Manila Standard - 2018 October 25 - Thursday

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Shabu mess: Plot thickens

Ex-Customs man ordered arrested; Lapeña, X-ray men clash on lifters

By Nat Mariano and Maricel V. Cruz

VOL. XXXII • NO. 252 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday has called for the arrest of former Bureau of Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban for his alleged involvement in smuggling shabu into the country.

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“Tell me who is this guy asking for money, extortion. I will call him here.

I’ll have him arrested. That’s why I’m ordering the arrest of that Guban,” he said in his speech during the conferment of Philippine Quality Awards on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Wednesday acknowledged the possibility that the four magnetic lifters found in a warehouse in Cavite could have contained shabu, after denying this for several weeks.

Lapeña made the statement as the joint House committees on dangerous drugs and good government and public accountability resumed their probe into

JIMMY GUBAN the suspected smuggling in of P6.8 billion worth of shabu.

The joint panel was headed by Reps.

Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte and Xavier Jesus of Camiguin, respectively.

“With what is going on now, the circumstantial evidence and the testimonies as an investigator, I will tend to believe that indeed [the magnetic lifters contained drugs],” Lapeña told lawmakers, reversing his earlier statements that the lifters contained no drugs.

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AFP chief ties Sagay massacre to Red plan to incite outrage CARROLL’S CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER. Director Aaron Aquino (left) of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency inspects four cylindrical steel cases (magnetic lifters) some Customs insiders say were used to transport illegal drugs into the country, eventually seized in a warehouse in Cavite. At right, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña admits before a congressional hearing Wednesday to the possibility that the magnetic lifters could have contained shabu, reversing his earlier claim. Norman Cruz/Manny Palmero

Meet Du30’s close-in aide

3-month oil tax freeze means fuel subsidy cut—DOF execs in half if the excise tax increase is

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta suspended.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday named Philippine National Police Sr. Insp. Sofia Loren Deliu as his new closein aide, taking over the job of the President’s former top aide Bong Go.

THE suspension of the P2 increase in the excise tax on fuel next year may last only three to six months, a Finance official told senators Wednesday. What’s more, the fuel subsidy for public utility drivers is likely to be cut

“What we are now discussing are the parameters to officially implement that and also to think the manner provided by law on when we can resume it,” Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua told the Senate committee on economic affairs, headed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

Asked if the suspension of the excise tax would last the entire year, Chua said it wouldn’t.

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Boracay ready to reopen; gov’t orders casino closure

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THE Philippines reopens its crown jewel resort Boracay Island to holidaymakers on Friday, after a six-month cleanup aimed at repairing the damage inflicted by years of SOFIA DELIU

Eight PH schools on Asia’s top 500 MORE Philippine higher education institutions have made it to the Top 500 Universities in Asia in the Quacquarelli Symonds 2019 ranking.

The country’s premiere state university, the University of the Philippines, went up three Next page

Stop HIV epidemic, solon urges Palace

By Maricel V. Cruz A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said the Philippine government is expected to implement measures aimed at preventing a full-blown epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a disease which has already affected more than 50,000 Filipinos.

House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. made the statement following President Rodrigo Next page

FLOWERS RISING. The Department of Trade and Industry has given the go-ahead for the increase in prices of candles and Helianthus annuus, the common sunflower, a large annual forb of the genus Helianthus grown as a crop for its edible oil and edible fruits, saying the hike is only for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Lino Santos

unrestrained mass tourism.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the island shuttered in April for a major effort to fortify weak infrastructure and crack down on the rampant Next page

By Francisco Tuyay and Maricel V. Cruz ARMED Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez said Wednesday the killing of nine sugar farmers in Sagay City was part of a wider sinister plot relative to the “Red October” communist plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press briefing, Galvez said the killing of the sugar farmers, all newly recruited members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, an association founded by a National Democratic Front consultant, Luis Jalandoni, was part of the CPP-NPA “template” to incite public outrage.

“We see here the intention of really putting the President and the government in bad light,” Galvez said, suggesting the communist rebels killed their own recruits to make the administration look bad.

The sugar farmers were resting in a tent in the middle of the hacienda owned by Mrs. Carmen Tolentino when they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen.

Galvez said the killings were patterned after the Kidapawan incident and the massacres at Hacienda Luisita and Mendiola, which he claimed were devised by the CPP-NPA to provoke outrage.

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Xmas food prices stabilizing—Trade THE prices of food for the traditional Christmas celebration have remained stable as the competition among manufacturers is keeping a lid on prices, the Trade department said Wednesday.

“For Christmas products, we say that prices are generally stable, especially for the commonly used products like pasta and sauce,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum in Manila.

And it appeared that consumers were b e i n g put off by the high prices of vegetables that they were steering clear of

them, with the result that vegetable prices were going down, the department said.

Manufacturers compete for a greater share of the market for their products during the holiday season, and that’s healthy competition that helps to keep prices stable.

“It’s really a competition for market share,” Lopez said.

And given the choices a consumer has for Christmas food items, several manufacturers would also think twice before raising prices, he said.

“The consumer will always choose Next page

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opposition names 8 senatorial bets

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ICE President Leni Robredo on Wednesday urged the people to support the eight senatorial candidates of the opposition coalition, saying next year’s electoral exercise will be a chance to correct the mistakes of the 2016 elections.

“What did the candidates promise in 2016? Were those promises kept?” Robredo said in Filipino. “Why did we vote for them?”

If mistakes were made in 2016, she said, it was time to right the wrongs.

“Let us not be carried away by sweet words and so many promises,” she said. “Instead, let’s look at who

‘Purge the ranks of rice traders’ THE replacement of import quotas with tariffs will not dismantle the rice cartels in the country, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said Wednesday.

“The government rosters of rice importers and traders must be purged of smugglers, economic saboteurs, hoarders and tax evaders,” Marcos said.

She made her statement even as the National Food Authority said it marked its intensified market monitoring during the third quarter of 2018 by apprehending 3,828 people for violating various NFA rules on grains trading.

OIC-Administrator Tomas Escarez said the NFA stepped up its efforts by giving more assistance to its enforcement officers nationwide.

He said their efforts led to the inspection of 95,000 business establishments from July to September, which also resulted in the increased number of apprehended rice traders and the collection of P1.6 million in fines.

Marcos said it would “still be business as usual” for the rice cartel because they controlled the underlying system and internal architecture of rice importation and distribution.

“Their control of that system is not addressed by any of the bills on rice tariffication,” she said.

3-month oil...

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While the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law is clear when the tax can be suspended, it is less clear about when it can be resumed, he said, adding that the suspension will not cover the entire year.

“The Secretary [Carlos Dominguez] has opined that if the suspension is based on three months, then the resumption could probably be based on a three-month cycle, but that is his opinion and we are still reviewing and discussing it,” he said.

“At the very least three months suspension and we will based that on the prevailing oil price,” he added.

After the hearing, Gatchalian said he would recommend that the DOF implement the suspension for six months.

Meanwhile, Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino said the planned fuel subsidy for public utility drivers may be halved with the suspension of the second round of excise taxes. Lambino said beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pasada Program may only receive a P10,000 subsidy next year, from the supposed P20,000 budget.

“The DBM has mentioned an adjustment for the fuel subsidy program. Because the excise tax will not increase in January, if we compute it, there will be a P10,000 Pantawid Pasada grant in 2019,” Labino said in a Palace economic briefing Wednesday.

“It will be half of what has been budgeted, but it will also be doubled of what they received this year. That was the initial remark of the DBM and Secretary [Benjamin] Diokno,” he added.

The Finance department earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte would soon order the temporary suspension of the next tranche of the fuel tax rate increase under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. The Finance official said the economic managers’ recommendation, ordering the suspension of excise increase next year, was already submitted to the Palace. “[Presidential] Spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced that the President accepted it, but we are waiting the official document that states that,” Lambino added.

For its part, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board downplayed the impact of the budget slash, stressing that the intended beneficiaries will still be grateful for the subsidy.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said fuel beneficiaries will still be appreciative of the subsidy considering it’s twice than what they received this year.

Delgra, however, said the transport agency has not reached 50 percent of the full distribution of the fuel cards.

“As of the latest, we already have distributed the total of 40.14 percent of those cards which were already printed and were already downloaded to the regions which would translate to 57,227 cards all in all,” said Delgra.

He said the distribution was held back in part by the Land Bank of the Philippines which also disburses the government’s 4Ps cash dole.

we will vote for and what their record is.”

The Oposisyon Koalisyon senatorial slate for 2019 is composed of Senator Paolo Benigno S. Aquino IV; former Senator and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II; election lawyer Romulo Macalintal; Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano; Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) chairman Jose Manuel Diokno; former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc; former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay; and former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III. The launch of the Oposisyon Koalisyon was held in Marikina City, which Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo said is a city that welcomes the opposition.

The coalition includes the Liberal Party, Aksyon Demokratiko founded by the late Senator Raul Roco, party-list groups Magdalo and Akbayan, and other civil society groups.

Diokno said strengthening the justice system should

Single ticket wins $1.6-b lottery pot A SINGLE winning ticket has been identified in the record-setting $1.6 billion Mega Millions lottery jackpot, organizers said Wednesday.

A single ticket holder in South Carolina will claim that bounty, Mega Millions said on its website.

The winner has not been identified.

Mega Millions said the jackpot is not only a US record but a worldwide lottery record.

The six winning numbers drawn on Tuesday night were 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and 5 again as the special Mega Ball.

The record jackpot had set off a lottery frenzy across America, with people lining up at convenience stores, supermarkets and liquor stores to buy a $2 ticket that gave them a roughly one in 300 million chance of winning.

“The moment we’ve been waiting for finally arrived, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Gordon Medenica, lead director of the Mega Millions Group and director of Maryland Lottery and Gaming. AFP

Typhoon gaining strength near PAR TYPHOON “Yutu” gained strength as it approaches the Philippine Area of Responsibility but is not expected to make landfall in the country, the weather bureau said Wednesday.

In its weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the typhoon was last spotted 2,555 kilometers east northeast of Visayas.

Yutu packs maximum sustained winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

The typhoon will be given the local name “Rosita” once it enters the country.

Meet Du30’s...

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“This is the one who replaced Bong, stand up,” he said, ordering Deliu to promptly stand up.

Duterte, who stood as wedding sponsor to beauty queen Deliu, made the remarks during the conferment of Philippine Quality Awards in Malacañang.

For his part, Go said the police officer would not be given the title of Special Assistant to the President. But she will take some of Go’s former functions as Duterte’s top aide.

“Deliu will be as an aide,” Go said in a text message sent to media Wednesday.

He explained Deliu would accompany the President as his close-in in all his engagements.

He added Deliu would not be referred to as SAP, stressing the title was only specifically given to him before as a former Palace official.

Since the start of Duterte’s presidency, Deliu has been serving as the President’s Junior Presidential Security Aide-deCamp. Nat Mariano

AFP chief...

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“The CPP-NPA is known for this,” he said.

“They will kill just [for] propaganda.”

“I believe that is the grand plan, there is manipulation and deception,” he said, noting that the victims were given false promises that they would be given a hectare of farmland for P500.

Galvez also linked the Sagay City killings to the recent ambush in Camarines Sur on Food and Drug Authority chief Charade Puno in which three police officers were killed in an attack blamed on the communists.

“We see they are trying to sow fear and they are still around and they are force to reckon with,” Galvez said.

Galvez visited Sagay City Tuesday to pay

Boracay ready...

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over-development that had left it a “cesspool.”

And three of Duterte’s Cabinet members have asked the gaming regulators to cancel the operations of any casino in Boracay days ahead of its official reopening.

be a component of the national agenda.

“Justice is about accountability and the last thing politicians want is to be held accountable. Justice is about empowering the poor and the last thing politicians want is an enlightened electorate,” he said.

Gutoc, who was among the thousands displaced in the Marawi fighting, said that while she is a neophyte in politics, she is a veteran in public service.

Macalintal vowed to fight for the rights of the senior citizens, whom he said are often neglected in society.

In a video message, Roxas, who was out of the country, said through a video message that his Senate run is not a round two of the 2016 elections, but for the county’s better future.

Tañada vowed to fight for the rights and for better lives of the country’s farmers and workers, just as he did as a member of the House of Representatives.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Shabu mess...

PNPA head relieved over ‘oral hazing’

By Francisco Tuyay ACTING Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has ordered the relief of the head of the Philippine National Police Academy over the alleged “oral sex punishment” and hazing on underclassmen by senior cadets, an official said Wednesday.

“OIC-Secretary Año has ordered the immediate relief of the PNPA director, Chief Superintendent Joseph Andol, for command responsibility and to pave the way for an impartial investigation into the incident,” Interior Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said.

He said Año had also ordered Philippine Public Safety College president Ricardo de Leon to investigate the incident and to ensure nothing like it happened again.

“We should not tolerate such scandalous acts in our ranks,” Año said.

“The PPSC should act with dispatch to ensure that the true ideals, values and discipline in the academy will continuously be upheld.”

He said the Philippine National Police will conduct a separate probe on the incident to determine criminal liability.

According to initial reports, the incident happened on Oct. 6 within the academy premises, and it involved an upperclassman ordering two plebes to perform oral sex as punishment for allegedly violating some rules.

Two other senior cadets, who were allegedly present during the incident, did not lift a finger to stop the punishment and just watched the alleged sexual act.

Earlier in the day, the House held an inquiry on the alleged smuggling of P6.8 billion worth of shabu that slipped past the BOC. Duterte said he ordered Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde to arrest Guban and let the National Bureau of Investigation take him in custody.

“I said, ‘Right after the session, you arrest him.’ Albayalde said, ‘On what ground?’ Just bring him to the NBI,” the President said, gesturing to his aides to call the authorities to see if Guban had been arrested.

Duterte then linked Guban to the smuggling of shabu, claiming the resigned BOC official facilitated its entry in the country with the use of fake identification cards.

“He was the one who let it in, he faked the IDs. T*** i**. You know, if you do that every day, p****** i** you’re making me look like a fool,” he said.

In an earlier inquiry, Guban admitted he received P10,000 to find the consignee-forhire that would take the magnetic lifters allegedly packed with large amounts of shabu.

Almost two weeks ago, the President released an intelligence report on law enforcement officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

The administration’s “secret special report” contained a detailed account of illegal activities of Guban, former Police superintendent Eduardo Acierto, and dismissed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency deputy director general Ismael Fajardo Jr. The report stated Guban has created a network, asking individuals to turn to him for the supply of illegal drugs and other commodities such as fireworks, rice, sugar, onions, and garlic.

Earlier in the hearing, two X-ray inspection experts of the Bureau of Customs disputed the claim of their supervisor that the four magnetic lifters found in a warehouse in Cavite contained methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P6.8 billion.

John Mar Morales, an X-ray technician who is now assigned at the Port of Batangas, and Manuel Martinez, the X-ray inspector who examined the four magnetic lifters, contradicted former Customs X-ray Division chief and Deputy Collector Lourdes Mangaoang’s allegation on the alleged shabu smuggling.

“In my presentation before the this joint committee, the X-ray image in the magnetic lifters shows nothing unusual,” Morales told the joint panel.

Martinez, who conducted the X-ray tests of the four lifters, also disputed Mangaoang’s claim.

But Mangaoang, who inspected the magnetic lifters to determine whether they really contained shabu, stood by her earlier assessment that the lifters contained drugs when they were brought in.

Enumerating her qualifications, Mangaoang said: “As an image analyst and a seasoned investigator, as a collector of Customs, [and] a lawyer, I believe the magnetic lifters contain shabu.”

She admitted, however, that the presence of shabu cannot be established in magnetic lifters just by plain analysis of the X-ray images.

Lapeña had earlier demoted Mangaoang and put her on floating status, in what some sources said was an attempt to silence her.

She told the House panel she was disappointed by her reassignment to the Customs “freezer.”

But Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop expressed doubts about her credibility because Lapeña had her removed as deputy Customs collector at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

An irked Mangaoang threatened to walk out of the hearing, but apologized after Barbers warned her against issuing unnecessary remarks.

“I am here to tell truth, no ill will. Because I would not be here if I am not invited here.

The reason that I am here is because I was invited and why do I feel that I am being prosecuted as if I am the one that is responsible,” Mangaoang said.

“You invited me here as resource speaker and yet you have kept on saying I have illwill? That is unfair. If you do not need me here [in this hearing] I can leave,” she added.

In response, Barbers, chairman of the House dangerous drugs committee, said: “Your statement somehow gave credence to the initial findings of the committee. You are a government employee, you cannot just leave this committee.”

“Never ever [think] that we owe you something that you attend this hearing,” Barbers told Mangaoang.

“We are here to get your opinion so it could help our investigation,” Barbers added.

At the hearing, Lapeña said drug lords have amassed a P20-million fund to discredit him.

“I was informed that the players have put up a sinking fund of P20 million that will be used against me because my reformative efforts are already hurting their operation,” he said.

In a TV interview, Lapeña said he would not step down despite controversies over alleged shabu smuggling.

“I will not resign because I still have to accomplish what the President wants me to do in the bureau, I am doing very well,” Lapeña said.

He also accused Mangaoang of being used by drug syndicates “wittingly or unwittingly” to discredit him.

“I serve at the pleasure of the President, and will continue to lead the Bureau of Customs as he has directed” Lapeña said.

The Customs chief also boasted that the bureau met and even surpassed the agency’s revenue collection target for the eight consecutive months, demonstrating that his numerous reforms he implemented have caused positive result.

But Mangaoang, who filed a petition before the Civil Service Commission to retain from her post as BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport Authority deputy collector, insisted that the four magnetic lifters that were found in Cavite warehouse contained P6.8-billion shabu.

In a statement, Lapeña said he will never destroy his name protecting these drug syndicates.

“I have served this government and this country for 34 years without compromising my principles and highest regard for integrity in public service. For those people or groups working jointly to oust me, I know who you are,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reiterated that samples from the intercepted “shabu” (crystal meth) shipment at the Manila International Container Port and evidence seized from recent anti-drug operations have the same profile.

“Same profile of drug samples means same source, same manufacturer, and same method used in the production of the illegal drug. We are confident that the newfound scientific evidence will corroborate our claim that large amounts of shabu from the emptied magnetic lifters in a warehouse in GMA, Cavite, are circulating in our streets,” PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said in a statement.

Based on investigation, the shabu came from Taiwan, while Malaysia was the transshipment point, he said. With Vito Barcelo and PNA

his respects to the families of the nine slain farmers.

Earlier, Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said that they had established some persons of interest, one of them being the land owner.

Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao, meanwhile, warned government forces against using harassment or obstruction to cover up what happened in Sagay City.

Leftist groups composed of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, the Karapatan human rights group, Unyon ng Manggagawa Sa Agrikultura, NFSW, and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines have led a fact-finding mission to determine the truth behind the killings.

Casilao dismissed government pronouncements as “red-baiting” and “fake news.”

“When the victims are obviously poor and

landless farm workers, demanding land and opposing against a landlord-warlord who is capable of employing a private armed group, the government’s red-baiting undoubtedly serves the interest of the powerful and not the victims,” Casilao said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who skipped a scheduled visit to the wake of the nine farmers because of bad weather attended a benefit dinner and concert instead in support of the advocacy projects of the Du30 Cabinet Spouses Association Inc. Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino, who was present at the event, said the President sang a number entitled “Ikaw.”

“He was not supposed to sing, but he was given the microphone. He sang very well.

He did [sing] the whole song,” Lambino said in an interview after attending an economic briefing Wednesday. Nat Mariano

Duterte’s imminent signing into law a bill which strengthens the country’s comprehensive campaign against HIV and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

The legislative measure, known as the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, was ratified by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before Congress went into recess last Oct. 10.

Andaya said the legislative measure, once signed into law, will amend Republic Act 8504 (the Philippine National AIDS and Control Act of 1998)—a 20 year old statute.

“RA 8504 serves as the national legal framework in the country’s fight against AIDS and we need to make it more responsive considering the advances in HIV research and policy,” the House leader said.

“This is an urgent task and we need to act fast. Time is not on our side,” he added.

Citing reports from the Philippine National AIDS Council, Andaya noted that the number of Filipinos living with [HIV/ AIDS] will exceed a quarter of a million by 2030 unless the government take drastic actions to address the growing epidemic.

Duterte has previously said the holiday island must be casino-free, stressing he will distribute government-owned land to the indigenous peoples on the island.

When the government throws open the doors, Boracay will have fewer hotels and restaurants, a cap on the number of visitors and anti-beach boozing rules aimed at taming its party-hard reputation.

All of this is intended to protect the

bruised beauty of the island’s turquoise waters and expanses of white sand beaches that were being loved to death by two-million tourists per year.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said she hoped the new Boracay would be the start of a “culture of sustainable tourism” in the Philippines, adding other tourist destinations will be next.

“It means taking account of the repercus-

sions of our actions on current and future situations of the environment,” she told reporters on Friday.

Romulo-Puyat said she had sent a written “warning” to other top Philippine tourist draws including El Nido and Panglao islands, while others, such as the whale-shark-feeding site of Oslob, had cut its tourist arrivals by half. AFP, With Nat Mariano

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Xmas food...

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value for money, so that manufacturers will be afraid to raise prices,” Lopez said.

Filipinos buy Noche Buena products for the traditional Christmas Eve celebration like pasta, fruit cocktails, ham, tomato sauce, mayonnaise and cheese.

On Oct. 14, the Trade department released a list of suggested retail prices for Noche Buena items.

But Lopez said the prices of some items had already increased prices, particularly high-end ham.

He said the peso-dollar exchange rate was also starting to stabilize as the Filipino workers abroad had started sending money to their relatives.

Eight PH...

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notches from 75th rank to 72nd.

Joining UP in the list of top universities are Ateneo de Manila University (115th) De La Salle University (155th) and University of Santo Tomas (162nd).

MSU-IIT joins University of San Carlos, Mapua University, and Silliman University in the 300-500 bracket.

“I commend the eight universities that are now part of the latest QS Asian university rankings and I look forward to more Philippine universities entering the top 500 in the coming years,” Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera III. “To further boost the quality and competitiveness of our public and private institutions, the Commission will soon launch a project through its International Affairs Service that will assist Philippine universities to showcase their excellence to the world, promote their internationalization initiatives and increase global reputation through international benchmarking assessment of institutions using internationalization metrics,” De Vera added.

Stop HIV...

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MIAA gears up for observance of All Saints‘ Day, All Souls‘ Day

SHOW OF FORCE.

