagues at Tolo News choked back tears as they reported the deaths live on air―cracking open a divisive debate on how Afghan journalists should operate in such a dangerous environment.

The deaths of Faramarz and Ahmadi on

September 5 took the number of journalists and media workers killed in Afghanistan this year to 14, making the country the deadliest in the world for the media.

Among the dead were 13 journalists― the highest number killed in Afghanistan in a single year since the start of the war.

The losses have devastated the tight-knit community that faces the real prospect of tragedy every time they go to work.

“When we leave our homes we don’t know whether we will go back alive,” said 1TV reporter Hamid Haidary, who keeps a photo shrine of fallen journalists on a shelf above his desk.

Haidary had gone to the scene of the explosion that killed Faramarz and Ahmadi, but returned to his office minutes before the second bomb detonated.

“It is already too much for us,” agreed Lotfullah Najafizada, director of Tolo,

which is Afghanistan’s largest private broadcaster.

As security in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, the fear and anxiety is everpresent, he added.

“It is not just about the blast site, it is going to a province, it is coming to the office or being in the office―they all are attached to risks and it is difficult sometimes to minimize all of them to zero.”

Sixty journalists and media workers have been killed in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in 2001 that toppled the Taliban regime and enabled independent media to blossom in its wake―an average of around three a year, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Afghan media support group NAI gave an even higher toll of 95.

But the departure of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014 marked a turn-

Delhi’s last elephants await orders to be set free

Candidate says God wants him to be president RIO DE JANEIRO―One of the media darlings of Brazil’s eccentric presidential race is a buff, biblethumping reserve fireman who barely registers in the polls and insists God wants him to win.

Introducing Cabo Daciolo, who calls himself a messenger from heaven, says he wants to expel Satan from Congress and, with the campaign for the October 7 vote in the home stretch, has chosen to go on a religious retreat in the mountains for three weeks.

Up there on high, the Rio native says he is fasting and praying for the recovery of the front runner in the race, of all people: right winger Jair Bolsonaro, who was stabbed two weeks ago while campaigning. The two men are close, personally and ideologically.

Bolsonaro finds himself out front with the most popular presidential hopeful, former president and leftist icon Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in jail for corruption and disqualified from running.

Yes, it has been that kind of race.

Daciolo rarely appears in public, relying instead on social media. On Facebook he has 264,000 followers.

He likes to begin talks to his disciples with a rousing shout of “Glory be to God.” “I am not a politician. I am an envoy from God,” Daciolo, a handsome 42-year-old with an athletic build, said once on Instagram. AFP

FOR ARMANI. Models present creations for the Emporio Armani fashion house during the Women’s Spring/Summer 2019 fashion shows in Milan on September 20, 2018. AFP

Yemeni children brave new school year as war rages on SANAA, Yemen―The walls are crumbling, the windows shattered, and the boys sit three to a desk. But by being enrolled in classes at all, the pupils are among the luckiest children in war-torn Yemen.

In the rebel-held capital Sanaa, students in olive green uniforms lined up for a morning salute at the Al-Wahda boys’ school.

“Onwards!” nearly 70 pupils chanted in unison, reaching forward to form a human chain.

But 15-year-old Alaa Yasser was not among them. Instead, he was working at a nearby car shop to support his family.

“I had to stop going to school to work with my father to help him earn a living,” said Yasser, whose family fled the southwestern city of Taez.

Two million children across the coun-

try have no access to education, according to the UN children’s agency (UNICEF), three years into a war that has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine and shows no sign of waning.

Hisham al-Saka, 12, also dropped out to help support his mother and sister after his father’s death in 2015.

“I wish I could go to school,” Saka said.

“But my mother cannot afford to pay for school supplies... she can’t even afford to get me and my siblings the uniforms.”

Yemen’s war prompted the already weak economy to collapse and, coupled with a blockade of its ports and airport, people are struggling to survive as prices skyrocket.

More than 22 million people―threequarters of the population―are in need

ing point, RSF figures show: 39 journalists and media workers―over half of the total―have been killed since then as a resurgent Taliban and the newly-emerged Islamic State group terrorise the country.

Media outlets have already scaled back coverage on the battlefield. But until this year, suicide attacks in urban centers remained a staple for newsrooms.

A double bomb attack in the Afghan capital on April 30 changed that.

Nine journalists, including Agence France-Presse chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in the twin blasts―the most lethal attack on the media since the fall of the Taliban.

Less than three months later AFP driver Mohammad Akhtar was killed in another suicide attack on his way to work, followed in September by Faramarz and Ahmadi. AFP

of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.

Yemeni children face significant risks, with a high proportion of girls marrying at an early age.

More than 40 percent are married before the age of 15, while three-quarters wed by 18, according to UNICEF. Boys, meanwhile, are threatened with being drawn directly into the conflict as child soldiers, fighting in a war which has killed nearly 10,000 people.

Fifteen-year-old Mokhtar Yehya is one of the fortunate few enrolled at AlWahda.

“We want to carry on studying to become doctors, engineers, and pilots,” he told AFP. “We hope that things will get better, so that our future is bright.”

UNICEF estimates 4.5 million chil-

dren risk losing access to state schools in Yemen, as teachers have not been paid in nearly two years.

More than 2,500 schools have been damaged or destroyed, while some are now used as shelters for displaced people or as camps run by armed groups.

Christophe Boulierac, a UNICEF spokesman, said many teachers “have looked for other work to survive or are only teaching a few subjects. So, obviously, the quality of education is at stake.”

