Manila Standard - 2018 July 11 - Wednesday

DU30 RATINGS SUFFER 11-POINT DROP—SWS 100

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By Nat Mariano

I don’t think she can ever be ready to govern a country.

Reason?

Incompetence.

She’s not capable of running a country like this, the Philippines.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating suffered an 11-percentage-point decline, the Second Quarter 2018 survey of the Social Weather Station shows.

The survey, released Tuesday, showed that 65 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of the President while 20 percent were dissatisfied and Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 146 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Leni agrees to lead united front vs Rody

— President Rodrigo Duterte

By Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

V

ICE President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said she is willing to lead the opposition against the camp of President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2019 mid-term elections.

“There have been initiatives by some groups to unite, and they have asked me if I can lead,” she told reporters. “So I told them yes but we need to talk about the terms.”

Among the terms that have yet to be settled is the completion of a unified slate before the filing of certificates for candidacy begins in the first week of October.

A united opposition stands a better chance of being heard, she said.

“We unite to have one voice. It would be difficult if all of us are talking out loud. It would be hard if we all talk at the same time,” she said.

The Palace said Robredo’s bid to unite the opposition was hardly surprising since she is the highest elected member of the opposition.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said he hoped the opposition under Robredo would promote a high level of conversation and provide alternative solutions to the country’s longstanding problems.

“The Palace believes that an active opposition has a vital role to play in a healthy, well-functioning democracy,” Roque said.

Next page

Armed man killed inside bishop’s home

By Evalea Casaljay AN ARMED man was gunned down by the police after an apparent shootout inside the Cebu archbishop’s residence Tuesday morning.

The man arrived at the residence at around 10 am on board a motorcycle, briefly stopping when guards asked who he was looking for, to which he replied: “Si Bishop Palma” before speeding inside.

The employees immediately notified the police after noticing a gun tucked in the man’s side.

“When we arrived in the area, the man was on board his motorcycle. Our operatives tried to approach him, but he said ‘Dont touch me’ before he fired Next page

Grab fined P10m for ‘overcharging’

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has ordered Grab Philippines to pay P10 million in penalties and to reimburse its passengers for imposing a two-pesos-perminute charge.

The agency said Grab Philippines “failed to impress the Board that its imposition of the per- minute travel fare rate is within the purview of its discretion or authority.”

“On the contrary, it was clearly Next page

Palace seeks general polls to elect new leader

By Nat Mariano, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta

leader during the proposed shift to a federal system of government, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“If this new constitution is approved, the President said that he PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte wants to hold general elections to de- will step down in 2019,” Presidential termine who will be the transitional Spokesman Harry Roque said, one

day after Duterte received the draft federal constitution from the consultative committee he formed to draft the proposal.

He said that under the proposed constitution, the new government will take effect June 30, 2022, the last day

of Duterte’s term, but the President said he would leave his post as early as 2019 if the people ratify the federal constitution.

The 73-year-old President has repeatedly said that he was “tired” and Next page

12 boys, coach rescued in daring mission Cabinet okays MAE SAI, Thailand— All 12 boys and their coach who became trapped in a flooded Thai cave more than a fortnight ago have been rescued, the Navy SEALs announced on Tuesday, completing an astonishing against-the-odds rescue mission that has captivated the world.

The Thai SEALs and elite foreign divers extracted the final batch of four boys, plus the 25-year-old coach, on Tuesday afternoon via a perilous escape route that required them to squeeze through narrow, water-filled tunnels.

“All 12 ‘Wild Boars’ and coach have been extracted from the cave,” the SEALs said in a Facebook post.

“All are safe,” they added, signing off with what has become their trademark “Hooyah” to celebrate the successful extractions of the other boys over the previous two days.

The 12 boys, aged from 11 to 16, and Next page

Manila catches World Cup fever SHIRTS are selling briskly, crowds pack sports bars to watch matches and football is front-page news. Whisper it quietly, but basketball-crazy Philippines has finally been afflicted by World Cup fever.

Next page

P3.757-trillion budget for ‘19

SIGH OF RELIEF. An ambulance carrying alleged members of the children’s football team approaches the hospital in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai Tuesday after being rescued in Tham Luang cave. Elite divers raced against time to extract the remaining members of the football team who had been trapped for three days short of three weeks. AFP

Pink—world’s oldest color SYDNEY—Australian researchers have uncovered the world’s oldest biological color in the Sahara desert, in a find they said Tuesday helped explain why complex lifeforms only recently emerged on earth.

Next page

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday announced that the Cabinet has approved the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for 2019.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the proposed national budget was approved during a record ninehour Cabinet meeting that lasted up to 1 am on Tuesday.

Roque said personal services will get the biggest slice of 31.5 percent or P1.185 trillion, followed by capital outlays amounting to P752.7 billion or 20 percent of the proposed budget.

Local government units will get third highest share of P640 billion or Next page

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SolGen bucks VP‘s bid for 25% threshold

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Office of the Solicitor General on Tuesday defended its position opposing Vice President Leni Robredo’s appeal to the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to reconsider its ruling that set the 50-percent shading threshold for the validity of the votes in the ongoing election recount on the 2016 vice presidential race.

Solicitor General Jose Calida rejected

IN BRIEF Rody Malaysia-bound to watch Pacman fight PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will travel to Malaysia next week to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Mathysse fight.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte and the newly elected Prime Minister had talked over the phone before the start of Monday’s Cabinet meeting.

Roque said Duterte and Mahathir wanted to discuss about insurgency and terrorism, particularly the Islamic State or ISIS. “Had a telephone talk with Mahathir before the Cabinet meeting. He wants to talk about insurgency and ISIS. We will be there on July 16. After the boxing, we will talk with Mahathir,” Roque quoted Duterte as saying.

Pacquiao is set to fight Mathysse for the WBA welterweight title on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.

The boxer-turned-lawmaker is Duterte’s political ally, who also hails from Mindanao. PNA with Evalea Casaljay

Sona speech done in 35 minutes—Palace PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will deliver and finish his State-of-the-Nation Address on July 23 in 35 minutes, officials said Tuesday.

Duterte is known for deviating from prepared speeches, but Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said he had promised to read a prepared statement during his third Sona at the House of Representatives.

“The President said he will read his speech, and that it will not last for more than 35 minutes,” Roque told reporters in Indang, Cavite.

He said Duterte met with the head of his economic cluster to discuss the achievements of the different departments.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Duterte’s speech could be 30 minutes long.

Duterte’s Sona last year included jokes and impromptu remarks and lasted for 120 minutes. It was 12,527 words long, the longest Sona delivered after the 1986 Edsa Revolution.

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For decades, the nation of more than 100 million was on a very short list of global locations that had failed to fall for the beautiful game.

That is beginning to change as football’s narrow, but passionate, Filipino following grows fueled by success of the national team whose new coach is former England great Terry Butcher—a World Cup semifinalist with the Three Lions in 1990.

“Definitely, we do have... World Cup fever,” television sportscaster Bob Guerrero told AFP outside a Manila bar where he was watching France knock Argentina out of the global tournament.

“We’re hoping that it’s going to be a snowball effect and football will really start to grow here in the Philippines,” said Guerrero.

Grow it may, but at the moment there are only an estimated 1.5-million football-playing Filipinos compared to figures claiming that some 40 million regularly flock to the basketball courts that populate every barangay (borough) across the archipelago.

It’s a love affair that goes back to the 1900s when basketball was introduced to the archipelago by the Americans.

Rather than reject the pastime of their colonial masters, Filipinos made it their own.

It became part of the curriculum in schools and since then Philippine squads have played respectably on an international level. Basketball’s governing body FIBA has them ranked 30th out of 159 nations, just behind China. AFP

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17.1 percent, followed by maintenance expenditures, which has an allotment of P562.9 billion (15 percent).

A total of P414.1 billion (11 percent) will be used for debt servicing while P187.1 billion (5 percent) and P14.5 billion (0.4 percent) will go to tax expenditures and government-owned and controlled corporations, respectively.

Last year, Duterte personally submitted the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018 after he delivered his second State of the Nation Address.

Duterte is scheduled to deliver his third Sona on July 23, which he said will be over in 35 minutes.

In 2017, Duterte’s Sona lasted for 120 minutes while his first Sona in 2016 was finished in 90 minutes. PNA

Robredo’s assertion that his office should have represented the Commission on Elections in the electoral protest filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and support the commission’s position that the PET should follow the 25-percent threshold used by the poll body during canvassing of votes.

Marcos filed his protest on June 29 2016, claiming Robredo’s camp cheated in the May 2016 national elections.

Robredo won the vice presidential race with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes.

In a statement posted on his official Twitter account, Calida invoked his power as the “tribune of the people.”

“As the People’s Tribune, it is the Solicitor General’s duty to present to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal the position he perceives to be in the best interest of the

Republic, notwithstanding the stance of his client, specifically the Comelec, on the issue,” Calida said.

He said the high court itself had acknowledged this authority of his office in its decision in Pimentel vs. Comelec in 2001, which held that “the Solicitor General may, as it has in instances, take a position adverse and contrary to that of the government on the reasoning that it is incumbent upon him to present to the court what he considers would legally uphold the best interest of the government although it may run counter to a client’s position.”

Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay also invoked the same power in the case involving the Torre de Manila condominium in Manila when he dropped the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as a client in the 2015 case also due to differing positions.

Calida issued his statement after Robredo criticized him for dropping the position of the Comelec and even called him the “number one Marcos supporter.”

In his manifestation filed on July 6, Calida asked the PET to deny the appeal of Robredo and instead affirm its resolution on April 10, which invalidated the votes shaded by less than 50 percent in the ongoing manual recount.

He said the Comelec would file its own position on the issue through its legal division.

He said that in the vice presidential elections, it was the PET that had “the sole authority to judge all contests” and the Comelec had no jurisdiction over the case.

He also said the matter on what percentage of the threshold should be applied in determining the validity of votes was already settled by the tribunal in its Rules promulgated in 2010.

Leni...

President Duterte appointed Robredo as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in July 2016 but she stepped down six months later over “irreconcilable differences.”

Members of the left-leaning Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, who used to support Duterte, rallied behind Robredo.

Party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio, France Castro of ACT Teachers Party-list, and Arlene Brosas of Gabri-

ela said they will support Robredo.

“It is a positive development,” Tinio said.

“We in the Makabayan bloc are ready to unite with and help everyone who is ready to fight against the establishment of a dictatorship of President Duterte.”

Castro said her group will support Robredo all the way in the same manner it is fighting the government’s “anti-poor” policies, including its war on drugs, its tax reform program and Charter change.

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“Having said this, we expect that the opposition movement would not only promote responsible and constructive debate to push the national conversation to a higher level of political maturity but also present to our people a viable alternative platform of government to address the longstanding problems of the nation,” he said.

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wanted someone “younger” to take his place.

Earlier, the Con-Com bared that Duterte will lead the 10-member Transition Commission on Federalism which will “formulate and adopt a transition plan for the orderly shift to the new system of government, as provided for in the new Constitution.”

Following the President’s instructions to cut his term short to erase suspicions of plans to stay in power beyond 2022, the Con-Com said it will review and revise the transitory provisions.

Roque said Duterte’s decision to step down early will be pursuant to the transitory provisions of the proposed federal constitution, which the people may ratify.

Roque earlier said that Duterte was willing to serve as transitional leader as long as he will serve within his term or until mid-2022. However, Duterte apparently changed his mind and wanted to step down as early as possible.

“That is why he asked the Con-Com to change the transitory provision to recognize that the transition leader will have to be elected,” Roque said in Filipino.

“In other words, the new constitution, if ratified, will be the instrument that will cut short the term of the President,” Roque added.

On Monday, Roque pointed out that if the public rejects or does not ratify the new charter, Duterte will not be allowed to step down until he finishes his term.

The Con-Com has yet to release the qualifications of who may run for the position of transitional leader but according to Roque, any qualified presidential candidate may run for transitional leader.

Roque, however, said it is best to wait for the Con-Com’s declaration.

Roque pointed out that the holding of referendum on the new charter may occur simultaneous with the 2019 mid-term elections.

“We are expecting it to be held at the same time as 2019 elections so it will be part of the budget of the 2019 elections,” Roque said.

Roque also said that the government had enough funds for the possible transition to a federal system of government, noting that a supplemental budget could always be sought for from Congress.

In the House, Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said

Grab...

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shown that such imposition of Respondent TNC [Grab Philippines] is invalid and without authority from the Board for which the Respondent is to suffer its consequences, the agency said.

“This is a case of overcharging, which has a corresponding penalty.”

Grab Philippines said it “will reserve comment for now until we have fully studied and analyzed the matter with

12 boys...

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their coach, ventured into the Tham Luang cave in mountainous northern Thailand on June 23 after football practice and got caught deep inside when heavy rains caused flooding that trapped them on a muddy ledge.

They spent nine harrowing days trapped in darkness until two British divers found them, looking gaunt but otherwise offering smiles to the divers and appearing to be in remarkably good spirits.

But the initial euphoria at finding them dissipated as authorities struggled to devise a safe plan to get them out, with the shelf more than four kilometers (2.5 miles) deep inside the cave and the labyrinth of tunnels leading to them filled with water.

Authorities mulled ideas such as drilling holes into the mountain or waiting months until monsoon rains ended and they could walk out, with the rescue chief at one point dubbing the efforts to save them “Mission Impossible.”

With oxygen levels in their cham-

they have no timetable yet for the proposed Charter change being pushed by the administration because the draft has not even been transmitted to Congress.

Meanwhile, Party-list Representatives Gary Alejano of Magdalo and Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers said the proposed federal constitution would give Duterte “enormous power” if he leads the Federal Transition Commission.

“Aside from appointing members of FTC, he will have sweeping powers of practically appointing all officials in government, including [those in] independent constitutional bodies,” Alejano said.

Alejano called this a “dangerous proposition with the way that the President appoints some unqualified people in government and how these people support his murderous policies.”

Tinio echoed Alejano’s view, saying the Con-Com approved federal charter will only give Duterte dictatorial powers.

“The Con-Com’s federal charter gives the President powers to supervise all three branches of the government,” Tinio said. “It will give Duterte extraordinary powers in case of national emergencies.”

Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV branded Duterte’s promise to shorten his term as “a trap.”

“Let us not again be deceived [by] this kind of promise by Duterte,” Trillanes said.

He said this was just like the promise of Duterte to clean the country of corruption, crimes and illegal drugs in three to six months, and that if he failed, he would resign.

Trillanes further accused Duterte of merely wanting to deceive and entrap the senators so they would agree to the charter change so that they could “rape” the Constitution.

He warned that this would eventually result in the postponement of the 2019 elections and Duterte remaining in his post.

“We should not agree to that system,” Trillanes said. “Now if he really wants to resign since he’s already tired, he should immediately do it.”

Trillanes, a staunch critic of the President, said Duterte should not resort to drama and should not set conditions.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan said any talk of term extension or noelection scenario leaves a bad taste in the mouth, especially when prices of rice and other basic food items are rising and government has just increased taxes.

Armed...

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at us,” PO1 Shiela Mae Estrero of the Mobile Patrol Group said in an interview.

“Left without a choice, we returned fire and hit him,” she added.

The armed man was later identified as Jeffrey Cañedo, 41, and a resident of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City based on his driver’s license.

The police tried to revive Cañedo but he died on the spot.

The authorities confirmed that Archbishop Jose Palma was safe, and was in Manila attending the recently concluded plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

The Archdiocese of Cebu released a statement that there had been no prior threat to the archbishop before the shootout.

Palma is a known critic of extrajudicial killings.

The incident took place just a day after President Rodrigo Duterte met with CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles in a bid to improve strained relations between the Chief Executive and the Church.

Palma urged the faithful to remain calm.

In an interview, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo said Palma also asked the public not to speculate as the authorities are now investigating the case.

Villarojo said the man, wearing a bonnet with his face covered, arrived at the gate of the palace looking for the archbishop.

One of the staff told him that Palma was not in Cebu.

Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde, meanwhile, said they are planning to implement an amnesty to enable owners of about 1 million firearms to register them with the police.

Albayalde told radio dzMM that weapons would be submitted for ballistics examination to determine if they match with any recorded crime.

With PNA

our legal team.”

The LTFRB ordered Grab Philippines to reimburse the riders who were charged P2 per minute from June 5, 2017 to April 19, 2018.

The Board said the reimbursement should be by way of rebate on future rides, and the rebate will only apply to Grab riders who were charged the time rate of P2 per minute without authority from the board.

“The amount of the rebate shall be limited to the portion of the income of

the respondent only, directly related to or arising from P2 per minute during the period of its unauthorized imposition,” the Board said.

Grab Philippines earlier said its fares were “legal and upfront“ and covered by a Department of Transportation Order in 2015 which allowed Transport Network Companies to set their own fares.

Leo Gonzales, head of Grab Philippines Public Affairs, had said even the LTFRB had confirmed this in a February 2016 decision.

ber falling to dangerous levels and monsoon rains threatening to flood the cave up above the ledge where the boys were sheltering, rescuers decided on the least-worst option of having divers escort them out through the tunnels.

The escape route was a challenge for even experienced divers. The boys had no previous diving experience so the rescuers trained them how to use a mask and breathe underwater via an oxygen tank.

One fear had been that they would panic while trying to swim underwater, even with a diver escorting them.

The death of a former Thai Navy SEAL diver who ran out of oxygen in a flooded area of the cave on Friday underscored the dangers of the escape route.

The ups and downs of the rescue bid entranced Thailand and also fixated a global audience, drawing support from celebrities as varied as US President Donald Trump, football star Lionel Messi and tech guru Elon Musk.

Health concerns Now they are out, concerns are set to

focus on the physical and mental toll of the ordeal.

Experts warned that drinking contaminated water or otherwise being exposed to bird or bat droppings in the cave could lead to dangerous infections.

They also said counseling would be needed to deal with the psychological trauma of spending so long not knowing whether they were going to survive.

But there were some promising initial signs.

Medical chiefs reported on Tuesday morning that the eight boys rescued on Sunday and Monday were in relatively good mental and physical conditions.

“All eight are in good health, no fever... everyone is in a good mental state,” Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, permanent secretary of the public health ministry, said before all 13 had been rescued.

Nevertheless, the boys would remain in quarantine in hospital until doctors were sure they had not contracted any infections from inside the cave.

Even before the final rescues, tributes began for the courage of the boys and their ability to survive the ordeal. AFP

Anti-dynasty proviso in BBL struck down

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE adoption of the supposed anti-dynasty provision in the Senate version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, described by the Senate minority leader as toothless to address the ill effects of political dynasties, was struck down during the bicameral conference committee’s deliberations on the proposed BBL of both Houses of Congress on Tuesday.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he did not oppose the move of the bicameral committee, which is composed of senators and congressmen who were tasked to harmonize contentious issues on their respective BBL proposals.

He said the anti-political dynasty provision in the Senate version was strongly opposed by some members of the panel.

“As a form of protest, I did not argue and push for its adoption anymore because the provision, as crafted, is useless,” Drilon said.

House members also rejected the antidynasty provision in the proposed BBL as it violates the “equal protection” clause of the Constitution, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said.

He said the members of the bicameral conference committee agreed to delete the provision during the second day of their meeting, which is intended to reconcile the conflicting provisions in the measure.

“It was dropped by the Senate after we cited the flaws of the provision that violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution as it applies only to a party representative but not to a district representative and only applies to elective officials of the proposed region to the exclusion of all other elective officials of the country,” Fariñas said.

Meanwhile, a rebel leader said the provisions of a draft law that will grant wider autonomy to the Muslim minority in the south was “above” the political entity that it would replace.

“I can say now without fear of contradiction that the BBL will come out as not watered-down because as of now, right now, at this moment, the BBL is above ARMM,” said MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar.

Drilon said the anti-dynasty provision was a much weaker provision than that provided in the Sangguniang Kabataan law.

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the remaining 15 percent were undecided.

This resulted in a net satisfaction rating of 45 percent, or 11 percentage points below his 56 percent rating in March 2018.

Duterte’s net satisfaction rating dropped 20 points in Metro Manila, 18 points in the Visayas and six points in Balance of Luzon and Mindanao.

The President’s net satisfaction rating fell by one grade from very good to good among class D respondents, falling to +43 in June, from +57 in March.

However, it rose by one grade from good to very good in class E, at +52 in June 2018, up by 4 points from +48 in March 2018. It stayed very good in class ABC, at +66 in June 2018, up by three points from +63 in March 2018.

The June 2018 SWS survey used faceto-face interviews with 1,200 adults, 18 years old and above, nationwide. It has sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The President brushed aside the findings.

“I don’t care, make it 15,” he said.

“It does not interest me at all. I’m just coasting along… and with the new suggestion since I’m not popular anymore, Congress might decide to find a popular one. You want a popular President?

Good.”

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The pink pigments were produced by simple microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria more than 1.1 billion years ago, some 500 million years older than previous color pigment discoveries.

That makes the samples around “fifteen times older” than the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur species, according to senior Australian National University researcher Jochen Brocks.

Earth itself is about 4.5 billion years old and researchers said the latest find shed light on why more sophisticated plant and animal life only came into existence 600 million years ago.

Previous research argued that low oxygen levels in the atmosphere held back the evolution of complicated lifeforms, but the discovery of cyanobacteria at such an early date suggests that the organisms crowded out more plentiful food sources such as algae.