Vice President Leni Robredo (middle) links hands with Oposisyon Koalisyon senatorial candidates during a launching/ rally on Wednesday in Barangay Parang Multi-Purpose Hall in Marikina City.

Revoli Cortez

Xiamen Air to pay more for damages—Monreal

By Joel E. Zurbano

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ANILA International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal said that Xiamen Air has already paid P16 million earlier this month and is set to pay an additional P16 million for the damages it caused when its plane skidded off a runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last August.

Monreal said that the initial P16 million actually covered the costs brought about by the skidding plane in Runway 06/24, which caused several other flights to be canceled and delayed, and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

The second payment, meanwhile, will cover the cost that the NAIA spent for additional damages, including the cost in removing the stranded plane off the runway.

“Sila po ay nag-deposito na... Money transfer, around mga more or less... More than P16 million ang unang tranche ho nila,” said Monreal.

“Nag-commit po na magbayad agad ‘yung pamunuan ng Xiamen doon sa first two bases of the charges. Nandun lahat ‘yung mga gastos,” said Monreal.

The MIAA chief said Xiamen had made the commitment to pay for the

damages during a meeting with Xiamen officials in Manila earlier this month.

“Meron na ho kaming dokumento at hindi na ho namin kailangan bigyan ng supporting documents dahil they all agree that those charges are really due to them,” he said.

Monreal said Xiamen Air is asking for additional documents so they can facilitate the payment for the additional P16 million.

“Humihingi po sila ng dokumento to support the charges, which we did already,” he said.

“In-endorse na ho namin sa office nila dito ay ‘yung office ho nila, ipapadala sa main office nila wherein the delegation also committed that as soon as they validate all the charges, they will pay that portion—maybe tantamount to another P16 something million,” Monreal explained.

Monreal said the MIAA is also coordinating with Xiamen to review the lost opportunities during the time its plane caused delays and cancellations at the NAIA. “’Yan po ay pinag-uusapan namin na kung babayaran o hindi, or in some way or another form,” he said.

Aside from paying for the damages, Monreal said Xiamen Air is looking at conducting corporate social responsibility programs in the Philippines in support of the country.

“They really want to show their sincerity and support. Nangako ho na pangkalahatan ay may gagawin silang CSR,” he said.

The CSR, Monreal said, can come in terms of material things.

“As soon as we have those commitments, we’ll definitely let you know,” Monreal said.

Meanwhile, Monreal said that the government must maintain strict security rules being implemented at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to keep its Category 1 rating of the International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

Monreal said airport users were forced to follow the much stricter security rules after the main gateway undergone external security audit.

The Category 1 status means the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines complies with ICAO standards.

Suarez urges House colleagues: Back GMA’s stand against IPU

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE minority bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday filed a resolution urging fellow legislators to support Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s proposal for the country to withdraw its membership from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, citing the organization’s continued interference on the country’s internal and judicial affairs.

In House Resolution 2270, House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez noted “the IPU stepped outside its boundaries with its interference in the country’s judicial processes which runs counter to the principle of State sovereignty.”

Suarez cited the IPU’s recent move to release a resolution seeking an

investigation into the criminal cases filed against Senator Leila de Lima and a statement suggesting another intervention on the case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. This, he said, may have violated one of the State policies enshrined in the 1987 Constitution—the independent foreign policy being pursued by the State, “in that its relations with other states shall primarily consider national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to selfdetermination.”

“The Philippines is a member parliament of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The IPU was created with a vision of protecting and strengthening democracy and building strong national parliaments that can deliver on issues like health, sustainable development, peace and security,” Suarez said in the

resolution.

Speaker Arroyo earlier recommended the withdrawal of the country’s membership from the IPU after the latter expressed its intention to visit the country to investigate further on the cases of De Lima and Trillanes.

“Therefore, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved for the House of Representatives to express its support for the withdrawal of the membership of the Philippines from the InterParliamentary Union,” it added.

In the Senate, however, Senator Chiz Escudero said the proposed withdrawal will only isolate the Philippines from the community of nations.

“Such isolationist policy will not serve the country’s interests—both long term and short term,” said Escudero in response to the recent proposal put forward by Arroyo.

JOINT HEARING. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (right) field questions to DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua (left) and

Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino during the Senate public hearing jointly conducted by the Senate committee on economic affairs and the committee on ways and means on suspending the excise tax on fuel as a counter-inflationary measure and its overall impact on the economy, and also the status of the implementation and effectivity of the social mitigating measures at the Senate office in Pasay City. Lino Santos

Ombudsman urged to revoke Enrile’s bail bond

By Rio N. Araja CAGAYAN Gov. Manuel Mamba is urging Ombudsman Samuel Martires to revoke the P1-million bail bond of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

In a letter received by the Office of the Ombudsman, Mamba and former Buguey Mayor Ignacio Taruc said Enrile is still very much capable of launching a nationwide campaign over his bid to seek a Senate seat in the 2019 midterm polls, therefore his provisional liberty granted by the Sandiganbayan for health reasons must be revoked.

He accused Enrile and his men of oppression through false charges committed in their province in the past 40 years.

“Juan Ponce Enrile is, and has always been a liar and plunderer, no matter how frail he may look. Please, do not be moved by his deception,” he said.

To seek a Senate seat would entail a strenuous nationwide campaign, Mamba said.

He said Enrile must be held culpable for his role during the martial law under the Marcos regime.

Enrile is facing 15 graft charges and plunder before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division for his involvement in the P172-million pork barrel fund scam linked to businesswoman Janet LimNapoles.

In 2015, the Supreme Court granted Enrile’s bail petition for humanitarian considerations because of his old age and poor health.

But at the weekly Kamuning Bakery’s Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, Enrile, 94, shrugged off Mamba and Taruc’s accusations against him.

“I leave it to the good judgment of the Ombudsman and the Supreme Court.

They [complainants] have not done so much for the progress of the province.

They just talk and talk,” he said.

He said his health has improved a lot after his release from detention at the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“They hate me. They have nothing good to say about me,” he said.

Enrile called the Mamba family an ingrate, saying he even recommended Mamba’s appointment as mayor in Tuao town in 1988.

THE management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport came up with measures in connection with the traditional observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day when the number of air travelers are expected to increase.

In a Kapihan sa NAIA forum held Wednesday, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal said he ordered the entire airport facility to be placed under alert before, during and after the holiday break to ensure the safety of passengers and stakeholders.

Monreal tapped all department heads to ensure the deployment of enough personnel to assist travelers, especially the elderly passengers, persons with disability and those in need during emergency situation.

He said help desk, doctors and nurses, and staff from Public Affairs Office under its chief Connie Bungag will also help organize things and assist passengers regarding their flight schedules and information especially domestic flights.

All terminal managers and assistant managers will perform their regular functions even during the days declared as holidays, aside from MIAA officials and employees who have been authorized to support the management and operations.

The airport management will also make sure that facilities like comfort rooms are clean and have enough supply of water.

Monreal added that to avoid congestions, airline companies will adjust the time in opening check-in counters. Joel E. Zurbano

Labor group hits ECOP for dictating ‘measly’ P20 wage increase

By Vito Barcelo THE labor group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines slammed the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines for dictating a measly P20 wage increase for minimum workers in the National Capital Region during the public hearing on wage increase.

ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said the P20 wage increase is being floated by the ECOP as the amount they want the Metro Manila wage board to grant as acceptable to them.

The labor group has filed a P334 wage increase in Metro Manila to be hiked by P334 to reach P846 from the current P512.

The ALU-TUCP cited inflation as the main reason for the proposed hike which rose to 6.2 percent.

Tanjusay said that prices of food and costs of services continue to rise since June, saying there is a need for workers and their families to cope with the current 6.2-percent inflation rate.

Last September, the Department of Labor and Employment announced a P20 hike in the minimum wage in Metro Manila, but the labor group said that proposed hike was an insult to the 4 million wage earners in Metro Manila.

‘Stop public bidding for P1.6-b fire trucks’ A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Wednesday urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government to review thoroughly the public bidding process for the purchase of P1.6 billion worth of fire trucks due to alleged questionable specification requirements.

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe asked DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año that the conduct of the bidding process must be stopped.

“We learned that assemblers of fire trucks popular for providing the best firefighting options are barred from participating because the specification requirements imposed by the BFP appear to be tailor-made for certain brands,” Batocabe said in a letter to Año.

In his letter to the DILG Chief, Batocabe, vice chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said the public bidding will also preempt the ongoing congressional inquiry into

the fire truck purchase program of the government.

The House good government committee, chaired by Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romuldo, earlier conducted a probe into audit findings which said public bidding controversies have slowed down the Bureau of Fire Protection’s fire truck procurement program.

The probe was in response to House Resolution 2225 filed by Batocabe which calls for a probe into the BFPs alleged continued failure to procure fire trucks in the past four years despite the availability of government funding for the procurement program.

Citing the 2017 Commission on Audit report on BFP, Batocabe said the country has around 2,350 serviceable fire trucks.

Of this number, 1,094 were acquired between 1950 to 1999.

He said the Philippines should have at least 3,608 fire trucks based on the standard set by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. Maricel V. Cruz

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The judge’s decision WHEN Senator Antonio Trillanes came out of his office for a media interview after Judge Andres Soriano of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City branch 148 denied the petition of the Justice Department for the issuance of a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order, he was visibly euphoric. And perhaps rightly so.

After all, the decision of Judge Soriano meant that he would not be going to jail. The political allies of the senator were also relieved that the judge appeared to have withstood the tremendous pressure from the government.

Since the country is so infatuated with conspiracy theories, there are many ways of interpreting the Everyone decision depending on which side won. of the political aisle one belongs to. For instance, is there a winner in this episode? Obviously, Senator Trillanes and his allies believe that they are. But looking at it objectively, it is not as simple as that.

We can also say that all sides won.

President Duterte and the Justice Department can now say to the world that democracy in the country is vibrant and very much alive. Even the yellow allies of Trillanes praised the decision saying that at least, judicial independence can be maintained if there are brave and competent judges like Judge Soriano. Indeed, how can the critics now say that there is dictatorship if the courts can afford to go against what the President wants?

This is in fact what spokesman Sal Panelo is already saying. The government can also say that the judicial process of the country is working.

Given the criticism that this govern-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

ment is already receiving as a result of its drug war, this is a big deal.

On a personal level, the biggest winner in this decision might well be the judge himself. With his unprecedented decision, it is safe to say that his professional reputation has been cemented and enhanced. I dare say that his future in the judiciary will improve much further especially if in 2022, the opposition will take Malacañang. Even his colleagues in the legal profession are impressed.

Indeed, the good judge took considerable time to study and promulgate his decision. Whether the government will respect the judgement of the court in this case as it already said and not retaliate sub rosa will show whether this government has a word of honor. The administration after all has still three years to go and as the saying goes, there are many ways to skin a cat.

Are there any losers in this episode? Maybe. We apparently could point to Solicitor General Jose Calida who masterminded the ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. This time, he came up short because there is this judge who was prepared to stand his ground. He of course, said that he would file an appeal directly to the Court of Appeals signalling that he is not prepared to accept the decision of judge Soriano without exhausting all legal remedies. It also means that the case is not yet closed. Will the Court of Appeals be as strong as Judge Soriano? How about Judge Elmo Alameda of Branch 150 of Makati City who sided with the government position?

Will his professional reputation suffer and take a hit? Maybe, but it is also not as simple as that.

My experience in these types of cases is that there are always two sides of a story. Both judges simply viewed the cases brought to their

Shedding color

J

UST because we are used to something does not mean it is any more acceptable, or right.

The coming election season, for instance, reminds us that for many generations Filipino voters have relied upon crude methods to make their political decisions.

Politicians have appropriated among themselves various colors and other symbols. These simplify what is supposed to be a difficult decision for the people, who will ideally evaluate a candidate based on education, experience, integrity, position on critical governance issues and past behavior.

That is perhaps a tedious exercise that people

cannot afford because they are too busy making ends meet. And so they rely on who is sporting yellow, or orange, or white—or the clenched fist, among others.

It is also tempting to think that just because two personalities are often seen together, one’s popularity—more importantly, integrity—will rub off on the other.

This is perhaps why the victors often conveniently forget that they are the leaders of all their constituents, not only those who sport their color, or their logo, or their tired rhetoric. As a result, what happens is governance by affiliation, an us-or-them mentality, with the rules applied strictly to enemies but relaxed when friends and allies are concerned.

Is it any wonder then that almost immediately after elections the people express the same disenchantment with their choices?

The midterm election next year promises to be played by the same rules, so as early as today the people should demand that their candidates stand and fall on their own viability—not because of the color of their campaign shirt, or the lines they regurgitate on social media, even the familiarity of their faces and family names.

Only when candidates shed their political color —something they likely decided on out of convenience rather than principle, anyway—can their true color emerge.

Only then can they be appraised as fit or wanting.

Turn to A5

Overstretching First of all, who would, in his right mind, willingly give up ownership of his property to anyone?

I’m not saying killing those farmers who tried to forcibly take over Hacienda Nene did the right thing. However I REMEMBER growing up to movies way you look at it, it is wrong. Whoevinspired by real-life gangsters who, in- er perpetrated that must be punished.

Still, that occupy activity was out of stead of being abhorred, ended up being idolized by the people for toeing a line and it elicited a horrendous reacRobin Hood-like life, that is, robbing tion from the property owners or whothe rich and then distributing the loot ever deployed those armed men.

And where was their Robin Hoodamong the poor.

This just came to my mind after like leader who egged them to such reading the news story on the Sagay kind of illegal activity? Nowhere to incident and the fate that befell nine be found. In fact, he could never ever compare with that of Robin Hood befarmers, which included minors.

According to the report, the nine cause he egged the farmers to occupy were shot to death by still-unidentified a piece of property owned by not-soarmed men after a group of famers led rich individuals—from those coming from the middle

by National Fedclass at the most. eration of Sugar In condemnWorkers tried to ing the killing of occupy a piece of the nine farmers, land, the 75-hecDemand justice for Agrarian Reform tare Hacienda Secretary John Nene in Barangay those who were killed, Castriciones said Bulanon in Sagay but do not muddle the the land holdings City, under its issue. were not covered Bungkalan Camunder the CARP paign. in 1988 due to the The group had fact that each of sought to replicate other Bungkalan activities in the land owners of the hacienda owned other parts of the country wherein the less than the allowable ownership ceilfarmers successfully took over some ing of five hectares for land owners.

Castriciones, while stressing DAR piece of land from big landlords in had always pushed for the peaceful other parts of the country.

And it is not only the farmers who resolution of land disputes between have been resorting to this kind of ac- landowners and farmers through diation. The urban poor group Kadamay logues and mediation meetings, pointhad also launched a series of occupa- ed out that the farmers entered the tion activities on some government premises of Hacienda Nene with no lehousing projects intended for other gal basis for occupation or ownership.

Nonetheless, Castriciones directed beneficiaries.

However, the Sagay Act not only the central, regional and provincial failed but proved to be fatal and now agrarian reform offices to immediately the Left is blaming the government for look into the incident. The DAR secretary added that he would form a the killing of the nine farmers.

This is a bit of overstretching on task force comprising of DAR and the their part. They would not stop blam- CARP-implementing agencies and he ing the foul-mouthed president.

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Opinion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

Getting real about STL OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ AS OF June 2018, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office reported an increase in the number of authorized agent corporations operating SmallTown Lottery nationwide. There are 89 AACs, while more AAC-STL applications are pending approval. According to news reports, this expansion has led to the employment of 311,436 people which equates to a 40-percent increase compared to 2017. These people are employed as cobradores and cabos and are now earning more than P7,000 to P8,000 a month. This translates to having at least P250 a day to spend for food for the family.

STL serves as a valuable livelihood program to many, especially to those in the provinces. I have proposed, through House Bill No. 5026, the recognition of the Philippine Lotto and STL as the sole legal numbers game in the country. At the same time, I continue to urge the PCSO to allow the expansion of the STL nationwide so that provinces may benefit from the

program through additional employment and eradication of illegal numbers game.

Institutionalizing the STL will bring in more income for the government while simultaneously providing gainful employment to many Filipinos, especially those who live below poverty line. As I have mentioned before, STL is transparent and regulated by

It is a win-win for all, but it is game over for illegal gamblers and operators.

government. Therefore, patrons of this numbers game are assured of a fairand-square chance of winning. The nationwide implementation of STL will lead to the realization of the full potential of the STL in terms of its economic benefits. The PCSO also reported in

June 2018 that STL brings in almost P2 million monthly to its funds. The STL program has already raised P9.7 billion as revenue from January to May 2018.

Apparently, this makes STL a significant and efficient source of revenue for the government.

While STL is still gaining foothold in most provinces where illegal numbers games are rampant, the PCSO should increase its efforts in the expansion of this program. Last year, President Duterte issued Executive Order No. 13 which orders law enforcement agencies to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling.

I urge my fellow legislators to look into the potential of STL and support my call for its institutionalization. Numbers games are admittedly deeply ingrained in our society. What we can do therefore is to provide legal and regulated machinery that will protect the interest of the playing public. It is through STL that the people are assured of a transparent and fair game while government earns revenues for its medical and charitable programs. It is a win-win for all, but it is game over for illegal gamblers and operators.

Inside China’s internment camps: Tear gas, Tasers and textbooks

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TRAIN has caused much damage to economy Because one man’s income is another man’s cost, TRAIN has unleashed an I-get-left-behind mindset among producers and salary/wage earners. The upward spiral continues until all the WHEN a train’s system malfunctions, players in the inflationary game are it goes off the rails; it is said to be de- convinced that no more wage or price railed. The economy of which it is a increases are forthcoming in the near part is not supposed to be derailed; future.

Charge No. 2 against TRAIN is its only the train is. In the case of the implementation of the Duterte admin- adverse impact on the desideratum istration’s signature economic pro- of reduced income inequality. The gram—(TRAIN), the (Tax Reform for 6.7-percent loss of purchasing power Acceleration and Inclusion) law—it is has not produced a dent in the standthe Philippine economy, not the train, ard of living of Mr. Henry Sy, but it has meant a great deal to a Filipino rethat has gone off the tracks.

Regular readers of this column know ceiving the P532 daily minimum wage. that I have never been a supporter of That is TRAIN’s idea of inclusion?

Charge No. 3 against TRAIN is the TRAIN. My training as an economist taught me to never favor a fiscal pro- adverse effect that the rise in the inflagram that is founded on excise taxes. tion rate—and the resulting deterioraI am, unapologetically a maximize- tion in the price environment—has income-taxation, employ-excise-taxes- had on the international community’s assessment of this country’s near-term sparingly kind of economist.

Practically, TRAIN has driven off economic projects. Already the three track an otherwise steadily progress- leading international lending instituing Philippine economy. The media tions—IMF (International Monetary Fund), World are full of stoBank and ADB ries of how the (Asian DevelopTRAIN has damment Bank)— aged the econCongress needs to have reduced their omy, but please 2018 growth foreallow me, dear give it a long, hard casts for the Philreaders, to recite second look. ippines. And the the charge sheet. three foreign credAt the top of it rating agencies sheet, Charge No. have been making 1 is that TRAIN has activated an inflationary psychol- tactful noises about the negative ecoogy and stoked the prices of inflation. nomic developments that are taking Whereas the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng place in this country’s any downgrade Pilipinas) has been happily maintain- will make Philippine borrowing costing a 2-to-4 percent target range for in- lier.

Charge No. 4 against TRAIN is its flation, the nation’s monetary authority was more having to track annualized adverse impact on the external value inflation rates. The recently-released of the peso, particularly the peso-dolinflation rate for September was 6.7 lar dollar exchange rate. Every trained percent—the highest since 2009—and economist is taught that the inflation the indications are that Mr. Inflation is rate and the exchange rate influence one another, through the prices of not done yet.

Because food items account for imports and the cost of producing exaround 52 percent of the CPI (consum- ports When the peso depreciates, pricer price index) the governmental snafu es of imported raw material and semiover the rise supply has played a large processed good rise, making exports role in the upsurge in consumer prices, more costly to produce and, therefore, but the TRAIN hikes in fuel (broker less competitive. The steady deprefuel, diesel, gasoline and kerosene) ciation of the peso—thanks mainly to prices are clearly largely chargeable TRAIN-caused inflation—has been a with the steady upward movement of magical contributor to the deteriorathe inflation rate. Secretary of Finance tion in Philippine merchandise trade, D. Carlos Dominguez III and his guru its whopping $26 billion deficit in Kendrick Chua insist that the mis- 2018’s first eight months.

The charge sheet against TRAIN management of the rice situation has been the culprit in all this, but anyone is powerful. It has caused great who knows the end-use pattern of fuel damage to the economy. It almost appreciates the pervasive impact of amounts to a case of gross economic higher excise taxes on fuel. No man- mismanagement.

Congress need to give TRAIN a on-the-street media intervention is long, hard second look. The increases necessary to establish this.

Recently I wrote about the evil of in fuel excise taxes are a good place activating the inflationary psychology. to start.

Xinjiang.

But the buildup began in earnest in early 2017, with local governments in predominantly Uighur southern Xinjiang ordered to speed up the construction of “concentrated educational transformation centers for focus groups”—a euphemism for the religious, the poor, the uneducated, passport holders, and virtually all men of military age.

Shortly after, Xinjiang’s regional government issued regulations on managing “religious extremism.”

Extremists could be hiding anywhere, officials warned, instructing cadres to be on the lookout for 25 illegal religious activities and 75 signs of extremism, including such seemingly innocuous activities as quitting smoking or buying a tent.

“Detain those who should be detained to the greatest extent possible,” cadres were told.

Detentions surged, catching local governments unprepared.

In 2017, spending by justice bureaus throughout Xinjiang exploded, driven largely by huge outlays for building and running vocational centers.

The offices spent nearly three billion yuan ($432 million)—at least 577 percent more than planned—according to AFP’s calculations.

Counties in the south closed the gap with a special fund earmarked for centers in the region.

At least some of that money came directly from the Communist Party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission—the group in charge of the nation’s legal authorities—budget documents showed.

‘Wolf’s teeth’ Around April 2017, local governments began posting a wide variety of tenders related to the facilities.

Some orders—furniture, air conditioners, bunk beds, cutlery—would not seem out of place at a typical Chinese university.

But others resembled prison equipment: sophisticated surveillance systems, cameras for recording students in their rooms, razor wire, a system for eavesdropping on phone calls, and infrared monitoring devices.