“Children are not getting their full lessons due to the absence of their teachers.”

Pupils have not be spared in the conflict between the Iran-backed Huthis and the Yemeni government, which is supported by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia. AFP

NEW DELHI―The mighty Heera marched through a crowded slum chewing bamboo, oblivious that freedom from life as one of Delhi’s last six elephants at work in the polluted city could be just around the corner.

After years of pressure from activists who accuse the animals’ owners of flouting wildlife regulations by keeping them in a city, authorities have ordered the seizure of the elephants.

They plan to move the 40-year-old tusker―along with Dharamvati, Laxmi, Gangaram, Moti and Chandni―out of the smoggy Indian capital, but warn it could take months to find a new home for them.

“They are kept away from their natural habitat,” a senior Forest Department official said, highlighting “reports of insufficient food, water, shelter and veterinary care, all which could expose them to disease”.

Fifty years ago the Indian capital housed more than 200 elephants, covered in garlands and carrying grooms to weddings, or being sought by the faithful for blessings at temples.

But now the city―overcome by cars, a population of 20 million and choking on pollution-is no longer a suitable home for the animals, with Heera and his five bedraggled companions the last elephants to live there.

Media reports say authorities are struggling to relocate the elephants because four are sick.

Officials hope to find a new home resembling the luxuriant farm belonging to consumer goods tycoon Vivek Chand Burman in Delhi where a seventh, female street elephant was recently taken.

She has her own mud pool and quarters complete with fans and sprinklers, a world away from her poorer relatives who wade in the Yamuna, one of the world’s most polluted rivers.

But while animal rights campaigners welcome the move, it is a difficult moment for their owners-who deny any neglect.

Mehboob Ali likened it to snatching a legacy passed on by his ancestors.

“My family has been keeping elephants for six generations,” he said.

“They are like our family and have been with us through thick and thin. We cannot live without each other.”

Heera’s keeper Mukesh Yadav has been looking after elephants since he was a child. AFP

B4

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

CELEBRATION OF PHILIPPINE INDUSTRY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

Senator Koko Pimentel congratulates PITC (Philippine International Trading Corporation) president and CEO Dave M. Almarinez for launching a coffee table book which celebrates the resurgence of Philippine industry and entrepreneurship in the 1990s up to today., “The Philippine International Trading Corporation @ 45: Advancing Global Trade for the Filipino”, traces PITC’s story through five decades. The book was launched during PITC’s 45th year celebration held recently at the Philippine International Convention. With Pimentel and Almarinez was Eliseo M. Rio Jr., acting secretary of the Department of Information of Communications Technology (DICT).

MUST HAVES FOR A HAPPY

HALLWAY

The entrance to your home speaks volumes—so take time to give your hall a makeover

F

EEL a bit embarrassed when you open the door? Only open it a fraction so you’re sure to hide what lies beyond? It’s a common condition. The poor old hallway is always one of the areas of the home low among the must-do-something-about priorities.

RESORT-INSPIRED COMMUNITY IN PASIG. DMCI Homes recently topped off the second building of Sheridan Towers development in Pasig city, putting it on course for turnover in May 2020. The 43-residential level North Tower is already 46 percent complete and is poised to reach its full height soon. The South Tower of the two-tower development in Sheridan Street, was turned over in September 2017. Located near the boundary of Pasig and Mandaluyong City, both towers of Sheridan are already sold out due to the big demand for residential condo units in the area, especially from young professionals and start-up families working in Makati, Mandaluyong, Ortigas, and BGC. Sheridan Towers’ North Tower features a mix of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom unit types that include a balcony. Units range from 28 square meters (sq.m) to 79.5 sq.m and priced P3 million to P6 million.

Sheridan Towers is one of the developments of DMCI Homes, known for building quality resort-inspired communities in Metro Manila, Baguio, Boracay and Davao City.

‘Yes, in our backyard’ DESPITE protests by some groups, residents of Atimonan town, Quezon, rallied recently in front of the Energy Regulatory Commission to support for construction of the planned Atimonan One Energy (A1E) 1,200 MW power plant in their area.

Speaking to reporters who covered the event, Demosthenes Hernandez, president of the

Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council explained, “We represent Atimonanins who support the project.

We also went here to show Chair Agnes Devanadera that we support the ERC and that we believe the commissioners will see the importance of this project to us.” Hernandez thanked the Department of Energy, and Sec. Alfonso Cusi, for the awarding of the certificate of Energy Project of National Significance to the Atimonan project.

His group likewise thanked President Rodrigo R. Duterte for signing executive order 30 which facilitates the quick processing of crucial “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure projects. “The A1E will really benefit Atimonan in terms of additional jobs that we have long been waiting for,” he averred. Some 300 residents came all the way from Atimonan to participate in the rally.

LIVING IN NATURE. Up-and-coming real estate brand, Filigree, is setting new standards in its developments with attention to detail and quality, and on-time completion of their projects. Two of Filigree’s signature upscale developments in the Metro South - Botanika Nature Residences (Shown in photo) and The Enclave Alabang, are being turned over on schedule. Botanika is comprised of three midrise low-density condominium towers. Residents have already been welcomed to Tower 1 starting last quarter of 2017. The Enclave Alabang, is a 1,500 sq.m clubhouse with private function rooms, a relaxing lap pool, and fitness gym. The Central Park showcases a verdant flora, an impressive man-made lagoon and a canopy of trees, in the low density 13-hectare residential community. Bristol at Parkway Place boasts a plethora of features and amenities such as a retail promenade, a swimming pool, a library, and screening room. The Beaufort, in Bonifacio Global City, meanwhile, has also welcomed most of its residents, and has only a few units left available. Putting each of these developments together is a lineup of consultants: BUDJI+ROYAL, AECOM Singapore, L.V. Locsin Partners, H1 Architecture, Architecture International, and Miaja Design Group.

