Manila Standard - 2018 November 28 - Wednesday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

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

Du30 fires 2 more execs

Dureza quits, invokes command responsibility

VOL. XXXII • NO. 286 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

FIRE OLYMPIC. Firemen from the Bureau of Fire Protection from the National Capital Region participate in a relay competition Tuesday during the Regional Fire Olympic 2018 at the bayside Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Norman Cruz

Marcos tells Sandigan she will challenge guilty verdict

By Maricel V. Cruz ILOCOS Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos has informed the Sandiganbayan that she will challenge the anti-graft court’s guilty verdict against her before the Supreme Court.

In a two-page notice, the 89-year-old former first lady also requested the Sandiganbayan to forward records of her case to the Supreme Court.

“To date, motion for leave filed by the accused has not yet been resolved. With due respect, the accused submits that the decision convicting her is contrary to facts, law and jurisprudence,” Marcos said.

But the anti-graft court’s division dismissed as “premature”

P

EACE process adviser Jesus Dureza has resigned, President Rodrigo Duterte announced Tuesday, as he also fired two officials from the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process.

Duterte accepted the resignation of Dureza, a fellow Davao native and a close friend of the President, as he also dismissed OPAPP Undersecretary Ronald Flores and Assistant Secretary Yeshtern Donn Baccay — and promised he would drop the axe on another undersecretary, as he did in previous days.

“I am very sad that I accepted the resignation of Secretary Dureza,” the President said during the inauguration of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport on Tuesday.

Duterte seemed to spare Dureza from blame but noted he was the supervisor of Flores and Baccay.

Flores was Undersecretary for Support Services and National Program Manager of PAMANA, the OPAPP’s development arm, while Baccay was Assistant Secretary for Support Services and PAMANA Concerns.

“Well, in fairness to Secretary Dureza, he was not Next page

Rody hits out at Catholic teachings, Shut down terror-linked FB accounts—senators corrupt priests

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz AT LEAST two senators backed a recommendation to shut down social media accounts that are “inimical to national interest” or are linked to terrorism.

Senators Gregorio Honasan, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, and Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs were amenable to the proposal of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, under the Office of the President, represented by lawyer Roberton Lapuz.

Honasan and Lacson said they would include the proposal when they amend the Human Security Act of 2007.

The NICA, under the Office of the President, presented its proposal on social media accounts during Tuesday’s hearing on the anti-terrorism law.

Honasan, also incoming DICT secretary, would be in charge of implementing the measure.

“It will be incorporated in the proposed amendments, which will be finalized in the committee report and be submitted by the chairman for plenary debates,” Honasan said.

Lacson said in Australia, the government could shut down any account that

it deemed would increase the danger of terrorism.

Lapuz said they got the idea from countries such as India, which has the power to ban social media applications that are deemed inimical to the national interest.

“I earlier mentioned that we wanted the DICT to be empowered and to have the authority to be able to shut down social media accounts in Facebook, Twitter, and similar other mechanisms,” Lapuz said.

Marwil Llasos, anti-terrorism program coordinator of the Institute of International Legal Studies, backed the proposal and said “what is paramount is the Next page police power of the state.”

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte lambasted the Catholic Church again on Monday, suggesting that the public should stop going to churches and pray instead at their own chapels at home.

“You build a chapel in your own house and pray there. You do not have to go to church to pray for these idiots,” said Duterte in his speech during the groundbreaking of a bulk water supply project in Davao City.

At the event, he asked if there were any bishops present, and dismissed their teachings as “archaic.”

Next page

Next page

NBI agents arrest 15 China nationals for online gambling THE National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday announced the arrest of 15 Chinese nationals for illegal online gambling and a Nigerian swindler in separate operations in Manila, Parañaque and Angeles City, Pampanga last week.

Yu Shize, Lin Hai Yang, Li Jun Qing, Yu Wen Quian, Xiao Wen Law, Cai Shui Rong, Lin Jingming, Ji Shi Lin, Qiu Zai Wei and Xiao Jian Ze, were arrested in an operation in Angeles City on Nov. 23.

The group conducted operations from a house at Marigold St. Cor. Don Tomas Dizon Ave. Punta Verde Subd. in Pulong, Angeles City in a house owned by Li Kun Ling.

Seized from the operation were 13 desktop computers, 25 smart phones and 24 prepaid SIM cards.

NBI experts confirmed the seized computers were used for illegal online gambling.

The NBI also presented five individuals who were arrested in a separate operation in three condominium units in Manila on Nov. 22.

Next page

STYLISH AIRPORT. The Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which sits on a 220-hectare property in Panglao, is inaugurated Tuesday and can accommodate as many as two million passengers a year, more than double the annual 800,000 passenger capacity of Tagbilaran Airport. The Department of Transportation says the airport will start catering to international flights today. DOTR Photo

Airlines commence flights at upgraded Bohol airport

THE country’s major airlines have started commercial flight operations at the newly-constructed Panglao International Airport, which replaced the old Tagbilaran Airport.

Legacy carrier Philippine Airlines announced Tuesday that beginning today, all flights to and from the province of Bohol will arrive at and depart from the new airport.

“This is in accordance with the urgent official notification issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines,” said PAL spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the new Panglao Airport is designed to be the country’s first eco-airport, taking pride with its complete airport facilities that feature green and sustainable

structures, such as solar panels and motion sensor lighting, among others.

Considered to be a total upgrade from the nearby Tagbilaran Airport, the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport was built in a 220-hectare site in Panglao Island, 10 times bigger than Tagbilaran Airport’s 22-hectare land area.

“Compared to Tagbilaran Airport’s Next page

PhilHealth coverage for all Pinoys assured, says bicameral panel

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ALL Filipinos will soon be automatically covered by PhilHealth after the congressional bicameral conference committee on Tuesday finally approved the reconciled versions of the Universal Health Care Bills that would make health care available to Next page all Filipinos.

A2

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

PH-China infra deal good for 10 years

By Nat Mariano

T

HE Philippines and China have signed a 10-year cooperation program on infrastructure that will be in force even after President Rodrigo Duterte’s term expires in 2022.

Malacañang released the agreement on infrastructure cooperation on Tuesday, and it was among the 29 deals that Manila and Beijing exchanged during the two-day state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

“The said collaboration will further improve the investment environment and facilitate the stable and orderly cooperation and optimize social and economic development of both countries,” the MOU says.

According to the deal, the agreement will use both countries’ comparative advantages, collaborate in multiple ways, enrich the substance of cooperation and improve the quality of such cooperation.

The deal also says the two countries “recognize the growing demand of the Philippines for infrastructure brought by rapid economic growth, rapid population growth and urbanization.”

“China is willing to share with the

Philippines its experience and resources in investment in financing, consultation and design, engineering technology, contracting construction, project management and project financing, among others,” the document says.

Manila and Beijing have considered six fields as the main cooperation areas in the cooperation such as transportation, agriculture, power, watershed management and ICT/telecommunications.

Noting that China has a rich experience in railway infrastructure construction and lead in high-speed railway technology, both sides have agreed to participate in the priorities under the railway cooperation. “[There will be] construction of the

Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Project, Subic-Clark Railway Project, Mindanao Railway Project, and other railway projects,” the MOU says.

There will be road development projects and five constructions of five bridges in the country.

The two sides also seek to explore possible cooperation on the revival of the Pasig River Ferry System and the development projects of some 85 national airports in the Philippines.

Moreover, both sides also agreed to participate in the implementation of irrigation, fish ports, telecommunications cooperation, water management cooperation and power-related projects.

DFA mulls over filing complaint over Panatag

By Rey E. Requejo FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday raised the possibility of bringing before the United Nations the case of the China Coast Guard personnel driving away the crew of Reporter’s Notebook from the Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.

He said if the situation escalated to a certain level he might prefer to go the UN to settle the issue.

“I prefer to respond when the occasion arises in the United Nations,” Locsin said in an interview over GMA. He made his statement even as a Palace ally on Tuesday slammed the detractors of President Rodrigo Duterte for their “misguided nationalism.”

He criticized Duterte’s critics for attacking Duterte’s “pragmatic and legal approach” to Manila’s issue with Beijing over the West Philippine Sea. At the same time, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, vice chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on National Defense, said Duterte was not surrendering anything with the Memorandum of Understanding on gas and oil development because no less than Acting Senior Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario had found nothing wrong or illegal with the agreement.

Earlier, Locsin said he was not inclined at filing a diplomatic protest because it would be “like throwing paper against a brick wall.” With Maricel V. Cruz

Rody...

From A1

“Are there bishops here? I would hit you on the nape of the neck. The Catholic Church even the Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, [are] clinging on to a belief which was 3,000 years ago,” he said.

He also noted that while he considers some priests as his friends, he does not encourage people to offer money to bishops.

The President then accused some Catholic bishops of asking the government for vehicles.

“They would ask for cars from the government, knowing fully well that it is corruption, as there is a separation of church and state. And you have the balls, brave as you are, to ask [for] property of the government. Then they would speak [against the government] you motherf**k*r who are you,” he said.

Also, without supporting his claim, Duterte accused David of being into illegal drugs.

“I suspect that you could be involved in drugs,” said Duterte, who threatened to cut off the bishop’s head if he was found to be selling illegal drugs.

“I’m telling you, David. I am doubtful that you make rounds during the night. I am doubtful mother f**k*r you’re into drugs,” Duterte said.

The Caloocan-based prelate was quick to dismiss Duterte’s accusations and urged the President to take “fruit shakes.”

“No sir, I’m not into drugs of any sort, whether legal or illegal. [I have] never been. I only help in rehabilitating people addicted to drugs. I partner with the antidrug abuse councils/offices of the local government units of Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas in this endeavor,” he said.

“Thank God I am not even taking any maintenance drugs yet. I only take vitamins with fruit shake blended with malunggay in the morning. You might want to try it, Sir. It will do you a lot of good. God bless you,” the Church leader added.

Duterte’s latest tirade against the Church came after he accused David of pocketing church offerings for use by his family.

David, who also serves as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ vice president, has already denied the President’s accusation.

The head of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, called Duterte’s remarks “irresponsible and heartless.”

Opposition Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said the President’s renewed attacks on the teachings of the Catholic Church should serve as a wake-up call for Filipinos “to fight for God.”

ILLEGAL GAMBLING SUSPECTS. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin (left) presents to media the 15 Chinese nationals arrested for illegal online gambling during a series of raids in Angeles, Pampanga and Manila. Norman Cruz

‘Cancel bail of Reds in ouster plot’

By Rey E. Requejo THE government has asked the regional trial courts to order back to jail National Democratic Front and Communist Party of the Philippines leaders who were earlier granted temporary liberty to participate in peace talks with the government.

The Justice department filed the motions for the cancellation of bail earlier granted to the NDF and CPP leaders after the Armed Forces linked communist groups to the socalled Red October plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

The communists have denied the existence of any such plot.

“Our prosecutors have already filed motions in various courts for the cancellation of bail and issuance of warrants for their arrest,” Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, head of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service, said.

The DOJ had earlier moved for the provisional freedom of NDF consultants Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Rafael Baylosis, Randall Echanis, Vicente Ladlad and Alan Jazmines for the peace talks scheduled recently.

The Manila RTC granted the motion and allowed Tiamzon, Silva, Baylosis, Echanis and Ladlad to post bail for their multiple murder cases so that they could travel to the Netherlands for the informal peace talks and to Norway for the formal talks.

Jazmines was granted provisional liberty

Shutdown...

From A1

He also said the government is allowed to take down sites which committed lower crimes than terrorism.

He said anything harmful or hurtful to the public safety and public order can be regulated by the Senate.

“Here we are all aware that the social media has been used as a means for radicalization.

The state has to preserve itself. We don’t have to wait for something to happen,” he said.

“We don’t want another Marawi to happen,” said Llasos, referring to the takeover of the city last year by Islamic State-inspired terrorists.

Both Lacson and Honasan admitted such a measure would be contentious, since it would curtail freedom of expression.

In the House, the chairman of the com-

PhilHealth...

From A1

“Under UHC, it’s already 100-percent coverage,” said Senator JV Ejercito, the principal author and sponsor of SBN 1896 and the head of the Senate panel to the bicameral panel.

He said the 100-percent coverage triggered the delay since they had to subsidize 65 percent of the population because only 35 percent were contributory.

“And we wanted to increase the benefits by pulling all the funds together,” Ejercito said.

“We had two bicams and at least all the hard work and sleepless nights. all had paid

Airlines...

From A1

again by the Taguig RTC. Both courts, however, had set conditions for their temporary release and participation in the peace talks.

These included their personal appearance before the courts trying their cases.

Police arrested Ladlad earlier this month in Quezon City on illegal possession of firearms charges. He is now detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The DOJ said Tiamzon and Silva went into hiding when their bail was canceled after the talks were aborted in November last year.

Baylosis was arrested in February on what he had alleged were trumped-up charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. His bail for the firearms charge was set at P100,000.

Jazmines was forced to return to his detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa after the canceled peace talks last year and after the government sought to declare more than 600 people, including rebel consultants, terrorists.

For the latest bail grant, the NDF consultants were supposed to be free only until the end of the informal talks, set for June 3 to 9 and June 22 to 28 in the Netherlands, and the succeeding formal negotiations in Oslo, Norway, slated for June 27 to 30. They were supposed to return to the Philippines within three days after the talks, the DOJ said. With Nat Mariano and Francisco Tuyay

capacity of 400 passengers, the new Panglao Airport can hold up to 650 passengers during its peak hours,” said Apolonio.

Panglao is one of the most popular and fastest-growing holiday destinations in the Philippines, boasting majestic beaches and diving spots.

The airport is expected to accommodate more than two million passengers in its opening year alone, from 800,000 passengers currently being accommodated by the Tagbilaran airport.

The new Panglao International Airport will be the sole commercial airport serving the province of Bohol, including the City of Tagbilaran and Panglao Island.

Villaluna said the PAL ticket office at the decommissioned Tagbilaran Airport will remain open until Dec. 15, 2018 to service passengers during a three-week transition period. She added the PAL Tagbilaran City ticket office likewise remains open.

Cebu Pacific Air, on the other hand, will also transfer its operations to the new Panglao International Airport effective Wednesday.

Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 619, from Manila, will be the first flight to land at the new Bohol Panglao International Airport when it opens for commercial operations.

Joel E. Zurbano

mittee on dangerous drugs welcomed the approval on third and final reading of a bill that outlaws eavesdropping on private communications using modern electronic gadgets or devices.

“With the technological advancements, the passage of the bill will help uphold our right to privacy,” said Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the panel chairman, after the House passed the bill on third and final reading Monday by an overwhelming 216 votes.

Deputy Speaker and Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison, the plenary presiding officer, announced the approval of House Bill 8378 amending Republic Act 4200 or the 53-year-old AntiWiretapping Law to accommodate new technology.

The proposed amendments will now cover in the wiretapping ban the use of any electronic, mechanical, digital or analog phone system, or similar devices.

The present law passed on June 19, 1965

prohibits wiretapping only through the use of dictaphones, dictagraphs, walkie-talkies, and tape recorders.

The bill also bans public telecommunication entities from retaining data for more than one year, except those records of voice and data which are the subject of a pending case.

It imposes a penalty of six months to six years imprisonment without the benefit of probation to violators.

The bill also authorizes law enforcers to conduct wiretapping on some cases for as long they get a permit from court.

The cases include treason, piracy, rebellion, mutiny in high seas, coup d’etat, sedition, proving war and disloyalty in case of war, conspiracy, and proposal to commit rebellion, conspiracy and proposal to commit coup d’etat, conspiracy to commit sedition, and kidnapping.

The bill will be submitted to the Senate for consideration.

off. Both panels are very happy.

“We just need to ratify the measure and then, hopefully, we can send this to the Office of the President for review and for President Duterte to sign it into law.”

The Bicameral Conference Committee on the Disagreeing Provisions of the proposed UHC measures (Senate Bill No. 1896 and House Bill No. 5784) finished its work with a strong assurance that PhilHealth had a steady source of funds for the sustainable implementation of UHC once enacted into law.

“This is a good Christmas gift to Filipinos once enacted into law. Under the UHC, all Filipinos are covered by the national health insurance program, so this is afford-

able,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito said both bicam contingents approved a provision saying the funds for UHC would be sourced from the incremental sin tax collections as provided for in Republic Act 10351, and 50 percent of the national government share from the income of the Philippine Gaming Corporation.

The other sources are the 40 percent of the Charity Fund, net of Documentary Stamp Tax Payment, and the mandatory contributions of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the premium contributions of members, the annual appropriations of the Department of Health, and the national government subsidy to PhilHealth included in the General Appropriations Act.

Mislatel told to gear up vs cyber attacks

By Macon Ramos-Araneta OUTGOING DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio said the government has the infrastructure to ensure that the third telecoms player, the Mislatel Consortium, will be cyber security-compliant to prevent possible cyber security attacks.

The government recently named as the provisional new major telecoms player the Mislatel Consortium of businessman Dennis A. Uy’s Udenna Corp., Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. and the staterun China Telecoms.

In Tuesday’s resumption of the Senate public services committee explanatory hearing on the third telecoms player, Senator Grace Poe questioned National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on the reported cyber security attacks involving China Telecoms that affected several countries including the United States.

Esperon said they were validating the report. He said they still had 90 days to do that and the winning provisional telecoms player would have to undergo a background check by NICA. Rio told the Senate panel led by Poe that the countries allegedly affected by cyber security breaches like America and Australia never had any Chinese product in their network.

He said 90 percent of the equipment of Globe were Chinese. Because of this, he said, the threat of Chinese products and Chinese people operating our telecommunications were already here.

Regarding Globe and Smart, Rio said, the government simply told the telecoms giants to come up with a third party cyber security audit to report to the government any breach.

During the 90-day period after the provisional NMP was awarded, Rio likewise said Mislatel had to come up with a rollout plan that would assure the government that their network will not pose any national security.

“Globe and PLDT, in their disclosures to NTC, they admit that most of their equipment, in fact around 80 percent of their equipment are Huawei because they are very much cheaper than Ericsson, Nokia,” Rio said.

Du30...

From A1

On Monday, during his speech for the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project Construction ceremonial kickoff, Duterte said he would dismiss another undersecretary for corruption.

“Corruption is not acceptable to me. I need not repeat it every day. Then when I go to Manila, I’m going back, I’m going to fire another undersecretary for corruption,” Duterte said.

Dureza, who turns 71 in December, is a lawyer, journalist, consultant and politician. He was a former chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority and a presidential assistant for Duterte’s home region, chair of the government peace panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and a former congressman of Davao City’s first district.

Last week, Duterte fired Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary-General Falconi Millar also over corruption allegations. Nat Mariano

Marcos...

From A1

Marcos’ plea to elevate her appeal to the high court.

“The notice of appeal filed by Marcos is premature as the court has not yet resolved her motion for leave to avail of post-conviction remedies. Therefore, the court cannot take action on the same,” the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division said.

Marcos, widow of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, signified her intent to seek redress before the Supreme Court after her conviction by the Sandiganbayan on seven counts of graft for funneling public funds to Swiss bank accounts during her husband’s regime.

She later apologized to the Sandiganbayan for failing to appear on the Nov. 9 promulgation of her case, citing health reasons.

The Sandiganbayan has allowed her to post P150,000 bail to avoid prison despite her conviction as she sought to appeal the ruling.

NBI agents...

From A1

The suspects were identified as Pan Jianbei, Pan Taiyuan, Jie Lu, Shengbo Zhang and Jian Lou Zhou.

NBI agents captured screenshots of online gambling activities including online payments and betting games.

The 15 individuals in the two operations were charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1602 otherwise known as the AntiIllegal Gambling Act in relation to Republic Act 10175 otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act. NBI Cyber Crime Division chief Vicente De Guzman confirmed that the groups entered the country legally under tourist visas.

The NBI also arrested Sean Charles Ogun, a Nigerian national, in Parañaque for computer fraud. PNA

News

A3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tighten security inside schools, institutions —Imee ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Tuesday urged authorities and schools to ensure the safety of learning institutions following a supposed rape incident at the Ateneo De Manila University-Loyola campus over the weekend.

Marcos also called on probers to leave no stone unturned in getting into the bottom of the alleged rape incident.

“Predators should not be allowed in campuses. If true, this incident in one of the country’s most respected educational institutions is a serious cause for concern and should be a wake up call for security personnel in all campuses throughout the country,” Marcos stressed.

The governor also said that as the students’ second home, schools are duty bound to keep a safe environment for them that is conducive to learning.

“We must make sure that the schools where our children spend their days are safe and free from criminal elements,” she added.