The centers also bought police uniforms, riot shields and helmets, pepper spray, tear gas, net guns, stun guns, electrified batons, billy clubs, spears, handcuffs and spiked clubs known as “wolf’s teeth.”

At least one centre requested “tiger chairs”, a device used by Chinese police to restrain interrogation subjects.

The gear was necessary, party officials in the regional capital Urumqi argued in an emergency request for Tasers, to “guarantee staff members’ personal safety.”

Non-lethal weapons, it said, were important for “reducing the possibility of accidental injury in some situations where it is not necessary to use standard firearms.”

Despite repeated attempts by AFP,

local authorities could not be reached for comment before publication. On Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying questioned the report’s findings but offered no specific denial.

“I want to express my strong doubts on whether the situation you described is true,” she told an AFP reporter at a regular press conference, adding that “I hope you can look at what Chinese officials have said and what the Chinese media has reported.”

‘Self-criticisms’ At the end of 2017, “higher authorities” issued directions to standardize the facilities’ operations.

New “vocational education and training service management bureaus” were set up, headed by officials experienced in running prisons and detention centers, according to local government websites.

Students would be tested on their knowledge of Mandarin and propaganda on a weekly, monthly and “seasonal” basis, and write regular “self-criticisms”, one bureau wrote in a memo.

They would spend their days “shouting slogans, singing red songs and memorizing the Three Character Classic,” it said, referring to an ancient Confucian text.

Their files lodged in a centralized database, students were sorted into categories based on their offenses and levels of accomplishment.

Criminals who had completed a prison sentence were released directly into the centers, under the principle of “putting untrustworthy people in a trustworthy place.”

Students who performed well would be allowed to call their families or even visit them in special rooms at the centers.

Officials were ordered to regularly visit students’ families at home to give them “anti-extremism” lessons and check for signs of anger that could harden into opposition to the Communist Party.

The new bureaus also ensured “absolute security” against “troublemaking” in the centers, including preventing “escapes,” one local management bureau wrote in a breakdown of its duties.

In addition to ex-prisoners and those charged with religious extremism, local governments were also ordered to ensure that at least one member of each household received vocational education for a minimum of one to three months—a measure ostensibly aimed at alleviating poverty in the region of 24 million.

While China has rejected estimates that upwards of one million are held in the centers, tender documents hint at huge numbers.

In a one-month period in early 2018, Hotan county’s vocational education bureau, which oversees at least one center, ordered 194,000 Chinese language practice books.

And 11,310 pairs of shoes. AFP

salas differently and looked at the issues from different perspectives.

This is where the many conspiracy theorists come into play. They can point to Soriano bravely resisting government pressure while Alameda was unable to resist the pressure from the government. Alameda took a much shorter time to issue his decision while Soriano took longer. But although Alameda took the side of the government, he allowed Senator Trillanes to post bail which was taken by the good senator as victory in itself because he did not go to jail. His apparent strategy was to avoid going to jail at all cost where his ability to open his mouth and say what he wants could be curtailed like Senator Leila de Lima.

The public, however, has not seen the end of his story. The government has many tools at its disposal to deploy in order to get what it wants. So, whether the celebration of the Trillanes camp is premature or not, this will become clearer in the coming days or weeks.

*** Has the fight of Deputy Customs Collector Maria Lourdes Mangaoang against her boss Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña come to an abrupt end with her relief and transfer to a non-duty status? It would appear so.

Did she also miscalculate in coming out openly to boldly accuse Sid Lapeña as the most incompetent Customs commissioner? I do not know whether what she did was of her own decision or encouraged by some quarters to challenge her boss. But if it was her own initiative, she should have studied the situation a lot more deeply. She might have overlooked the fact that President Duterte is a different kind of boss. Unlike the previous president who easily abandons his subordinates in case of trouble, President Duterte sticks with his people no matter what.

Mangaoang might not have realized that Lapeña and the President go back a long way and that is very important to a boss like the President.

Most agree with her that those abandoned magnetic canisters recovered in Cavite contained methamphetamine and should have stuck with that line and not the incompetence accusation.

It is not only Castriciones’ office which is seeking a probe on the incident. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced From A4 that the National Bureau of Investigation call for an emergency meeting of the will step in to join investigations into the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council Sagay incident.

The Philippine National Police, executive committee to look into the which had started its own investigation, issue. has even put up a P500,000 reward for

information that would lead to the arrest of the gunmen.

And yet the Left, which instigated the act, insists on blaming the government. Why? Because it cannot gain public sympathy for their occupy adventurism as this time, they were not “robbing the rich to distribute the loot among poor” but from someone

who’s just a little well off than those farmers.

Blame the government for implementing the law which was conceptualized and nurtured by the very same people the Left is in cahoots now?

The CARP Law, which set the ceiling of land ownership at five hectares, was

enacted by the Cory administration.

The equally-anomalous CARP with Extension and Reforms or CARPER, was authored and pushed by lawmakers with whom the Left has opted to align itself now.

It is only right to demand justice for those who were killed. But it is not right to muddle the issue.

By Ben Dooley ON STATE television, the vocational education center in China’s far west looked like a modern school where happy students studied Mandarin, brushed up their job skills, and pursued hobbies such as sports and folk dance.

But earlier this year, one of the local government departments in charge of such facilities in Xinjiang’s Hotan prefecture made several purchases that had little to do with education: 2,768 police batons, 550 electric cattle prods, 1,367 pairs of handcuffs, and 2,792 cans of pepper spray.

The shopping list was among over a thousand procurement requests made by local governments in the Xinjiang region since early 2017 related to the construction and management of a sprawling system of “vocational education and training centers.”

The facilities have come under international scrutiny, with rights activists describing them as political reeducation camps holding as many as one million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim minorities.

Beijing had previously denied their existence. But a global outcry, including from the UN and the US, sparked a PR counter-offensive.

Government propaganda insisted the centers were aimed at countering the spread of separatism, terrorism and religious extremism through “free” education and job training.

However, an AFP examination of more than 1,500 publicly available government documents—ranging from tenders and budgets to official work reports—shows the centers are run more like jails than schools.

Thousands of guards equipped with tear gas, Tasers, stun guns and spiked clubs keep tight control over “students” in facilities ringed with razor wire and infrared cameras, according to the documents.

The centers should “teach like a school, be managed like the military, and be defended like a prison,” said one document, quoting Xinjiang’s party secretary Chen Quanguo.

To build new, better Chinese citizens, another document argued, the centers must first “break their lineage, break their roots, break their connections, and break their origins.”

‘Detain those who should be detained’ The center featured on state broadcaster CCTV last week is one of at least 181 such facilities in Xinjiang, according to data collected by AFP. Participation is voluntary, according to CCTV, which showed contented “students” wearing matching uniforms, studying Mandarin and learning trades like knitting, weaving and baking.

The centers first appeared in 2014, the year that authorities launched a new “strike hard” campaign against “terrorism” after deadly violence in

Overstretching

The judge’s...

From A4

News

A6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Benguet urged to declare ‘minahang bayan’

By Rio N. Araja

GOODWILL VISIT. Indian sailors of INS Rana prepare a tarpaulin as it docks at the international port in Manila on Tuesday. The multi-role guided missile destroyer INS Rana is in Manila for a four-day goodwill visit. AFP

Cops nab police officer and cohort

By Francisco Tuyay AN ACTIVE police officer who is a relative of a notorious kidnap-for-ransom group member reportedly involved in the kidnapping of two American nationals in Mindanao and his civilian cohort allegedly link to gun running activities were arrested by police intelligence operatives Tuesday afternoon.

The Counter-Intelligence Task Force office identified the suspect as PO2 Jaid Awal Pingli, assigned at Station 1, Pasay Community Precinct Station, and his alleged cohort Jose Dalayre, a gunsmith.

CITF commander Sr. Supt. Romeo Caramat said Pingli was arrested by CITF operatives and agents of the Intelligence Group during an entrapment operation along 3rd Avenue, Bagong Lipunan ng Camp Crame at 2:45 pm.

An undercover CITF agent had just paid P90,000 for a firearm to Pingli.

Confiscated from Pingli were one M4 caliber 5.56 Armalite rifle with a scope and a magazine with 7 bullets, a short plastic magazine and one Tanfoglio 99mm pistol and a magazine with 10 bullets.

Caramat said the operation stemmed from an intelligence packet stating the suspect was involved in gunrunning activities in Region 1, Cordillera, particularly in Kalinga province and Metro Manila.

He said Pingli had politicians as customers, including two from Kalinga province he declined to identify.

The CITF also believed that Pingli was the source of firearms of lawless elements.

CITF records showed the police officer was a relative of the Pingli brothers, a notorious KFR Group in Zamboanga City and a criminal gang.

One of his relatives, Wahid Pingli, alias Guru, the leader of the KFR group was killed in 2012 after he resisted arrest during the service of an arrest warrant while Ismael Pingli, alias Tago, was arrested in 2016.

Another Pingli family member, Gafur Pingli, who is also the subject of police operations remain at large.

1,470 workers to get aid, jobs

By Vito Barcelo THE 1,470 Filipino workers displaced by the lockout of Azmeel Contracting Corp. in Saudi Arabia will get P20,000 cash assistance and job opportunities, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.

The first batch of more than 100 affected Filipino workers who were repatriated arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport recently will receive the cash assistance and jobs at the Department of Public Works and Highways of the Department of Transportation, Bello said in a statement.

He said most of them were construction workers hired by the Azmeel firm, and are qualified to land jobs in the two department projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

“When I asked the displaced OFWs, almost 100 percent wanted to be repatriated to the Philippines. We understand that they are lonely and they miss their families.

Since the holiday season is almost here, we want to bring back the OFWs to their loved ones,” Bello said.

To facilitate their reintegration, he said the workers would be assisted in finding alternative employment or to engage in their chosen livelihood undertaking.

Existing fair mart values in QC get hefty increase 2016, while indeed of great public interest and of transcendental importance, must nonetheless await the filing of the proper HE Supreme Court has paved the way for the case by the proper party,” the tribunal said. implementation of Quezon City ordinance that effectively According to the SC, it was informed increases the existing fair market values of land, buildings, that the registration of AWCHI had been revoked by the Securities and Exchange and other structures in the city from 100 percent to as much as Commission in 2004 because of its non500 percent. registration with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

This emerged after the Supreme Court ruled, capitalizations in the ruling.

“The Rules of Court mandates that only In an en banc decision penned by Associlifted, on technical ground, its 2017 temporary restraining order that enjoined the Que- ate Justice Estela M. Perlas Bernabe, the SC natural or juridical persons, or entities auzon City government from implementing stressed that the lifting of the TRO and the thorized by law may be parties in a civil the FMV increases under Ordinance 2256, dismissal of the petition against the Quezon action. Non-compliance with this requireCity ordinance on FMVs was only because ment renders a case dismissible on the Series of 2016.

“WHEREFORE, the petition is DIS- the Alliance of Quezon City Homeowners’ ground of lack of legal capacity to sue…”

MISSED due to petitioner Alliance of Association Inc., which filed the case, had the high court ruled.

It junked AQCHI’s allegation that the Quezon City Homeowners’ Association no legal standing on the issue.

“Thus, the resolution of the issues anent petition was filed by its board of trustees Inc.’s lack of legal capacity to sue. The Temporary Restraining Order issued on the validity and constitutionality of Que- through its treasurer Danilo Liwanag, a April 18, 2017 is hereby LIFTED,” the SC zon City Ordinance No. SP-2556, Series of taxpayer and a Quezon City resident.

By Rey Requejo

T

HALLOWTIDE ENFORCER.

Traffic officer Ramiro Minojas wears a Halloween mask while directing traffic at the intersection of Macapagal Boulevard and EDSA extension in Pasay City on Wednesday.

Norman Cruz

OPPOSITION Senator Antonio Trillanes is facing yet another legal woes after the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office summoned him to answer the complaint for inciting to sedition and proposal to commit coup d’etat filed against him.

In a subpoena furnished to the Department of Justice, the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office through Assistant City Prosecutor Reynaldo Ticyado required the embattled senator to appear in hearing set at 1:30 pm today and submit his counter-affidavit or answer to the charges.

MMDA to close Manila portion of Roxas Blvd.

By Joel E. Zurbano

Trillanes faces new raps, summoned by Pasay fiscal

By Rey E. Requejo

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday ordered Benguet City’s Provincial Mining Regulatory Board to speed up the declaration of a “minahang bayan” for use by smallscale miners.

“I am directing the PMRB in Benguet to convene immediately for the declaration of a ‘minahang bayan’ for our miners,” he said.

He said he “politely” turned down the petition by miners and gold panners to lift his order stopping all smallscale mining activities in Benguet following a landslide that killed dozens of small-scale miners in Itogon at the height of Super Typhoon “Ompong” in September.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources chief, the suspension order would stay in effect until a “minahang bayan” was declared and already safe for mining operations to resume, particularly within the Benguet Corp. patented area in Sitio Luneta in Barangay Loakan.

Public safety is the government’s top priority, he stressed.

He gave the assurance that those who attended the agency’s dialogue would retain their rightful claim to the mineral resources in the area even with the suspension order.

“You were miners before, you are still miners now, and you will be miners forever,” he said.

The declaration of the “minahang bayan” is the only legal option to continue the mining activities in the area, he added.

The Provincial Mining Regulatory Board is chaired by the DENR represented by director Fay Apil of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau office in the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

Cimatu advised the petitioners to abide by the suspension order and make sure their requirements were complete.

He cited the commitment made by the miners to sell their gold to the Bangko Sentral and called them to pay the right taxes from their income.

The preliminary investigation came after the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Manuelito Luna and Department of Labor and Employment undersecretary Jacinto Paras filed the criminal cases against Trillanes.

Luna and Paras sought the indictment of Trillanes in their complaint filed last month over his “incendiary and hateful speeches against President Rodrigo Duterte after issuance of Proclamation 572 that voided the amnesty granted him during the previous administration.”

Trillanes was ordered to appear before the court and personally subscribe to his

answer after he failed to appear in previous hearings.

Luna has accused the senator of destabilizing the government by allegedly convincing members of the uniformed service and the public to revolt against the Duterte administration.

Last Monday, the Makati RTC Branch 148 denied the DOJ’s motion for issuance of arrest warrant and hold departure order against the opposition senator but at the same time declared Proclamation 572 as valid.

The DOJ said it plans to file motion for partial reconsideration of the ruling before the RTC.

THE Metro Manila Development Authority has announced it will close portion of Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Saturday in connection with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Jesus Is Lord Fellowship at the Rizal Park.

Three lanes from Kalaw Street to P. Burgos (southbound) will be off-limits to vehicles beginning at 12:01 am for some technical preparations in the area.

Remaining lanes on the said portion will be totally closed from 10 am up to midnight for activities lined up for the event.

Orange barriers and cones will be placed on affected area to guide motorists.

MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said the event would utilize the Quirino Grandstand and is expected to draw 100,000 participants.

“We advise the public to stay away from the area if you have no important business there,” he said.

MMDA traffic enforcers will also be working hand in hand with the Manila local government in managing traffic and ensuring the safety of the participants.

One lane on streets of Kalaw, Bonifacio Drive, and P. Burgos will serve also as drop off points of buses carrying the participants.

Designated parking areas are in Intramuros, Cultural Center of the Philippines and Philippine International Convention Center.

Nat’l research contest seeks innovative solutions to community problems ASCENDENS Asia Group, Singapore and Philippine partners are inviting students and other researchers to submit abstracts of their studies on practical and innovative solutions to the most pressing problems facing their local communities in the First National Competition on Research Poster Presentations to be held next March.

The project, Research Advocacy for Community Empowerment, seeks to generate 20,000 research outputs, mainly from public and private academic institutions from Junior High School to Post-Graduate levels.

The most outstanding researchers will get the opportunity to present their research topics in poster format to interested companies, organizations, financial partners and the general public at the national RACE competitions at a Metro Manila venue in March.

The competition and exhibition is a fivemonth search for the top 10 research papers conducted at various public and private schools in all regions of the country.

Researchers will be invited to make a poster -based presentation on the subject of their research and how it will help solve

the problems of their local communities.

RACE is designed to run annually.

The organizers applied to set a Guinness World record for being the world’s largest simultaneously coordinated research competition and exhibition with the most number of participants in more than 200 locations in a country.

“The first-of-its-kind poster presentation format of the competition and exhibition is designed to create opportunities for students, faculty, professionals, and researchers in various fields from different

institutions to meet with their counterparts and potential partners in a friendly yet competitive atmosphere,” says Dr. Glenn S. Cabacang, AAG, Singapore Chairman and overall Chair of RACE. “It creates platforms for interested private companies, international organizations and government agencies to meet with budding researchers and collaborate, finance and widen the practical application of researches that will help solve the most pressing issues facing communities and economic sectors.”

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Cocolife Tigers roar with win in Davao DAVAO Cocolife Tigers proved to be meaner than the visiting Mandaluyong El Tigre as they secured a onesided 86-63 victory in the Vis Min Invasion of 2018 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League held recently at the Rizal Memorial College Gym in Davao City.

The home team of Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental LGU, backed by Cocolife president Elmo Nobleza, FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan, took control of the game with the early explosion of homegrown talents Emman Calo and Leo Paler as the Tigers grabbed a double-digit spread, 43-32, at the half.

The predators from Mindanao roared louder, showing their sharp teeth in the third canto when veterans Mark Yee, Leo Najorda, Bonbon Custodio and Ilonggo star Billy Robles put on their relentless attacks offensively to silence the El Tigre of Mandaluyong, which played minus injured star player Bobby Ray Parks.

The Tigers’ victory allowed them to top the standings in the South Division second phase elimination of the league organized by Senator Manny Pacquiao with their 9-3 record.

Early leader El Tigre skidded to 7th place in the North Division from second following a four-game losing skid.

“The veterans guided us in this victory, strengthened by solid motivation from our coaches to never lose in our own territory,” said the Game’s Best Player Calo.

Pinas Cup lures 7,000 enthusiasts CLARK FREEPORT—More than 7,000 football enthusiasts are expected to flock in this Freeport to witness the staging of the biggest football tournament in the country, dubbed as ‘Pinas Cup 2018’ on Oct. 27 to 30.

Organized by Manila Soccer Academy in cooperation with Philippine Football Federation, the event will bring together some 115 teams, including participants from Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Indonesia, and Thailand among others.

Accordingly, supporters and spectators of competing teams coming from Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan De Oro, Bicol and Metro Manila will also come over to play, cheer and enjoy the festivities during the four-day football tournament here.

Representatives from leading schools and universities in the country such as Ateneo, University of the Philippines, La Salle, and Xavier School and other selected schools will also join in the competition.

Now on its 3rd year here, Clark Development Corporation is in coordination with the organizers to ensure the success of the said event.

“Clark Freeport Zone is now a primary sponsor. They provide us with 8 full size pitches and 5 small size pitches and have agreed to maintain the pitch to a well acceptable standard and playing quality. We also find Clark as an ideal venue to host national and international teams with the international airport, numerous hotels in the area as well as various entertainment attractions,” the organizers said.

This year’s Pinas Cup will include

Akai lights up Adamson’s UAAP Season 81 campaign

The Adamson women’s teams: Competing at a high-level with the backing of Akari.

Tio has 6 years to train for 2024 Paris Olympics

By Petert Atencio

C

HRISTIAN Tio will have six years to prepare for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

By then, kiteboarding will among the new sports disciplines that will be considered an Olympic sport.

And he will have plenty of time improve on his craft.

“I will have a very long time to prepare for this,” said the 17-year-old Tio, a week after bagging the Philippines’ first silver medal at the recent 2018 Youth Olympic Games, Kiteboarding makes its Summer Olympic debut as a regular sport in Marseille, Paris in 2024 after being approved as one of the 10 sailing events on the program. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, kiteboarding is considered a

demonstration sport.

This decision followed lengthy discussions at a Mid-Year Meeting of World Sailing at Stamford Bridge Football Stadium in London.

Male and female windsurfing and mixed one and two-person dinghy events were also approved to join the five classes already proposed.

The exact equipment and format will not be confirmed until later this year.

The equipment and format will be officially confirmed in November at the World Sailing Annual General Meeting.

The other five events will remain the men’s laser and 49er, the women’s laser radial and 49erFX and the mixed twoperson Nacra 17 multihull class.

For now, Tio, a Fil-Norwegian, will just enjoy the moment and take a rest before he goes into competition again in 2019.

“We’ll see what events are coming,” said Tio, who recently hooked up with

officials of Red Bull Energy Drink, which is among his main sponsors.

For the last two years, Red Bull has partnered with Tio, helping him in his development in many ways.

Tio settled for a silver medal in the men’s kiteboarding twin tip racing with Toni Vodisek of Slovenia in the Youth Olympic Games, while Deury Corniel of Dominican Republic won the gold.

Officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, led Commissioners Celia Kiram and Arnold Agustin, congratulated Tio for giving the country its first medal in YOG, ever since the Philippines started participating in the 2010.

By virtue of R.A. 10699, Tio is set to receive P2.5 million in cash incentives, with his coach receiving the equivalent of 50 percent of his take.

Tio will join the medallists of the 2018 Asian Paragames when they receive their incentives at the Malacañang Palace next month.

FOR the past five years, Akari has been supporting Adamson in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Season 81 is no exception as Akari continues to soar with the Falcons.

Akari is once again going all out to support the Adamson Falcons in their bid for a men’s basketball championship. Since taking over the program in 2016, coach Franz Pumaren has steered the team to two consecutive Final Four appearances. This year, the Falcons are touted as strong contenders in the senior men’s basketball division.

Meanwhile, third-year American mentor Airess Padda is training the Lady Falcons to compete at a higher level. As part of their off-season build-up, the volleybelles are joining several leagues ahead of their UAAP season opening in February 2019.

For the program’s continuity, Akari has also included the high school girls’ volleyball team under its management. Early this year, the company held the Akari National High School Volleyball Championships to scout promising players and bring them in to the Adamson junior and senior volleyball programs.

After delivering the university’s first championship in the UAAP Cheer Dance Competition last year, Adamson Pep Squad coach Jam Lorenzo and his wards are training harder than ever to defend their crown as the UAAP CDC unfolds in November.

Akari’s unwavering support to the Adamson University for the past five years is just one of the many initiatives under the brand’s youth development and sports program. The company has formalized the Akari Foundation to extend its support to the youth beyond collegiate sports. Akari recently gathered the 2018-2019 Adamson University scholars of the company. In an intimate dinner, Christopher Tiu, Akari chief executive officer, reiterated the lighting and energy company’s commitment to help enlighten the future of the Filipino youth.