As a passing-through rather than a sticking-around space, it bumps about friendless at the bottom of the to-do list. It can also pose something of a conundrum when it comes to furnishing and decorating.

We’re always a bit unsure quite what to do with it. Seating? Storage? Flooring?

But think about it: your hallway is the first thing you see after a long day’s work, and the first thing guests see when they walk into your home.

Here are some tips to gives off a calming and relaxing vibe, while telling guests something about you.

USE LIGHT COLORS To make your hallway as bright and inviting as possible, you should start by painting your walls in light colours.

White is a favourite, but you can spice things up with off-whites, blues and greys. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try a wallpaper with a geometric pattern and metallic panels that will help your hallway look huge.

ADD SOME CULTURE A light-colored wall is the perfect backdrop for a statement piece of art, something that never fails to start a conversation. Finding a beautiful painting with personal meaning will give you endless joy and an excuse to walk around little galleries. Choose something calming, bright, or edgy.

HALLWAY RUNNERS CAN DO THE TRICK For an easy and cheap way to change the colour of your floor you should add a hallway runner. A runner will add depth to the room, while being inviting and providing something for you to sink your feet into after a long day at work. The best thing about hallway runners is that

they can be easily changed should you want to redecorate.

STRATEGICALLY PLACE A MIRROR, OR TWO Mirrors are great for adding light and space into your hallway. Statement mirrors add a focal point of interest to your hallway while opening it up.

KEEP IT ORGANIZED Nothing is less aesthetically pleasing than a messy room. A table with a bowl to keep your keys will not only add a decorative touch and sense of order to your hallway, but will also save you running around looking for the house keys in the morning. A glass table with metallic detailing reflects light and adds a sophisticated edge and could be complimented with a metal plate.

WALLPAPER YOUR CEILING Why not set your hallway apart from everyone else’s and try out wallpapered ceilings? A wallpapered ceiling can either give your house the appearance of having period features or be a statement in and of itself.

PUT IN A CONVERSATION STARTER If you follow the tips above, your hallway should be interesting, but it doesn’t hurt to throw in a piece that will never fail to start a conversation. Have you picked up a beautiful souvenir in your travels or taken a hilarious photo with your family?

Put it in your hall and it will be the first thing you and your guests see when you walk into the house, giving you something to talk about.

NORTH, WHERE THE ACTION IS. Amaia Land Corp. recently launched a new sector at Amaia Series Novaliches. Expanding its townhouse project in Novaliches, Quezon City, Amaia will offer more than 70 units of the 4- and 6-Series townhouse models. Located along Susano Road in Brgy. San Agustin, Amaia Series Novaliches accommodates Filipino homeowners who look forward to a suburban lifestyle with the project’s leisure amenities: a village pavilion, swimming pool, and a basketball court for hours of weekend fun. Amaia Land brings the dream of owning an affordable home closer to Filipinos through easy payment options: cash, deferred cash, and bank financing.

Life

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

young life

I do gIve a fact

How millennials can promote truth in the age of ‘fake news’

saturday, september 22, 2018

C1

PURveYoR of tRUtH. As the generation with the biggest online presence, millennials play a significant role in ensuring the truth prevails amid rampant spread of false information on the Internet.

O

ver the past two years, the Internet, has become a hotbed of fake news and false information spread to manipulate, sway public opinion, and quash dissent.

The term fake news has become popular two years ago after the US election, and is fast becoming a global problem, considered one of the greatest threats to democracy.

Our country also has its fair share of fake news items and fake news sites.

In April this year, Facebook had begun taking down several websites publishing fake articles, primarily those that posted about President rodrigo Duterte.

The social media giant has also tapped third-party fact-checking programs to address the spread of fake news among Filipinos Facebook users.

Despite the proliferation of misinformation, majority of Filipino users believes that fake news is a serious problem on the Internet, according to a survey by Social Weather Station in June 2018.

As the generation with the biggest

online presence, millennials, or those aged 22 to 36, play a significant role in making sure the truth prevails amid the rampant spread of false information. According to a recent data from The Statistics Portal, 98 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds in the US use the Internet.

But how exactly can one tell fake news from factual ones? The Public relations Society of the Philippines shares these tips to help millennials promote truth in the age of disinformation:

go only to reliable sites

Do not rely on social media for news.

Turn to C2

Getting your news from social media might not be the best idea.

Majority of online Filipinos believes that fake news is a serious problem on the Internet.

the fake poster up, Maravilla decided to post a tweet.

“I noticed there was a blank wall at McDonald’s so I decided to make this fake poster of me and my friend. It’s now been 51 days since I hung it up,” he tweeted along with photos of him and Toledo.

His tweet currently has over 260,000 retweets and one million likes.

The viral tweet and epic prank landed the two Fil-Am college students a guest spot on Ellen.

“I know a great prank when I see

one,” said DeGeneres, the show’s host and resident prankster.

Maravilla and Toledo narrated on the show how they came up with the idea and how they did it. “Congratulations that you got away with this,” said DeGeneres.

During the show, the Tv host surprised them with the news that McDonald’s are hiring them for a marketing campaign for which they will each get $25,000.