“Algae, although still microscopic, are a thousand times larger in volume than cyanobacteria, and are a much richer food source,” Brocks told AFP. “The cyanobacterial oceans started to vanish about 650 million years ago, when algae began to rapidly spread to provide the burst of energy needed for the evolution of complex ecosystems, where large animals, including humans, could thrive on Earth.”

Scientists came across the samples accidentally when an oil company drilling in the Taoudeni basin in West Africa sent them rocks for analysis.AFP

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PDEA vows to go after street kids using solvent

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT. President

Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with leukemia patient John Paul Cuilao, who was granted a chance meeting with the President as the boy celebrated his birthday at the Malacañan Palace on July 9, 2018. Joining the President is Secretary Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President.

Before meeting the President, Go had previously visited John Paul at the Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City, where he extended assistance to the boy and other pediatric patients.

Presidential Photo

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday vowed to go after street children involved in drug use.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino led the launch of “Project: Sagip Batang Solvent” designed to rescue street children from the drug trade and drug abuse with sniffers of solvent as primary targets.

He called on big corporations and business owners to include the project as part of their corporate social responsibility, cooperation and support to the government’s drug demand reduction efforts by lending financial assistance.

“The sight of children sniffing solvent on our streets and their involvement in illegal drug activities have long been regarded as a perennial problem along busy streets and urban areas,” he said.

“What these children need is a sense of belonging. They belong to their homes under their parents’ care, and in schools where they are supposed to learn and grow, not in the streets where they are left to fend for themselves.

“PDEA emphasizes the important role of parents in keeping these kids off the streets. The parents, as head of the basic unit of society, must be responsible for starting anti-drug awareness and prevention in the family,” he added.

Under ‘‘Project: Sagip Batang Solvent,” homey facilities will be established to rehabilitate and reform rescued street children in the communities.

Asian experts to study safety concerns on Dengvaxia A GROUP of pathologists from different countries in Asia will examine the effects and safety concerns of Dengvaxia vaccine, subject to the approval by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who said that the pathologists came from Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Singapore, from where the President will choose three experts who will comprise the panel which will look into the matter.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, however, has yet to confirm if the President will be able to create the panel and the duration of the study. He said that the health experts will be given compensation for their work.

“Mayroon naman po tayong sapat na budget para sila’y imbitahan dito sa Pilipinas at mag-aral doon sa kung anong dapat nilang pag-aralan para magkaroon sila ng konklusyon sa tunay na epekto ng Dengvaxia,” Roque said.

Duque has said that the foreign pathologists will be tasked to scrutinize findings from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and the Public Attorney’s Office in relation with the dengue immunization program.

The expert panel’s output and recommendation will be submitted directly to the Department of Justice.

The government will also set up additional mechanisms to ensure their full independence.

Du30 certifies universal health care bill as ‘urgent’ and non-contributing members.

“There are two classifications: the contributing and non-contributing. The government will pay on the premiums of non-contributing,” said Roque, adding that the UHC will not rely on premiums and insurances alone.

“The government has too many investment and capital expenditures. We are aiming to continuously construct one barangay health centers per barangay, create bigger regional health units with 13 personnel, and provide district hospitals,” he said, adding PhilHealth would buy the medicines and would give the tariff on all professional services.

Some points of the bill include giving the full spectrum of health services to inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care services surrounding preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative medical, dental, and mental health services, institutionalizing the Health Technology Assessment and the creation of the Health Technology Assessment Council, and empowering local government units to be responsible in delivering health services to their respective communities.

Roque made the statement as Senator Ejercito said the bill will be passed in the Senate when session resumes this month.

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte certified as urgent the Universal Health Care Bill providing Filipinos the inclusion of preventive, promotive and rehabilitative health services for a better health system, Malacañang said Tuesday.

P

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque confirmed that the President issued the certification of House Bill 5785, following a 10-hour long 27th Cabinet meeting held Monday night.

“I am pleased to announce that our Universal Health Care Bill which we sponsored, defended, and passed in the House of Representatives was certified as urgent in tonight’s Cabinet meeting,” he said in a Twitter post.

The certification means the Senate can swiftly act on the pending UHC Bill which, according to Roque, is being heard by the Senate Committee on Health headed by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito.

“Under this proposed law, we seek to provide for the right to health by providing primary care to all Filipinos. This is the free health services and medicines to the

country,” said Roque in a press briefing in Indang, Cavite Tuesday.

Roque also recognized the role of barangay health care workers as gatekeepers of the bill.

“They are the first contact of the patients together with community nurses and midwives. In barangay health centers, they will be the ones to decide whether the patients be given medicines, need to go to a specialist, or require serious medical attention in a hospital,” said Roque.

Roque also said the UHC Bill will reorganize the prevailing Philippine Health Insurance Inc. into the Philippine Health Security Corp., which will then be the national purchaser of health services.

Unlike the current system of PhilHealth, Roque said the new process for UHC will be available to contributing

Binay bats for Health campaign vs Leptospirosis

By Macon Ramos-Araneta CONCERNED over the rising number of Leptospirosis cases in the country, Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday called on the Department of Health and local government units to launch a massive campaign on the disease.

Binay said the DoH, with the help of LGUs, should remain proactive in its objective to inform the public of the symptoms of the disease and how to avoid it.

“We need to solicit people’s participation and find community-level ways to prevent the spread of the disease. The increases in the number of leptospirosis cases in the country, especially in Metro Manila, is alarming,” Binay said.

The senator said flood control remains to be a big challenge to LGUs and

combating Leptospirosis is a bigger challenge.

“The rise in Leptospirosis highlights a public health issue. There’s a need to make giant steps towards addressing the disease by engaging all sectors including those in charge of public works,” Binay added.

She also sought the help of local government executives down to the barangay level to help in the information campaign, and in clearing drainage systems and areas where rats commonly stay.

Binay said that it is still best to prevent the spread of the disease.

“There is a need for a concerted effort from all fronts in immediately spreading awareness regarding Leptospirosis,” she said in Senate Resolution number 783.

Binay said there is a need to proactively

address the prevalence of the disease, especially ways to avoid it.

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which is spread by animal urine or water containing animal urine coming into contact with breaks in the skin, eyes, mouth, or nose. Signs and symptoms ranges from none to headaches, muscle pains and fever, to bleeding.

The Health department last weekend declared outbreaks in 10 more barangays in Metro Manila, bringing to 28 the number of barangays affected by the disease.

These were in Quezon City, Taguig, Pasig, Parañaque, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Malabon and Caloocan.

The department added that from Jan. 1 to June 23, there were 1,085 reported cases of Leptospirosis, a 35 percent increase from the same period in 2017.

Cooperation sought in Boracay rehab

ACTIVISTS PROTEST. Activists from Kalikasan Peoples Network For The

Environment stage a protest action in front of DENR Headquarters office in Quezon City, calling for the immediate reopening of Boracay. Manny Palmero

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Tuesday said the cooperation of various stakeholders in Aklan’s Boracay Island is crucial to its early reopening.

He called on the stakeholders, particularly establishment owners affected by road widening and crackdown on illegal sewerage connections, to cooperate.

He said the Stellar Hotel, a subsidiary of the chain of luxury hotels of Astoria that owns two highend hotels in the island, has given the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the assurance to self-demolish its structures encroaching on the road easement along Bulabog Beach.

“We could have [destroyed] it before, but we gave them due process. Now, we can complete the

road network, and close the main road so that the DPWH can finish everything they need to do for the road widening,” he said.

Cimatu also lauded the decision of several establishments along the main road to demolish portions of their buildings with “overhang” or floors protruding over the easement requirement.

Cimatu maintained their stance to remove illegal settlers along wetlands to reduce the level of coliform in their waters at Wetland 3 near Bulabog and Wetland 6 in Balabag/Manocmanoc area.

“We do not only need to clean the wetlands in order to sustain the water quality along the beach. We need to restore their functions as natural filters and water reservoirs,” he said. Rio N. Araja

Prosecution vs Legacy Banks officials set THE Supreme Court has paved the way for the prosecution of the owner of Legacy Banks, its 86 depositors and a bank branch manager for estafa through falsification of documents, perjury and money laundering for allegedly duping the government through fraudulent deposit insurance claims amounting to P97.73 million.

In an 18-page decision, the SC’s Third Division through Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. ordered the reinstatement of the June 3, 2016 resolution issued by then Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas, which found probable cause to indict spouses Manu and Champa Gidwani, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Bacolod Main branch manager Andrew A. Jereza and 86 others for the alleged crimes.

The SC set aside the Jan. 31, 2017 decision of the Court of Appeals that reversed Caparas’ resolution and ordered the dismissal of the complaint.

The high tribunal held that former Justice Secretary Caparas “has the power and discretion” to assess the documents and pleadings submitted to him for review and come up with his own finding. Rey E. Requejo

SC defers ruling on Sereno admin case THE Supreme Court has deferred its decision on the administrative case it initiated against ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for her public attacks against her colleagues at the height of quo warranto proceedings against her.

The SC justices deliberated on the administrative case against Sereno during its en banc session on Tuesday, but failed to come up with a decision due to varying position on what penalty should be imposed against the ousted top magistrate.

An SC insider revealed that the magistrates agreed to penalize Sereno for transgressing the sub judice rule and for casting aspersions and ill motives to the members of the Supreme Court, but were divided as to penalty to be imposed on her.

The source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak for the Court, said some justices suggested the imposition of the lightest administrative sanction of “reprimand” on Sereno, but others wanted harsher penalty of suspension from law practice.

Due to lack of consensus, as needed in administrative cases, the SC magistrates decided to suspend the deliberations until the next session on Tuesday next week. Rey E. Requejo REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the ad interim appointments of the following senior officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Raul Hora Dado – as Career Minister; Mr. Winston Dean Siscon Almeda, Mr. Gabriel Romero Bautista, Mr. Dennis John Cruz Briones, Ms. Grace Anne Garcia Bulos, Ms. Ma. Carmela Teresa Abella Cabreira, Mr. Aian Almirañez Caringal, Mr. Jose Luzanta Garcia III, Mr. Joselito Chad Nalus Jacinto Jr., Mr. Lorenzo Rhys Garrucho Jungco IV, Ms. Querobine Deapera Laccay, Mr. Jed Martin Asuncion Llona, Ms. Bernadette Averilla Mendoza, Mr. Edwin Gil Quijano Mendoza, Ms. Rea Galanao Oreta, Ms. Judy Barbara Guiang Robianes, Ms. Ma. Corina Apostol Reyes, Mr. Jeffrey Peñamante Salik, Mr. Paulo Velasco Saret, Ms. Cassandra Karemaeh Bahjin Sawadjaan, Ms. Sheila Marie Chan Tario and Princess U. Tomas-Tayao – as Foreign Service Officer, Class I. The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions in thirty two (32) copies on the above appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings and any other inquiry, contact the CA Secretariat through telephone numbers 834-2713, 831-1824, 831-0527, 832-9830, 834-2706 and 5511989.

10 July 2018.

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-JULY 11, 2018)

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ceasefire doubts TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

or decreases at a slow, steady rate, the purchasing power of money will also relatively stabilize. In contrast, when the supply of money expands rapidly, compared to the supply of goods and services, the value of money declines.

Consequently, prices rise.

The poor suffer most with inflation.

This is my worry because when the poor can no longer afford goods and services, they resort to crime.

AFTER President Rodrigo Duterte met with Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Romulo Valles in Malacanang last Monday, the President’s barkers said that the two agreed on a “ceasefire.”

Ceasefire? What does this even *** mean?

The latest survey of Pulse Asia on Does this mean that the President the likely winners in the 2019 senatowill no longer call God stupid, or ques- rial race is significant in many ways. tion His existence, or attack the faith of The ranking of candidates simply the millions of Filipinos? shows that the respondents are aware On the part of the CBCP president, of who are in the running, and that redoes this mean that the Catholic Church electionists and former senators stand a will no longer question all the killings better chance at winning. under the administration’s campaign Senator Grace Poe for instance is against drugs, and lawless environment seen top the polls because she was a and the culture of impunity? presidential candidates in 2016. People Will the Catholic church and the still remember her. faithful now be cowed into silence?

The inclusion of Davao City MayWill the Church or Sara Duterte, refrain from telling meanwhile, comes the faithful about as no surprise. She the Reproductive is not only known Health Law and as the presidential What does this the plan to restore daughter. She is a term even mean for the death penalty? popular local execI have my doubts Mr. Duterte and the utive with a strong about this so- Catholic Church? will and firm recalled ceasefire. solve.

While the Church However, I have my doubts about will likely have a former PNP Chief stand on issues of morality and faith, the government will Ronald dela Rosa. He was popular, most likely invoke the separation of sure, because he spoke with media evechurch and state. ry day. But as we know, popularity is I cannot envision any ceasefire so not a sure ticket to the Senate. long as we have a President like RodThe poll placed Pia Cayetano as a rigo Duterte. likely top winner, along with Senator Cynthia Villar. They are known for *** their achievements. They are joined by I am concerned about the plans of the Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, former national government to increase its bor- Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, rowings from domestic sources, mainly and Senator Nancy Binay. from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Other possible winners are former and outside, by a staggering P1.19 tril- Senator Sergio Osmeña and Ilocos lion, which is 20 percent higher than Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. this year’s numbers.

I would say that Marcos, once she If I am worried about our propensity starts campaigning, could even imfor borrowing, so should the people, prove her standing. especially the poor. This will mean Meanwhile, the President would not higher inflation where prices of com- do well to risk making Bong Go a senamodities will continue to rise. torial candidate.

The value of the peso is determined Who I would like to see at the Senate by the law of supply and demand. is former Metro Manila Development When the supply of money is constant Turn to A5

F

Banking as a service

ILIPINOS of a certain age may still remember a time when banks competed for depositors by offering them savings accounts that could actually earn them some real interest.

Nowadays, the interest rates on ordinary savings accounts—almost all of them well below 1 percent a year—are so laughably low that given the rate of inflation, depositors might actually be paying the banks to hold their money.

Now one major bank has announced that starting next year, it will charge its clients for overthe-counter withdrawals and inter-regional deposits. These include: • A P50 inter-region cash deposit fee (for transactions made at branches other than the depositor’s branch of account, and in another regions, such as Metro Manila to Ilocos); • P100 inter-region withdrawal fee; and • P100 fee for over-the-counter withdrawals of accounts with ATM cards.

The new fees were supposed to begin in September, but the bank later moved them to January to give “clients enough time to be

more familiar with bank’s online and electronic channels.”

In the meantime, the bank said, it will impose new fees on check encashment (P100 if not done at a depositor’s branch of account), foreign currency deposits, and statement of account printing beginning in September.

Put plainly, starting next year, this bank will charge its customers for depositing money into their own savings accounts, if they do not do so in their home branch or a branch within their region.

They will also begin to charge their customers for withdrawing their own money over the counter.

The new fees seem designed to nudge customers away from branch transactions toward electronic or ATM transactions, but they do so in a way that penalizes them, rather than encourages them. The imposition of these fees also suggest a cavalier attitude toward their

own depositors that disregards their banking preferences— some customers may actually prefer dealing with a live, human being when it comes to their hard-earned cash, than an automated teller machine or an app on a mobile phone.

The plan to actually charge people for depositing their money seems like arrogance of the highest order and violative of the basic concept of banking as a service.

Of course, depositors are free to move their money elsewhere, if they wish, but they should ascertain first if similar plans are not already underfoot, too, at the other banks they are considering. Given the non-existent competition for depositors in the industry, this is by no means a sure thing.

Perhaps it is time Congress examined the state of competition in the banking industry and ascertain why, as huge financial institutions prosper, small depositors are always put at a disadvantage, and how this eventually discourages the habit of saving.

‘Critical collaboration’ sion between Church and State. The Bangsamoro Basic Law is being tackled by a bicameral Senate-House committee. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is making it difficult to grant demands that would ALEJANDRO make dim a final and enduring peace setDEL ROSARIO tlement. The long-running armed conflict between government troops and the inTHAT was a rare photo of President surgent New People’s Army is expected Rodrigo Duterte putting his forehead to escalate with the scuttling of the peace on the backhand of Davao Archbishop talks with the Communist Party of the Romulo Valles who is also the presi- Philippines. Prices of prime commodities dent of the Catholic Bishops’ Con- continue to rise, bringing hardship to the ference of the Philippines. The photo people and adding to the unemployment which ran on the front pages of Ma- and inflation rate. China is encroaching nila’s major newspapers was taken in into the West Philippine Sea, depriving Malacanang minutes before the start our fishermen of their livelihood. Then, of the CBCP-government dialogue to there are the uncertain effects of federalsmooth out a simmering feud between ism as proposed in the new Constitution.

Based on the result of the recent Church and State.

The dialogue was sought by the ad- Pulse Asia survey on probable winners in the 2019 ministration after senatorial race, President Duterte’s the President still scathing “God is enjoys the support stupid” remark. of majority of the This was followed The President people. If surveys by a a presidential are to be believed, challenge of “show has agreed to a that is. Presidenme a selfie with moratorium. tial daughter and your god to prove Davao Mayor Sara your god exists and I will resign. The Duterte ranks CBCP-Palace diafourth as top problogue went through with the Church able winners behind Senator Grace Poe, issuing a statement of “critical col- Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano, Senalaboration” and not having any role to tor Cynthia Villar, and former Senators Sergio Osmeña and Lito Lapid. oust Duterte.

Other probable winners, according The President agreed to a moratorium on making blasphemous remark about to the Pulse Asia survey conducted God and the Church. His “God is stu- from June 15 to 21 this year, were pid” remark offended millions of Catho- Senators Edgardo “ Sonny” Angara, lics and Christian groups. The Catholics Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Nancy Biand Christians compose an estimated nay, Paulo Bam Aquino, J.V Ejercito 80 percent of the 105 million Filipinos. and former Philippine National Police Whether the President would keep his Director Ronald dela Rosa who is now mouth shut and refrain from maligning the head of the Bureau of Corrections God, Church and Catholics in the coun- in Muntinlupa.

There was no word on Presidential try remains to be seen.

With several challenges facing the na- Special Assistant Christopher “Bong” tion, let us all hope for the lessening of tenTurn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

Internet and inclusion VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ MY US-based lawyer-daughter Ivy Lopez Cabaltica did some research on Internet use in the Philippines. Her findings are not something our telcos in the Philippines can be proud of. Only a little more than half of Filipinos have Internet access. Local Internet is slow (one of the slowest in the world), and expensive. Internet remains an elitist pursuit and is mainly for the educated.

Internet access and social media use are a reflection of many socioeconomic and cultural factors within a country.

If our government wants to promote inclusive growth, one of the best ways

is not to give the poor money. Give them cheap, if not free, internet. That way, the poor will be at par with the rich, instantly. I am not saying our telcos are anti-poor. They could be more pro-poor. If they do, they can access the other half of their market.

Only 56 of every 100 Filipinos have Internet access. The world’s ratio is 75 of every 100 people.

One reason is cost. Internet in the Philippines is expensive: An initial cost of $80 for installation and deposit, with a two-year lockup and heavy penalty for pre-termination. Plans Turn to A5

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018

No need to panic CROSSROADS

JONATHAN A. DE LA CRUZ SENATE President Tito Sotto is right. There is no reason to panic over the spate of killings of local government officials in the past few days. Five killings in a week does not a lawless situation make as Senator and LP President Kiko Pangilinan would like people to believe.

Of course, we should condemn these killings and condole with the families of the victims. Of course, we should put the police on notice that the public is waiting for results as we urge them and their colleagues within the security establishment to solve these as soon as they can.

That is, investigate thoroughly and solve with believable evidence, not haphazard, raw ones which can only fuel more doubts about the ability of government to secure the peace.

More than that, we urge the police leadership to move more men in the streets and into the far alleys and byways of this country to deter any possible outbreak from happening. We urge them to use all available resources including the latest intelligence-gathering equipment no matter how meager these maybe to get the possible perpetrators of mayhem before these happen. We urge them to reassure our people that they are safe in their persons and in their homes.

With the police and our security forces on the ball, it is time our political leaders took a break from their headline-grabbing histrionics. This is not the time to issue all kinds of theories and speculations about the killings, for one, or issuing out hot-button releases about the state of our affairs as in Pangilinan’s “creating a climate of lawlessness.” Or in Justice Secretary Meynard Guevara’s order to the NBI to determine whether the killings were interrelated and

had something to do with a supposed destabilization plot. The gentlemen may have been genuinely concerned over the situation but instead of calming the waters, so to speak, their acts and statements only fueled even more anxiety and caused many citizens sleepless nights.

In any event, I tend to believe PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde’s take that these killings are not systematic. They do not fit into a pattern and should be treated separately.

“We are looking at different reasons,” Albayalde mentioned when asked about earlier theories raised by the usual suspects that these killings may all be part of a grand conspiracy hatched by the Duterte administration to declare martial law.

There is no pattern to the killings, the PNP says.

As Albayalde noted the evidence gathered so far by the police does not lend credence to the martial law/state of emergency theory. The evidence point to varying reasons why these officials were killed ranging from business, politics and even personal grudges.

So, instead of losing sleep over the theories and speculations being tossed around, we urge our high officials to come down to earth and start working on the means to secure our people’s safety and their ability to make both ends meet given the extraordinary challenges they face.