“Through the Lim Liok Lim and Carter Tiu scholarships, we aim to give back via tertiary scholarship grants.

The immediate family members of our employees, as well as the nearest kin of the athletes of the company-sponsored school teams are our priority. We’re also open to providing scholarship grants to indigent but deserving individuals,” Tiu said.

Blue Dragons, PCC Seagulls reach Fr. Martin Cup quarterfinals THE Diliman College Blue Dragons and the Pasig Catholic College Seagulls defeated separate rivals over the weekend to reach the quarterfinals of the 16th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament.

Kevine Gandjeto banged in 20 points for the Blue Dragons in fending off the Letran Knights, 92-87, for their fifth straight win in Group A of the senior division at the La Consolacion College of Manila gymnasium in Mendiola.

PCC won over University of Perpetual Help-Molino, 88-84, in the playoff for the last berth in Group B.

The Blue Dragons will meet the PCC Seagulls in the quarterfinals, which will begin this Saturday, according to commissioner Robert de la Rosa.

JM Salazar made 12 points for the Blue Dragons, who joined PCC in the quarterfinals with the La Salle Green Archers, the La Consolacion College-Manila Blue Royals, the Letran Knights, the National University-B Bullpups, the Arellano University Chiefs and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa Marshalls.

In the junior division, First City Providential School of Bulacan made it to the quarterfinals after sweeping

their seven-game assignment in Group A following a default win over Xavier School.

FCPC is in the semifinals with the Diliman Preparatory School Blue Dragons, Chiang Kai Shek College, St. Joseph College-Bulacan, Xavier School, Paco Citizens Academy Foundation, La Consolacion College-Manila and University of Santo Tomas.

Last week, Christian Aljecera connected with 23 points for the PLMUN Marshalls as they defeated the San Beda Red Lions, 95-89, and assured themselves of their place in the quarterfinals.

El Clasico match fires up at La Liga on ABS-CBN’s Sports + Action THE La Liga gears up for another “El Clasico” match that will surely provide all the fireworks this weekend for Filipino football fans as FC Barcelona and Real Madrid face off for pride and glory this Sunday live on ABS-CBN S+A at 11:10 p.m.

Before the storied rivals take the field in Camp Nou, the English Premier League

will pit Leicester and visiting West Ham at 12:25 a.m. on Sunday, to serve as appetizer for the main meal later in the day. Another EPL match-up will air on Tuesday, as Tottenham hosts the 2017-2018 EPL champions Manchester City live at 3:55 a.m.

However, all eyes will be on the age-long rivalry between Spain’s two biggest, and

most successful, professional football clubs in Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barca leads the Los Blancos in their match-up with 112 wins against Real Madrid’s 99. This coming “El Clasico,” however, will be played without football greats and usual headliners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The pride of Portugal has transferred to the Italian side

Juventus in the offseason, while ultimate rival Messi suffered an arm injury recently.

Still, fans will have a lot to watch with Uruguayan superstar Luis Suarez leading the attack line of Barcelona while the Los Blancos have Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, as well as 2018 Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year Luka Modric in the midfield.

Moreno fastest in Phoenix Slalom; Rivera second

Jevoy Moreno of JAF Racing Team is shown prior to his winning run.

JEVOY Moreno of JAF Racing Team bagged the overall and Front Wheel best time of the day to stun his close rivals Milo Rivera, Inigo Anton and Richard Gallardo in the ninth leg of the 2018 RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Pulse Technology National Slalom Series.

Moreno clocked 41.09 seconds to edge reigning champion Rivera of Tough Gear Racing, who had a 41.20.

Inigo Anton of Mark Young Racing Team came in third with 41.43, Richard Gallardo of JAF Racing Team placed fourth with 42.58, while Powee Base of PMMS Rennsport Racing Team ranked fifth with 42.59 seconds.

Rivera, however, bagged the Rear Wheel Production best time of the day, with Moreno taking the Front Wheel best clocking, followed by Anton and Gallardo.

Base also brought home the novice best clocking of 42.59, followed by Vegil Calayo of JAF Racing Team with 43.51 and Ram Rafanan of SpeedJav Racing Team with 43.93.

Moreno and Gallardo will represent the Philippine Team in the coming Asian Gymkhana on Nov. 11 in Taiwan.

The 2018 RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Pulse Technology National Slalom Series with enhanced power and acceleration is also supported by major sponsors Federal Tyres, 3K Batteries, New SR KYB Special Shock Absorbers, Robinsons Starmills and Robinsons Malls. It is also supported by Starbright Body Kits and Auto Transporter, with media partners Stoplight TV, C! Magazine, Auto Car Magazine, Power Wheels Magazine and Medical Team AEROMED. The event was participated in by Tough Gear Racing Team, PMMS Rennsports, Rodlea Racing Team, JAF Racing Team, Pongga Racing Team, Mark Young Race Cars, Speedjav Racing Team, Gadzspeed Racing Team and Mel Torres Racing Team.

The 10th leg will be held on Oct. 27 and 28 at the Athletic Bowl Burnham Park, Baguio City, which will mark the start of the double-point legs until the 12th stage.

Practice runs will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a maximum of three practice runs per driver.

Official runs will be held on Sunday, starting at 8 a.m.

For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at tel. nos. 09178119337 or like the organizers’ Facebook page racemotorsportsclub.

Some of the official Results: Novice Stock Injected: 1st Kevin Kurt Cruz 53.56, 2nd Caloy Moreno 55.48 Novice Modified A: 1st Ram Rafanan 44.00, 2nd Rod Chang 48.24, 3rd Marvin Gadia 58.14 Novice Modified B: 1st Powee Base 42.97, 2nd Vegil Calayo 44.30, 3rd Ram Rafanan 48.56 Novice Modified C: 1st Powee Base 42.79, 2nd Vegil Calayo 43.62, 3rd Ram Rafanan 44.08 Novice 1A: 1st Ram Rafanan 43.93, 2nd Vegil Calayo 43.97, 3rd Powee Base 43.99 Novice 1B: 1st Powee Base 43.00, 2nd Vegil Calayo 43.70, 3rd Sofia Munoz 50.61

Sports

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

A8

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

Eduardo Nunez of the Boston Red Sox hits a three-run home run during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP

Balanced scoring run lifts Eagles past Warriors Games Saturday (Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. Ateneo vs NU 4 p.m. FEU vs La Salle

By Peter Atencio IVORY Coast cager Angelo Kouame wasn’t alone in leading the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles to a 90-70 swamping of the University of the East Warriors yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 6’10” Kouame got help from four other teammates and together, they all scored in double digits to lift the Blue Eagles to their eighth win in 10 games in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Kouame delivered 18 points and 16 rebounds, contributing most of them in the first half.

Ateneo’s third consecutive win came with Christian Tyler Tio and Raffy Verano adding 16 and 14 points, respectively, and the pair of Thirdy Ravena and Jolo Mendoza hitting 10 points apiece.

The balanced scoring assault allowed the Blue Eagles to come up with their most productive game of the season as they surpassed by a point their score of 89-62 when they beat the same team in the first round.

The Blue Eagles went on to erect a 14-point spread, 29-15, at the end of the first period off Jolo Mendoza’s attack.

“We had a terrific first half, both defensively and offensively, especially in the second quarter, when UE came out with more fire,” said Sandy Arespacochaga, who shared coaching responsibilities with Tab Baldwin.

Kouame made five points in the second period as Ateneo limited UE to nine points and took a 44-24 spread in the last 3:54 off an SJ Belengel basket.

Then, a 9-0 blast behind Kouame and Tio gave Ateneo a huge 53-24 halftime spread.

Ravena, coming out of a one-game suspension, only had a point in the third--a split charity with 9:41 to go as Ateneo grabbed its biggest taste of the lead at 58-24.

Phoenix blasts Rain, nails quarterfinal slot

By Jeric Lopez

P

HOENIX erected a furious fourth-quarter rally to hack out a hard-fought 103-97 come-from-behind win over ailing Rain or Shine to earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last night.

Eugene Phelps and Calvin Abueva listed powerful double-double performances to lift the Fuel Masters.

Each scored 18 points, with Phelps adding 20 rebounds and seven assists for a near triple-double, while Abueva added 12 boards.

Trailing through three quarters, the Fuel Masters woke up in the final 12 minutes to flip the script and turn the tides in their favor.

A key 14-6 run gave them the lead, 9893, after an LA Revilla triple with 1:18 remaining.

Stunned like a deer in the headlights, the Elasto Painters were unable to answer back, surrendering the game helplessly.

The win allowed Phoenix to formally clinch a berth in the quarters with its 7-3 record.

Furthermore, it kept its spot at No. 4 and enhanced its chances of ending in the top four.

Matthew Wright added 17 for Phoenix.

On the other hand, the loss proved to be very costly for Rain or Shine, which lost its third straight game and fell to 2-7.

The Elasto Painters only have a slim chance of entering the top eight given their current position at No. 10.

Rain or Shine led 84-74 at the end of three quarters, but got outscored, 2913, in the final frame as it quickly lost control.

Phoenix slowly but surely stayed within striking distance before hitting hard down the stretch to snatch the game.

Chris Tiu led all scorers with a gamehigh 24 points for Rain or Shine.

The scores: Phoenix 103—Abueva 18, Phelps 18, Wright 17, Revilla 13, Chua 12, Perkins 10, Jazul 7, Intal 3, Wilson 3, Kramer 2, Alolino 0.

Rain or Shine 97—Tiu 24, Yap 14, Ponferada 11, Ahanmisi 10, Borboran 9, Nambatac 8, Morwood 7, Washington 6, Watson 4, Daquioag 2, Maiquez 2, Torres 0.

Quarters: 27-21, 50-55, 74-84, 103-97.

Solid 67 gives Carlos 2-shot Tarlac golf lead TARLAC—Jobim Carlos wielded hot putter in another scorching day here yesterday, shooting a bogey-free 67 and overhauling Elmer Salvador’s overnight three-stroke lead to seize control by two over Jack Sullivan of Australia midway through the CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open.

Carlos, who recalled his fierce form with a 68 start Tuesday after back-to-back struggles in the last two legs of the Philippine Golf Tour, sustained his attack in another good scoring condition at Luisita, producing five birdies inside 12 feet despite a late tee-off to surge ahead of the pack at nine-under 135.

“I played steady throughout and my putting was good,” said Carlos, who actually missed hiking his lead to three with a muffed eight-foot birdie putt on his closing hole at the par-5 ninth.

He stood two strokes ahead of Sullivan, who had earlier grabbed the clubhouse lead at 137, also after a five-under card, in morning play that also saw overnight leader Salvador lose his touch off the mound and on the green—and the lead— with a 73.

Like majority of the contenders, Thai

Nirun Sae-ueng tamed the backside with a 32 en route to a 67, catching Salvador at 138 heading to the final 36 holes of the $100,000 event serving as the sixth leg of the second season of the PGA Asia put up

by ICTSI. Jhonnel Ababa made it a three-way tie for third in one of the late flights as the threetime PGT Asia leg winner, including at Forest Hills last July, rallied with a pitch-in eagle on No. 7 and a birdie on the ninth for a 70 to get back into the thick of things.

Korean-American Seungjae Maeng also fired an eagle-spiked 68 to join three others at sixth at 139, including Keanu Jahns, who birdied three of the last seven at the front, James Ryan Lam, who blew a hot four-under card after six holes, also at back, with two bogeys against one more birdie for 69, and Macedonia’s Peter Stojanovski, who rallied with two birdies in the last five holes at the front to card a 70.

American Pete Vilairatana carded a 69 to tie Joenard Rates (70), compatriot Josh Salah (71) and Aussie Tim Stewart (72) at ninth with 140s, five shots behind Carlos, who pressed his bid for another PGT Asia crown after scoring a breakthrough at Riviera last June.

Jobim Carlos

Davao Oriental hosts Children’s Games

Participants of past Children’s Games are shown enjoying the PSC event.

THE regional series of Philippine Sports Commission Children’s Games for churches will go to Davao Oriental on Oct. 25 to 27 after the successful staging of the Davao City leg at St. Mary of the Perpetual Rosary Parish covered court in Buhangin, Davao City recently.

PSC national consultant on grassroots sports Doctor Serge Opeña, assessing the Davao City leg, said: “Rating is 3.58 which is excellent. There were 290 kids ages six to 14 years old. There were 34 Ate and Kuya volunteers from four churches.”

He also said that the children were thankful for the opportunity to play.

“Older children, however, wanted ball games,” Opeña said, adding that they will consider the suggestion raised in future legs.

Some parents who were present attested that their children enjoyed the games so much that they did not want to go home.

Participants were from host St. Mary of the Perpetual Rosary Parish, St. Francsis of Assisi Parish in La Verna Subdivision, Buhangin, San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Talomo and International Churches of Christ (ICOC)-Davao.

The children were grouped into 10 with one Ate or Kuya volunteer who underwent training on leadership and rights of the child last October 19.

Games like hula hoop relay, t-shirt relay, Maria went to town, ball relay, sack race and tug-of-peace were then played on Oct. 20. PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey was guest speaker.

He also witnessed the games.

Nunez powers Red Sox to World Series Game 1 win BOSTON—year after collapsing injured on the field to start the Major League Baseball playoffs, Boston Red Sox second baseman Eduardo Nunez went from heartbroken has-been to World series hero.

The 31-year-old Dominican infielder smashed a three-run homer Tuesday over Fenway Park’s giant “Green Monster” left-field wall to secure host Boston’s 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of the 114th World Series.

“It’s weird because I don’t care about being a hero. As long as we have the win, that’s all that matters,” Nunez said. “We’re here to win and lose together. Who cares who’s the hero that night? As long as we have a hero, that’s a good feeling because we have the win.”

Both managers made substitutions in the seventh inning that left pinchhitter Nunez at the plate against Dodgers reliever Alex Wood with two runners on base and two outs and Boston clinging to a 5-4 lead.

Nunez blasted the ball high to left field and into the first row of seats atop the iconic landmark.

“In the beginning I thought it was going to be a single, because the ball go so high,” he said. “When I see the ball is going, I was excited, because I didn’t expect the ball going away.”

As Nunez circled the bases, he looked at the cheering Red Sox supporters delirious with delight.

“That was the best feeling as a player, see all the fans, they paid tickets to watch us, to play and be crazy,” Nunez said. “That’s a great feeling.”

Nunez began his major league career for Boston’s arch-rival, the New York Yankees, in 2010 and also played for Minnesota and San Francisco before joining the Red Sox last year.

But Nunez suffered a right knee injury in September 2017 that was later diagnosed as a severe ligament sprain.

He aggravated the injury in his return later that month and when he started Boston’s playoff opener, he collapsed on the field after trying to run out a ground ball in his first time at bat. He was carried off the field and dropped from the lineup.

“For sure I was disappointed in myself last year. I was getting injured in the wrong time,” Nunez said. “So my teammates lost in the first round. Was awful. So I signed back. I told Alex (Cora, the Red Sox manager), the only reason I signed back here, was I want to win rings. I never have that experience.

I never have a World Series game. AFP

Griffin scores 50 as Pistons crush Sixers LOS ANGELES—Blake Griffin scored a career-high 50 points as the Detroit Pistons extended their unbeaten start to the season with an overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

Griffin weighed in with a driving layup to tie the score with just under two seconds left on the clock and drew a foul from Robert Covington before making a free throw to seal a 133-132 victory at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.

Griffin also weighed in with 14 rebounds and six assists as the Pistons laid down a marker to their Eastern Conference rivals.

Griffin’s career night also included one highlight-reel worthy moment in the second quarter when he soared above Sixers big man Joel Embiid to slam down a monster dunk.

“We just kept fighting,” Griffin said.

“We kept taking punches.

“At halftime I said this wasn’t going to be a game where the person who punches the most wins. It’s going to be about the person who can absorb the most punches, and we did that.

“We just believed and kept fighting and finished the game.”

Griffin, who was showered with chants of “M-V-P” throughout, said he had been determined to nail his winning free throw after missing six earlier in the game.

“I’m going to go and ice and then get back to the free throw line to practice,” he said.

Griffin was one of five players to finish with double digit scoring figures, with Reggie Jackson claiming 23 points and Ish Smith adding 21 off the bench.

Pelicans, Nuggets roll on The victory gave Detroit three wins out of three as they set out on their latest bid to return to the postseason.

The Pistons have not made the playoffs since 2016, when they finished eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia’s preparations meanwhile were jolted earlier Tuesday when Australian-born guard Ben Simmons was ruled out with tightness in his lower back. AFP

IN BRIEF DoE studies options on Malampaya field

THE Department of Energy is conducting a technical study on the reserves of the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan to enable the government to prepare for options in securing the country’s future power requirements, a ranking official said.

“I already asked for technical studies on what (natural gas) supply is left and how it can be extracted after the end of contract so we will know what options we have and how we can make it public,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

The service contract for the Malampaya gas project, operated by the consortium of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., Chevron Malampaya LLC and PNOC Exploration corp. is due to expire in 2024. The Malampaya project supplies power to five natural gas power plants in Batangas province with a capacity of over 3,000 megawatts.

Cusi said reports that Spex had expressed interest to become the operations and maintenance provider for the Malampaya if the government would not renew the contract was part of the options government was reviewing.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Consumer group airs plea vs FIT-All rates

Business

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ILTON, a leading global hospitality company, is bullish on the Philippine market with plans to expand its presence in the country.

Hilton vice president South East Asia operations Paul Hutton said in a press briefing Wednesday during the opening of the 357-room Hilton Manila at the

Resorts World Manila complex in Pasay City the group was scheduled to launch its third hotel brand in the Philippines in Clark, Pampanga next year.

Hutton said the government’s move to develop the country’s infrastructure would greatly benefit the local travel industry.

“With local government support for developing infrastructure including expanding the airport, cruise ports, building accommodation facilities and aircraft acquisition, it spells good news for the travel industry,” Hutton said.

He said the opening of Hilton Manila marked a strategic milestone for Hilton.

THE Social Security System is offering an additional payment scheme for qualified delinquent employers who are experiencing financial difficulties in fulfilling their outstanding obligations to the pension fund.

SSS president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Dooc said delinquent employers who had paid their principal obligations would be entitled to a one-year period within which they can defer the payment of the penalty either in full or through installment based on the assigned monthly installment payment plan.

“As valuable partners of the pension fund, we want to help them instead of giving much burden by providing lenient ways in paying their financial obligations to SSS,” Dooc said.

Delinquent employers who are qualified for the additional settlement option are those with outstanding obligation of at least P100,000 exclusive of penalty, with or without pending cases before the Prosecutor’s Office, courts, and Social Security Commission, and with or without subsisting approved settlement scheme.

“The additional payment option specifically caters to delinquent employers who are currently experiencing financial difficulties due to income losses, mismanagement or those who were greatly affected by natural and man-made disasters,” Dooc added.

Under the SSS Circular No. 2018008, employers who paid their principal contributions in full or within a period not exceeding 90 days from the approval of the application, will entitled to a one-year period to defer the payment of their accrued penalties.

“It speaks to the growth opportunities we see in the Philippines, and we are entering the city at a great time when we’re witnessing some of the strongest tourism growth, with an all-time high of foreign visitors into the Philippines in the first half of 2018. We look forward to enhancing the guest experience and playing an integral role in defining the hospitality landscape here in the Philippines,” Hutton said.

Resorts World Manila chief operating officer Stephen Reilly said Hilton Manila formed part of the phase 3 development of the integrated resort and gaming complex.

MARKETING COMPANY OF THE YEAR. Vista

Land & Lifescapes Inc. bags the most coveted Agora Award—The Marketing Company of the Year—at the 39th Agora Awards presented by the Philippine Marketing Association at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom, Pasay City. Receiving the award is Vista Land’s director and managing director for Vista Land commercial division Camille Villar (fourth from left). She is joined by (from left) 39th Agora Awards Marketing Company of the Year category head John Alexis Revilla; MEGA Global Corp. president William Tiu Lim; PMA president Arlene Padua; overall chair Maeyeth Cayabyab-Cadungog; and director Mary Faith Abaño.

Tala bares strategic PayPal investment

SSS introduces payment option for delinquent firms

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

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Hilton bullish, plans more hotels H

LABAN Konsyumer Inc. president Victorio Mario Dimagiba met with Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Agnes Devanadera on Monday to push once again for an immediate action against the feed-in-tariff allowance being charged to consumers’ electric bills, which are burdening consumers with high prices.

The group explained the urgency of the issue, saying “FIT-All is collected from electric consumers nationwide and is used to subsidize payments to select RE developers.”

“But what is alarming though is that FIT-All has increased more than sixfold from 4c/kWh in 2015 to 25c/kWh starting June 2018. There are even pending petitions to further increase this to as much as 29c/kWh. We met with ERC to put a stop to this unjust and overpriced component of consumers’ electricity bills,” said Dimagiba He reiterated his recent concerns regarding Fit-All in the past months, noting that “the FIT-All Rate petitions are the only cases where the Commission grants a rate that is higher than what was asked by the petitioners.

TALA, the leading consumer lending app in emerging markets, announced a strategic investment from PayPal. The two companies share a commitment to building financial health, enabling all people to gain access to the digital economy.

PayPal’s investment will help Tala bring visibility and access to underserved populations in emerging markets across the globe.

More than two-thirds of the world’s adult population have no formal credit bureau record, making it difficult for traditional financial services to understand and reach these consumers.

Tala’s app, which can be accessed by anyone with an Android smartphone in Tala’s markets, analyzes device and behavioral data to instantly underwrite these consumers and create a personalized loan offer.

Tala disburses loans between $10 and $500 to a mobile wallet or via payment method of the customer’s choosing. More than 85 percent of Tala’s customers receive credit in less than 10 minutes.

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

Energy wooing China to build coal-fired plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi is hoping Chinese companies will invest in merchant coal-fired power plants with a capacity of up to 1,500 megawatts in the Philippines with the expected arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping next month.

Cusi earlier announced that a Chinese company was putting up several coal power plants in the country with a capacity of 1,500 MW after the energy chief engaged in talks with China’s state-run National Energy Administration.

“They came here because we are inviting to put up merchant power plants. They are doing the study. They are looking at one in Luzon and in the Visayas,” he said.

Merchant power plants are those built without power supply agreements.

Cusi said he was optimistic President Xi “will have good news for us that there will be power plants.”