Now that’s a sweet deal from an epic prank and a viral tweet.

Fil-Am college students Christian Toledo and Jevh Maravilla narrate how they pulled off their fake poster prank on The Ellen DeGeneres show.

tReNdINg

Fil-Am pranksters receive surprise on Ellen THe two Filipino-American students who pulled off an epic prank of putting up a fake poster at a McDonald’s in Houston have received their “penalty”—a guest spot on The Ellen DeGeneres show and $25,000 each from the fast food giant.

A couple of months back, friends Jevh Maravilla, 21 and Christian Toledo, 25,

decided to put an empty, non-CCTvguarded wall at a McDonald’s branch they frequent to good use.

They created a poster of themselves, similar to those on the walls of the store, sneaked it inside with the help of a McDonald’s uniform they bought at a thrift store and a made-up badge with a made-

up position as “regional Interior Coordinators,” and successfully put it up.

Maravilla, born and raised in Texas, told earlier reports that they simply wanted to promote diversity as the store, prior to their stunt, didn’t have an Asian, particularly Filipino, representation.

After nearly two months of putting

Maravilla’s viral tweet about the fake poster they put up at a McDonald’s in Houston.

Life

C2

saturday, september 22, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Online love team Ja Mill and fitness dance group LiveLoveParty.TV join the ranks of Filipino YouTube creators who have reached the 1-million subscribers mark. (Photos from Ja Mill and LiveLoveParty.TV/ YouTube)

2 Filipino YouTube channels reach 1 million subscribers

T

WO more local youTube channels have achieved the 1-million Philippines country marketing manager Gabby Roxas. subscribers mark.

Dance group LiveLoveParty.TV and real-life couple Ja Mill are the latest to join the growing list of Filipinos to receive the Gold Creator Award—a distinction reserved for creators that reached a million subscribers on their youTube channels.

LiveLoveParty.TV combines fitness with fun, and inspires their followers to dance their way to a healthier lifestyle.

The group has grown their fanbase with an extensive library of zumba tutorials, covering everything, from well-loved OPM and classic dance hits, to hip-hop and K-pop.

Their videos rake in hundreds of thousands of views, with one of their most popular dance covers registering as much as 14 million views.

Jayzam Trinidad and Camille Manabat, meanwhile, are the young couple behind one of today’s fastest-rising youTube channels, Ja Mill. Their lighthearted videos and affectionate pranks have won the hearts of a strong pool of subscribers, who call themselves “pamilyang mandirigma.”

Creator Award is youTube’s way of recognizing the amount of effort and dedication creators put into their channels. Creators who reach one million subscribers are given the Gold Creator Award.

“We’re proud to present the Gold Creator Award to LiveLoveParty.TV and Ja Mill. Their passion, talent, and wit are a great inspiration for the growing Filipino youTube community,” said Google

To date, there are over 30 Filipino creators who have achieved this feat, including Fliptop Battles, Kids Toys, Ranz Kyle, Michelle Dy, Wil Dasovich, CongTV, Lloyd Cadena, and Alex Gonzaga, among others.

Those who have hit 100,000 subscribers on their channels are awarded the Silver Creator Award. More than 380 channels have reached this milestone, such as Daniel Marsh, Haley Dasovich, Janina Vela, Pamela Swing, Purple Heiress, Real Asian Beauty, Say Tioco, That’s Bella, and Zendee Tenerefe.

In addition to the subscriber threshold requirements, the selection process involves reviewing a creator’s channel according to youTube guidelines. Creator Awards acknowledge creators who reach the milestone and keep their channels in good standing of youTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Services.

YouTube awards the Gold Play Button to dance fitness group LiveLoveParty.TV and creator couple Ja Mill for reaching 1 million subscribers.

Global firm donates laptops to state university BAyER Business Services Philippines, Inc. donated 304 units of pre-owned laptops to Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ campuses in Sta. Mesa and Taguig.

“As part of society, we feel obliged to do our part for the common good,” said BBSPI managing director Johan Fourie.

“We are doing this small part with the hope that you can do yours better with a little help.”

Dean Sylvia Sarmiento of the PUP

Manila College of Accountancy and Finance noted how the computers will benefit the students in their academic work. “This donation will be an instrument in our pursuit of academic excellence,” she said.

Prior to the donation, the college only had 20 computers for their 50 students.

“Now the ratio of students to laptops will be 1:1. We will place some of these units in the library, extension and re-

search office, and in the office of student organizations where you can use them for your assignments, projects, and research papers,” said Marissa Ferrer, director of PUP Taguig.

Bayer’s corporate social responsibility programs currently focus on education and science, health and basic social needs, and involvement in sports and culture. Its programs take inspiration from its purpose, “Science for a better life.”

BBSPI managing director Johan Fourie (top row, 8th from left), PUP Taguig director Marissa Ferrer (9th from left), PUP Taguig faculty members, and the BBSPI Corporate Social Engagement committee at the ceremonial turn over of BBSPI’s laptop donation.

If a piece of information sounds suspicious or ridiculous, research about it.

I do...

From C1

Both local and international publications have their own websites from which to get news.

For research requirements, on the other hand, there are specific sites on the web for different topics.

Do not take everything at face value

Practice critical thinking when reading and sharing articles, especially on the Internet. Don’t presume that an article, tweet, or post is true simply because it has been liked, commented on, or shared many times.

If a piece of information sounds suspicious or ridiculous, research about it. If the article makes extraordinary or outrageous claims such as having found the cure for an illness or discovered the fountain of youth, take that as a sign to evaluate the content or message.