In a statement, the Sexual Misconduct Task Force of the Loyola Schools denounced the incident, which reportedly happened in one of the school’s restroom.

Trillanes vows to go to jail if Du30 has proof vs parents

By Macon Ramos-Araneta OPPOSITION Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday vowed to voluntarily go to any jail even in Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown, if it can be proven that his late father, and his mother, who is afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, had been involved in any anomaly.

“If he [Duterte] finds anything anomalous, again, I would voluntarily walk into any detention facility even in Davao,” Trillanes said.

At the same time, Trillanes dare Duterte to ‘pretend’ that he’s mad and order the arrest of the drug lord involved in the P6.4 billion and the P11-billion shipment that were smuggled into the country.

Trillanes was referring to the drug shipment of alleged 604 kilos of shabu, which slipped past the Bureau of Customs’ express lane and the ones seized from two warehouses in Valenzuela City last year.

He also cited the P11 billion worth of shabu that were discovered inside four empty magnetic lifters inside a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez town last August.

“It would really appear that he was behind these shabu shipments,” Trillanes said.

The senator said he welcomes Duterte’s statement that he would probe the transactions allegedly entered by his late father, a member of PMA Class ’59 who retired from the service in 1988 (and died 10 years later in 1998) and her aging mother.

“In fact, I’ll raise the ante,” said the opposition senator who has engaged the President in a “word war” over various issues.

After the government failed to send Trillanes to jail, Duterte said on Monday, that he had ordered the investigation of the alleged Philippine Navy deals entered into by the senator’s parents.

TEACHERS’ STRIKE. Officials of the Alliance of Concern Teachers Philippines announced in a press-conference held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle that public school teachers in the National Capital Region will stage a sit-down strike to call for the immediate and substantial salary increase. In the larger parts of Metro Manila public schools, they said that the teachers will temporarily stop teaching their regular lessons. Manny Palmero

Implementing laws better than enacting them—GMA

By Maricel V. Cruz

OR Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, legislative “inquiries in aid of legislation” are acts of futility “because no legislation, only harassment” happen during such investigations.

F

Arroyo met with reporters Monday during which she intimated that in one instance, Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano of Ilocos Sur sought her support for a resolution that calls for an “investigation in aid of legislation.’’ “[Congressman] DV Savellano came to me... he mentioned something [about an investigation] and I said, ‘DV you know inquiries in aid of legislation, I don’t like them to be done unless you give me a rough draft of the legislation you are thinking of, otherwise let’s call it oversight,’” she said.

“Let’s have a briefing not an inquiry where you are going to be so inquisitorial,” she added.

Following that suggestion, Arroyo said Savellano changed his resolution.

Arroyo said briefings from experts and other resource persons will help craft legislation better than

investigations.

This way, she said legislators will be encouraged to study the issue at hand and have an idea of the law to be crafted instead of congressmen going on fishing expedition during investigations, and later deciding on what bill to file.

During Arroyo’s watch as president, several of her Cabinet members and other senior officials were summoned to the Senate for “Senate investigations in aid of legislation” only to be browbeaten by legislators who had an ax to grind against her administration.

Soon after Arroyo stepped down from power, a former Armed Forces chief of staff wasted himself after being insulted during a Senate investigation.

Arroyo said the proper implementation of laws is better than enacting them.

“There will always be room for making new policy and legislation. But

on the whole, I think it is time to pivot from mere policies to implementation,” Arroyo said.

“We must harvest the results during the final three and a half years of President [Rodrigo] Duterte’s term,” she added.

In just 25 session days under the watch of Arroyo, the House of Representatives tackled a total of 778 measures, or an average of 31 measures a day.

This means that in only 25 session days, Arroyo was able to accomplish 21 percent of the total 3,707 measures or output of the 17th Congress that opened on July 25, 2016.

Most of the measures tackled are on the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte as Arroyo proved true to her word that she will endeavor to push the measures backed by Duterte.

Of the 778 processed measures during the Third Regular Session, a total of 32 were enacted into law, eight of which were of national significance and 24 of local significance.

Four days after the opening of the Third Regular Session, the much-awaited Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was signed into law by President Duterte as Republic Act 11054. That law was based on House Bill 6475.

‘Seized shabu in MM same as missing drugs in lifters’

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday insisted that there was a link between the shabu intercepted in Metro Manila and Maguindanao the and billions of pesos worth of shabu inside magnetic lifters seized at the Manila International Container Port on Aug. 7, saying they came from the same source.

At Camp Crame in Quezon City, Derrick Carreon, PDEA public information officer, echoed PDEA director general Aaron Aquino’s claim that the “same profile of drug samples

means same source, same manufacturer and same method used in the production of the illegal drug.”

The PDEA said that the illegal drugs intercepted from Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City; at Ronquillo Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila; in Maguindanao in Mindanao and at the MICP have a correlation value of .99.

“You could see there a semblance,” Carreon said.

According to Carreon, the PDEA employed impurity drug profiling which he explained as a scientific tool that applies chemical and physical techniques to determine if a relation exists between

illicit drug seizures and the significance of such relationship.

A similarity match or strong correlation of samples where the correlation value is greater or equal to 0.98 (range is 0.981.0) obtained from a statistical tool and cluster analysis, meaning they (drugs) came from the same manufacturer and same method of production.

“We are preparing cases,” Carreon told the Manila Standard.

He said there are other suspects in the shipment of shabu “who still remain at large.”

“We are conducting pursuit operations against them,” he added.

SC asked to overturn decision on K-12

By Rey E. Requejo

THIRD TELCO. Senator Grace Poe, Chairman of the Committee on Public Services

(left) fields questions to Elisio Rio Jr., the Acting Secretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology during the Committee on Public Services on the Explanatory hearing on the third telco in the country, with consideration of filing a legislation on the matter. A resolution was also passed directing the appropriate Senate Committee to conduct an inquiry on the ongoing selection of a third telecommunications operator with the end view of ensuring that national security will not be compromised in the process. Ey Acasio

THE Supreme Court has been asked to overturn its decision upholding the constitutionality of the K-12 basic education program.

In a motion, parents and teachers of students from Manila Science High School through lawyer Severo Brillantes sought for reconsideration of its ruling last month that dismissed their petition in 2015 that sought to nullify Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

The groups argued that the K-12 program, which was implemented by the Department of Education in 2016, violated the constitutional provision on due process of law.

“Contrary to the Honorable Court’s Ruling, the K to 12 Law which lengthened the basic education cycle by adding two years of senior high school is violative of substantive

due process [and thus is an invalid exercise of police power] as it in fact does not serve the interest of the public but only of a particular class and the means employed is not reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of a valid governmental purpose and thus is unduly oppressive,” the pleadings stated.

The MSHS teachers and parents also reiterated that the assailed law is discriminatory, as it will only benefit a specific class, arguing that the K-12 program only trains students to become overseas workers.

“Majority of Filipinos will never apply for graduate school admission to a foreign university or for professional work in a foreign corporation, and these are the only people who supposedly need the additional years of basic education... Hence, the assailed law is unconstitutional for serving the interests of only a select few,” they said.

House okays increase on tobacco excise tax THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday passed a bill increasing the unitary excise tax on tobacco products.

The committee, chaired by Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Estrellita Suansing, approved HB 4575 authored

by Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay and HB 6648 by Rep. Angelina Tan of Quezon.

Suansing said the committee agreed on the unitary excise tax on cigarettes P35 per pack by January 1, 2019, and P37.5 by July 2019, P40 by July 2020, P42.5 by 2021, and P45 by 2022. This will be followed by a 4 percent increase annually every July after that.

From the original excise tax of P30 in 2017, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law raised the excise tax on tobacco to P32.50 on Jan. 1, 2018, P35 on July 1, 2018, and shall increase to P37.50 on Jan. 1, 2019, and P40 on Jan. 1, 2020. The excise tax shall increase annually by 4 percent from Jan. 1, 2024 onwards.

Suansing said the House leadership is expected to pass the bill on final reading before Congress goes on break on Dec. 14. Maricel V. Cruz

Record-high number set in 2018 bar exams THE Supreme Court on Tuesday said a record-high number of 8,155 law graduates were able to complete this year’s Bar exams.

In an advisory, the SC said its Office of the Bar Confidant has recorded 546 Bar takers who were not able to complete the four-Sunday exams.

From the 8,701 law graduates originally accepted by the SC to take the Bar exams this year, 543 candidates failed to take the exams during the first Sunday.

Two more candidates failed to appear on the second and third Sundays of examination, while another one was absent during the last day last Sunday.

The country’s Bar examinations, which is considered as the most grueling government test, cover eight law subjects: Civil Law, Criminal Law, Labor Law, Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, Mercantile Law, Political Law, Taxation and Remedial Law. Authorities said the conduct of this year’s Bar exams was generally peaceful. Rey E. Requejo

BOC seizes fake cigarettes, rice THE Bureau of Customs seized fake cigarettes and imported rice worth P60 million in Zamboanga city.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the seized contraband consist of 55,000 sacks of rice and 85 cartons of cigarettes.

The smuggled seized shipments were found on board m/v Maria Rebecca where operatives found 85 cartons of fake branded cigarettes worth P4.9 million while M/B RJ Express has 5,081 bags of rice worth 5.81 million. Another shipment on board m/v Hulk yielded more or less 50,000 bags of rice worth P50 million.

The operation was part of the joint BOC and Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police against the proliferation of smuggled goods.

Vito Barcelo

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

An alarming tourist influx tion hot spots if only to deter guns for hire, private armies of politicians and proliferation of loose firearms during elections.

I don’t think the move will scare the AN INSIDER privy to the discussions masses and lead to abuses. between the producers of Ang ProbinWe know only too well what can syano and Philippine National Police happen during elections. Rivalries are Chief Oscar Albayalde said that the so intense that they sometimes mean police chief’s threat to disallow the the difference between life and death. network from using the uniforms of I say to the President—don’t mind the police in the show was key to the your critics. agreement between the two parties. *** This was in exchange for the positive I have always admired and respected portrayal of cops in the popular prime- the ponencia of Acting Chief Justice time show.

Antonio Carpio. He exhibits erudition Santa Banana, this may be seen as and independence in his decisions. a precedent to curbing freedom of exCarpio’s probity and integrity also pression. ABS-CBN surrendered, in show when he makes his opinion effect, to the police and the Depart- known on the issue of the memoranment of the Indum of underterior and Local standing between Government.

China and the This is subserPhilippines on Why are we allowing vience to the pothe exploration lice, my gulay! and exploitation the Chinese to take jobs *** of oil, gas and away from Filipinos?

In an earlier colother minerals. umn I expressed I like the stand the legality and of Carpio since it workability of is within the right Memorandum 32 issued by President of the Philippines to exclude any counDuterte for two reasons: try from a partnership within our terFirst, it’s in compliance with Article ritory. That would be an incursion into VII, Section 18 that in the case of law- our sovereignty. less violence, invasion or rebellion, the The problem, as Carpio so very well President as commander in chief and put it, is that the 1.3-billion Chinese as top cop of the Philippine National believe that they own 87.5 percent of Police could call on the military and the South China Sea. This is also the the police to suppress the violence. reason why China has rejected the rulThis is contrary to the hallucination of ing of the Permanent Court of Arbitrathe communists, the leftist groups, the tion on the issue. opposition and other critics of the PresiIt’s actually a difficult situation for dent that it’s a prelude to martial law.

President Duterte. He cannot make My second argument is that military President Xi Jinping understand this. and police presence would prevent the All he could do is open up our country New People’s Army from inflicting to China for loans, grants and investharm further. ments.

Local police can no longer be trust*** ed because they are always outgunned The reported entry of some 119,000 and outnumbered by the NPA. Chinese from the mainland as tourists The memorandum is both practical is alarming. The Bureau of Immigraand timely with the upcoming mid- tion has given them employment perterm elections. I would even say that mits! the President should put troops in elecTurn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A stain on Canada

O

NE year ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a press conference that it was “theoretically possible” for his country to take back 103 container vans of noxious garbage illegally shipped to the Philippines in 2013.

On the sidelines of the 31st ASEAN Summit at that time, Mr. Trudeau said regulations in Canada that had prevented it from taking back the shipment had been cleared away, making it theoretically possible for Ottawa to remove a “longstanding irritant” in its relations with Manila.

He also said his government would continue working to resolve the problem—but offered no guarantees that the Canadians would indeed take back their garbage.

He also observed at the time that the shipment began as a

private commercial transaction and did not involve the two governments, and as such, the two sides would still have to determine who would pay for the shipment back to Canada.

A year has passed and Mr. Trudeau’s reassuring words to Filipinos remain meaningless, as neither he nor his government has done anything to take back the tons of plastic bottles, plastic bags, household garbage, and used adult diapers illegally shipped to Manila by a private Canadian company.

In contrast to Mr. Trudeau’s non-committal approach, South Korea has assured the Philippines it will take back the 5,100 tons of waste materials that were misdeclared as “plastic synthetic flakes.”

“Relevant authorities of Korea will have the wastes in question… repatriated and properly disposed of and work to prevent recurrence of the problem,” a statement from the South Korean embassy said.

South Korea’s Ministry of

Environment initiated on Nov. 21 legal proceedings to have the waste brought back in accordance with their laws, the statement added.

What’s more, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment, Korea Customs Service, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have begun investigating the Korean exporter involved in the controversial shipment.

Nor did South Korea equivocate about who would pick up the bill for the shipment back, or make an issue of the private nature of the transaction.

The message was clear—an environmental wrong had been committed and South Korea promised to make it right.

While we have yet to see these efforts bear fruit, the South Korean commitment to take prompt action—particularly in comparison to Mr. Trudeau’s hemming and hawing—is laudable.

It isn’t too late for Mr. Trudeau and the Canadians to do the right thing. Take their garbage back.

My BizNewsAsia speech (1) 7. Her car’s plate number used to be 777. Early this month, in a 70-page decision, the Sandiganbayan found her to have founded seven foundations and she was found guilty on seven counts of graft and meted 11 years for FOLLOWING are excerpts from my each count of graft. So 7 times 11 is speech at the 17th anniversary of 77. She, of course, will not go to jail.

BizNewsAsia weekly news magazine, She is already 89—and 8 plus 9 is 17.

Nov. 26, 2018: Last Aug. 25, (that is a 7), my SUV Yesterday, Nov. 25, I turned 70. lost its brake and slammed onto three Today, Nov. 26, my BizNewsAsia concrete posts. The SUV’s bumper weekly business and news magazine was cut into half, its engine broken. turns 17.

The SUV was declared a total wreck.

Thank you for coming for tonight’s My head banged against the windBizNewsAsia 17th anniversary. shield. But you know, I was bloodied Seven is a lucky number. It is the but unbowed. most popular lucky number.

My doctor ordered me to have my There are, after brain scanned. Initially, I resisted. all, seven days of Because it might the week, seven confirm that I colors of the rainI turned 70, and bow, seven notes have some form on a musical my news magazine of lunacy. You scale, seven seas, turned 17. have to be crazy and seven contito have BizNewsnents. Our senaAsia going for all these years. tors use No. 7 in a Finally, after a Senate house that month, I had a brain scan. The findit does not even own.

Snow White had seven dwarves. ings could not be more pleasing. My There were seven brides for seven brain is not deteriorating at all. It is, brothers. Shakespeare described the in fact, trying to expand but my skull seven ages of man. Sinbad the Sailor wouldn’t allow it. There is no more had seven voyages. And when Ian space.

Fleming was looking for a code for My brain is still young! Five years James Bond, it was not 006 or 008. ago, I had an executive checkup at St. Only 007.

Luke’s. My doctor was amazed that I Christianity considers seven a holy had the heart of a 17-year-old. number. The Genesis says that God This means me and my BizNewsAsia rested on the 7th day after man was have still many years to go before we created on the 6th day. sleep.

Actually, my favorite number is 25, As I become a septuagenarian, I my birth day. It still amounts to 7— remember two well-loved poems. two plus 5.

“Invictus,” by William Ernest Henle, Seven, of course, is not always and “If,” by Rudyard Kipling. lucky.

In Invictus, we learn that we can Imelda Marcos’s favorite number is Turn to A5

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Jack Ma, China’s richest man, is a Communist Party member

By Ryan Mcmorrow JACK MA, founder of Chinese tech giant Alibaba, is among the world’s richest people but he has now emerged as a member of another club: China’s 89-million-strong Communist Party.

The billionaire’s Communist bona fides were revealed by the People’s Daily, the party’s official mouthpiece, in an article praising contributors to China’s development.

He is not the first nor likely the last Chinese super-rich capitalist to join the

party, which counts property titan Xu Jiayin and Wanda Group founder Wang Jianlin among its billionaire members.

But Ma’s membership had not been widely known until now as China’s richest man had previously suggested that he preferred to stay out of politics.

In Monday’s article, the People’s Daily said Ma was a party member who has played an important role in pushing China’s Belt and Road global trade infrastructure initiative—a pet project of President Xi Jinping.

He has also been honored as one of

the “outstanding builders of socialism with Chinese characteristics in Zhejiang Province,” where Alibaba is based, the daily said.

Joining the party Joining the party can be helpful to private businessmen and women in the country as they navigate a complicated business environment where the stateled economy dominates many industries and private business can be unwelcome.

In China, company chiefs need the backing of the Communist Party to get Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

P146 billion and counting

Upset

gas reserve is under foreign control in clear violation of the Constitution which mandates that any exploration, development and utilization of our natural resources should be by entities at least 60 percent owned by Filipinos. Well, that prohibition was somehow suspended in this case to accommodate the high cost of developing the gas field (estimates rangd from $ 3.7 billion to $4.5 billion) 90 percent of which was contributed by the foreign partners. But that arrangement was supposed to end at the 10th year of the 25-year concession period to enable the investors to recover their investments after which the facilities should have been turned over to the government and turned them into mere O & M contractors. Sadly, that

DPP’s showing, Pres. Tsai Ing-wen immediately resigned as party chairperson.

Premier William Lai, the charismatLITO ic former mayor of Tainan, resigned BANAYO as premier as well, but the President and the cabinet asked him and former MID-TERM elections were held in Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, now Taiwan last Saturday. Local posts, such secretary-general of the Office of the as city and county local government President, to stay in their posts for the positions, were at stake. The election sake of continuity. template here is similar to the United The results of the local elections, States, in that a president is elected for while they could affect the fate of both a term of four years, and is allowed major political parties in the 2000 to seek one reelection. Presidential presidential and parliamentary elecelections are not simultaneous tions, do not necessarily constitute a with the local elections, unlike our repudiation of the national leadership. synchronized elections.

Media and academics are having a The Saturday results, while not nec- field day at analyzing the results of essarily unexpected, proved to be a the elections, clearly an upset for the stunning upset for the ruling Demo- DPP. cratic Progressive Party.

While understandably the opposiPublic opinion polls the week before tion KMT is ecstatic, the acceptability the elections showed the Kuomintang and campaign efforts of its individual (KMT) was likely to win more seats candidates, more than the party as a than the ruling DPP, but the results in whole, were contributory to the upset. key DPP strongholds were particularI recall what the long-time Speaker ly bad for the administration. of the US House of Representatives, At stake were 22 mayoral and coun- Tip O’neill kept stating, that “all polity magistrate seats and 11,025 local tics is local.. offices (similar to our barangays). Of Add to that the “politica del esthe 22 races, the DPP lost seven of the tomago.” Economic issues, such as 13 cities and counties it previously cutting down on the pensions of reheld—Taichung, Kaohsiung, Chiayi tired civil servants in an aging socicities and Yilan, ety, thus losing Yunlin, Changhua the senior citizen and Penghu counvote. Still for the ties. government, that How I’d love to see Only six were was an actuarial won by the DPP— such issues in our local matter; they had Taoyuan, Tainto save the penelections. an, Keelung and sion fund system.

Hsinchu cities, as And while the well as Chiayi and economic situaPingtung countion is not in the ties. “doldrums” and exports have actually The KMT kept all the seats it pre- been increasing, there is no question viously occupied, namely New Tai- that the state of cross-strait relations, pei City, Miaoli, Nantou, Taitung and plus the nascent trade war between the Lienchiang counties, and won KMT- world’s largest economies have had its aligned Kinmen and Hualien counties toll. For an island of shopkeepers and previously held by independents.

SME’s, economics prevails over poliIndependent Taipei City Mayor Ko tics when voting time comes.

Wen-je, the incumbent, won a second Unfinished infrastructure and enviterm by a mere 3,254 vote margin ronmental issues as well. For Kaohsiover the KMT candidate, Ting Shou- ung, it was the winner Han’s promise chung. Had the DPP not insisted on to revive the local economy, largely fielding its own candidate, the incum- dependent on the activity of one of the bent Ko, who had an alliance with the world’s busiest ports, and being tough ruling party, would likely have won on controlling air pollution. with a much bigger margin.