“These are merchant power plants... they will do it without the PSA. We have a spot market, what is the use of the WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) market if all the supply is already contracted. Our objective is to increase the volume of the spot market to 20 percent,” he said.

WESM acts as trading floor of electricity. More power plants mean increased competition lower electricity prices.

Cusi said he asked NEA for help in looking for Chinese investors that would be willing to put up merchant power plants.

“It’s hard to power plants without PSAs because of bankability, financial closure... With the hope, the aspiration that our demand is increasing, there will be some percentage of that capacity to be contracted,” Cusi said.

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said last month the Philippines and China were preparing for Xi’s state visit to the country by the end of the year.

Xi was invited to the Philippines by President Rodrigo Duterte when they first met in October 2016.

DoF: Debt ratios of PH lower than most of Asian neighbors

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Philippines has become one of the fastest-growing emerging economies with debt ratios lower than its Asian neighbors, from being a highlyindebted developing country in the 1980s, the Department of Finance said Wednesday.

From 324.8 percent of exports of goods and services in 1985, the country’s external debt declined to 47.9 percent in June this year, Finance said.

From 64.6 percent of exports of goods and services in 1985, the country’s external debt service declined to 6.2 percent during the first half of 2018.

The Philippines compared with its fast-growing neighbors in Asia has lower average debt ratios.

As a percentage of the gross domestic product, the Philippines has external debt ratio of 20.4 percent as of June 2018, lower than those of Malaysia (74 percent), Vietnam (44.8 percent), Indonesia (37.5 percent) and Thailand (31.7 percent), but slightly higher than those of India (17.4 percent) and (China (14.5 percent).

The average for seven major Asian countries is 26.8 percent, which is more than 30 percent higher than the Philippines’.

As percentage of exports of goods and services, the Philippines’ external debt service has dropped to 6.2 percent in 2017, half of Asia’s average of 12.5 percent.

The figure is lower than Indonesia (25.2 percent), Malaysia (13.9 percent) and India (7.9 percent), but higher than Thailand (5.8 percent) and China (6 percent).

Finance said the reversal of the country’s debt position did not come overnight. It aid it was a product of three decades of economic reforms, including fiscal consolidation, prudent economic and debt management, shift toward market-determined exchange rate as well as export and investmentfriendly regime.

For one, the country reduced the fiscal deficit by increasing the tax effort from 10.1 percent in 1990 to 14.2 percent in 2017 and reining in on expenditures so that the targeted deficits averaging 2.1 percent of GDP for almost three decades are attained.

The Philippines also reduced the debt service through debt rescheduling initially, and later, debt conversion and debt exchanges, shifted to domestic borrowing to reduce forex risk exposure as domestic savings rose and domestic capital markets grew, and focused on longer debt maturities.

It is also the first of the three hotels that are slated to open under the phase 3 development.

The two others are Sheraton Hotel, which is scheduled to open before the end of 2018, and Okura Hotel, set for opening in the first quarter of 2019.

Once the three hotels become operational, Resorts World Manila will have a total of 3,500 hotel rooms across seven hotel brands.

Hilton Manila is highly accessible from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, with direct connections to Terminal 3 through the “Runway Manila” skybridge.

Car makers expect sales to decline by 14% this year

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine automotive industry has conceded sales this year will drop 14 percent mainly because of higher taxes.

“The market itself is down this year. All players have the same sentiments. Currently we’re down by 14 percent and we hope to stay at that level until yearend,” said Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. president Rommel Gutierrez.

He said at the sidelines of the 7th Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center the decline was the first time in eight years since automotive sales fell in 2010.

The group earlier predicted a flat growth for the industry in 2018. But month-on-month declines suggested lower sales.

Automotive sales in the first nine months of 2018 dropped 13.8 percent to 261,057 units from 302,869 units year-on-year.

Combined sales of Campi and the Truck Manufacturers Association in 2017 increased 18.4 percent to 425,673 units from 2016, while the Association Vehicle Importers and Distributors reported a 14-percent increase.

Campi vice president Dante Santos said phase 1 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion affected the buying habit of consumers. Many advanced their purchases in the last quarter of 2017 in anticipation of higher car prices in 2018 following an increase in the automotive excise tax under TRAIN 1.

“That’s the best we can do knowing the all other factors were beyond our control. We’re trying to keep the decline to 14 percent in hopes that the industry will slowly rebound in 2019,” Santos said.

He added the industry could not blame the decrease on any legislation.

The reality is that the excise tax is there and the industry should adjust and make the necessary actions to deliver, he said.

The industry is banking on new model introductions and innovative promotions to improve sales.

“This motor show is a show of confidence for the automotive industry.

We will bounce back sooner and we expect to keep our targets to be within perspective,” Gutierrez said.

SECURITY BANK PARTNER. Security Bank teams up with PisoPay.com, a new financial technology and licensed remittance company, to offer a more convenient remittance service to overseas Filipino workers in Japan. The partnership will allow remittances from Japan to be transferred directly to any BancNet and Instapay member institution like Security Bank. At the signing ceremony are (from left) PisoPay.com director Jin Su Kim, PisoPay.com president Ariel Surca, SBC executive vice president Transaction Banking Group head Daniel Yu, and SBC first VP and Corporate Banking Financial Institution head Imelda Marie Amora and the working teams from both institutions.

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Business

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks decline; Ayala Land slips T HE stock market fell Wednesday in listless trading, taking its cue from the rest of the region.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 68.20 points, or nearly 1 percent, to 7,129.42 on a value turnover of P4.6 billion. Losers beat gainers, 112 to 74, with 45 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, lost 2.8 percent to P199.30, while Security Bank Corp., the sixth-largest, slumped 4.4 percent to P145.

Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. declined 3.8 percent to P8.18, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. fell 3.7 percent to P39.10.

The rest of Asian equities mostly dropped again Wednesday extending the previous day’s geopolitics-fueled sell-

off, with energy firms taking another battering in response to an oil market rout.

Investors around the world are fleeing riskier assets such as stocks and highyielding currencies in search of safety as a wave of negative issues dominate the news.

Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA, pointed to “a toxic geopolitical cocktail of nagging concerns” from Chinese growth, stuttering Brexit talks, Italy’s budget standoff with Brussels and the killing of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Even US stocks—which have been supported in recent months by a strong economy despite sharp losses elsewhere—are feeling the strain, Innes added.

“Significant for global equity investors, the US equities Teflon persona was seriously questioned as price ac-

market’s confidence for a while but more fundamental steps are needed,” wrote Vincent Chan and Pearl Xu, strategists at Credit Suisse.

Tokyo ended 0.4 percent higher but Seoul dropped 0.4 percent and Sydney was 0.2 percent lower.

Singapore rose 0.3 percent but Taipei, Wellington, Bangkok and Jakarta all dropped.

David Kudla, chief executive officer of Mainstay Capital Management, told Bloomberg Television: “We’ve come up upon a tremendous wall of worry for US stocks and stocks around the world.

Concern among investors is the deceleration in earnings growth.”

Energy companies were among the worst hit after both main contracts plunged more than four percent Tuesday after Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the major producer would boost output and spare capacity to help maintain supplies. With AFP

tion suggested there is one asset class investors fear: equities,” he warned in a note.

“And like migratory birds heading south for winter, the icy chill enveloping global stock markets has sent investors flocking to safe to haven assets.”

Despite an afternoon bounce, Wall Street’s three main indexes ended with losses following a mixed round of earnings.

In Asia, markets fluctuated throughout the day.

Hong Kong, which dived more than three percent Tuesday, lost 0.5 percent in the afternoon.

Shanghai rose 0.3 percent but the Friday-Monday surge from Chinese officials’ coordinated support has been almost forgotten, while observers said a steady drip of stimulus announcements were also unlikely to provide a longterm solution.

“Recent measures may stabilize the

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018

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ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK VANTAGE

58.9 83.2 2.36 122 28.2 15.2 11.74 3.88 1.67 810 0.495 68 0.92 41.5 189 103.1 75 27.8 151.6 65.9 1.18

59 83.5 2.44 122.5 28.4 15.5 11.84 4.11 1.67 828 0.495 68 0.92 41.65 189 105.2 76.2 28.65 151.6 65.9 1.18

58.3 82.6 2.3 119.3 28.15 15.2 11.72 3.88 1.65 810 0.495 66.4 0.9 41.4 185 103.1 75 27.8 145 65.9 1.18

FINANCIALS 59 6,080 82.6 1,105,700 2.43 26,000 119.3 710,600 28.25 23,600 15.5 561,200 11.78 122,800 4.11 11,000 1.65 4,000 828 100 0.495 10,000 66.5 1,357,820 0.9 18,000 41.45 9,600 189 430 105.2 380 75 840 28.65 23,100 145 713,900 65.9 210 1.18 25,000

358,314 91,637,819 61,080 85,570,616 666,995 8,531,006 1,440,854 43,530 6,660 81,900 4,950 90,968,690.50 16,260 397,810 80,897 39,598 63,156 657,120 104,735,267 13,839 29,500

231,186 -29,074,919.50 2,485,614 -121,840 -380,000 -372,852 -51,449,190.50 -186,505 -45,360 552,420 -14,488,925 -2,636 -

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

34.5 18 0.99 1.26 0.21 2.25 13.76 35.55 17 38.5 1.62 7.1 10.66 15.2 8.66 7 8 16.2 64.4 25.45 6.4 11.52 1.74 268 4.81 25.1 11.48 17.4 351.6 6.16 1.7 4.25 8.25 4.58 9 0.97 10.8 51.2 4.8 2.23 2.85 1.57 11.18 84 5.2 0.123 0.95 144 1.57 2.9

34.5 18.08 0.99 1.28 0.222 2.31 13.76 36.7 17 39 1.62 7.1 10.96 15.2 9.16 7 8.09 16.26 64.4 25.45 6.4 11.68 1.74 268 4.81 25.6 11.76 17.68 353 6.16 1.75 4.25 8.3 4.65 9 0.98 10.8 51.2 4.8 2.26 2.85 1.6 11.18 84 5.2 0.123 0.95 144.5 1.57 2.9

33.65 17.88 0.97 1.24 0.21 2.2 13.26 35.5 16.2 38 1.58 6.8 10.66 14.88 8.5 6.99 7.32 16.12 63.85 24.4 6.2 11.5 1.68 263 4.81 25.1 11.24 17.22 347.4 6.11 1.64 4.11 8.16 4.55 9 0.96 10.78 49 4.79 2.2 2.85 1.57 10.98 82.3 5.18 0.123 0.93 140 1.54 2.5

INDUSTRIAL 33.65 2,108,700 17.98 598,100 0.97 3,286,000 1.28 137,000 0.222 350,000 2.27 4,723,000 13.4 1,955,800 35.5 193,700 17 8,000 38 1,600 1.59 526,000 7.08 10,500 10.96 4,799,700 14.9 9,500 9 19,399,800 7 30,900 7.32 8,400 16.18 4,648,000 64 493,780 24.4 21,400 6.2 76,900 11.5 653,600 1.69 336,000 264.2 462,050 4.81 35,000 25.6 45,000 11.66 80,100 17.38 3,704,000 353 150,960 6.11 4,100 1.75 43,000 4.11 86,000 8.2 854,900 4.55 152,000 9 54,000 0.98 270,000 10.78 25,100 49.2 739,220 4.79 2,108,000 2.24 299,000 2.85 4,000 1.57 37,000 10.98 179,900 83.8 3,910,950 5.19 53,100 0.123 30,000 0.94 92,000 140 865,460 1.54 3,110,000 2.5 70,932,000

71,914,410 10,784,438 3,201,190 171,970 73,900 10,735,900 26,116,748 6,942,130 135,000 61,050 832,700 71,548 51,508,022 141,838 166,395,544 216,150 65,396 75,224,604 31,602,593.50 525,875 484,274 7,528,120 568,250 122,629,132 168,350 1,146,690 933,792 64,458,230 53,065,000 25,189 73,050 355,100 7,012,606 694,630 486,000 262,990 270,580 36,634,121.50 10,097,370 664,100 11,400 58,750 1,979,142 326,089,767 275,777 3,690 86,480 121,503,392 4,830,950 191,589,280

-6,616,405 4,341,934.00 -122,220 -562,570 23,859,030 -128,995 -38,000 12,347,480 -4,468 -1,031,688 -64,374 12,672 -820,788 -13,730,122.50 346,767 3,044,648 13,666,730 784,930 -163,108 39,582,902 24,319,656 -3,340 -4,250 -4,583,767 -21,560 34,343,569.5) -24,000 -1,517,022 -277,700,874 -15,115,457 884,040

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

0.47 48.25 11.8 0.87 6.2 26.3 1.26 1.26 917 6.81 12.2 7.25 5 790 6.01 49 5.71 4.41 0.55 4.4 13.8 0.61 4.93 0.037 1.16 2.36 158 880 1.4 321 0.235 0.21

0.51 48.75 12 0.88 6.2 26.7 1.28 1.27 917 6.94 12.44 7.25 5 797 6.01 49.25 5.72 4.41 0.55 4.44 14.7 0.62 4.94 0.038 1.16 2.38 158 897 1.4 321.2 0.235 0.216

0.47 47.1 11.7 0.87 6.2 25.5 1.25 1.25 903 6.7 12.16 7.25 5 775 6.01 47.7 5.71 4.41 0.54 4.27 13.8 0.56 4.81 0.037 1.15 2.3 156 871 1.35 321 0.23 0.21

HOLDING FIRMS 0.5 59,740,000 47.1 569,200 11.7 1,562,300 0.88 11,000 6.2 11,000 26.15 35,600 1.26 8,408,000 1.25 1,766,000 910 183,690 6.94 2,461,600 12.16 5,498,000 7.25 68,300 5 21,900 785 82,790 6.01 800 48.4 1,500,000 5.72 2,400 4.41 1,000 0.54 61,000 4.42 481,000 14.68 5,714,100 0.58 2,976,000 4.81 23,046,000 0.038 2,900,000 1.15 307,000 2.34 496,000 157 776,530 883.5 58,100 1.35 13,000 321.2 200 0.232 1,350,000 0.216 1,990,000

29,563,950 27,070,250 18,396,194 9,630 68,200 921,880 10,609,180 2,216,730 167,441,515 16,754,355 67,145,620 495,175 109,500 65,587,855 4,808 72,998,330 13,708 4,410 32,950 2,077,740 82,105,290 1,729,540 112,119,890 108,600 353,420 1,154,160 121,388,215 51,352,915 17,870 64,216 312,250 417,960

417,300 -6,109,245 -5,220,078 68,200 68,635 28,750 -58,849,680 5,287,600 3,795,418 -100,000 10,502,835 7,111,855 161,270 33,911,514 -80,410,280 84,604,542 13,024,665 -

8990 HLDG A BROWN 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 MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP

7 0.78 0.62 40.05 2.46 4.43 5.03 0.415 0.9 0.9 0.223 0.395 8.2 19.8 0.52 0.105 1.44 1.07 4.45 0.58 0.415 0.4 3.2 21 1.91 3.15

7.02 0.78 0.63 40.2 2.53 4.44 5.35 0.42 0.9 0.9 0.223 0.4 8.2 20 0.52 0.105 1.45 1.08 4.45 0.61 0.42 0.405 3.2 21.1 1.96 3.18

6.89 0.77 0.61 39.1 2.43 4.34 5.03 0.41 0.89 0.9 0.215 0.395 8.14 19.62 0.52 0.105 1.43 1.07 4.35 0.56 0.41 0.4 3.14 20.7 1.91 3.11

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SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

34.3 1.09 8.49 5.5

34.8 1.13 8.7 5.5

33.85 1.09 7.52 5.25

34.7 1.1 7.98 5.35

7,122,400 296,000 14,436,300 17,277,300

246,270,805 323,770 114,765,342 92,748,270

-14,408,330 -1,758,181 -66,023,888

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

11.5 21.7 0.435 0.041 1.7 8.51 66.6 7.8 5.88 7.28 2.16 12.98 2,030 5.14 325 2.74 92.2 12.38 7.8 0.108 3.05 14.8 3.43 0.84 17.86 5.2 7.08 2.25 1.32 5.1 10.98 8.3 3.17 106 3.54 1,384 0.82 0.355 42 79 6.77 2.59 0.8 0.55 5.19 0.62 11.4

11.5 21.8 0.445 0.041 1.74 8.58 66.6 7.8 6.23 7.7 2.16 12.98 2,050 5.15 349 2.86 94 12.38 7.8 0.109 3.08 14.8 3.55 0.85 17.86 5.44 7.09 2.31 1.35 5.12 10.98 8.39 3.17 108.8 3.54 1,415 0.84 0.36 42 79.1 7.2 2.62 0.81 0.55 5.2 0.62 11.44

10.64 21.3 0.43 0.04 1.66 8.18 65.5 7.8 5.65 7.27 2.16 11.6 2,000 5.12 308 2.7 92.2 12.38 7.7 0.108 2.91 14.8 3.39 0.84 17.7 5.16 7.04 2.22 1.26 4.67 10.98 8.3 3.17 105 3.35 1,384 0.82 0.34 40.8 77.9 6.77 2.53 0.79 0.53 5.19 0.58 11.2

SERVICES 11.02 21.5 0.435 0.041 1.71 8.18 65.5 7.8 6.1 7.7 2.16 11.98 2,048 5.15 308 2.84 93 12.38 7.7 0.108 3.08 14.8 3.5 0.85 17.7 5.44 7.07 2.25 1.35 4.84 10.98 8.39 3.17 108.8 3.36 1,396 0.83 0.36 41.15 79 6.81 2.6 0.81 0.54 5.2 0.61 11.44

11,400 16,900 1,240,000 1,000,000 2,052,000 13,732,100 96,740 100 5,515,600 77,500 32,000 312,300 26,645 59,800 53,660 2,108,000 768,810 200 10,000 1,460,000 7,000 300 630,000 113,000 549,400 800 2,258,000 1,559,000 108,000 9,669,500 9,000 11,700 1,000 2,020 1,190,000 41,750 777,000 1,590,000 534,500 508,630 17,500 7,781,000 2,128,000 22,957,000 63,600 2,159,000 1,269,500

126,336 363,780 536,050 40,300 3,486,800 115,207,567 6,347,795 780 33,137,750 593,287 69,120 3,750,630 54,504,250 306,876 17,561,296 5,885,500 71,499,795.50 2,476 77,500 157,700 20,680 4,440 2,154,200 96,010 9,753,142 4,204 15,952,836 3,509,970 139,130 46,990,801 98,820 97,362 3,170 217,658 4,055,150 58,265,710 649,310 557,800 21,879,475 40,034,888.50 121,513 20,130,380 1,698,260 12,368,230 330,186 1,295,830 14,475,852

11,000 -215,500 8,000 15,370 -47,078,900 -5,610,846.50 -313,333 -154,000 22,696,820 276,054 25,440 -54,923,739 4,440 -7,230 2,014,836.00 -496,108 2,085,800 -1,353,245 -22,653 170 -1,882,140 21,328,455 -22,310 17,000 -1,590,555 -17,061,095 3,873,080 -37,610 -220,600 -26,000 125,840 7,029,652

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

0.0022 1.65 2.7 17 1.2 1.05 1.9 0.3 7.28 1.85 0.236 0.109 0.113 0.0075 1.29 2.71 1.07 0.58 1.01 0.013 0.012 0.012 4 3.29 16.12 28.7 0.0062

0.0023 1.68 2.99 17 1.2 1.05 1.92 0.3 7.34 1.87 0.236 0.11 0.113 0.0075 1.29 2.74 1.07 0.58 1.01 0.013 0.012 0.012 4.06 3.35 16.64 29.1 0.0063

0.0022 1.61 2.63 15.34 1.2 1.05 1.89 0.3 7.28 1.83 0.215 0.109 0.113 0.0074 1.29 2.66 1.03 0.58 0.96 0.013 0.012 0.011 3.92 3.25 16.1 27.75 0.0061

MINING & OIL 0.0022 437,000,000 1.64 6,403,000 2.99 12,000 17 1,600 1.2 76,000 1.05 4,000 1.92 660,000 0.3 360,000 7.31 11,600 1.85 1,224,000 0.223 1,290,000 0.109 270,000 0.113 10,000 0.0074 5,000,000 1.29 1,000 2.72 764,000 1.06 4,000 0.58 65,000 0.97 1,006,000 0.013 4,800,000 0.012 100,000 0.012 24,000,000 3.97 58,000 3.25 399,000 16.4 1,163,800 28.25 346,100 0.0062 15,000,000

979,900 10,629,650 32,500 26,768 91,200 4,200 1,255,880 108,000 84,791 2,256,750 284,150 29,440 1,130 37,200 1,290 2,057,330 4,230 37,700 982,990 62,400 1,200 280,600 230,470 1,301,650 19,096,878 9,830,695 92,300

-1,977,250 -77,280 -123,390 -548,780 -191,160 -322,525 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

21.7 487.8 99 96.3 102.5 480 482 4.95 920 920 99 1.02 983 75.15 76 72.7 74.75 74.9 74 74.6

21.7 489.8 99 96.3 102.5 480 489 4.95 920 948 99 1.02 1,000 75.15 77 74.45 75 75 74 74.6

20.15 487.8 99 96.2 100 480 482 4.95 920 920 96 1.01 975 75.1 76 72.5 74.75 74.9 73.5 73.6

PREFERRED 20.15 1,300 489.8 1,000 99 23,000 96.3 9,090 100 25,010 480 20 489 210 4.95 111,000 920 200 948 530 96 1,530 1.02 154,000 1,000 2,650 75.1 33,680 77 5,210 74.45 19,900 75 3,010 75 500 74 24,540 73.6 6,420

26,835 488,800 2,277,000 875,357 2,511,792 9,600 101,290 549,450 184,000 500,775 147,390 157,070 2,626,600 2,529,416.50 401,130 1,465,330 225,072.50 37,480 1,804,192 472,532

-549,450 28,800 -

LR WARRANT

2.34

2.36

2.3

WARRANTS 2.35 200,000

463,660

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.84 1.76

4.84 1.8

4.65 1.62

4.7 1.63

FIRST METRO ETF

108

108

107.5

MS

PROPERTY 7.02 0.78 0.62 39.1 2.44 4.35 5.35 0.42 0.9 0.9 0.221 0.395 8.14 19.78 0.52 0.105 1.44 1.08 4.4 0.59 0.42 0.405 3.17 20.8 1.96 3.18

71,800 490,000 161,000 9,440,400 1,635,000 236,000 13,900 1,500,000 11,000 25,000 1,010,000 310,000 224,200 119,600 300,000 10,000 1,992,000 218,000 8,961,000 87,013,000 480,000 210,000 305,000 623,500 47,000 28,000

499,320 380,170 99,580 373,382,960 3,989,200 1,034,860 69,949 622,050 9,850 22,500 221,220 123,200 1,832,840 2,369,708 156,000 1,050 2,861,560 233,580 39,394,480 50,644,300 199,350 84,500 961,580 13,069,355 91,330 87,900

-197,417,930 -910,150 -535 -5,400 20,465 80,952 -156,000 5,890 -28,879,600 1,802,600 5,146,925 48,710 -

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES 5,192,514

INDUSTRIAL

133,647,070

HOLDING FIRMS

128,181,609

PROPERTY

162,511,065

SERVICES

85,235,145

MINING & OIL

500,046,914

GRAND TOTAL

1,058,066,936

SME

852,000 6,665,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 107.5 5,110

3,997,410 11,147,380 550,239

265,980 -4,183,290 5,375

VALUE 1,602.52 (down) 29.71 416,889,922.11 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,685.54 (down) 88.44 1,546,867,737.25 HOLDING FIRMS 6,946.53 (down) 46.87 890,417,545.77 PROPERTY 3,516.60 (down) 25.93 1,480.03 (up) 5.99 1,082,104,702.78 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,465.20 (down) 81.81 592,184,073.43 PSEI 7,099.68 (UP) 112.66 49,809,806.28 All Shares Index 4,342.28 (UP) 52.57 4,644,715,250.04 Gainers: 129; Losers: 57; Unchanged: 46; Total: 232

PNOC EC’s income rose 18% to P1.2b in 9 months

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-RUN PNOC Exploration Corp. posted a net income of P1.17 in the first nine months of 2018, up 18 percent from P958.97 million year-on-year.