Don’t fall for click-bait titles. Be wary as well of provocative headlines or those that emphasize emotionality.

In a 2016 report on the NBC News, a teenager from Macedonia, who admitted to earning thousands of dollars publishing fake articles, said the most read news were usually those with click-bait words.

“The click-bait words, as you know, are, ‘Oh my god, breaking news, wow,’ and usually something that has never been aired before,” said Dimitri (not his real name).

If, however, you do end up reading the article, read beyond the title and examine the article as a whole.

Remember that truth is nonpartisan

Be objective in consuming content, whether or not it validates a political position. Do not depend on political parties for your news consumption, as they tend to present data favorable only to their positions on causes.

Check for biases. Evaluate the tone or words used. These should be neutral and objective and not be used to present the topic, person, event, or issue as bad or good. A news article, professionally written following the tenets of

journalism, in particular, should be unbiased and present the different, if not all, sides of a story.

Verify data

Start with the date of the article.

News should be about recent events.

Check and question the source or sources of data. If the article fails to provide references, be even more vigilant. Make sure that the information comes from credible media outlets or personalities. Cross-check with other articles online to see if the information written is consistent. Is there an author? Is the author a credible source?

Are the pictures used credible?

Check the About Us section of the website to assess the credibility of the site. Look also at the web domain: Many fake news sites duplicate the domain names of credible news sites to fool readers.

Another alternative is to use factchecking websites to verify the article in question. For example is Fakeblok, a journalist-moderated tool that guards against fake news, which the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility launched in June 2017.

Be a purveyor of truth

Use social media accounts wisely.

Share only verified content to prevent the further spread of false information.

Make fact-checking a habit whether sharing a news article or a tweet.

Encourage family and friends to do the same. If a friend or family member shares a fake story, let them know and help them learn how to discern between real and fake news.

The 25th National PR Congress on Sept. 27-28 will tackle this hot topic.

Happening at Bonifacio Hall, Shangri-La at the Fort in BGC, the congress will turn the spotlight on building consensus to explore ways to ensure truth in the practice of communication.

With the theme “Truth or Trolls: PR in the Age of Disinformation,” the annual PR Congress engages all PR and communication practitioners and aspirants to uphold truth in the age of disinformation.

A distinguished lineup of thought leaders and subject matter experts will share their insights on key issues affecting the industry and our nation.

Be objective in consuming content, especially now that they are available online and offline.

Entertainment Simply...

From C4

Also doing volunteer work for them is Marion Aunor.

In the previous Grand Gathering for teachers, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid has been a regular attraction for the teachers among other celebrities, like Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Jaya, Randy Santiago, Christian Bautista, and Sharon Cuneta.

Gabay Guro’s Grand Gathering is exclusive to teachers. Admission is free. (For teachers to secure tickets, they should visit Gabay Guro’s official Facebook account— www.facebook.cm/gabayguro—and follow its accounts on Twitter and Instagram @PLDTGabayGuro for updates.)

Established in 2007, it aims to honor and empower teachers across the country through what it calls the seven pillars — housing and educational facilities; scholarships; trainings; livelihood programs; broadbanding and computerization; innovations; and the Teachers’ Tribute.

It has, since its founding, built and donated over 40 classrooms nationwide and given over 1,300 scholarship grants through its 47 partner schools. Some 800 of Gabay Guro’s scholars have graduated with 234 finishing with honors. Most of them have passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.

More than 40,000 teachers have benefited from Gabay Guro’s regular training programs, which include personality development, emotional intelligence, English proficiency, information technology, leadership, and creativity, among others.

Gabay Guro’s efforts have been recognized by various award-giving bodies.

Mr. World PH 2018 pageant rescheduled Due to the super typhoon Ompong, the organizers and production team behind the Mr. World Philippines 2018 pageant agreed to reschedule the pageant originally scheduled on Sept. 15, at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater.

The new pageant date and venue will be announced very soon.

Big...

From C4

Other box office hits on HOOQ include Chaos Theory, I Am Sam, Valentine’s Day, Vacation, Veronica Mars, Syriana, Man From U.N.C.L.E., Entourage, The Intern, Black Mass and Poseidon, all available as part of the base subscription.

You can also catch Pinoy blockbusters such as Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story (which started streaming yesterday, Sept. 21) and Cry No Fear on Oct. 4 all exclusively available on HOOQ 90 days after theatrical release. Other new Filipino titles include My Amnesia Love, So Connected and Squad Goals, which all premiered on the streaming platform this month.

Jeff Remigio, Director of Content and Programming at HOOQ Philippines, said, “Fans of Pinoy movies can expect new content every month. Titles to watch out for include A Second Chance and Vince, Kath & James.”

Other titles coming to HOOQ include Barcelona: A Love Untold on Sept. 28; Just The Three of Us on Oct. 4; Can’t Help Falling In Love on Oct. 11; Everything About Her on Oct. 15; and Beauty and the Bestie on Oct. 25. Whether it is movies or TV shows you’re after, HOOQ promises to keep you entertained and engaged with the best.

It’s easy to get HOOQ’d. Customers can simply download the HOOQ app from Apple Store or Google Play, sign up or log in, to access HOOQ’s extensive library of Hollywood and Asian hits.

Watch shows on HOOQ via Chromecast, Roku, and Android TV. Smart, TNT and Sun users can enjoy a 30-day free trial.

Globe mobile users can enjoy a 45-day free trial. Find out more and sign up today for a complimentary trial at www.hooq.tv.