I tend to believe reports that the giant telecoms duopoly of PLDT/ Smart and Globe are moving heaven and earth to ensure that a third telco will never get off the ground. For one, the terms of reference (ToR) for the selection of the third player has been tossed

Truly ‘bayani’ back and forth with all kinds of revisions presumably coming from experts and concerned sectors but which DICT officials revealed were actually suggestions injected into the discussions within the technical working group involved in the vetting.

Then, there are the advisories coming from so-called experts and foreign operators insisting that the new player should shell out billions of pesos without as much as indicating why such a huge start-up fund (variously advised as from P10 billion to P36.7 billion and counting) is needed in the first place. The deluge of news feeds have been so loaded that some of the latest “reports” tend to discourage with, first, the subtle threat of inter connectivity difficulties and, second, imposition of almost impossible terms, a good number of which were never required of the two current players.

Having entered the picture, as it were, with surrogate expert statements and advisories from reputable institutions, local and foreign discussions within the technical working group slowed down if not stalled altogether.

The good news is that apparently Acting DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio has apparently gotten presidential approval to proceed with the selection process after almost stalled altogether on the matter of whether it will be via auction (mainly of frequencies and roll outs) as advocated by certain Cabinet members, notably Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez or through the highest committed level of service approach preferred by Secretary Rio and the DICT group. Well, the HCLos approach will now be used.

Unless, another scheme will be proferred by the giant telco duopoly and injected into the discussions Rio said we will have a third telco named by September.

That is good news indeed in this telecommunications challenged country. We await the takeoff of this initiative.

Internet...

From A4

range from $30 to $140 a month.

In response, Filipino instead use their smartphone, which is much cheaper. A mobile plan can range from $1 a day to $20 a month. A smartphone plan can also be prepaid for a set amount or a daily basis which gives users, especially the low-income earner, a lot of flexibility.

Also, smartphones are cheap— only $100 from South Korea’s Samsung. China’s Oppo and Vivo hold 59 percent of the smartphone market. This segment is more than the combined sales of low-end ($101 to $199), mid-range ($200-$400), highend ($401-$600), and ultra high-end (from $601) smartphones.

Filipinos want a smartphone with a bigger screen, good camera, and greater capabilities that allow them to centralize their digital needs for work and personal use, especially for their social media habits. A bigger screen allows users to enjoy beautiful graphics, view their pictures and videos, and easily read text. Plus the portability of smartphones is incomparable.

Large-screen smartphones have been made popular by the greater availability of video streaming services like Netflix, where you can watch shows, movies, and original programs from your phone.

Emerging economies like the Philippines use social media platforms beyond personal pursuits.

Users go to networking sites and FB to market their wares, promote their business, and increase their professional standing. Small business owners and side businesses sell directly on FB and other social media sites. FB is attractive for the cash-strapped proprietor since these sites are free and they already have a personal profile and a network of friends who can support their business. It’s also common for regular users to post their used clothes and

luxury items for sale on these sites.

Globally, the youth (ages 18 to 36) are the most frequent internet users.

In countries with a young population like the Philippines (median age is 23), there is a great age gap between the young and the older users.

“In three countries, there is at least 50-percentage-point gap between younger and older generations: the Philippines (55-percentage-point gap), Tunisia (51 points) and Vietnam (50 points). Among advanced economies, the largest generational divides in Internet use are found in Greece (47-point gap), Italy (36 points), Poland (34 points) and Hungary (33 points).” (Pew Research Center) Generation X (ages 34-53) are also heavy users of the Internet and social media sites. They spend over 40 minutes more on the Internet than millennials and are heavily reliant on their smartphones and smart devices for their work and recreation. They are now in more advanced stages of their careers so they have the economic means to buy more, whether in terms of higher-priced devices or greater quantities.

Baby boomers (ages 54-72) may not use the Internet or social media as much as the two younger generations after them, but they have the most means. They buy the most expensive smartphones, laptops, and devices; pay for the best Internet and phone subscriptions; and most likely pay for their children’s and grandchildren’s smartphones, digital devices, and subscriptions, too.

Filipino boomers use social media to keep in touch with family members regularly, especially those who live far from them or are abroad.

They use the Internet mostly for information like international news and health research but still prefer to watch TV for local news and shows.

The more affluent have greater digital access.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Affluent nations have the means to build better infrastructure to support the Internet and mobile technology. Their prosperity allows its citizens to afford Internet subscriptions, smartphones, and computers. The opposite is true for developing nations where most basic services and infrastructure are poor.

Worldwide, there is a significant gap between those with more education, who have more Internet access, over those with less education who have less Internet access. In 95 percent of all countries surveyed, the differences are in the double digits.

Less educated Filipinos use the Internet 27 percent of the time, while the more educated use the Internet or own a smartphone 75 percent of the time. The 48- percent gap is one of the highest among the nations surveyed.

Less educated Chinese use the internet 55 percent versus the more educated 92 percent. India is 11 percent versus 53 percent. In contrast, the less educated American has an Internet use of 84 percent, while the more educated has 96 percent.

Again, South Korea has the smallest gap of 6 percent since 99 percent of its population has a college degree, but its less educated still has a high Internet use of 93 percent.

Internet access is the standard in many high schools and all colleges and universities, even in developing countries like the Philippines.

So students who pursue a tertiary or post graduate degree also avail of the school’s facilities even if they cannot afford their own subscription, smartphone, or computer.

Internet access and social media use are a reflection of many socioeconomic and cultural factors within a country. In this digital age, Internet connectivity and digital savvy is essential for a nation to compete globally. biznewsasia@gmail.com

I wanted to walk out in disgust, but thought it better to finish my Sunday obligation. Then, at the end of the mass, there was an “oratio imperata” against the reproductive health bill. This time LITO I could not participate, and decided to BANAYO leave quietly in protest.

Sure, there will always be a big deMORE than a week ago, a Filipino fac- mand for foreign workers contracted tory worker jumped to his death from the by countries which are in some sort of window of the factory he was working at demographic winter. For decades, they in Taiwan. Minutes before, he swallowed actively promoted population managemuriatic acid, his own sister witnessed. ment, resulting in a decidedly lower Clearly, he wanted to end his life. labor force. But in the process, their Before that, another OFW, this time living standards have increased because a caregiver, was so depressed, and tried the absent pressure of population growth to jump from a second-floor ledge in allowed them to manage their economy the Taipei office of the OWWA housed well. inside the MECO headquarters. She Not so in the Philippines, where was clearly distraught, and while be- poorer families multiplied their offing interviewed by the welfare officers spring, reducing their household disbecause she wanted to go home even posable incomes to the barest minima, before her purchased plane ticket date, and where eventually parents had to rely she suddenly ran on the children’s and tried to jump income for sustethrough a balcony nance. Because door and into the the economy ledge. Fortunately, could not cope up Will the diaspora labor officials were with the populaever end? able to hold on and tion growth, the prevented an injuescape valve from rious though not want and destitufatal jump. She is tion was the overnow confined in a hospital, undergoing seas labor market. therapy. Apparently, she could not stand Thus, the Filipino diaspora—a matter the psychological pain of being sepa- of necessity, not of choice. rated from her small child in a Visayas At the Manila Economic and Cultural island.

Office in Taiwan, we have made it our Incidents like these, as well as the first priority, more than trade and indeath of a Filipina from Abulug, Ca- vestments, more than the inflow of tourgayan during the strong Hualien earth- ists, to try to be of help and relevance to quake last February, makes one realize our OFWs. the heavy costs of working abroad and Thus it became so gratifying that being counted among the ranks of the when we launched MECOnnect (the “bagong bayani.” subject of a previous article here) in Until I personally encountered such Tainan, the OFW community leaders tragedies here in Taiwan, the empathy said that it was the first time MECO oftowards the plight of our overseas work- ficers went to their city and connected ers was there, but not as up close and with the OFWs. personal.

There have been projects launched, One used to see them huddled togeth- and events to make the OFW commuer sitting in cardboard or plastic mats in nity in Taiwan feel the presence of their the pedestrian bridge linking the IFC government, but it is an unending task Centre in Hong Kong to the MTR sta- that is made poignantly sad when one tion in Central every Sunday, playing sees and hears of tragic situations such cards, watching local shows from their as those we earlier enumerated. cell phones, or just chatting about famTruly they are “bayani,” but one wonily and friends back home. “Mababaw ders, when will their sacrifices ever end? na kaligayahan,” but poignant, because Will the Filipino diaspora ever end? separation from loved ones is always sad, and the solitary free day they have *** must be spent in the company of kabaWe are writing this article a week bayans. Some kind of an extended lone- before it gets published, because of an ly hearts’ club. extended leave of absence, to recharge Our economists and government offi- and be with family, thus the succeeding cials point to them as “saviors,” and for condolences may be quite late. the longest time, from Marcos through We personally grieve at the death Cory and beyond, they have carried the by an assassin’s bullet of Tanauan City ball for the economy, with the precious Mayor Tony Halili, who was a classmate foreign exchange they pump in year in for two years at pre-medical school, beand year out by the billions. fore I shifted to another major course in Sure we exempt their earnings from college days. income taxes, no real consolation for Tony, a native of Nueva Ecija, marmany of them who never could get de- ried a Tanauan lass and eventually setcent jobs or livelihood in the benighted tled and did business in Batangas, was homeland anyway. We exempt them a brave person even in college days, from travel and airport taxes, but then “maaasahan” during rumbles even in again, is it not due to necessity that they the NCAA. leave, and not choice of travel?

My profound condolences to the family.

There was a time when the priest in my parish was delivering a homily, *** fulminating against the Reproductive The day after, Mayor Ferdinand Bote Health Bill that has since become law. of General Tinio was also slain. The (Until now, however, full implementa- mayor is a cousin of a good friend, fortion has been delayed by obstacles they mer Mayor Virgilio Bote Jr., who imhave strewn). mensely helped during the Duterte presTo my aghast, he was giving credit to idential campaign. his bishops’ obstinacy against populaFrom out here in Taiwan, one can only tion management as the “savior” of the condole, but with a sinking feeling that Philippine economy. “If we had prac- asks a similar quote of then Vice Presiticed birth control, what would have dent Emmanuel Pelaez who miraculoushappened to our economy that is now ly escaped an assassination attempt in being saved by OFWs?” he asked in New Manila in the early eighties, “what warped logic. is happening to our country?”

SO I SEE

Ceasefire...

From A4

Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, is it doing to mitigate climate change? who placed 13th during the 2016 polls. What is doing, exactly? According to Then again, anything can happen. reports, it has a budget of P2 billion. I am told that its commissioners often at*** tend conventions and seminars.

It’s a mystery to me what the CliVisit my web site, www.emiljurado. mate Change Commission is for. What weebly.com.

‘Critical...

From A4

Go. He’s very visible these days with his photo appearing often in the Manila media.

People are also asking whether Maria Lourdes Sereno who was removed as Supreme Court Chief Justice via quo warranto proceedings will seek a Senate seat.

Meanwhile, Filipino boxing icon Senator Manny Pacquiao will be staking all in his coming world welterweight title fight with Argentina’s Lucas Mattysse this coming Sunday in Kuala Lumpur. His future boxoffice attraction and high purse plus his political career are all on the line.

If he loses against the Argentinian

knockout artist, Pacquiao loses all including a huge fortune since he financed the promotion of the Kuala Lumpur fight. Pacquiao let go of the services of promoter Bob Arum and long-time coach-trainer Freddie Roach. How he fares in this fight depends on loyal friend and now trainer Buboy Fernandez.

How do I see this fight? I think Mattysse might be too much for Pacquiao.

A hard punching-pug who keeps coming forward, the Argentine could overwhelm Manny unless the Filipino shows some of his former self with his volume punches and stinging left straight. I hope I am wrong and Pacquiao prevails.

News

A6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MMDA set to launch ‘Shake Drill’ in NCR

ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

Le Guider International E-Trike Electronics Assembly Philippines Inc. chairman engineer Youssef Ahmad test drives a Zero Emission Minhong electric vehicle displayed at the 6th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The twoday event is about building partnerships, aligning objectives and taking collective action to facilitate further adoption of electric vehicles in the Philippines.

Ey Acasio

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority is set to hold its annual “Shake Drill” to prepare the people in the event a big quake strikes the National Capital Region.

But the MMDA said the exact date of the Metro Manila Shake Drill this month would not be announced.

“No one can predict when an earthquake will happen. We must be prepared at all times so we want the shake drill unannounced,” said MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia.

On its fourth year, the MMDA, with the Metro Manila Disaster Management Council, will lead the shake drill any day in the third week of July.

“We will not be announcing the exact date of the shake drill. Public will only be informed on the day of the drill,” said Garcia.

The shake drill, which will run for three days, aims to sustain and improve the public’s awareness and consciousness towards a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

“We want to do a shake drill in a more realistic environment,” said Garcia.

For his part, Michael Salalima, Metro Manila Shake Drill Secretariat head, said telecommunication networks would broadcast the drill through SMS messages to its subscribers on a specific day.

Companies, churches, schools, and institutions are urged to sound their own alerts or bells while radio stations will air an alert to signal the start of the drill at 3 pm.

Salalima said he hoped different stakeholders could take advantage of the activity to test their contingency plans.

“What we want to evaluate is the people’s level of awareness and discipline instilled during the past three years,” said Salalima.

The MMDA will come into play by mobilizing personnel to designated emergency operation centers in four quadrants in the metropolis.

The western quadrant, composed of Navotas, Malabon, and Manila, will use the Intramuros Golf Course as evacuation area.

The northern quadrant, composed of Quezon City, Caloocan, Valenzuela, San Juan, will use the Veterans Memorial Medical Center Golf Course and Quezon Memorial Circle as evacuation camps.

Duterte supports bill creating disaster dept

By Nat Mariano

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte supports the passage of a bill seeking to create a new department focusing on disaster resilience by yearend, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Cabinet approved the bill establishing the Department of Disaster Resilience—in line with what the President said during his second State of the Nation Address last July 2017.

The President has invited Leyte Rep. Yedda Romualdez—familiar with the experience of Taclobanons when Typhoon “Yolanda” struck in 2013—to discuss the salient points of the pending bill in the House which will create the new department on

disaster preparedness and emergency.

“The Palace will also draft an executive bill on the creation of this new department to be submitted to Congress,” he said in a phone interview, adding the President wanted to have a distinct department solely operating for disaster and calamity response.

During Duterte’s Sona in 2017, the President recounted some of the past calamities that struck the country, viewing these events of natural hazards as huge, real, and imminent threats to

2 aliens nabbed at Naia, are detained

the lives of Filipinos.

Roque said the President would provide a budget exclusive for the creation and operations of the department.

The allocation, however, was not yet included in the 2019 budget proposal.

“It is possible to extract a contingency fund from around P30 billion budget for 2019,” said Roque, adding that upon the establishment of the new department, the National Risk Reduction Management Council would be removed.

In his Sona last year, the President called on both houses of Congress to pass a law creating a new agency focusing on disaster management, responding to the prevailing 21st century conditions, and delivering enhance disaster resiliency and quick disaster response.

Townsfolk seek justice for Bote GEN. TINIO, Nueva Ecija—Mayor Ferdinand Bote was laid to rest at 10 am Tuesday, a week after he was gunned down along Maharlika Highway in Cabanatuan City, also in this province.

Thousands of people, mostly in white or black shirt printed with “Justice for Mayor Bote,” attended the interment, making Tuesday seem like “an undeclared holiday” in this town.

From the sports complex, Bote’s remains were brought to the Bethany United Methodist Church at 7 am for religious services before a funeral parade along the town’s major streets.

His casket, carried by an Elf truck with police honor guards, followed a huge crowd.

Supporters carried a huge tarpaulin with “Justice for Mayor Bote” messages.

The mayor’s batch mates in high school Class of 1977 wore red armed bands and shouted “Justice for mayor!” as he was being buried.

William Bote, a cousin and high school classmate, recalled the mayor’s great leadership skill since his youth.

Bote, a first-term mayor of this southern town in Nueva Ecija, had just come from National Irrigation Administration Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irriga-

tion Office in Cabanatuan City when ambushed by still unidentified armed men.

He was rushed by his driver to the nearby MV Gallego Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

A special investigation task group was immediately created to pursue the investigation on the killing.

Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, Central Luzon police director, earlier said the “SITG Ferdie Bote” would look into all angles of the crime, including business and politics.

Corpus said Bote was not included on the list of alleged narcotics-linked government officials.

The provincial government of Nueva Ecija, on the other hand, has offered a P1- million reward to anyone who could give information that would lead to the immediate resolution of the case.

Gov. Czarina Umali, in a statement, vowed “to make the perpetrators answer for their crime.”

A CCTV footage gathered by the police from villages adjacent to the crime scene showed that there were three persons on the single motorcycle used in the killing, and two of them were armed.

The footage also showed that the motorcycle was backed up by an SUV as it fled the crime scene. PNA

MUD SWATHE. Personnel of the Department of Public Works and HighwaysMalabon-Navotas District shift to high gear as they remove mud and garbage along a waterway at Radial Road 10, North Bay Blvd. in Navotas. Andrew Rabulan

PCSO delays lotto ticket price increase to July 23 PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan announced Tuesday the agency had moved the implementation of price adjustments of the Lotto, Sweepstakes, and Keno tickets from July 8 to July 23, 2018.

This is based on the capability of the system providers for a simultaneous implementation nationwide.

“In a letter from Pacific Online Systems Corporation [POSC] dated July 5, 2018, it states there that the start of downloading of the program fix to their terminals will be from July 9 to 21, 2018 and will take about two weeks for their program fix to be completely downloaded,” Balutan said.

PCSO has two existing lottery systems.

For Luzon, it’s with Philippine Gaming and Management Corp.

The firm’s contract, however, will end on Aug. 21, 2018; while for Visayas-Mindanao, it is held by POSC, and its contract will expire on July 31, 2018.

According to Arnel Casas, officerin-charge assistant general manager for gaming sector, he recommended the postponement of the implementation of lotto ticket price increase upon the receipt of the letter from POSC. “The objective really is to have a simultaneous/synchronized implementation nationwide of all online lottery system providers of changes to reflect DST [Documen-

tary Stamp Tax] to lotto tickets. This is in compliance to the TRAIN law,” said Casas.

The TRAIN law is the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program conceived by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, which aims to correct a number of deficiencies in the tax system and simplify its scheme.

Since January 2018, all PCSO lotto prizes are taxed 20 percent if the amount of the prize or winnings is above P10,000.

As for the cost of tickets, Balutan earlier said the agency has no option but to abide by the law and increase its costs from P20 to P24 for Lotto; from P10 to P12 for Digit Games and Keno, P5 to P6 for traditional Sweepstakes tickets.

IMMIGRATION authorities detained two foreigners following their arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for their attempt to illegally enter Canada.

In a report to Commissioner Jaime Morente, Immigration Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas identified the foreigners as 25-year-old Kabilan Kannathashan, a Sri Lankan, and 26-year-old Emmanuel Kyeremateng, a Ghanaian.

Mariñas said the two aliens, now held at the BI Detention Center in Taguig City, were arrested last month at the Naia 2 and 3 terminals after they were caught using tampered passports in attempting to leave the country work in Canada.

Kannathashan allegedly used a Canadian passport under an assumed name while Kyeremateng used a Malta passport to hide their real identities and nationalities.

“There can be no doubt that the trips of these two aliens were facilitated by the same international syndicate that has been attempting to use Manila as a jump-off point to smuggle illegal aliens,” Mariñas said.

He added the syndicate’s modus operandi was to provide their victims with tampered or bogus foreign passports, hoping to evade immigration checks, and be allowed to board their flights to Canada.

Sources said the two aliens both had approved electronic travel authorization for their trip which apparently was acquired through fraud and misrepresentation.

Morente has ordered the commencement of deportation proceedings against the two aliens who were charged with violating the Philippine Immigration Act for using spurious immigration documents.

He also directed the duo’s inclusion in the immigration blacklist to prevent them from reentering the Philippines.

In the past few months, scores of illegal aliens of various nationalities were already intercepted and arrested by immigration officers at the NAIA for involvement in human trafficking and illegal travel. Joel Zurbano

House to probe illegal recruitment A PARTY-list lawmaker on Tuesday sought a congressional inquiry into the complicity of a cruise ship and its owner in the illegal recruitment of 200 Filipinos for jobs as entertainers, cooks and waiters in Micronesia.

“We intend to ascertain whether m/v Forever Lucky managed to sneak Filipino job recruits out of the country in the past, before it was caught redhanded,” ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III said.

“Regardless, the ship should be red-flagged by the authorities. From here on, the vessel should be subject to stricter boarding and inspection every time it leaves a Philippine port,” Bertiz, member for the House minority bloc, said.

Bertiz said he would file a resolution on the matter to enable the House committees on labor and employment and on overseas workers affairs to investigate the case.

Forever Lucky is owned by Fahrenheit Co. Ltd., which operates out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and supplies construction materials

to Micronesia, according to Bertiz.

“We understand that Fahrenheit also engages in business in Micronesia. The company may have enlisted the workers for its own operations there, or for the activities of its business partners there,” Bertiz said.

Micronesia refers to the Pacific archipelago that includes the US territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Wake Island.

Forever Lucky was about to leave the Port of Orion in Bataan on July 3 when it was held by the Philippine Coast Guard, which became suspicious of the ship’s large number of passengers and called in the National Bureau of Investigation.

