Manila Standard - 2018 December 20 - Thursday

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WHISTLESTOP HOMECOMING: NICE TO BE BACK

By Nickie Wang A SWARM of photographers and mediamen greeted newly crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray when she arrived Wednesday afternoon at the private Platinum Skies Aviation, Inc. hangar in Pasay City from Bangkok, Thailand.

Flanked by security and staff of the Miss Universe Organization, the 24-year-old model and singer stepped off the private plane in an off-white ensemble, causing a frenzy.

Grey’s brief visit to Manila is not part of her official function as the reigning Miss Universe. She is set to have a press conference Thursday morning at the Shangril-La at Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 308 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

No Road Board abolition ---Andaya ‘We acted on Rody’s policy direction, met him with GMA, Go’

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

D RED-CARPET TREATMENT. Newly crowned Miss Universe 2018, 24-year-old model and singer Catriona Gray, is welcomed Wednesday afternoon by some of the children of Young Focus, a Tondo-based non-government organization that she has been supporting since 2016. Also with her is former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson, whose daughter Richelle Michael served as a judge in the Bangkok pageant.

No truce with Reds for first time in 30 years

Rice tariffication up for approval; NFA future at stake PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will soon sign into law the rice tariffication bill, Malacañang said on Wednesday after the Chief Executive certified the measure as urgent two months ago.

“It has been submitted to the Office of the President. I suppose it will be signed anytime,” said Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Wednesday.

The Rice Tariffication Bill aims to lift the quantitative restrictions on rice imports, allowing private traders to import grain from countries of their choice.

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Pinoy benefits from Bush charity FORMER American President George H. W. Bush, who recently passed away, secretly sponsored a Filipino named Timothy for 10 years before the boy knew who his benefactor was, CNN reported Wednesday.

Next page Next page

5 DAYS

By Franciso Tuyay and Nat Mariano

Lorenzana

FOR the first time in 30 years, the government will not suspend military operations over the holidays, despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by the communist rebels Friday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza said.

“We’re fooling ourselves about this ceasefire,” the Defense chief said, after the Communist Party of the Philippines said it would suspend attacks

on the military from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 “in unity with the Filipino people’s observance of traditional holidays.”

They also declared a New Year ceasefire from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.

But Lorenzana said a ceasefire would only give the rebels time to regroup in preparation for more fighting.

Ahead of their ceasefire, the New People’s Next page

ESPITE statements from the Palace stating otherwise, House Majority Leader Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte wants the Road Board to continue and to disburse funds from the road user’s tax.

Andaya’s statement flew in the face of a Palace statement earlier this week that the President was ready to sign a bill abolishing the Road Board.

Andaya said he and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had met with the President and his former assistant, Christopher Go, to discuss what to do with the graft-ridden Road Board.

Former speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez had earlier proposed the agency’s abolition. Next page

Du30 only joking on Mar—Palace PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was only joking when he linked former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to the failed assassination attempt on former police general and now Daanbantayan, Cebu, Mayor Vicente Loot, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Roxas’ spokesman said Wednesday Roxas was letting slide Duterte’s remark that he ordered the killing of Loot.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, Roxas’ party mate in the Liberal Party, said the senatorial hopeful was not a violent man.

“In the spirit of Christmas, Secretary Mar’s attitude is to just let go. Secretary Panelo had already clarified that its just a joke,” Erice told GMA News Online.

In his speech in Davao City on Tuesday night, Duterte first denied any involvement from the ambush of Loot, accusing Roxas of ordering the attack on Loot at a wharf in Daanbantayan on May 13, taking away the life of Loot’s driver-bodyguard in the ambush.”I wasn’t the one who ordered his ambush. It was Roxas. Roxas ordered his ambush, not me,” Duterte said.

“Because he was told, ‘Your Garbo, your senior police aide is involved in drugs.’ That was why Roxas was irked. He said, ‘Kill him instead in order for us not to be in shame.’ Next page

SANTA’S REINDEER. Not Dasher, not Dancer, not Prancer, neither Vixen nor Comet nor Cupid nor Donner and Blitzen. But plain Santa, the expandable and his two reindeer are attracting mall promenaders and shoppers at the frontage of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Lino Santos

Countdown to Christmas 2018 Film parade: Expec heavy traffic

Brace for holiday rush at NAIA

Clark breaches 2.5-m passenger arrivals

EXPECT heavy traffic in Manila and Pasay city as several roads will be closed for the annual Parade of the Stars of the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival on Dec. 23, the Manila Development Authority said Wednesday.

The MMDA said the parade would start at 1 pm but roads would be closed hours before the parade would start.

The MMFF’s executive committee said nine floats would participate in the parade which would last for several hours.

THE Manila International Airport Authority is expecting the arrival of more than two-million returning overseas Filipino workers, balikbayans and foreign tourists this Christmas season.

In anticipation of the holiday rush, airport employees have been prohibited from taking any leaves this season, according to MIAA general manager Ed Monreal.

The expected increase of arrival this holiday season was based on last year’s record arrival and the anticipated 10-percent passenger arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark, Davao and Cebu international airports.

THE Clark International Airport reached another milestone in its operation when it broke the 2.5-million passenger mark for the past 23 years this Wednesday.

Jaime Melo, president of Clark International Development Corporation, said they broke the passengers record of 2,500,050 courtesy of Emirate Flight No.EK338 bound for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Melo stressed the 2.5 passengers mark would translate into more revenue for the infrastructure program of President Rodrigo Duterte, responsible for turning Clark as a new aviation hub in the region in support of the conversion of the area as the alternative of development and growth of the country.

News

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MILF bucks anti-BOL petitions T

HE extremists in Mindanao might capitalize on the failure of the Bangsamoro Organic Law to be ratified, Murad Ebrahim, the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said Wednesday.

He also said the Supreme Court would find the Bangsamoro Organic Law constitutional despite a petition challenging it.

A group of constitutional experts and framers has asked the high court to re-

UN rapporteur seeks end to PH rights violations THE United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders has called on the Philippine government to end its attacks on human rights defenders and to recognize their work instead.

“The Special Rapporteur calls on the government to end immediately all forms of violations against human rights defenders, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances,” the official says.

In his latest World Report, UN special rapporteur Michel Forst says some states, including the Philippine government, “have actively taken steps to frustrate the enjoyment of the rights outlined in the Declaration” on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

“The government’s War on Drugs has created a climate of insecurity and impunity for extrajudicial killings that affect human rights defenders,” the report says.

The World Report is the first global survey on the situation of human rights defenders, identifying the progress and challenges that need to be addressed in relation to human rights and freedom.

“Duterte has fostered very harmful rhetoric against human rights defenders, labeling them ‘anti-nation,’ ‘protectors of drug lords,’ ‘communists,’ ‘terrorists’ and others,” the report says.

Forst urges the government to stop the stigmatization of human rights defenders, and instead recognize the legitimacy and importance of their work.

The report says the government should develop protection for human rights defenders.

It also advised the government to acknowledge the needs and circumstances of the groups of defenders, such as defenders of women’s rights, indigenous people’s rights, land rights and journalists.

Forst called on the government to review and desist from employing counterinsurgency measures, which, he says, result in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and human rights violations.

He also says law enforcement officials should be trained and equipped to respect and protect human rights.

“The government must reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law and ensure human rights violations are properly investigated, including those allegedly committed by state actors, to make perpetrators accountable and mitigate the culture of immunity,” the report says.

Rice...

From A1

Under the bill, the private sector will be permitted to import rice. They, however, have to secure a phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the 35-percent tariff from neighbors in Southeast Asia for shipments.

In endorsing the bill, Duterte told Congress that the proposed measure would address the urgent need to improve the availability of rice in the country, prevent artificial rice shortages, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.

However, once Duterte signed the measure into law, the National Food Authority will stop selling government-subsidized grain.

Under the current process, the NFA is tasked to stabilize rice prices by buying grain from farmers and selling it at a cheaper cost compared to commercial rice from P27 to P32. The proposed rice tariffication law, on the other hand, removes the NFA’s authority to import and distribute cheaper rice.

According to the government, at least 500,000 metric tons of imported NFA rice will arrive in the country by January 2019, but this will only be enough for two months.

Panelo said liberalization in the rice market will foster competition even after being told about a potential adverse reaction from the public.

For his part, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte will ensure that even with the rice tariffication, “the NFA shall continue to provide the public, particularly the less fortunate, with rice that is affordable and safe.”

“Once the law is passed, the NFA will be directed to buy palay from our local farmers and, together with the Department of Agriculture, to focus on developing costefficient systems that will help reduce the production costs of locally-produced rice and stabilize prices so that this food staple is accessibly priced,” Nograles told Palace reporters. Nat Mariano

ject the BOL, which they believe violates the constitutional provision that allows only one organic act to establish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

While the MILF respected the views of other people and acknowledges that it was the “duty of the Supreme Court to entertain” any such petition, Ebrahim said, he was “very confident the BOL will stand the constitutionality test.”

“It has been processed many times during the negotiations, during the crafting of the law and during the passing of the law in Congress. Everybody made sure the law will be constitutional,” Ebrahim

told ANC’s Headstart.

The BOL is up for a plebiscite on two dates as set by the Commission on Elections: On Jan. 21 and Feb. 6 next year.

“It will be capitalized by these extremist groups because for the meantime, when the BOL succeeded in passing Congress, they had no more justification in their campaign,” Ebrahim told ANC’s Headstart. “[If] the BOL is not passed, they will again capitalize on its failure in order to campaign, [be] more adherent in their campaign.”

The BOL, one of the requirements

No Road Board...

From A1

Andaya noted he could not have followed up on the road user’s tax as Diokno claimed.

He said he did not even make a request for any project to be approved by the Road Board.

“I have no reason to approach [Diokno],” he said. “I have not even one request [with the DBM], so I don’t have the right to follow up with him, because I asked for nothing.” the lawmaker said.

Both Andaya and Suarez bombarded Diokno with questions during a budget hearing and accused him of illegally inserting P75 billion into the 2019 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Suarez on Wednesday said lawmakers may request allocation from the road user’s tax, but could not touch 80 percent of the fund that automatically goes to the construction and improvement of roads.

He rejected the abolition of the Road Board, which oversees the fund allocation.

Earlier, former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said lawmakers could earn from the P45 billion road users tax if the Road Board is not abolished.

Suarez disputed this claim.

“We can only ask through the appeal of our constituents if a certain portion [of our roads] could be fixed. We would request the line agency if that would be possible and if that could be programmed in the following year. We [just] cannot tell them [to do so],” he told radio dzMM. “The allegation that lawmakers -- congressmen and senators -- meddling ... that’s not true. That’s not happening,” he said.

After the House took back its approval of a bill abolishing the board, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the issue may have to be settled in court.

In maintaining that the Road Board was “good as abolished” after both the House and the Senate agreed to dissolve it, Sotto said “perhaps somebody should bring it to the proper venue if they (House) would insist.

“As far as we are concerned, it’s abolished. We adopted the House version, it’s as good as a bill that is supposed to be transmitted to the President already and I’m sure the President will sign it,” Sotto said.

If the current bill is not signed, a new one could be filed in Jul next year by a new Congress, he said.

“Those who wanted the Road Board will no longer be around after June 30,” he added.

“Speaker [Arroyo] and I personally asked the President about his stance on the Road Board. All of us agreed to allow it to exist under the stewardship of Mr. Chito Clavano, who earlier resigned but whose resignation was rejected by the President. It is with this policy direction that the House of Representatives withdrew the proposal to abolish the Road Board,” Andaya said.

“We asked [the President] what he meant when he rejected the resignation [of Clavano]. He told us he still trusted the person. I think he still believes there is still a chance to cleanse the system of the agency. He even told us to go on with the release of project funds. That was how we understand things.

That’s the reason why we withdrew the proposed law [to abolish the board],” he said.

Congress earlier approved House Bill 7436 to abolish the Road Board due to grave allegations of misappropriation of public funds, and graft and corruption of its multibillion peso revenues.

The Senate has adopted the House bill and approved it as well, but Andaya said the approval has been rescinded.

The Road Board oversees the funds from the motor vehicle user’s charge collections being exclusively used for road maintenance and improvement of road drainage, installation of traffic lights and road safety devices and air pollution control.

It has also been open to abuse, particularly in the way funds are allocated and disbursed.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, meanwhile, said some lawmakers have been following up the release of funds from the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) or road users tax for their districts, which he said might be diverted for other uses fopr the upcoming 2019 midterm elections.

Asked if Andaya and Minority Leader Danilo Suarez were among the congressmen following up on the funds status, the Budget chief said yes.

“Lots of congressmen, yes. Yes, they were included,” he said.

Andaya, however, denied the Cabinet official’s statement.

“I don’t talk to him Perhaps Congressman Suarez, but I don’t talk to him on matters like that,” the Majority Leader told reporters during his press conference.

under the 2014 peace agreement between the government and the MILF, seeks to install a Bangsamoro political entity in place of the ARMM. It is envisioned to grant wider self-rule to the predominantly Muslim provinces and cities.

The petition from the Philippine Constitution Association seeking a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the law is the second challenge to the landmark law.

The Province of Sulu in October also questioned the constitutionality of Republic Act 11054, or the BOL, and sought a halt order against its implementation.

Pinoy...

From A1

The 41st President of the United States, who passed away last Nov. 30, sponsored a seven-year-old boy in the Philippines for 10 years using a pseudonym, the nonprofit organization who connected them revealed to CNN. Through Compassion International, a nonprofit organization that uses local churches to help children in poor communities around the world, Bush sponsored Timothy, whose surname was not disclosed.

The former president sent funds that went toward Timothy’s education, extracurricular activities and some of his meals, as Compassion shared some of Bush’s letters with CNN. Jim McGrath, a spokesperson for the Office of George H. W. Bush, confirmed the letters’ authenticity. The Bush family was not available to comment on the letters, CNN said.

Bush first got the idea to sponsor a child in 2001, when he attended a Christmas concert in Washington.

Due to security concerns, Wess Stafford, the former president of Compassion International, told CNN he became in charge of screening each letter. Bush didn’t make his job easy, he said, as the President began providing more information than he was supposed to.

Timothy never caught on to the hints in Bush’s letters, and didn’t find out who his sponsor was until he had graduated from the program, CNN said.

“After a while, my executive assistant, Angie Lathrop, took over the sponsorship, and after Timothy graduated at 17, she flew to the Philippines to meet him,” Stafford said. “That’s when she told him who his sponsor really was.”

Timothy was stunned, Stafford said.

Timothy told Lathrop he had no idea, and that the revelation was life-changing, she added.

Ironically, that was the last time the nonprofit organization heard from Timothy, despite efforts to locate him, Stafford said.

“We may not know where Timothy is, but we know he’s now living a successful life,” she said.

Slain newsmen targeted for murder—CPJ WASHINGTON―Journalists faced growing dangers of being targeted for killing for their work in 2018, even as the risks from war and conflict declined, a media watchdog said Wednesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said 34 of the 53 journalists killed on duty this year around the world were “singled out for murder.”

“The number of journalists targeted for murder in reprisal for their reporting nearly doubled in 2018 from a year earlier, driving up the overall count of journalists killed on the job,” the New York-based watchdog group said in a report.

The reported echoed concerns in a similar report this week from Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, which found the death toll at 80, using a different methodology that includes bloggers, citizen journalists and media workers.

Both reports cited an alarming increase in reprisals against reporters, highlighted by what CPJ called the “brazen murder” of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul.

The CPJ report said that while the total number of journalists killed on duty hit its highest level in three years, the number killed in conflict fell to its lowest since 2011.

The total is up from 47 killed in 2017, of which 18 were “pinpointed for murder,” CPJ said.

“Afghanistan, where extremists have stepped up deliberate attacks on journalists, was the deadliest country and accounted for much of the increase,” the report said.

AFP’s chief photographer in Afghanistan, Shah Marai, was among 25 people killed along with eight other journalists, in an April bomb attack.

The press rights group lamented “a lack of international leadership on journalists’ rights and safety” that may be increasing the dangers for the news media, illustrated by the Khashoggi killing.

“The most vocal head of state in Khashoggi’s case has been Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government has effectively shut down the independent media and is jailing more journalists than any other around the world for the third consecutive year,” said the report

by CPJ’s Elana Beiser.

“The White House, traditionally a strong defender of global press freedom, has equivocated on the blame for Khashoggi’s murder... Essentially, [US President Donald] Trump signaled that countries that do enough business with the United States are free to murder journalists without consequence.”

CPJ said it was investigating the killing of another 23 journalists in 2018, but so far not confirmed that the deaths were related to their work. AFP

Whistlestop...

From A1

No truce...