22 EMMY AWARDS

DOWN 1 Square pillar 2 Brat in “Blondie” 3 Luau welcomes 4 Magnitudes 5 Measly 6 Falco or Sedgwick 7 Curved bones 8 Fair grade 9 1950s fad (hyph.)

10 Meat on skewers 11 With, to Maurice 12 Garr of “Mr. Mom” 13 “Cope Book” aunt 21 Ran fast 23 Harsh call

nickie.standard@gmail.com

From left: Fox Television Group Chairman and CEO Gary Newman; Fox Television Group Chairman and CEO Dana Walden; Ryan Murphy; and 21CF President and Fox Networks Group Chairman and CEO Peter Rice attend the Fox, FX, National Geographic, and Twentieth Century Fox Television 2018 Emmy Nominees Celebration and Vibiana on Sept. 17 in Los Angeles, California.

F

OX Networks Group’s excellence in storytelling has been recognized with 22 top honors at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards. The diverse array of winners—including thrilling dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies and insightful documentary series—are testament to the high quality and rich variety of content being created and distributed across FOX’s award-winning portfolio of network and studio properties.

FOX Networks Group channel FX led all basic cable networks with 12 Emmy awards.

In total FX received 50 Emmy nominations, making it the most nominated of any basic cable channel for the fifth consecutive year.

Coming out ahead of the pack in one of the most competitive categories of the year, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX) scored seven Emmy awards, the most of any limited series this year, including the top title of “Outstanding Limited Series”.

Darren Criss was awarded “Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie” for his breakthrough portrayal of serial killer Andrew Cunanan on the series.

Tune in to The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story for its series rerun during FX All-Nighter from Nov. 16, airing every Tuesday to Friday, at 11:00 p.m..

Atlanta (FX) was the most-nominated of any comedy series at the Emmys and walked away with three awards, while The Americans (FX) nabbed a double win in the heavily contested drama series category, ultimately winning both “Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series” and “Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series”.

Tune in to reruns from Atlanta: Robbin’ Season on FX channel starting Oct. 19, Wednesday to Friday at 9:00 p.m.; Season 3 premieres in Spring 2019. Catch repeats of The Americans, which aired its series finale earlier this year, on FX All-Nighter from Nov.1 , every Tuesday to Friday at 11:00 p.m..

National Geographic was the second-most nominated network in basic cable for the second year in a row and took five Emmys, including “Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program” for JANE and “Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie” for Genius: Picasso. Viewers in Asia can tune in to both programs on National Geographic for re-runs and back-to-back episodes.

Video-on-demand streaming service FOX+ now offers a catalogue of Emmy award-winning titles available to stream in Asia. Viewers in the region can enjoy anytime, anywhere access to award-winning episodes of The Americans, Atlanta and Family Guy, as well as content from Emmy-nominated programs like Modern Family, The Voice and Legion. FOX+ is also home to over 10,000 hours of entertainment, live sport and documentaries; available in highdefinition, on-demand and on any device.

XIAN LIM on his basketball journey ACTOR Xian Lim is currently having the time of his life as he is able to live out his basketball dream as a player in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Today in University Town (U-Town), Xian shares how his athletic career actually began more than a decade ago as a varsity player for the University of the East (UE).

In the newest episode of U-Town, hosted by Gretchen Ho, Robi Domingo, and Alyssa Valdez, Xian reveals how basketball was the reason he left America, and how he is overjoyed now to finally play the sport competitively.

Also featured in this jampacked episode is another famous UE alumnus, Allan Caidic, who has won numerous championships in the pro league and played for flag as the country’s topgunner, earning him the

Saturday, September 22, 2018

49 Drag along 50 Stump 53 Everything (2 wds.)

58 Libra’s stone 59 Makes an attempt 61 Oil job 62 Goose egg 63 Gauzy fabric 64 Sleep — — 65 Beasts of burden 66 Pyramid site 67 Navajo foes

C3

FOX Networks Group home to

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Volcano goddess 5 Freshwater catch 10 Winslet or Capshaw 14 Holly, to a botanist 15 Farewell 16 Anon’s companion 17 Throw off heat 18 Slander’s kin 19 Road shoulder 20 Leopard’s spots 22 Locust tree 24 Mail-motto word 25 Obsessed whaler 26 “— Rides Again,” 1939 oater 29 Quits (2 wds.)

33 Remove chalk 34 Pulpit 36 Frat letter 37 Take for a ride 38 Pop fly 39 Dine 40 Weird 41 Aid and — 42 Kiwi language 44 Make good as new 47 Huge flowers 48 Bronte governess

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

25 Prior’s superior 26 Furnishings 27 Carve a canyon 28 Desert view 30 Welles or Bean 31 Lieutenant under Kirk 32 Pith helmets 34 “The Zoo Story” penner 35 Stooge with bangs 38 Hair holder 42 Claw badly 43 Poet Maya — 45 Frying pan

coating 46 Popeye’s sweetie 47 Storage place 50 A real clown 51 Triangle tip 52 Hack’s customer 53 Pretty tricky 54 Pitch in 55 Stalk prey 56 NYC theater award 57 Catches on 60 Bearskin, maybe

moniker “Triggerman.” Allan shares how it is like to play for the UE Red Warriors, which owns the record for most consecutive titles in UAAP Men’s basketball with seven straight championships.

Gretchen and Robi also visit the Bullyfree Life Advocates, an organization in UE that aims to promote peace and kindness to make UE a bully-free campus.