The NBI discovered that up to 200 Filipinos without foreign employment papers were simply told to bring their passports and board the ship by July 2 for jobs in Micronesia.

However, only 139 recruits actually showed up with their passports and boarded the ship.

Maricel V. Cruz

Sports Responders complete elims’ sweep in UNTV Cup PHILIPPINE National Police outlasted Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission to complete a seven-game sweep of the elims, even as Ombusman clinched the second twice-to-beat bonus in the semis in the 2nd UNTV Cup Executive Face-Off held recently at the Pasig City Sports Center.

The top-seeded PNP Responders boosted their confidence going into the semis stage with a 97-90 win over Sec. Bong Go’s Kamao.

Joel De Mesa and Anthony Padua tallied 20 points each for the Responders, who put to waste Go’s 46-point performance in the tournament.

Ombudsman, on the other hand, won by default over deposed champion Armed Forces of the Philippines after the latter failed to comply with the league’s required number of players in attendance.

So it will be PNP against No. 3 Judiciary in the semis after the latter scored a 69-61 win over the Senate Sentinels in the event presented by UNTV through its president and CEO Daniel Razon.

Joey Yabut shone brightest for the Magis with 30 points, while Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez added 14 points.

The Graft Busters, on the other hand, take on the Sentinels in the other semis pairing.

Senator Sonny Angara finished with 24 points for the Sentinels, who sorely missed the absence of Senator Joel Villanueva.

Eight teams, composed mostly of officials from various government agencies, are competing for the P1 million grand prize to be given to their chosen beneficiaries.

A total of P2,000,000 and P350,000 will be given away for all the teams’ charities, tax free. The bulk of the prize, P1,000,000 goes to the champion team, while P500,000 is allotted to the runner-up.

Third and fourth placers get P250,000 and P200,000, respectively, while fifth to eighth placers all receive P100,000 each.

The games are telecast on UNTV and webcast via www.untvweb.com.

A7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Rafa-Roger dream finale looms L

ONDON—Defending champion Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal closed in on a dream Wimbledon final as the sport’s two greatest players swept into the last-eight on Monday.

Eight-time champion Federer needed just 16 minutes to win the opening set on his way to a 6-0, 7-5, 6-4 defeat of France’s Adrian Mannarino to reach his 16th All England Club quarter-final.

World number one Nadal, the twotime champion, reached his first quarterfinal at Wimbledon since 2011—when he went on to finish runner-up—with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic.

Federer will be playing in his 53rd Grand Slam last-eight when he tackles Kevin Anderson, the eighth-seeded South African.

Top seed Federer, 36, has now won 32 consecutive sets at Wimbledon, just two behind his record set from the third round in 2005 to his title triumph in 2006.

He has also held serve for 81 successive games at the tournament, a run stretching back the first set of his semi-final win against Tomas Berdych in 2017.

“It was crucial for him to stay in the match at the beginning of the second set and then it got tougher,” said 20-time

major winner Federer.

“You always tend to play better against better players and I’m happy to be back in the second week of Wimbledon.”

Federer boasts a 4-0 career record against 2017 US Open runner-up Anderson, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time with a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) win over France’s Gael Monfils.

Anderson is the first South African man in the Wimbledon last-eight since Wayne Ferreira in 1994.

Nadal, like Federer yet to drop a set, routed world number 93 Vesely on the eve of the Czech player’s 25th birthday.

Monday’s win took Nadal, 32, into a 35th Grand Slam quarter-final.

“It was an important victory as since 2011 I have not been in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. So it’s an important moment,” said Nadal, the 17-time Grand Slam champion who has made four successive quarter-finals at the majors f o r the first

time in six years.

Next up for Nadal is either Juan Martin del Potro, the fifth seeded Argentine, or unseeded Gilles Simon of France.

Del Potro was leading 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/5), 5-7 when his tie with Simon was halted for the night due to darkness.

Novak Djokovic reached the quarterfinals for the 10th time with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

“He’s got weapons, a big serve and a big forehand,” said Djokovic of the world number 40.

“I got a lot of first serves in, made him hit the extra ball. I served well when I needed to.

“It was difficult in the last few games.

It was dark so I couldn’t see the ball that well and it was very windy.”

Three-time champion Djokovic, seeded 12, will next face Japan’s 24th seed Kei Nishikori.

It will be Djokovic’s 41st appearance in a Grand Slam quarter-final and he will start favourite against Nishikori who will be in his first last-eight at the All England Club.

Former world number one Djokovic has a 13-2 winning record against the Japanese player. AFP

PNP’s Edmund Gonzales tries to shoot against DPWH Sec. Mark Villar of Malacañang as Presidential Management Staff Sec. Bong Go looks on during their UNTV Cup game.

Watch Pacman fight at Kia theatre

The giant PPV screen in Kia Theatre will surely give boxing fans the best view of the Pacman’s upcoming fight.

France...

From A8

‘Always believed’ As World Cup fever builds at home, England are avoiding the hype as the coach Gareth Southgate prepares his team in their tranquil base near Saint Petersburg for their first semi-final since 1990.

While many England fans are surprised by the unheralded team’s progress, midfielder Dele Alli says the squad always believed they could go far.

“We had to believe and we know how talented we are as a squad,” he said.

“We know we have some unbelievable players and a great manager and everyone is clear on what we want to do.

“When you have such a solid foundation, you have the basics and clear understanding of what we want to do and achieve, it’s not a surprise that it’s going well for us.”

Southgate has told his players they have the potential to be bigger heroes even than the team featuring Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton that win on home soil in 1966.

Captain Harry Kane is leading England’s charge with six goals so far, putting him top in the race for the Golden Boot. Lukaku is on four goals and Griezmann and Mbappe have three each.

A COLOSSAL match-up only deserves a tremendous viewing experience.

As legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring, Kia Theatre is offering a viewing experience that the most passionate boxing fans will surely enjoy.

On July 15 (Manila time), Sunday, Pacquiao will be facing off with hard-hitting Argentine Lucas Matthysse at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For those who will not be able to go to Malaysia to witness the bout live and in person, the best seat in the Metro is in Kia Theatre at the Araneta Center.

A partnership between Kia Theatre and Cignal, fans can enjoy the most vivid details of the match dubbed the “Fight of Champions” on a giant high-definition screen measuring 40 feet x 20 feet. The intense action and the immersive sound system in the theater are expected to match the most excited shrieks and roars from the audience.

Making the experience even better are the affordable prizes of the tickets. For just P500, the public may buy VIP or Loge

tickets which already come with meals.

Balcony tickets are available at just P300.

Tickets are now available at Ticketnet outlets and online through www.ticketnet. com.ph. Interested buyers may also contact 911-5555. The theatre opens at 9am.

This is the first time Pacquiao is fighting again since his controversial loss to Jeff Horn on July 2017. That setback is expected to fuel Pacquiao when he faces Matthysse, the reigning World Boxing Association world welterweight champion.

Considered the “People’s Champ,” Pacquiao has delivered a number of classics in his storied boxing career. He has fought some of the most notable fighters that have ever set foot on the boxing ring including Floyd Mayweather Jr., Oscar dela Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Shane Mosley, and Timothy Bradley.

For more information, visit www. aranetacenter.net or follow our social media pages: @aranetacenter on Facebook and Twitter and @thearanetacenter on Instagram.

Racing clubs continue with new betting schedule THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE THE racing managers of San Lazaro Leisure Park, Santa Ana Park, and Metro Manila Turf Club have decided to continue their implementation of the new betting schedule begun last week.

The scheme, which features only one dailydouble and forecast option, was put into effect in order to combat the depredations of illegal bookies on the legitimate operations.

At a meeting held yesterday, the three clubs agreed to pursue the scheme despite the loss of income they experienced last week. “We have to be steadfast about this,” a source said.

It is reported that last week the bookies tried to find a work-around by offering higher incentives at the start of the racing day. For instance, they offered a premium of 20 pesos on top of bets of 100 pesos.

However, it is said that they too did not make as much as they used to before the

new scheme was implemented, showing the plan has a certain degree of effectivity.

Why are the clubs combating the bookies now, in an effort to direct wagers to legitimate outlets? One reason is the TRAIN law.

Among the horseracing nations, the Philippine Thoroughbred racing industry is one of the highest taxed. With the implementation of TRAIN, which doubles the documentary stamp tax from 10 percent to 20 percent, dividends to winners have dipped, causing racing sales to decline.

Horseracing is an industry worth almost P5 billion. Last year it earned close to P8 billion and remitted over P1 billion to the national government in the form of direct taxes, not counting indirect taxes.

If the government refuses to support the industry, they’ll be killing a goose that lays a billion-plus peso golden egg each year.

Where else are they going to pick up that much money—borrow from China at exorbitant rates? Raise your right hand and wave goodbye to our autonomy.

I thought the industry killers would be substitute products (other forms of entertainment) and the high cost of operations, but that was before the TRAINwreck. Now that’s what will cause the industry’s death if

it isn’t suspended, amended, or revoked.

The TRAIN law was drawn up without consultation from various industry sectors.

Now its negative impact is being felt, not only by the racing industry but also by regular folk, who are hard pressed to cope with the rising prices of fuel, food, and other basic commodities. And hello, inflation rate at 5.2 percent as of last month?!

The clubs have a hard fight and I hope they gain more support because the bookies really have to go. The police have to stop coddling them. The Games and Amusements Board, which is mandated to suppress illegal gambling, should step up its efforts, although I’m not sure they have the budget to do so.

For fans of the DD and FC, we’ll have to wait a bit longer before the racing clubs resume regular programming. In the meantime, let’s raise our voices to government about this awful TRAIN law.

Suspend TRAIN and study its effects and consequences on the various sectors more carefully. As it is now, it’s a menace. *** Dr. Ortuoste, a writer and researcher, has a PhD in Communication. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and @DrJennyO, Twitter: @drhoarsewhsprr and @DrJennyO

Depleted PH volley team finds way to win in PSL Games Tomorrow (FilOil Flying V Centre) 2:00 pm — Philippines vs Smart-Army 4:15 pm — Generika-Ayala vs Petron 7:00 pm — UP-UAI vs F2 Logistics

IMUS CITY—The Philippine women’s national team again survived with a depleted line-up after squeaking past Cignal, 25-21, 25-15, 25-21, in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference Tuesday at the Imus Sports Center here.

From a nine-woman team in last Saturday’s win over Cocolife, only eight mighty players donned the national colors with team captain Aby Maraño and pool member MJ Phillips leading the way with 17 points apiece to win their second match in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

Due to lack of players, the usual middle blocker Maraño played as opposite spiker and showed her versatility hitting 13 spikes, a pair of blocks and two aces including six excellent receptions in the midseason conference that also has Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.

“I’m proud of our players because they are flexible in adjusting to other positions, especially our team captain who played as opposite spiker. She’s always ready,” said head coach Shaq Delos Santos on Maraño, who impressed the people of Imus together with Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. Vice President Peter Cayco and City Vice Mayor Ony Cantimbuhan.

Phillips also made a rousing debut wearing the national jersey as she tallied 16 kills off her 17 points.

Mainstay Ces Molina was also instrumental with six hits including 14 digs and six receptions while setter Kim Fajardo made 15 excellent and libero Dawn Macandili finishing with 18 digs.

Court of Appeals dismisses POC’s plea for polls’ TRO

By Peter Atencio THE 10th Division of the Court of Appeals has resolved to dismiss with prejudice the petition of the camp of former Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco to seek a temporary restraining order seeking to prevent POC polls from being held last Feb. 19.

Since the elections have already been held and that boxing chief Ricky Vargas, and cycling’s Abraham Tolentino are now president and chairman respectively, the court deemed such a petition to be moot and academic.

The ruling was made known to all parties last June 28, in a nine-page document signed by associate judges Ma. Filomena Singh, Sesinando Villar and Edwin Sorongon.

According to the decision, “because of the elections, the petitioners now move, not only to declare the motion for reconsideration moot and academic, but also for the dismissal of the petition, because, in effect, the petitioners have accepted the decision of the RTC, when they recognized the eligibility of respondents Vargas and Tolentino to run for the position of president and chairman.”

Vargas said he is relieved to learn of the court’s decision.

“I am heartened by the decision even as we are actually planning to file a petition to dismiss the case,” said Vargas.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018

France, Belgium duel for spot in WC finale SAINT PETERSBURG—France will unleash the attacking talents of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann against Eden Hazard’s gifted Belgium side in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday with a place in the World Cup final at stake.

The semi-final matchup of the European neighbours promises to be full of intrigue as France aim to return to the final for the first time since a Zinedine Zidane-led team did so in Germany in 2006.

Belgium will be seeking to break new ground by reaching the final for the first time in their history—indeed they have only reached the semi-finals once before, in 1986.

The winner will face either Croatia or England, who play on Wednesday, in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.

With Eden Hazard pulling the strings and Romelu Lukaku providing the firepower, Belgium have what it takes to beat France.

But their secret weapon could be on the sidelines in the shape of one of France’s greatest players of all time, Thierry Henry, who is now head coach Roberto Martinez’s assistant.

Former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Henry was part of the French squad that won the World Cup on home soil 20 years ago and played 123 times for his country, scoring 51 times.

Now it is his job to halt the run of his home nation.

“He will be feeling divided loyalties tomorrow,” France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said on Monday.

“He is first and foremost French.

But tomorrow, on a professional level, he will be putting all the passion that drives him into the Belgian team.”

Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne said Henry had talked little about his feelings.

“Perhaps he will sing the Marseillaise [before the game], which I find normal,” De Bruyne said.

“It might be a bit difficult for him but he’s working for Belgium now, he wants us to win.”

Belgium’s confidence will be high after knocked out Neymar’s Brazil in the quarter-finals and they are the only team to have won all their matches in Russia, top-scoring with 14 goals.

Didier Deschamps’ France side failed to fire in their group matches but burst into life in the 4-3 demolition of Argentina as Mbappe overshadowed Lionel Messi and announced his arrival as a new superstar of the game.

The French then showed their steel in the 2-0 disposal of Luis Suarez and Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

France are favorites because of their mix of youth and experience allied to tournament nous after they reached Turn to A7 the Euro 2016 final.

Pirates win Got Skills U25 crown

THE Lyceum Pirates, led by Cameroonian reinforcement Mike Nzeusseu and CJ Perez, took the 25-under crown of the 2018 Milcu Sports Basketball presented by Got Skills Adidas Summer Showcase last June 28.

Nzeusseu struck with 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks as he led the Pirates past Intramuros rival Letran, 81-69, at the Trinity University Gym in Quezon City.

The 6’6” Nzeusseu eventually earned Finals’ MVP honors for the Pirates.

Perez finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Marcelino twins Jaycee and Jayvee joined for 22 points,, 14 boards, five assists and five steals.

The Pirates took charge in a thirdquarter breakaway, coasting to a 61-49 advantage before the fourth quarter got under way.

With the win, Lyceum clinched its third off-season crown, counting its 2018 Philippine Collegiate Champions League and 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup conquests.

Jeff Perlas called the shots for the Pirates in the absence of Topex Robinson.

Coy Galvelo led the Knights with 18 points, while King Caralipio chipped in 16.

PACMAN IN MALAYSIA. A festive atmosphere, Malaysian style, greets Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao upon his arrival in the lobby of the Le Meridien Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Fighting Senator from Sarangani, will challenge world champion Argentine Lucas Martin Matthysse for his World Boxing Association welterweight crown on Sunday at the Axiata Arena. Sonny Espiritu

Clutch Grey trey carries GlobalPort past Rain 5

By Jeric Lopez

O

NE more game.

Jonathan Grey struck for the game-winning triple with 11.5 seconds remaining as No. 8 GlobalPort shocked top seed Rain or Shine, 114-113, to force a do-or-die game in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.

Down by two and with the ball in hand, the Batang Pier was supposed to go to import Malcolm White, but when he was forced to pass to Grey, the latter answered the call and sniped in a tough go-ahead three-pointer in the right corner with defense all over him, giving GlobalPort a 114-113 edge.

Still with a chance to salvage the game, the Elasto Painters, who owned a twice-to-beat incentive coming in, had several attempts

in the waning seconds but all of those went astray as Gabe Norwood, Reggie Johnson and Maverick Ahanmisi all misfired, allowing the Batang Pier to complete the stunning comeback and upset win.

Now, GlobalPort, which trailed by as much as 16 points at one point and played catch-up for most part, and Rain or Shine, will figure in a winner-take-all decider tomorrow night.

Grey may have come out of age, as his game-winner was only the tip of the iceberg. He was brilliant all night long, finishing with 22 points, 12 in the fourth, including the game-winner.

“Scramble na ‘yung last play na ‘yun.

Dapat kay Malcolm (White) ‘yung play but na-double team siya and ipinasa niya sa akin.

No choice na ako when I got the ball so tinira ko na lang with confidence,” said Grey of his campaign-saving triple for GlobalPort.

Despite playing with foul trouble late, White managed to collect a game-high 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Batang Pier, while Stanley Pringle almost had a tripledouble with 21 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

The game was tied at 110-all with just under two minutes and Rain or Shine had every opportunity to seal the game.

Battle of champs up in Ironman PH 70.3 ELEVEN of the planet’s top endurance racers, including three world champions and three Asia-Pacific titlists, gear up for another grueling test of physical strength and mental toughness in the Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia-Pacific Championship firing off Aug. 5 in Cebu City.

Tim Reed, the 2016 world champion, banners the elite cast of bidders that includes three-time world titlist Craig Alexander, and former XTERRA world champion Mauricio Mendez, all primed up for the 1.9km swim-90km bike-21.2km run event at Ironman 70.3 Philippines home since 2012—the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City.

Put up by title sponsor Aguila Energy Drink and Regent Food Corp., the event also features former Ironman As-Pac winners Tim Van Berkel, Josh Amberger and Braden Currie along with former Ironman South American winner Brent McMahon.

“This is going to be one Ironman worth watching for. Putting up this elite cast is enough to generate interest and at the same time motivate these ace triathletes to strive for more and get the championship,” said Uytengsu, founder of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. which incidentally marks its 10 years of staging Ironman races in the country.

Three of the field’s fancied triathletes (from left) Tim Van Berkel, Mauricio Mendez and Tim Reed, brace for another fiery duel in Ironman 70.3 Phl AsiaPacific next month.

While a down-to-the-wire finish looms in the men’s side, the battle for the women’s tiara is also expected to be keen with Radka Kahlefeldt, winner of this year’s Ironman 70.3 Davao, bracing for a spirited battle against four-time Philippine champion Caroline Steffen, 2016 Ironman Busan winner Amelia

Watkinson, and former Ironman Australia titlist Beth McKenzie.

Meanwhile, organizers expect a record field of 2,700 from over 51 countries, including the sport’s emerging stars, to descend on Cebu for the blue-ribbon event which also boasts of the one biggest and most complete triathlon expos to date.

NU booters no longer pushovers

By Peter Atencio IN THE coming season of the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines, National University won’t be considered a pushover in football anymore.

There are high hopes this year after the NU Bullpups won the crown in the Division 2 junior finals of the 15th Ang Liga Football Tournament in Binan, Laguna.

The NU Bulldogs also did well after they placed third in the Division 1 senior side.

Head coach Jose Ma. Aberasturi said this during yesterday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Plaza in Cubao.

“For the last six years, it has been a learning experience for us.

What we have now are competitive teams, both in the senior and junior divisions,” said Aberasturi.

Aberasturi talked about the NU’s exploits with team managers Joseph Garcia, who is also the vice president for DDT Konstract Inc., and GlobalPort’s BJ Manalo.

The Bullpups won the junior title after stopping the San Beda Red Cubs, 5-0.

On the other hand, the Bulldogs asserted themselves in the battle for third place in the senior action, but took a 3-5 loss to San Beda via penalty shootout.

Aberasturi said it was their best finish in the last six years as they proved their worth in the 10-team tournament, an off-season affair for teams in the UAAP and the NCAA. “As always, we are a team to watch out for. Now, we are a team that they really need to beat,” said Garcia.

The Bulldogs are hopeful that they can improve on their fifthplace finish during last year’s UAAP football tournament.

The Bullpups are hoping that they can barge into the finals in the junior side after making it to third place.

Lascuña upbeat as PH Golf Tour Asia unwraps ANTIPOLO—Tony Lascuña hopes to end a long winless campaign with a victory at the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship, armed with a new putter and a confidence bolstered by his triumphs in what used to be a Philippine Golf Tour event the last two years at the Nicklaus course here.

But now serving as a leg of the PGT Asia, the $100,000 championship beginning today (Wednesday, July 11) could add to Lascuña’s string of heartbreaks with a slew of foreign aces and a bunch of local top guns all primed up for four days of battle at one of the country’s toughest courses.

“This is a tough course with unpredictable putting surface. You don’t know

where to place your shots since some (greens) are slow and some are fast. I think a 10-under card will win here,” said Lascuña, who beat Zanieboy Gialon and Orlan Sumcad by 11 shots here in 2016 then won again by three over Gialon last year.

But the multi-titled former three-time PGT Order of Merit winner remains winless this season, both in the PGTA and PGT circuits, although he kept contending in most events only to fade in the stretch on putting woes.