The company registered a profit before tax of P2.04 billion during the period from P1.529 billion a year ago.

PNOC EC recorded higher service and business revenues of P3.821 billion for the January-to-September period.

The company’s expenses, however, increased to P2.137 billion from P1.743 billion in the same period last year.

PNOC EC owns a 10-percent stake in the Malampaya gas-to-power project in northwest Palawan where it derives the bulk of revenues.

It also owns stakes in service contract 37 (Cagayan), SC 74 Northwest Palawan, SC 63 (Sabina), SC 59 (West Balabac), SC 58 (West Calamian) and SC 57 (Calamian).

The Department of Energy earlier asked PNOC EC to import lowerpriced Euro 4 diesel to mitigate the impact of inflation on pump prices.

PNOC EC plans to start an initial importation within the month.

PNOC EC, the oil and gas arm of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co., also started a study for the government to operate and maintain the Malampaya project once service contract 38 of the consortium expires by 2024. the company is part of the Malampaya gas consortium, along with Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (45 percent) and Chevron Malampaya LLC (45 percent).

The Malampaya gas field has proven reserves of 2.7 trillion cubic feet to 3.2 TCF, with over 1 TCF already consumed.

The Department of Energy has asked PNOC EC to determine if it would be commercially viable for the government to drill or extract gas from the field, which the consortium previously deemed as not commercially viable.

The DoE is studying all options regarding the Malampaya gas project, which supplies fuel to over 3,000 MW of natural gas power plants.

DICT eyes app to monitor third telecom player

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Information and Communications Technology said it plans to use a mobile app that will monitor the bandwidth and signal strength of the new major telecommunications player.

Designed by volunteers for volunteers, Project BASS (Bandwidth and Signal Strength) is a free crowdsourcing mobile app that monitors the bandwidth provided by the telco companies and other internet service providers.

The DICT plans to use the app to check if the chosen new player is performing according to its annual committed minimum average speed, which is part of the selection criteria anchored on Highest Committed Level of Service (HCLoS) approach.

Aside from measuring internet speeds, the application can approximate geographical location data of cell sites used in the user’s internet measurement, a feature to have potential value in fine-tuning common tower polices and strategies.

“The idea here is instead of each one of us going to social media and putting our gripes that our internet is slow, why don’t we collectively do something about it and be a partner for better Philippine internet?” Project BASS co-founder Wilson Chua said.

The system’s main component is a crowdsourcing mobile application that lets users measure their internet by executing a simple file download from a server of DOST-ASTI. Once the measure is taken, it is uploaded to a database server. The results are freely downloadable and can be subjected by anyone to analysis.

The government expects to name the new player telco player by November this year. It expects the company to roll out commercial operations by June next year.

The submission and opening of bid documents for the selection of new major player were set on Nov. 7 this year.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business/World

B3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US slams cover-up in Khashoggi case W ASHINGTON-The United States said Tuesday it was revoking the visas of the Saudis involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as President Donald Trump ridiculed the kingdom’s response as “one of the worst cover-ups” in history.

CELEBRATION.

DepEd’s payroll order marginalizes banks LENDING institutions like thrift banks and rural banks may soon abandon the credit market for teachers after finding themselves at the bottom of the food chain.

The Department of Education issued a controversial directive that included the Order of Preference provision in the Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS) applicable to the salaries of teachers. The contentious provision pertains to the implementation of the P5,000 net take home pay of DepEd personnel. It imposes a sequential hierarchy while favoring select accredited and participating lenders regardless when the obligation is incurred.

The DepEd order ensures a P5,000 net pay in the teacher’s payslip after due deductions of monthly amortization in the APDS from various accredited lending institutions, including the Government Service Insurance System.

The loans that cannot be deducted because of the net pay threshold will be reflected in the payslip as “Undeducted Obligations,” which can be paid through over-the-counter or manual transactions.

The so-called hierarchy prioritizes payments to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philhealth, the GSIS and Home Development Mutual Fund. Next are non-stock savings and loan associations and mutual benefit associations managed for the benefit of government employees, as well as government financial institutions and licensed insurance companies.

At the bottom of the list are thrift banks and rural banks accredited by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The DepEd order and its hierarchy imposes a retroactive application of the order of preference to old and new obligations, which increases the risk of default for older obligations.

Entities with “undeducted obligations” existing before 2018, thus, become subordinate to entities that are higher on the order of preference, although the latter’s obligations were incurred much later in time. The DepEd order, in short, disrupted the entire system of payment.

Higher default risk Timely payment of obligation is effectively no longer guaranteed by the APDS, which dramatically reduces reduces the incentive for lending institutions to make financial credit available to teachers.

Lending institutions would be forced to increase interest rates and charges to compensate for the increased risk of default and the longer period for satisfaction of obligations.

Worse, lending institutions which are placed on the bottom in the order of preference are likely to leave the market entirely, considering that there is no guarantee that they would be paid through the APDS. Majority of teachers, who do not have extra sources of income, only rely on their salaries and loans to make it through their financial needs every day.

Teachers’ loans, be it from the banks, the GSIS or other lending institutions, are utilized by teachers to meet certain financial needs, such as the education of their children, house construction and improvement, professional development, medical expenses, and emergencies.

Private lending institutions, meanwhile, have provided teachers, especially those in the rural and far-flung areas, with accessible loans at reasonable interest rates.

Along with affordable loans, teachers are properly advised about their monthly amortization schedule and are provided with copies of the contracts.

Teachers appreciate the quick provision of loans from banks.

They are confident that banks could not take advantage of them because they are heavily regulated by the Bangko Sentral.

The process of acquiring loans from the banks is also far more efficient than that of GSIS. The loan application in GSIS requires a tedious process—yet it still fails to provide the teachers with the appropriate loan amortization schedules.

Teachers sink further into debt because GSIS most of the time fails to update teachers on the status of their outstanding loans.

There are gray areas that should be addressed in order to let teachers be more informed about the status of their loans.

Once teachers are given limited access to loans, they will have no choice but to turn to other lenders who impose usurious rates and unfair lending practices.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard.net or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Dancers perform onstage at the Celebrate Colburn Gala honoring Elizabeth Segerstrom at Colburn School on October 23, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

The move came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Khashoggi’s killing inside the Saudis’ Istanbul consulate had been meticulously planned, in a speech that overshadowed a long-planned investment forum in Riyadh.

Saudi leaders have denied involvement in the killing, pushing responsibility down the chain of command.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “strongly said that he had nothing to do with this, this was at a lower level,” US President Donald Trump said, adding he had spoken Monday to the prince and his father King Salman.

Trump said the Saudis had a “very bad original concept” in killing the 59-year-old Saudi insiderturned-critic.

“It was carried out poorly and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups,”

HK-Macau-mainland mega bridge opened HONG KONG―The world’s longest sea bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China opened to traffic Wednesday, with excited travelers making their first journeys along what has been described as a politically-driven and costly white elephant.

Passengers and tour groups gathered at Hong Kong’s cross-border coach terminus and bus operators gave away Chinese pastries and roasted meat to passengers.

“I wanted to try this and see if it’s convenient. I’ll be checking out the view too, after all this is a historic engineering project,” said Angie Cheng, 58, who was taking the second bus of the day out to Macau.

The 55-kilometer crossing links Hong Kong with the southern mainland city of Zhuhai and the gambling enclave of Macau, across the waters of the Pearl River Estuary.

Supporters have hailed it as an engineering triumph but detractors say it is a politically driven and costly white elephant that is part of an attempt by Beijing to integrate semi-autonomous Hong Kong into the mainland.

It is the second major infrastructure project tying Hong

Kong to mainland China to open within weeks -- a high-speed rail link began operations last month sparking criticism Hong Kong was giving away territory with part of the terminus under mainland jurisdiction.

With a sweeping view of the ocean, mountains and rocky islets, the bridge was partly shrouded in haze Wednesday when AFP took an early bus to Macau, but passengers still recorded the whole trip on smart phones.

Traffic was light after criticism from some legislators and residents that public access to the bridge is too limited.

“Every big infrastructure has a relatively low volume of passenger and traffic flow in the initial period. It takes time to build up,” secretary for transport and housing Frank Chan told reporters.

Only 10,000 licenses have been granted to Hong Kong residents to drive private cars to Zhuhai if they meet highly selective criteria, including holding certain mainland government positions or making major contributions to charities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. AFP

IN BRIEF

Breast grabber alludes to Trump WASHINGTON―A man arrested for allegedly groping a woman’s breasts while traveling on a plane told police that President Donald Trump says it is OK to touch women’s private parts.

Trump once famously bragged that he could touch women’s genitals and get away with it because he is famous.

On a Southwest Airlines flight Sunday from Houston to Albuquerque, the unnamed woman was dozing when she was awakened by a hand reaching from the seat behind her and touching her right breast, according to a complaint filed in US District Court in New Mexico.

She said she thought it was an accident but after it happened again 30 minutes later she stood up and confronted the suspect, identified as Bruce Alexander, and told him to stop, the complaint states.

The woman was moved to another seat at the rear of the plane.

Alexander was arrested after the plane landed in Albuquerque.

After he was handcuffed and put in a police car, he “stated that the president of the United States says it’s OK to grab women by their private parts,” according to the complaint.

Alexander’s age was not given. The complaint said he is “older and worked as a heavy equipment operator.”

Shortly before the 2016 election, audio tape emerged in which Trump is heard saying, “when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”

He added: “Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.” AFP

Republic of the Philippines Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL GOVERNOR ARMM Complex, Cotabato City InvItatIon to BId Procurement of Various EducationalSupplies and Equipment under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace Synergy (ARMM-HELPS) ITB No: HELPS-10-2018-003 The Office of the Regional Governor – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ORG-ARMM), through the General Appropriations Act of 2018 intends to apply the sum of One Hundred Thirty Seven Million Two Hundred Eighty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Five Pesos (PhP137,282,855.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Procurement of Various Educational Supplies and Equipment under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Synergy (ARMM-HELPS), subdivided into the following lots, as follows:

1.

1

Procurement of ARMM-HELPS School Bags

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) PhP7,000,000.00

2

Procurement of Semi-Expendable Information & Communications Technology Equipment

PhP31,900,000.00

3 4 5

Procurement of All-in-One Printer Bottomless Procurement of Assorted Slippers Procurement of Solar Lamp Procurement of Plastic Arm Chairs for Day Care School Procurement of Plastic Arm Chairs for Elementary and High School

PhP12,000,000.00 PhP2,500,000.00 PhP24,632,960.00

Lot

6 7

Description

PhP9,500,000,00 PhP49,749,895.00

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

2.

The ORG-ARMM now invites bids for Procurement of Various Educational Supplies and Equipment under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Synergy (ARMM-HELPS).1 Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of the Regional Governor – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ORGARMM) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Mondays to Fridays.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders onOctober 24, 2018 to November 13, 2018 (9:59AM) from the address below and uponpayment ofthe non-refundable fee, which pertains to the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, in accordance with the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, as follows:

Lot

Approved Budget for Amount of Bidding the Contract (ABC) Documents

Description Procurement of ARMM-HELPS School Bags with Supplies Procurement of Semi-Expendable Information & Communications Technology Equipment

PhP7,000,000.00

5,000.00

PhP31,900,000.00

10,000.00

5

Procurement of All-in-One Printer Bottomless

PhP12,000,000.00

5,000.00

6

Procurement of Assorted Slippers

PhP2,500,000.00

5,000.00

7

Procurement of Solar Lamp

PhP24,632,960.00

5,000.00

PhP9,500,000,00

5,000.00

PhP49,749,895.00

15,000.00

1 4

Procurement of Plastic Arm Chairs for Day Care School of Plastic Arm Chairs 10 Procurement for Elementary and High School 8

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

6.

The ORG-ARMM will hold a Pre-Bid Conference onOctober 31, 2018 at 8:00AM at BajauHall, 2F Office of the Regional Governor-ARMM, Office of the Bangsamoro People, Gov. Gutierrez Ave., Cotabato City, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before November 13, 2018, 9:59AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Cuba imports sugar for first time HAVANA―Sugar: it’s so quintessentially Cuban that even a young, machete-wielding Fidel Castro used to hack away at the cane stalks vital to the Caribbean island’s economy.

Now, the long-time world leader in sugar production is importing the stuff for the first time, and in large amounts, from France after another bad harvest.

Sugar used to account for the vast majority of Cuba’s exports. But the fall of its big brother, the Soviet Union―a key, hungry customer―changed everything, as did a lack of investment in seeds, fertilizer and pesticides.

To wit: in the early 1990s, Cuba produced about eight million tons of sugar a year. A decade later, it stopped reaching two million a year.

Back then, sugar accounted for almost 75 percent of Cuban exports. In 2015, it was only 13 percent, with other products like nickel and tobacco making up some of the difference.

The 2017-2018 harvest suffered badly after Hurricane Irma ravaged the country, followed by a long rainy season.

So Cuba is importing sugar from France.

On the island, residents quickly caught wind of the somewhat counterintuitive development.

Here, sugar from cane tends to be brownish. But the French version comes from beets so it is whiter, and the granules are finer. And that is what Cubans started receiving with their “libreta”―their ration book. AFP

Trump said.

“It was a total fiasco,” he later added. “I’m saying they should have never thought about it. Once they thought about it, everything else they did was bad too ... It should have never happened.”

Faced with mounting calls for tough measures

by US lawmakers across the political spectrum, the State Department said it had identified 21 Saudis whose visas would either be revoked or who would be ineligible for future visas.

“These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters.

“We are making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence,” he said.

The top US diplomat said the Saudi suspects came from “the intelligence services, the royal court, the foreign ministry and other Saudi ministries.”

Pompeo added the United States was also looking into whether to take action under a law named after Sergei Magnitsky, the anti-corruption accountant who died in Russian custody, that would impose financial sanctions on individuals behind Khashoggi’s death.

The initial US action against the Saudis came three weeks after Khashoggi, self-exiled to suburban Washington, vanished in the consulate and following contradictory statements by Trump, who has ruled out major steps such as cutting arms sales to the major defense partner. AFP

Bid opening shall be on November 13, 2018 at 10:00AM at Bajau Hall, 2F Office of the Regional Governor-ARMM, Office of the Bangsamoro People, Gov. Gutierrez Ave., Cotabato City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

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

9.

For further information, please refer to: The Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat C/o Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, ORG-ARMM 2F Office of the Bangsamoro People Gov. Gutierrez Ave., Cotabato City Tel. Nos. (064) 552-1053 (Sgd) ATTY. SAHARA ALIA J. SILONGAN Chairperson

(MS-OCT. 25, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Manila

Standard

TODAY

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

B4

thursday, october 25, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Crime Watch sides with lawyer in Pimentel case

LocaL government units

DOH-Calabarzon takes stock of facilities, workers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta The Department of health in Calabarzon recently conducted a “Collaborative Meeting with Development Partners” in Pasay City to commit a coordinated effort and define strategies for overcoming the critical challenges of operating and managing health facilities in the region.

DOh Regional Director eduardo C. Janairo said the meeting will familiarize health partners in the current health situation of Calabarzon and build a consensus among partner agencies to formulate strategies that would address the shortage in health human resource in the operation and management of health facilities.

Among the identified gaps were inadequate hospital staff, unfilled vacant positions, multi-tasking, excess duties, performing beyond job description, no trained personnel to complement available equipment, and inadequate capability for patient transport.

Janairo said the region will introduce tactical stopgap measures for immediate implementation.

“We need immediate output and outcome to address these insufficiencies,” he said.

“By adapting the whole of government approach, such as working with a unified goal, complementing and in concurrence with health services organizations, the academic sector and the health authorities, we can place the right people in the right places, achieving an equitable distribution of health professionals and skill sets throughout all geographic areas of the region,” the director added.

According to the regional health Facility Operations and Development Unit, as of 2017, the province of Cavite has only 63 physicians, 202 public health nurses and 343 rural health midwife.

Laguna has 88 physicians, 157 PhN and 411 RhM, followed by Batangas (48, 111 and 341); Rizal (84, 155 and 193); and Quezon (67, 120, and 440).

ALLIANCE. Davao City Mayor ‘Inday’ Sara Duterte-Carpio and Laguna gubernatorial candidate Emilio Ramon ‘ER’ Ejercito flash their fists after they signed an agreement where Duterte’s regional Hugpong ng Pagbabago party would support the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Ejercito in Laguna in an event on Monday in Mandaue City, Cebu. Roy Tomandao

The anti-crime group Citizens’ Crime Watch on Wednesday said it will file a motion to intervene in the disqualification case filed by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio against Senator Aquilino Pimentel III before the Commission on elections.

According to lawyer Diego Magpantay, CCW president, his group had been accredited as election observer by the Comelec in 2007.

“As such election watchdog, it is our duty not only to safeguard the votes, but to safeguard the electoral process itself by insuring that only qualified candidates run in the elections,” Magpantay said. he added that he convened the group’s board of directors, who told him that they were convinced that Topacio’s petition was “meritorious” and that CCW should intervene in the case in favor of Topacio.

“While we are apolitical as far as our activities are concerned, we agree that Senator Pimentel should no longer be allowed to seek reelection as of now, but only because it is violative of the Constitution and the principle that no one should monopolize political power,” Magpantay added.

“Our intervention in the case against Pimentel is not due to any partisan considerations, but because of our desire to uphold the Constitution and the sacred process of suffrage,” he said.

‘Make education a priority’

L

OCAL government heads in Mindanao must prioritize education if they want to give their constituents a better chance of breaking the cycle of poverty.

Jimuel Que, mayor of Bongao in the island province of Tawi-Tawi in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, made this call to fellow local government chiefs in Mindanao, which is home to two-fifths of the country’s poor according to the World Bank report “Making Growth Work for the Poor: A Poverty Assessment for the Philippines.”

“You’ve seen the data. The less education, the greater the poverty incidence,” Que said, citing the presentation of economist and former economic Planning Secretary Solita Collas-Monsod at a recent Seal of Good education Governance Awarding Ceremony.

held by Synergeia Foundation, in partnership with USAID, PLDT and Smart Communications, the annual event recognizes municipalities and cities for their outstanding efforts in the field of education.

Monsod, also a trustee of the Synergeia Foundation, presented data from the Family Income and expenditure Survey of 2015. It showed that the likelihood of poverty among families headed by persons with no education is 46.7 percent; elementary graduates, 20.7 percent; high school graduates, 9.3 percent and college graduates, 1.4 percent.

The figures vindicate Que and other

mayors who are working with Synergeia to improve the quality of education in their locality, and whose efforts are slowly paying off.

Bongao is one of six LGUs in Mindanao that are among the 34 recently recognized by the Synergeia awards for good education governance.

As Seal recipients, they have met Synergeia’s criteria for good education governance. They ensured the active participation of their local school boards and School Governing Councils and reduced the number of non-readers and frustrated readers in their locality by at least 20 percent.

LGUs granted the Seal also surpassed the national average of 80 percent for cohort-survival rate (percentage of first graders who went on to sixth grade) and increased their budgets for education.

Another recipient of Synergeia’s

Seal in Mindanao is Datu Paglas town of Maguindanao and Cagayan de Oro City. The towns of Parang and Upi in Maguindanao and General Santos City also received the Jesse Robredo Award in education Governance.

It was no mean feat, even for the firstclass, highly urbanized city of Cagayan de Oro. Mayor Oscar Moreno said that when he was elected in 2013, he had to address the very basic problem of classroom shortage.

“There were three shifts in a day, which means that the students spent very little time learning in the classroom because they had to make way for the next shift and the teachers were overburdened. I was worried that the quality of education was deteriorating, and we were developing leaders whose quality would be a lot less than their predecessors,” Moreno said.

Didipio miner gains PCCI E3 plum BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—For the first time, a mining firm won the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s most coveted award, the 2018 excellence in ecology and economy (e3) Award in the large enterprise category.

The premier award was received by OceanaGold Philippines Inc. during the 44th Philippine Business Conference and expo at the Manila hotel on Oct. 18.

PCCI said the award was given to OceanaGold for its “outstanding environmental programs particularly its use of green production technology for its processing operations, forgoing profits in favor of preserving natural resources and making the company a role model

for mining industry.”

The e3 Award seeks to recognize companies or enterprises that have demonstrated the most innovative projects and outstanding environmental performance in their pursuit of business sustainability.

The award has adopted the theme, “Business Sustainability through environmental Stewardship,” which highlights the importance of managing resources to ensure long-term business operation.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and PCCI officials conferred the trophy to OGPI, represented by general manager David Way, company chairman Joey Leviste, and environment Superintendent hero Labatos.