From A1

by a suspected NPA terrorist.

The town of Guilhungan is considered as an NPA infested area, and is the site of the deadly attack on policemen that killed the town’s chief of police Supt Ariel Arpon and five other police personnel.

The Palace said on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte will never allow the resumption of peace talks as long as communist rebels violate the truce’s terms.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte is open to putting an end to more than 50-year-old armed struggle with the communist rebels. The President, however, would never allow it to happen if attacks and rebellious acts against the government continue.

“The President is always open to end the bloodshed in this country. He doesn’t want any killing among Filipinos. But for as long as they violate the terms of the peace talks, then the President will never allow it to happen,” Panelo said in his Palace press briefing Wednesday.

“Remember they said that we’re going to have a Christmas truce? Look what they’re doing,” he said, referring to the recent NPA attacks.

Duterte, in his speech in Davao City Tuesday night, said that there is no need to issue an arrest warrant against communist rebels who perform “the continuous crime of rebellion 24 hours a day.”

“Why do I need to have a warrant? The fact that you are a rebel, you are a 24-hour violator of the Revised Penal Code of rebellion,” he said. “With rebellion, your crimes do not stop even when you’re asleep.”

He vowed to wipe out the communist rebels along with illegal drugs.

“I’ll just finish you. Why? If I don’t do it, you go again around the community asking for money and killing them if they don’t give… I want to stop communist [rebellion] and the drug menace. I want it done during my term,” he added.

Asked to clarify Duterte’s pronouncement, Panelo, meanwhile, said the President only meant that his administration is “going to respond in kind” toward the communist rebels.

CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison said the President has shown his disdain for the 5-day ceasefire announced by the rebels.

“He has also shown no mercy to his ordinary troops whose families remain poor despite their doubled salaries and license to kill,” Sison said in a statement Tuesday.

“Even in the Yuletide season, he deprives them of rest and relaxation with their families and wears them out with military operations that fail against the NPA and that succeed only in harming the people and damaging their livelihood and the civility of their lives,” the top communist added.

In November 2017, the President signed Proclamation 360, putting an end to peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front following a series of NPA attacks.

Last week, the President seemed he was growing impatient with the progress of peace talks and said he was “no longer ready” to talk with the communist negotiators.

He also warned Sison, who has been in self-imposed exile in the Netherlands for over three decades, not to set foot in the country as he would slap the top communist should he return to the Philippines.

The President on Wednesday vowed to protect the country’s indigenous peoples (IPs) from harassment by communist rebels and said he would put them in hamlets to keep them from being influenced or harmed by the leftists.

He announced this policy in a speech in Davao City.

“There is a certain point, but it will be this year. I have to be the one to say this first so that they won’t make up false stories. I will hamlet them. Why? Because if they remain scattered, they are really in danger,” Duterte told Lumad leaders.

The President said the hamlets would be Lumad territory that they could guard themselves.

“Now I will hamlet them. You natives won’t be able to say that you’re being imprisoned. But I will make a secure place for you that will be your territory for the meantime.

I will be the one to decide whether you’ll be given arms. No one else will be able to enter.

You will be the ones who will guard it,” the President said in Bisaya.

Duterte said, however, that he would also have the Armed Forces provide security for the hamlets, ordering soldiers to shoot communist rebels who tried to enter.

the Fort in Taguig City for a Christmas charity event.

The Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe winner will fly to New York this afternoon after a courtesy call in Malacañang. She is expected to immediately start her official duties as Miss Universe 2018 as soon as she arrives in New York, where the headquarters of the beauty pageant body are.

Gray will be back in Manila after the New Year for her “official” grand motorcade and homecoming party in the capital and in her hometown of Oas, Albay.

Among the Australian-born FilipinoScot’s companions in her three-hour flight from Bangkok to Manila were businessman Chavit Singson, his daughter Richelle Singson-Michael―who served as a judge in the recently concluded international pageant—as well as members of the MUO and other mediamen who covered the annual beauty tilt.

“It’s so nice to be home, back home in the Philippines,” she told reporters during their brief encounter.

At the airport, Gray was also welcomed by some of the children of Young Focus, a Tondo-based non-government organization that she has been supporting since 2016.

Winning the beauty tilt held in Bangkok allowed Gray to give the Philippines its second Miss Universe victory in four years, following Pia Wurtzbach’s triumph in 2015. She also joined Gloria Diaz (1969) and Margie Moran (1973) in the country’s pantheon of Miss U queens.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo confirmed to Palace reporters that Gray would meet with Duterte for a courtesy call.

“Yeah, I know there will be [a courtesy call]. I just don’t know the specific date, but Secretary of Tourism Berna said there will definitely be a courtesy call,” said Panelo.

In her statement, Gray emphasized the importance of having the spirit of giving this Yuletide season.

“Open up your heart to a neighbor, to a cause, to a charity near you because Christmas should be enjoyed by all no matter where you’re from, who you are, what you have. It really is a time for family and giving, so please do get in the spirit of Christmas,” she said. With Nat Mariano and Eton Concepcion

Du30...

From A1

peeve of the President because he is involved in drugs and Mr. Loot is a known protégé of Secretary Roxas. I think it was more of an expression of displeasure said in jest,” Panelo told reporters.

“If it’s a joke, then it’s not an accusation.

And as the President says, you can’t stop me from making jokes. Whether it’s necessary or not, that is his style.”

Panelo also defended Duterte’s remarks by saying Duterte’s statements were not a form of bullying, even if it involved someone’s reputation.

“I do not think so. People make jokes. It doesn’t mean you’re bullying someone. If it is a joke, it doesn’t involve a reputation because you are joking about it,” Panelo said.

In the 2016 presidential Elections, Roxas lost to Duterte. The President had accused Loot and other former police generals of shielding drug lords and syndicates.

The mayor had previously denied the President’s accusation, stressing he would not have the power to “protect” any criminal as he was busy with purely administrative works during the last seven years of his

police service.

Aside from Loot, Duterte also linked former Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., former National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, former Quezon City Police District Office director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, and former Western Visayas police Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz to illegal drugs.

Loot was believed to have been an associate of Roxas, an allegation which the former Cabinet official strongly denied. Nat Mariano

Army snatched 12 militiamen and two soldiers in a dawn raid Wednesday in Agusan del Sur. Major Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, those taken were part of a contingent of the New Tubigon Patrol Base in Sibagat town in Agusan del Sur. He said the raid occurred at about 3 a.m. when an estimated 50 NPA rebels belonging to the Sub-Regional Sentro de Gravidad Westland under alias Momoy and Guerrilla Front 30 under alias Megan barged in and took the hostages without a fight.

Villanueva said the rebels carted away an undetermined number of firearms before escaping.

The raid came barely two days after NPA rebels launched series of attacks in the Bicol Region and Capiz leaving four people, including a civilian bystander, wounded.

Villanueva said the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion was pursuing the rebels, who staged the abductions a week before the CPP’s 50th anniversary.

Under the provisions of International Humanitarian Law, the rebels are required to inform the families of the soldiers’ capture, their status and location, said Lt. Col. Rhoderick Parallag, commander of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion.

Meanwhile, a deputy chief of police of Negros Oriental was shot dead by motorcycle riding gunmen inside a commercial establishment Wednesday at 10:25 a.m.

Chief Supt Debold Sinas, Director of Police Regional Office-7 identified the slain police officer as Sr. Insp. Porferio Gabuya Jr., deputy chief of police for operations of the Guihulngan Municipal Police Station.

One of the assassins was armed with an M-14 rifle, police said.

Gabuya was taken to Guihulngan Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Gabuya’s death brought to seven the number of people killed in a span of four months in the area.

In August, a security aide of Mayor Guido Reyes, Policarpio Bulado, 63 was shot dead

“So it reached my term. That’s it. ‘Psst, Roxas ordered this someone to be ambushed.’ Who else would try to ambush a police general?”

Sought to explain Duterte’s pronouncement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo dismissed Duterte’s remark as yet another joke.

“It appears to me to [have been] said in jest, given the fact that General Loot is a pet

News China, not US, to blame for militarization —US envoy

By Rey E. Requejo THE United States on Wednesday said China and not the US should be blamed for the militarization of the West Philippine Sea. In an interview over ANC new channel, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim stressed that it was not fair to point the blame at the United States when it was China taking aggressive unilateral action in the disputed areas in the South China Sea. The US ambassador was reacting to the comments made by President Rodrigo Duterte this year that it was the US who should be blamed for the reclamation activities done by China in the West Philippine Sea because Washington did not do anything to stop it.

“I’m not sure if it’s really fair to point a finger at the United States because we’re not doing anything. It’s China that’s taking aggressive unilateral actions in the disputed area,” Kim said.

Severe sanctions await soldiers in arms mess

STIFF penalties will be meted out to personnel found guilty of weapons and ammunition pilferage involving military stocks, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal said Tuesday. “[If any military people are found involved], yung [the] full force of the law, apply the full force of the law para sa mga ito [to these individuals], we are professionalizing the Armed Forces, and definitely itong mga ito [these people] have no place in the ranks of the Armed Forces kung meron [man] [if there are any],” he added in an interview with reporters.

In a related development, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Wednesday batted for a congressional inquiry into the alleged selling of Armed Forces of the Philippines firearms to terrorist groups.

“The recovery of firearms and ammunition from gunrunners of Maute and Abu Sayyaf Groups which were traced to the military is reminiscent of the corruption that we have witnessed before under the Arroyo administration,” he said in a statement.

“This problem is one of the reasons why the Magdalo [party-list] is being pushed to protest against the government. It is disappointing that such thing is still happening now,” he added.

He said he would file a House resolution to call for the immediate and comprehensive investigation into the alleged illegal selling of military firearms and ammunition to terrorists. PNA with Rio N. Araja

Rappler, Ressa are awardees for press freedom defense fund SELF-ASSERTIVE news website Rappler and its founder and chief executive officer Maria Ressa were chosen by a group of international media organizations as the first recipients of a fund-raising campaign for the defense of press freedom.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and First Look Media’s Press Freedom Defense Fund, with the International Center for Journalists and Reporters Without Borders announced Tuesday their partnership on a fundraising campaign “to provide legal support for journalists facing extensive legal battles meant to suppress critical journalism.”

“The first recipients of this newly created campaign will be Rappler, the Philippine-based news organization, and its founder and editor, renowned journalist Maria Ressa,” CPJ said.

Ressa is accused of violating the Tax Code by failing to declare “correct and accurate” information in quarterly sales receipts from Rappler Holdings Corp.’s issuance and sale of Philippine Depositary Receipts worth P2.45 million.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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160,000 nabbed in drug war D

RUG coddlers who continue to resist arrest have to face the consequences of their actions, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the comment after government data from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 30 this year showed that 5,050 people had been killed in drug operations after allegedly resisting arrest.

Panelo said this figure is “way behind” the figures reported in “false news agencies.”

At the same time, data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency showed more than 160,000 drug personalities have been arrested since the start of President Rodrigo Duterte’s

campaign against illegal drugs.

The total count of drug personalities arrested since the start of Duterte’s term up to Nov. 30, 2018 is at 164,265.

Official records also showed that only 51 drug personalities died in the anti-illegal drug operations in November while 2,681 were arrested.

In the Real Numbers press briefing Tuesday, PDEA Spokesman Derrick Carreon addressed criticisms from groups questioning the accuracy of the numbers they had presented and said their data had undergone a rigid

process of data collation before being released.

“We stand by these numbers. These were closely studied. These are the real figures. We’re used to those groups releasing different figures left and right, we do not know where these numbers come from,” Carreon said.

Panelo refused to say whether it was a small or big number but noted that “the number of deaths occurring in drug related cases will depend on the circumstances surrounding the arrest.”

“It depends on how those involved in drugs will respond to operations against them. If they become violent just as early, the result will be violent too. What you sow, you reap,” Panelo said.

“It means that the people involved there are resisting arrest or using violence; that’s why in the process, they are given the consequent violence coming from the police officers,” he added.

Carreon said 159 of the arrested drug personalities were foreign nationals—48 were part of Chinese drug syndicates while 12 were Americans, 25 were Taiwanese, and 74 belonged to other nationalities.

PDEA records said some P128.96 million worth of illegal drugs and equipment were seized in November alone.

However, the figure was P25.19 billion for illegal drugs and equipment seized since July 2016 or the start of Duterte’s term. PNA

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The race gets tighter IF THE results of The Center’s latest survey are to be believed, the 2019 senatorial race just got a bit more exciting. Even administration candidates are now scrambling for a place in the Magic 12.

This was after former Senator Bong Revilla’s name was catapulted into the winning circle following his acquittal by the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court cleared Revilla of plunder after he was allegedly involved in the controversial pork barrel scam.

In the non-commissioned survey conducted by The Center from Dec. 3 to 9 among 1,200 respondents, only four of the seven incumbents seeking

Digital campaigns are the norm these days.

re-election are likely to make it in May 13, 2019.

Of the seven who are seeking a second term, namely: Senators Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Koko Pimentel, Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, And JV Ejercito, only Poe, Villar, Binay and Pimentel are sure of winning if the elections were held today, according to The Center.

In The Center’s survey which its Executive Director, Ed Malay says has a margin of error of plus/ minus 3.5 percent and a confidence level in excess of 98 percent, Villar is seen taking the lead in 2019 senatorial polls as Poe slides down to second.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Former Senator Pia Cayeteno and Binay hold on to third and fourth spots, respectively, while another former Senator, Lito Lapid moves up to fifth with Revilla, long given up for lost given his plunder case, gets into the Magic 12 at the expense of Angara.

Former Special Assistant to the President, Bong Go, starts moving up, overtaking Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos who remains saddled with issues and the recent conviction of her mother former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Ejercito and Aquino are seen struggling to keep their Senate posts.

Former Presidential Adviser Francis “Tol” Tolentino remains strong, undaunted by Revilla’s sudden surge to the winning circle.

The Center’s latest survey bared the following results: 1. Villar (62 percent); 2. Poe (59.7 percent); 3. Cayetano (56.3 percent); 4. Binay (50 percent): 5. Lapid (47 percent); 6. Pimentel (44.8 percent); 7. Former Senator Jinggor Estrada (44.2 percent); 8. Former Senator Serge Osmeña (40.3 percent), 9. Tolentino (32 percent); 10. Retired Gen. Bato dela Rosa (29.6 percent), 11. Former Senator Mar Roxas (27 percent); and 12. Revilla (25 percent).

Close on the tails of those in the Magic 12 are: 13. Angara (24.3 percent); 14.

Go (23.8 percent); 15, Marcos (21.8 percent); 16. Ejercito (19 percent); 17.

Aquino (16.5 percent); and 18. Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile (15 percent).

However, some political pundits say Revilla’s acquittal might actually do him more harm than good in the forthcoming elections. Basing on the reactions on social media, which Malay said will play a crucial role in the next elections, as it did in the 2018 polls, even staunch critics of the Yellows are critical of Revilla.

This is primarily due to the confusing decision handed down by the AntiGraft Court. In its decision, which was

T

A season to rush

HESE few days leading to Christmas are always a heady, crazy time.

Traffic is worse, public

transportation is more difficult than it is, and people crowd to shopping centers for last-minute shopping, driven by numerous parties and reunions on the calendar and the release of holiday bonuses.

It’s these experiences that make us have ambivalent feelings about the religious holiday. On the one hand, the faithful believe it is a time to renew their faith.

Others are simply happy

for the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family.

On the other hand, it also reminds us of the excesses that we could be capable of.

More importantly, it highlights that the government has consistently failed to make people’s day-to-day lives easier.

The net effect is that instead of the pure warm and fuzzy feeling that Christmas should occasion, it also makes us wish that we could get the holiday season over and done with, and get back to our routines.

How then can we insulate ourselves from the irritants that come with the

holiday rush and focus instead on the good things that the season is supposed to bring?

Individuals and families have their own manner of getting through the season, but soaring costs of goods and the intolerable mobility issues must be, indeed, factored into their plans.

The holidays would lose their solemnity if people simply go through the motions of being physically present, picture-worthy, or outwardly prosperous.

The rush should not drown out the essence of the occasion. Christmas will still be Christmas without the fanfare.

Turn to A5

The semiotics of Catriona Gray NOT only a matter for national pride, Catriona Gray’s Miss Universe victory also compels people to take a closer look at issues related to national identity and how they construct and express their ideas of what it is to be Filipinx.

The 24-year-old half-Australian and half-Albayana grew up in Australia and went to college in the United States.

She did not move to the Philippines until she was a teenager.

But despite her limited time incountry, Gray has shown a remarkable interest in Philippine culture and an intense desire to share and promote it.