“I already changed my putter and adjusted my style. Hopefully it clicks,” said Lascuña, who tied for fourth in the last two PGT events at Del Monte and Pueblo De Oro.

But he’ll be a facing a tougher, talentladen international field this week, led

by Thai aces Wisut Artjanawat, Poosit Supupramai and Varanyu Rattanapohiboonkij, Americans John Michael O’Toole, Brett Munson and Lexus Keoninh, South African Mathiam Keyser, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Aussies Damien Jordan, Andrew Campbell and Nathan Park—all in pursuit of the coveted championship.

Young Korean Kim Joo Hyung, who humbled the cream of the local pro crop and a number of foreign aces at Pueblo De Oro last week, will also be a marked man in the fourth leg of the region’s newest circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Tony Lascuña

IN BRIEF Ginebra building 4 production facilities

GINEBRA San Miguel Inc., the liquor unit of San Miguel Corp., is finalizing plans to build four new manufacturing facilities in the country in a bid to regain leadership in the domestic market.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting of Top Frontier Holdings Inc. the company was finalizing the details of the expansion, including the sites and capacity. The proposed plants are expected to be completed over the next two to three years.

Ginebra currently has six manufacturing plants across the country.

Ginebra earlier projected a net income of P1.2 billion this year, or nearly double from P602 million in 2017.

Volume growth is also expected to hit double digits. The company in 2017 sold a total of 27.7 million cases.

After losing market share to Emperador in the past few years, Ginebra managed to slowly recover on strong demand for its gin products in Luzon and Vino Kulafu brand in Visayas and Mindanao.

Jenniffer B. Austria

ERC commissioners Non, Taruc end term

COMMISSIONERS Alfredo Non and Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc of the Energy Regulatory Commission have completed their seven-year term and are retiring from government service effective July 10, 2018.

“I am saddened by the retirement of two of my colleagues and mentors in the Commission. I have gained invaluable wisdom and insights from Commissioners Freddie and Amvic when I was just starting at ERC. My transition period could not have been manageable without their help,” ERC chairperson and chief executive Agnes Devanadera said.

Prior to his appointment at the ERC, Non worked with several private companies such as SGV & Co., Philippine Associated Smelting & Refining Corp. and as a member of the Governance Committee of Philippine Electricity Market Corp. Dispute Resolution Group.

Meanwhile, Taruc was a public prosecutor at the Department of Justice assigned in Quezon City from 1993 to 1998. She joined the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel from 2002 to 2008, then at the Office of Solicitor General in 2008. In 2009, she served as head of the legal audit team of PEMC prior to her appointment as Commissioner at ERC in 2011.

Business Trade deficit surged 48% to $3.7b in May

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE country’s tradein-goods deficit in May widened by 48 percent to $3.7 billion from a $2.5-billion gap a year ago, after exports declined 3.8 percent while imports rose 11.4 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Data showed the May deficit was higher than the $3.48-billion gap a month ago, bringing the trade shortfall in the first five months to $15.76 billion, up 55 percent from $10.164 billion a year ago.

Total exports fell from $5.99 billion in May last year to $5.76 billion, while imports increased to $9.46 billion from $8.49 billion in the same month of the previous year.

The country’s total external trade in goods in May reached $15.22 billion,

up 5.1 percent from $14.48 billion yearon-year.

“We continue to see higher imports particularly on capital goods... that is still double-digit. In fact, capital goods, raw materials and intermediate products account for more than 80 percent of the imports. They are related to production and investments. It is a growing economy,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said at the sidelines of an event on Tuesday.

The PSA said the 3.8-percent drop in exports was brought about by the decreases posted by three out of the top 10 commodities for the month, led by ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships (-40.8 percent); other mineral products (-29.5 percent); and electronic equipment and parts (-8.6 percent).

Total exports receipt recorded by the country’s top 10 market destinations for May amounted to $4.68 billion or 81.2 percent of the total outbound shipments.

The US ranked first with an export value of $840.15 million or a share of 14.6 percent in May, an increase of 6.6 percent from $788.09 million in May

last year.

The 11.4-percent growth in imports in May, meanwhile, was due to the positive growth of the nine out of the top 10 major import commodities. These were mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (41.6 percent); iron and steel (31.4 percent ); miscellaneous manufactured articles (26.9 percent); electronic products (16.1 percent); telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (14.8 percent); plastics in primary and non-primary forms (9.6 percent); metal products (8.6 percent); other food and live animals (7.8 percent); and industrial machinery and equipment (7.6 percent).

The import bills from the top 10 countries in May amounted to $7.37 billion or 77.8 percent of the total inbound shipments.

China was the country’s biggest source of imports with 20.3 percent share in May. Import payments to the country stood at $1.92 billion, up 18.8 percent from $1.62 billion last year.

The trade deficit ballooned to $4.02 billion in December 2017, a record for any month, from $3.84 billion in November of the same year.

PHILEX AWARD.

Philex Mining Corp., one of the oldest and largest gold and copper producers in Southeast Asia and a leader in right and principled mining in the country, wins an award during the 16th Philippine Quill Awards for its 2016 Sustainability Report entitled “Enriching Resources, Driving Progress.” Receiving the award for Philex at ceremonies held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City are (from left) Geraldine Ateo-an, division manager for internal audit; Roy Mangali, assistant vice president and assistant resident manager of Padcal Mine; and Marie Aurora Dolipas, community relations manager of Padcal Mine.

Toshiba Infrastructure offers water solution

TOSHIBA Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corp. is offering an extensive range of solution for water treatment companies and general contractors in Southeast Asia.

Tatsuo Doko, corporate representativeAsia of Toshiba Corp. and managing director of Toshiba Asia Pacific Pte., said Southeast Asia was home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

“Toshiba is committed to supporting their development with innovative solutions that strengthen essential water infrastructure. We will support new developments and upgrades of current infrastructure, toward securing long-term sustainability and better lifestyles for all,” he said.

TISS will be exhibiting at Singapore International Water Week from July 8 to 12.

TISS and UEM India Pvt. Ltd. (UEM), an India-based Toshiba Group company, will show how Toshiba can contribute to safe and secure water resources.

Alena Mae Flores

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018

B1

Top Frontier still keen on Nonoc mine nickel plant

By Jenniffer B. Austria TOP Frontier Holdings Inc., the parent company of San Miguel Corp., remains keen on a plan to build a $1.5-billion nickel-processing plant near its Nonoc mining site in Surigao del Norte despite current market conditions.

Top Frontier president and chief executive Ramon Ang said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting the company planned to build a nickel-processing plant using the high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) technology to make the nickel mining project viable.

“For our mining business, we need to up that HPAL and smelter. If we are also to put up the HPAL and smelter, that business give us at least $600 million free cash flow per year,” Ang said.

Top Frontier owns a 66.15-percent interest in San Miguel, which has investments in food and beer manufacturing, power generation, real estate, banking, fuel and oil, telecommunications and infrastructure.

Ang said the company would pursue the nickel project despite the decline in metal prices and strict regulatory environment for the local mining industry.

Top Frontier has been planning the project since 2015 and is in the process of getting the needed government approvals.

“Once we are able the secure government approvals it would be easy to build the project,” Ang said. The nickel plant will have an annual processing capacity of 200,000 tons.

Top Frontier, through mining unit Clariden Holdings Inc., holds several mining tenements in several areas, including the Nonoc Nickel Project and Mt. Cadig Nickel Project. It also owns exploration permits over certain areas under the Bango Gold Project, and has pending applications and production sharing agreement in other areas.

Clariden holds mining rights over 23,877 hectares in the island of Nonoc, Hanigad, and Awasan Surigao City for the Nonoc Nickel Project.

Clariden is also considering investing in the 46-hectare Mindoro Iron Exploration project, the 16-hectare Davao del Sur Exploration project, the 32-hectare Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato Exploration project, the 254-hectare Compostela Valley Exploration project and the 1,284-hectare Ilocos Norte Limestone project.

Nissan, Mitsubishi join PH electric car bandwagon Auction of frequencies to benefit F E R PLDT-Globe duopoly, claims DICT

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippines expects to make a major leap into the production and sales of electric vehicles starting this year with the entry of the e-cars of Nissan Motor Philippine Inc. and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.

“We’re expecting that the entry of these e-cars of Nissan and Mitsubishi will prop up patronage of e-vehicle in the country, on top of locally-manufactured trikes, motorcycles and even e-jeepneys and e-buses,” said Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines president Rommel Juan Tuesday at the opening of the two-day Philippine EV Summit in Manila.

“Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, BYD and Minghong Vehicles are bringing in their electric cars and SUVs. Star 8 has been very busy selling electric jeepneys to the LGUs nationwide while BEMAC

continues to promote its electric tricycles and Softbank EV,” he said.

“QEV Inc. now has an EV power train for the modern PUJ while Unioil and CharIn are bringing in battery charging technology. DoE, Meralco, QEV and Unioil have been busy setting up the most important EV infrastructure in place, battery charging and swapping stations in strategic locations. Beep has its automated fare collection system while Infineon Technology has the modern gadgets available,” he added.

Citing the latest report of global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, Juan said global electric car sales hit 1.2 million in 2017 with battery electric vehicles making up the majority of sales.

Global electric car sales would reach 1.6 million units this year and while the number of public charging stations would hit 100,000, the report said.

OREIGN

XCHANGE

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, July 10, 2018

ATE

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.3590

Japan

Yen

0.009022

0.4814

UK

Pound

1.326100

70.7594

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127418

6.7989

Switzerland

Franc

1.008776

53.8273

Canada

Dollar

0.762951

40.7103

Singapore

Dollar

0.737137

39.3329

Australia

Dollar

0.746600

39.8378

Bahrain

Dinar

2.634838

140.5923

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

14.2279

Brunei

Dollar

0.734430

39.1885

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.030184

1.6106

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.5282

Euro

Euro

1.175300

62.7128

Korea

Won

0.000899

0.0480

China

Yuan

0.151247

8.0704

India

Rupee

0.014567

0.7773

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.248447

13.2569

New Zealand

Dollar

0.683400

36.4655

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032996

1.7606

Source: PDS Bridge

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Information and Communications Technology said bidding out the frequencies in selecting a third telecommunications player would only benefit the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. “Some argue that auctioning the frequencies in selecting the new major telco player would be beneficial to the Filipino people for it would monetize the spectrum that they own. Yes, the highest bidder will put upfront billions of pesos to be awarded the frequencies,” Acting DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio said.

“But, from whom shall the winning telco recover this auction expense that has nothing to do with rolling out its infrastructures and nothing to do with improving telecommunication services? From

the Filipino people, of course,” he said.

“It will in fact just make of telco services more expensive than when the frequencies were awarded free. It will just make the winning telco uncompetitive to the duopoly that never paid the Filipino people for their frequencies.

Thus, an auction will not benefit the Filipino people, it will only benefit the duopoly,” he added.

DICT’s informal survey among 15 potential players that participated in the public hearing last Friday found out that 75 percent preferred the highest committed level of service or HCLoS for the selection of the new major telco player.

Results of the survey showed that only 17 percent among the participants chose the auction mode being pushed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

Eight percent abstained from the survey.

IFC green bond deepens capital marts BRITISH banking giant Standard Chartered Bank said on Tuesday the recent issuance of around P4.8 billion ($90 million) worth of “green bond” by International Finance Corp. will deepen the domestic capital markets and benefit the economy in the long run.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, issued its maiden peso-denominated bond in the domestic capital markets called the “Mabuhay Bonds.” IFC is the first supranational issuer in the Philippines in over a decade.

IFC’s P4.8-billion green bond with a tenor of 15 years is the longest bond issued in the market other than government securities. They were launched and priced despite a volatile market environment, a reflection of the strong credit of IFC, a triple-A issuer rated by Moody’s and S&P. Standard Chartered Bank acted as

joint lead manager and book runner for the landmark transaction.

The proceeds of the issuance was onlent to an eligible IFC climate project with focus on optimizing generation output of geothermal power plants in the country.

IFC is one of the world’s largest financiers of climate-smart projects for developing countries. IFC’s green bonds support investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and other areas that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“For the Philippines, the deepening of domestic capital market is critical for the long-term sustainability of the economy,” Yuan Xu, IFC country manager for the Philippines, said in a statement.

“The issuance of the Mabuhay bond evidences IFC’s commitment to support the country’s efforts to address climate change.” Julito G. Rada

ROTARY’S AWARDEES. The Rotary Club of Manila’s annual Tourism Awards event is held at the New World Makati Hotel during a recent luncheon meeting. Now on its 14th year, the RCM Committee on Tourism Awards selected leaders from the different sectors in the industry including government sector who help promote and developed tourism spots in their localities.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market rises; Wellex jumps

T

HE market rose Tuesday to snap a three-day slump, with investors picking up recently-battered issues and speculative stocks with promising prospects.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 46.67 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,233.29 on a value turnover of P5.1 billion.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 2.2 percent to P91, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest bank, added 1.4 percent to P68.80.

Wellex Industries Inc. of the Gatchalian Group, jumped 21.9 percent to P0.39. The Gatchalian family may now pursue the planned development of its 17-hectare “Plastic City” estate in Valenzuela City in joint venture with

Ayala Land Inc. The possibility emerged after the rehabilitation case against Wellex Industries’ subsidiaries was terminated and the loans with Philippine National Bank settled.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, gained 2.2 percent to P1,323.

The rest of Asian markets mostly rose on Tuesday following another strong lead from New York, as optimism about the US economy and the beginning of the earnings season provide a distraction from trade tensions.

After weeks of losses across the world, investors moved back in on Friday as the tit-for-tat tariffs between Beijing and Washington had already been factored in and attention shifted to US jobs and corporate results.

Wall Street’s three main indexes closed with more healthy gains Monday,

building on a rally that has been given life by another forecast-busting US jobs report.

“For a change, all is quiet on the... trade war front as the drop in aggressive US tariff posturing and the (jobs data) after effects have propelled US equity markets to their third consecutive day of substantial gains,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA. “For the time being robust US economic data is offsetting concerns about rising trade tensions.”

However, he added a word of warning that “markets remain deceptively tricky and could be even more so as we enter the US dog days of summer.”

The positive sentiment and US economic optimism has lifted the dollar against the safe haven yen, helping Tokyo’s Nikkei end 0.7 percent higher.

Hong Kong put on 0.5 percent,

Shanghai added 0.4 percent and Singapore one percent. Seoul gained 0.4 percent, Taipei edged 0.3 percent higher, while Jakarta was also well up.

Rodrigo Catril, senior strategist at National Australia Bank, said: “No new news from the US-Sino trade war has helped investors focus back on fundamentals and with the US earnings season starting later this week, the US has led the gains in equities overnight.”

The reporting season for April-June kicks off in the US this week and there are hopes another outstanding set of reports can put some fizz back into world markets.

Also on the radar this week is the release of Chinese trade data, which will be pored over for an idea about what impact the ongoing row with the US has had so far on the world’s number two economy. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 13,520 91 2,307,960 2.82 15,000 131 2,543,830 1.47 66,000 33.2 177,200 16.6 8,300 14.8 233,500 3.52 65,000 0.68 8,000 1.52 13,000 822 70 0.53 668,000 68.8 8,897,590 1.06 304,000 11.8 52,900 46.9 3,700 117.2 600 86.4 340 28.4 23,300 202 127,700 85.5 16,370

789,275.50 209,399,694.50 42,230 331,863,269 97,020 5,901,200 137,362 3,454,926 225,400 5,440 19,920 57,540 353,050 613,602,144.50 319,490 627,800 173,380 69,880 29,423 663,540 25,737,570 1,405,377

-6,999.50 102,411,390.50 144,406,545 508,665 1,178,212 -323,135,274.50 -69,460 -9,375 -230,540 -6,045,510 -132,060

34.75 15.76 0.58 1.14 0.237 3.05 16.2 192.1 42.65 21.3 53.5 63.6 1.73 7.7 10 15.5 10.7 7.23 5.11 14.54 61 22.8 7.1 14 2.4 245 5.06 3.15 26.75 10.82 19.36 351 0.179 6.76 2.25 4.02 8.75 6.1 1.25 11.8 53.1 4.72 2.05 3.1 1.85 12.26 5.3 0.93 119.8 2.53 1.32

INDUSTRIAL 36 896,900 16 621,400 0.6 1,840,000 1.14 265,000 0.248 7,650,000 3.09 380,000 16.48 75,500 192.1 70 44.9 396,500 21.75 7,000 53.75 55,360 65 2,470 1.79 538,000 7.74 1,500 10.04 2,402,700 15.92 142,700 10.72 80,100 7.3 21,500 5.15 2,984,500 14.68 260,100 61 117,530 24.35 297,200 7.1 105,300 14.1 469,900 2.45 1,552,000 246 535,530 5.1 22,400 3.15 2,000 27.45 357,800 10.92 43,100 19.7 822,400 354 200,180 0.179 40,000 6.9 4,300 2.26 262,000 4.04 52,000 8.79 375,100 6.29 1,364,800 1.28 51,000 12 21,700 53.8 595,480 4.73 2,000 2.18 355,000 3.11 20,000 1.85 296,000 12.3 54,900 5.35 640,900 0.93 13,000 121 782,420 2.53 2,264,000 1.38 6,813,000

31,951,545 9,922,932 1,076,640 302,100 1,876,470 1,167,010 1,240,600 13,447 17,328,770 150,685 2,963,135 163,327 960,530 11,605 24,116,124 2,252,400 858,504 155,933 15,309,884 3,809,152 7,176,592 7,134,295 749,307 6,629,594 3,789,610 131,691,792 113,348 6,300 9,755,310 469,880 16,082,106 70,751,342 7,160 29,225 589,640 209,920 3,298,430 8,592,097 64,530 260,240 31,873,710.50 9,450 766,970 62,260 550,550 678,180 3,454,332 12,090 94,309,010 5,788,900 9,305,890

5,750,845 3,380,948 -861,550 113,750 1,129,192 86,740 -2,734,737.50 21,290 -1,540 -834,170 -15,945 -2,720,256 -541,602 87,574.50 14,910 97,990 3,831,378 -121,870 -37,586,936 -3,055,825 -13,066 -6,002,114 3,099,396 -22,600 -129,310 373,405 -852,764 -19,040 6,854,161.50 23,980 427,306 85,600 -7,533,681 -429,430 49,680.00

0.24 52.75 11.58 0.95 29.6 0.68 0.69 900 1,401 5.82 10.74 7.1 0.21 895 5.99 49.05 5.06 0.55 3.59 17.54 0.69 4.64 3.36 0.038 1.17 2.65 2.7 136.6 874.5 1.58 259 0.335 0.219

HOLDING FIRMS 0.25 2,730,000 52.75 1,943,530 11.64 6,646,400 0.99 2,000 32.6 846,200 0.68 10,989,000 0.69 650,000 924 415,000 1,401 10 5.83 1,695,000 10.9 2,941,900 7.1 300 0.227 800,000 920 31,890 5.99 50,000 50.4 740,500 5.06 300 0.61 1,829,000 3.59 65,000 17.98 2,776,300 0.72 8,512,000 4.64 17,972,000 3.36 4,000 0.039 5,200,000 1.2 575,000 2.66 701,000 2.7 21,000 136.8 156,300 880 206,130 1.6 28,000 260 4,800 0.39 263,640,000 0.22 80,000

670,580 102,570,667 77,299,748 1,940 26,890,100 7,631,600 454,000 378,959,610 14,010 9,923,867 31,880,680 2,130 179,250 29,122,380 299,500 37,221,675 1,518 1,107,430 236,020 49,407,720 6,000,380 83,444,220 13,440 199,600 685,410 1,859,350 56,700 21,392,351 181,370,560 44,790 1,246,906 99,177,900 17,550

121,350 -42,692,117 -48,530,936 -187,300 -7,030,025 -1,224,262 -2,175,844 9,116,900 3,812,030 -25,250 -41,611,280.00 -45,764,300 -3,660 -249,100 -8,234,946 -60,034,165 790,850 -

1,378,183 3,458,350 226,500 65,450 309,510 472,537,675 120,780 5,942,540 196,840 875,600 26,400 393,420 960,370 40,000 5,583,456 8,644,205 7,746,670 1,360,220 24,161,950 32,097,320 8,621,880 10,589,550 685,800 5,352,050 19,609,896 567,490 230,460 89,019,320

-45,122 -193,000 7,500 -126,512,525 -3,170 108,960 -118,406 8,700 -84,280 -74,820 -1,556,999 263,665 5,858,540 -5,334,600 12,591,190 -106,200 -98,500 -191,720 -6,049,508 175,990 -3,871,475.00

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK

59.4 89.5 2.88 130.1 1.47 33.3 16.48 14.8 3.38 0.68 1.54 822 0.52 67.85 1.1 11.9 46.85 116 86.5 28.4 201 85.5

59.4 91 2.88 131.2 1.47 33.5 16.6 14.84 3.52 0.68 1.55 822 0.54 69.75 1.1 11.9 46.9 117.2 86.6 28.6 202 85.9

57.55 88.2 2.76 129.6 1.47 33.2 16.48 14.6 3.38 0.68 1.52 822 0.52 67.85 1.04 11.8 46.85 116 86.4 28.4 200.6 85.5