How I’d love to see such issues in Political analysts here conceded our local elections, such as if a mayor New Taipei City to the Kuomintang loses because garbage collection is early on, with the incumbent Mayor bad, or because factories are closing Eric Chu’s deputy mayor predicted to down. win easily. Mayor Chu was a popular For the capital Taipei, the election city mayor who previously held the results were very close, where the mayorship of Taoyuan as well. Cho- incumbent mayor won narrowly over sen by the KMT to be its presidential the KMT candidate by a 3,254 vote candidate in 2016, he was however de- margin. Had DPP not fielded its own feated by DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen. candidate, Pasuya Yao, pundits claim The contest was too close to call in that Mayor Ko would have won more Kaohsiung and Taichung, DPP strong- handily. holds, and the ruling party candidate’s The results of the close Taipei City defeat in these two large cities was elections was completed a bit late, truly upsetting for the administration around 2:30 Sunday morning. Citiparty. zens were howling because the other DPP campaign strategists conceded major cities had completed the canearly on that if they lost New Taipei, vass much earlier. it was expected. If they lost Taichung Now the postscript: The chairman as well, it would be a stalemate. But if of the Central Election Commission they lost Kaohsiung, which has been (their Comelec) apologized to the votunder their control for 20 years, it ers and promptly resigned. would be a defeat.

“As the senior official. I must KMT’s Han Kuo-yu, who is not accept all responsibility,” Chairman even a long-time Kaohsiung resident, Chen In-chin said in announcing his prevailed over DPP’s Chen Chi-mai resignation. who acted as mayor after then incumThe resignation was accepted by the bent Chen Chu was appointed as the Executive Yuan. secretary-general of President Tsai’s Only in Taiwan? office, despite a lackluster debate In da Pilipins, would you see such performance a week before the elec- a spate of resignations by officials for tions. failures not even directly attributable Taking full responsibility for the to them?

CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ (Part 2) SO, WHY are we talking about the P146-billion underpayment of the Malampaya Gas-to-Power Project’s foreign contractors and the various schemes and arrangements surrounding the implementation of Service Contract (SC) 38 which allowed the exploitation of the massive oil and gas field off Palawan in violation of the Constitution and other laws? And, on top of which, paved the way for these contractors to avail of incentives and benefits such as what transmogrified into this huge multi-billion peso income tax underpayment?

Simple. For us to learn our lessons and ensure that any future “exploration, development and utilization” of our natural resources will not suffer the same fate. To be sure this was not the first time that we have allowed foreigners to take advantage of the Constitution and our hospitality. This anomaly has become such a common practice, almost an epidemic, particularly in the case of natural resource exploitation and the nationalized sectors, what we call the commanding heights of the economy, such as power, telecoms and water and even the retail trade that it has made the country a magnet for corporate buccaneers. We have allowed unscrupulous foreign interests and their local partners and enablers (foremost the law and accounting firms and so-called consultancy groups) to make a mockery of our regulatory institutions including the judiciary. The Malampaya Project is one such glaring example. I hope it will be the last.

Imagine, the Project is owned 45 percent by Shell Exploration, 45 percent by Chevron and only 10 percent by the government through the Philippine National Oil Co. Thus, 90 percent of the country’s proven natural

My BizNewsAsia...

From A4

be bloody but unbowed. We can be unafraid despite the menace of many years. And that it matters not that the gate is not straight. “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.”

If you read closely, these themes form the basic fighting faith of businessmen and entrepreneurs. They can be bloody but unbowed. They are not afraid of the menace of many years, their rivals. Because they are masters of their faith, and captains of their soul.

“If,” on the other hand, is about the downside of life and business, and still be above it all.

The first paragraph says: “If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;

Jack Ma,...

From A4

rich, but they also need it to survive.

It is a relationship that—when the political winds change—can hang them out to dry, experts say.

Party membership did not prevent the abrupt fall of oil tycoon Ye Jianming, chairman of CEFC China Energy, who disappeared from public view this spring and is thought to be under investigation in China.

Ma’s business rivals, Tencent CEO and Chairman Pony Ma and Baidu’s Robin Li are not affiliated with any party, the People’s Daily said.

Xi has renewed a push to expand the Communist Party’s influence in private business, requiring any company with more than three party members to set up a party cell, or lacking numbers, join with nearby firms.

Three in four private companies already host party organizations.

“We must do a good job in the education and management of party

It is time we demanded that we get our fair share in the development of natural resources.

arrangement never happened at all.

Worse, the contractors even managed to have government absorb their income tax payments from the start of operations in late 2001 to the present.

Thus, the foreign contractors were “allowed” to hang on to 90 percent of the project and the profits. And, they were also accorded huge perks and benefits not usually given to foreigners such as duty-free importation of goods and equipment, unrestricted entry of foreign personnel and extended tax holidays, among others. This tax holiday arrangement is what the foreign contractors and their enablers, in and out of government, abused since the start of its operations in 2001 by computing their income tax payment as part of the government’s 60-percent share of the

net proceeds from operations. This highly irregular anomalous scheme was finally exposed to the light by COA 15 years after.

In dismissing the contractors’ plea, the COA simply repeated what was in the law governing their operation which stated in part that their “service fee shall not exceed 40 percent of the balance of the gross income...after the required deductions including participation incentives and operating expenses.” By insisting that government absorb their income tax payment, the latter’s share was reduced by the amount equivalent to said tax payment while theirs remained at 40 percent. “The government ended up receiving only 34 percent of the net proceeds while the contractors came away with 66 percent, “ the auditors countered. And we are just talking here of the income tax payment. What about the others which have remained unexposed and feasted upon by the foreign contractors? This anomaly was what I had expected those who went full throttle blasting the MOUs signed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping particularly that on the exploration and development of our resources in the South China Sea/ West Philippine Sea. Unfortunately, they were more inclined to use the one-to-three-page MOUs as handle for their tirades against China and President Duterte not in giving advice on what should be done to properly and responsibly translate these MOUs into actual contracts, investments and good results for the country.

So, as preparations are underway to nurse these MOUs into ongoing projects and programs, it is not yet too late for Foreign Affairs Secretary TeddyBoy Locsin to have his staff get in touch with other agencies to draw up all the issues and concerns about the Malampaya Project to avoid the pitfalls and unsavory remarks which attended its implementation. It is time we came around as a people to demand that we truly get our fair share in the development of natural resources.

“If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, “Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, “Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, “And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: “If” also tells us a lesson about being famous: “If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, “Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, “If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, “If all men count with you, but none too much; “If you can fill the unforgiving minute “With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, “Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, “And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!”

Poetry is beautiful. But did you realize that there can be no poetry without

language?

Did you know that the original language originated from numbers, from counting, and accounting? That the best linguists are accountants and number crunchers?

Numbers are the language of business. The so-called programming language uses only two numbers, thank God, 1 and zero. Internet’s language is called algorithm, which is about calculations and numbers.

That is probably the reason why when you want to make a statement or a message, you present revenues and profits in a financial statement. That when you express how much you own and how much you owe you do it in a balance sheet. You see, accounting is a balanced language. Just like the language of poetry.

That may explain why accountants make good linguists. You cannot understand them.

Anyway, I am digressing. Let me talk about BizNewsAsia. To be continued

members and guide them to play an active role,” Xi told officials in Shanghai earlier this month, noting the increase in private employment and new types of employment.

Xi is pushing to further intertwine the party and business, with the latest rewrite to the rules for party organisations published Sunday by official news agency Xinhua.

In private companies party cells should “guide and supervise the enterprise to strictly abide by national laws and regulations,” the draft order says, according to Xinhua.

‘Never marry them’ Ma did not reveal his Communist Party membership in paperwork filed for Alibaba’s 2014 initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. It is not known if Ma was a member at the time.

A spokeswoman for Alibaba declined to comment.

Alibaba bought Hong Kong’s English language newspaper, the South China Morning Post, in 2015 and controversies have swirled over

the editorial slant of its coverage since the purchase.

Ma told the paper he wanted to offer a “fair chance to readers” to understand China when Alibaba purchased it.

Despite being known for its in-depth coverage of China, the paper had yet to publish a story on the party membership of China’s top capitalist by Tuesday evening.

Ma—who announced in September that he would step down as head of Alibaba next year—has previously indicated he preferred to keep the Chinese state at arm’s length.

“My philosophy is to be in love with the government, but never marry them,” he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2007.

But party members must hold up their right fist and recite an oath upon joining.

“Be loyal to the party, work actively, fight for communism all one’s life, always be prepared to sacrifice everything for the party and people, and never betray the party,” they recite. AFP

biznewsasia@gmail.com

SO I SEE

An alarming...

From A4

We know only too well that this bureau is graft-ridden. I remember when I was with the Philippines Herald, many Chinese at Immigration detention centers were allowed to leave their cells during weekends upon payment of a “fee.”

I am glad that the Senate will be looking into this problem. There is a need to amend labor laws. Chinese tourists have been found in online gambling activities and also in the hospitality business.

One tenth of our population is jobless. Why do we allow the Chinese to take these jobs away from us? Some-

thing is terribly wrong here. *** I cannot understand why the government has not yet given the go signal to Ramon Ang to pursue a planned aerotropolis on 250 hectares of flatland in Bulacan. This will have six runways —it will solve our current congestion problems at NAIA. The government is also dragging its feet in the final approval of the consortium of taipans to improve NAIA. The consortium even partnered with Changi Airport in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Ang has partnered with Incheon Airport through an MoU with the second biggest airport in the world.

Why the delay? www.emiljurado.weebly.com

News

A6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bill filed to abolish wage boards

By Maricel V. Cruz AN OPPOSITION lawmaker on Tuesday pushed for the passage of a bill abolishing the Regional Tripartite Wage Boards.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said House Bill 8616 proposed to replace the National Wages and Productivity Commission regional wage boards for being “irrelevant” and “nonresponsive” to workers.

Villarin said that only four of 17 regions nationwide had implemented wage hikes in October.

“While inflation rates from Regions II, IV-B, and Bicol registered much higher than NCR, only measly sums were granted to the workers,” Villarin said at a news conference.

“The P25 daily wage hikes in NCR do not compensate for higher cost of living wages,” he added.

Villarin also denounced the government’s ‘callousness’ with the latter’s plan to tax health premiums of workers through Memorandum Circular 502018 issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“While inflation affects all workers nationwide, even registering higher rates outside NCR, these regional wage boards only approve wage hikes as recommended by employers. Its composition is stacked with employers and government representatives who always favor the former,” Villarin said.

“It is high time we abolish these archaic and anti-worker wage boards made into a law in 1989,” he added.

Samar mayor, 13 ordered suspended

By Rio Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the implementation of two preventive suspension orders on Samar’s Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy and the other local officials for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and gross neglect of duty.

These were in addition to violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act 6713 in connection with the purchase of farm lots with a market value of P155,497.84 for P120,225,000 and the lease for a public market in 2016.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires backed the recommendation of Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval, ordering Secretary Eduardo Año to implement the suspension orders “immediately upon receipt hereof, and to notify this Office within five days from said receipt of the status of said implementation.”

Apart from Uy, also ordered suspended were Vice Mayor Art Sherwin Gabon; city councilors Maximo Pescos, Edward Uy, Christine Joy Escober, Beethoven Bermeo and Nannette Jasmin; accountant Peachy Daguman; treasurer Elizabeth Lim; budget officer Ma. Theresa Aroza; assessor Romero Tuazon; assistant city assessor Arthur Macabare, and tax mappers Rody Ocenar and Rizal Ignacio.

The complainant—Bernard Jake Ramos—accused the city officials “in cooperation with one another, purchased the agricultural lands of Alvin Cesar L. Laohoo and Lorenzo L. Laohoo Jr. at an exorbitant price of P120,225,000 with a market value of P155,497.84.”

Based on court records, the city council passed an ordinance in 2015 authorizing the city government to borrow P125 million from the Development Bank of the Philippines for some of its various infrastructure projects.

On June 8, 2015, the council passed an ordinance and two resolution authorizing Uy to enter into a deed of sale for the acquisition of the lands, ratification of the term loan agreement and reclassification of the agricultural land.

TRAFFIC EYESORE. A 40foot trailer container truck lies on its side after tilting along Ayala Boulevard in Manila on Tuesday.

No one was reported injured in the incident. Norman Cruz

22 die in suspected measles outbreak H

EALTH authorities are trying to determine if the cases that have killed at least 22 people in Malapatan, Sarangani are caused by measles.

Informed source said the regional health unit had sent blood samples to the main office of the Department of Health in Manila for confirmation if the victims, who have displayed symptoms of measles, in fact, died of measles.

Medical experts say measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus. Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days.

Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than 40 °C (104.0 °F), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes.

Reports said more or less 200 patients had displayed symptoms of measles.

Data from the World Health Organization showed that cases of measles had decreased by 84 percent from 2000 to 2016.

On Monday, local health officials in Sarangani said at least 17 children were reported to have died in several remote communities in the Sarangani town of Malapatan during the past three weeks due to a suspected measles outbreak.

Dr. Diomedes Remitar, Malapatan

Municipal Health Office chief, said the victims, who included infants, reportedly died several days after exhibiting severe symptoms of measles infection.

Remitar said the suspected outbreak was monitored in Sitios Lower and Upper Kyogam, Mahayag, Lino, Datal Nai and Alna of Barangay Upper Suyan.

Based on information relayed by barangay health workers and officials of Barangay Upper Suyan, the MHO chief said the affected villages—among the remotest areas in the town—are inhabited by the B’laan tribe.

“These are considered suspected measles cases as we have not conducted confirmatory tests on the fatalities,” he said.

The health officer suspected that some of the reported fatalities could have suffered from diseases other than measles.

As of Monday, at least 23 people from Barangay Upper Suyan are confined at the R.O. Diagan Hospital here after earlier showing symptoms of suspected measles such high fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, and other flu-like illnesses. PNA

PROMOTING INNOVATION. James Cook University is strengthening its engagement in the Philippines by developing a significant partnership with the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines to promote science, technology and innovation for a sustainable future in the tropics. (From left) Dr. Leah Buendia, assistant secretary for International Cooperation, DOST; Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, undersecretary for Research and Development, DOST; and Bill Tweddell, chancellor, James Cook University. Manny Palmero

Solon pins hope on RCEF to hike rice production THE establishment of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund will help boost farm productivity and will partly result in easing the farm credit crunch that has ballooned to P367 billion, a pro-administration lawmaker said on Tuesday.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said although the RCEF, that would be established under the Rice Tariffication Bill, would allocate only 10 percent of its P10 billion funding or P1 billion for credit to farmers and cooperatives, it would help the agriculture sector gain access to lending facilities so far denied it by the bank-

ing sector despite a law requiring banks to allot a specific portion of their credit facilities to the agriculture sector.

“That is only P1 billion offered at preferential lending rates to farmers and cooperatives.

But alongside the other features of the RCEF, the agriculture sector would finally get the assistance it needs to directly provide palay farmers the facilities they need to boost their incomes and make them competitive in the global market,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte made the statement as President Rodrigo Duterte was expected to sign soon the Rice

Tariffication Bill scheduled to be ratified at the House this week.

The bicameral conference committee report on the bill, which has been approved by the House of Representatives, replaces the quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs and remove unnecessary government intervention in the rice market, said Villafuerte, a co-author of the measure.

Villafuerte said he believeb the bill would boost farm productivity and help rein in inflation since the spike in food prices contributed largely to the runaway inflation in the past few months. Maricel V. Cruz

Region 10 lawmakers push for trash probe

Bicam OKs stronger standards

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE bicameral conference committee approved Tuesday the reconciled House and Senate versions of the bill seeking to strengthen and simplify corporate governance standards for a more business-friendly environment amid the drop in the country’s rank in the latest Ease of Doing Business Report of the World Bank.

“We are proud to lead the chamber in passing this landmark legislation that will remove the barriers hindering the entry of both small and large enterprises into the market,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, the principal sponsor and author of Senate Bill No. 1280 which amends the decades-old Corporation Code of the Philippines.

In the latest Ease of Doing Business Report of the World Bank released earlier this month, the Philippines fell to 124th out of 190 economies from 113th previously, he noted.

“One of our difficulties today is our laws have not been updated. As a result, in terms of our ranking in the ease of doing business we are lagging behind, especially in the areas of starting a business where the country was ranked 166th,” Drilon said.

He said that it was too difficult to open a business in the country under the old law due to numerous and stringent incorporation and regulatory requirements, which discouraged investors and Filipino entrepreneurs to enter the local market.

“Suffice it to say, then, that the enactment of this measure and its immediate signing into law by the President is in order, so that we can change the atmosphere of conducting business in the country and make our economy more competitive,” he stressed.

Drilon said the new corporation code would improve ease of doing business in the country by allowing a one-person corporation, removing the minimum capital requirement and providing for perpetual existence of corporation.

LAWMAKERS from Northern Mindanao on Tuesday crossed party lines in urging the House of Representatives to conduct a deeper investigation into the illegal entry and dumping of hazardous plastic garbage from South Korea in the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Juliette Uy of Misamis Oriental, filed House Resolution 2317 that called on the House Committee on Ecology to look into the illegal shipment of 51 container vans of garbage from South Korea.

The garbage was offloaded from the MV Affluent Ocean at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan on July 21.

Uy, of the Nacionalista Party, was joined by NP Reps. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba of Bukidnon, Frederick Siao of Iligan City, Jorge Almonte of Misamis Occidental, Henry Oaminal of Misamis Occidental, Rep. Rogelio Neil Roque of Bukidnon, PDP-Laban congressmen Rolando Uy of Cagayan de Oro City, Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of Cagayan de Oro City, Xavier Jesus Romualdo of Camiguin and Manuel Zubiri of the Bukidnon Paglaum Party.

Citing the Constitution, the Northern Mindanao legislators said in the resolution that the chamber needed to exercise its oversight function to protect the environment and determine the liability of Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp.—the consignee of the garbage shipment.

“It is incumbent on the House of Representatives to investigate how the illegal shipment of hazardous plastic garbage from South Korea was allowed entry into the Philippines by certain agencies of government when in fact we still are facing the challenge of managing our own solid waste in the country,” the lawmakers said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Verde Soko was not an authorized importer of recyclable materials and therefore had no import license for the same.

Another report from the environmental quality division of the DENR’s Environment Management Bureau said the shipment, aside from the declared plastics, contained 31.7 tons of trash classified as “special” or hazardous waste. Maricel V. Cruz

Specialists to hold Mental Health Law Forum SANDOZ Philippines and Novartis Healthcare Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Neurological Association and Philippine Psychiatric Association, held recently a case-based discussion on how Republic Act 11036, oR the Philippine Mental Health Law, benefits patients and practitioners.

Held at the Ascott Makati, the forum was hosted by psychiatrist and dermatologist Dr. Antonio C. Sison.

The forum was highlighted by two case discussions. The first discussion focused on clarifying the rights of both mental health practitioners and patients.

Enacted in June 2018, the Mental Health Law seeks to provide affordable and accessible mental health services for all Filipinos by integrating mental health care in the country’s

public healthcare system.

The landmark law mandates the provision of mental health services down to the barangay level; integration of psychiatric, psychosocial and neurologic services in regional, provincial and tertiary hospitals: improvement of mental health facilities; promotion of mental health education in schools and workplaces; and ensuring the rights and welfare of patients and mental health professionals.

“There is a growing clamor for more information and discussion on mental health among Filipinos. By providing a venue for discussion and exchange of ideas on mental health, this forum will help educate and inspire both healthcare practitioners and patients,” said PPA vice president Dr. Vanessa Cainghung.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Standard

TODAY

4 Toyota cars at stake in 69th Fil-Am golfest

B

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

AGUIO CITY—Four brand new Toyota cars will be up for grabs in the 69th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay golf courses that will officially start today.

Holes number 10 and 18 are the designated holes at BCC and CJH, respectively, that will net a Toyota Rush for the ace maker, revealed co-chairs Anthony de Leon and Tim Allen during a press conference at the CJH golf club.

Two other cars, Toyota Wigo, will be for the raffle during the awards night slated on Dec. 6 and 15 for the seniors’ and regular division, respectively.

Practice rounds will start for the Regular F and G flights, as well as the seniors and new division super senior today. A captain’s meeting is also scheduled to finalize the line-up of teams as well as to give each captain a run-down of the tournament rules.

Some 91 seniors’ teams are ready for action on Dec. 1.

Secretariat head Roanne Galicia said that the number went up from last year’s 69.

The super seniors is open to players 70 years and older, where co-host John Hay will be fielding a team.