The two also take the viewers throughout the campus, revealing the perfect spots to hang-out and where there is a strongest wi-fi.

Volleyball star Alyssa then picks up a tennis racket to learn to hit and volley from members of the back-toback champion in UAAP Men’s Tennis.

Take a trip inside the UE campus and meet its famous students and alumni with Gretchen Ho, Robi Domingo, and Alyssa Valdez in U-Town at 1:00 p.m. and catch it online on iWant after its airing.

Xian Lim details his journey from the US to UE to pursue his basketball dream.

Jeric Gonzales talks about

‘IKA-5 UTOS’

WITH its 2:30 p.m. timeslot which makes Ika5 Utos directly pitted against the last hour of the super extended It’s Showtime, one cannot help but wonder how the newest GMA 7 drama fares against its formidable competition.

Ika-5 Utos’s pilot episode, according to the AGB Nielsen NUTAM ratings provider registered at 5.7 percent while its direct competition, It’s Showtime, gained a 5.1 percent audience share.

Per Kantar Media, it painted a different ratings picture. It’s Showtime remained on top with 16.2 percent audience share while the newbie drama only received 11.0 percent worth of audiences love.

Dear Manila Standard readers, you decide on whose figures are more believable. I can definitely proclaim that the ABS CBN noon time flagship noontime variety program gets a stiff adversary.

It has been two weeks since the initial telecast of the Jean Garcia, Gelli de Belen and Valerie Concepcion led drama. Without any doubt, the boom or bust cycle between the two programs that are of dissimilar formats are worth monitoring, observing and studying.

We can learn a lot from these two programs that are now odd rivals.

Of the many stars part of the drama, former Kapuso Protege victor Jeric Gonzales is most ecstatic to be Garcia’s son in the what seems to be afternoon viewing habit by all.

“I think the reason why I am part of the cast is because the role fits me well. We had workshops prior to being cast and tingin ko yun ang pinagbasehan nila,”Gonzales starts his tale.

“Direk Laurice Guillen is strict,” the relatively young actor shares about working with the multiawarded film director. “She is very passionate with what she does. Wala siyang pakialam kung close kayo or what. When she does not like the manner you acted, she will tell straight to your face.”

He carries on, “When the time comes she goes down from the OB Van, then you know something is wrong. Usually, it is the assistant director that instructs us on what to do. You will not hear cuss words from her, no flaring up. She inquired why can’t you do the scene and what seems to be the problem. Naranasan ko na bumaba siya to talk to me.

Mahirap kasi yung eksena. With her guidance and motivation, I was ALWIN able to deliver IGNACIO what she expected from, nariyan siya para tulungan ka.”

Jean Garcia is his mother in the Guillen and Lore Reyes directed melodrama. Many opine that they are so truthful in giving life to their respective characters, Eloisa and Brix Lorenzo.

“Ms. Jean is a truly gifted actress!

I don’t how she does it, seems very easy for her to play as my mom Eloisa, I am amazed,” Gonzales goes on. “We already worked in a previous drama, Kambal Karibal so playing his son Brix, we already have this connection. Nagugulat ako kasi yung mga eksena namin, we were able to it, one take, ang aga tuloy naming nakakauwi.”

Gonzales promises, “A more mature Jeric in terms of acting.

Marami silang makikitang side ko rito, the good and bad sides of Brix.”

Of course, any conversation with this young man will not be complete without discussing about Pauline Mendoza. Is their love pairing not only for reel but for real?

Jeric’s honest reply, “Close naman kami but not in a romantic way, she’s only 18 years old, and I am 25.”

A case of true love waits, perhaps?

Gonzales answers. “No, walang ganon, a romantic possibility in the future with Pauline is next to impossible. We are just supportive of each other’s career.”

Ika-5 Utos airs from Monday to Saturday, after Eat Bulaga on GMA 7.

ARIAS

In 'Ika-5 Utos' Jeric Gonzales is Brix, a loving son and a law student

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018

Does love deserve a second chance?

This year's one of the biggest titles, 'The Avengers: Infinity War,' has started streaming exclusively on HOOQ.

Big titles, more local content STREAMING ON HOOQ A

S THE largest Video on Demand service in Southeast Asia, HOOQ is committed to bringing in big and exclusive titles. Just recently, it launched the year’s most talked about movie, The Avengers: Infinity War, which is now available to stream on the popular streaming platform.

HOOQ is the only streaming service in the Philippines to offer blockbusters like The Avengers: Infinity War through its movie rentals catalog 90 days after their theatrical release. Moreover, apart from The Avengers: Infinity War, the streaming service also brings in seven more blockbusters until October.

The Padre the story of a con-man

posing as a priest launched on HOOQ on Aug. 27. If you want a laugh, watch Puerto Ricans in Paris, which is about two NYPD detectives in Paris. It’s all about girl power with Ocean’s 8 on Sept. 24. Other exciting titles to watch out for are Show Dogs on Sept. 24; The Seagull on Sept. 24; Solo: A Star Wars Story on Sept. 25;

and Ant-Man and The Wasp on Oct.16.

HOOQ subscribers get access to one movie rental of their choice every month at no charge with a bonus ticket, and any additional titles can be rented for an affordable P125.00. The films will be some of the freshest picks from the biggest Hollywood studios, including Disney, Marvel, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Dreamworks. The lineup changes every month with new titles coming in.