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

35.3 16 0.6 1.14 0.24 3.13 16.36 192.1 43.5 21.3 54 69.9 1.73 7.75 10.2 15.72 10.7 7.32 5.13 14.66 61.05 22.8 7.1 14.28 2.48 245.2 5.06 3.15 26.9 10.88 19.36 354 0.179 6.8 2.28 4.04 8.8 6.19 1.27 12 53.2 4.72 2.05 3.1 1.9 12.3 5.3 0.93 119.8 2.55 1.32

36 16.02 0.61 1.14 0.248 3.13 16.48 192.1 44.9 21.8 54 70 1.81 7.75 10.2 15.92 10.72 7.32 5.15 14.88 61.3 24.85 7.15 14.28 2.49 249 5.1 3.15 27.45 11 19.72 354.8 0.179 6.9 2.28 4.05 8.82 6.47 1.28 12 53.85 4.73 2.21 3.2 1.9 12.4 5.55 0.93 121.5 2.6 1.38

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

0.24 52.8 11.64 0.95 30.3 0.71 0.7 910 1,401 5.9 10.74 7.1 0.21 910 5.99 50.1 5.06 0.57 3.6 17.54 0.7 4.68 3.36 0.038 1.22 2.66 2.7 138 899 1.58 259 0.335 0.219

0.25 52.8 11.7 0.99 32.9 0.71 0.71 924 1,401 5.9 11 7.1 0.228 920 5.99 50.4 5.06 0.64 3.66 18 0.72 4.68 3.36 0.039 1.22 2.67 2.7 138 899 1.62 260 0.405 0.22

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

7.25 0.97 14.12 1.87 0.75 37 3.2 4.54 5.42 0.44 0.52 0.86 0.216 0.4 9.59 25.25 1.45 1.19 1.54 4.41 0.59 0.46 0.485 3.34 19.8 1.99 3.21 36.8

7.34 1 14.18 1.87 0.75 37.15 3.2 4.62 5.74 0.44 0.8 0.86 0.224 0.4 9.59 25.45 1.47 1.21 1.62 4.42 0.6 0.5 0.5 3.38 19.8 2 3.21 36.8

7.21 0.97 14.08 1.87 0.74 36.55 3.17 4.53 5.42 0.435 0.52 0.85 0.216 0.4 9.26 25.15 1.43 1.19 1.53 4.38 0.58 0.46 0.48 3.25 19.68 1.99 3.2 36.05

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

1.05 7.33 0.8 6.04

1.05 7.88 0.85 6.1

1.01 7.15 0.8 6.03

1.05 7.77 0.8 6.04

2,136,000 2,501,400 2,924,000 3,232,400

2,200,690 18,970,177 2,377,370 19,536,139

1,003,361 164,000 -7,225,497

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

15.14 23.5 1.33 0.46 0.044 16.86 9.85 0.053 66.1 7 6.7 2.23 23.3 911 1,658 5.35 277.2 3.26 78.8 12.98 7.98 0.134 2.96 4.08 15 4.12 1.03 24.95 4.03 5.1 2.63 2.45 2.55 17 9.3 11 3.1 122.8 5.29 1,300 0.87 0.34 45.85 82 8.19 1.84 1.14 0.45 4.99 0.79 12.04

15.14 23.5 1.33 0.465 0.046 16.86 9.85 0.054 66.5 7 6.95 2.23 23.3 911 1,665 5.4 285 3.45 79.2 12.98 7.98 0.138 3.08 4.08 15 4.15 1.04 25.3 4.36 5.2 2.63 2.48 2.79 17 9.45 11 3.3 123 5.35 1,333 0.87 0.34 46.05 83 8.3 1.89 1.14 0.455 5.05 0.82 12.06

14.8 23.35 1.33 0.46 0.044 14.94 9.5 0.053 65.5 6.94 6.7 2.15 21.65 911 1,634 5.35 277.2 3.25 78.8 12.98 7.94 0.132 2.84 3.68 15 4.08 1.02 24.9 4.03 5.05 2.61 2.29 2.4 17 9.15 11 3.07 122 5.24 1,297 0.84 0.34 45.85 82 7.99 1.82 1.13 0.44 4.91 0.78 11.96

SERVICES 14.8 23.4 1.33 0.46 0.044 15.98 9.5 0.054 65.6 7 6.95 2.15 21.9 911 1,650 5.38 282.8 3.34 79 12.98 7.97 0.135 2.94 3.76 15 4.14 1.03 25.2 4.3 5.14 2.63 2.34 2.47 17 9.22 11 3.13 123 5.33 1,323 0.85 0.34 46 83 8.25 1.82 1.13 0.45 4.98 0.8 12

4,200 215,000 15,000 1,030,000 5,600,000 16,500 6,227,300 5,430,000 240,100 437,800 7,700 16,000 242,700 400 15,490 79,300 1,790 1,111,000 1,575,790 100 27,100 7,290,000 17,828,000 961,000 100 404,000 351,000 329,700 181,000 229,200 268,000 2,373,000 378,000 4,500 2,401,000 6,200 109,000 4,960 272,900 94,065 1,988,000 60,000 970,100 46,250 145,800 2,671,000 1,063,000 6,870,000 252,000 4,313,000 1,047,500

62,612 5,041,405 19,950 475,300 251,200 254,124 59,487,209 287,800 15,858,656.50 3,049,826 53,238 35,260 5,321,170 364,400 25,480,100 425,574 504,348 3,752,660 124,464,573.50 1,298 215,690 984,420 53,188,440 3,642,040 1,500 1,670,050 358,680 8,305,915 768,450 1,181,054 701,820 5,597,390 945,330 76,500 22,227,114 68,200 349,180 609,524 1,448,487 124,334,520 1,692,940 20,400 44,608,055 3,807,170 1,182,057 4,881,250 1,209,820 3,082,250 1,246,830 3,459,690 12,573,700

22,300 -138,000 1,600 -33,019,519 -8,297,817.50 -269,786 -41,460 10,830,965 201,920 -55,873,839 -212,530 868,900 1,260,000 -25,760 502,042 -18,320 -5,560 302,844 105,238 26,575 53,040,410 -1,084,100 9,434,325 -686,605 -1,205,990 -940,250.00 -818,050 3,027,306

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

0.0025 1.45 3.81 20 1.54 1.47 1.7 0.3 7.95 2.17 0.184 0.124 1.52 4.17 1.27 1.39 0.012 0.012 2.78 4.4 10.38 30.75

0.0026 1.46 3.99 24.9 1.54 1.47 1.7 0.3 7.99 2.18 0.199 0.127 1.52 4.23 1.44 1.52 0.012 0.012 2.99 4.5 10.7 31.2

0.0025 1.44 3.81 19.58 1.54 1.47 1.7 0.3 7.6 2.14 0.184 0.124 1.51 4.16 1.26 1.32 0.012 0.011 2.78 4.36 10.16 30.75

MINING & OIL 0.0026 28,000,000 1.44 255,000 3.99 2,000 24.9 308,500 1.54 17,000 1.47 10,000 1.7 26,000 0.3 130,000 7.93 91,800 2.18 2,334,000 0.191 160,000 0.124 160,000 1.51 50,000 4.2 4,567,000 1.35 1,865,000 1.5 26,007,000 0.012 10,400,000 0.012 4,600,000 2.99 150,000 4.38 95,000 10.22 1,344,900 31.15 742,200

70,200 368,810 7,800 7,059,356 26,180 14,700 44,200 39,000 726,238 5,046,510 30,570 19,870 75,760 19,175,970 2,531,040 37,757,810 124,800 55,000 433,080 418,540 13,783,748 23,039,485

-40 139,700 553,370 3,028,750 67,500 -1,070,900 46,000 534,480 10,956,415

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

21.6 500 500 101.2 106.8 5.25 997 987.5 1.05 104.8 1,030 1,050 103.9 109 1.96 76.3 79.4 75.4 76 76.5 75.75 75.15 75.5

21.6 501 500 101.3 107 5.25 997 987.5 1.05 105 1,030 1,050 103.9 109 1.96 76.3 79.4 75.4 76 77.5 75.75 77 77

21.1 500 500 101.2 106.8 5.14 997 987.5 1.05 104.8 1,030 1,050 103.9 109 1.96 76 79 75.4 75.2 76.4 75.7 75.15 75.3

PREFERRED 21.15 539,800 501 3,270 500 10 101.3 17,200 107 11,080 5.25 137,500 997 1,990 987.5 20 1.05 5,000 105 1,000 1,030 500 1,050 5 103.9 1,000 109 100 1.96 2,000 76 37,140 79.4 20,230 75.4 70 76 83,130 77.5 9,270 75.7 95,700 76.9 72,510 76.9 147,810

11,517,210 1,637,270 5,000 1,741,360 1,185,536 720,720 1,984,030 19,750 5,250 104,808 515,000 5,250 103,900 10,900 3,920 2,823,261 1,599,053 5,278 6,263,991 710,391 7,249,175 5,543,319 11,225,014

-4,757,160 -702,360 -

LR WARRANT

2.41

2.45

2.38

WARRANTS 2.41 63,000

152,310

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.1 3.64

5.15 3.72

5.03 3.29

5.14 3.29

1,604,821 47,886,890

24,191 -846,460

FIRST METRO ETF

107.6

108.5

107.6

395,323

21,680

20,000 51,000

-10,000 -

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.3 1 14.08 1.87 0.74 36.55 3.17 4.62 5.54 0.435 0.8 0.86 0.22 0.4 9.27 25.3 1.47 1.19 1.61 4.41 0.58 0.49 0.5 3.38 19.72 2 3.2 36.8

190,000 3,506,000 16,000 35,000 414,000 12,823,100 38,000 1,300,000 35,400 2,010,000 40,000 458,000 4,360,000 100,000 598,700 341,800 5,310,000 1,142,000 15,251,000 7,287,000 14,671,000 21,830,000 1,400,000 1,602,000 994,100 284,000 72,000 2,439,000

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10 1.02

TRADING SUMMARY

10 1.02

SHARES

FINANCIAL

15,946,747

INDUSTRIAL

37,227,439

HOLDING FIRMS

357,053,683

PROPERTY

109,416,216

SERVICES

76,310,081

MINING & OIL

87,155,968

GRAND TOTAL

697,015,366

10 1.02

SME

314,600 13,584,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 108 3,650 10 1.02

DDS

2,000 50,000

VALUE 1,795.96 (up) 21.95 1,222,106,581.18 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,299.50 (up) 68.45 535,601,005.65 HOLDING FIRMS 7,078.34 (up) 27.48 1,660,581,405.06 PROPERTY 3,556.73 (up) 3.60 SERVICES 1,419.08 (up) 7.34 745,697,736.83 MINING & OIL 9,603.02 (up) 42.75 582,469,563.619 PSEI 7,233.29 (up) 46.67 268,580,193.54 All Shares Index 4,413.44 (up) 28.14 5,064,933,894.13 Gainers: 113; Losers: 73; Unchanged: 54; Total: 240

DPWH set to decide on P22-b Cavite expressway

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Public Works and Highways said it will decide this month on the unsolicited proposal of the unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. to build the P22.43-billion Cavite-Batangas Expressway.

“I already evaluated and studied it, we will have a decision soon. Possibly this month,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

MPCala Holdings Inc. was awaiting the issuance of the original proponent status for the project from the DPWH. CTBex is a proposed 49-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu, with another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.

The CTBex project is expected to start construction by the first quarter of 2019.

Once completed, the project would cut travel time from Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Nasugbu, Batangas from 2.5 hours to just an hour. The project is to be completed by the first half of 2022.

The project will start at Silang East Interchange of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway. The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Tagaytay in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.

MPCala is also constructing the P35-billon Calax―a four-lane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway.

The expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at SLEx-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

The company, in addition, is building the P26-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway project, an 8.25-km bridge that will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova. The project is expected to be completed by 2020.

Parent Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. is building the NLEx-SLEx Connector Road, an eight-kilometer, four-lane toll road linking the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway, passing through Metro Manila and using the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as the route.

BPI to double customers using online channels

By Julito G. Rada BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, plans to double the number of clients using online channels in the next five years.

BPI Retail Banking head Joey Gotuaco said Tuesday the bank was enhancing its network to support an increasing demand for efficient and convenient automated banking channels complementing its traditional branches.

Gotuaco said the move was part of BPI’s overall digitalization journey and push for financial inclusion, as banking on ATMs, mobile devices and desktop computers provided a secure, reliable and convenient banking experience.

“Many of the transactions done in the branches can be done through our various electronic channels. While our branches are still very much accessible, electronic channels are 24/7 in nature and are key drivers in helping people bank from the comfort of their homes, offices, or cars,” Gotuaco said.

“By extending our services to people in a cost efficient way, we help transform our society into a more financially inclusive one, on par with global banking standards,” said Gotuaco.

He said around 36 percent of BPI’s clients used its online facility and mobile app. BPI aims to double this percentage in the next five years.

“Electronic banking is fast becoming a standard in the Philippines, as it is globally. We want our clients to experience the same level of service through our electronic channels, which include our online facility, mobile app, and over 3,000 ATMs and CAMs (Cash Accept Machines). They are just as safe and reliable as our traditional branches,” he said.

With BPI ATMs, clients can easily perform cash withdrawals, account balance inquiries, bills payments, online banking and mobile banking enrollments, activations and PIN changes, all at their own convenience.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

Widow of Nobel dissident has left China, says friend

DISASTER AREA. A man with a shovel walks on a damaged road in a flood-hit area in Mabi, Okayama prefecture, on July 10,

2018. Rescue workers carried out house-to-house searches on July 10 in the increasingly unlikely hope of finding survivors after days of deadly floods and landslides that have claimed 141 lives in one of Japan’s worst weather-related disasters for decades. AFP

BEIJING―Liu Xia, the widow of Chinese Nobel dissident Liu Xiaobo who had been under de facto house arrest in China, left the country Tuesday en route to Germany, according to friends.

Despite facing no charges, the 57-yearold poet had endured heavy restrictions on her movements since 2010 when her husband won the Nobel Peace Prize―an award that infuriated Beijing.

Friends said she had taken a Finnair flight to Berlin via Helsinki, a move that came just days before the first anniversary of her husband’s death from liver cancer.

Berlin-based dissident Liao Yiwu, who is expected to welcome her in the German capital later Tuesday, voiced his joy on Twitter, saying: “I am so, so, so happy! Finally, finally, Xia is coming today!!”

Liu had become a cause celebre and was seen as a test case for China’s attitude to human rights, with activists and foreign powers urging Beijing to allow her to leave the country.

Her husband Liu Xiaobo, a veteran

of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, died last year while serving an 11-year jail sentence for “subversion”, making him the first Nobel laureate to die in custody since the era of Nazi Germany.

In an emotional phone call with her friend Liao recently, Liu said, “they should add a line to the constitution: ‘Loving Liu Xiaobo is a serious crime― it’s a life sentence’.”

Speaking to AFP before her departure, close friend Ye Du told AFP that Liu was suffering from “very severe” depression, adding that she would “sometimes faint.”

He had spoken to her about once a month and she told him she was taking medicine to allow her to sleep.

“I can’t fall asleep. Only by taking medication can I fall asleep and stop looking at this painful world,” she said, according to Ye. Chinese authorities had consistently maintained Liu was free but imposed severe restrictions on her movement and she was under constant surveillance. AFP

Rescuers in Japan going house to house

K

URASHIKI, Japan―Rescue workers carried out houseto-house searches Tuesday in the increasingly unlikely hope of finding survivors after days of deadly floods and landslides that have claimed 156 lives in Japan’s worst weather-related disaster for decades.

The record downpours that began last week have stopped and receding flood waters have laid bare the destruction that has cut a swathe through the west of the country.

In the city of Kurashiki, the flooding engulfed entire districts at one point, forcing some people to their rooftops to wait for rescue.

By Tuesday morning, rescue workers were going door-to-door, looking for survivors―or victims― of the disaster.

“It’s what we call a grid operation, where we are checking every single house to see if there are people still trapped inside them,” an official with the local Okayama prefecture government told AFP. “We know it’s a race against time, we are trying

as hard as we can.”

Hideto Yamanaka was leading a team of around 60 firefighters dispatched from outside the prefecture searching homes.

“I’m afraid elderly people who were living alone may have failed to escape,” said Yamanaka, 53.

“Physically weak people may have been late in getting out when it suddenly started raining hard, swamping the area,” he told AFP. In the Mabi district of Kurashiki, the water left behind a fine yellow silt that has transformed the area into moonscape.

Cars driving through kicked up clouds of dust.

People walking around wore medical masks or covered their mouths with small towels to protect themselves against the particulates.

Stores were still closed, and inside one barber’s shop the red sofas, customer chairs, and standing hair dryers were all covered with the same silt.

Fumiko Inokuchi, 61, was inside her home, sorting through the damage caused by the floods that submerged the entire first floor.

She escaped the house on Saturday, crossing the street to take shelter in a three-storey care home for the elderly, from where she watched in horror as the waters rose.

“I saw my house sink underwater and I couldn’t

IN BRIEF Taiwan shuts down for Typhoon ‘Maria’ TAIPEI―Schools and offices in Taiwan will close Tuesday and flights have been canceled as Typhoon Maria churns towards Taiwan bringing torrential rain and powerful winds.

Maria was 500 kilometers east of the northeastern coastal town of Yilan with gusts of up to 190 kilometers an hour as of 10 am local time (0200 GMT), the weather bureau said.

Its impact was expected to be the strongest from late Tuesday to early Wednesday, with downpours up to 19.7 inches forecast in some areas, the bureau added.

Officials have warned of possible floods and mudslides.

Taiwanese authorities announced that offices and schools would close on Tuesday afternoon in five cities, including Yilan, where strong waves have started to pound the shore.

Local television footage showed farmers in Yilan rushing to their fields harvest scallions, the county’s most famous produce.

Fishermen in coastal Keeling also brought in their catch and secured their boats ahead of the storm, one day after dozens of ferry services to outlying islands were canceled.

Taiwan’s UNI Air canceled around 70 domestic flights on Tuesday while two other airlines have canceled flights to the Japanese island of Okinawa.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific said it has canceled over a dozen flights between Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as from Hong Kong to Okinawa on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Premier William Lai warned local authorities and the public to “remain vigilant” for the first typhoon of the season in Taiwan.

He urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with the government’s disaster prevention plans.

The typhoon will not make a direct hit if it continues on its current trajectory, which would see it skim off northern Taiwan, according to the weather bureau.

Taiwan is frequently hit by typhoons in the summer. Last year more than 100 people were injured when Typhoon Nesat battered the island, causing flooding and widespread power outages. AFP

UN urges probe on waitress ‘defectors’ SEOUL―A dozen North Korean waitresses involved in a high-profile “defection” case two years ago did not know where they were going, the top UN human rights official on North Korea said Tuesday.

The issue has long been controversial, with Pyongyang saying the women were kidnapped from a North Korean state-run restaurant in China while Seoul insists they defected of their own free will.

In a bombshell revelation in May, the manager of the 12 waitresses said that he had lied about their final destination and blackmailed them into following him to the South.

Tomas Ojea Quintana, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on human rights in the North, told reporters he had interviewed “some” of the 12 waitresses after arriving in Seoul last week.

They told him that “they were taken to the South without knowing they were coming here”, he said.

He urged the South Korean government to carry out a “thorough and independent investigation” to establish the truth of the incident as soon as possible and to “hold to account those who are responsible”.

Heo Gang-il, the manager of the North Korean restaurant in Ningbo where the waitresses worked, said he had been recruited by Seoul’s National Intelligence Service in China in 2014.

Fearing exposure in 2016, he asked his NIS handler to arrange his defection. At the last minute the minder told him to bring his staff too.

Ojea Quintana did not say whether the women he spoke to had expressed a desire to return to the North, but said their wishes should be respected, whatever they were.

“My stance as UN Human Rights rapporteur is to respect decisions of the victims,” he said.

“When I say victims, I’m implying they were subject to some kind of deceit with regard to where they were going,” he added.

The South’s Unification Ministry has previously said it is looking into the allegations. AFP

do anything at all, there was just nothing I could do.

I felt helpless,” she said, retrieving a photo of her children playing baseball.

“I got married here, and we built this house two years afterwards. We raised our three small sons to adulthood here, there are so many memories,” she said, her eyes welling with tears.

The crisis is the deadliest weather-related disaster in over three decades, and has sparked national grief.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe canceled a four-stop foreign trip as the death toll rose, and he will visit Okayama on Wednesday.

Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday that at least 156 people had been killed.

Media said dozens more remained missing and the tally was expected to rise further.

Around 75,000 police, firemen and troops have been deployed in the search and rescue operation across parts of central and western Japan, Suga said, warning that hot weather posed new risks.

Thousands of people remain in shelters, and local authorities in some areas were offering drinking water and bathing services for those without their own supply.

“It will be over 35 Celsius in

2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pangasinan Tel. No. (075) 632-7840 Website@biddingandawards.pangasinan gov.ph, E-mail address: bacpangasinan@yahoo.com

ERRATUM

INVITATION TO BID for Delivery of Various Drugs and Medicines (by item) Solicitation No. PANG-2018-1040

There was an error in PPA Memorandum Circular No. 13 -2018 published last July 10, 2018. The Memorandum should have read as: TO

: The Port Manager, PMO Zamboanga Del Norte Prudential Customs Brokerage Services, Inc. Cargo Owners/Brokers/Shipping Lines Other Port Users Concerned

1.