Luisita is expected to defend its crown in the premier Fil Championship flight, with Manila Southwoods and Megafiber as the biggest challengers.

Luisita is expected to be bannered by former pro Eddie Bagtas, while Tommy Manotoc is expected to anchor Southwoods in the five-to-play, four-tocount tournament by San Miguel.

Luisita is also defending in the Am Championship flight.

Meanwhile, practice rounds for the regular Championship, A to E flights will be on Dec. 7 with the tournament proper to start on Dec. 10.

The Carmona, Cavite-based Southwoods team will return to defend its crown, hoping to earn the team’s 17th title since 1997, when the team debuted and became the tournament’s most dominant team ever.

Yutu Katsuragawa is expected to return after a year’s absence from the team, which will miss Joo Hyung Kim, last year’s individual champion, who turned pro.

Allen said that they are expecting another Japanese player for Southwoods, who they have yet to identify.

Southwoods will miss Luigi Paolo Wong from nearby La Trinidad, who moved to Royal Northwoods.

Gilas coach opens NCRAA’s 26th year GILAS Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao kicked off the opening of the NCRAA’s 26th season on Tuesday at the Olivarez College Gymnasium.

Before meeting his national squad preparing for the next window of the FIBA Asia World Cup qualifier, which starts on Friday against Kazakhstan and Iran on December 3, Guiao took time out to reconnect with long-time team executive and now current NCRAA secretary general Buddy Encarnado.

“Kami ni Boss Buddy, matagal kaming magkasama sa basketball,” said Guiao. “Noong 1989 pa, nagsisimula pa lang ako halos sa coaching, siya team manager na namin sa national team hanggang sa magkasama ulit kami sa PBA kahit magkaiba pa kami ng team.”

Guiao was the guest speaker in the opener hosted this season by Olivarez College. He shared some of his philosophies which he imparted to all

JENNY ORTUOSTE THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office recently announced the entries running in this year’s PCSO Presidential Gold Cup, Philippine horseracing’s most prestigious annual event.

The race will be held at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Club in Carmona, Cavite. Eight runners will compete over 2,000 meters: Manalig Ka, to be ridden by jockey CS Pare with a handicap weight of 56.5 kgs; Electric Truth, MA Alvarez, 55; Highway One, VR Dilema, 55; Dixie Gold, OP Cortez, 59.5; Radioactive, KB Abobo, 55.5, and coupled entry Sepfourteen, JA Guce, 55; Salt and Pepper, JB Hernandez, 55; and Pangalusian Island, JP A Guce, 55.

The 1st place purse is P3 million, 2nd place P1 million, 3rd place P500,000, and 4th place P300,00. There is also a P200,000 prize for the breeder of the winning horse.

The Philippine Racing Commission is a cosponsor of the race.

The PCSO Gold Cup race, which has been run for nearly 50 years, is recognized by international authorities as our equivalent of a Grade 1 race. It is an annual tradition that is an important and significant part not only of the sport itself but also of the racing culture. Many horseowners, if not all, aspire to someday winning a Gold Cup to grace their trophy wall. Jockeys dream of adding it to their life’s achievements. Aficionados look forward to it as the grace point of the racing calendar.

PCSO also sponsors the First Lady Silver Cup race as well as other stakes races throughout the year, as a form of support for the racing industry. Before the adoption by PCSO of the modern lottery system in the ‘90s, the numbers of winning PCSO sweepstakes tickets were linked to the results of a special sweepstakes horse race.

PCSO and the racing industry’s connection goes back many decades, and in the interest of the sport and of tradition, we hope that the partnership lasts as long as racing in this country does. *** This Sunday, Philracom will stage the Grand Sprint Championship on Dec. 2 at Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.

Running over 1,200 meters are Boxmeer, Cleave Ridge, Dinalupihan, Lakan, Pinagtipunan, Puting Biyaya, Shelltex Magic, Son Also Rises, and Song of Songs (the last two are coupled entries).

A total of P1 million is allocated for prizes as follows: 1st, P600,000; 2nd, P225,000; 3rd, P125,000; and 4th, P50,000.

As part of its year-end salvo of stakes events, Philracom is holding the Chairman’s Cup on Dec. 16 at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The 2,000-meter race offers a total of P2 million in prizes allocated from 1st to 4th. The deadline for nomination of

entries is on Dec. 4, and declaration on Dec. 10.

Philracom also reminds horseowners and breeders that the deadline for submission of annual stallion returns and stud book re-

the teams he handled through the years, giving importance on preparation, sacrificing one’s ego, a strong mind and body, and faith in God, among others.

The veteran bench tactician had to leave right away to catch up on his 2 p.m. practice.

The 16 participating squads paraded on Tuesday morning, led by defending champion Olivarez College. Four new squads were also welcomed to join the growing NCRAA family – Lyceum-Laguna, CEU, Immaculada Concepcion and Pasig Catholic.

Holdovers of the event include AIMS, De Ocampo, La Salle-Dasmariñas, Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite, Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Muntinlupa, NCBA, PATTS, PMMS, PSBA-QC, St. Francis and University of Luzon.

This year’s event will be headed by president Cesar Hagos of host Olivarez College while tournament commissioner is George Magsino.

Abaring sets pace in PGT Q-School RICHARD Abaring rebounded from an early bogey mishap with a string of birdies as he turned in a three-under 69 to wrest a two-stroke lead over Charles Hong at the start of the 2019 PGT Qualifying School at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas yesterday.

Abaring hit a pair of back-to-back birdies in a seven-hole stretch from No. 4 to negate a bogey on the tough par-4 third of the challenging layout then parred the rest of the holes to string a 34-35 round and set the pace in the 72-hole elims that offers 50-plus ties berths for next year’s Philippine Golf Tour.

Hong, a former leg winner but missed the top 40 ranking for automatic cards by five rungs, gunned

PCSO Gold Cup, Philracom Grand Sprint lineups THE HOARSE WHISPERER

A7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

turns shall be no later than the last working day of this year. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and researcher. FB: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @drhoarsewhsprr

down three birdies but fumbled with two bogeys, the last on the 18th that netted him the only other under-par card (71) produced in hot conditions at the rolling layout.

Marvin Dumandan bogeyed the last two holes to drop to 74 in a tie with Rey Pagunsan and Erwin Arcillas while Miko Alejandro blew a 34 frontside start with a closing 41 for a 75, the same output put in by Jet Mathay, Francis Morilla and Alfredo Repato Jr., who also squandered an impressive 35 with a backside 40.

Nelson Huerva, Nico Evangelista and former Masters champion Rodrigo Cuello all scored 77s while Chris delos Santos, Jelbert Gamolo, Benjie Magada and Jun Bernis groped for identical 78s.

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

001558

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF SHIRLEY HUI SHI to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

SCN CASE NO. x------------------ x

PETITION

SEC Memorandum Circular No. _17_ Series of 2018 ALL SEC REGISTERED DOMESTIC CORPORATIONS SUBJECT : REVISION OF THE GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET (GIS) TO INCLUDE BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION *********************************************************************************************** Pursuant to its mandate to assist in the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), as amended, and to ensure timely access to adequate, accurate and current information on the beneficial ownership and control of SEC registered corporations and prevent their misuse for money laundering and terrorist financing purposes, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”, “Commission”) hereby issues this Memorandum Circular.

TO

:

SECTION 1. Coverage. – This Memorandum Circular shall apply to all SEC registered domestic corporations, both stock and non-stock.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. – 2.1.

2.2.

“Beneficial Owner” refers to any natural person who: (1)

Ultimately owns or controls the corporation; or

(2)

Has ultimate effective control over the corporation.

“Ultimate Effective Control” refers to any situation in which ownership/ control is exercised through actual or a chain of ownership or by means other than direct control. This may be achieved through, but not limited to, any of the following situations: a)

direct or indirect ownership of at least 25% of any category of voting shares or capital of a legal person, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or investment returns or power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct, the disposition of such security; Provided, that a person shall be deemed to have an indirect beneficial ownership interest in any security which is: (i)

held by members of his/her immediate family sharing the same household;

(ii)

held by a partnership in which he/she is a general partner;

(iii) held by a corporation of which he/she is the controlling shareholder; or (iv) subject to any contract, arrangement or understanding which gives him/her voting power or investment power with respect to such securities: Provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities held by him/ her for the benefit of third parties or in customer or fiduciary accounts in the ordinary course of business, so long as such shares were acquired by such person without the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the issuer. b) c)

the ability to elect a majority of the board of directors, or any similar body, of a legal person or arrangement; or any situation in which: (i) (ii)

2.3.

a person has the ability in fact to exert a dominant influence over the management or policies of a legal person or arrangement; or a majority of the members of the board of directors of a such legal person or arrangement, or any equivalent body, are accustomed or under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with a given person’s directions, instructions or wishes in conducting the affairs of the legal person or arrangement.

“GIS” refers to the General Information Sheet.

SECTION 3. Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership. – To ensure timely access to adequate, accurate and current information on the beneficial ownership and control of SEC registered corporations, all SEC registered corporations are required to disclose their beneficial owners as defined herein. Accordingly, the GIS is hereby revised to include such information.

The following information on the beneficial owner shall be provided, to wit:

Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is SHIRLEY HUI SHI, but I have also been known since childhood as SHIRLEY or I have been judicially SHI, BAOXUAN . authorized to use the alias name(s) 2. My present place of residence is 88 MARCOS HIGHWAY, BRGY. MAYAMOT City/Municipality of ANTIPOLO CITY Province of RIZAL and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) 1995 - 2014 731 ELCANO ST., BINONDO, MANILA 2014-PRESENT 88 MARCOS HIGHWAY, BRGY. MAYAMOT, ANTIPOLO 3. I was born on FEBRUARY 7, 1995, in MANILA, Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of CHINA. 4. My father's name is SHI, JIN LANG and he was born on NOVEMBER 26, 1959, in CHINA. He is a citizen or subject of CHINA. My mother's name is HUI, SAU YEE and she was born on JUNE 17, 1960 in HONG KONG. She is a citizen or subject of PHILIPPINES. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which I derive an average annual income of N/A , inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances.

My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained:BS ARCHITECTURE, (2) name of school: UP DILIMAN and (3) years graduated: 2018] who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

6. My civil status is SINGLE, I was married on N/A in N/A. My wife's/husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on in N/A. She/he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have N/A child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows:

Name N/A

Date of Birth N/A

Place of Birth N/A

Residence

PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE

Place of Dates of Highest Grade School Study Completed QUEZONCITY 2002 to 2008 PRIMARY

OF QUEZON CITY U.P. DILIMAN

QUEZONCITY 2008 to 2012 QUEZONCITY 2012-2018

SECONDARY COLLEGE GRADUATE

a. Complete name which shall include the surname, given name, middle name and name extension (i.e., Jr., Sr., III);

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: TAGALOG

b. Specific residential address;

11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

c. Nationality; d. Tax identification number; and e. Percentage of ownership, if applicable.

This requirement on the disclosure of beneficial ownership shall be initially complied with beginning 01 January 2019.

SECTION 4. Determination of Beneficial Ownership. – Where a corporation is owned through multiple layers, any intermediate layers of the company’s ownership structure should be fully identified. Such information shall be declared in the GIS and illustrated in an ownership chart to be attached thereto clearly showing the intermediate layers with their respective ownership amounts.

SECTION 5. Updating of Beneficial Ownership Information. – The SEC shall be timely apprised of all relevant changes in the submitted beneficial ownership information contained in the GIS as they arise. An updated GIS shall be submitted to the SEC within seven (7) days after such change occurred or became effective.

SECTION 6. Validating Information. – The Commission shall validate the beneficial ownership information provided in the GIS through an on-site inspection of the books and records of the corporations and/or through other means available.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. – This Circular shall take effect immediately after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Pasay City, Philippines, 27 November 2018.

FOR THE COMMISSION:

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson (MS-NOV. 28, 2018)

Name of Child N/A

Name and Place of School N/A

14. My character witnesses are BERNADETTE TAN ONG and DANIEL CHEN RATILLA both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at 17 BALER ST., SFDM, QUEZON CITY and 69 KITANLAD ST., BRGY. DOÑA JOSEFA, Q.C. respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ / ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ / ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ / ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ / ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ / ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years 16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: NBI, BARANGAY, POLICE CLEARANCES OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR, RTC, MTC COURT CLEARANCES JOINT AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT OF PARENTS, WITH BANK CERTIFICATES, CERTIFICATE OF EMPLYMENT AND ANNUAL TAX RETURN OF PARENTS PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 22 day of OCTOBER, 2018.

N/A

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of School

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to CHINA of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

SHIRLEY HUI SHI Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: 88 MARCOS HIGHWAY, BRGY. MAYAMOT, ANTIPOLO CITY Telephone Number: 647-3494/ 682-2095

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON CITY) S.S. I, SHIRLEY HUI SHI of legal age and a resident of 88 MARCOS HIGHWAY, ANTIPOLO CITY after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

SHIRLEY HUI SHI Name and Signature of Petitioner

SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at MAKATI CITY, this 22 day of OCTOBER 2018.

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen (MS-NOV. 28,DEC. 5 & 12, 2012)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Sports

Road to SEAG venues to be shorter

By Peter Atencio

START OF TRAINING CAMP. After a Tuesday morning jog, Senator Manny Pacquiao opened training camp for his fight against Adrien Broner on Jan. 19 in Las Vegas. The Filipino boxing icon then proceeded to the Senate of the Philippines to attend its daily regular session afterwards. Sonny Espiritu

Teener leads MediCard triathlon winners SPEED and stamina were on full display at the MediCard Sprint Triathlon last Sunday, with teenager Adrian Thomas Dionisio of Team Black Arrow Express leading the top 10 male finishers and Ian Banzon of Team Sante Barley topping the female competitors.

Dionisio held the sprint distance’s fastest time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 46 seconds in the 600-meter swim20-km bike-5-km run course at the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga and claimed 1st place in the 1517 age group.

Gianmarco Anton Sibayan (1st place, 25-29) was next on the leaderboard with 1:11:38, followed

by Pierce Tan (1st place, 18-24) just seconds later.

Among the top 10 male finish times were the strong performances of older age group champions Levy Ang (45-49), clocking in at 1:15:31 and Rune Stroem (55-59) with 1:16:39, both from Polo Tri Team, and Paul Henry Tambasen (30-34) at 1:16:36.

Ian Banzon reigned as the overall fastest female and 1st place in the 35-39 age group with her 1:19:53 finish.

Ten minutes later, Ma. Lourdes Cabero (35-39) slid in the chute to claim second-fastest female, while Alfie Yu (40-44) was third-fastest female in the event supported by official timekeeper TAG Heuer, Assist America, Standard Insurance, Vittoria, Gardenia and partner hotels Fontana and Royce Hotel & Casino.

Other age-group champions in the MediCard Sprint Tri were Therese Malapad (15-17), Isabel Parco (1824), Alessandra Castaneda (25-29), Ymelle Reyes (45-49), Julie Somoso (50-above), Angelo Leano (35-39), Brett Petrillo (40-44), Jerry Santos (50-54), and Chicho Mantaring (60-above).

“Thank you everyone for joining the first MediCard Sprint Tri. We’d also like to thank our sponsors and partners for helping us advocate healthy lifestyle,” said MediCard President Dr. Nicky Montoya.

Alaska-Magnolia Finals’ duel a tossup—coaches

P

HILIPPINE Basketball Association coaches are finding it hard to pick which team has the advantage in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals’ showdown between the Magnolia Hotshots and the Alaska Milk Aces.

“It’s a toss-up. The two teams are almost even, tingin ko walang nakakalamang,” said national coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao and most of the PBA coaches foresee a grind-out battle in each game and a long series that may well reach the full distance.

“I will not be surprised if all the games go down the wire. I expect a Game 7 that would make the PBA fans very happy,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

“Strength and weaknesses almost even. Kung sino ang less turnovers at mas marami ang offensive rebounds, siya ang mananalo,” said Phoenix Petroleum coach Louie Alas.

The Hotshots and the Aces are now about to step up their buildup for the se-

ries opener on Dec. 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

For Magnolia, center/forward Ian Sangalang has begged off from the national pool so that he can concentrate on his therapy for his injury and be at his best form for the best-of-seven series.

“I can understand his case,” said Guiao.

The national mentor feels Magnolia has the slight edge in frontcourt, with Sangalang, Rafi Reavis, Rodney Brondial, Aldrech Ramos and Kyle Pascual, but Alaska has the advantage in the backcourt because of the defensive pressure put up by Chris Banchero, Jvee Casio, Ping Exciminiano and Simon Enciso.

“Tingin ko tabla lang sa import. Mataas ang average ni Mike Harris pero tingin ko

kaya ni Romeo Travis umiskor kung gugustuhin. He just defers to his teammates.

He’s more effective in sharing the ball with his teammates,” said Guiao.

Austria, meanwhile, feels Magnolia has the advantage in manpower, but Alaska can compensate on whatever disadvantage it has on its tried and tested system.

“We all know Alaska’s system. They just keep on improving every conference with it,” said Austria.

The SMB bench chieftain, however, thinks Magnolia is dangerous with the fact that anybody from its core group can explode at any time.

“Sa Alaska, medyo predictable kung sino ang pupuntos. Sa Magnolia, maraming puwedeng pumutok like Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang and even PJ Simon,” said Austria.

And he also ack nowledges the capability of the Hotshots to play tough defense.

BY next year, it will no longer take a long period of time to get to the venues of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games inside the sprawling New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The road to the venues of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be shorter by September because a six-lane highway is already under construction and is expected to be finished by September.

Bases Conversion Development Authority president and CEO Vicencio Dizon said this following an ocular inspection of venues to be used for the Games.

“Iyung daanang mahaba, hindi na po iyun ang dadaanan para sa SEA Games. Mayroon na pong six-lane highway. It’s already under construction,” said Dizon.

Building the highway will cost the government an estimated P450 million.

It will be known as the 6.98-km New Clark City-Mac Arthur Access Road, which is expected to reduce travel time between Manila North Road and New Clark City from 90 minutes to 30 minutes.

The road is part of a P14.94 Billion Phase I project of the Central Luzon Link Expressway, which is a 30-km stretch road that’s under construction from Tarlac City to Cabanatuan City.

During the presentation, BCDA officials said facilities that will be used for the coming 2019 Southeast Asian Games will now include a high-performance gymnasium.

Officials of the BCDA made their recent presentation in the presence of Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chairman Allan Peter Cayetano and former special assistant to the president Christopher “Bong” Go. The gymnasium will consist of all the facilities that are necessary for the scientific training and development of national athletes.

The facilities will soon include a nutrition lab, technology room, treadmill room and a gymnastics’ area.

Work is now in progress on venues that will be used for the Games, which are set to be held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.

The area north of Manila will include a 20,000-seat athletics stadium, a 2,000-seat aquatics center, an Athletes’ Village and other support facilities.

Cavaliers try to boost bid for outright semis slot PH Ladies

ARMED Forces of the Philip(Pasig City Sports Center) pines tries to boost its bid for Games Today 2 p.m. – Judiciary vs AFP an outright semis berth when 3:30p.m. – Senate vs Agriculture 5 p.m. – PNP vs NHA it faces skidding Judiciary today, while Philippine National Police goes for win No. 6 in the 7th UNTV Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center.

The AFP Cavaliers collide with the Judiciary Magis at 2 p.m. with the former going for their second win in the second round and seventh overall in as many games since the first round of elims.

With a 2-5 record, the Magis need to win their remaining three games, including today’s match, if they want to advance to the quarters.

The top two teams after the second round advance to the semis automatically, with the third to sixth placers playing in the quarters and the last two placers taking an early vacation.

In the quarters, the No. 3 team battles No. 6, while fourth-ranked team tangles with No. 5 in similar best-of-three series.

Led by former University of the East star Ollan Omiping, the PNP Responders take on the NHA Builders at 5 p.m. while defending champion Senate tries to end a three-game losing run when it faces Department of Agriculture.

The Responders are coming off a 69-61 win over the Magis that improved their record to 5-2 while the Builders are toting a 4-2 mark.

Standings: Former PBA player Chester Tolomia (left) should come up Group A: AFP (6-0), PNP (5-2), PITC (4-3), Senate (3-3).

Group B: Malacañang-PSC (5-1), NHA (4-2), DA (3-4), Judiciary with his usual numbers if he wants to help Judiciary beat AFP and keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.

(2-5)

UP, Adamson dispute 2nd seat in finals

MVP Bright Ahkuetie is expected to lead the charge of UP when it shoots for the second berth in the finals against Adamson. Akhuetie used to play for Perpetual Help. Dennis Abrina

EXCITEMENT is in the air for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, who have a date with history to look forward to.