Joy, QC shine light on ‘lupon’

By Rio N. Araja

CACAO DEMAND. Senator Cynthia A. Villar speaks

at an event for community-based cacao processing enterprises with Quezon Province 4th District Rep. Angelina ‘Helen’Tan and Gumaca, Quezon Mayor Erwin Carailan (in background). As chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee, Villar says she has been helping find international markets for Philippine cacao products. Lino Santos

Republic of the Philippines C AV I T E S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y (C v S U ) D o n S eve r i n o d e a l a s C a m p u s I n d a n g , c av i t e (0 4 6) 415 010 /415 - 0 011 415 - 0 012 w w w.c v s u .e d u c . p h INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID

QUeZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has urged village peacekeepers or “Lupong Tagapamayapa” officials to be keepers of good values at the barangay level.

In the recent first Lupon Convention, the vice mayor told the members of the barangay judicial system to stand by their principles in dispensing justice and equality and promoting peace and order.

“Lupong Tagapamayapa must be looked up to as a present-day ‘council

of elders’ that ensures the upkeep of integrity, dignity and justice in the barangay,” Belmonte said.

The two-day Lupon Convention focused on the skills enhancement of the pacification committees and was participated in by resource persons from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Quezon City Police Department, and non-government agencies.

They provided direct knowledge on the resolution of disputes, mediation procedures and legal rights.

The CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/ distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects: PROJECT TITLE A. ONE YEAR CONTRACT FOR SECURITY SERVICES (2018-2019) MAIN AND SATELLITE CAMPUSES B. ONE YEAR CONTRACT FOR JANITORIAL / HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES (2019) MAIN AND SATELLITE CAMPUSES

ABC P 24,310,044.11 P 20,543,614.32

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities

Schedule

1. Issuance of Bid Documents October 22, 2018 to November 12, 2018; 8:00AM – 5:00PM 2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Opening of Bids

October 29, 2018; 2:00 PM; S.L. Lasap Hall, Administration Building, Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite November 12, 2018; 2:00 PM; S.L. Lasap Hall, Administration Building, Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos Only (P 25,000.00) per project to the CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY Cashier.

Pre-bid conference shall be open to all interested bidders. Bids must be delivered to the Office of the BAC Chairman, Administration Bldg., CvSU, Indang, Cavite on or before the abovementioned date and time. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and amount. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ authorized representatives who choose to attend the bidding. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY (CvSU) assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. CvSU also reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to annul the bidding process, to reject all bids at any time prior to Contract Award without incurring any liability to the affected bidders, waive any required formality therein, and to award the Contract to the bidder whose bid proposal as evaluated is most advantageous to the University.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Expanding Producer of Flour (i.e. Blossom Soft Flour, Cosmic Hard Flour, Lilac Soft Flour, Titan Hard Flour) with a capacity of 4,102,440 bags @ 25kg/bag or 102,561MT per year on a NonPioneer Status with project site located in Km. 20, Sasa, Davao City.

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

(SGD.) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-Based Industries Service

Approved by:

(MS-OCT. 25, 2018)

(sgd) DAVID L. CERO, PhD BAC Chair, Goods and Consulting Services

(MS-OCT. 25, 2018)

LANDBANK LOAN. Santiago City Mayor Joseph Tan (fourth from left) and LandBank senior vice

president for Northern and Central Luzon Group Filipina Monje seal the P1-billion Omnibus Term Loan agreement that will help finance the City Government’s local development projects. They are joined by (from left) City Consultant Victorino Santos, City Councilor Benzi Tan Chai, Landbank vice president Bernardo Bayangos, City treasurer Elizabeth Casabar, City legal officer lawyer Dennis Ernesto Ruiz, and account officer Charito Barit.

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bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardLIFe thursday, october 25, 2018

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Life household

PREMIER LIVING. Chelsea Parkplace, inspired by the iconic neighborhood of the same name in New York, is the flagship residential development in Capital Town, Megaworld’s township in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Township living in Pampanga

N

ortherN Luzon will soon experience the same upbeat community living in McKinley hill, Uptown Bonifacio, eastwood City, and Newport City as Megaworld announced the opening of its 35.6-hectare township in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Amid the tapestry of the province’s rich history and culture, the property giant is weaving a thread of modernity by bringing its signature “live-work-play” township lifestyle to the city, with Capital town.

Capital town is poised to rise as the Premier Business District of the North.

It takes cues from the company’s track record of building vibrant township communities across various key cities in the country.

“Just like how Megaworld transformed townships to vibrant lifestyle destinations as we know them today, Megaworld will rise in the north through Capital town,” enthused eugene em Lozano, first vice president for sales and marketing of Megaworld Makati and Pampanga. he added, “through this development, we are bringing the same worldclass vision and lifestyle in Mckinley, eastwood, and Uptown Bonifacio, among others to Pampanga, where one can experience the live-work-play lifestyle that only Megaworld can offer.”

Within the township will rise a sixhectare Shophouse District, which is set to become the center of the city’s entrepreneurial ventures. this portion of the township, which offers a place where people can come into their own and cultivate their business prowess, will be donned in Neoclassical architecture with Art Deco details.

In recognition of the innate artistry and talents of Kapampangans, Capital town will also house an events trade hall and an outdoor Amphitheater to showcase the locals’ fine brand of craftsmanship. the first residential development in the township comes in the form of the recently launched 12-story Chelsea Parkplace.

Inspired by the iconic neighborhood of Chelsea, New York, this condo development takes design cues from the charming brownstone apartment buildings of Manhattan. offering stunning views of the Capital town Pampanga’s very own Casa de emperador, Central Square, Museum & Mall, and the beautiful Shophouse District, Chelsea Parkplace exudes a dynamic vibe that perfectly blends with history and modernity all over the township.

“We’re launching Chelsea Parkplace as the flagship condominium project to pioneer the integrated township experience in the north. Its ideal location in the middle of the township will give future residents the front row seat advantage of seeing the growth and development in the area,” said Lozano. other than being in a progressive community, owning a home at Chelsea Parkplace means residents get unparalleled access to much-needed institutions, including offices and shopping centers, as well as delis, markets, coffee shops, theaters, and restaurants.

Chelsea Parkplace’s two-bedroom units provide ample space of up to 88 square meters.

Units are available in studio (up to 31 square meters), one-bedroom (up to 45.5 square meters), and two-bedroom (up to 88 square meters). All 193 units of the project will have balconies offering varied township views.

Amenities include a retail area on the upper ground floor, swimming pool, events hall, daycare, fitness center, and “the other room”—a first-of-its-kind exclusive speakeasy bar that will serve as an ideal venue for residents to celebrate special occasions or host pre-gaming or

after-party festivities to complement the events held at the nearby function hall. overall, the township brings the convenience of having well-suited amenities, recreational spaces, unique dining destinations, world-class retail establishments, prime working hubs, and an

overall safe and dynamic neighborhood within reach—all of which Pampanga will soon get.

Call 0917-1448696, email info@capitaltownpampanga.com, or visit www. chelseaparkplace.com for inquiries and more details.

Akari Junior’s fun, colorful lamps and animal-themed mosquito zappers.

Children’s bedroom essentials

Capital Town’s flagship condominium project exudes a dynamic vibe that blends with history and modernity.

PAreNtS looking for ways to make their kids’ rooms fun and safe can choose from Akari Junior’s playful lighting options and mosquito-zapping products. the new line from lighting and technology brand Akari, offers fun, safe-for-kids products in a variety of designs to complement a wide range of children’s bedroom themes.

Study time can be more fun and productive with desk lamps available in different colors and designs. Protect children from mosquitoes that carry

dengue or zika virus with cute but effective Akari Junior’s mosquito killer bulbs and mosquito zappers.

“We at Akari continuously seek to make good use of technology to serve our customers better,” says Akari marketing manager Marian Gomez.

“Now that we have further expanded our product offerings with Akari Junior, we aim to make the lives of many more Filipino families, especially children, even brighter.”

Akari Junior is available in leading hardware stores nationwide.

Life

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thursday, october 25, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

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OuPLES starting their lives together celebrate many meaningful “firsts,” one of which is moving into their own place and making it a home, at least a functional one.

Digital appliances ideal for newlyweds

Quality pieces help create meaningful moments for families by making it easier to accomplish tasks at home.

Samsung Digital Appliances boast innovative features and technologies that help homemakers manage the household with ease.

Every night a date night

Cooking for and with one’s better half is one of the best ways to spend time together and deepen a couple’s bond. Samsung Smart Oven helps easily prepare each other’s favorite dish or try new recipes with a push of a button.

This dynamic appliance functions as a grill, steamer, fryer, and convection oven. It’s also packed with 15 pre-set Cook with Ease menus that allow users to make everything from steak to rice, and from pastries to yogurt. guilt-free, delicious meals can be made everyday with its Slim Fry features, which fries food that’s crisp on the outside and flavorful inside, with no additional oil.

The Samsung Smart Oven also comes with the Hot Blast technology, which evenly blows powerful hot air through multiple air holes, reducing cooking time and ensuring food is cooked well.

Fresh food always

Having two people in one home means more groceries. And a long shopping list means more space needed to store food.

Samsung Twin Cooling refrigerator provides an effective and efficient cooling solution as it is equipped with two separate evaporators for the fridge and freezer, retaining up to 70 percent humidity in the interiors, thus food stays fresh for up to two times longer.

This technology also prevents odors from mixing, so food retains its original flavor. This means less waste and fewer trips to the grocery.

In addition, the Samsung Twin Cooling refrigerator comes with the Smart Conversion feature, which enables users to choose from five freezer-fridge settings depending on their energy and storage needs. Fridge Max Mode, for instance, converts the freezer into a fridge for more storage space. Vacation Mode, on the other hand, switches the fridge off when only the freezer is needed.

Samsung Digital Appliances, such as Samsung Wind-Free Air Conditioner and Samsung Twin Cooling Refrigerator, boast features and technologies that help manage the household with ease.

Meaningful moments

Samsung Wind-Free Air Conditioner makes staying at home and creating memories much more comfortable.

It’s built with 21,000 micro holes that gently and evenly disperse comfortably cool air, avoiding the unpleasant feeling of direct air blow. With this technology, even something as simple as watching television or chatting while lounging on the couch becomes an unforgettable bonding experience.

Further, the Samsung Wind-Free Air Conditioner is Wi-Fi enabled, thus it can be easily controlled from anywhere through Samsung’s SmartThings app.

Simplify laundry day

Washing someone’s clothes is one way to express love and concern. However, when time is compromised, one

needs to reconsider the amount of time spent doing chores.

Samsung AddWash Front Load Washing Machine boasts features that let couples spend more time together, while showing their love for each other.

It features a secondary door, which allows users to add forgotten clothes or detergent in the middle of a cycle. The Super Speed Option, meanwhile, cuts down washing time to just 59 minutes without compromising rinsing quality.

The Samsung AddWash Front Load Washing Machine also comes with the EcoBubble Technology, which turns detergent into powerful cleansing suds that penetrate clothes 40 times faster than plain soap and water.

To learn more about Samsung Digital Appliances, visit samsung.com/ph/ home-appliances.

Fun for the family

‘Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween’ premieres at Araneta Center malls’ cinemas on Oct. 31.

BuyIng home items can be a hassle especially for people who live alone.

From the actual purchasing to setting it up at home can be quite a challenge.

In a bid to cater to those individuals who live alone or have no time to purchase a mattress, uratex launches TrILL: Matress in a Box. TrILL: Mattress in a Box is the country’s first-ever high-quality and versatile mattress that comes in a creative packaging and delivered straight to anyone’s home. using advanced, innovative technologies, it is a magic mattress that expands into a big, luxurious bed when unboxed.

TrILL mattress is also the first in the country to have a plush and firm side that can be switched in one easy flip to suit different desired levels of comfort.

Available exclusively on www.trillbyuratex.com, the new TrILL premium mattress is conveniently packaged in an 18’’x18’’x42” box, complete with comprehensive manual and tools for easy unboxing. Owners can easily push or drag it across the room to their bedroom and set it up.

TrILL also offers a 10-year warranty, 100-night trial, and free delivery to anywhere in the Philippines.

A combination of quality foams ensures exceptional comfort and durabil-

FOr the Halloween season, Araneta Center rolls out a flurry of fun activities for the whole family.

On Oct. 26-28, Araneta Center presents a Halloween Sale, wherein shoppers can expect huge discounts and awesome deals when they shop at gateway Mall, Farmers Plaza, and Ali Mall.

Aside from great deals, cuteness and fun will reign in the three malls on Oct. 28 during Araneta Center’s “A goosebumps Halloween.”

Inspired by the popular series by r.L. Stine, the celebration will feature a design-your-pumpkin activity, costume contest, magic show, trick-or-treat, and other entertaining pursuits for eligible kids.

Several stores will be participating in the trick-or-treat activity to provide sweet delights to the young ones.

The Halloween fever continues as “goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween” opens in the gateway Cineplex, Ali Mall Cineplex, and other cinemas nationwide on Oct. 31. Mixing comedy and horror, the film takes on the premise of Halloween monsters coming to life, which promises to deliver the laughs and scares to the whole family.

Go to www.aranetacenter.net for more information.

Houseware brand offers

modern solutions, launches campaign HOMEgrOWn houseware brand Omega, known for its vacuum thermal flasks, offers modern-day kitchen and dinnerware made for the modern home.

From importing vacuum flasks when it started in 1958 in Binondo, Manila, the company has grown its product offerings with an array of products in Drinkware, glassware, Kitchenware, and Tableware categories.

Omega produces a wide range of rust-resistant and highly durable stainless steel products, including cookware, utensils, containers, and keepers. At the heart of Omega’s stainless steel offerings is its temperature-retentive vacuum flask technology, seen in its signature thermal tumblers and carafes.

Plastic is also used by Omega in its production of water bottles that are safe for use.

Its Tritan water bottles in particular are BPAfree, dishwasher safe, odor resistant, shatter proof, scratch resistant, and Omega dinnerware stain resistant.

The Filipino firm’s earthenware pieces, made of quality ceramic, offer both sleek aesthetics and functionality. Omega’s Ceramic pieces come in various collections, namely Earthenware, Stoneware, Porcelain, and newbone.

Omega’s premium glassware–made of tempered glass, borosilicate glass, and opal glass–are microwave-safe, oven-safe, and chic enough to bring from the oven straight to the table.

Its cooking vessels, glass jars, French press, and food storage pieces are shock and scratch-resistant, and dishwasher-safe, as well as environmentally friendly.

To reintroduce the brand, Omega has recently launched its new campaign that celebrates its place in every home for 60 years.

“OMg! OMEgA! is all about sharing that wonderful OMg! moment to every Filipino household with Omega’s variety of kitchenware, tableware, glassware, and drinkware, infusing creativity and style into each home product,” said Omega in a statement.

Starting this October, Omega brings that “OMg!” moment to more people with new holiday collections and lots of tips and tricks for the season and beyond.

“With the OMg! OMEgA! campaign, now is the time to reach out to our consumers and make them recognize that Omega is their brand of choice for high quality, stylish, and innovative modern everyday solutions. Omega will continue to develop and launch great products for the modern Filipino,” said marketing manager gie De Leon.

Coinciding with the launch of Omega’s OM OMg! campaign was the introduction of The OM OMg: Omega Makeover gang–a series of short web webisodes and spin-off snippets and lifehacks on how to have an OMg! moment with Omega.

Each quarter, Omega presents a two-part kitchen makeover webisode on its Facebook page, featuring the Omega Makeover gang (“The OMg”) composed of actress, comedienne, and body positivity advocate Cai Cortez; theater actress, and food and travel vlogger Mica Pineda; and graphic artist and stage designer CJ Francisco.

Every webisode brings the three to a new home and kitchen in need of revitalizing–all with the help of Omega’s kitchen and home solutions.

The Omega Makeover gang’s twopart pilot webisode airs on Facebook this October, while the OMg’s life hacks, tips, and snackable snippets will be released in the succeeding weeks until December.

Unbox your mattress TRILL is the country’s first high-quality and versatile mattress that is packaged in a box.

ity of the mattress throughout the years.

The plush layer has TrillTex that easily adapts to the body’s movement and provides outstanding support. The “intelligent” Senso Memory Foam conforms to the shape of the body, cradling it in an incredibly relaxing way. The Vital Foam is firm and bouncy and able to withstand a heavier load while Orthofirm foam helps ease aches and pains.

Each TrILL premium mattress is

certified environment-friendly and is treated with Sanitized to prevent the growth of bacteria, odor, mildew, and dust mites, keeping the mattress hygienic and hypoallergenic.

Further, TrILL has been found orthopedically safe by the Philippine Orthopaedic Association. It can help improve sleep quality, provide dual comfort, and maintain proper posture by aligning the spine and relieving pressure points.

Omega offers a wide range of rust-resistant and highly durable stainless steel, BPA-free plastic, glass, and ceramic products.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Entertainment

TODAY

THE waterways of the Philippines— our seas, lakes, and rivers—come into focus as Sen. Loren Legarda’s documentary series Dayaw returns for a sixth season tonight at 6:30 on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

With a theme of “Agos,” the six-part series centers on the life built on water in the Philippines, as it continues the crusade for the preservation of the country’s culture and heritage. Legarda will explore the role the country’s waterways play in our culture, visiting various bodies of water all the way from northern Batanes to southern Tawi-Tawi.

The first episode reveals what it takes to make a life from the waters of Batanes, as viewers witness the rough waves in the province, the breathtaking views of its rolling terrain, and aweinspiring mix of mountains, cliffs, and ocean.

On the second episode, Dayaw heads to the rivers and dams of Nueva Vizcaya to explore the culture of the Bugkalot tribe, and delve into their history as nomadic farmers, fishermen, warriors, and headhunters to find out

Sen. Loren Legarda's 'Dayaw' heads to the rivers and dams of Nueva Vizcaya to explore the culture of the Bugkalot tribe.

that may be imposed on the procurement and purchase of steam, and other charges imposed on the Power Plant, including the charges indicated of Schedule 3.1(b) of the Agreement, in Philippine Pesos.

ACCij =

ERC CASE NO. 2018-075 RC

FXm = the average of the daily PHP /USD exchange rate for the last three calendar months prior to the Billing Period for which the Invoice is being prepared, as published in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas website

Statement of Facts

Notes: In the event that revisions are made on the above indices, including any shift made in the base year and other adjustments to such index made by the relevant authorized entity, its successor-in-interest, there shall be a corresponding change in the base index such that the use of the revised index will yield the equivalent values as the use of the original base index.

1. Applicant NEECO II - Area 1 is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative (EC) duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal main office at Calipahan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, where it may be served with summons and other legal processes, represented in this instance by its General Manager, ENGR. NELSON M. DELA CRUZ, of legal age, Filipino, and with office address also at NEECO II - AREA 1 Main Office.

3. Applicants may be served notices, orders and other processes of the Honorable Commission through their respective counsel whose addresses are indicated below.

In the event that the index (a) becomes unavailable, (b) is replaced by a new benchmark rate as determined by the relevant authorized entity, its successor in interest, or (c) ceases to exist, or (d) in the reasonable determination of either Party, fails to reflect the real costs and forms an integral part of this price mechanism, the Parties shall agree to adopt a new price index.

SALlENT TERMS OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT 8. Executive Summary. Under the PSA, APRI shall supply power to NEECO II AREA 1 from Effective Date (subject to Article 4 of the PSA) until 25 December 2019 or until such time that the power supply contract between NEECO II - AREA 1 and its new power supplier commences; provided that such extension shall not exceed one (1) year and shall be subject to ERC Approval Term of Agreement. The PSA shall take effect immediately from Effective Date until the end of the Contract Period as specified in the PSA. The PSA also stipulates that the PSA may be renewed or extended in writing by the Parties not later than three (3) months prior to the expiration of the Contract Period.

[9.2]

Supply of Energy. NEECO II - AREA 1’s Maximum Contract Energy per interval is thirty-three thousand kilowatts (33,000 kW) for the duration of the PSA.

[9.3]

Adjustment in Contract Capacity. NEECO II - AREA 1 may request an adjustment in Contract Capacity and Contract Energy in respect of a particular Billing Period by delivery of a written request at least three (3) months before the date on which such adjustment is proposed to take effect and setting out the reasons and providing all documents necessary to support the request, without prejudice to the right of APRI to waive the three (3)-month notice period. Within thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice, APRI shall notify NEECO II - AREA 1 in writing indicating APRI’s acceptance or refusal of NEECO II - AREA 1’s request to adjust the Contract Capacity and Contract Energy. Any such request shall be subject to approval by APRI.

[9.4]

Additional Energy. Additional Energy shall in no case exceed twenty percent (20%) of the Maximum Contract Energy per Interval or Maximum Contract Energy per Billing Period.

[9.5]

Payment of Fees. APRI shall deliver to NEECO II - AREA 1 a Billing Statement setting out the Electricity Fees due on account of the Contract Capacity and all Energy delivered during each Billing Period on or before the seventh (7th) day of the Payment Month. The hourly energy levels that will be used for purposes of the Billing Statement will be based on the amount of Energy nominated by NEECO II - AREA 1 pursuant to Schedule 6.2. of the PSA.

[9.7]

[9.8]

Penalties. If NEECO II - AREA 1 fails to pay the Electricity Fee or any other amounts payable by it under the PSA in full, including full payment of VAT due (if any) and all applicable taxes thereon, on the due date, it shall pay a penalty of two percent (2%) per month (a fraction of a month to be considered one month) based on the amount due, from the date when such payment is due until the date such amount is received in full by APRI. Taxes, Fees and Costs. NEECO II - AREA 1 shall be liable for and pay (i) any and all taxes (including value-added tax, if any), fees, charges, levies and imposts imposed or assessed by any Governmental Authority on or in connection with the purchase and sale of electricity and/or payments due to APRI, and (ii) any new taxes, fees, charges, levies and imposts (including any increase in the rate or amount thereof after the date hereof but excluding income taxes imposed on APR! and fines and penalties directly attributed to APRI’s gross negligence) after the date hereof in connection with the performance by APRI of its obligations pursuant to the PSA. Electricity Fees. Electricity Fees refers to the total amount of charges due from NEECO II - AREA 1 in respect of the Contract Capacity and all Energy supplied by APRI during a Billing Period, computed in accordance with Schedule 6.1.2 (Rates Schedule).

Electricity Fees = A + B + C + D + E All computations on payments to Supplier shall not be rounded off, except for the final PHP amount, which shall be rounded off to the nearest Philippine centavo.