The Province of Pangasinan, through the Trust Fund (PR#2018-05-4896)1 intends to apply the sum of Eighteen Million Five Hundred Ninety-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Twenty-Seven Pesos & 60/100 (P18,598,527.60) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Delivery of Various Drugs and Medicines (by item) at General Services Office (for use of 11 Government Hospitals – EPDH, UDH, WPDH, BDH, MDH, MapCH, ManCH, PCH, BCH, ACH, DCH). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Province of Pangasinan now invites bids for Supply and Delivery of Drugs and Medicines.2 Delivery of the Goods is required Seven (7) Calendar Days.

Bidders should have completed 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”.

And not as published.

Republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF QUIRINO Cabarroguis -oOoBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR Procurement of Thirty Two (32) Units Brand New Dumptruck for various barangays Contract No. PB-GS-2018-009 July 11, 2018 1. The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino, through the Loan Proceeds from Landbank of the Philippines intends to apply the sum of P 33,600,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for PB-GS-2018-009 Procurement of Thirty Two (32) Units Brand New Dumptruck for various barangays. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

3.

(i)

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino now invites bids Procurement of Thirty Two (32) Units Brand New Dumptruck for various barangays. Delivery of the Goods is required 60 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.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Province of Pangasinan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during July 5, 2018 – July 26, 2018; 8:00 am to 5:00pm.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on July 5, 2018 – July 26, 2018 at the BAC office, 2nd Floor Malong Building, Lingayen, Pangasinan and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) for every One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00).

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 AM to 4:00PM.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from July 11, 2018 to July 31, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P 25,000.00).

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

The Province of Pangasinan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 13, 2018; 10:00am at BAC office, 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound, Lingayen, Pangasinan, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before July 26, 2018; 10:00am. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on July 26, 2018; 10:00am at Conference Room 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound, Lingayen, Pangasinan. 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.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 18, 2018, 3:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Building, Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before July 31, 2018, 2:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Building, Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

9.

For further information, please refer to:

EDWIN B. MENDOZA Supervising Admin. Officer BAC Secretariat

The Provincial Government of Quirino reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

BAC Office 2nd Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pangasinan 075 6327840

For further information, please refer to:

(SGD.) HILARIA J. CLAVERIA Provincial Budget Officer BAC Chairman 1

(SGD) DENCIO A. PAGBILAO BAC Chairman (MS-JULY 11, 2018)

The Province of Pangasinan 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.

Provincial Budget Office Finance Building, Capitol Compound Lingayen, Pangasinan 075 5426574

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

Engr. Dencio A. Pagbilao Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Province of Quirino +639175007275 +639177756155

8.

HILARIA J. CLAVERIA Provincial Budget Officer BAC Chairman

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.

3

6.

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at the BAC Secretariat, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, upon payment of the applicable nonrefundable fee.

7.

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.

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

6.

some areas... Please be careful about heatstroke if you’re doing reconstruction outdoors, and continue to be vigilant about landslides,” Suga said.

The government said it would tap around $20 million in reserve funds to provide aid to those affected by the disaster.

And even with the rains over, the risk of flooding remained, with the town of Fuchu in Hiroshima issuing a new evacuation order as a local river burst its banks.

“Driftwood and dirt has piled up... and now the water has started overflowing from the river,” a spokesman for the local fire department told AFP. “We are on high alert,” he added.

In Ehime prefecture, authorities said they were struggling to get emergency food and water to some cut-off areas.

“We are sending them by boat and air routes,” said Yoshinobu Katsuura, a spokesman for the prefecture’s disaster management department.

“It will take a lot of time to see devastated areas recover.” AFP

2 3

In the case of National Government Agencies, the General Appropriations Act and/or continuing appropriations; in the case of GOCCs, GFIs, and SUCs, the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the governing Boards; in the case of (LGUs, the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian. (Section 5(a), R.A. 9184) A brief description of the type(s) of Goods should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation.

May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a Pre-Bid Conference.

(MS-JULY 11, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

Salceda: New Balik Scientist Act to reverse brain drain

LocaL government units

wednesday, july 11, 2018

Kadayawan 2018 organizers vow biggest fiesta yet

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The Kadayawan executive committee has vowed to make this year’s festival the biggest event in the history of the city.

On Monday, the 33rd Kadayawan sa Davao was formally launched to the media, revealing a more grandiose lineup of activities that will showcase the cultures of the 11 tribes in the city.

Festival director Gatchi Gatchalian Jr. said the festival will be longer, with bigger prizes and more activities than in previous years.

“Last year’s Kadayawan festival is already big, but we want to make it bigger,” Gatchalian said. “It will not be hard for us to market Kadayawan, since the stigma of Martial Law was already lifted.” he said several new sponsors like SM Development Corp. and Philippine Airlines that are willing to help the city put up a grandiose Kadayawan that the people will enjoy.

City Tourism Officer Regina Rosa Tecson said officials are expecting more than 200,000 local and foreign tourist to join the festival this year.

“Last year, we recorded more than 185,000 tourists through our hotel occupancy data. This year, we expect to exceed that and raise the number to 200,000 or more,” Tecson said.

For this year’s festival, the Kadayawan committee prepared a budget of P44 million, P12 million from the City Government. The remaining P32 million will be gathered by its private partners.

“We are really optimistic that we will reach the P32 million budget since we received positive response from the sponsors,” Gatchalian said.

“We will also give incentives to winning team of the indak-indak competition. An additional P500,000 will be given to the winning team if they reached a score of 95% or more,” he said.

Gatchalian explained they put up the incentive to encourage the performers to do even better than the previous years, to lessen their props and to add more dancing to their performances.

AGRI INSURANCE HEARING. Senator Cynthia A. Villar (seated center, front row), chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, hears a presentation with Dennis Funa (left), Insurance Commissioner, on how a system of insurance would greatly help small farm holders recover from natural disasters. During the roundtable discussion on agricultural insurance organized by the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association and the World Bank, Villar said Senate Bill 1759 or the Free Index-Based Crop Insurance, which she authored, is one of her priority legislative measures. Lino Santos

Makati backs ALS pupils with uniforms, supplies

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

he city government of Makati gave free school supplies and uniforms to 84 young individuals housed in two city-run caring facilities and enrolled in its Alternative Learning System.

Mayor Abigail Binay said 43 boys in Makati Youth home and 41 girls in the Social Development Center were the latest beneficiaries the city government’s Project FRee (Free Relevant excellent education).

The caring facilities are also part of the city’s rehabilitation program for juvenile delinquents and young victims of abuse.

“We have begun providing free school supplies and uniforms to these

young Makatizens as an added incentive for them to do good in the ALS program. It will prepare them in going back to school for formal education after they are released from the city’s custody,” Binay said.

“We believe that children in conflict with the law and children at risk would greatly benefit from a holistic program that promotes their physical and emotional well-being as well as their intellectual development. It will help ensure

their successful reintegration into the community,” she underscored.

According to city’s Department of education, each ALS learner received a set of school supplies consisting of 10 notebooks, 10 ballpens, and 10 pencils.

They also received a pair of new black shoes, one set of school uniform, bag, pad paper, and a school diary.

Deped-Makati chief Rita Riddle said that children in the said caring facilities are being taught through ALS with modified and individualized modules according to the needs of the learner.

“Because of the constant support of the city, these children now have a better chance to pass the ALS Accreditation and equivalency or A&e test,” Riddle said.

TOWER AWARDS. The

Rotary Club of Manila TOWER Awards partners recently signed an agreement with RCM at the New World Hotel Makati for the annual Search for Outstanding Workers of the Republic. In photo (seated from left) are assistant vice president Charmaine Canillas of Petron Foundation, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, RCM past president Grace Abella Zata of the People Management Association of the Philippines and RCM director Robert Lim Joseph, the presiding officer of the day. Standing (from left) are RCM’s past president Benny Laguesma, past district governor Robert Pagdanganan, presidentelect Jesus Pineda, and district governor-elect Rudy Bediones.

Lawyer’s quest on a bicycle to raise dystonia awareness

By Ronald O. Reyes (Conclusion, continued from yesterday) SIx months after recovering from dystonia, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that affects muscular movement, lawyer JP Anthony Cuñada launched an advocacy to help end the misery of his fellow patients, particularly in his home province of Panay.

According to Cuñada, his drive is one way of helping scientists, geneticists, microbiologists, and specialists by collecting the data that they need in their research. “everyone is doing their part in finding the cure for dystonia. And they are very patient and enduring to find the cure. I can’t do that intellectual distance. But this I can,” Cuñada said on what inspired him to continue biking despite his condition.

“That’s why, on the other level I want them to know that, hey guys, there is also someone here like you who is determined or perhaps desperate to find the cure,” he added.

“When the going gets tough in the laboratory, I want them to know that there is also someone here, although not in your field, but in another field, who is willing to go this distance to find the cure for dystonia,” Cuñada said in his message to the medical staff at The Sunshine Care Foundation and other specialists across the globe, while fighting back his tears.

Cuñada urged Secretary of health Dr. Francisco Duque to respond to his Dec. 13, 2017 letter, where he inquired on what Republic Act 10747 or the Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines can do to people with xDP, especially those who have not undergone Deep Brain Stimulation like him.

RA 10747 orders the Doh to establish the Rare Diseases Technical Working Group, composed of a pool of experts on rare diseases from the National Institute of health and other agencies. A rare disease or orphan disease “is any health condition resulting from genetic defects that rarely affect the general population.”

This working group is tasked with identifying rare diseases, orphan drugs, and orphan products. “has the RDTWG been convened by Doh? May I have the list of the names of these designated pool of experts? May I also have the list of disorders or diseases determined by the RDTWG as rare, as well as the list of orphan drugs, and orphan products?” Cuñada wrote Duque.

“Also, what policies have been formulated

by RDTWG to regulate the approval and certification of orphan drugs and orphan products? When is their regular meeting? May I look into significant Minutes that will help enlighten patients like me,” he asked in his letter, which remains unanswered.

“Upon studying the Rare Disease Act, there might not be a need for a separate law on xDP [x-linked dystonia-parkinsonism]. RA 10747 is so

broad it covers all rare diseases including dystonia.

But the RDTWG must do its job,” the lawyer said.

“I would like to know if dystonia is listed by the RDTWG as one of the rare diseases in the Philippines. Because if it did, then, we dystonia patients can avail of these benefits enumerated in Sections 21 and 22, Article VII of the law,” he added.

“I searched the internet and the Doh website about any information about the RDTWG, yet I could not find any,” Cuñada said.

Signed into law by then-President Benigno Aquino III on March 3, 2016, RA 10747 “will help provide patients with rare diseases and their families better access to adequate medical care, health information, and healthcare products needed to treat their condition.”

A person with rare diseases can avail basic benefit package from the Philippine health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), which shall be provided in accordance with its guidelines; and medical assistance as provided in Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10351 or the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012.

Cuñada urged Doh to convene RDTWG before he will file charges against the agency.

It is provided in the Anti-Red Tape Act that you must respond to a letter within three days, the lawyer said.

Cuñada, who has been in the legal profession for the past 10 years, also asked President Rodrigo Duterte to intercede for them with the Doh and act on his concerns.

The Balik Scientist Act of 2018 (Republic Act 11035), signed by President Rodrigo Duterte recently, is expected to dramatically reverse the country’s brain-drain crisis and induce Filipino experts abroad to come home and avail of the incentives, benefits, and privileges it offers.

“Filipinos are basically family oriented. Many of them venture overseas for better remunerations to provide for their families,” Albay Second District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said.

“Wherever they may be, they long to come home to savor and enjoy the emotional security of close family ties. Family cohesiveness is an anchor value among them and forms a vital part of their culture and traditions,” he added.

Salceda, principal author of RA 11035 in Congress, said the new law serves this Filipino cultural orientation. Better still, beyond the package of benefits it offers to returning expatriate experts, the prospect of working in their own country near their families, and where cost of living is low, is an enticing alternative.

Administered by the Department of Science and Technology, RA 11035 provides motivations for Filipino scientists and experts abroad, armed with latest know-how, to flock back home and trigger the inflow of needed modern technologies to help speed up Philippine development.

Returning Filipino scientists and technology experts are expected to undertake mentorship, training, lectures, research, and development while in their country.

Salceda said under RA 11035, Balik Scientists will enjoy benefits and incentives like exemption from licensing or permit requirements of the Professional Regulation Commission; accident and medical insurance; exemption from renouncing their oath of allegiance to their adopted country, if any; tax and duty exemption in donation of equipment and materials to DoST; tax and duty exemption on imported professional equipment and other materials; and reimbursement of excess baggage imposts.

They can also participate in Grantsin-Aid research and development projects of DoST, enjoy one round-trip airfare originating from a foreign country to the Philippines, subsidized visa applications, and tax exempt daily allowance. DoST can also organize annual conventions of Filipino scientists to highlight successes of explorations and research.

Joy vows closer QC ties with gov’t, private sector

By Rio N. Araja QUeZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday said she will seek closer collaboration with various government agencies and the private sector in fixing the city’s problems.

She vowed to forge more partnerships with national government agencies, private companies, and organizations in addressing the socioeconomic problems of the city, such as poverty and housing.

“Partnerships will be beneficial for us and if I become the mayor. I want to initiate more partnerships with government agencies and with the private sector,” Belmonte said.

Through cooperative agreements and creation of interagency bodies to focus on issues, such as poverty alleviation, public housing, education and criminality, the city government could maximize the use of its resources, she added.

“I think all our problems in terms of poverty mitigation, housing, livelihood education… these can all be solved with proper partnerships with the private sector, the non-government organization sector and with the public sector,” the vice mayor said.

Inter-agency partnerships should be able to help the disadvantaged sectors in highly urbanized cities, such as illegal vendors, informal settlers and urban poor, reformed drug dependents and former convicts, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and victims of disasters and natural calamities.

According to Belmonte, the city government could work out agreements with Department of Labor and employment, Technical education and Skills Development Administration and other related agencies.

CIIF-OMG VS LAO: Coconut Industry Investment Fund Oil Mills

Group Chairman Eddie P. Delima and most board members of the group flash their fists after filing a graft case against fellow board director Rehan Balt Lao at the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday.

Lao was charged for willful misrepresentation in his social media accounts and for his failure to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth as mandated by law.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

M

PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY 44TH ANNIVERSARY

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PPA SETS SIGHT ON INFRA BUILD UP

ARKING its 44th anniversary exactly today, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is making a big investment in terms of port infrastructure in its bid to achieve its vision by 2020.

It is also in line with the current thrust of the Duterte administration to realize the golden age of infrastructure and be at par with our international partners.

Incidentally, the move is also parallel to one of the major programs of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of building better ports for the future.

PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said the focus of the infrastructure projects include full containerization of Philippine ports and the provision of larger backup areas; safe and convenient Passenger Terminal Buildings (PTBs); and upgrade and construction of cruise terminals in key areas nationwide.

“The President’s and Sec. Arthur P. Tugade’s marching orders are to heavily invest on port infrastructure in order to provide port services of global standards by 2020,” Santiago said.

“Since the start of the year, almost all of our resources have been directed to our port projects. We have already required all our contractors and suppliers to increase their productivity in order to finish the projects, particularly the locally-funded projects (LFPs), on time if not ahead of time,” Santiago stressed.

“This year, we have earmarked close to P6 billion to carry out our LFPs, which run to around 109 port projects, wherein, 46 are from Luzon, 23 in the Visayas and 40 projects in Mindanao,” Santiago said.

For the Luzon port projects, a total of 9 have already been completed, while 18 are ongoing and 19 projects are under procurement. In the Visayas, 6 have already been completed, 10 are ongoing, while 5 projects are under procurement.

Mindanao, meanwhile, registered the biggest number of completed projects with 21, while 49 projects are ongoing. The region also has 35 projects under procurement.

Currently, PPA is also carrying out several infrastructure projects in key areas to support the booming cruise industry aimed at developing international hubs for cruise liners like Surigao, Ilocos Norte, Bohol, Boracay, Metro Manila and Palawan. These make up the nation’s major nautical cruise arteries. It has also lined up various port programs for the development of cruise terminals in the above areas.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE As a result of its aggressive infrastructure push, the PPA registered a lower net income in the first five months of the year as its expenses soared, as expected, to finance the said projects.

PPA’s total revenues for the first five months of 2018 went up by 13% to P6.84 billion from P6.04 billion a year earlier.

Expenses, however, went up 44% to P3.01 billion from P2.08 billion in 2017 primarily due to the huge infra spending particularly on repair and maintenance and land improvements that increased more than 139%, resulting in a net income of P3.83 billion or some 3.24% lower than the P3.96 billion posted in the same period in 2017.

Nonetheless, despite the huge financial requirements, the PPA remains very liquid and financially stable with a net worth of P187.57 billion.

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Philippine cargo throughput for the first 5 months of the year slightly increased by 0.44% due to the high activity in domestic consumption and positive business climate nationwide.

Total throughput reached 98.89 million metric tons (mmt) for the period compared to the 2017 figure of 98.46 mmt, wherein domestic cargo volume went up almost 4% to 42.36 mmt. Foreign cargo traffic decreased by 1.85% to 56.524 mmt, wherein imported products inched up by 4% to 37.99 mmt, while export volume declined by 12.12% to 18.52 mmt.

In terms of container traffic, volume soared by 8.6% to 3.02 million twentyfoot equivalent units (TEUs) as against the 2017 same period volume of 2.78 million TEUs. Domestic boxes registered an increase of 9.4% to 1.23 million TEUs compared to the 1.12 million TEUs handled last year, while foreign boxes

registered an increase of 8% to 1.79 million TEUs from 1.65 million TEUs in 2017.

Passenger volume continued to expand as of end May as it increased by 9.3% to 36.76 million versus the 33.63 million handled in the same period last year due to the increase in reliance by the sea-traveling public on Ro-Ro vessels, fastcrafts, and motorized bancas for inter-island travel particularly in the ports of Bohol, Masbate, Mindoro, Negros Oriental and Siquijor and Negros Occidental-BacolodBanago area.

The positive stream in passenger traffic is also due to the favorable response of the public to the government’s domestic eco-tourism programs encouraging interisland leisure travel through Ro-Ro vessels. The soaring international cruise tourism industry has also positively contributed to the overall performance of the country’s passage industry as it soared by more than 184.76% from a mere 43,820 international cruise passengers last year to 124,779 passengers this year. The concentration of cruise ship passengers is at the ports of Manila, Panay/Guimaras, Batangas and Palawan.

There is also no sign of port congestion in any of the major gateway ports of the Philippines particularly the Manila ports as productivity remains stable with a combined average productivity

of 23 moves an hour. In terms of yard utilization, the average is at 60%, while berth occupancy rate at the three ports is at 59%.

2017 ACCOMPLISHMENTS A. DIVIDENDS PPA posted a record high last year in terms of dividends remitted to the national coffers after remitting more than P3 billion, its highest contribution to the National coffers since 1986.

The state-owned agency’s dividend for 2017 also eclipsed by at least 30% all the dividends it remitted to the government at least in the last decade, including its erstwhile record of P2.158 billion remitted in 2015.

PPA is mandated to remit 50% of its annual net income to the state-owned agency’s dividend for 2017 also eclipsed by at least 30% all the dividends it remitted to the government at least in the last decade, including its erstwhile record of P2.158 billion remitted in 2015.

PPA is mandated to remit 50% of its annual net income to the National Government after it was granted fiscal autonomy during the term of President Corazon C. Aquino.

In the last couple of years, the PPA is a regular member of the ‘Billionaires Club’ of Government Owned and Controlled Corporations contributing billions of TURN TO C2 pesos in dividends.

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PPA SETS...

PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY 44TH ANNIVERSARY

Manila

Standard

TODAY

FROM C1

With this all-time high dividend by PPA, it is expected to maintain its inclusion in the elite list of GOCCs. B. CRUISE TOURISM Philippine cruise ship arrivals posted unprecedented figures capped by the simultaneous docking of cruise ships at the Manila’s South Harbor recently.

Manila South Harbor, managed and operated by Asian Terminals, Inc., registered the biggest number of cruise ships docked at the ports with four, namely, SuperStar Virgo of Star Cruises, Costa Atlantica of Costa Cruises, Amsterdam of Holland America Lines, and Silver Shadow of Silversea Cruises.

The continuous hike in cruise ship arrivals are testaments to the initiatives put into place by different government agencies like the PPA, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Transportation, among others.

PPA has been injecting so much effort to improve the cruise facilities of our ports particularly the areas like Puerto Princesa in Palawan, South Harbor and North Harbor in Manila, Bohol in the Visayas, and Currimao in Northern Luzon.

The more than 1,000% increase in the number of cruise tourism passengers suggest that we are slowly reaping the benefits of those initiatives.

C. NEW PPA LOGO The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) also unveiled its new logo in

its bid to transform the agency into a more transparent, reliable and model corporate organization.

The new PPA logo got the nod of the Office of the President through the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in December of 2017.

The new logo embodies the vision of the PPA, which is to provide port services of global standards encompassing the three major islands of the country, as well as underpins the commitment of the PPA to maintain the highest standards with vessel operators, cargo owners, port stakeholders, safety, environmental protection, among others.