At the pageant, Gray showed how seriously she took her role as an ambassadress of our country to the world. Her clothes were designed and sewn by Filipinx designers and craftspersons, and each gown and piece of jewelry referenced something related to the Philippines.

Gray’s dress designer Mak Tumang said on Facebook posts that she was working with him on concepts for her Miss U finals gown as early as March this year. “I know it’s super early,” Gray told him, “just wanted to research.”

Tumang wrote that the orange feather-patterned evening gown Gray wore for the preliminary was inspired by the “Adarna Bird, Phoenix, [Miss U] Mikimoto Crown.”

For the finals, Gray wore a red, orange, and yellow gown inspired by the Mayon Volcano in Albay. Tumang likened her to the mythical heroine Daragang Magayon (beautiful maiden) who legend says the gods turned into a volcano after her death.

Most overt with its use of symbols was Gray’s national costume, a collaboration of designers Jearson Dimavivas, Jojo Bragais, and Eric Quiwa, that has elements referencing the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Gray wore a pantsuit and boots covered with patterns taken from 16th century sketches of tattooed Visayans in the Boxer Codex. Her backdrop was a parol that bore words in baybayin and illustrations from Philippine culture.

Gray also wore a t’nalak dress for a Miss U activity in Thailand. Her jewelry by Tessera, an ear cuff dubbed “Three Stars and a Sun” and earrings with similar motifs, evoked the flag.

But Gray’s choice to showcase Philippine symbols and culture has an impact well beyond fashion and tourism.

In an interview by Regine Cabato for Washington Post, Ateneo de Manila assistant professor of literature and gender studies J. Pilapil Bocobo said, “I do feel that of all our contestants, Catriona is the most intellectual—the most post-colonial.”

As a people we are struggling in the aftermath of colonialism, seeking

What does it mean to be Filipinx?

to construct a national identity; ours still seems to be indeterminate, in flux, despite our assertions of having assimilated many elements of Spanish and American colonial culture and ‘made it our own.’ We are still to some extent confused and conflicted, our past and present at odds as we look to the future.

Gray’s manifest and prolific use of Philippine symbols could be seen as her efforts to make sense of her own identity as half-foreign and halfFilipinx, and to craft and express the Philippine side of her persona.

She might also have sought to decolonize her self-expression in the pageant and to bring a more “authentic” character to her representation. In doing so she paves the way for others to rethink and reconstruct their own ideas on national identity.

Is being Filipinx as easy as wearing Philippine textiles and materials, and integrating Philippine symbols and references in what we wear and use?

It is not that easy, and it is a simplistic approach; but as a start it is good enough, because it makes us think and remember, and perhaps love.

Turn to A5

The tale of The Son THIS being my last column before Christmas, I would like to recount the story of The Son. A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They often sat together and admired the great works.

When the Vietnam war broke out, the son went to war. He was

‘The Son! Who will take The Son!’

courageous, but he died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified; he grieved deeply for his son.

A month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock on the

door. A young man stood with a large package on his hands. He said to the old man: “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier your son saved. He often talked about you and your love of art. I know this is not much, and I am not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”

The father opened the package.

It was a portrait of his son done by the young man. He stared at it in awe because the painting captured the personality of his son. His eyes filled with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay for the portrait.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

Checks and balance On the matter of the motor vehicle users’ charge, the Road Board does not control the funds, contrary to the allegations by the media. The Bureau of Treasury deposits the funds it receives from the LTO to four (4) special trust accounts which correspond to the speLAST week, the House of Representa- cific purposes of the MVUC funds as tives adopted House Resolution No. mandated by law (RA 8794) and in the 2365, which I filed. This urges the President to reconsider the appointment of Secretary Benjamin Diokno to the Department of Budget and Management.

This is in line with the unresolved issues raised during the question hour and the We at the House admission of Secretary Diokno on the were firm because ultra vires insertions by the DBM to the we believe that a 2019 General Appropriations Bill.

As Minority Leader, I want to make it definitive response clear that the House does not intend to is what our people antagonize or offend any member of the Executive. Last week’s question hour deserve. was a difficult and tense exchange, admittedly. We were firm because we believe that a definitive response is what our people deserve.

The House of Representatives has been active in its oversight function. proportion provided for by law: 80 perRecently, the Committee on Public cent for national road maintenance, 5 Accounts was created to investigate percent for local road maintenance, 7.5 matters directly and principally relat- percent for road safety, and 7.5 percent ing to the examination and scrutiny for vehicle pollution control. of audit reports on the performance The DBM, considering budget priof all government agencies to deter- orities, determines how much of the mine their adherence to or compliance funds can be used in a year by setting with the plans and programs author- an annual expenditure level. The DBM ized through appropriations approved includes in the special provisions in by the Legislature. With the numerous the annual GAA allocation of the imallegations and cases of graft and cor- plementing agencies the corresponding ruption, Congress aims to shed light portions of the MVUC funds which into these issues and at the same time, they can use for approved MVUC determine legislative measures which funded projects —92.75 percent to the can help curb this long-standing prob- DPWH which is in charge of national lem, in line with this administration’s and local road maintenance as well as drive against corruption. road safety projects, and 7.25 percent to

the DOTr which is in charge of vehicle pollution projects.

The power of the Road Board is limited to authorizing the use of funds for eligible projects evaluated and endorsed by the implementing agencies, and to the monitoring of project status, funding status and periodic report preparations. It cannot propose or undertake projects on its own. Without verified and compliant requests, the Board does not act or authorize any use of funds.

The responsibility over the management of the funds is a shared accountability of the DPWH, DOTr, DOF, DBM and transport representatives who constitute the leadership and membership of the Road Board. If there are corrupt activities, the most vulnerable to corruption are processes under the stewardship of implementing agencies.

The DOJ rendered an opinion affirming that the Road Board should be under the Office of the President as mandated by the Administrative Code. Under the Code, all agencies created by law without any specific department to which they are attached are, by law, under the Office of the President. RA 8794 does not attach the Road Board to any department.

I believe in the purpose and usefulness of the Road Board and the MVUC in the maintenance of road safety and improvement of road conditions. The Road Board has clearly limited authority on the funds. The entire procurement processes are in the hands of the implementing agencies. Hence, these allegations of corruption are baseless.

In turn, as part of the constitutional duty of conducting checks and balances among government agencies, the House of Representatives will act as a check on the powers of the executive in the use of the MVUC funds.

The lonely battle against pork THE circus that the public is currently witnessing at the House of Representatives is a sad commentary on how the members go about trying to spend government money and distributing pork money among themselves. That they are washing their dirty linen in public is in a way good because it allows the public to see the machinations being undertaken by the honorable members of the House to fight for funds for their favorite projects.

This is in spite of the fact that on Nov. 19, 2013, the Supreme Court declared that the Priority Development Assistance Fund, which is another name for pork, was unconstitutional. This shows that not much has changed. Pork spending masquerading under other names is very much alive and well. Imagine— P60 million for each representative and P200 million for each senator, except Senator Ping Lacson who has consistently refused his share of the pork and is the self-appointed crusader against pork in Congress.

In actual fact, pork allocation is actually a lot more with some representatives getting much more than their normal allocation depending on how close one is to the powers that be. In the current squabble, we have learned that some House members got P1.5 billion. The criminal charges filed against high-ranking politicians, whose cases are still pending, and the imprisonment of Janet Lim Napoles have not deterred or stopped politicians from the allure of the pork.

One of the issues in the current controversy is the P8 billion given to two small towns in the Bicol region.

It seems that this is being traced to Ben Diokno, the Budget Secretary. My neighbor in this paper, Rep. Danilo Suarez, the current minority leader in the House, is saying that this is because the daughter of Ben Diokno is married and related to politicians in the

The race...

From A4

later clarified by the ponente herself, the court said it had to acquit Revilla, not because he is not guilty, but because the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Thus, the order for the former senator to return P124 million, which even administration supporters claim, was a clear sign of guilt on the part of Revilla.

The semiotics...

the language coming from the members the real story. Those members calling for the head of Mr. Diokno will simply have to find a new way of eliciting the information they want from other sources. The translation of this is that there might be a reenacted budget for the coming year of 2019— unless both chambers can find a way to come to an agreement to move the P3.8-trillion proposed 2019 budget forward for the signature of President Duterte.

In the end, the betting is that the unresolved issue of the P75-billion pork which is not itemized and the abolition of the Road Users Fund will be resolved.

For one, the current Speaker of the House, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is an ally and supporter of the President and the House Minority leader Danilo Suarez is also an ally of the Speaker. It is hard to see why this issue cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the quarreling members.

The Road Users Board should really be abolished because the position of those wanting to keep it is already

untenable. For one, the President also wants it abolished. It is understandable that many would like its retention. The money that is being collected is increasing every year on account of the big increase of vehicles on the road. Since the money collected is not budgeted for a specific purpose, the money is a huge temptation on the part of lawmakers to dip their hands into the cookie jar. It may therefore be hard for congress to abolish it but there can be a solution on how to keep the funds from the hands of lawmakers by amending part of the law by putting a provision to spend the money for a specific purpose, like using the money to fund the construction of freeways only.

If the Road Users Fund remains the way it is, there will always be ways to circumvent the rules as we have seen with the 2013 Supreme Court ruling.

Senator Ping Lacson is fighting a lonely battle and is doubtful it will ever succeed. The fact however, that he is persistent and doing it is encouraging. The United States Congress from whom we inherited this unsavory practice have been able to reform the practice in such a way that all funds released intended for localized projects are all itemized. Our Congress should do the same. *** That this squabble snarled Budget Secretary Ben Diokno into the controversy is something new. The guy is basically an academic who was brought to work in the government bureaucracy by then President Joseph Estrada and now President Duterte. He is also a very low-key official in spite of the importance of his position. It is therefore safe to say that compared to many of the people who have worked in government for much longer time, his experience in the dynamics of corruption is probably not as deep as the others. That is not to say however that anyone is entirely thoroughly schooled in it given the kind of money that is available to the different government agencies which is also getting bigger every year.

However this controversy is resolved, let us hope that the interest of the public is protected.

And while Estrada is praying for a same decision on his similar case, they both could be placed under continuous bombardment of criticism once the campaign proper commences.

And that would spice up the already interesting senatorial race. We will be in for tighter race to the finish.

Nonetheless, Malay said the 2019 senatorial and local polls will also show if the Filipino voters have already matured in the way they elect their political leaders. He said the strong bias towards popularity is evident in the

pre-poll survey results as the preference for popularity and name recall remain strong over the credentials or qualifications of candidates.

Malay said the senatorial race will be interesting when the official campaign period starts on Feb. 11, 2019.

There seems to be a growing trend in the way that the campaigns of those running next year are being planned and strategized with social media and digital campaigns becoming the norm over the traditional campaign processes.

area. Suarez then authored a resolution urging the President to reconsider the appointment of Diokno as the Budget Secretary.

The House also wants to conduct a public hearing to get to the root of how the allocations came about. Unfortunately for them, Diokno has been prohibited from attending. He also has the backing and confidence of the one person that matters in this country, President Duterte.

It is doubtful, therefore, whether the House can come up with anything even if we can already deduce from

Pork is very much alive.

Universe.

We can also expect people to take a greater interest in our country, its culture, and heritage, as we seek to construct and From A4 redefine what it means for us to be Filipinx.

With her track record so far, we can expect Gray to *** continue to a certain extent the same promotion of Philippine Dr. Ortuoste thinks Catriona did our country proud. FB design and materials throughout her year-long reign as Miss and Twitter: @DrJennyO

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Divide EDSA between cars and buses solution that the EDSA problem needs if it is to be ameliorated or ended altogether.

Any drastic solution to EDSA will of necessity have to take into account the following facts: (1) EDSA IN MID-2016, shortly after the connects six of the National Capital election of President Rodrigo Duterte, Region’s most important cities; (2) I wrote a column titled—to the best because of its central location; major of my recollection—“The EDSA feeder routes to the other Metro Problem Needs a Drastic Solution.” Manila cities go into and out of it, (3) As its title suggested, I stated in that EDSA’s acceptable carrying capacity column that the usual patchwork- has long been exceeded many times type measures would not bring about over and (4) EDSA is used by both the solution of Metro Manila’s No. 1 private vehicles, public transport problem and that only a drastic, out- facilities and commercial vehicles.

The solutions that have been of-the-ordinary solution would cause the 26-kilometer roadway to stop applied thus far—including those, being the biggest parking lot in this like the color coding scheme and the truck ban—clearly have country’s premier metropolis.

Shortly after moving into not done the job. Already there Malacanang Mr. Duterte declared have been grumblings about the that he would put an end to the dawn- constitutionality of the measures; any to-dusk EDSA gridlock, with as measures more stringent than these much confidence as he said he would will almost certainly invite legal put an end to corruption, crime and challenge.

The drastic solutions that are the illegal drugs trade. There was talk of the new Chief Executive’s seeking possible will have to address two concepts emergency that guide powers from gover n ment Congress, and policy toward Mr. Duterte EDSA. One brought in Edsa is not as bad concept is brought in as that the use Secretary of as ever. It is worse. of EDSA is Transportation open to all an individual vehicular who up until traffic— then had a reputation for getting things done, private cars, commercial vehicles and namely, Arthur Tugade. With total public transport facilities. The other focus on, and sufficient resources guiding concept is public transport for, the problem, Mr. Duterte and his should enjoy as much priority in crew would make EDSA move cars the use of Metro Manila’s principal and goods the way it did when it was thoroughfare.

I can think of at least one drastic called Hig1hway 54.

In writing that 2016 column, I did solution to the EDSA problem. The not mean to be a party pooper, as the complaint is always being heard Americans say. It was not my desire that the thousands of buses—more to stop people from talking about, specifically, the constant weaving and proposing solutions to, the EDSA in and out of those vehicles—are issue. All that I wanted to do was to the principal cause of the EDSA bring back down to Earth everyone quagmire. So, why not divide EDSA who thought that the usual, tired old use into two, one side strictly for prescriptions would do the trick for private vehicles and the other side Metro Manila’s No. 1 transportation for buses? Private vehicles would no longer have to contend with pesky problems.

Almost everything but the kitchen buses, and buses would have one side sink has been thrown at the EDSA of EDSA all to themselves.

This proposal, and any other quagmire—including enlistment of the Philippine National Police’s HPG equally drastic proposal, is bound to (Highway Patrol Group), truck bans encounter stiff opposition. Any ideas coding—but, as 2018 draws to an end that are out of the ordinary are bound and the Duterte administration nears to meet that fate.

No proposal to end the hell that the halfway mark, EDSA is not as EDSA’s users face every day, to bad as ever; it is worse.

I have spoken of a drastic solution. be even more remotely successful, Every leading dictionary has the will have to be drastic in character. same meaning or the word “drastic.” Otherwise, we should all just Drastic is placed in the etymological give up trying—as the Duterte class as severe, extraordinary, administration appears to have extreme. Drastic is the kind of done.

The tale...

From A4

son gets everything.

God the Father gave us his son, Jesus Christ. And the message this Christmas is, “The Son! Who will take the son?”

With this, I wish everyone a merry Christmas. *** I remember my first Christmas with my wife, who was then heavy with our oldest child.

My resourceful wife went to the grocery store on California Street in Malate to buy accessories, She made Christmas décor out of them and the tree was a hit among our neighbors.

We had nowhere to go that evening, so we went to Luneta to see the fireworks. We took the jeepney but after the fireworks, we could not find a ride.

Somebody noticed that she was pregnant, so he asked us where we lived and offered to bring us home in his jeep.

When we arrived home, we did not have noche buena. I was earning P250/month and our rent was P150.

Fortunately her uncle gave us some food.

What angels, indeed! This was our memorable first Christmas. *** My wife and daughter stopped going to Divisoria years ago. They could not stand the crowd and the risk of falling victim to snatchers.

But you can find everything in Divisoria for low prices. A friend of mine says these were smuggled from Divisoria.

This season, we are avoiding going to the malls altogether. The traffic is just crazy! I expect this to continue until Christmas Day, after which traffic would be smooth and easy in Metro Manila.

“Why, no sir,” the soldier said. “I could never repay your son for what he did for me. It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait on his mantle. Every time visitors came, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them the great works in his collection.

The old man died a few months later.

There was to be a great auction of his paintings. The auctioneer pounded on his gavel. “We will start the bidding with the portrait of the son. Who will bid for this painting?”

There was silence.

A voice at the back shouted: “Skip this one. We want to see the famous paintings.”

The auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who wants to start?”

Another voice angrily shouted, “We didn’t come to see this portrait.

We came for the Van Goghs and the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bidding!”

The auctioneer continued: “Who will take the son?”

Finally, a man said: “I will give $10 for the portrait. It’s all I have.”