Where: CRF = PhP1,397.07/kW-mo OM = PhP0.8121/kWh Fuel = PhP1.5000/kWh or (0.016 x [((0.75xNm) I (0.25xJPUm))] x FXm) whichever is lower 25.6625

A = CRF x CC x Adj B = OM x TED C = Fuel x TED D = any increase in existing taxes and all future taxes, fees and imposts, real property taxes, local business taxes, transmission charges, other charges

Generation Rate and Supply Mix1

Generation Rate (Php/kWh)

Without APRI With APRI

4.8443 3.9059

The analysis of the rate impact reveals that the resultant generation charge (GC) is lower and, thus, offers the best competitive and affordable price.

Lower GC translates to the same passed-on charges to the benefit and interest of NEECO II - AREA 1’s end consumers. Therefore, the approval for the implementation of the PSA is imperative and essential because of the lower GC that will redound to the cooperative’s stakeholders.

5. Applicant NEECO II - AREA 1 is in need of a 33 MW baseload and intermediate power supply for the period covering August 26, 2018 to December 25, 2019.

7. Thus, NEECO II - AREA 1 and APRI come to this Honorable Commission for the approval of the PSA.

18. The foregoing documents constitute a compilation of information on the operations of the plant that have actual and valuable proprietary interest, which APRI must protect against competitors. This information must be protected since if this matter is known by the public, especially APRI’s competitors, the data can be used by a competitor as an input or variable in the determination of the competitor’s tariff. A competitor knowing this information will gain a competitive leverage against APRI. As explained in this Honorable Commission’s Decision in the ERC Case No. 2015-111 RC: “In the case of PNOC RC, the documents sought to be protected from disclosure contains formula and pricing structures used in arriving at their proposed tariff. The prices cited in the documents were components of the proposed tariff. In fact, all three (3) documents were used by the Commission in evaluating the reasonableness of the proposed rate. In electric power industry where prices is a major consideration in selecting one’s supplier, it is apparent that the assumption used in arriving at one’s proposed tariff is considered a competitive leverage by one player against its competitors.

Thus, the Commission resolved to treat the said documents confidential and may not be publicly disclosed.” 4

9. Estimated Rate Impact.

4. Applicant NEECO II - AREA 1 is the exclusive franchise holder of a Certificate of Franchise issued by the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power services in following city and municipalities in the Province of Nueva Ecija: Talavera, Lupao, Carranglan, Aliaga, Quezon, Licab, Sto. Domingo, Science City of Munoz, Guimba and Talugtog.

6. After careful evaluation and review of the terms of the bid offers, NEECO II - AREA 1 deemed the proposal of APRI the most advantageous and beneficial for NEECO II - AREA 1’s end consumers. Therefore, Applicants executed this Power Supply Agreement (PSA) on 8 June 2018.

“Trade secret is defined as a plan or process, tool, mechanism or compound known only to its owner and those of his employees to whom it is necessary to confide it. The definition also extends to a secret formula or process not patented, but known only to certain individuals using it in compounding some article of trade having a commercial value. A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that: (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous use in the operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights. The inventor, discoverer, or possessor of a trade secret or similar innovation has rights therein which may be treated as property, and ordinarily an injunction will be granted to prevent the disclosure of the trade ‘secret by one who obtained the information “in confidence” or through a “confidential relationship. “3

JPUm = the JPU reference coal index (USD/MT) published on the 25th of the calendar month; provided that if such day falls on a non-Business Day, the JPU reference coal index on the immediately preceding Business Day shall be used

NEECO II - AREA 1 and APRI, alleged the following in their Application:

OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS 10. Copies of the foregoing documents and/or information are attached to this Joint Application as annexes hereof: ANNEX A A-1 B C C-1 D E E-1 F F-1 F-2 G G-1 G-2 G-3 G-4 H H-1 H-2 H-3 H-4 H-5 I J J-1 K K-1 L M M-1 M-2 M-3 M-4 M-5 M-6 M-7 N O O-1 O-2 P P-1 P-1-a P-1-b P-2 P-2-a P-2-b P-3 Q R S T U V

NATURE OF DOCUMENTS NEECO II - AREA 1`s Articles of Incorporation NEECO II - AREA 1`s Amended By-Laws NEECO II - AREA 1`s List of Board Directors APRI’s Amended Articles of Incorporation APRI’s Amended By-Laws APRI’s Certificate of Registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) APRI’s General Information Sheet APRI’s Ownership Structure Map APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. 2009-083 from the Board of Investment (BOI) APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. 2009-084 from BOI APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. 2016-152 from BOI APRI’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) No. 0109-642-203 from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) APRI’s ECC No. 0112-871-203 from the DENR APRI’s ECC No. 9206-041-203C from the DENR APRI’s ECC No. 9112-037-203 from the DENR Summary of Capacity based on ECC APRI’s Certificates of Compliance (COC) No. 15-11-M-00028L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-11-M-286rL from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-05-M-00007L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-05-M-00008L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-05-M-00009L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 17-05-M-00105L from the ERC APRI’s Certificate of Endorsement (COE) from the DOE APRI’s Geothermal Renewable Energy Operating Contract (GREOC) No. 2009-10-006 APRI’s GREOC No. 2009-10-007 APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. GREOC 2009-10-006 from DOE APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. GREOC 2009-10-007 from DOE Load forecast projections in accordance with the latest 2018 Distribution Development Plan (DDP) of NEECO II-AREA 1 with DDP Summaries NEECO II - AREA 1’s Invitations to Submit Proposal NEECO II - AREA 1’s Terms of Reference Proposals from bidders to NEECO II - AREA (Confidential) NEECO II - AREA l’S Bids and Awards Committee Evaluation Report Resolution No. 2018-03-011 NEECO II- AREA 1`s Board Resolution Confirming the Approval of BAC Evaluation Report Resolution No. 04-13-18 Notice of Award issued by NEECO II - AREA 1 Diagram and Matrix on Type of Competitive Selection Process NEECO II - AREA 1 Board Resolution No. 10-13-17 on the conduct of CSP Power Supply Agreement dated 8 June 2018 APRI’s Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) - Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant APRI’s TSA - Makban Geothermal Power Plant NEECO II - AREA 1’s TSA Executive Summary on PSA APRI’s Sources of Funds/ Financial Plans (Confidential) APRI’s Asian Development Bank Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Bank of the Philippines Island Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Generation Rate Derivations (Confidential) Sample Computation of Power Rates Rate Impact Simulation APRI’s Cash Flow (Confidential Fuel Procurement Process (Confidential) Relevant technical and economic characteristics of generation capacity APRI’s Audited Financial Statements Write-Up on APRI’s Documentary Requirements Transition of Power Supply from NPC Transition Supply Contract to Power Supply Agreement with APRI. Affidavit of Engr. Nelson M. Dela Cruz

APRI’s Sources of Funds/Financial Plans (Confidential) APRI’s Asian Development Bank Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Bank of the Philippines Island Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Generation Rate Derivations (Confidential) APRI’s Cash Flow (Confidential Fuel Procurement Process (Confidential)

17. On the other hand, Annexes “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” contain information and data involving APRI’s operation, financial trade secrets, formula and pricing structures used in arriving at APRI’s tariff. These information are not generally available to the public. As such, the information and data contain in these documents are privileged and confidential in nature. In the case of Air Philippines Corporation v.

Pennswell,2 the Supreme Court explained that:

Nm = the Newcastle index (USD/MT) published on the 25th of the calendar month; provided that if such day falls on a non-Business Day, the Newcastle index on the immediately preceding Business Day shall be used

Notice is hereby given that on 13 July 2018, the Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Area 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) and AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) filed a Joint Application (Application) dated 06 July 2018 seeking the approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA) , with prayer for provisional authority and Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information.

heritage and environmental awareness while welcoming and educating visitors.

Finally, the sixth season of the program ends with a great adventure to Sibutu Island in Tawi-Tawi to meet the traditionally seafaring Sama Bajau.

See how their culture was built on a unique understanding of the open seas, and witness their unique way of crafting vessels that ride the waves and currents of the open seas that is both ancient and relevant.

Dayaw, an award-winning cultural documentary program that focuses on the rich and vibrant culture and living traditions of the Filipinos, is a partnership between ANC and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and conceptualized and hosted by Legarda.

In the past seasons, Legarda, NCCA’s Dangal ng Haraya Patron of Arts and Culture awardee, featured master craftsmen, “materyales fuertes” (materials that build a nation), indigenous arts and beliefs, and the various forms of celebrations, and rituals of thanksgiving that have defined our many cultures.

16. Annex “M-2”, the proposals from bidders to NEECO II - AREA 1, contains information on pricing and capacity. Bidders have requested that these information remain confidential as they form part of the bidders’ strategies against competitors.

TED = the total energy delivered in kWh within the CC during the current Billing Period

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

2. Applicant APRI is a generation corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NAC Tower, nd 32 Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. APRI is the owner and operator of four (4) geothermal plants located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Bay-Calauan, Laguna and two (2) geothermal plants located in Tiwi, Albay, (collectively, the “Power Plants”).

CC less affected capacity due to Force majeure for interval i and day j, the number of days per Billing Period the number of trading Intervals per day

n= Int =

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

[9.6]

P-1 P-1-a P-1-b P-2 P-3 Q

E = the amount due for re-delivery of any undelivered quantity due to a Force Majeure event.

NUEVA ECIJA II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. - AREA 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) AND AP RENEWABLES, INC. (APRI) Applicants. x---------------------------------------------------x

[9.1]

what aspects of their culture are still being practiced today.

On the third episode, Legarda explores the role the Pasig River still plays in the cities’ inhabitants as the program focuses on its rich history and revisits the stories of Manila’s districts that sprung up along its riverbanks.

The great Laguna de Bay comes into focus on the fourth episode, which looks into how the lake has proven to be a sustaining life force, not only for fishermen but for craftsmen, artists, and musicians of Angono, Cardona, Morong, and Paete.

On the fifth episode, Dayaw explores the rivers of Bohol and Antique and looks at how its residents maintain a sustainable eco-tourism, promoting

CC = Maximum Contract Energy per Interval in kW as indicated in Schedule 4.1 of the Agreement

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Sen. Legarda explores Filipino culture and life built on water

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA) BETWEEN NUEVA ECIJA II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.AREA 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) AND AP RENEWABLES, INC. (APRI), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY AND MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

19. In view of the foregoing Applicants respectfully request that the foregoing documents attached as Annexes “M-2”, “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” the information contained therein be treated as confidential and privileged, and not be disclosed to persons other than the necessary officers and staff of this Honorable Commission.

20. Applicants hereby submit one (1) copy each of Annexes M-2”, “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” in a sealed envelope with the envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential.”

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, applicants Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Area 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) and AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission: a.

ISSUE an Order treating Annexes M-2”, “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” and the information contained therein as confidential, directing their non-disclosure to persons other than officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, as necessary, pursuant to Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, and prescribing guidelines for the protections thereof;

b.

Pending trial on the merits PROVISIONALLY APPROVE, the PSA, including all the rates, fees and charges set out therein; and

c.

After trial on the merits, APPROVE with FINALITY the PSA, including all the rates, fees and charges set out therein.

Other relief, just and equitable, are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 08 November 2018 (Thursday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), at NEECO II - AREA 1`s Principal Office at Calipahan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

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, 01 August 2018.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

MOTION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 11. As can be gleaned from the comparative scenarios of the Rate Impact Analysis, the PSA between the Applicants reflects the most beneficial and cheapest generation charges at a reduced rate of Php/kWh. The resultant reduction is Php 0.9384/kWh visavis the existing Php 4.8443/kWh.

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairman and CEO

12. The implementation of the PSA with APRI will afford the end-users of NEECO II - AREA 1 a stable supply and affordable rates.

13. The grant of a provisional authority will allow NEECO II - AREA 1 to immediately draw power under the PSA by 26 August 2018. This will ultimately redound to the benefit of NEECO II AREA 1`s customers in terms of continuous, reliable, efficient and affordable power supply. Attached as Annex “V” hereof is the Judicial Affidavit of Engr.

Nelson M. Dela Cruz in support of the motion for provisional approval.

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION 14. Section 1, Rule 4, of the Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that a party to any proceeding before the Commission may request that information about the party in the Commission’s possession not be disclosed.

15. In line with this, NEECO II - AREA 1 and APRI pray for the confidential treatment of the information contained in the following annexes, and not disclose the same except to the officers and staff of the Honorable Commission: Annex Documents and/or information M-2 Proposals from bidders to NEECO II - AREA 1 (Confidential)

. Please see Annex: P-2-b . G.R. No. 172835, December 13. 2007.

Emphasis supplied.

4 See Decision dated 30 May 2017, In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of the Power Supply Agreement Between Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Area 2 (NEECO II - Area 2) and PNOC Renewables Corporation (PNOC RC) with Prayer for Provisional Authority. ERC case No. 2015-111 RC, p. 26, Emphasis and underscoring supplied 1 2 3

(MS-OCT. 18 & 25, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

VERY WANG

A

NICKIE WANG

FTER her successful foray in the modeling world, Maureen Wroblewitz, the first Filipina to win Asia’s Next Top Model (ASNTM), sashays her way into the local television scene as the newest addition to the Eat Bulaga family.

The half-Filipina, half-German beauty surprised many when she made her noontime television debut in the program’s hit segment “Barangay Jokers.” Since then, the 20-year-old dabbles in different portions of the show.

Maureen disclosed that she had to decline offers from two competing networks when she decided to join Eat Bulaga. She said the driving force behind her decision was the longtime dream of her 82-year-old maternal grandmother, Iluminada Pojas, to see her regularly in the longest-running noontime variety show in the country.

“I’ve known the show since I was a little and I know that it is being watched by millions worldwide. As a matter of fact, my grandmother religiously watches it. It’s her longtime wish to see me regularly on television and me joining Eat Bulaga is, in a way, fulfilling that wish. At the same time, I want to try something new, venture into an unknown territory—live television.

And what better way to do that than to be part of the longest and most successful program in the country,” she said.

Jeny Ferre, SVP for Creatives and Operations of Eat Bulaga,

Serving the ‘Waitress‘

How

MAUREEN

WROBLEWITZ

fulfills her grandmother’s wish

Maureen joins Ryzza Mae Dizon in Barangay Jokers

said that she and the management were impressed by the model’s determination, passion and fighting spirit. And that Eat Bulaga likes to give opportunities to young people who dare to dream, just like Maureen.

“She’s a natural and has so much potential. When you talk to her, she has that charm and you’ll really feel that she’s here to prove something of herself. We like that attitude. She’s eager to show what she can do and at the same time very open to new ideas,” she said.

Ferre added that Maureen will eventually participate in other program segments but will just take one step at a time. She said they want her to fully embrace and adapt to live television.

“She’s a model and it is understandable that she is not used to the television life. But she can very well carve her own path in this industry and we’re happy to be part of that.”

Admittedly, Maureen said she has a long way to go and is still getting used to working on a live television show and in front of a big audience.

But she’s looking forward to meeting everyone in Eat Bulaga and to learn from her co-hosts.

“I still get nervous and I admire people who work live on television because it’s not easy. I just try to calm myself down and get help from the people who have always been there for me. It’s scarier but it is fun. I actually enjoy it.”

As for the negative comments she’s getting for her lack of television experience or her poor Tagalog

YUGEL LOSORATA

Asia's Next Top Model winner Maureen Wroblewitz is the newest addition to the 'Eat Bulaga' family.

Maureen with her 82-year-old Lola Iluminada

speaking skills, the model said she’d rather focus on the positives rather than the negatives.

“People always ask me if I get affected. Of course I get affected, I’d be lying if I say I didn’t. But I learned how to handle it and I think it is normal, sometimes I even laugh at the comments. I read it but I don’t really focus on them. I’ve already anticipated that I’ll have bashers even after winning ASNTM. If you decide to be in the public eye, not everyone is going to like you.”

Maureen added that nowadays, bashers rarely get to her nerves as she grew a thicker skin after joining ASNTM. She recalled that early on the competition, when she started opening up to her co-models, some said negative things behind her back while others accused her to be unworthy of her spot in the model search.

“Some things happened off camera.

Two weeks in, they were talking about me, they’re judging me. I was struggling because I never had that feeling growing up because I was never bullied in school. There are girls who are more experienced than me but they were eliminated and that just didn’t bode well with others.

They always ask, ‘why are you still here?”

The bullying, Maureen said, motivated her to perform better. She wanted to prove not just to her comodels, but also to herself that she can win the competition. “It’s very rare that you see short models in the runway but

I used that to challenge myself to do better and to prove to everyone that even though I’m not the tallest girl, I can do things my way. I just took that as a motivation and I will never let that bring me down.”

Asked for advice for people who are having a hard time fitting in, the model who lost her mother at the young age of 11, said it is better to surround yourself with people who are close and dear to you.

“You just have to focus on the positive things. What I like to do is I focus on the good things, especially those that will uplift my spirit. It also pays to surround yourself with positive people and those who truly believe and love you, like your family and friends.

Keep a small group of people whom you know and trust deeply. At the end of the day, you count on people who care.”

Right now, Maureen is grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the longest-running noontime variety program in the country. She said she’ll try to make everyone, especially her fans, proud.

“After ASNTM, I’ve been traveling around. For once, I’ll be in one place for a long time and I think that is great.

I’m excited to explore more my roots and meet people along the way. I also hope that they, the viewers, will also get to know more about me now that I am part of this big family.”

Catch Maureen and the rest of the Eat Bulaga barkada from Monday to Saturday at noon only on GMA Network.

CHANCES are that few people who will watch the Atlantis theatrical production of the Broadway hit Waitress experienced waiting tables ever in their lives. But it’s sure a story the broader market in the country can easily identify with.

That’s how topnotch theater production vocal coach Manman Angsico sees it as the stage musical “celebrating the lives of ordinary people” runs from Nov. 9 to Dec. at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati.

“Sarah Bareilles music and words are ‘storyful,’ wordy, and always having the emotional arc,” described the wellversed, music conservatory graduate of the Grammy nominee’s work on the production based on the beloved film by Adrienne Shelly and book by Jessie Nelson.

Waitres tells the tale of a pie maker named Jenna who finds solace in baking and, with a little help from her friends Dawn and Becky, pursues a path off her bleak marriage and into a life filled with fun.

For the Manila run which interestingly comes ahead of its London West End debut (in 2019), playing Jenna is award-winner West End talent herself Joanna Ampil, with songstress Bituin Escalante (that voice who popularized “Kung Ako Na Lang Sana”) and rising name Maronne Cruz (of the recent hit play Ang Huling El Bimbo) portraying Becky and Dawn, respectively.

Angsico related, “Joanna is amazing in the sense that she goes the extra mile to a place where she emotionally gives

Joanna Ampil as Jenna in the local staging of 'Waitress'

truth to the story of her character.”

She added, “I’m really excited for Bituin’s return to Atlantis as her role is perfect for her.”

He then described Maronne as “ridiculously amazing who puts so much on the table.”

Having started his own career as vocal coach in the mid-1990s, Angsico deservingly earned the nod of Atlantis as its acknowledged resident vocal coach, and having collaborated numerous times with Waitress director Bobby Garcia.

“Theater people here in Manila are mostly not musically trained and don’t read music, so often I have to teach note for note,” he shared. “There is a very particular kind of vocal technique employed in theater and that makes it always challenging. It’s how you tell the story through singing and appreciate what is human.”

For Waitress, coach Manman stressed the team has to respect the material by adhering to the parameters and style of the production. “That’s part of having the royalty granted to us here in Manila.”

Joining Ampil as men of the show are Bibo Reyes (as Dr. Pomatter), Nino Alejandro, George Schulze, Dean Rosen, and Steven Conde.

The production also features Luigi Quesada, Gerhard Krysstopher, Luis Marcelo, Emeline Celis Guinid, Teetin Villanueva, Sarah Facuri, and Jillian Ita-as.

Other behind-the-scene significants are choreographer Cecile Martinez, set designer David Gallo, lighting artist Aaron Porter, musical director Farley Ascuncion, costume specialist Raven Ong, sound expert Josh Millican, and hair and makeup stylist Johann dela Fuente.

“What’s happening in Philippine theater is amazing,” he closed out on a high note. “The buffet is longer for the Filipino audience.”

SNAPSHOT

‘Cain at Abel’ soon on primetime

THE much-awaited series, Cain at Abel, will air in November on GMA Network as revealed by its cast led by Dingdong Dantes and Dennis Trillo during a press conference held Sunday in Bacolod City.

Dantes and Trillo, along with co-stars Solen Heusaff and Sanya Lopez, were in the City of Smiles to join in the celebration of the ongoing 39th MassKara Festival. They bannered a mall show at the activity center of Robinsons Bacolod and treated their fans with their performances.

During the press conference, Dantes said that the series underscores the relationship in the family, particularly siblings, which will be tested by circumstances. Although they could not reveal the plot of the story just yet, the cast promised that it’s something televiewers should look forward to.

After earning P810m at the box office, ‘The Hows of Us’ goes to Cannes ABS-CBN brought The Hows of Us, the highest-grossing Philippine film to date with gross earnings of P810 million, to the international content market, MIPCOM, in Cannes, France.

The movie stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, touted as the country’s box office king and queen, as a couple who must figure out how to save their long-term relationship as each of them starts taking different paths in life.

Many film critics have noted how the movie showcased the exceptional growth of Kathryn as an actress as she portrays a woman in the middle of a critical crossroad, not just in her relationship but also in her life. They also lauded the subdued performance of Daniel, which allowed his onscreen partner to shine even more.

Also in ABS-CBN’s showcase lineup are the romance-drama series Ngayon at Kailanman, which is based on classic telenovela stories of star-crossed lovers from different worlds who must fight the odds to be together; Halik, which shows the complications and intricacies that arise when old love intertwines with the new; and Araw Gabi, a love story mixed with mystery and suspense that takes place on the paradise-like island of El Paraiso.

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo stars of the highest-grossing local movie, 'The Hows of Us'

MIPCOM is an annual trade event in France, where content producers, buyers, financiers, and distributors in the fields of entertainment and advertising, from all over the world, can connect, make deals, and learn future trends in the industry.

ABS-CBN’s content, popular for their heartfelt Filipino stories, are available across other territories through ABS-CBN International Distribution, recognized in the global arena as a reliable foreign content provider. It has been a premier source of high quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories all over the world and has sold over 40,000 hours of content worldwide.

Living up to this recognition, ABSCBN International Distribution commits to add to its line-up of high-caliber programs and movies with cast and storylines that appeal to various cultures.

Visit its website http://internationalsales. abs-cbn.com.