But scoring a second straight win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons won’t be easy.

UP Fighting Maroons’ coach Bo Perasol said this after they hurdled the Falcons, 73-71, in their Final Four showdown last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In their rubber match at 2 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum, the Fighting Maroons will have to figure out a better way to get past the Soaring Falcons.

Doing so will allow the Maroons to reach the best-of-three finals of the 81st University Athletic Association

of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

“They (Falcons) are a very resilient team. I kept on telling them that whatever happens, we have to go through these types of games,” said Perasol.

The Fighting Maroons have not been in the Final Four in the last 21 years.

The last time UP won a game in the Final Four was back in 1997, when the Maroons upset the top-seeded FEU Tamaraws, 70-69, to force a Game 2 as well. But UP did not get past FEU in the rubber match after the Tams claimed a similar 70-69 triumph over the Maroons.

“Both teams are gunning for history, us making the finals, same thing with UP. It’s going to be a fun game.

It’s going to be a classic game,” said

Games Wednesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 11 a.m. – UST vs FEU (Women Semis) 3:30 p.m. – UP vs AdU (Men Semis)

Falcons’ coach Franz Pumaren.

The winner will get to fight the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles in the finals.

The Falcons, who are on their sixth semifinals appearance, have not been in the finals in 26 years. They last tried to end the long drought but lost to the La Salle Green Archers, 69-64, two years ago.

Since last entering the finals in 1992, Adamson is slightly favored make it to the finals this time around, considering Pumaren’s record. Peter Atencio

Open back at Manila Golf

THE Philippine Ladies Amateur Open makes a sentimental return to what has long been considered as its home when the 57th edition of the country’s premier championship is held Feb. 19-21, 2019 at the Manila Golf and Country Club.

The well-kept layout inside the posh Forbes Park last hosted the event more than a decade ago before it underwent a facelift with the organizing Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines moving the annual event to various championship courses, including Manila Southwoods, The Country Club, Wack Wack, Mt. Malarayat, Forest Hills, Tagaytay Midlands and at Orchard.

Bianca Pagdanganan topped the 2017 edition at Midlands then Yuka Saso reigned at Orchard’s Palmer course last year with the two young but talented aces teaming up with Lois Kaye Go to sweep the gold medals in the recent Asian Games with Saso capping Team Philippines’ remarkable romp by ruling the individual competition.

They are expected to lead the bidders in the upcoming tournament numbering to 80 to 100, including those from Australia, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

“We thank the MGCC for hosting this prestigious event again where golfers from various countries in Asia will compete and we guarantee three days of top-notch competition among these top and rising players in the region,” said WGAP in a statement.

Meanwhile, registration is ongoing with entry fee pegged at P10,000 for local players and $300 for foreign participants. For reservations and details, email kathy_uy@yahoo.com (WGAP chairperson) or secretariat@wgapgolf.com (WGAP president Anna Haurie).

IN BRIEF

Vista Land retains ‘AAA’ credit rating

HOMEBUILDER Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. said it has maintained the highest issuer rating by a local debt watcher.

Credit Rating Investor’s Services Philippines Inc., in an official rating letter, reaffirmed its ‘AAA’ rating on Vista Land with a stable outlook, given the company’s sustained leadership in the low-cost and affordable housing market, continuing national coverage and strategic land banking initiatives, and strong financial performance.

CRISP also cited Vista Land’s strong management team, saying the company’s operating model enabled it to replicate large-scale housing community projects.

It added the scalable, standardized processes and technologies allowed Vista Land to efficiently build and deliver highquality houses and lot packages.

“We welcome the affirmation of our ‘AAA’ rating by CRISP. This affirmation fuels our drive to continuously deliver quality homes to an increasing number of Filipinos and provide them with a quality lifestyle through our integrated development—Communicities,” said Vista Land chairman Manuel Villar.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

BCDA inaugurates Clark corporate office

CLARK FREEPORT—In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision to spur growth and investments in the regions, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority inaugurated its new corporate office at the 9th floor, One West Building, Clark Global City, and moved part of its operations to Clark.

Gracing the event was former President and now House Speaker and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ambassadors and BCDA directors, subsidiaries, locators in Clark, and development partners also attended the event.

“The transfer to Clark enables BCDA to closely monitor and supervise its bigticket projects like the Clark International Airport and New Clark City,” BCDA president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon said.

“The move is a response to President Duterte’s plan to decentralize state offices in Metro Manila and solve the congestion problem in the capital,” he added.

Jesus Malabanan

CONSUMER electronics manufacturing company Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines) Inc. said Tuesday it started the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Lipa City, Batangas as a part of its strategy to make Philippines its next manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

Cal-Comp said in a statement it began the construction of an additional 24,000-square-meter facility in Lima Technology Center which would be completed by the fourth quarter of 2019.

The expansion will provide about 3,000 new jobs to Filipinos.

The planned expansion is proceeding even after the company decided to defer its planned P6.77-billion initial public offering.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

B1

By Julito G. Rada

MACAPAGAL MONUMENT IN CLARK. Former President and now Speaker of the House Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (left) leads the unveiling of road marker and groundbreaking for the Diosdado P. Macapagal Monument inside Clark Freeport in Pampanga province. Joining her are Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive Vivencio Dizon, Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Noel Manankil, CDC chairman Jose De Jesus, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, former Congressman Mikey Arroyo, CDC directors and other local government officials.

Reenacted budget set to delay infra projects T HE failure of Congress to approve the 2019 budget before the end of the year will result in the delayed implementation of new infrastructure projects, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno warned Tuesday.

The national budget for 2019 may not be signed into law before the end of the year, according to the new budget calendar transmitted by the Senate to the Budget Department on Nov. 19, 2018.

The latest update from the Senate marked Jan. 25 next year as the earliest possible date for Congress ratification, and Feb. 7, 2019 as the latest possible date.

This means that a reenacted budget may have to be implemented for the first three months of the next fiscal year, the agency said.

Diokno said in a statement that no new projects could start until the 2019 General Appropriations Act was approved. He said the anticipated delay in its implementation would likely result in a five-month implementation gap for new projects.

“We want to be able to frontload projects at the start of the year, if possible, especially infrastructure projects,” he said.

“The failure of Congress to pass the GAA before Dec.r 31 will not allow us to do that. Add to this the election ban from March to May and you have a 5-month implementation gap for our infrastructure projects,” Diokno said.

Capital spending proposed for 2019 will have to wait until the 2019 budget is passed and becomes effective, he said.

The department said the 2018 capital outlays could not be reenacted because projects funded in 2018 were assured to have been obligated or done in 2018 and no new projects could be authorized to start without authority from Congress, with few exceptions.

Large projects covered by multi-year

Cal-Comp Technology begins expansion of Batangas factory

By Jenniffer B. Austria

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

RCBC board approves thrift bank merger

AirAsia flies to new airport in Panglao

LOW-COST carrier AirAsia on Tuesday flew a special flight from Manila to the New Bohol Panglao International Airport, the Philippines’ newest and first “eco-airport” in Bohol province.

Other airlines like Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines will also transfer operations to the Panglao International Airport in Barangay Tawala, on Panglao Island effective Wednesday.

The old Tagbilaran Airport in Tagbilaran City will be closed effective Nov. 28.

The new airport, which has a capacity of up to two million passengers a year. It will replace Tagbilaran Airport but will continue to use the existing IATA (International Air Transport Association) airport code “TAG.” “We are delighted to be finally operating in the new airport that will offer our guest passengers one of the best airport experiences and facilities in the country. Aside from its sustainable and ecofriendly structures, Panglao International Airport provides access to international tourists making Bohol with its abundant attractions the next premiere destination in Asia,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

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

“Everything will continue as planned.

We are on track in making the Philippines our next main manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, and we will grow our capacity down the line to reach more customers here and across the globe,” Cal-Com chief executive Simon Shen said.

Cal-Comp Tech earlier this year announced the construction and development of phases 2 and 4 of its manufacturing complex at First Philippine Industrial Park Inc. in Sto. Tomas, Batangas where subsidiary Kinpo Electronics (Philippines) Inc. is located.

This will add approximately 48,000 square meters of space for manufacturing.

Cal-Comp Tech is the local subsidiary of global technology conglomerate New

Kinpo Group.

NKG earlier said it aimed to double its workforce in the Philippines by 2020.

Cal-Comp Tech employs around 10,000 employees in its two local plants.

NKG said that Cal-Comp Tech was set to hire 5,000 Filipinos in the next 12 to 18 months.

The company is also building up its research and development in the Philippines by increasing its local engineering division from over 140 engineers to nearly a thousand.

Cal-Comp is engaged in global electronic manufacturing services and original design manufacturing. It produces multiple product lines including external hard disk drives, TVs, all-in-one PCs, laser printers, smart home appliances, power supplies and other products.

obligational authority would not be adversely affected.

Personal services (salaries, wages, pension and retirement, and the like) and the maintenance and other operating expenses would be deemed reenacted. They will be based on the 2018 level.

Salary adjustments for civilian and military personnel programmed for 2019 will have to wait, it said.

The internal revenue allotment for local government units and debt service, however, are automatically appropriated, and, therefore, will be provided budgetary allocations based on the 2019 budget as proposed by the executive.

Diokno earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte gave Congress “more than enough time to scrutinize the budget”.

He said while the president was mandated by the Constitution to submit thebudget to Congress within 30 days after he delivered his State of the Nation Address, the president decided to submit the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing on the day of his SONA.

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp., the tenth-largest lender in terms of assets, said Tuesday its board of directors approved the plan to merge with thrift bank subsidiary RCBC Savings Bank to achieve operational cost efficiencies and comply with the standard liquidity ratios.

RCBC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the planned merger was approved by the board in a meeting on Nov. 26. The merger is subject to regulatory approvals.

The bank said a special stockholders’ meeting would be held on Feb. 26, 2019 to submit and present the plan of merger for their approval.

“The proposed transaction will facilitate for the RCBC Group the following objectives: more efficient capital deployment, more efficient compliance with the Basel 3 liquidity ratios, optimal coordination between the branch banking networks of RCBC and RCBC Savings, medium-term improvement in the funding economics, and operational cost efficiencies,” the bank said.

RCBC Savings Bank, a thrift bank, is 100-percent owned by RCBC. It has a paid-up capital of P3.19 billion and 30,872,163 common shares.

RCBC posted a consolidated net income of P3.2 billion in the first nine months. Excluding non-recurring income (trading gains), core income grew 42 percent from a year ago, on stronger core business led by doubledigit growth in net interest income and fee-based income.

The bank’s combined net interest income and fee-based income comprised 91 percent of gross income.

Loan growth remained strong across all segments, expanding 12 percent to P379 billion. All market segments sustained their growth. Average loan volume of the corporate segment grew 9 percent, SME segment 32 percent and consumer segment 33 percent with growth in credit card receivables up 33 percent.

The bank said despite the sustained growth momentum in loans, asset quality remained well-managed with consolidated non-performing loan ratio of 1.22 percent, better than 1.41 percent in the same period last year.

Tax troubles continue to hound Pepsi Cola PH, Korean shareholder PEPSI Cola Products Philippines Inc. continues to face alleged tax deficiencies of nearly P1.5 billion, three years after it filed for a petition for review with the Court of Tax Appeals in October 2015.

The assessments cover an 18-month period from July 2009 to December 2010 in two separate amounts totaling P1.498 billion.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue levied the amount on PCPPI for alleged shortfalls in the payment of income tax, expanded withholding tax, value added tax, documentary stamp tax and withholding tax on compensation.

Pepsi said the case was issued beyond the three-year period prescribed by law

and were, therefore, null and void. It also said the tax case had no legal and factual basis.

The case has been under continuing litigation in the tax court for three years now, with both parties still to complete their presentation of evidence.

PCPPI’s Korean stockholder, the Lotte Chilsung Group, has also been beleaguered by tax evasion charges and other serious accusations that included bribery, breach of trust and embezzlement.

PCPPI’s tax troubles paled in comparison with that of Lotte Chilsung, which acquired a 34.4-percent stake in the local firm in 2010, making it Pepsi’s biggest single stockholder in this country.

Calapan Water inaugurates new reservoir

By Robert A. Evora CALAPAN CITY―Calapan Waterworks Corp. added another milestone in the implementation of its P400million development initiative with the inauguration of a modern water reservoir in the capital city of Oriental Mindoro province.

The new reservoir has a storage capacity of 1,500 cubic meters or equivalent to 1.5 million liters for distribution to 15,000 households and industrial customers.

CW board chairman Jolly Ting said the new reservoir was part of the company’s 10-year development plan costing P400 million.

“There’s still much to be desired to meet the rising demands for fresh water from a growing population in this city, including investors who expressed interests to do business in this booming city,” Ting said, adding that “it needs more water sources to cope

with the demands.”

Calapan Water said that between 2018 and 2028, consumers were expected to double from the present 15,000 households to 28,000 households lin 36 out of the city’s 62 barangays.

He said that as consumers increase, demands for fresh water would also rise.

“We won’t stop finding more sources of water and building more infrastructures, including reservoirs, as the present 36 barangays now with water connections will reach to cover the whole 62 barangays of Calapan City,” said CW president Roderick Carranceja.

The new infrastructure is funded from the company’s P400-million investment plan under its 10-year development initiative, which involved tapping of new water sources and reservoirs and pipelining for distribution of safe water from sources to its consumers, households and business establishments.

CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION. Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Deposit Insurance of Vietnam sign an agreement to strengthen cross-border cooperation on deposit insurance. Sealing the agreement during a signing ceremony in Makati City are PDIC president Roberto Tan (left) and DIV chairman Nguyen Quang Huy. Under the memorandum of understanding, PDIC and DIV will undertake knowledge and experience-sharing to mutually enhance the effectiveness of their respective deposit insurance systems.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain; Metrobank advances T HE stock market rose slightly Tuesday on select buying, with investors kicking off window dressing activities before the close of the month.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 15.76 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,413.63 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Gainers beat losers, 98 to 76, with 58 issues unchanged.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 3.6 percent to P76.95, while parent GT Capital Holdings Inc. gained 1.4 percent to P879.50.

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest bank, climbed 1.7 percent to P130.20, while Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. of the

Gokongwei Group surged 6.8 percent to P76.95.

The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday but traders remain on edge after Donald Trump warned he will ramp up his trade war with China if he does not reach a deal with Xi Jinping at upcoming talks.

With the economic superpowers in the middle of an increasingly bitter standoff, there are hopes the two leaders will be able to work out an agreement that brings them back from the brink of a tariffs row that threatens to dent global growth.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Monday, Trump said he thought it “highly unlikely” the US would hold off more than doubling duties on $250 billion of Chinese imports if there is no breakthrough.

“If we don’t make a deal, then I’m going to put the $267 billion additional on,” he told the newspaper, referring to

the remainder of Chinese imports that so far have not been hit with tariffs.

“The only deal would be China has to open up their country to competition from the United States.”

While some observers suggested the comments were a typical Trump ploy to apply maximum pressure on Beijing heading into the meeting, there remain fears about what the tycoon has in mind.

“It doesn’t sound like we will see Donald the Deal Maker but instead Trump the Trade Warrior at G20,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. Most regional markets extended Monday’s global rally, which was fueled by rising oil prices, Italy’s softer tone in its budget standoff with Brussels and Britain’s Brexit agreement with the European Union.

Tokyo ended 0.6 percent higher and Sydney rose one percent while Singapore added 0.1 percent.

Seoul piled on 0.8 percent, while Wellington and Taipei both edged up 0.1 percent.

But Hong Kong dipped 0.3 percent in the afternoon while Shanghai ended marginally down.

While the meeting is the main event this week, investors are also keeping an eye on speeches from top Federal Reserve officials including boss Jerome Powell, which could signal a softer pace of interest rate hikes.

Rising US borrowing costs—fueled by surging US growth—have been a major cause of concern for investors but recent comments from the central banker appear to show a more dovish outlook for 2019 as the global economy slows.

On oil markets both main contracts remained under pressure despite Monday’s jump, with market-watchers waiting for next month’s gathering of Opec and non-Opec members hoping they will announce a cut in output. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 20,200 93.95 1,793,140 2.3 4,000 130.2 2,809,050 1.56 37,000 27.65 147,500 15.36 12,100 11.46 706,900 3.8 164,000 1.57 2,000 0.47 300,000 76.95 11,412,650 0.78 493,000 10.5 80,400 40.7 110,700 172.8 3,460 118 10 71.5 2,230 28.7 287,400 159 535,370 65.9 14,140 1.14 145,000

1,193,576 168,246,636.50 9,200 362,636,018 56,660 4,086,650 186,318 8,102,772 619,440 3,130 140,200 864,927,295 386,060 846,874 4,509,035 601,237 1,180 159,591.50 8,249,010 85,553,502 932,336 165,300

595,880 38,690,194 85,337,189 -365,735 -1,921,076 590,895,762.50 39,500 89,635 -170,420 -46,917,075 -27,681.50 -

33.05 17.64 1.06 1.23 0.249 1.67 14.04 35.3 15.54 36.9 1.41 5.25 6.8 10 15.44 8.7 6.92 17.34 62.1 23 2.02 5.9 8.55 1.64 279.8 9.9 25.45 10.02 16.62 385.8 0.175 6 1.34 3.92 8.1 4.69 8.6 0.89 11.1 47.85 5.04 4.7 1.83 2.8 1.25 10.36 82.9 5.2 0.123 0.8 129.3 2.4 1.53 1.68

INDUSTRIAL 33.4 1,006,300 17.76 608,300 1.17 29,544,000 1.24 76,000 0.25 10,520,000 1.76 4,624,000 14.44 5,970,600 35.35 25,100 17 9,700 37 79,600 1.47 81,000 5.25 23,200 6.89 41,500 10.06 2,722,100 15.5 10,100 8.89 528,300 6.96 63,500 17.4 1,179,700 62.25 49,960 23 8,400 2.04 33,323,000 5.9 323,900 8.61 8,367,100 1.67 800,000 283 712,330 9.9 100 25.55 58,800 10.2 236,300 16.8 3,369,000 388 319,670 0.179 710,000 6 1,000 1.34 106,000 3.94 18,000 8.13 1,207,100 4.8 78,000 8.78 500 0.9 387,000 11.12 105,100 47.9 1,444,100 5.05 44,800 4.75 22,000 1.9 181,000 2.8 4,000 1.3 224,000 10.78 55,700 83 4,081,740 5.3 95,500 0.123 110,000 0.82 44,000 130 871,660 2.4 4,000 1.55 7,329,000 1.84 30,735,000

33,543,615 10,813,034 33,520,760 94,170 2,683,790 8,018,030 85,879,790 887,770 159,198 2,945,040 115,440 122,873 288,882 27,627,966 156,452 4,687,067 441,589 20,529,612 3,113,295 193,725 69,096,440 1,920,105 75,157,882 1,328,620 200,634,732 990 1,500,540 2,410,064 57,850,830 123,976,544 125,890 6,000 143,140 70,710 9,806,319 373,670 4,354 348,240 1,174,666 69,304,560 227,252 104,220 344,010 11,200 283,730 599,022 339,895,994.50 502,546 13,530 35,220 113,847,011 9,600 11,366,890 55,282,650

12,422,190 -2,324,566.00 -16,180.00 302,340 -1,881,620 -70,026 66,440 33,010 6,800 -13,411,234 2,837,882.00 -326,750 4,933,144 -2,497,834 1,340,360 -1,860,545 5,118,276 -4,099,936 -990 759,975 -1,482,314 -7,677,914 25,525,352 17,500 -89,080 -3,321,086 4,690 -171,000 -201,280 164,820 -50,730 -4,700 38,970 -99,176 159,951,861.50 -42,087,037 -1,391,590 -1,729,090

0.6 56 11.4 6.33 20.25 1.48 1.49 945 7.05 13.86 9.1 4.78 884 48.85 0.53 4.01 15.9 0.63 4.68 0.036 1.2 2.31 2.51 172.5 928 1.32 488 280 0.238

0.54 52.15 11.22 6.33 19.46 1.43 1.43 930 6.98 13.16 8.8 3.31 867 47.55 0.5 3.9 15.24 0.59 4.59 0.034 1.17 2.29 2.51 171 915 1.27 425 269.6 0.232

HOLDING FIRMS 0.57 36,591,000 55.55 1,757,940 11.24 4,115,500 6.33 100 19.86 3,055,800 1.48 15,591,000 1.47 4,617,000 945 186,570 7 363,200 13.86 3,880,100 9 23,822,800 4.78 1,600 879.5 187,080 48.15 773,100 0.52 86,000 3.99 17,333,000 15.24 1,337,700 0.63 1,770,000 4.6 28,488,000 0.035 18,900,000 1.2 24,000 2.3 197,000 2.51 5,000 171.5 141,170 915 425,440 1.32 36,000 486.6 270 280 501,720 0.232 2,820,000