The man was the long-time gardener of the house. “Who wants to bid against this man? Twenty dollars, anyone?” the auctioneer shouted.

“Give it to that old man and continue with the other works!” the people shouted.

“I’m sorry, the auction is over,” the auctioneer announced.

There was a secret stipulation in the will. Whoever buys the portrait of the son would inherit the entire estate, including the art collection.

The man who buys the portrait of the www.emiljurado.weebly.com

News

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sotto rejects Enrile’s claim on ‘coffee table legislation’

IN BRIEF MMDA raises fines for illegal parking PARK at your own risk, the risk being increased fines for violators.

The Metro Manila Development Authority has just raised the fines for illegal parking in the metropolis to make sure that erring motorists toe the line.

From 200, the fees for illegal parking has been raised to P1,000 for attended vehicle, while from P500, the fees for illegal parking for unattended vehicle was hiked to P2,000.

For road obstruction, meanwhile, the fees has been raised from P150 to P1,000.

According to MMDA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago, those found to have their vehicles illegally parked will have two violations written on the ticket to be issued by MMDA: Illegal parking and obstruction.

Pialago added that a motorist may be issued more than one ticket in a day.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday rejected the claims of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that senators had resorted to “coffee table legislation” instead of engaging in fiery debates.

On Tuesday, Enrile vowed to bring back the ‘glorious days of fiery debates’ in the Philippine Senate as he noted an increasing practice of doing “coffee table” discussions of legislative measures instead of bringing it out for argumentation in the Senate floor.

But Sotto said Enrile might have been given the wrong information on the ongoing debates of proposed measures on the plenary.

Sotto said that the bills are being debated and some even languished in plenary before their passage, especially the controversial ones.

“They smoothly passed if beneficial or non controversial and/or if bill of local application.”

The Senate leader specifically cited the difficult and lengthy debates on coco levy, rice tariffication, Bangsamoro, Philippine ID system, the revised corporation code, amendments to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas charter, tax amnesty, end-of-contract, universal health care and anti discrimination bill, among others.

“We had very long debates. In fact, some are still in plenary as we speak,” Sotto added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said he does not know what ‘coffee table’ legislation Enrile was talking about.

“He may have been out too long or he has forgotten how legislation works,” Lacson said, referring to the 94-year-old Enrile, who is seeking a senatorial seat in the coming mid term elections in May. “Exactly why there is controversy involving the already outlawed “pork barrel” being talked about now—it was a product of plenary interpellations on the national budget,” Lacson said.

He said that other measures are being thoroughly debated on the floor before being approved on second and third reading.

Vowing to rid the Senate of the socalled “coffee legislation,” Enrile said that during his 24 years in the Senate, nothing was passed without any debate.

“Unlike today, they go into a coffee table and they discuss it among themselves and that’s it. That’s not a Senate.

That’s not a deliberative assembly of the people’s representatives. A democracy must be open where issues are subject to intellectual dissection,” he said.

CebuPac adds seven Airbus to its fleet DUTERTE AT INC. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte receives a warm welcome from Iglesia Ni Cristo leader Eduardo Manalo during the President's visit at the INC Central Temple in Commonwealth, Quezon City on Dec. 14, 2018. Joining the President is former Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go. Presidential Photo

More Filipinos employed in 2018, Bello says

By Vito Barcelo

M

ORE Filipinos were employed this year which is 2.0 percent higher compared to 2017, the Department of Labor and Employment said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that more workers are now enjoying stable employment for 2018, after President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order stopping illegal contractualization.

Based on the October 2018 Labor Force Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, 826,000 jobs were generated for 2018, making a total of 41.160-million employed workers, which is 2.0 percent higher than the 40.334-million employed workers recorded last year.

“The employment situation in the Philippines continues to improve as more Filipinos are getting employed through increased job opportunities in

various sectors, such as the Build Build Build infrastructure program of the administration. This mainly helped us sustain the rise in employment. Also, more workers are now enjoying security of tenure,” Bello said.

Also, unemployed Filipinos decreased by 140,000, a 5.3 percent or 0.4-percent decrease from the 5.7-percent unemployment rate recorded last year.

The October 2018 LFS also noted improvements in the quality of employment as the number of remunerative and stable wage employment reached 26.6 million, which is 2.9 percent or 743,000 wage employment compared to the same period in 2017.

Full-time employment also grew by 4.7 percent, reaching 29.3 million in October 2018, from 28.0 million last year.

As of October 2018, DOLE’s campaign against illegal forms of contractualization has so far resulted in 411,449 regularized workers, 70 percent of whom have been voluntarily regularized while the 30 percent were regularized through inspection.

“This can be attributed to DOLE’s strict enforcement of campaign against illegal contractualization, as well as to the department’s strengthened employment facilitation services and enhanced social protection programs for our workers,” Bello said.

However, underemployment remains a challenge with 6.735-million underemployed workers in 2018, a 3.5 percent or 229,000 higher from the 6.506-million underemployed workers reported last year.

‘Angkas’ asks Supreme Court to allow services to continue

By Rey E. Requejo MOTORCYCLE ride-hailing application “Angkas” has appealed to the Supreme Court to recall its temporary restraining order and allow its services to continue.

In a comment, Angkas operator DBDOYC Inc. pleaded to the SC to lift the TRO issued by its second division on Dec. 5 that effectively halted its services and allowed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to proceed with its crackdown on the popular app-based service.

The company also sought the dismissal of the petition of LTFRB and Department of Transportation challenging the writ of preliminary injunction issued by a Mandaluyong regional trial court last August, which stopped the government's apprehension of Angkas riders.

Instead, it urged the high court to affirm the injunction order of the RTC that prohibited the government's transport agencies “from interfering, whether directly or indi-

rectly” with Angkas' operations.

The RTC order prevented authorities “from apprehending Angkas bikers who are in lawful pursuit of their trade or occupation based on petitioner’s Angkas mobile application; and from performing any act or acts that will impede, obstruct, frustrate, or defeat [the] petitioner’s pursuit of its lawful business or trade as owner and operator of the Angkas mobile application.”

In a statement, Angkas took back its earlier statement that it would continue with its operations despite the TRO issued by SC, saying there was no ruling yet declaring its services as illegal.

“We will comply with the TRO, and we will not prevent the LTFRB from apprehending our bikers. But we will give assistance to our bikers under the confines of the law,” Angkas spokesman George Royeca said.

“In fact, we have instructed our bikers to comply with the authorities should they be apprehended and always be courteous and respectful of the officers,” he said.

THE joint panel of the House committee on public accounts chaired by Minority Leader Danilo Suarez and the committee on games and amusements chaired

by Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting tackled a proposal to expand the small town lottery operations to generate 600,000 jobs nationwide.

The joint panel has directed Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office officials to brief the House of Representatives on its operations.

Suarez said there were two pending bills in Congress seeking gaming operations that were transparent and fair, and could generate employment of 600,000 workers.

He said that in his province alone, there were about 35,000 to 38,000 mar-

ginal workers who lack the necessary criteria or diploma.

“Some of them maybe did not finish high school. What is important is that they can write numbers [and do] subtraction, addition. Those are the primary jobs of a collector or a ‘kabo.’ We still have many other places that do not have STLs,” said Suarez.

He said the intention of the two committees was to assist the PCSO in getting a franchise.

“We’ve checked from the records of Congress and there was no franchise given to PCSO,” he said.

“Bear in mind, what we are going to do is to help the PCSO to legalize what they are doing because right now they are not allowed to do so. Technically they are doing an illegal act because there is no congressional franchise to operate the

Criminal raps filed vs illegal recruiters THE Department of Justice has been asked to prosecute three individuals allegedly involved in illegal recruitment.

In a complaint filed with the DOJ, complainants Genie Gutang Albelda and Sittikausar Ismail Muhali accused employees of the JIMC International Agency, namely, Flor Bongcawel, Lorena Francisco, and Joseline Banoza of illegal recruitment.

The complainants—Genie Gutang Albelda and Sittikausar Ismail Muhali, accused the three of illegal recruitment in violation of Section 6(b) and (k) of Republic Act (RA) 8042 or Migrant Workers Act of 1995, as amended by RA 9208; and for trafficking in persons in violation of Section 4(a) and 5(i) of RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

The complainants were among 36 persons rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation from JIMC’s four-storey accommodation building in Caloocan City last Nov. 21. Rey E. Requejo

BI bars 28,000 passengers as gov’t fights trafficking PRICE CHECK. Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ruth Castello leads the price checking of Noche Buena items at a supermarket in Manila as demand continues to rise this holiday season. Norman Cruz

House joint panel tackles bid to extend STL operations

By Rio N. Araja

PHILIPPINE carrier Cebu Pacific is currently operating seven brand new Airbus which the airline firm acquired this year at a total cost of US$812 million.

The latest delivery completes the carrier’s order with Airbus for an additional seven A321CEO aircraft, which were delivered beginning in March 2018.

The seven A321CEO (Current Engine Option) and is on top of an existing order for 32 Airbus A321NEO (New Engine Option) aircraft. Cebu Pacific expects delivery of the first of its A321NEO aircraft from Airbus by the first quarter of 2019.

“With a capacity of 230 seats, the A321CEOs of Cebu Pacific boasts of ergonomically designed seats by world-renowned manufacturer Recaro that allow for more distance and legroom between rows. Each seat is also equipped with a USB port which allows passengers to charge their mobile devices inflight,” the CEB said in a statement.

It said that Cebu Pacific also ordered five Airbus A320NEO (new engine option) aircraft through an Operating Lease Agreement signed with Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited, one of the largest aircraft leasing companies in the world.

Deliveries of these aircraft will start in the first half of 2019 and will be completed within the same year. Vito Barcelo

STL. [What they have] is a franchise to operate the sweepstakes under an executive order. ’yung big lotto” he said.

Tambunting, meanwhile, said the meeting was being conducted to apprise the committee how the PCSO was coping as the principal agency tasked to raise and provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and charities of national character without funding from the national government.

He questioned the PCSO’s move to hire a consultancy firm for P46 million and to assist in the procurement of the P10.9-billion online lottery project.

Assistant General Manager for Management Services and current bids and awards committee chairman Lauro Patiag said the procurement for the information technology gaming consultancy

services is ongoing.

Part of the agenda for approval of the board was the shortlisted bidder to do consultancy services.

Patiag said a consultancy firm was needed to ensure that the terms of reference, the conduct of procurement, and its validation would be “accurate as advised by our Commission on Audit.”

San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes, however, lamented how the charity agency intended to pay consultancy firm Isla Lipana & Co. for P46 million for its validation and assessment of the procurement process for PCSO’s nationwide online lottery system.

“What is painful is we can pay a consultant for P46 million and yet we are only giving our indigent patients an amount up to P10,000 only. That pains us. That is the truth,” he said.

MORE than 28,000 travelers were prevented from leaving the country during the first 10 months of the year as a result of the government’s intensified campaign against human trafficking, the Bureau of Immigration said Wednesday.

BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said a total of 28,467 passengers were not allowed to board their flights after they were found to be noncompliant with requirements for overseasbound passengers.

Medina said these requirements are provided under the Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International-Bound Passengers set by the Department of Justice, that the BI has been implementing for the past few years as part of efforts to curb human trafficking and illegal migration in the country’s ports of exit.

“What we are trying to prevent here is allowing the departure of victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment,” said Medina. “We are considered the last line of defense inside our country to protect our people,” the BI official added.

Records show that of the 28,467 persons whose departures were deferred from January to October, 23,239 were stopped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while the rest were stopped in the airports of Mactan, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo, and Davao.

From June to October, 151 minor and under-aged females bound for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Overseas Filipino Workers were intercepted for misrepresenting their age. Vito Barcelo

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Petron, F2 dispute Superliga crown today I

T’S going to be a war of hearts as the country’s most dominant teams—F2 Logistics and Petron— clash for one last time to determine who will claim the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference crown today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Game 3 of this dramatic bestof-three series kicks off at 7 p.m. following the sudden-death finals showdown between University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines at 4 p.m. and the battle for bronze between University of the East and Far Eastern University at 2 p.m. in the Collegiate Grand Slam.

After racing to 12 consecutive victories, the Blaze Spikers booked a finals’ duel with bitter rivals Cargo Movers, sparking speculations that winning the title via a sweep is very much possible.

Petron took Game 1 in dominant fashion 25-23, 25-11, 25-17, to inch closer to another crown in this prestigious women’s club league bankrolled by Isuzu, Mueller, Asics, Mikasa, Senoh,

Bizooku with Genius Sports as technical partner.

But disaster struck in Game 2.

The Cargo Movers marched to warzone with fire in their eyes, pounding the Blaze Spikers with their effective middle attacks and superb blocking in the second and third sets before going for the kill in the fourth en route to an impressive 21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-17 victory.

F2 Logistics head coach Ramil de Jesus said a golden opportunity presented itself so they had no choice but to grab it, leading to a victory that did not only equalize the series, but also deny Petron a chance to duplicate the feat it registered in the All-Filipino in 2015.

“For as long as the opportunity to win comes, we’ll take it,” said De Jesus, who lit a fire under

his players to make sure that they will deliver their best after a sorry Game 1 setback. “I believe in my players. I know they will deliver.

After all, we’re not just here to play—we’re here to win the title.”

In Game 2, Ara Galang was on fire as she delivered 17 kills to finish with 20 points, while Majoy Baron

Games Today (Filoil Flying V Centre) 2 p.m. – UE vs FEU 4 p.m. – UST vs UP 7 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petron

and Cha Behag chipped in 14 and 13 markers, respectively, for the Cargo Movers, who asserted their mastery in the blocking department, 12-4,

and the service box, 9-2.

“I don’t want to think that momentum is on our side. I don’t want my team to be complacent,” de Jesus said.

But Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos remains defiant, believing that they can still win the crown in this battle that has B)

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

“We’ve been in this situation before,” said Delos Santos, recalling their sorry loss to the Cargo Movers in the Grand Prix of last year where they had a 1-0 series deficit only to collapse in Games 2 and 3.

EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENT IN RATES BASED ON THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH ON THE FOURTH TO SIXTH REGULATORY YEARS OF THE FIRST REGULATORY PERIOD FOR FIRST ENTRANT ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES UNDER THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH (TGP) RULES

Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge

PhP/kW

-

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

-

282.78

0.8918 0.9773

-

Supply Charges:

ERC Case No. 2018-101 RC DON ORESTES ROMUALDEZ ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (DORELCO),

Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/ Mo.

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

42.38

42.38

0.8162

-

-

5.28

30.32

30.32

0.4823

-

-

Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo.

Metering System Charge

PhP/kWh

12. Consequently, in compliance with the TGP Rules, DORELCO hereby applies to implement either of the above two calculated alternative DSM Rates, to be made retroactive starting 01 January 2017 and up to 31 December 2019;

Applicant. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTS 13. In support of the foregoing computations, DORELCO is submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

Explosive UAAP vs NCAA semis duels in Rain caging UAAP’s National University and Far Eastern University pulled off similar dramatic wins on Tuesday and set up what could be explosive semis encounters with NCAA’s best in the 7th Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship ‘Rain or Shine Cup’ on Tuesday at the SGS gym in Quezon City.

The NU Bullpups rode on the heroics of center Karl Kevin Quiambao to eke out a 76-75 win over the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, while the FEU Baby Tamaraws outlasted the Chiang Kai Shek College Blue Dragons, 68-62, to advance to the semis stage, which is a knockout affair.

In the semis, NU will face reigning titlist San Beda University, while FEU takes on former NCAA champion La Salle Greenhills.

The Red Cub continued their rampage with a 93-55 thumping of the Xavier School Golden Stallions – thanks to another well-balanced attack anchored on Yukien Andrada, Winston Ynot and Anfernee Estacio.

The La Salle Greenies likewise followed suit by pulling off off a 76-73 win over the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers through the stellar showing of Inand Val Fornilos and Vincent David in the annual tournament bankrolled by Poly Gloss, Freego, Dickies Underwear, Hapee Toothepaste, IronCon Builders, MEC Networks, Blackwater Sports, and Che’Lu Bar and Grill.

The champion in the event also backed by Molten, by Masumax Food Supplement, Cherrylume, SUMO GI Sheets, Molten and Choi Garden gets P50,000, with the runner-up taking P30,000.

The 6’5” Quimbao capped his game-long brilliance with a putback following a bungled jumper by Gerry Abadiano with only a second left. He finished with 19 points on top of 15 boards and two assists.

Shooting guard Terrence Fortea provided the needed firepower, adding 13 points aside from posting five rebounds and three assists as he and Quiabao made up for the absence of 6’7” Carl Tamayo.

1.

2.