The color Pantone Opaque Couche, sharp element of the logo is the North Star, which is a symbol not only of guidance and direction but also of stability and leadership. It denotes the Authority’s firm stand in the achievement of its Vision and Mission. This element also stands for the letter “P” in the PPA/Philippine Ports Authority, while creating the image of a bollard; the Sun symbolizes economic improvement and progress of the country; the three waves stand for the waters of the 3 island groups in the country – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It has always been the government’s thrust, through the PPA, to ensure interconnectivity between the Philippine islands through port development; the blue and red

circle within the star symbolizes the globe, which depicts PPA’s Vision “to have provided port services of global standards; while the cargoes represent one of the basic functions of the PPA, which is port operations.”

D. FOI COMPLIANCE The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is also fully-compliant with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) reinforcing its earlier commitment to be fully transparent to the public.

The PPA has likewise received a recognition from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), one of only three Government Owned and Controlled Corporations recognized by the PCOO along with the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and the National Housing Authority (NHA).

In order to be fully responsive to all requests, PPA has its FOI internal database monitoring system and has included in the preparation of its programs the following initiatives to provide a more efficient FOI requests’ management, which include introduction of enhancements to its internal FOI monitoring system compliant with the required FOI registry format; provision of an FOI kiosk to cater to walk-in requesting parties; and PPA-wide orientation seminar to fully inform the employees and document custodians

on the Freedom of Information and the PPA FOI Agency Manual.

E. STRONG INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE The Port of Manila leaped 4 notches higher finishing at 32nd spot in the list of the 2016 top 100 container ports worldwide and jumped one step higher to 22 in the list of Asian ports included in the top 100 container ports, according to the list released by the Lloyd’s List in 2017.

Manila was able to post a very positive performance in 2016 due to the Philippines’ booming national economy that increased 6.8% from 5.9% a year earlier.

It also added that the higher volume handled at the Manila Port’s international terminals, composed of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and the Manila South Harbor, was due to the Terminal Appointment Booking System put into place sometime in 2015.

The country bested other notable international ports in terms of container volume like the ports of Felixtowe (36), Seattle/Tacoma (41), Vancouver (52), Kobe (55), Incheon (58), Nagoya (59), Melbourne (62), London (66), among others.

In Asia, Manila was able to outperform the ports of Jawaharlal Nehru in India, Tanjung Perak (Surabaya) in Indonesia, Kobe, Yokohama and Nagoya in Japan, as well as Incheon in South Korea. In

the 2016 edition, 53 Asian ports made the list, while 47 Asian ports were included in the 2015 list.

ANNIVERSARY 2018 This year’s anniversary, meanwhile, will be celebrated in an austere manner and will instead infuse the fund to the port projects and to several corporate social responsibility programs.

With its theme 44 years of building better ports for a better future, the celebration will be highlighted by a thanksgiving mass on July 11 to be held at the PPA Corporate Office Building, followed by a recognition of several PPA employees for their exemplary performance for the past year.

Winners from the different sports events in the first-ever PPA National Sportsfest will also be feted.

To give some entertainment, the offices under the Office of the General Manager, the Office of the Assistant General Manager for Operations, the Office of the Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration and the Office of the General Manager for Engineering were tasked to come up with special numbers to be presented during the celebration.

“Celebrating the anniversary is not about bonuses and raffle items. It is about the service we give to the public, which will guarantee the continued relevant existence of the agency,” Santiago said.

SAILING THE HIGH SEAS: PPA MARKS 44TH FOUNDING YEAR I

By MJ Blancaflor

N AN archipelago like the Philippines, an efficient and effective port management is necessary to facilitate the transportation of goods and services.

Port administration, which benefits citizens economically and socially, is a huge task.

As a result, a state agency was established to spearhead port operations in the country.

This is the Philippine Ports

Authority (PPA).

For 44 years, the agency has been providing port services of global standards to local and international maritime clients.

At the present, the PPA continues to sail the high seas.

Despite a weakened Philippine peso, it posted a 16% hike in its net income in the January to November 2017 period through its sound financial condition.

The agency earned P 8.310 billion at this period, higher than the P7.164

billion posted a year earlier.

TAKING A DIP Prior to the creation of the PPA, port administration in the Philippines, including maintenance and revenue collection, was facilitated by the Bureau of Public Works (BPW) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Later, the BOC proposed the creation of a separate government agency that will be tasked to integrate the functions of port operations, cargo handling, port development and maintenance. This will enable the BOC to concentrate on tax collection.

Hence, the PPA was created. Eventually, the scope and functions of the PPA was broadened to facilitate the implementation of an integrated program for the planning, development, financing, operation and maintenance of ports in the entire archipelago.

The National Ports Advisory Council (NPAC) was established after some time to strengthen cooperation between the government and the private sector. It is also tasked to exact reasonable administrative fines for specific violations of its rules and regulations, thus empowering the PPA. LEADING THE VOYAGE The agency sustains its growth momentum in port operations with registered increase in revenues as well as in key port performance metrics.

Last year, total revenues grew by 6.71%

or P13.846 billion from P12.976 billion collected in the same period in 2016.

Port revenue went up by 6.61% or P13.754 billion from P12.901 billion due primarily to increase in volume of traffic at the ports as well as the adjustment in foreign exchange rates.

The PPA administration aims to infuse a culture of safety in port operations and convenience of passengers in different ports.

It also aims to transform the agency into a more dynamic, transparent and serviceoriented agency through reduced permitting process and documentation.

Because of this, the PPA migrated to automated, modernized and mobile operations earlier this month.

The agency replaced all its desktop computers with state-of-the-art laptop computers for mobility and environmentfriendly energy consumption.

Furthermore, the agency seeks to install modern scanners in all ports with high concentration of passengers to ensure safety and security of the public. PPA is also completing its electronic e-payment system in all the 115 PPA-controlled ports nationwide to become a full e-commerce migration before the end of the administration.

With efforts to meet the demands of global trade and to transform into a more responsive government organization, the PPA will surely continue to sail the high seas.

Asian Terminals Inc.’s (ATI) Batangas Port employees recently took time off from usual duties to join hands with the local community, particularly in cleaning and greening public spaces in Batangas City in commemoration of the city’s 49th founding anniversary. Momentarily trading port and office equipment for brooms and cleaning kits, ATI volunteers cleared flotsam along streets adjacent the Batangas Port in support of Batangas City’s “SamaSamang Pagkilos para sa Luntiang Lungsod” community activity. As a responsible corporate citizen, ATI spearheads and joins community undertaking to promote safety, health and environmental protection under ATI CARES (Corporate Advocacies and Responses for the Environment and Society), its dynamic Corporate Sustainability Program.

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Entertainment

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018 2016 WEDNESDAY, JULY 11,

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GMA Pinoy TV inducted into first-ever

EMMA WALL OF DISTINCTION OPM

goes global AFTER bringing and staging worldclass musicals in the country, Globe Telecom, through Globe LIVE, is set to revitalize the local music industry by partnering with Elements Music Camp, a platform that develops talented local singer-songwriters for global audience.

Joe Caliro, Globe senior advisor for Creative Marketing & Multi Media Businesses, said that the value of Globe is to ensure that the partnership with Elements Music Camp will produce talents that will cater to the global market.

“The Philippines is full of musical talents and we should discover and prepare them globally. The world has become smaller because of the Internet.

Music distribution has evolved from record bars to online music streaming distribution, such as Spotify andYouTube among others, and this is where Globe comes in,” Caliro disclosed.

Caliro added that Globe LIVE would bring in five multi-awarded and world-renowned record producers for this year’s Elements Music Camp, who, along with five local mentors, would choose the next global Filipino record artist. Among the international

record producers involved in the camp are Bernard “Harv” Harvey, who has produced tracks for Justin Bieber; Bassie Blue Hamilton, who has also worked with Usher, Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars; Steve Lillywhite, who has produced for U2 and Dave Matthews Band; Def Jam Records SVP Head of A&R Ernest Clark, who has produced for Big Sean, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, and Justin Bieber; and EDM pioneer Ferry Corsten, who has worked with Benny Benassi, DJ Tiesto, and Armin van Buuren. Also back are Elements mentors Ebe Dancel, Gabby Alipe, Quest, Jungee Marcelo, Jimmy Antiporda, Thyro Alfaro, Jay Durias, and Audie Gemora.

The support for Elements Music Camp shows Globe and its original production arm, Globe LIVE’s active involvement and dedication in helping develop talented local artists in the music industry, and as leading entertainment provider in the country, the only brand that provides the tools to support obsessions and superfandoms to “Create. Unstoppable Love.”

“We want to create the venue for talented local musical artists to showcase their craft, assist them, nurture and curate their creative products, and help them bring their music out to the world and hopefully, discover the next great, big thing in Original Pilipino Music,” Caliro explained. “We’re excited to leverage our association with Spotify for Elements. Spotify is one of the best platforms for new artists to be discovered and showcase the 10 songs that will be produced at the camp.”

The Elements Music Camp was founded by Twinky Lagdameo, acclaimed composer Ryan Cayabyab, and businessman Julio Sy Jr. in 2010.

Previously the camp focused on three important aspects: technical, creative and business with the mentors belonging to the top tiers of the industry. The mentors talked about a wide range of topics including Philippine music history, music theory, lyric writing and musical arrangement.

“This year, we’re focusing on the technical aspect of creating songs and help the inherent talent of the Filipino singer-songwriter and move it to the

level where we feel we could make it into something that is with universal appeal,” Lagdameo shared.

The 5-day training and development workshop will include an on-site practical teaching and application in mobile recording studios and includes lessons from some of today’s best local music artists: singer-songwriter Clara Benin, known for songs including “Tila,” and “Closure;” singer-songwriter and visual artist Reese Lansangan; and independent composer and musician Bullet Dumas, among others.

With Globe at the helm and copresented with FrontRow, the artists and producers will get leverage through Globe’s partner platforms such as Spotify, Facebook, and YouTube, so more people can experience the content and the music created through the camp.

This year, 10 aspiring music artists will snag a chance to get into the Elements Music Camp. Selection is open for all musicians/songwriters nationwide (aged 21 to 35), including previous Elements alumni.

Before being selected, applicants will go through a rigorous screening process after which, the team of ten highly-rated, multi-awarded record producers—five local and five international— will select the final ten campers. Campers will then be mentored and closely taught in a 5-day music camp, using sophisticated mobile studios.

To kick-off the celebrations, there will be a reunion concert featuring past mentors and campers such as Ben & Ben, Bullet Dumas, Ebe Dancel, Joey Ayala, Nyoy Volante, and many more, on July 21 at the UP Theater. Fans should also watch out for a series of videos by Globe Studios following this year’s campers as they go through the mentorship program.

For interested, aspiring, and/or unsigned singer-songwriters, they can submit a demo and fill out the application form at glbe.co/jointhecamp.

Application period is until July 31.

For more about Globe Telecom, visit www.globe.com.ph. *** The country’s youth can meet their full potential only if the government can protect not only their physical wellbeing, but their mental health as well.

So said Rep. Karlo Nograles, who added that the growing number of young people committing suicide was “a disturbing trend that should be arrested immediately.”

The Davao City lawmaker said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent signing of the Mental Health Act into law was the all-important first step that should spur officials of all schools and local government units nationwide to recognize troubled youth before they allow their desperation to lead them to do the unthinkable.

“The Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Health should create a program that can prevent our students from harming themselves,” Nograles said.

Local government units as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development should also play major roles in the program, he added.

According to Nograles, the guidance counseling programs of both private and public schools should be strengthened, with a focus on peer counseling.

President Duterte signed last week Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Act, which integrates mental health in the general healthcare system.

As a young lawmaker himself who serves as chairman of the House committee on appropriations, Nograles has a number of laws benefiting the country’s youth under his belt. These include the landmark Republic Act 10931, also known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which provides free tuition up to college level. He also filed a bill that would regularize and grant full benefits to all barangay officials, including Kabataang Barangay officers.

G

MA Network makes history once again as the US-based National Association for MultiEthnicity in Communication (NAMIC) inducted GMA Pinoy TV, the network’s flagship international channel, into the first-ever Excellence in Multicultural Marketing Awards (EMMA) Top 5 Wall of Distinction.

GMA Pinoy TV, the lone Philippine network inductee, was recognized for providing its “commitment to excellence in multicultural marketing for winning the most EMMAs year after year since 2013.” It is joined by an elite group of some of the biggest media companies such as HBO, Univision Communications, Comcast NBCUniversal, and BET Networks.

“We are proud to announce that GMA Pinoy TV, along with four other distinguished companies, has secured place on the first-ever EMMA Wall of Distinction. We applaud you for your achievements,” expressed NAMIC Senior Manager for Membership and Publications Susan Waldman.

The network’s global arm GMA International (GMAI), which reaches Filipinos abroad via GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International , earned its first EMMA in 2006 and has earned a total of 33 EMMAs to date.

Since its launch 2005, GMA Pinoy TV has been consistently recognized by NAMIC for its noteworthy marketing tactics using various media outlets that have resulted in better engagement with channel’s carriers and subscribers.

In 2017 alone, GMAI received three 1st place EMMAs. Its Becoming Pinoy: Sameera Aguilar won in the Television category while Becoming Pinoy: Reggie Lee topped the Diversity Awareness category. GMAI likewise reigned supreme in the Social Media category for the Social Media TakeOver: Alden Richards online event.

“We are grateful to be part of NAMIC’s history in their first-ever EMMA Wall of Distinction. As we mark this important milestone in our operations , we re-affirm our commitment to continuously provide quality offerings for our viewers abroad,” said GMA Network First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia.

Meanwhile, GMA International was also the lone Philippine nominee at the 2016 NAMIC Vision Awards as it earned a nod in the Lifestyle category for the original documentary series Home Away From Home Battad episode. The documentary series also earned a Silver Award along with the three other entries in the 20th Communicators Awards.

Flamenco, Hula classes at Sunshine Place

Flamenco and Hula classes are conducted by retired professor Cecile de Joya at Sunshine Place in Makati City.

Cecile de Joya is conducting Flamenco: Baile Por Sevillanas workshop every Tuesday of July and August from 10:00 to11:00 a.m. at Sunshine Place in Makati City.

De Joya, a retired professor, is President of Fundacion Centro Flamenco.

Apart from teaching flamenco she has rediscovered her passion for acrylic painting and has already launched her line of Flamenco Paintings along with daughter Minette De Joya.

Flamenco, is widely known to be danced by a female expressing her strong emotions to the beat of a live guitarist.

Not known to many, Flamenco has a lighter side – Sevillanas, mainly heard and performed in fairs and festivals and is danced as a couple. It is a very stable and basic dance, of which is normally used a basic class for Flamenco.

The rhythm of Sevillanas can be interpreted as 3/4, although it is generally

6/8. Each sevillana is composed of 4 or sometimes 7 parts, with each part divided into 3 coplas and with each copla made up of 6 movements.

Meanwhile, Marietta Sager,a lead dancer and instructor of the 1960’s famous group the Aldeguer Sisters conduct classes in Hula. The eight-day workshop be conducted every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and classes tomorrow until Aug. 30.

Hula is a Polynesian dance accompanied by a chant made to praise Hawaiian gods and goddesses or chiefs, or mainly for entertainment. Gracefully done, it is a complex art form with many hand motions to represent the words of the chant, such as swaying of a tree or breeze of the ocean. It is also popularly dance with wrapped skirt, lei garlands as head dress, necklace or ankle accessory.

New series premieres on Sony channel DAILY fireworks light up between the five female co-hosts of The Lunch Hour longrunning talk show in the all new drama Daytime Divas, which premieres tonight at 8:50 on Sony Channel.

Show creator and host Maxine Robinson (Vanessa Williams), raunchy comedienne Mo Evans (Tichina Arnold), outspoken conservative Heather Flynn-Kellogg (Fiona Gubelmann), former child star Kibby Ainsley (Chloe Bridges), and Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Nina Sandoval (Camille Guaty) gather around the table to discuss life, love, politics, and juicy gossip.

Maxine is used to calling the shots, always getting the last word in every giveand-take banter her panel delves into. But in the fascinating world of daytime television, nothing is what it seems.

Onscreen, they are best friends with five different points of view, but behind the scenes, they inhabit a backstage world filled with intrigues and scandals, sparking a power struggle that casts a doubt on their show’s future.

Sony Channel is available on Cablelink Channel 39, Cignal Channel 120, Destiny Cable Channel 35, G Sat Channel 48, and SKYCable Channel 35.

'Daytime Divas' Vanessa Williams, Fiona Gubelmann, Chloe Bridges, and Camille Guaty

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

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fashion and beauty

wEdnESday, juLy 11, 2018

33-year-old Brazilian model izabel Goulart shares her style rules at the shoot for Jimmy Choo

Style diarieS:

Izabel Goulart’s

fashion rules B

rAzIlIAn model Izabel Goulart is one of the most photographed women on the planet. As a former Victoria’s Secret Angel, she sure knows how to work unexpected looks, may it be on the Cannes red carpet or Copacabana beach.

The 33-year-old model, known for her brand of sultry glamour, shares some of her style rules.

Wear mannish brogues with a tuxedo

reeve brogues, ellipse clutch bag, and lizzy sunglasses

Misty sandals and lizzy sunglasses

On set with Jimmy Choo at the iconic Cap estel Hotel, located just up the coast from Cannes’ famous Croisette, Goulart shows her midriff in a tuxedo paired with mannish brogues. Shoes are, she explains, central to the red-carpet recipe. She says, “It’s the shoes that really set the tone for an outfit, whether [they’re] heels or lace up flats.”

To finish the look, Goulart favors a mini clutch, in which she carries her evening essentials: “lipstick, concealer, gum, and my phone. I really try and keep it edited— what else does a girl really need?”

Minny sandals

Pair ‘movie star’ sunglasses with a swimsuit

Throughout her 20-year career, the Brazilian bombshell, labelled the fittest model in the world, has been famed for her high-octane style. Her expertly toned physique and leonine tresses make for a magnetic combination, but she also advises that accessories can make every look striking.

According to her, “no matter what you’re wearing, sunglasses add that hint of mystery.” Pair them with anything: dresses, jeans, and swimsuits.

Try sneakers for evening events

when it comes to fashion choices, Goulart is a fan of throw-on chic. “I always opt for something new, simple, and sexy. For me, it’s really important to keep things easy and not too fussy—you want to be as relaxed as possible so you can enjoy yourself.”

Taking that attitude one step further, she shows how to rock a silk ankle-sweeping gown paired with embellished sneakers.

Oakland trainers and Callie clutch bag

Know your angles

with over four million Instagram followers and counting, Goulart is no stranger to a selfie.

But when it comes to taking that perfect shot, she says there’s no exact science. “when it comes to getting the best shots, whether it’s for an editorial or for Instagram, you need three ingredients: good lighting, good angles, and of course, a good photographer! with selfies, you don’t want to try too hard. I always think the best images capture a candid moment,” she shares.

Get glamorous

Viola sandals

For red carpet events, Goulart focuses on her skin. “On the day of the red carpet I start with a skin glow facial. Then it’s time for hair and makeup. My go-to look really focuses on skin: you want to keep it natural, but radiant,” she shares.

“I then keep everything else fairly low-key, but I’ll always have a slick of black eyeliner to define the eyes. You have to remember that it takes a team of professionals to nail a perfect red-carpet look—hair, makeup, styling, it’s a whole process.”

In the Philippines, Jimmy Choo is located at Shangri-La Plaza East Wing and Rustan’s Makati.

Breathing new life—and color—into your hair

By Gabbie Parlade A new hair salon aims to change the hair coloring game with its one-of-akind technology and premium services.

The Color Bar, founded by Joseph Fantone (@stylingByJOF), is a full-service salon that specializes in hair coloring. It uses eco-friendly products in delivering the kind of service customers need. “we aim to make a difference when it comes to coloring the hair. we don’t just

put color in one’s hair; we create life in it,” said JOF at the launch of The Color Bar. He added, “At the same time, we value life that’s why we only use products that are of high quality and, more importantly, those that are safe to use and are friendly to the environment.”

JOF, who earned his years of experience and professional education at the famous Paul Mitchell the School in San Diego, California, USA, said his objective is to elevate the salon experience in Ma-

the shower area of the salon has a warm, welcoming vibe.

nila by introducing The Color Bar’s own brand of uniqueness and excellence.

He also makes sure his team of stylists will employ a personalized culture of service with emphasis on the quality of products and services offered. “we need to make sure that each client [will] experience luxurious and personal service. This means they will come back,” said JOF. what with hair coloring known to be damaging to tresses, The Color Bar maintains its objective of making sure a client’s hair is taken care of by using organic ingredients and premium products that value the environment. “with the kind of products and services we use, we aim to set the bar higher among salons in the city by delivering unparalleled hair and beauty services that are personalized, high-quality, and environmentally responsible,” said JOF. Among the salon’s first-rate hair color products are Aveda, wella, and Davines.

Aveda is a brand of professional hair care products which is designed with care for the environment. wella, meanwhile, specializes in hair care, styling, and colorants. Davines is a global hair care brand whose products include shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and serums found in more than 70 countries worldwide.

Together with his business partner, Darwin Cerrado, JOF sees The Color

the Color Bar, founded by Joseph Fantone, is a full-service salon that specializes in hair coloring.

Bar as the next most important salon The Color Bar is located at Rizal that provides clients with the best hair Drive, Forbes Town, Fort Bonifacio. Go color technology. to thecolorbarph.com to know more.