20,797,360 94,681,964.50 46,381,750 633 60,559,009 22,819,190 6,739,620 175,049,495 2,542,813 52,677,854 210,385,508 5,591 163,793,900 37,127,630 43,540 68,131,160 20,515,532 1,092,960 131,274,470 652,700 28,410 453,080 12,550 24,232,507 390,112,810 45,880 122,796 139,978,996 657,100

26,010.00 12,608,228.50 4,916,370 59,470,100 584,000 8,854,490 1,805,334 4,861,076 85,997,550 13,393,980 -6,390,570 -5,850,210 -3,108,478 416,110 -79,403,670.00 -5,526,200 -96,946,165 11,650

7.56 0.82 1.87 0.59 41.5 2.24 4.18 0.415 0.87 0.218 0.35 7.65 18.02 0.54 0.11 1.45 1.02 2.72 4.77 0.41 0.475 0.39 3.6 21.15

7.54 0.79 1.74 0.55 40.5 2.18 4 0.405 0.87 0.214 0.34 7.61 17.92 0.49 0.11 1.43 1 2.61 4.72 0.385 0.46 0.37 3.58 20.6

17,233,560 2,115,590 23,970 460,970 422,180,155 1,385,440 1,728,040 1,314,750 10,440 308,860 411,900 2,617,047 2,153,690 7,800 11,000 1,511,430 3,377,000 43,892,140 37,820,720 27,438,000 1,267,000 401,350 1,423,260 23,302,780

545,899 -47,832,540 -825,490 8,120.00 -82,000 64,500 53,420 610,240 -693,730 481,070 12,836,000 -497,400 -575,300 1,399,950

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.7 93.85 2.3 128 1.5 28 15.5 11.48 3.73 1.56 0.46 74.3 0.76 11 40.75 172.8 118 72 28.75 163.5 65.95 1.14

59.7 93.95 2.3 130.2 1.56 28 15.5 11.5 3.83 1.57 0.47 76.95 0.8 11 40.8 180 118 72 28.95 164.8 65.95 1.14

59 93.1 2.3 126.5 1.5 27.5 15.36 11.36 3.72 1.56 0.46 74.25 0.76 10.5 40.65 172.8 118 71.5 28.5 159 65.9 1.14

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

33.3 17.7 1.08 1.25 0.25 1.69 14.52 35.35 15.54 36.9 1.41 5.25 6.98 10.4 15.6 8.7 6.96 17.36 63 23 2.1 5.97 9 1.71 280.6 9.9 25.45 10.3 16.8 388.2 0.175 6 1.34 3.92 8.14 4.96 8.6 0.9 11.3 47.95 5.08 4.75 1.83 2.8 1.3 10.66 83.5 5.3 0.123 0.8 135 2.4 1.53 1.68

33.5 17.82 1.17 1.25 0.265 1.79 14.52 35.4 17.7 37 1.47 5.5 7 10.7 15.68 8.9 6.99 17.44 63 23.5 2.17 6 9.45 1.71 283 9.9 25.75 10.3 17.5 390 0.179 6 1.36 3.94 8.16 4.96 8.78 0.9 11.3 48.5 5.1 4.75 1.95 2.8 1.31 10.78 83.55 5.36 0.123 0.82 135.1 2.4 1.57 1.87

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

0.58 53.5 11.22 6.33 20.2 1.44 1.43 941 7.05 13.38 8.8 3.31 867 48.15 0.53 3.9 15.32 0.61 4.66 0.034 1.17 2.3 2.51 171.8 915.5 1.27 425.2 269.6 0.232

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

7.55 0.8 1.74 0.56 41.45 2.24 4.08 0.415 0.87 0.214 0.35 7.62 17.98 0.53 0.11 1.44 1.01 2.68 4.77 0.385 0.465 0.38 3.6 21.15

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

1.94 3.06 34.35 1.19 4.83 0.71 5.39

1.94 3.12 34.45 1.19 7.05 0.71 5.39

1.92 3.06 33.95 1.17 4.83 0.71 5.26

1.94 3.12 34.4 1.18 6.85 0.71 5.29

99,000 7,000 8,634,500 245,000 11,959,000 100,000 3,424,500

191,470 21,720 296,184,730 288,300 76,061,890 71,000 18,121,293

54,170 45,736,515 235,000 -458,310 -9,457,253

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

9.95 19.7 0.37 0.038 13.2 2.05 8.3 72.5 7.81 7.51 7.01 2.06 17.7 2,002 5.3 319 3.55 98 10.2 7.2 0.097 6.44 3.45 14.4 2.84 0.75 14.08 0.355 5.5 7.14 2.08 1.84 1.76 3.73 10.48 8 3.49 108.1 3.06 1,188 0.66 0.33 43 72.1 6.74 2.56 0.67 0.38 5.24 0.59 12.18

9.98 19.7 0.4 0.038 13.2 2.05 8.39 73.45 7.81 7.51 8.38 2.06 17.7 2,018 5.35 324 3.6 98.05 10.2 7.2 0.122 6.6 3.46 14.4 3.4 0.79 14.7 0.36 5.5 7.14 2.1 1.84 1.87 4.1 10.48 8 3.5 108.1 3.06 1,200 0.67 0.345 43.05 77 6.9 2.59 0.68 0.425 5.31 0.59 12.3

9.82 19.6 0.37 0.038 13.02 1.92 8.18 70.65 7.7 7.02 7 2.06 17.7 1,988 5.29 311 3.46 96.6 10.2 7.2 0.097 6 3.42 13.88 2.84 0.71 13.8 0.35 5.5 6.5 2 1.66 1.67 3.73 9.88 8 3.45 105.9 2.96 1,160 0.65 0.325 42.7 72.1 6.74 2.46 0.63 0.375 5.22 0.56 11.94

SERVICES 9.98 19.7 0.375 0.038 13.02 2.03 8.29 72.1 7.7 7.15 8 2.06 17.7 2,000 5.29 323 3.47 96.6 10.2 7.2 0.11 6.26 3.46 14 3.1 0.75 14.1 0.36 5.5 7.1 2.05 1.66 1.7 3.97 10.02 8 3.49 108 3.02 1,176 0.65 0.345 43 76.95 6.9 2.46 0.65 0.41 5.3 0.56 12.18

18,300 29,100 3,750,000 1,100,000 1,300 4,215,000 13,129,800 58,680 120,300 7,556,300 7,100 1,000 390,300 42,860 27,700 7,180 2,073,000 2,232,580 2,400 10,000 55,720,000 39,675,500 40,000 4,100 3,074,000 275,000 1,612,900 340,000 2,500 228,900 2,502,000 1,413,000 43,000 16,832,000 2,700 5,500 43,000 2,810 861,000 88,765 8,380,000 420,000 3,477,900 1,685,230 19,600 10,707,000 8,990,000 122,660,000 2,048,100 2,723,000 3,098,100

182,044 572,790 1,447,800 41,800 17,016 8,415,140 108,762,508 4,210,379.50 938,139 54,801,066 52,619 2,060 6,908,310 85,967,430 146,830 2,305,736 7,250,650 218,064,789 24,480 72,000 6,296,060 247,827,885 138,230 58,280 9,519,930 207,990 22,981,786 119,900 13,750 1,586,010 5,174,150 2,425,030 74,850 66,283,540 27,946 44,000 150,070 302,977 2,581,700 104,273,800 5,510,370 140,900 149,523,095 127,612,853.50 133,040 26,686,840 5,900,410 48,838,100 10,783,371 1,557,900 37,584,122

-10,993.00 41,800 362,690 -40,094,456 203,674.50 14,058 -945,954 23,255,595 -22,600 124,860 -130,345,284 20,550 5,999,338 7,000 -1,753,330 7,900 -26,760 -12,770.00 742,350 -10,500 298,656 -1,272,250 -37,102,660 -1,498,630 -130,772,530 -71,606,863 3,757,580 -3,981,670 -71,650 -5,692,761 34,800 -345,096

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

0.002 1.69 2.5 13.82 1.94 0.29 7.07 1.67 0.2 0.094 0.101 0.0066 0.007 1.03 2.14 1.02 0.52 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.35 2.58 15.2 26.9 0.0061

0.002 1.69 2.5 14.38 1.94 0.29 7.07 1.7 0.202 0.095 0.102 0.0066 0.007 1.03 2.24 1.03 0.52 0.92 0.013 0.012 0.012 3.45 2.6 15.2 26.9 0.0061

0.0018 1.64 2.39 13 1.91 0.285 7.02 1.66 0.2 0.092 0.096 0.0065 0.007 0.99 2.1 1.02 0.52 0.89 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.21 2.58 14.7 25.8 0.0061

MINING & OIL 0.002 271,000,000 1.66 2,796,000 2.5 12,000 14 38,700 1.91 61,000 0.29 790,000 7.02 2,300 1.7 406,000 0.202 20,000 0.093 370,000 0.102 710,000 0.0066 10,000,000 0.007 1,000,000 1 68,000 2.2 15,442,000 1.03 2,000 0.52 211,000 0.92 265,000 0.012 31,300,000 0.012 200,000 0.012 500,000 3.21 107,000 2.58 901,000 14.7 2,990,300 26.05 1,298,700 0.0061 2,000,000

512,800 4,639,610 29,890 532,388 116,660 228,450 16,151 683,780 4,020 34,420 68,680 65,200 7,000 68,510 33,291,150 2,050 109,720 240,140 382,800 2,400 6,000 349,960 2,337,510 44,228,458 33,925,460 12,200

-303,400 -2,390 -109,270 -60,580 -14,535,140 -1,584,920 -8,628,546 -378,370 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C HOUSE PREF A LR 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

19.2 475 96 101 480 95 1.03 75.95 76.2 72 72 74.9 73 72 73.5

19.2 489 96 102.5 480 95 1.03 75.95 76.2 72.95 74.9 74.9 73 74 73.5

19.1 475 95.6 101 480 95 1.03 75.95 76.2 71.4 72 74.9 73 72 73.05

PREFERRED 19.1 20,400 489 50 95.6 23,500 102.5 8,230 480 200 95 600 1.03 2,000 75.95 100 76.2 620 71.4 31,300 74.9 20,000 74.9 1,000,000 73 2,800 74 17,000 73.5 4,480

391,640 23,890 2,249,680 832,025 96,000 57,000 2,060 7,595 47,244 2,242,840 1,451,000 74,900,000 204,400 1,228,000 329,047.50

-384,000 36,250 21,915

LR WARRANT

1.67

2.08

1.67

WARRANTS 1.93 2,351,000

4,545,490

19,000

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.56 1.11

4.67 1.27

4.41 1.1

4.48 1.24

1,561,200 14,805,860

-35,640 -3,308,830

FIRST METRO ETF

110.5

110.6

109.5

521,208

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.55 0.81 1.87 0.56 40.9 2.19 4.1 0.415 0.87 0.218 0.35 7.63 18 0.54 0.11 1.43 1 2.69 4.76 0.405 0.465 0.39 3.6 20.85

2,282,500 2,634,000 13,000 810,000 10,360,500 629,000 423,000 3,190,000 12,000 1,440,000 1,190,000 342,800 119,700 15,000 100,000 1,049,000 3,368,000 16,473,000 7,961,000 68,640,000 2,710,000 1,060,000 396,000 1,117,400

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

21,480,745

INDUSTRIAL

153,397,952

HOLDING FIRMS

168,317,464

PROPERTY

150,980,957

SERVICES

334,630,262

MINING & OIL

343,421,358

GRAND TOTAL

1,184,919,444

SME

347,000 12,336,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.3 4,730

VALUE 1,764.56 (UP) 19.19 1,699,544,444.94 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,710.35 (DOWN) 64.24 1,489,181,559.75 HOLDING FIRMS 7,281.64 (UP) 42.24 1,804,032,670.255 PROPERTY 3,577.03 (DOWN) 23.18 1,415.73 (UP) 0.66 986,038,493.915 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,513.70 (DOWN) 139.91 1,475,717,926.36 PSEI 7,413.63 (UP) 15.76 121,939,524.12 All Shares Index 4,458.76 (UP) 17.67 7,593,351,851.50 Gainers: 98; Losers: 76; Unchanged: 58; Total: 232

Nickel Asia buying back P1.5b worth of shares

By Jenniffer B. Austria NICKEL Asia Corp., the largest nickel producer, approved a share buyback program worth up to P1.5 billion to boost shareholder value.

Nickel Asia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board endorsed the share buyback program for a period of two years.

“The objectives of the buyback program are to enhance shareholder value and to manifest confidence in the company’s inherent value and long-term prospects,” Nickel Asia president Martin Antonio Zamora said.

“Given the current weakness in the market, now is an opportune time for the company to repurchase its own shares, which has been exceedingly undervalued,” Zamora added.

From a 52-week high of P7.02, share price of Nickel Asia is currently trading at P2.20.

The mining firm said it would buy back the shares using cash and book them as treasury shares.

Nickel Asia said the buy-back program would not involve active and widespread solicitation from shareholders in general, and would not adversely affect the company’s prospective and existing projects.

Nickel Asia is the country’s largest producer of lateritic nickel ore and one of the largest in the world.

The company expects to ship approximately 19.7 million wet metric tons of nickel ore this year, up 11 percent from 17.7 million WMT in 2017.

Earlier this month, the company announced its financial and operating results for the nine months ending September 30, 2018, with attributable net income at P3.54 billion, a 35-percent increase from P2.62 billion year-on-year.

Nickel Asia said the shipments of higher value saprolite ore, a stronger US dollar and an increase in the company’s share of profits from investment in both the Coral Bay and Taganito processing plants resulted in a significant improvement in earnings during the period.

Torre Lorenzo set to list shares in three years

By Othel V. Campos PROPERTY developer Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. is set to list its shares in three years’ time when stock market conditions improve.

Torre Lorenzo chief finance officer Noel Rapadas said the company was bullish on its prospects and profitability in prior to the initial public offering.

“We believe that our sustained growth and profitability and our 10 years of successful history will be a strong story for us,” he said.

He said the company would use the IPO proceeds to pay company debts.

The company also borrowed development loans to partly finance ongoing projects, along with company equity.

“Last year, we also got a P2-billion equity infusion from private shareholders. The Lorenzo clan is the still the biggest shareholder with private investors owning minority of the shares,” Rapadas said.

The company, he added, was open to selling 30 percent of privatelyowned shares to pay debts.

Torre Lorenzo has a portfolio of 17 projects. Six of the projects are already completed—Torre Lorenzo 1, 2 Torre Lorenzo, Torre Sur, Torre Central, Cuidades Business Park and Lubi Plantation Beach Club.

Ongoing projects include 3 Torre Lorenzo, Torre Lorenzo Malate, Tierra Lorenzo Lipa Tower 2, Dusit Princess Lipa, Tierra Lorenzo San Fernando, Dusit Thani Residence Davao, dusitD2 Davao, Dusit Thani Resort at Lubi Plantation and Ciudades Town Center.

The company will launch Torre Lorenzo Katipunan, a student’s residence tower near the universities in the Quezon City area, and Tierra Lorenzo Lipa Tower 1, which is 56 percent sold.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

B3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Rescuers save six stranded whales

POLLUTI0N! Migratory birds fly around row boats on the Yamuna River on a morning of heavy air pollution in New Delhi on November 27, 2018. Smog levels spike during winter in Delhi, when the air quality often eclipses the World Health Organization’s safe levels. (Photo by Noemi Cassanelli / AFP)

Mars InSight spacecraft lands on the Red Planet

P

ASADENA―Cheers and applause erupted at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Monday as a waist-high unmanned lander, called InSight, touched down on Mars, capping a nearly sevenyear journey from design to launch to landing.

The dramatic arrival of the $993 million spacecraft—designed to listen for quakes and tremors as a way to unveil the Red Planet’s inner mysteries, how it formed billions of years ago and, by extension, how other rocky planets like Earth took shape—marked the eighth successful landing on Mars in NASA’s history.

“Touchdown confirmed,” a mission control operator at NASA said, as pent-up anxiety and excitement surged through the room, and dozens of scientists leaped from their seats to embrace each other.

“It was intense and you could feel the emotion,” said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine in an interview on NASA television afterwards.

Bridenstine also said President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had watched on television and called to congratulate the US space agency for its hard work.

“Ultimately, the day is coming when we land humans on Mars,” Bridenstine said, adding that the goal is to do so by the mid 2030s.

The vehicle appeared to be in good shape, according to the first communications received from the Martian surface.

But as expected, the dust kicked up during the landing obscured the first picture InSight sent back, which was heavily flecked.

France’s Center National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) made the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) instrument, the key element for sensing quakes.

The principal investigator on the French

seismometer, Philippe Lognonne, said he was “relieved and very happy” at the outcome.

“I’ve just received confirmation that there are no rocks in front of the lander,” he told AFP. And in a final crucial phase, NASA said InSight signaled to Earth that its solar panels—twin solar arrays spanning seven feet in width—had opened and were collecting sunlight on the surface of Mars.

“The InSight team can rest a little easier tonight now that we know the spacecraft solar arrays are deployed and recharging the batteries,” said Tom Hoffman, InSight’s project manager.

The spacecraft is NASA’s first to touch down on Earth’s neighboring planet since the Curiosity rover arrived in 2012.

More than half of the 43 attempts to reach Mars with rovers, orbiters and probes by space agencies from around the world have failed.

NASA is the only space agency to have made it, and has invested in these robotic missions as a way to prepare for the first Mars-bound human explorers in the 2030s.

“We never take Mars for granted. Mars is hard,” Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for the science mission directorate, said on Sunday.

The nail-biting entry, descent and landing phase began at 11:47 am (1940 GMT) at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, home to mission control for Mars InSight, and ended one second before 1953 GMT. A carefully orchestrated sequence—already fully preprogrammed on board the spacecraft—unfolded over the next several minutes, coined “six and a half minutes of terror.”

Speeding faster than a bullet at 19,800 kilometers an hour, the heat-shielded spacecraft encountered scorching friction as it entered the Mars atmosphere.

The heat shield soared to a temperature of 2,700 Fahrenheit (about 1,500 Celsius) before it was discarded, the three landing legs were deployed and the parachute popped out, easing InSight down to the Martian surface. AFP

WELLINGTON―Six beached whales were successfully refloated off New Zealand Tuesday, rescuers said, after a spate of mass strandings in recent days that resulted in the deaths of dozens of the marine mammals.

Wildlife rangers and volunteers used pontoons to float the killer pygmy whales—part of a group of 12 found beached in the country’s far north on Sunday—and take them about 400 meManila ters offshore.

Standard “We are hopeful TODAY that the six whales that have been refloated will remain at sea,” the Department of Conservation department said in a statement, adding that another two whales were euthanized after continually restranding.

Two of the pod were already dead, and two more died after being found by rescuers on the North Island’s west coast, with the remaining eight transported by truck to the east coast on Monday, where sea conditions were calmer.

The survival of even part of the pod was a rare success for DOC as it struggled to deal with four separate strandings in quick succession, including a sperm whale and a pygmy sperm whale in separate incidents on the North Island coast.

The largest was when up to 145 pilot whales were found late Saturday washed up on Stewart Island, 30 kilometers off the southern coast of the South Island.

Half the animals were already dead and the rest were put down because there was no chance of rescuing them from the remote location. AFP

Top Russian rappers unite for protest MOSCOW―Three of Russia’s top rappers on Monday gave a concert protesting against the jailing of a fellow star and calling for an end to intimidation by authorities and curbs on their artistic freedom.

The packed concert in a Moscow club was organized by rapper Oxxxymiron, who told the audience that the sold-out gig was about “freedom of creativity.”

The concert expressed solidarity and raised funds for rapper Husky, who last week was was sentenced to 12 days in jail over a performance on the street in southern Russia.

His case has prompted rappers to sound the alarm over a clampdown on their artistic freedom, including frequent concert cancellations under pressure from the authorities and conservative groups.

In a surprise ruling, Husky, whose real name is Dmitry Kuznetsov, was released hours before the concert after his lawyers asked for his sentence to be reduced.

Oxxymiron told the audience that the concert highlighted “the situation with music in our country, which is currently not moving in the best direction, to put it mildly.”

The 33-year-old rapper, whose real name is Miron Fyodorov, studied at the University of Oxford and is known for his participation in “rap battles” with other stars.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny went to the concert with his family, posing for selfies with supporters.