It is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Brgy. San Roque,Tolosa,Leyte; It holds an exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power distribution service in certain municipalities of the Province of Leyte, namely: Tanauan, Tolosa, Abuyog, Dulag, Macarthur, Julita, La Paz, Burauen, Mayorga, Mahaplag, Dagami, Tabon-tabon and Javier; NATURE OF THE APPLICATION

3.

This application is for the approval of DORELCO’s proposed adjustment in its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Rates to be made effective on the First to Third Regulatory Years of the Second Regulatory Period for electric cooperatives belonging to the First Entrant Group under the Tariff Glide Path Rules (TGP Rules); STATEMENT OF FACTS

4.

5.

Sometime in Year 2013, DORELCO filed with the Commission an application for approval of proposed adjustment in its DSM Rates pursuant to the TGP Rules, docketed as ERC Case No. 2013-153 RC;

PhP/kW PhP/KWh

0.9096

0.9968

288.40

PhP/Customer /Mo. PhP/kWh

0.8324

43.22 -

43.22 -

PhP/Meter/ Mo. PhP/kWh

5.38 0.4919

30.92 -

30.92 -

D

Sample Bills per customer type (2012-2015)

E

Regional CPI (2012-2015)

F

RFSC Utilization (2013-2015)

G

Consumer Complaints Summary or Tracking Form (20132015) Audited Financial Statements (2013 -2015) SUBMISSION OF PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS

14. Finally, in compliance with the pre-filing requirements under the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, DORELCO is likewise submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit: Annex Markings

Nature of Document

15. DORELCO also prays of this Commission that after due notice and hearing, it be allowed to implement either of the following two (2) alternative rates for its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) charges retroactively starting 01 January 2017 and up to 31 December 2019, to wit:

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Residential Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/KWh

0.9129

1.0005

289.47

PhP/Customer /Mo. PhP/kWh

0.8355

43.38 -

43.38 -

PhP/Meter/ Mo. PhP/kWh

5.40 0.4937

31.04 -

31.04 -

CUSTOMER TYPE UNITS

DORELCO belongs to the First Entrant Group under the TGP Rules, whose first regulatory period is from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2016.

It filed its initial application for DSM rate adjustment in 2013 which is the third regulatory year of the First Regulatory Period. It is filing the instant application based on the Tariff Glide Path from 01 January 2014 to 31 December 2016, the fourth to sixth regulatory years of the First Regulatory Period, for the proposed adjustment of its DSM rates to take effect on the first to third regulatory years of the Second Regulatory Period for the First Entrant Group under the TGP Rules, or from 01 January 2017 to 31 December 2019; DORELCO’s first TGP application under ERC Case No. 2013-153 RC is still pending evaluation of the Commission. However, despite said pendency, it adopted and used the proposed DSM rates in said pending application as bases in computing the proposed adjustment in the instant application; Under the TGP Rules, the concerned electric cooperative shall use the following formula in determining the TGP for the fourth to sixth years of the Regulatory Period, to wit: where TGPn = In - Xn - Sn n = the fourth year of the Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods The TGP calculated for each of the three years will be summed to determine the possible rate adjustment starting on the First Year of the next Regulatory Period.

10. Applying the methodology embodied in the TGP Rules, DORELCO calculated the values of the “I”, “X” and “S” and came up with the following results, to wit:

YEAR 2014 YEAR 2015 YEAR 2016 TOTAL

4.34% 6.95% 0.00%

“X”(B) 0.00% 13.60% 0.00%

“S”(B) 0.40% 1.60% 0.00%

TGP B 4.74% -5.05% 0.00% -0.31%

TGP B (excluding S) 4.34% -6.65% 0.00% -2.31%

11. Utilizing the above values will result in adjustments in the cooperative’s DSM Rates covering the first to third regulatory years of the Second Regulatory Period for electric cooperatives belonging to the First Entrant Group, as follows A.

WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Residential

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.9067

0.9937

287.50

PhP/Customer/ Mo. PhP/kWh

0.8298

43.09 -

43.09 -

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.37 0.4903

30.83 -

30.83 -

Residential

Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Distribution Charges: PhP/kW

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

-

-

287.50

0.9067 0.9937

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/ Mo.

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

43.09

43.09

0.8298

-

-

5.37

30.83

30.83

0.4903

-

-

Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo.

Metering System Charge

PhP/kWh

(This space is intentionally left blank.)

Foregoing application was DORELCO’s initial application for DSM rate adjustment pursuant to the TGP Rules, under which electric cooperatives are given an opportunity to adjust their rates once every three (3) years, which may occur at the start of the fourth year of the First Regulatory Period and every three years thereafter;

“I”(B)

WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S”

Demand Charge

EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S”

TGPB= TGPn + TGPn+1TGPn+2

whose mother is a Cebuana, held off Mia Gemida, 7-5, 6-2, in the 18-U finals of the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop.

Gemida, also from Ormoc, earlier upended top seed Lambonao, 6-2, 6-1, for the 14-U title while Thalia Suson, Louise Paliwag, Mitch Largo and Goco shared center stage in the penultimate leg of the annual nationwide circuit sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilsoin, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. No. 4 Suson, from Liloan, Cebu, stunned top seed Paliwag, 7-5, 7-5, to pocket the girls’ 12-U plum; Paliwag, from Valencia, Dumaguete, took the 10-unisex title with a 4-2, 4-5(3), 4-0 victory over Juvels Velos; and Largo, from Naga, Cebu, repulsed Chad Cuizon, 3-6, 6-2, 10-4, for the boys’ 12-U diadem.

Billing Determinants Template (2012-2015) (kWh Sales, No. of Customers, kW Demand)

H

A.

THE PROPOSED DSM RATE ADJUSTMENT

CEDRIX Bravo hacked out a pair of tough wins while Ashley McKenzie swept her way to twin victories in the premier sides to clinch the MVP honors in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Mandaue national age-group tennis tournament in Cebu last Monday.

The top seeded Bravo from Ormoc City survived Raymund Goco twice, escaping with a 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 victory in the boys’ 16-U finals and a 6-7(2), 7-5, 10-8 thriller for the 18-U crown in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

The No. 4 McKenzie, on the other hand, routed top seed Bless Coderos, 6-1, 6-2, in the semis then ripped No. 2 Corazon Lambonao, 6-3, 6-1, to snare the girls’ 16-U diadem and lead the rash of reversals in the girls’ division.

The rising star from Australia,

MFSR - Sections B and E (2012-2015)

J and series Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation in DORELCO’s franchise area or where it principally operates

CUSTOMER TYPE Low Higher Residential Voltage Voltage

UNITS

9.

B C

A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S”

B)

8.

Proposed TGP Calculations and supporting documents using the prescribed templates: Index “I” Calculation Efficiency Factor “X” Calculation Performance Incentive “S” Calculation

I and series Proof of furnishing copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Bayan of Tolosa and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

7.

Nature of Document

In said application, the cooperative prayed for approval of either of the following two (2) proposed alternative DSM rates, to be implemented effective January 2014, to wit:

UNITS

6.

Bravo, McKenzie share PPS Mandaue honors

A to A-2

In its Application, DORELCO alleged, among others, the following:

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

Inand Val Fornilos led La Salle to a 76-73 win over JRU in their quarterfinal match in the PSSBC-ROS Cup on Tuesday at the SGS gym in Quezon City. (Courtesy of Hazel Siy)

Annex Markings

Notice is hereby given that on 04 October 2018, Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative Inc. (DORELCO) filed an Application dated 06 September 2018, seeking the Commission’s approval of the adjustment in rates based on the Tariff Glide Path on the fourth to sixth regulatory years of the first regulatory period for the first entrant electric cooperatives under the TGP Rules.

B)

EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential

Low Higher Voltage Voltage

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge

PhP/kW

Distribution System Charge PhP/kWh

-

282.78

0.8918 0.9773

-

-

Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Customer/ Mo.

Supply System Charge

PhP/kWh

42.38

42.38

0.8162

-

-

5.28

30.32

30.32

Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge

PhP/Meter/Mo.

Metering System Charge PhP/kWh 0.4823 The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 09 January 2019 (Wednesday) nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.), at DORELCO’s Principal Office. Brgy. San Roque, Tolosa, Leyte.

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

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

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

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should, contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

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

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

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson, AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN and CATHERINE P. MACEDA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 10th day of December 2018 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal M. Standard – Dec. 20 & 27, 2018

Sports

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

A8 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

Sweet revenge for Russell as Nets sink Lakers LOS ANGELES—D’Angelo Russell produced a double-double to lead the Brooklyn Nets to victory against his former club with a 115-110 win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Russell was selected by the Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft, but was traded only two years later after an unhappy start to his NBA career.

However the 22-year-old point guard reminded the Lakers of his talents with a decisive contribution to lead the Nets to victory at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Russell finished with 22 points, 13 assists and four rebounds as the Nets improved to 14-18 in the Eastern Conference standings.

Russell was one of six Brooklyn players to finish in double digits as the home side completed a sixth straight victory.

“You look at the scoreboard—it took the whole team to get it done tonight,” Russell said afterwards.

“Defensively we came in and did our job. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”

Russell said the Nets were determined to extend their winning run.

“One game at a time,” Russell said.

“We’re not satisfied. We want to keep it going.”

Russell’s points tally included a clutch three-pointer down the stretch which put the Nets six points clear with 22 seconds remaining.

“He hurt us,” Lakers head coach Luke Walton said of Russell. “He’s a talented player and we know that. Give him credit. He had a big time game tonight but that’s why this team’s won six in a row now—they’ve got a lot of different guys that can hurt you.”

Jared Dudley weighed in with an important 13-point came off the bench to keep Brooklyn in front during a nailbiting finale.

The Lakers meanwhile looked to James to keep them in the contest.

James finished with 36 points but was unable to drag the Lakers over the line, despite a spirited rally late in the fourth quarter when they ran up 10 unanswered points to get within three of Brooklyn.

James also had a double-double with 13 rebounds and eight assists in the losing effort. Lonzo Ball finished with 23 points and Kyle Kuzma had 22 points.

The Lakers dropped to 18-13 after the loss and remain in fourth spot in the Western Conference. AFP

Team APO shines in Fil-Am golf THE Alpha Phi Omega Golfers’ Club (APO Golfers’ Club) assembled a 352 and captured the Fil-B crown via a whopping 43-point victory over Macquarie Links Sydney in the Seniors division of the Fil Am golf tournament at the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses recently.

The APO golfers, led by president Rey Talatala, Bing Alcantara, Mandy Lustre, Cord Guangco, Jack Punao and skipper Jess Cualing, dominated the field with 93 and 95 outputs at the par-69 John Hay course then pulled away at the short but tricky BCC layout with 89 and 75.

Macquarie finished with a 309 for second, including 87-83 at John Hay and 67-74 at BCC, nipping Fil-Am Golf of Florida, which also pooled a 309, in the countback.

The APO squad, the only fraternitybased golf club accredited in the annual event, also placed second in Am-F with Jay Millonado, Juan Alfonso Abastillas, Alfredo Nasser, Juan Ponce Abastillas and Noel Relucio combining for 79-74 at BCC and producing two 74s at John Hay for 301.

Bibak New Jersey, composed of Soc Suayan, Camilo Passi, Rod Cadelina, Paul Agnew and Faustito Caballero, ran away with the crown with a 330, including 81-78 at BCC and 87-84 at John Hay. Team Na KOA finished third with 295.

D’Angelo Russell of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates his team’s 115-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Barclays Center in New York City. AFP

PSC inks pact with Justice Department

By Peter Atencio

M

ISHANDLED financial assistance and criminal cases involving athletes, coaches and sports officials can now be properly tackled by the Philippine Sports Commission with the help of the Department of Justice.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez said they will be able to implement their mandate and pursue cases involving national sports associations, athletes and officials after the agency signed a memorandum of agreement with the DOJ yesterday.

“I’m a little surprised, but very positive because we need inter-government collaboration,” said Ramirez, who signed an agreement with DOJ Asec. Margaret V. Castillo-Padilla, who represented DOJ Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra.

PSC Deputy Executive Director Atty.

Guillermo Iroy was also present during the signing ceremony at the PSC Administrative Bldg., Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila.

“The DOJ would like to assure the PSC that whatever assistance it needs regarding prosecution and criminal investigation, the DOJ will be there to assist them. This is to foster accountability among NSAs and similar financial assistance the PSC has granted to them,” said Castillo-Padilla.

Iroy stated that for the past 28 years, it was

the first time that PSC partnered with DOJ. “We are hoping that this positive move will help create unity,” he said.

In line with the requirements of the DOJ, the sports agency will form a task force that will coordinate and work closely on standing cases and other conflicts that may be referred by the PSC. Last year, the NBI filed cases of malversation of government funds against Philippine Karatedo Federation official Raymund Lee-Reyes before the Prosecutor’s Office of the City of Manila.

Lead agent Moises Tamayo informed the PSC of their action, some 10 months after members of the national karatedo team underwent a 20-day training stint

in Germany in 2017, July.

Six members of the national squad were among those who filed complaints before the PSC and cases of malversation of public funds and property were eventually pursued against Reyes, who alleged that they did not fully receive their allowances during the trip.

During the probe done by the NBI, the agency suspended financial assistance to the PKF and withdrew its privilege of holding office within the premises of the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

The separate probes also questioned athletes, coaches and PKF officials to find out what happened to funds amounting to around P3.217 million.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez shakes hands with DOJ Asec. Margaret V. Castillo-Padilla to finalize the agreement between the two government bodies. At left is PSC Deputy Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy.

Mourinho sacking a ‘shame’ says Marcelo ABU DHABI—Real Madrid defender Marcelo believes it is a “shame” Jose Mourinho has been sacked as coach of Manchester United and has paid tribute to his work at the Spanish club.

Mourinho was dismissed by United on Tuesday after a poor run of form left the club sixth in the Premier League table and 19 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

The Portugese managed Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and has been linked with a return to the European champions, most recently following the sacking of Julen Lopetegui in October.

Asked about Mourinho’s exit from United, Marcelo said on Tuesday: “It’s a shame because he is a great coach, who is without a club. Whether he returns to Madrid is not up to me. He has done great things for Real Madrid.”

Santiago Solari was appointed Lopetegui’s replacement and has overseen nine victories from his 11 matches in charge. Solari was given a contract until June 2021 but that has not prevented speculation about a possible return for Mourinho.

“I cannot worry that there is speculation about Madrid,” Solari said. “That happens every day.”

Marcelo and Solari were speaking ahead of Real’s Club World Cup game on Wednesday against Kashima Antlers, the winners of last season’s AFC Champions League, which is contested by clubs in Asia and Australia.

Real, who have won the Club World Cup three times, will reach the final with a victory in Abu Dhabi but Solari again had to defend his treatment of Isco, who has struggled for matches since he took charge. AFP

Wei wins Asian chess; Gomez, De Guzman top PH finishers

By Arman Armero CHINESE Grandmaster Wei Yi settled for a draw against fellow GM Tabatabaei Amin of Iran to force a three-way tie with his foe and third seed Le Quang Liem of Vietnam after nine rounds of play.

The Chinese youngster, however, emerged with the best tiebreak score to clinch the title and the $10,000 cash prize in the ninth and final round of the 17th Asian Continental Chess Championship-2nd Manny Pacquiao Cup at Tiera Hotel in Makati.

Amin placed second, while Le, who beat GM Ganguly Surya Shekhar of India in the ninth round, settled for third.

In the women’s side, Indian International Master Rout Padmini and Woman GM Gong Quianyun of Singapore ended up tied with seven points after nine rounds, but it was Padmini who won the title and the $6,000 prize due to a superior tiebreak.

The Filipinos’ campaign, meanwhile, left much to be desired, as no local player finished within the Top 10, with GM John Paul Gomez and comebacking IM Ricardo de Guzman settling for a tie for 20th to 27th places in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and jointly backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Gomez drew with GM Puranik Abhimanyu of India, while De Guzman also halved the point with GM Zhongyi Tan of China. Both finished with five points each.

They, however, ended up at 24th and 27th places, respectively, after the tiebreak.

Slightly adrift them were GM Joey Antonio, IM Oliver Dimakiling and Jerad Docena with 4.5 points, along with IM Paulo Bersamina, who bowed to GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan of Iran.

Antonio, Dimakiling, Docena and Bersamina finished in a tie for 29th to 37th places.

NBA veteran Odom to reinforce Mighty Sports team Lamar Odom

NBA veteran Lamar Odom and Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee will be suiting up for Mighty Sports in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament in February next year.

Odom announced his plan to play for Mighty Sports through his Instagram, adding that he’s excited to be given an opportunity to represent the Philippines in the Dubai tournament that will be participated in by top Middle East teams.