Sheila Paul, HOOQ Country Manager for the Philippines, said, “At HOOQ, we work hard to forge fruitful partnerships with top studios and networks here and abroad so that our subscribers will have the best streaming experience possible with their choice of device and screen.” Continued on C3

IN THIS day and age where many Filipinos (millennials in particular) are preoccupied with love, how many of them really think that a second chance at love is better than not having to love again?

This is the gist of the new morning show on ABS-CBN that started last Sept. 17. The show is called Playhouse and stars Zanjoe Marudo and Angelica Panganiban.

The show revolves around the theme that love is a choice—it is a person’s will to choose someone repeatedly, but it may also change in an instant.

This is the story of Patty and Marlon— two college lovers who will eventually get married. However, their dream of having a long lasting love will be tested by struggles that will eventually lead to their split. The characters are played by Panganiban and Marudo.

After living separately for quite a time, they meet again while Patty files for an annulment to formally separate from Marlon. But just when they think everything is over between them, a tragedy changes their lives forever.

Their friends Emily and Brad meet an accident, leaving their child Robin (Justin James Quilantang) behind.

Patty and Marlon have been designated legal guardian of the child. And they are asked to stay together while taking care of Robin to make sure he gets the love he needs. This gives Marlon the opportunity to patch things up with Patty, despite her constant disapproval.

Will Robin be the key to giving Patty and Marlon a second chance?

Aside from Angelica and Zanjoe, the rising love team of teen stars Kisses

Delavin and Donny Pangilinan are also in the show and add “kilig” moments for their fans. They will ISAH V. RED play Shiela Also playing important roles are Kean Cipriano, AC Bonifacio, Ariella Arida, Dexter Doria, Nadia Montenegro, Ingrid Dela Paz, Jomari Angeles, Malou De Guzman, Smokey Manaloto, and Maxene Magalona.

Celebrities volunteer for teachers’ empowerment Top-notch actors and singers gather at the Mall of Asia Arena tomorrow for the annual Gabay Guro Grand Gathering. It’s the biggest tribute to Filipino teachers.

“Gabay Guro’s annual Grand Gathering is our big ‘Thank You’ to all our beloved teachers who dedicate their life to the invaluable role of educating our children,” said Gabay Guro Chairman Chaye Cabal-Revilla. “They are our partners in nation building through education. And we look forward to continuing our mission to support and uplift then as we mark our 11th year.”

As a grand treat to teachers, Gabay Guro is raffling off prizes for the teachers, including gift certificates, smartphones and gadgets, livelihood packages, vehicles, and a house and lot.

This annual gathering of teachers has interested celebrities to volunteer their time and talent for the teachers. This year, Gabay Guro has welcomed Gabby Concepcion to be part of the gathering.

Concepcion, who said his mother was a teacher, has a soft spot for teachers and doesn’t mind doing volunteer work for them. Continued on C3

'Playhouse' lead stars Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo

A search for Southeast Asia’s toughest ARE Filipinos the toughest in Southeast Asia? Well, that is what Fisherman’s Friend and KIX are trying to find out.

With the support of Fisherman’s Friend, KIX, is bringing back its annual R U Tough Enough? competition on an even bigger scale this year. Finalists from six countries in Southeast Asia - namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - will be competing for the title of “Southeast Asia’sToughest”and a grand prize of $15,000.

Fisherman’s Friend and KIX are seeking male and female participants who have the physical strength, the mental endurance, and the emotional resilience to take on contestants from five other countries and prove that he or she is the toughest. R U Tough Enough? Southeast Asia started accepting applicants on Sept. 10 via its official website: www.KIX-TV.com/tough.

Applicants can also sign up via Tough Trooper activations in Metro Manila, Cebu and Pampanga until Oct. 15.

“R U Tough Enough? has grown in scope, size and participation every year, and now we are excited to take this competition to a regional level,” said Betty Tsui, Vice President, Programming of KIX. “We are looking for Southeast Asia’s toughest and we are thrilled to invite everyone with an inspiring tough story to join us! It is not just a battle of the body, but also the mind, and we encourage all tough participants to join and show us what they’ve got.”

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for closed-door auditions and a total of four finalists will be chosen to represent the Philippines together with the previous winner Renz Lou Lagria.

The finalists will be

flown to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to take part in a “Final Showdown” at Sunway Pyramid on Dec. 2.

Since its launch in Malaysia in 2014, R U Tough Enough? has expanded to the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia.

And this year, the competition launched for the first time in Singapore and will be introduced to Vietnam as well. In the course of its run, it has attracted thousands of participants in various countries and crowned many deserving contestants, a testament to how well the competition has been received in Southeast Asia.

R U Tough Enough? Southeast Asia is presented by Fisherman’s Friend, the strong adult candy with added benefits, and official fitness partners Celebrity Fitness Indonesia, Gold’s Gym Philippines, Elite Fitness Vietnam, with the official platform partners BigTv, Cablelink, Cignal TV, Dens TV, Destiny Cable, First Media, FPT, Gsat, HTV, IndiHome Fiber, Matrix, MNC Vision, MNC Play Media, NextTV, Okevision.TV, SKYcable, Skynindo, Transvision, TOT iptv, VTVCab and Trible TV; as well as supporting partners Action Asia and AKSI. More details including terms and conditions of the competition can also be found on the official website www.KIX-TV.com/ tough. Stay updated on the competition through KIX HD’s social media platforms, including Facebook: facebook.com/ KIXAsia, Twitter: @KIXAsia, and Instagram: @KIXAsia.

'R U Tough Enough?' has expanded to the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia in search for male and female participants who have the physical strength, the mental endurance, and the emotional resilience.