Most attending were in their teens and early 20s and expressed fears the authorities are targeting the rap artists they listen to. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur Municipality of Narvacan BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur Municipality of Narvacan BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

THE MUNICIPALITY OF NARVACAN, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to bid for the hereunder contract:

THE MUNICIPALITY OF NARVACAN, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to bid for the hereunder contract:

Name of Contract: Construction of Multi-Purpose Buildings Location: Barangays Abuor, Ambulogan, Bantay Abot, Casilagan, Estancia, Kakaldingan (Lungog), Marozo, Orence, Paratong, San Antonio, San Pedro, Banglayan, Cagayungan, Codoog, Lanipao, Margaay, San Jose, San Pablo, Sarmingan, Sulvec, and Turod Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Brief Description: Structure excavation, Reinforced concrete Footing/Pedestal, Embankment fill, Roofing/Roof framing, Masonry Works, Carpentry/Ceiling works, Painting, Plumbing, Tile works, and Electrical works Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): P 52,500,000.00 Contract Duration: 180 Calendar Days Source of Fund: R.A. 8240-FY 2014 Prospective bidders should possess a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, at least Medium A, Category B and have completed a similar contract with a value of at least Fifteen Million Pesos (P 15,000,000.00), and have key personnel and equipments (listed in the eligibility forms) available for the prosecution of the contract.

The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification on the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities / Schedule 1. Issuance & availability of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Receipt and Opening of Bids (includes submission of Eligibility Requirements and Eligibility Check) 4. Bid Evaluation 5. Post Qualification 6. Approval of BAC Resolution/ Issuance of Notice of Award 7. Contract Preparation and Signing 8. Issuance of Notice to Proceed

- November 28-December 21, 2018 - December 07, 2018 – 2:30 PM, BAC Office

- December 21, 2018 – 2:30 PM, BAC Office - December 26, 2018 - December 27-28, 2018 - January 03-04, 2019 - January 07, 2019 - January 08, 2019

The BAC will issue prospective bidders Eligibility Forms and Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, upon their payment of a non refundable amount of P 50,000.00 to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The Local Government Unit of Narvacan reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of Bidding, or not to award the contract and assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expense incurred in the preparation of their bids.

November 28, 2018 (SGD) ELEUTERIO G. INES BAC Chairman

(MS-NOV. 28, 2018)

Name of Contract: Continuation of Narvacan RHU I Location: Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Brief Description: Structure excavation, Reinforced concrete works, Embankment fill, Masonry Works, Painting Works, Roofing/Roof framing, Plumbing/Sanitary works, Electrical & Mechanical works, Concrete pavement & landscaping Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): P 25,000,000.00 Contract Duration: 180 Calendar Days Source of Fund: R.A. 8240-FY 2014 Prospective bidders should possess a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, and have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 50% of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipments (listed in the eligibility forms) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification on the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities / Schedule 1. Issuance & availability of Bidding Documents - November 28-December 21, 2018 2. Pre-bid Conference - December 07, 2018 – 2:30 PM, BAC Office 3. Receipt and Opening of Bids (includes submission of Eligibility Requirements and Eligibility Check) - December 21, 2018 – 2:30 PM, BAC Office 4. Bid Evaluation - December 26, 2018 5. Post Qualification - December 27-28, 2018 6. Approval of BAC Resolution/ Issuance of Notice of Award - January 03-04, 2019 7. Contract Preparation and Signing - January 07, 2019 8. Issuance of Notice to Proceed - January 08, 2019 The BAC will issue prospective bidders Eligibility Forms and Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, upon their payment of a non refundable amount of P 25,000.00 to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The Local Government Unit of Narvacan reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of Bidding, or not to award the contract and assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expense incurred in the preparation of their bids.

November 28, 2018 (SGD) ELEUTERIO G. INES BAC Chairman NOTED:

NOTED: (SGD) ZURIEL S. ZARAGOZA Municipal Mayor

(MS-NOV. 28, 2018)

(SGD) ZURIEL S. ZARAGOZA Municipal Mayor

NOTICE

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given that the Estate of CARIDAD N. PA G L U M O TA N was extra-judicially settled among heirs as per Doc. No. 73; Page No. 16; Book No. 714; Series of 2018 before Notary Public Atty. Benjamin F. Alfonso of Quezon City.

The public is hereby notified that AVC PHILIPPINES INC. (“Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under Philippine laws, with registered address at 2/F Fortune Bldg., 144 Pasig Blvd., Brgy. Bagong Ilog, Pasig City, Philippines, will be DISSOLVED through the shortening of its corporate term in accordance with Section 120 of the Corporation Code. Corporation’s dissolution will take effect upon approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the amendment made on Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation to shorten its corporate term.

(MS-NOV. 21, 28 & DEC. 5, 2018)

(MS-NOV. 28, DEC. 5 & 12, 2018)

Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

TODAY NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 212

PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versus-

R-MND-18-00288-CV

BERNADETH P. SANCHEZ AND GENESIS ANGELO R. GARCIA and JOHN DOE, Defendants. x----------------------------------------x

ORDER Acting on the Ex-Parte Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication filed by the plaintiff through counsel and pursuant to Section 14 of Rule 14 of the Rules of Court, considering that defendant’s whereabouts is unknown and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, the instant motion is GRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, let summons to the defendant be made by publication in a newspaper to be chosen by raffle to be conducted by the OCC, RTC of Mandaluyong City.

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, Philippines September 24, 2018 (Sgd.) RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI Judge COPY FURNISHED: SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff 4th Floor PSBank Center Building No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeno Street, Makati City BERNADETH P. SANCHEZ AND GENESIS ANGELO R. GARCIA No. 9222 Flora Vista Condo,Verbena Cluster 2, Commonwealth, Quezon City RTC-OCC Mandaluyong City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 212 PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versusR-MND-18-00288-CV BERNADETH P. SANCHEZ AND GENESIS ANGELO R. GARCIA and JOHN DOE, Defendants. x----------------------------------------x

SUMMONS

Pursuant to the court’s Order dated September 24, 2018 and in compliance with Sections 15 and 16, Rule 14 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, herein is the Plaintiff’s Complaint, to wit:

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, by counsel, respectfully states that: 1. Plaintiff Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank for brevity), is a thrift banking corporation organized and existing under Philippine Laws, with principal office and place of business at 4th Floor PSBank Center #777 Paseo de Roxas cor. Sedeno St., Makati City with branch located at CIFRA Bldg., 641 Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City; 2. Defendant/s BERNADETH P. SANCHEZ and GENESIS ANGELO R. GARCIA, Filipino, of legal age, with given address at UNIT 9222 FLORA VISTA CONDO VERBENA CLUSTER 2, COMMONWEALTH, QUEZON CITY, where he/ she may be served with summons and other judicial processes; 3. Defendant John Doe, whose real name and address is unknown to the plaintiff, is whoever maybe in actual possession of the motor vehicle described below if it is not in the custody of the defendants; 4. For value received, the defendants jointly and severally executed and delivered to HONDACARS FAIRVIEW (HOUSE OF INVESTMENT, INC.) (Dealer, for brevity) a Promissory Note (ANNEX A) dated on December 27, 2016 with a face amount of P666,400.00 payable in 60 months at a monthly installment of P16,473.00 beginning FEBRUARY 17, 2017 and on the 17th day of every succeeding month thereafter with late payment penalty of 5% per month from due date until the entire obligation is fully paid; 5. To secure the payment of the Promissory Note, the defendant also executed in favor of the Dealer, a Chattel Mortgage dated DECEMBER 27, 2016 over the motor vehicle described below; MAKE/TYPE : 2017 HONDA JAZZ MOTOR NO. : L15Z23163042 SERIAL NO. : MRHGK5830HP000137 Together with the body built or that may be built thereon and all the equipment, attachments and accessories which may now or from time to time be used with, added to or attached to the motor vehicle; 6. On DECEMBER 27, 2016, the Dealer assigned to the Plaintiff all its rights, title and interest over the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage through a Deed of Assignment (Annex A-1) dated DECEMBER 27, 2016; 7. In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage, it is stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance and the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle from the defendants who are bound, on demand, to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may be found or situated or where the plaintiff may have its principal or branch office; 8. Defendants violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two monthly installments falling due on OCTOBER 17, 2017 and subsequent installments plus other stipulated charges if any; 9. Notwithstanding, the waiver of the defendant/s in the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage to receive a demand before the filing of the complaint, plaintiff still sent oral and/or written demands upon the defendant/s to surrender the subject mortgaged motor vehicle for purposes of foreclosure to satisfy defendant’s obligation or to pay his/her their loan obligation. However, despite the said oral and/or written demands upon the defendant/s he/she/they still failed and continued to refuse to pay his/her/their loan obligation. A copy of the Demand Letter dated JANUARY 24, 2018 is hereto attached as Annex B. Total Amount due and collectible as of JANUARY 24, 2018 is at P799,355.03 inclusive of penalties, interest, attorney’s fees and exclusive of accruing other charges and legal expenses, as per Statement of Account dated JANUARY 24, 2018 attached hereto as Annex C. 10. The Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage further stipulate that any legal action arising there from, may be instituted at plaintiff’s option, in the court of competent jurisdiction in Metro Manila or in any province, city or municipality where plaintiff has a branch office; 11. Pursuant to Sec. 2 Rule 60 of the Revised Rules of Court and in support of plaintiff’s application for a preliminary writ of replevin attached is plaintiff’s Affidavit of Merit; 12. Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual market value of P664,400.00 of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return to be adjudged and for the payment to the defendants of such sums as it may recover from the plaintiff:

ALTERNATIVE CAUSE OF ACTION 1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference, the preceding paragraphs; 2. In the event that the mortgaged motor vehicle cannot be found, seized and foreclosed, that the defendants, their successors, assigns and such other persons as may be required by law, be held liable, jointly and severally to pay total amount due and collectible amounting to P799,355.03 inclusive of penalties, interest, attorney’s fees and exclusive of accruing other charges and legal expenses under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid;

PRAYER ACCORDINGLY, it is respectfully prayed that: 1. A writ of replevin be issued ordering the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle, complete with all its equipment, attachments and accessories from the defendants and its delivery to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, to satisfy defendants’ obligation.

2. Judgment be rendered confirming and ratifying as legal and valid the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle and its delivery to plaintiff for purposes of extra judicial foreclosure, in accordance with the provisions of the Chattel Mortgage; on the alternative cause of action, in the event that the mortgaged motor vehicle cannot be recovered and delivered to plaintiff, to render judgment in favor of plaintiff, ordering defendants, jointly and severally, to pay plaintiff total amount due and collectible amounting P799,355.03 inclusive of penalties, interest, attorney’s fees and exclusive of accruing other charges and legal expenses under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid; Other appropriate relief are likewise prayed for.

Makati City for Mandaluyong City, 25 January 2018.

SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES In House Litigation Counsels Counsel of Plaintiff PSBank 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City Tel. No. 885-8208 local 8627 DANILO S. SALGADO PTR No. 5909242; 1-3-17; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 03789; 7/7/04; Pasig City Roll No. 38262 MCLE Compliance No. V-0006940; 3-26-15 CONSTANTINO L. REYES PTR No. 3761686; 1/3/17; Quezon City IBP Lifetime Member No. 00747; Pasig City Roll No. 40682 MCLE Compliance No. VI-0002609; 06/20/17 QC FAINA E. PILAR-CHUANICO PTR No. 5909058/1; 1/03/17; Makati City IBP Lifetime No. 07082; Ilocos Norte Roll No. 42989 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003250/8-12-2014 NESTLE LYN M. PARDUCHO PTR No. 3803618; 1/04/17; Quezon City IBP Lifetime No. 013309; Q.C. Roll No. 58331 MCLE Compliance No. V-0014217; 2/11/16 NOLI A. CABRERA PTR No. 5928944; 01/18/17; Makati Roll No. 51998; Life IBP No. 07324 MCLE No. V-0009712; 8/13/2015 RAYMUND JONAS C. FLORES PTR No. 5916190; 1/9/17; Makati City Roll No. 62391; IBP Lifetime Member No. 11786; Makati City MCLE Compliance No. V-0006680; 3/04/15 GILBERT G. GORDOVE PTR No. 5912040; 01-5-17; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 04783; SAMAR Roll No. 44495 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003231; 8/12/14 EMILIO C. PANGILINAN PTR No. 3018445; (1/4/17); Mandaluyong City IBP Receipt No. 1056263 (1/4/17); Ortigas City Roll No. 51782 MCLE Compliance No. V-No. 0021824; 5/31/2016 NICEFORO L. AVILA IBP No. 1060239; 1/16/17, Makati PTR No. 5929062; 1/12/17, Makati Roll No. 48305 MCLE Compliance No. V-0020305, 4/11/16 Tel. No. 8858208 email: nlavila@psbank.com.ph

AFFIDAVIT OF MERIT TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF REPLEVIN AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ, of legal age, Filipino and with postal address at 4th Floor PSBank Centre, 777 Paseo de Roxas Street, corner Sedeno St., Makati City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: I caused the preparation of the complaint read the contents thereof; and allegations therein are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and authenticated record/documents under the possession of PSBank; The Plaintiff Bank is the mortgagee/assignee under a Chattel Mortgage dated DECEMBER 27, 2016 of the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE : 2017 HONDA JAZZ MOTOR NO. : L15Z23163042 SERIAL NO. : MRHGK5830HP000137 with all its equipment, attachments and accessories which Defendants mortgaged to secure payment of a Promissory Note (Annex “A”, Complaint) DECEMBER 27, 2016 with a face amount of P666,400.00 payable in 60 months a monthly installment of P16,473.00 beginning FEBRUARY 17, 2017 and on the 17th day of every succeeding month thereafter until fully paid; The estimated market value of the mortgaged motor vehicle is approximately P666,400.00.

Moreover, upon the lapse of one year, the determination of the Estimated Market Value of the mortgaged vehicle for Replevin Bond is based on the Policy and Procedure Guidelines of the bank which states that: “1.8.4 Determination of Estimated Market Value of the mortgaged vehicle for Replevin Bond. a. The estimated value of the mortgaged unit shall depend on the year model and the appraised value per CAMS/ILS b. At the time of the filing of the case, the estimated value of the unit is computed for the first year at 80% of its appraised value and a corresponding depreciation of 10%, 15% or higher, whichever is applicable shall be allocated every year thereafter. c. The amount of the Replevin Bond shall be twice the estimated value arrived at after allocating the said percentage. d. The estimated value shall have a minimum amount of P100,000.00.”

The above-quoted percentage for the computation of the estimated market value is adherent to the current international financial standards.

In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of their other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance, at the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle from the defendant who are bound, on demand, to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may be found or stipulated or where the plaintiff as mortgagee/assignee may have its principal or branch office; Defendants defaulted/violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two (2) monthly installments due thereon and subsequently installments; In view of defendants’ default/violation plaintiff has become entitled to the possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle which the defendant appear to have wrongfully detained to defeat plaintiff’s mortgage lien thereon, when they failed and/or refused to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, despite oral and/or written demands, contrary to the provisions of the Chattel Mortgagee; The mortgaged motor vehicle has not been taken for any tax assessment or fine pursuant to law, or seized under an attachment or execution against the property of the plaintiff or if so seized, the same is exempt from such seizure; Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual value of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return is adjudged and for the payment of the defendants of such amounts as they may recover from the plaintiff on the action.

I further certify Plaintiff has not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issue in another tribunal or agency; that to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court, or any other tribunal or agency and that if I should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court or any other tribunal or agency. I undertake to promptly inform the Honorable Court of that fact within five (5) days from my knowledge thereof.

(Sgd.) JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ Affiant NOW THEREFORE, defendant BERNADETH P. SANCHEZ and GENESIS ANGELO R. GARCIA are hereby summoned and required to Answer within SIXTY (60) DAYS from the date of publication of this summons.

WITNESS THE HONORABLE RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI, Presiding Judge of this Court.

Given this 26th day of Mandaluyong City, Philippines

September

2018,

(Sgd.) ATTY. JOFRE Z. ANDRION Branch Clerk of Court COPY FURNISHED: SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff 4th Floor PSBank Center Building No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeno Street, Makati City BERNADETH P. SANCHEZ AND GENESIS ANGELO R. GARCIA No. 9222 Flora Vista Condo,Verbena Cluster 2, Commonwealth, Quezon City RTC-OCC Mandaluyong City (MStandard-Nov. 28, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

wednesday, november 28, 2018

LGUs

Malabon boosts livelihood of ‘Pan De Ladies’

LocaL government units

[First of two parts]

Women in bright pink clothing prepare to use their plastic gloves to get the freshly-baked pan de sal from their boxes (inset) as part of the ‘Pan de Ladies’ effort of the Malabon city government to give livelihood to 150 women and single parents.

Man arrested for disrupting Abby’s gab in Southside

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati City police have filed charges of “alarm and scandal” against a 29-year-old man who was intoxicated and disrupted Mayor abigail Binay and residents during an “Ugnayan sa Barangay” in Barangay Southside last Sunday.

The suspect, identified as Julie Merck y Sasapan, 29, a resident of ISG Central Open Court where the dialog was being held, was arrested by police officers from Police Community Precinct b10 who were providing security in the area.

Police Officer 2 Jan Naoe said the incident happened at around 6:20 pm.

In the report, Merck “shouted unsavory words” while Mayor Binay was having a dialog with residents of Southside, causing a disruption that led to the early adjournment of the activity. according to witnesses, despite several warnings, Merck continued to disrupt the proceedings by shouting insults and slurs to the participants of the Ugnayan, including the mayor.

Naoe, together with PO1 Nathaniel Pacalioga and PO1 Christian Gutierrez, were then constrained to place Merck under arrest and apprised him of his constitutional rights, and he reportedly opted to remain silent.

The arresting officers then brought the suspect to the Ospital ng Makati for medical inquest, and the medical report showed he was intoxicated. Merck was subsequently turned over to the Station Investigation and Detection Management Section at the Makati Central Police Station, where he is currently detained, for proper disposition.

Based on documentation of the dialog, Merck’s group was requesting help from the mayor for repairs needed to be done on the basketball court.

However, other residents also voiced out their concerns about how Merck’s group was allegedly monopolizing the use of the facility and picking fights with other residents who also wanted to use the basketball court.

BCDA, CDC launch new Clark brand, identity

C

LARK FREEPORT, Pampanga ― The Bases Conversion and Development authority and the Clark Development Corporation have launched a new Clark brand integrating four major investment districts here, namely Clark Freeport Zone, Clark Global City, Clark International airport, and New Clark City.

Dubbed as “Clark: It Works. Like a Dream,” the launching of the Clark brand was held at the aSEaN Convention Center here led by BCDa chairman Gregorio Garcia III and BCDa president and CEO Vivencio Dizon, in collaboration with the CDC. “Everyone wants to move to the big city. Good money, good jobs, a place to be productive. But the paradox is that cities don’t work for people, even though they’re full of them. It’s a pressure cooker of congestion, pollution and rent you can’t afford,” in a manifesto read by Dizon.

“Clark is different. Because it was built from scratch, crafted, to be built for people. To have the vibrancy of a city without the pressure of city life. and the energy of

a culture that is happy and inclusive. It’s amazing what you can do when you’re in the right place,” he said.

The event was also graced by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Transport Secretary arthur Tugade.

Other attendees included Capas Mayor reynaldo Catacutan, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, and representatives from BCDa’s development partners such as aECOM, MTD Philippines Inc., Budji+royal architecture+Design, and Udenna Corp., the owner of Clark Global City.

Clark Freeport Zone, managed by the CDC, has continued to fuel growth not

just in Pampanga but in the whole of Central Luzon as well.

Within it is the 177-hectare Clark Global City, being developed by Udenna Corporation, which is becoming the new business hub of the country.

The Clark International airport is envisioned to be the next premier gateway to asia.

The airport’s new terminal building, expected to operational by June 2020, will increase passenger capacity by 8 million per year.

The 9,450-hectare New Clark City, located 100 kilometers north of Manila, will be the first smart, green, resilient, and sustainable metropolis in the country.

The Phase 1a of New Clark City involves the construction of the National Government administrative Center, which includes world-class sports facilities for the SEa Games next year.

“Clark is a city that works. It’s a perfect mix of business, lifestyle, leisure, and modernity,” Dizon added.

Romeo Dizon with PNA

Mary Joy De Vera of Barangay Dampalit in Malabon is a solo mom of a son and twin daughters. as a single parent, she finds it hard to augment the already small household income.

When she gave birth to her twin daughters, De Vera found it hard to get back to work.

She felt restless -- and useless -- at home, so when she found out about a project called Pan De Ladies, it was an answered prayer for solo moms like her.