This will mark the second time that Mighty Sports will be competing in the premier Middle East event, having played there two years ago, with Brownlee as one of the team’s imports.

Mighty Sports team owner Caesar

Wongchuking is also hoping to tap other NBA veterans to boost their title campaign after producing only one win the last time.

“We welcome Mr. Lamar Odom to the Mighty Sports family,” said Wongchuking. “It’s a great honor to have such a great player to be part of our team representing the Philippines.

My thanks to coach Charles Tiu and player agent Sheryl Reyes.”

Also tapped to play for the team, according to Tiu, is American Randolf Morris, who plays for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Odom, 39, made waves during his time with the LA Lakers where he

helped superstar Kobe Bryant win the championships in 2009 and 2010.

He also played for the US in the 2004 Olympics and the 2010 Fiba World Championship.

Wongchuking also plans to invite collegiate stars like La Salle’s Santi Santillan and UP’s Juan Gomez de Liano to be part of the team, along with Gab Banal and former PBA star Joseph Yeo. “We hope to add star power to the team because we have lots of fans in Dubai,” added Wongchuking.

This early, Odom is eager to meet his teammates and interact with Filipino fans. He is scheduled to arrive in January next year.

IN BRIEF

Clark airport breaks 2.5-m passenger mark

CLARK International Airport Corp. said it broke the 2.5 million passenger mark on Monday, the highest traffic in the airport’s 23-year history.

“We tallied a total of 2,500,052 passengers as of 7:58 p.m. on Monday (December 17), the highest record, so far, in the history of CIAC, which means more revenues for the government and more flights to come,” CIAC president Jaime Melo said.

The CIAC executive said the all-time high record was reached through a Emirates flight bound for Dubai. CIAC expects the passenger mark to reach 2,611,362 by December 31.

“What was once relegated as just a dream for CRK is now working in full throttle. Since President Rodrigo Duterte called for the greater utilization of Clark airport in 2016, CIAC was able to increase flights and passenger volume and profitability has also improved commensurately, a huge improvement from three to five years ago with more airlines signifying to mount flights,” he added.

NEA: Electricity supply in Samal is now stable

THE power supply situation in the Samal Island is now stable after enduring years of blackouts due to serious damage in the submarine cable of Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc., the National Electrification Administration said Wednesday.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said Igacos Mayor Al David Uy informed him that the electricity supply had significantly improved in his city as soon as Daneco fixed the underwater power line.

Masongsong said the repair was a welcome development, especially in light of the holiday season.

“This is a breath of fresh air for the member-consumer-owners in Samal Island who rightfully deserve a decent and reliable electricity service, especially with the resurgence of tourism-related economic activity in Mindanao,” the NEA chief said.

Uy said the electric cooperative signed a power supply agreement with Mindoro Grid Corp. to supplement the requirement of their island through its eight-megawatt modular generator set in Barangay Mambago-a, Peñaplata. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business Importers group warns of acute cement shortage T

By Othel V. Campos

HE Philippine Cement Importers Association Inc. asked the Trade Department to explain its motive for initiating an investigation on imported cement which it said could exacerbate the cement shortage in the country.

PCIA president Napoleon Co said it was a bit perplexing why a motu proprio investigation was necessary when the country was following open trade.

“We wonder why after cement impor-

tation spiked due to shortage of supply, the Trade secretary, on his own initiative, wants to impose an additional safeguard duty to protect domestic cement factories,” he said.

Co said there was no need for the Trade secretary to protect the robust domestic cement industry, given its massive earnings.

Cement manufacturers continue to rake in huge profits, posting industry sales of P109 billion and industry earnings of P14.7 billion in 2017, he said.

The importers group said this year, several cement companies earned billions of pesos from sales, ranging from P11.2 billion to P27.3 billion in the first three quarters.

Importers warned that an additional safeguard duty on cement importation would result in price increase and would

aggravate the shortage, as it would take three to four years to commission new plants.

PCIA said that after the importers ran to the rescue of the government to address the shortage, they were now being threatened by an additional safeguard duty to discourage or stop importation.

Co said several importers halted cement importation after the Trade Department launched the safeguard investigation in September.

He said the imposition of an additional safeguard duty on cement importation would not be a good move at this time given the increasing shortage of cement supply.

The government’s massive ‘Build, Build, Build’ program would face delays due to severe cement shortage, he said.

Smart signing more 5G partnership deals

SMART Communications Inc. said it expects to sign more 5G partnership agreements with technology, industry and enterprise partners to roll out 5G-powered digital services, and launch more Smart 5G cities across the country in 2019.

“We want to find out the right way to do 5G in the Philippines because 5G is different from any of the past technologies, 2G, 3G and 4G. 5G will provide a more flexible and powerful platform for more compelling and relevant services,” said PLDT-Smart chief technology and information advisor Joachim Horn.

“5G is versatile. We can actually customize its ability according to the use cases, and there are many new opportunities that we need to take time to test out.

That is exactly what we are now starting to do,” Horn added.

Stressing that 5G was about more than just speeds, Horn said 5G would not be able to replace fiber. Darwin G Amojelar

Guinigundo says economy poised to sustain growth BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the Philippine economy is poised to sustain its strong growth in the coming years, as it is far from overheating.

“Reforms have helped propelled the economy to an impressive streak of 79 consecutive quarters of uninterrupted growth. That means 19 years and 3 quarters since the 1st quarter of 1999. Moreover, the structural reforms have been translated into higher potential output for the economy,” Guinigundo said during the the Pilipinas Conference organized by independent think tank Stratbase ADR Institute in Makati City.

“Our estimates show that potential output growth has been rising, averaging 6 percent for the period 2010 to 2017. So the talk about the large output gap is without basis. Our output gap is either a small positive or a small negative. So, the issues about overheating is quite misplaced,” Guinigundo said.

Thought leaders from government, the academe and industry examined the Philippine economic outlook for 2019 during the conference.

“A balance between strategic engagement and strategic retreat is imperative for managing the economy and steering the country’s development. In short, state-market synergy is key to address the primordial concern of a developing nation like the Philippines,” said Stratbase ADRi president Dindo Manhit.

“Poverty reduction and labor expansion should be prioritized to demonstrate the presence of inclusive growth. The volatile growth of the manufacturing sector in relation with the service sector reveals an indeterminate improvement for labor. In turn, poverty reduction cannot simply be addressed through dole-outs. Reducing poverty undeniably necessitates both political and economic reforms,” he said.

Calixto Chikiamco, president of Foundation for Economic Freedom, said the country failed to achieve its target of reducing poverty incidence to 17.2 percent by 2015 and instead hit 21.5 percent.

Othel V. Campos

NEW GREEN BUILDING. Century Properties Group and Asian Carmakers Corp. open the Asian Century Center, the newest green office building at 27th Street corner 3rd Ave. in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Shown during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Asian Century Center are (from left) Luis Miguel Gonzales of Century Properties Management and Construction Corp., CPG director Rafael Yaptinchay, Taguig City deputy chief of staff Maricar Loinaz Sarmiento, Asian Carmakers chairman of the board Bienvenido Santos, Philippine Economic Zone Authority director-general Charito Plaza, CPG chairman and chief executive Jose Antonio, CPG director Ricardo Cuerva and CPG chief operating officer Marco Antonio.

CebuPac gets 7th Airbus A321ceo, orders 32 new aircraft

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific said Wednesday it took delivery of a brand-new Airbus A321ceo (current engine option) aircraft, ending the year with a total of 71 aircraft in its fleet.

The airline unit of the Gokongwei group said the latest delivery completed the carrier’s order with Airbus for an additional seven A321ceo aircraft, which were delivered beginning March 2018.

Based on Airbus list price, the seven A321ceo aircraft have a total value of $812 million, and is on top of an existing order for 32 Airbus A321neo (new engine option) aircraft.

Cebu Pacific said it was also ex-

pecting the delivery of the first of its A321neo aircraft from Airbus by the first quarter of 2019.

With a capacity of 230 seats, the A321ceo of Cebu Pacific boasts of ergonomically designed seats by worldrenowned manufacturer Recaro that allow for more distance and legroom between rows. Each seat is equipped with a USB port which allows passengers to charge their mobile devices inflight.

Cebu Pacific said to support expansion plans it also ordered five Airbus A320neo aircraft through an operating lease agreement signed with Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited, one of the largest aircraft leasing companies in the world.

Deliveries of these aircraft will commence in the first half of 2019 and will be completed within the same year.

The carrier also expects delivery of four ATR 72-600 aircraft from 2019 to 2022 for use in inter-island domestic routes where jet operations are not possible.

The Cebu Pacific fleet is comprised of 36 Airbus A320, seven Airbus A321ceo, eight Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500 and 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

The ATR aircraft are used by its subsidiary Cebgo.

Between 2019 and 2022, Cebu Pacific expects delivery of five Airbus A320neo and 32 Airbus A321neo aircraft and four ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

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BoP position improved to $847-m surplus in November

By Julito G. Rada THE balance of payments position swang to a surplus of $847 million in November from a deficit of $44 million in October, lifted by the foreign exchange operations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and income from its investments abroad.

The November surplus was also a reversal from the $458-million deficit a year ago. This brought the balance of payments deficit in the first 11 months to $4.747 billion, up from a $1.78-billion shortfall in the same period last year.

The BSP said the inflows in November were partially offset by the payments made by the government for its foreign exchange obligations and its net foreign currency withdrawals during the month.

It said the higher cumulative BoP deficit for the period could be attributed partly to the widening merchandise trade deficit that was brought about by the sustained rise in imports of raw materials, intermediate goods and capital goods to support domestic economic expansion.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the country’s trade-in-goods deficit in October widened to a record $4.21 billion, from the $2.59-billion deficit a year ago, as imports’ growth continued to outpace exports.

Total exports were valued at $6.11 billion in October, up by 3.3 percent from $5.91 billion in October 2017.

Total imports rose 21.4 percent to $10.32 billion from $8.50 billion in October 2017.

The reported BoP position reflected the final GIR level of $75.68 billion as of end-November 2018.

“At this level, the GIR represents a more than ample liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 6.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to 5.6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.9 times based on residual maturity,” the BSP said.

The Bangko Sentral revised upward the balance of payments projection this year to a deficit of $5.5 billion, higher than the previous assumption of a $1.5-billion deficit made last May, on the back of bigger current account shortfall.

The revision is expected to result in the gross international reserves ending 2018 at $76 billion, lower than the previous estimate of $80 billion for the year.

Data showed that the current account, one of the main components of the balance of payments, yielded a deficit of $6.5 billion in the first three quarters, a turnaround from the $968-million surplus registered in the same period last year.

“This development was brought about primarily by the continued widening deficit in the trade-in-goods account despite the higher net receipts posted in trade-in-services, primary and secondary income accounts,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Govt insures 25 disaster-vulnerable provinces THE Philippines successfully placed on the international market its parametric insurance policy with a maximum cover of P20.49 billion to provide quick liquidity to national and local governments, the Bureau of the Treasury said Wednesday.

The agency said in a statement the program includes coverage for national and local government assets against natural calamities including public elementary and high schools in 25 disaster-prone provinces in the country’s eastern seaboard.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said in a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III the Parametric Insurance Policy would enable these 25 catastrophe-vulnerable provinces and the national government to act faster and respond better against natural calamities. The policy would be effective on the midnight of Dec. 19, 2018.

De Leon said in addition to the reinsurers in 2017, which include Neph-

ila, Munich Re, Swiss Re, AXA and Hannover Re, a new set of reinsurers also provided support for the cover.

They are Hiscox Re, Allianz Re Switzerland, AP3 (Tredje AP-fonden) and Scor.

“With the increased market participation, we were able to achieve a tighter multiple this year compared to last year’s transaction,” De Leon said.

De Leon said the positive development “augurs well for our forthcoming indemnity and catastrophe bond issue.”

With assistance from the World Bank, the insurance program covers 25 provinces along the eastern seaboard, including Albay, Aurora, Batanes, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Cebu, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Laguna, Leyte, Northern Samar, Pampanga, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Zambales. Julito G. Rada

NUCLEAR REPORT. Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos (left) accepts the International Atomic Energy Agency-Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review mission report from IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development section head Milko Kovachev during the ceremonial turnover at Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. Marcos is leading the country’s Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization, which is composed of various government institutions and instrumentalities concerned with nuclear energy matters, such as the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and agencies and private sector firms involved in energy generation. The report would help the Philippines move towards nuclear energy utilization.

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Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks surge; JG Summit climbs T HE stock market bounced back Wednesday following gains in Wall Street overnight and the sharp drop in oil prices in the world market.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 159.22 points, or 2.2 percent, to 7,579.62 on a value turnover of nearly P6 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 124 to 60, with 50 issues unchanged.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei advanced 6.7 percent to P54.40, while Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. climbed 5.5 percent to P54.50.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, gained 4 percent to

P130.50, while parent SM Investments Corp. rose 3.3 percent to P950.

Most markets, meanwhjile, were mixed in Asia Wednesday as investors moved cautiously after the previous day’s sell-off, while focus is on a Federal Reserve policy decision with opinions split on whether or not it should hike interest rates again.

Oil prices also edged up but were struggling to make a dent in the steep losses sustained Tuesday as traders fret over a global supply glut, higher production and the outlook for demand.

Uncertainty stalked Asian trading floors Wednesday. Hong Kong ended up 0.2 percent but Shanghai was down 1.1 percent.

Tokyo lost 0.6 percent, with shares in the mobile unit of telecom titan SoftBank plunging 14.5 percent on their debut despite a record-breaking IPO that raised more than $23 billion.

Sydney slipped 0.2 percent but Singapore gained 0.6 percent, Seoul jumped 0.8 percent and Wellington was 0.9 percent higher.

Taipei added 0.7 percent and Mumbai and Bangkok each put on 0.5 percent.

With the US economy still healthy, the Fed’s board has been steadily lifting borrowing costs for the past couple of years as it treads a fine line between maintaining growth and keeping inflation in check.

However, its last meeting of 2018 has taken on major significance as the selloff in equities this year, signs of slowing across the planet—including the US— and a series of other negative factors including the China trade row put pressure on the bank to pause.

Donald Trump has spent most of the year lambasting the Fed for its policy of monetary tightening and has called on it “not to make yet another mistake”

Wednesday.

And while the bank has ignored the president’s calls—and is tipped to hike again before slowing the pace next year—a number of economists and commentators are also now suggesting a break could be in order.

“While US economic signals are not flashing red, to keep the US economic momentum heading in the right direction many market participants believe the Fed should provide investors with some breathing room (as) higher interest rates coupled with tighter liquidity conditions have sent equity markets on a downward spiral since October,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. But Tai Hui, chief market strategist for Asia-Pacific at JP Morgan Asset Management, warned that such a move could have bad consequences. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

OPEN

HIGH

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

59 92.3 2.15 125.6 1.52 27 15.92 12 4.3 0.475 79.5 0.88 12.5 42.8 184 120 64.95 28.45 154.3 1,849 65.95 1.14

59 93 2.18 130.5 1.56 27.2 15.92 12.4 4.6 0.53 81 0.92 12.5 43 184 120 64.95 28.45 158 1,849 66.2 1.14

58.05 90.6 2.14 125.6 1.5 26.9 15.9 12 4.24 0.475 78.85 0.87 12.2 42.75 181 120 64.55 28.2 153.2 1,849 64 1.13

FINANCIALS 59 29,900 93 2,023,210 2.18 54,000 130.5 1,948,460 1.54 973,000 27 55,200 15.9 400 12.4 1,489,100 4.43 348,000 0.5 4,114,000 81 3,210,240 0.88 332,000 12.2 27,100 43 436,600 181 980 120 800 64.8 1,630 28.2 2,000 157.5 332,780 1,849 15 64 8,220 1.13 287,000

1,746,357 186,198,795.50 116,140 250,324,800 1,479,230 1,490,680 6,362 18,338,568 1,528,140 2,090,470 257,423,928.50 292,070 338,600 18,763,630 177,554 96,000 105,516.50 56,725 52,254,409 27,735 527,508 324,600

1,428,386.50 -55,720,619 -25,874,010 -283,510 -5,200,556 146,330,009 0 332,500 4,193,415 3,240 -11,280 23,009,553 -196,954.50 -

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A 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 LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG 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 VITARICH VULCAN INDL

33.45 17.7 1.02 1.28 0.25 92 1.73 15.7 172.2 31.8 15.8 37.9 60.2 1.76 7.15 6.6 10.44 15.2 8.12 7.21 19.9 64.8 25.9 2.08 5.9 9.96 1.83 300 45.05 4.3 26.4 10.3 18.48 389 0.174 1.34 3.96 8.22 5.62 8.3 0.98 10.8 47.05 5.66 4.7 1.98 2.71 1.39 11 80 5.24 0.124 0.84 127.5 1.84 1.67

33.9 17.8 1.04 1.28 0.25 92 1.77 15.72 172.2 32 17 37.9 60.2 1.77 7.15 6.6 10.46 15.2 8.12 7.21 20.4 64.85 25.9 2.15 5.9 10.62 1.92 305 45.05 4.36 27.85 10.58 18.48 389.8 0.174 1.36 4.1 8.22 5.78 8.75 1.09 10.94 47.2 5.66 4.75 2.06 2.71 1.45 11.5 80 5.26 0.128 0.88 128.8 1.96 1.71

33.05 17.68 1 1.24 0.24 92 1.69 15.1 172.2 31.05 15.8 37.9 59 1.68 6.83 6.6 10.24 14.8 8.03 7.05 19.6 64.3 25 2.05 5.8 9.96 1.81 298.2 45 4.3 26.4 10.26 18.08 387.2 0.174 1.3 3.9 8.09 5.54 8.3 0.98 10.8 46.8 5.6 4.7 1.98 2.61 1.37 11 79.6 5.21 0.124 0.83 127.5 1.84 1.67

INDUSTRIAL 33.8 2,447,100 17.72 457,800 1.02 6,186,000 1.24 19,000 0.249 160,000 92 550 1.7 15,044,000 15.7 600,600 172.2 220 32 186,600 15.82 6,400 37.9 100 59.05 510 1.77 371,000 6.95 63,300 6.6 13,200 10.3 2,123,100 15 48,200 8.08 87,600 7.11 10,670,200 20.4 1,371,000 64.4 203,270 25 9,400 2.07 7,571,000 5.8 716,900 10.54 4,901,400 1.86 1,785,000 305 1,796,000 45 800 4.3 81,000 27.85 246,800 10.34 165,400 18.18 4,205,500 389.4 221,670 0.174 10,000 1.34 2,192,000 4.1 77,000 8.1 1,920,000 5.77 164,700 8.75 33,200 1.09 52,983,000 10.94 16,400 46.85 238,900 5.6 1,600 4.75 33,000 2.02 541,000 2.63 82,000 1.44 85,000 11.44 599,800 80 187,610 5.25 93,900 0.128 40,000 0.83 234,000 128.5 834,010 1.96 21,754,000 1.7 2,953,000

81,860,760 8,113,452 6,267,840 23,760 38,770 50,600 25,866,090 9,211,176 37,884 5,924,145 102,538 3,790 30,530.50 652,310 442,886 87,120 21,872,254 725,692 708,742 75,768,262 27,632,270 13,090,042 235,360 15,861,620 4,158,120 50,572,250 3,348,570 543,149,918 36,010 348,900 6,764,765 1,706,110 76,181,238 86,212,568 1,740 2,902,650 307,610 15,628,671 939,107 276,968 56,169,280 177,826 11,224,100 8,996 155,450 1,098,970 214,530 120,090 6,870,088 14,974,312 492,527 5,000 195,800 107,081,953 41,686,570 5,005,290

-36,634,715 2,306,970 -11,380 -4,600 -14,729,250 2,350,966 -170,970 -5,139,646 -340,432 -445,124 -25,470,130 12,955,043 -7,449,667 225,000 -484,590 -4,113,460 10,389,253 248,849,456 1,523,265 -469,098 -1,726,536 20,342,976 -1,740.00 -1,406,430 -4,511,804 -17,310 -35,237,660 821,900 -9,500 -61,860 -4,269,636 -21,826,975 -4,847,290 170,000

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

0.61 52.5 12.26 0.82 6.5 27.4 1.34 1.36 912 7 12.18 11.6 943 5.95 51.05 5.68 4.38 6.44 0.58 4.03 16.96 0.62 4.65 0.036 1.26 2.35 150.1 910 1.33 502 262 0.248 0.204

0.64 55.5 12.36 0.86 6.5 27.9 1.37 1.39 915 7 12.9 12.46 966 5.95 54.4 5.88 4.4 6.56 0.58 4.05 16.98 0.62 4.65 0.037 1.26 2.54 150.1 950 1.33 548 262 0.255 0.222

0.6 51.8 12.2 0.8 6.5 26.55 1.34 1.36 907 6.9 12.1 11 940 5.95 51.05 5.61 4.38 5.5 0.56 3.97 16.44 0.61 4.6 0.036 1.2 2.33 147 907 1.32 469 253 0.245 0.204

HOLDING FIRMS 0.63 24,044,000 54.5 1,706,870 12.28 7,492,600 0.86 159,000 6.5 2,000 27.3 135,500 1.34 4,675,000 1.36 840,000 914 462,640 6.92 1,196,600 12.9 4,903,500 12.2 1,936,700 966 121,160 5.95 900 54.4 2,687,590 5.62 32,500 4.4 2,000 6.39 179,000 0.58 6,000 4.05 3,712,000 16.78 1,036,000 0.62 305,000 4.61 16,815,000 0.036 7,200,000 1.25 66,000 2.45 2,237,000 148 816,560 950 234,180 1.32 5,000 469 710 253 1,530 0.25 2,230,000 0.222 140,000

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE KEPPEL PROP

7.73 0.81 11.94 1.74 0.76 42.45 2.28 3.92 0.42 0.87 0.86 0.25 0.405 7.83 18.02 0.48 0.125 1.45 1.05 4.12

7.9 0.88 11.94 1.74 0.94 43.2 2.3 3.99 0.435 0.87 0.88 0.25 0.405 7.92 18.76 0.485 0.125 1.45 1.06 4.87

7.61 0.79 11.78 1.7 0.75 42.15 2.27 3.91 0.42 0.87 0.86 0.246 0.405 7.83 17.8 0.48 0.125 1.41 1.04 3.81

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

4.75 0.425 0.46 2.25 0.425 3.56 20.65 1.98 3.12 34.5 1.26 6.02 5.2

4.81 0.44 0.475 2.32 0.465 3.59 21.25 1.98 3.12 35.9 1.26 6.1 5.3

4.75 0.42 0.445 2.23 0.425 3.51 20.65 1.98 3.12 34.5 1.22 5.62 5.17

4.8 0.43 0.475 2.28 0.45 3.54 20.8 1.98 3.12 35.9 1.23 5.75 5.25

17,877,000 49,880,000 460,000 5,803,000 8,480,000 702,000 2,912,500 9,000 11,000 12,486,000 227,000 660,500 3,869,900

85,797,540 21,489,050 210,650 13,249,290 3,783,400 2,484,260 60,722,225 17,820 34,320 437,682,695 279,090 3,838,685 20,218,759

-48,233,640 -1,431,200 -81,000 -6,826,990 2,715,605 28,564 -13,810,627

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP 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

15 19.9 1.54 0.415 0.039 3.74 9.6 73.5 6.41 7.93 16.32 892 1,975 5.4 316.4 3.1 1.88 100 10.9 0.124 5.69 14.5 3.39 0.78 15.08 5.45 2.42 2.02 3.28 8.46 3.3 112 3.05 1,150 0.85 0.33 42.5 79.05 7.62 2.3 0.72 0.42 5.3 0.7 12.1

15.2 20 1.54 0.42 0.039 3.94 9.6 74 6.65 7.93 16.34 892 1,991 5.43 325 3.17 1.94 101.3 11 0.132 6.01 14.5 3.47 0.78 16.7 5.45 2.5 2.05 3.41 8.46 3.45 112.1 3.1 1,166 0.86 0.34 43 79.5 7.7 2.39 0.78 0.43 5.3 0.71 12.1

14 19.6 1.43 0.41 0.038 3.64 9.4 73 6.38 7.5 15.4 890 1,950 5.36 316.4 3.1 1.88 99.5 10.06 0.122 5.62 14.5 3.38 0.77 15.08 5.45 2.38 2 3.26 7.9 3.13 112 3.02 1,138 0.83 0.325 42.5 78.5 7.62 2.3 0.72 0.415 5.29 0.67 12.06

SERVICES 14.02 19.7 1.46 0.42 0.039 3.85 9.6 73.95 6.53 7.5 15.5 890 1,980 5.4 325 3.12 1.94 101.3 11 0.128 5.94 14.5 3.38 0.78 16.54 5.45 2.49 2.04 3.4 8.3 3.13 112.1 3.02 1,153 0.84 0.33 42.9 79 7.7 2.39 0.74 0.42 5.29 0.69 12.08

813,700 45,000 97,000 1,220,000 7,500,000 14,985,000 10,579,900 205,690 1,296,100 600 308,900 270 57,615 269,400 1,040 829,000 15,000 3,566,850 17,300 20,250,000 8,167,300 100 293,000 102,000 2,631,500 600 899,000 183,000 1,534,000 7,700 56,000 7,250 1,234,000 79,345 4,602,000 570,000 1,547,200 365,200 331,000 2,537,000 21,768,000 24,050,000 225,700 2,451,000 268,200

11,766,022 891,290 140,280 506,000 288,000 55,942,480 101,054,049 15,092,363(7, 8,376,225 4,664 4,871,310 240,520 113,963,630 1,453,968 336,178 2,594,950 28,500 359,541,249 181,632 2,574,600 47,961,601 1,450 999,110 78,750 42,557,522 3,270 2,210,470 369,200 5,139,740 63,033 190,630 812,421 3,742,500 91,392,300 3,878,200 188,850 66,329,305 28,905,742 2,547,870 6,005,250 16,370,770 10,204,350 1,195,870 1,688,380 3,240,332

-21,720 12,960 -4,200 -9,090 -20,850,482 021,214.0001) 37,588 89,220 -36,306,920 -55,590 36,218,379 -1,692,585 -154,950 4,584,198 707,000 -159,660 292,340 -1,860,110 -29,319,405 584,850 112,200 -27,604,340 -935,620.50 152,200 2,623,400 -2,246,300 -698,200 -6,022

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

0.002 1.59 2.74 14.44 1.25 1.99 0.3 7.08 1.7 0.203 0.098 0.105 0.0065 0.0065 1.2 2.06 1.08 1 0.013 0.013 0.014 3.3 2.7 14.76 23.5 0.0058

0.0021 1.59 2.74 15.4 1.25 2.05 0.305 7.36 1.7 0.21 0.105 0.111 0.0065 0.0065 1.2 2.21 1.08 1 0.013 0.013 0.014 3.4 2.7 15 24.6 0.0058

0.0019 1.57 2.51 14.44 1.25 1.99 0.3 7.08 1.67 0.202 0.097 0.105 0.0065 0.0065 1.16 2.06 1.05 0.95 0.013 0.012 0.013 3.15 2.62 14.74 23.4 0.0058

MINING & OIL 0.002 124,000,000 1.59 778,000 2.51 53,000 15.4 400 1.25 5,000 2 990,000 0.305 150,000 7.36 500 1.69 1,160,000 0.21 120,000 0.105 5,130,000 0.111 3,170,000 0.0065 8,000,000 0.0065 1,000,000 1.16 285,000 2.2 3,882,000 1.08 7,000 0.97 204,000 0.013 110,200,000 0.013 158,400,000 0.014 186,500,000 3.15 155,000 2.68 1,874,000 14.8 838,800 23.95 1,464,300 0.0058 1,000,000

246,000 1,226,560 136,860 5,872 6,250 1,991,280 45,250 3,624 1,957,920 24,790 523,650 347,830 52,000 6,500 334,760 8,281,620 7,410 197,670 1,432,600 2,047,500 2,455,400 513,740 4,996,400 12,420,926 35,323,780 5,800

3,800 31,400 -10,070 2,050 -286,020 -4,200 -1,002,700 -1,755,000 -3,350 -3,137,210 -2,906,512 -11,586,755 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR PCOR PREF 2A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

18.8 453 492 98.05 102 475 5.24 985 990 75.95 76 74.8 73 72.5

18.8 453 492 98.05 102 475 5.35 985 990 75.95 76.1 74.8 73 73.5

18.54 453 492 98.05 102 475 5.24 985 990 75.95 76 74.8 73 72.5

PREFERRED 18.6 130,300 453 80 492 110 98.05 290 102 2,090 475 1,000 5.35 93,900 985 50 990 100 75.95 90 76.1 14,600 74.8 400 73 1,300 73.5 14,400

2,428,796 36,240 54,120 28,434.50 213,180 475,000 493,784 49,250 99,000 6,835.50 1,109,810 29,920 94,900 1,045,000

-2,301,980 124,288 -189,950 -

LR WARRANT

1.91

1.92

1.9

WARRANTS 1.92 56,000

106,860

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.9 0.85 11.78 1.7 0.9 43.2 2.28 3.99 0.43 0.87 0.88 0.249 0.405 7.9 18.76 0.485 0.125 1.43 1.06 3.81

6,272,600 4,806,000 1,200 73,000 61,696,000 8,144,400 3,439,000 199,000 13,130,000 8,000 81,000 2,370,000 80,000 64,500 541,700 50,000 60,000 9,360,000 710,000 18,000

15,010,090 92,417,546.50 91,900,806 129,200 13,000 3,670,745 6,290,250 1,148,150 421,693,270 8,308,326 62,328,098 22,806,292 115,670,740 5,355 140,597,946.50 185,781 8,780 1,151,280 3,440 14,828,800(8, 17,341,668 187,880 77,696,370 259,400 79,420 5,446,910 121,199,355 219,304,330 6,610 364,350 392,378 555,760 28,920

-1,700 40,236,442 -4,390,876 12,350 -5,480 960,470 -180,513,375 -2,249,139 41,836,068 1,221,866 44,905,440 15,301,842 999,129.9999) 2,856,820 -43,162,610 -23,800 -17,866,592 -23,789,395 -78,518 -

48,646,675 4,076,080 14,232 124,340 54,763,650 349,045,775 7,849,300(7, 790,750 5,667,900 6,960 71,020 587,150 32,400 509,518 9,857,822 24,200 7,500 13,288,910 744,440 77,690

-301,620 -850 -3,648,000 38,432,485 449,019.9995) -580,730 230,850 3,480 154,970 502,590 -9,810,430 -

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.31 1.52

4.4 1.59

4.3 1.47

FIRST METRO ETF

110.1

112.4

110.1

USD DMPL A2

10

10

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

16,475,140

INDUSTRIAL

147,041,561

HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY

85,422,674 214,552,268

SERVICES

136,302,901

MINING & OIL

609,394,354

GRAND TOTAL

1,229,721,602

10

4.4 1.57

SME

238,000 20,283,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 112.4 8,790 10

DDS

10,000

1,030,460 30,914,370

100 -873,600

975,199

-230,109

100,000

-

VALUE 1,776.28 (up) 39.64 856,999,440.90 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,074.86 (up) 102.80 1,395,437,999.04 HOLDING FIRMS 7,435.45 (up) 196.06 1,443,560,079.51 PROPERTY 3,728.60 (up) 70.44 SERVICES 1,451.05 (up) 15.73 1,146,105,657.05 MINING & OIL 8,182.68 (up) 162.31 1,019,516,732.08 PSEI 7,579.62 (up) 159.22 74,605,528.79 All Shares Index 4,541.71 (up) 71.49 5,969,155,429.77 Gainers: 124; Losers: 60; Unchanged: 50; Total: 234

SEC okays Phoenix bid to sell P10b worth of CP THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the sale of up to P10 billion worth of commercial papers by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines to help it fund projects and refinance debts.

The board of Phoenix approved the issuance of up to P10 billion in commercial papers in October. It tapped PNB Capital and Investment Corp. as sole issue manager, lead underwriter and sole book runner The board of Phoenix also approved early this month the capital infusion of P507.925 million in three whollyowned units. The capital call involves PFL Petroleum Management Inc. for P429.625 million, Subic Petroleum Trading and Transport Inc. for P55.8 million and Phoenix Global Mercantile Inc. for P22.5 million.

“The capital infusion shall correct capital deficiencies in the subsidiaries as well as for the use of expansion of their respective operations,” it said.

Phoenix is one of the country’s most aggressive oil companies today.

The company posted a 59-percent increase in net income to ₱969.8 million in the first six months from P610 million year-on-year.

Revenues grew 113 percent to ₱40.25 billion in the first half from ₱18.89 billion on year, primarily driven by the 63-percent increase in total volume sold.

“As we grow our core business, we are also realizing the value of our new businesses, as we maximize synergies across our portfolio of fuels, lubricants, LPG, trading and supply, convenience store retailing and asphalt. We are committed to delivering greater value to our stakeholders and being their indispensable partner,” said Phoenix chief operating officer Henry Albert Fadullon earlier.

Sales volume from the core fuel business rose 18 percent in the first half from the same period in 2017.