“I was very uneasy at home since I just had a difficult birth. But I desperately want to help my family, which is why I was really glad when the opportunity to join the Pan De Ladies came.”

Pan De Ladies is a livelihood program organized by the Malabon City Government that grouped together 150 women and solo parents. It encouraged these ladies to become entrepreneurs by selling the staple food of Filipinos: Pan de sal.

Solo parents, especially moms, are considered as one of the most neglected members of society. acting both as breadwinner while taking care of the household and the kids, they give everything to their family and leave so little for themselves.

Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta recognized this problem and has launched a number of notable livelihood projects that empowers solo moms. One of these projects is the Pan de Ladies.

Through a partnership with Malabon’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which operates a bakery manned by inmates with baking experience, the City Hall of Malabon orders baked goods like pandesal, pan de coco and Spanish bread which the Pan De Ladies resell by going around their respective barangays.

Finding the first batch of ladies was done by tapping Malabon’s barangays.

Officials went door to door, encouraging female solo parents to join a meeting so they can explain the project in detail. Then, they were able to enlist women, mostly solo moms, who all wanted to earn some extra income to augment th eir household income.

Each Pan de Lady was awarded with a P1,000 starting capital and accessories like uniforms, a large styro box where they can store freshly-baked bread, and a trolley to make it easier for them to sell around the community. [to be continued]

QC dads move to stall hike in DOH in Region 10 pushes family planning ‘for a brighter future’ property values a NUrSE, a young mother, and a woman who recently gave birth―what do they have in common?

The three are among a number of rural women who have decided to take charge of their personal and family’s well-being by attending a family planning session in Malaybalay, Bukidnon initiated by the Department of Health region 10.

The event is part of a nationwide campaign implementing the rH Law or The responsible Parenthood and reproductive Health act of 2012, which seeks to narrow the gap in knowledge and services especially among sectors and areas that need them the most.

Ivet Mulo from Kitaotao town decided to space her pregnancies when she conceived her second child less than a year after a Caesarean delivery.She voluntarily received a modern contraceptive during the forum.

Her case highlights another considerable benefit of family planning: it helps women recover better after every pregnancy and supports the mother and her partner in spacing births, ideally at least three years apart.

The timing of the family planning seminar could not have been better for

An official of the Department of Health in Region 10 talks about family planning in a session in Malaybalay, Bukidnon last week. It is part of a nationwide campaign implementing the RH Law or The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.

mother of three, government-employed nurse avril Mellisa Bughaw, 36, of Malaybalay City, as a World Health Organization study says women with more than four babies are at an increased risk of mortality.

By opting for a modern contraceptive

which was administered during the session, Bughaw decided to prioritize her own health and the future of her family.

The key to family planning is informed and voluntary choice: “With support from the DOH, women of reproductive age have the information

that they need to plan their family according to their belief and circumstances, and choose among legally and medically3 acceptable family planning methods,” explains Kibawe Municipal Health Officer Dr. Helen rose P. Tulog to the Bukidnon women.

Norma Panaraag is a resident of Barangay Kasig-ot, Don Carlos town.

The 20-year-old mother of a two-year old boy wanted to space future pregnancies so she and her husband can provide better financial support for their current child. She availed of a free progestin subdermal implant provided by the DOH during the session, a type of Long-acting reversible Contraceptive (LarC) that prevents pregnancy up to 3 years, at the end of which or anytime it is discontinued her fertility resumes. Panaraag said that the subdermal implant is her contraceptive of choice until she decides to get pregnant again once her eldest child reaches the age of five.

In the Philippines alone, about 114 mothers die in every 100,000 live births and 13 babies die out of 1,000 live births,1 according to a report of the asian Development Bank based on the latest available data.

Calapan Waterworks hits new milestone in 10-year expansion

By Robert A. Evora

BITCOIN EXPERTS. Wowoo Exchange Chief Marketing Officer Nori Takayama, Stasia

Co. Ltd. Chief Customer Officer Ted Oh, and Brave Sound Chief Executive Officer Kohsuke Sato (from left) brief newsmen on Blockchain technology in the country at the launch of the Tokens News Philippines Conference on Sunday in Pasay City. The group aimd to educate Filipinos on the policies and regulation of blockchain industry, and the benefits of using digital cash as the global trend in the near future. Ey Acasio

CaLaPaN CITy—The Calapan Waterworks Corp. (CW) has added another milestone in the implementation of its P400-million Development Initiative with the inauguration of its brandnew modern water reservoir in this city.

The new reservoir has a storage capacity of 1,500 cubic meters of ground water, “which is equivalent to 1.5-million liters for distribution to its rising number of consumers of 15,000 households, not to mention industrial consumers,” Eric Montelibano, CW vice-president for corporate affairs, said.

Jolly L. Ting, CW board chairman, ex-

plained that this new addition to the series of the water company’s infrastructure build-ups is part of the company’s 10-year development plan costing P400 million.

“There’s still much to be desired to meet the rising demands for fresh water from a growing population in this city, including investors who expressed interests to do business in this booming city,” Ting said, stressing that “it needs more water sources to cope with the demands.”

In its timeline, the Calapan Water expects that between 2018 and 2028, consumers are expected to double from the present 15,000 households to 28,000 households located in 36 out of the city’s 62 barangays.

By Rio N. Araja THE 37-member Quezon City council has approved on third and final reading a proposed measure suspending the increase in fair market values of properties.

The proposal is aimed to lessen the burden on taxpayers who continue to experience the impact of inflation due to the implementation of the Tax reform for acceleration and Inclusion Law. Proposed Ordinance No. 20CC-497 was ratified by the city council following plenary debate as well as approval by the committees on ways and means, appropriations, and laws, rules and internal government.

The council is eyeing to suspend the fair market value increase for two years, 2018 and 2019, to “temper the effect of significant increase of commodities, especially to residents of Quezon City.”

Collection of real property taxes for 2018 and 2019 would then be based on the 1996 schedule of fair market values.

“The fair market values in Quezon City were last adjusted in December 1995, so the city really needs to raise market values because it’s long overdue. right now, though, it’s imperative we suspend collection due to the consequences of inflation,” District 3 Councilor Franz Pumaren, the majority floor leader, said.

“Our economic managers have agreed that the priority right now is to reduce, and not add to, the burden of taxpayers and consumers. We’re following suit in the interest of Quezon City residents,” he said.

The proposed measure aims to freeze the implementation of Ordinance No. SP-2556 which was passed in 2016 and that enacts an updated schedule of fair market values for land and basic unit construction costs for buildings and other structures in Quezon City.

The ordinance was put on hold in 2016 due to a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court following a petition filed by the alliance of Quezon City Homeowner’s association Inc., questioning the legality of the ordinance.

The Season of Festivity and Togetherness

wednesday, november 28, 2018

C1

T

here is a certain feeling that wraps us up when the roads are alive with festive light displays, the malls and hotels are decked with elaborate decorations, radio stations start playing seasonappropriate songs, and the streets begin to smell like Christmas—you know, bibingka, puto bumbong, roasted chestnuts.

Suddenly the days become more special, and we can’t wait for more.

In the Philippines, Christmas is one of the most important and awaited holidays. There’s no other holiday we start counting down the days to 100 days before and no other holiday during which we make it a point to make it special—with colorful décor and gifts under the tree and a variety of food on the table.

But sometimes, the festivity can turn into a frenzy. With the madding traffic jam, the frantic rush to mall sales, the snaking queues everywhere, it’s easy to become the Grinch who hates Christmas.

We often forget what this season is all about. That the reason we brave chaotic roads is because we want to be with our families. We tackle all kinds of mall crowds so that we can get the best gifts that will put the biggest smiles to our loved ones’ faces. We subject ourselves to long lines to ensure this year’s get-together pushes through, sore knees be damned.

At the end of a hectic day, we like to spend Christmas with our families—may it be the people we were born into or the people we chose to call as such.

As part of Manila Standard’s annual tradition, we present this Christmas supplement, the first of two parts, that showcases the reasons why Christmas is considered “the most wonderful time of the year.”

Gather the family and, together, read stories about celebrating timehonored Filipino Christmas traditions and surviving awkward family reunions, among others.

After all, it’s all about spending time with our family and making each sur other feel loved and special while surrounded by festive lights and cheerful sounds.

From our family Standhere at Manila Stand ard happy holidays! ard,

-Bernadette Lunas

All festive roads lead to home

C2

wednesday, november 28, 2018

The Season of Festivity and Togetherness

Celebrating Filipino

Christmas traditions digitally

By Angelica Villanueva

W

ITh only a few days away from the most wonderful time of the year, the streets are already bright with sparkling lights and the air is filled with Christmas music.

Time flies so fast we can’t help but wonder: hasn’t been only a few months ago that we were enjoying our time under the summer sun?

And just how fast the time flies, so does technology.

Technological innovations have helped us in many different ways, more notably in making our tasks easier and more convenient to do. Aside from enabling us to communicate with people from miles away or hail a cab through our smartphones, these digital aids also help in celebrating our well-loved Christmas traditions. here’s how some digital apps help keep our Filipino Christmas traditions alive, and—this goes without saying—much more convenient.

Ninongs and ninangs can ‘GCash’ their gift to their inaanaks.

Kids go around the neighborhood to sing Christmas songs.

Gift-giving

Christmas caroling

Filipinos are known for having a long list of inaanaks or godchilOnce the dawn Masses or Simbang Gabi begins, carolers, usually young dren, which means ninongs (godfathers) and ninangs (godmothers) kids, armed with handmade musical instruments made of bottle caps and are now starting to wrap gifts or amass crisp 100-peso bills. tin cans, go around the neighborhood to sing famous Christmas songs. “Sa To all the ninangs and ninongs out there, here’s for you: Prepare May Bahay ang Aming Bati” and “Pasko Na Naman” are popular choices. your gifts and surprise your godchildren with the help of logistics Well, level up your game kids. With the help of music streaming company like Lalamove and WeeXpress. For those who still prefer platforms like Spotify and iTunes, you can update your playlist and to give money, there’s PayMaya, GCash, and Paypal that lets you sing your hearts out as you play traditional and foreign Christmas send pamasko to your inaanaks. songs with the help of a smart mobile device and speaker.

Maybe this year you will not hear the word “patawad” anymore.

Monito monita, Filipinos’ version of Secret Santa, can now be done remotely.

Monito monita

Filipino families make sure to prepare a feast for noche buena.

Filipinos take the season of giving seriously, as aside from exchanging gifts during Christmas parties and on Christmas Day, we have a pre-Christmas gift-giving tradition called Monito monita.

This is usually done within a group of friends, classmates, or officemates wherein they exchange gifts based on the agreed theme or price.

But did you know that you and your friends can do Monito monita even when you’re far away from each other? A software application called Elfster helps long-distance friends conduct Monito Monita remotely.

The app features a universal wish list, an anonymous Q&A section, personalized gift recommendations, activity updates, and forum discussions. Elfster will do the job of choosing a random gift receiver for each user. Then users can see their friend’s wish list and ask them questions anonymously.

It has become a custom for some Filipinos to complete the nine-day Masses.

Noche buena

In many Filipino households, noche buena is considered the most important meal shared together with the whole family. It’s a feast on the Simbang Gabi table, complete with spaghetti, chicken barbecue, lechon, fruit salad, Simbang Gabi is a devotional nine-day series of Masses held at hamón, and queso de bola, among a variety of other favorite holiday fare.

3:00 or 4:00 in the morning from December 16 to 24. According to Sure, indulging in delectable dishes is great, but somehistorians, Simbang Gabi is held at dawn to allow farmers to hear times, preparing them can be exhausting, not to mention the Mass before they begin their day’s work. tedious. For those who want to prepare a spread without a For some Filipinos, it has become a cherished custom to complete sweat, honestbee, FoodPanda, Eatigo, and GrabFood are the nine-day masses. But for those who might miss a Mass because there to help in putting food on the table. No more cooking, of busy schedule or other reasons, they can now “attend” it through just booking. live streams available online.

When the table is set, what’s left are the people partaking of it. FamSince 2017, youTube channels Philippine Daily Mass and Sambu- ily members who can’t be at home to share this Christmas meal with hay TV Mass have been live streaming Simbang Gabi Masses for their loved ones can now do it virtually with the help of video call via those who cannot join the Mass in the church.

Messenger, Skype, Viber, FaceTime, or Google hangouts.

7 tips for surviving awkward family reunions

By Paola Navarette “Why are you still single?” “Why have you gained so much weight?” “Were you promoted last year?” “Will you ever have kids?”

Let’s face it—family reunions can be both a joyous and stressful time because rare is the gathering where none of these questions is asked.

Some say our relatives just ask us out of concern, or because they have nothing else to talk about. But all things considered, these “wellmeaning” questions can easily make a supposedly fun gathering of catching up with distant relatives into an cringe-worthy affair.

Fear not brave holiday celebrant, for here are some tips on how to survive this festive occasion and enjoy the holidays with your extended family.

1. Bring a ‘wingman’ For many people this will be a spouse, but a sibling, cousin, or grandmother will also work.

One tricky part of attending a family reunion is when family members argue over their political opinions during dinner. In this kind of situation, a wingman may help lighten the mood.

2. Rehearse beforehand If you already know the topics that will be discussed during the big day, arm yourself with ready responses and diversions. Better prepared than sorry, right?

Some of the questions that you’ll be asked by well-meaning relatives include your job, kids, or other personal topics. Practice the conversation in your head and create an intentional response.

Do not hesitate to steer the conversation toward topics you’d rather talk about or give basic answers and let awkward silences do the rest.

3. Exercise humor liberally There’s nothing like a good joke to break the tension in an otherwise awkward family reunion.

According to parent expert and doctor John Duffy in an article published on brides.com, “Keeping things light, and focusing on topics that lack controversy is my number one recommendation for surviving a family reunion intact.”

Scientific research suggests there are significant physical and emotional benefits from a good chuckle. Data also show that laughter lessens the effects of mental stress and stimulates the release

of beneficial hormones.

A word of advice: if you choose to pick on a family member in a few family reunion jokes, make sure not to take it too far so as to avoid upsetting or embarrassing anyone.

4. Capture a few photographs

plenty of tasks needed to be done. you can offer to serve ice cream for the kids or offer to chop some roasted pig for Uncle Jun. When offering a helping hand, it’s best to pick a particular task. “Even if you don’t wind up doing the job you mention, being specific will establish the scope of your offer,” etiquette and parent-

” ! t a f k o o l u “Yo

Offer to carry and tell your aunt’s baby a story, have a conversation with the shy cousin, or jump in and play hide and seek with your niece in the backyard. Children can be delightful companions if treated with respect and gentleness.

7. Plan an escape route While you certainly don’t want to be rude and offend your relatives, you’ll want to have a plan in mind to extricate yourself from the festivities when you’ve had enough. you don’t want to be stuck without a few sensible reasons, because you might end up saying something like, “I have to go, uh, because I think I left my hair straightener plugged in.”

Instead, make plans before the reunion to drive one of your elderly family members home after the meal, or apologize and say that you need to be up extra early the next morning for school or work.

Duffy further mentioned that “it’s a good idea to escape to your room when tensions get high, just to take a breather.” he added, “This could make for far healthier, more memorable reunion.”

THE SEASON OF FESTIVITY AND TOGETHERNESS Bernadette Lunas Editor Paola Navarette Angelica Villanueva Writers

If you don’t want to spend the entire evening thinking of topics to talk about, consider volunteering as the primary photographer at the reunion.

One advantage of being the designated photographer is that it gives you an excuse to leave a conversation anytime.

While you’re at it—taking photos, that is— make sure to take interesting images. Aside from taking group photos, shoot some candid moments of your relatives while interacting, laughing during family games, or eating.

5. Make yourself useful Whether it’s before or after the meal, there are

ing expert Ceri Marsh said in an interview with theglobeandmail.com.

Offering to help with these chores not only makes a good impression on your relatives, but also keeps you busy and gives you something to focus on other than Aunt Dolores’ weird new hairdo.

Pro tip: If they decline your offer of assistance, you can respond by saying that you want to spend extra time with them.

6. Spend time with the young ones If there are children present, you can give yourself a break from interacting with the grown-ups by spending time with the younger set.

Rex Perzeus Sardinia Marc Christian P. Jarlego Layout Baldwin Felipe Advertising Solutions Head Paula Reynoso Advertising Solutions Manager Bessie Good Babes Good Merce Pascual Ron Tamayo Albert Legaspi Advertising Account Executives

The Season of Festivity and Togetherness

Season of Wonders at Shangri-La Plaza

S

hangri-La Plaza is all decked out in holiday trimmings inspired by the greatest show on earth—the Circus! The mall’s entrances turn into revolving carousels to welcome mall guests, while the grand atrium offers a breathtaking scene of acrobats, hot air balloons, and colorful balls and banners, suspended from its high ceiling.

The East atrium beckons with twinkling lights, gold tinsel and tassels; while the grand 50-ft Christmas tree at the Main Wing is the perfect grammable spot with its striped hot air balloon ornaments, deck of cards, Ferris wheel, and acrobats, topped with a lighted marquee. Usher in the yuletide season with the Christmas Tree Lightning festivities on December 1, Saturday, 6:00PM at the grand atrium.

Pororo and Friends, Tayo the Little Bus, and the rest of the gang are sure to entertain the little ones with fun games and exciting activities at the Christmas Cartoon Festival on november 30, 4PM at the grand atrium.

Who’s naughty or nice? Children can personally tell Santa Claus their wishes at Santa’s Corner, located at the hallway by rocky Mountain at Mid-Level 2/3East Wing. a line-up of musical performances is all set for December. Catch the aBS-CBn Philharmonic Orchestra with the ateneo Chamber Singers, indie folk band Ben&Ben, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, songstress Karylle, and various choirs as they serenade mall guests throughout the month.

Christmas is the Season of giving – take the opportunity to help less fortunate children through grant a holiday Wish.

Purchase Christmas angels handcrafted by local artisans from CCaP for only P200 and hang these on Christmas Trees. Proceeds will go to the Unang hakbang Foundation, which aims to nurture and empower children from underprivileged communities.

Shangri-La Plaza also proves that it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving with the rev Up Your Styleraffle! Several sleek and stylish dream rides are at stake, including a 2018 Mini 3-door hatch Cooper, a 2018 Mini Convertible Cooper S, and six 2018 Vespa S125s.

Just shop and dine at the Shang to get one raffle coupon for every P2,500 single receipt purchase. Purchases from november 16 to January 6, 2019 will be included in the first raffle draw, while those made from January 7 to February 17, 2019 can join the second raffle draw.

There’s nowhere else to celebrate Christmas than at the Shang! #FeelTheShangVibe as the Season of Wonders begin at Shangri-La Plaza this December.

For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www. facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial. Follow the Shang on instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

wednesday, november 28, 2018

C3

C4

The Season of Festivity and Togetherness

wednesday, november 28, 2018

SM Aura Premier

celebrates Christmas F

Pilipinas Got Talent grand winner Kristel de Catalina thrills guests with her breathtaking aerial stunt performance.

in the Wild

ollowing last year’s magical Under the Sea Digital Underwater Experience, SM Aura Premier takes shoppers on a holiday expedition to the sparkling wild.

The centerpiece at the mall’s atrium is designed with life-size installations of safari’s majestic creatures—elephants, giraffes, deer, leopards, lions, hippopotamus, rhinos, and giant eagles in hues of gold and green. They stand proudly beside a giant Christmas tree embellished with giant lED leaves, and dazzling gold, silver, green, and red giant Christmas balls in different textures.

SM Aura likewise pushes the envelope of art even further by creating Prism of lights, an immersive display in partnership with Huawei Mobile Philippines. Here, mall-goers can experience the interactive light show which interprets beauty and wonder of the pristine night sky. The exhibit is open to all for free, and is perfect for capturing those picture-perfect holiday memories.

During the tree lighting ceremony, the audience was treated to an African-inspired ensemble, with a drum circle and dancers by Animo Tierra and was capped off by a jawdropping spiral pole dance performance by Pilipinas Got Talent grand winner Kristel de Catalina. in the following weeks, SM Aura Premier makes the season more unforgettable with family-filled events such as Santa’s Meet and greet and the letters to Santa workshop on December 9 and 16, chorale performances on December 8 and 15, and other musical acts on December 14, 21, and 23.

For more information, follow SM Aura Premier on Instagram @SMAuraPremier and Facebook at /SMAuraPremier.

SM Aura Premier’s giant Christmas tree is diesigned with giant LED leaves.

SM chief operating officer Steven Tan (center) with (from left) SM AVP for Operations Bernice Baculi, Taguig City Economic Officer Chie Bocobo, Kristel de Catalina, and SM SVP for Marketing Jon Jon San Agustin.