Retail volume increased 8 percent as Phoenix continues to expand its network, having opened 545 stations nationwide.

Phoenix’s new businesses in liquefied petroleum gas, trading and supply, and convenience store retailing are also delivering value.

Alena Mae S. Flores

P188b in fresh capital raised via stock exchange

By Jenniffer B. Austria CAPITAL raised through the local stock exchange reached P188 billion in 2018, up 12.5 percent from P167 billion recorded in 2017, Philippine Stock Exchange president Ramon Monzon said Wednesday.

Monzon said in an interview this year’s figure, while below the target of P200 billion, was still not bad considering the volatile trading conditions during the year.

The PSE is expecting fund raising activities to reach P200 billion again in 2019.

“We did not hit P200 billion this year but we try to hit P200 billion for next year,” Monzon said.

He conceded that reaching the 2019 target would be a challenge considering that most of the big banks had completed their fund raising activities in 2018.

Most banks are also going to the bond market for their fund raising activities after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas released new guidelines.

Monzon said he wanted more initial public offerings as well as backdoor listings to meet the P200-billion target for 2019.

Del Monte Philippines, AirAsia and Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines) Inc. earlier dropped their share sale plans due to weak market conditions.

Aside from potential IPOS, the local bourse is looking at possible follow-on offerings from companies that conducted backdoor listings.

Among these are Dennis Uy-led PH Resorts Group and Udenna Corp., which acquired Philippine H2O Ventures and ISM Communications Corp., respectively, and Tiger Resorts Asia Ltd. which purchased Asiabest Group International Inc. Only one company, D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc., conducted an IPO this year, raising P8.1 billion in proceeds.

World

extrastory2000@gmail.com

B3

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

California fire survivors face a bleak Christmas in shelters

CELEBRATION. Hercules C-130 cargo planes fly during a military parade to mark Qatar’s national day celebration on December 18, 2018, in Doha. AFP

CHICO-Luanne Wright was all set for retirement when the deadliest wildfire in California history swept through her town of Paradise. The blaze incinerated her home, her car and even the chickens in her backyard.

Now Wright is spending the days leading up to Christmas with her husband and daughter on adjacent cots in a Red Cross refugee center in nearby Chico, desperately searching for somewhere to live.

Her husband is recovering from a heart attack suffered at a previous shelter.

“We were comfortable, we were happy, and now we have an acre of burned land and nowhere to go,” she said. “Everything is gone.”

The so-called Camp Fire broke out in early November in Butte County, killing at least 86 people and burning 14,000 homes in the tree-blanketed Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California.

Insurance claims have already topped $7 billion, and officials estimate it will cost at least $3 billion just to clear the charred debris of homes and businesses.

A few feet away in the Silver Dollar fairgrounds, where about 700 people are

living in tents, camper vans and a giant exhibition hall, Rubi Solis watches over four children, four dogs and a cat.

Solis didn’t know her estranged husband had stopped paying the insurance premiums months ago on her house in the tiny community of Concow, leaving her without coverage.

Her house was worth $200,000. The government gave her $34,900 to rebuild–enough, she says, to just about cover the cost of a new kitchen.

Her children have no school to attend. The youngest, aged four, got so stressed she started slurring her words.

The Wright and Solis families are among thousands struggling to find housing as winter approaches and they try to piece together their shattered lives. And the months ahead are unlikely to be any easier.

A year after wildfires swept through Sonoma County, about 160 kilometers west of Paradise, some survivors there have begun to rebuild.

But many still cope with physical losses and psychological scars -- when smoke from the Butte County fires reached Sonoma County last month, many people suffered flashbacks or night terrors. AFP

Trump mired in legal morass 2 years on W ASHINGTON― Donald Trump rails on an almost daily basis against the federal probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia to get him elected to the White House.

But the investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller into the 2016 election is just one of many ongoing inquiries into Trump, his businesses and his associates.

Trump’s ex-national security advisor, retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn, appeared in court on Tuesday for sentencing after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI. And New York’s attorney general announced that Trump’s personal charity, the Trump Foundation, had agreed to

shut down amid a lawsuit accusing it of engaging in illegal activity.

Exactly how many investigations target Trump is subject to interpretation because many of the probes overlap with others or have spun off in different directions. But the scrutiny is extensive.

And that’s before a Democraticcontrolled House of Representatives convenes in January with wide-ranging powers to dig into Trump’s affairs.

Whether Trump could personally face charges while in the White House is a matter of debate -- legal experts are divided on whether a sitting president can be indicted.

The following are the main investigations facing Trump as he approaches two years in office: The core focus of the Special Counsel’s probe is whether there were “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals” associated with the Trump campaign.

While Mueller has yet to file any charges alleging outright collusion be-

IN BRIEF

Cuba to scrap same-sex marriage HAVANA―Cuba will leave out of its new constitution changes that would have paved the way for legal same-sex marriage, despite majority support in local assemblies, a government official said Tuesday.

It was a surprising twist given public popular support shown nationwide -- and earlier remarks from lawmakers in the Americas’ only one-party Communist regime.

The measure would have changed the definition of parties in a marriage from man and wife to “between two people.”

But “the draft constitution will not define which parties enter into a marriage... So that is now out of constitutional reform discussions overall,” Council of State secretary and drafting coordinator Homero Acosta was quoted as saying by state media.

The full draft constitution was put before neighborhood and workplace assemblies for debate between August and November. The marriage issue was the one that drew the greatest attention. AFP

tween the campaign and Moscow, the probe has led to a host of indictments and guilty pleas.

One focus of the probe is a June 9, 2016 meeting at the Trump Tower in New York in which a Russian lawyer was to offer dirt on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The meeting was attended by Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, his son Donald Jr., and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Mueller is also looking into whether WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange coordinated his leaks of stolen Democratic Party emails with Trump campaign advisor Roger Stone.

Twenty-five Russians and three Russian companies have been indicted for interfering in the 2016 election.

Manafort was convicted of tax evasion and other charges related to his consulting work for pro-Moscow politicians in Ukraine between 2004 and 2014.

Flynn and George Papadopoulos, an advisor to the campaign, pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about their con-

Uber self-driving cars to resume testing

SAN FRANCISCO―Authorities in the US state of Pennsylvania have given Uber the green light to resume testing self-driving cars, the ride-sharing giant said Tuesday, after a fatal crash in Arizona prompted a pause.

Uber said it had received authorization to put autonomous cars back on the road in Pittsburgh, where it has a lab devoted to the technology, but has yet to actually do so.

The San Francisco-based company suspended use of self-driving cars in March after one struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona.

The Uber vehicle was in autonomous mode with an operator behind the wheel when it hit a woman walking in the street.

In July, Uber said it was using cars with human drivers to test and improve autonomous capabilities.

The company, which is preparing to go public with an offering of shares next year, is in a selfdriving car race with an array of companies including Alphabet-owned Waymo.

A self-driving car service being tested by Waymo was opened up to more people in the Phoenix, Arizona area, last month, according to chief John Krafcik.AFP

tacts with Russians and have been cooperating with Mueller.

Papadopoulos was given 14 days in prison, while Flynn’s sentencing was delayed until March.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal lawyer, was ordered to spend three years in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, providing false statements to a bank, campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

Cohen admitted lying to Congress about talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, acknowledging the negotiations continued well into the 2016 election campaign.

Trump is facing potential legal jeopardy over hush money payments made to two women who were threatening to go public during the election campaign with claims they had affairs with the Republican candidate.

Cohen said $130,000 was paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDou-

gal.

Prosecutors have described the payments as illegal campaign contributions intended to influence the election and Cohen said they were made “in coordination and at the direction” of Trump.

The president has said he did not instruct Cohen to break the law and has sought to pin the blame for the payments solely on his long-time “fixer.”

One avenue of the Mueller probe is whether Trump obstructed justice by abruptly firing then FBI director James Comey and asking him to shut down an investigation into General Flynn.

Trump dismissed Comey in May 2017 while he was investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, a probe that was eventually taken up by Mueller.

According to The Wall Street Journal, federal prosecutors in New York are investigating whether Trump’s inauguration committee misspent some of the record $107 million it received in donations. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Manila

Standard

TODAY

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

B4

Baguio hotels almost full in time for Xmas

BAGUIO CITY—The occupancy rate of hotels here has reached 98 percent during the Yuletide season, according to the Hotel and Restaurants Association of Baguio.

“Right now, we are enjoying about 98 to 99 percent occupancy. Some hotels are starting to fill up also. Even transient housing are enjoying good business,” Andrew Pinero, HRAB spokesperson and Baguio Country Club client and public relations manager, told PNA in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

Pinero pointed out the high occupancy rate of the over 200 members of the HRAB, aside from other accommodation establishments.

“Right now, we are enjoying about 98 to 99 percent occupancy. Some hotels are starting to fill up also. Even transient housing are enjoying a good business,” Pinero added.

He said the uptrend was noted in the last quarter of the year.

“We have high occupancy starting October,” Pinero said.

December in Baguio is peak tourist season with people from the lowlands coming to the city to experience the cold temperatures.

According to the tourist statistics report of the City Tourism and Special Events Office, the city posted the highest number of tourist arrivals during December.

In 2015, there were a total of 122,709 tourists in December while 86,965 in November; 118,501 in May; 122,447 in April; 97,190 in March and 106,373 in February.

The gap widened in 2016 where there were a total of 172,303 tourist arrival recorded in December; 119,060 in November; 129,121 in April; 111,678 in March, and 104,568 in February which happens to be Panagbenga festival.

In 2017, there were 198,599 in December; 147,464 in November; 144,447 in April; 111,362 in March and 129,572 in February.

According to the 2017 report, the city chalked up a 17.52 percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2017 with a total of 1,521,748 as against the 2016 figure of 1,294,906.

“Baguio during this season (Yuletide season) is a favorite destination because they want to experience the cold weather that we are having right now,” Pinero said. PNA

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

‘Measles under control’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

he Department of Health on Wednesday said the reported measles cases in Quezon province are now under control, while reported cases in Antipolo City are still being managed jointly by the health department and local health authorities.

In a statement, the DOH said that as of Dec. 18, reports of measles cases in General Nakar, Quezon had reached 107 cases.

“We would like to reiterate to parents and caregivers that our measles vaccines are safe and have been in use worldwide for decades now,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque emphasized.

Duque urged health workers to reach out to parents to provide them the best available information to allay fears, correct misconceptions and encourage vaccination.

“Please bring your children to the nearest health center for free vaccination,” he added.

Cases were noted to increase in May this year. Victims were aged four months to 38 years old from 17 barangays, with Barangay Limutan recording 19 cases, and Anoling and Minahan with 14 cases each.

Fifty-one cases were treated in the rural health units and 49 at the district hospital. Eleven cases had no consultation at all, as there were 14 recorded deaths, the DOH added.

Health personnel from the national, regional, and local levels conducted house-to-house surveys, active case-finding, outbreak response immunization activities in nearby barangays, and a knowledge, attitudes and practices survey.

They also taught residents on vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases, and collected and sent specimens for laboratory confirmation to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Only one case has since been confirmed as a measles case, according to the RITM. Since the third week of November, no additional cases were noted, the DOH said.

Meanwhile, measles cases reported in Antipolo City had been noted since March 19 this year. Cases at the time of report reached 333, with victims aged from one month old to 45 years old.

About 219 victims were not vaccinated, the health department said. Of the total 333 cases, 44 were confirmed positive for measles, leading to 10 reported deaths.

Belmonte hands out sewing machines for Pinyahan women

Navotas lauds 16 graduates of ‘Bidahan’ course

QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte recently distributed highspeed sewing and edging machines to the dressmaking graduates in Barangay Pinyahan in support of a livelihood program and its formation of the barangay’s cooperative.

“I want to congratulate all of you for being able to finish the short course on dress making here in your barangay. Now that you already know the basics of creating attires, I hope you will utilize this knowledge to make clothes that you can sell and use this as a source of income,” she said.

“Also, I encourage you to form a cooperative so you can get contracts from city hall without having to bid for these, as the cooperative law provides. That way, you can utilize the city’s fund and at the same time ensure the livelihood for our people,” she added.

She lauded the barangay’s effort for providing the livelihood program. Rio N. Araja Republika ng Pilipinas

Anna Karenina Lim Puerto, LARC Community Relations and External Affairs group head; Shela Sigue, Community Relations and External Affair Specialist; Christian Henry Lacson, Operation Manager, and Mikhail Tabucal, Engineering Manager attend the blessing of the LARC Bayog reservoir. Roy Tomandao

National Irrigation Administration Office Address: Telephone Nos.: Website:

(PambansangPangasiwaan ng Patubig) Regional Office No.III

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-2467, 766-4839, 816-6808 www.region3.nia.gov.ph

Email Address: Telefax No. TIN No.

niar03@yahoo.com (044) 766-2467 000-979-570-000

Invitation to Bid Slope Protection, Embankment and Diversion Works of Caulaman RIS ITB No. NIAR3-2019-PAM-CAULAMAN RIS-9 1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, hereby invites all interested PhilGEPS registered contractors to bid for the project, through the General Appropriations Act of CY 2019, intends to apply the sum of Sixty Three Million Seven Hundred Forty Five Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Four Pesos and (P 63,745,854.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the contract for NIAR3-2019-PAM-CAULAMAN RIS-9. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Bidders must secure Site Inspection Certificate from IMO Office as a technical requirement for Eligibility and Technical Document (Envelop A). Non compliance will be a ground for disqualification.

3.

Only who submitted Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS including updated company profile by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

4.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 now invites bids for Slope Protection, Embankment and Diversion Works of Caulaman RIS located in Floridablanca, Pampanga. Completion of the Works is required within Three Hundred (300) calendar days.

Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

5.

By Jun David

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

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

6.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on December 15, 2018 to January 3, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, and January 4, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Sixty Three Thousand Pesos (P 63,000.00).

8.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 21, 2018, 3:00 p.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

9.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:30 a.m.

(PST) of January 4, 2019 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 10:00 a.m. (PST) of January 4, 2018 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

10. All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR. 11. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

12. For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608 (SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC – Chairman Noted by:

Laguna Water District puts up new reservoir REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 109, PASAY CITY RAYMOND DELGADO, Petitoner, CIVIL CASE: NO. R-PSY-17-27578-CV For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage Under Article 36 of the Family Code -versusARIANNE DACAYO DELGADO, Respondent. x-----------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO:

MS. ARIANNE DACAYO DELGADO 2995 H. Santos St., Barangay Carmona Makati City

GREETINGS: You are hereby directed to enter your appearance in the above entitled case within thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication hereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks and answer the Petition filed by petitioner Raymond Delgado wherein he prays that judgment be rendered declaring the marriage between petitioner and respondent null and void ab initio on the ground of psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code and furnish a copy thereof to petitioner’s counsel, Atty. Jose Doma De Leon with address at 4/F, Citystate Centre 709 Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City.

If you fail to answer within the time fixed as per the Rules of Court, the petitioner will take judgment against you and demand from this court the relief applied in this petition.

Moreover, you are reminded of the provision of the IBP-OCA Memorandum on Policy guidelines dated March 12, 2002, to observe restraint in filing a Motion to Dismiss and instead allege the ground thereof as defenses in the answer. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the Court shall order the Public Prosecutor to investigate whether or not collusion exist between the parties and intervene for the state to see to it that the evidence presented is not fabricated or suppressed.

Witness the HON. JEHAN B. SAMPAOHASSIMAN, Acting Presiding Judge, this 10th day of October 2018.

(Sgd.) Atty. Lei S. Tungpalan Legal Researcher/Officer-in-Charge

(SGD) JOSEPHINE B. SALAZAR Regional Manager (MS-DEC. 20, 2018)

(MStandard-Dec. 13 & 20, 2018)

By Roy Tomandao LOS BAÑOS—Laguna Water District Aquatech Resources Corp. recently completed the construction of a reservoir located at Barangay Bayog, Los Baños, Laguna.

The blessing of the Bayog reservoir was held on Dec. 18, officiated by Father Larry R. Abayon and led by Anna Karenina Lim Puerto, LARC Community Relations and External Affairs group head; Shela Sigue, Community Relations and External Affair Specialist; Christian Henry Lacson, Operation Manager, and Mikhail Tabucal, Engineering Manager.

LARC’s Maahas reservoir is due for completion by the end of the year, Puerto said.

The two reservoirs, which have a combined storage capacity of more than 750,000 liters of water, aim to enhance water reliability and boost distribution efficiency in Los Baños and parts of Bay. The new reservoirs will enable LARC to increase the water availability during peak demand.

These new facilities can increase water pressure that will allow LARC to bring potable water to areas which previously had limited supply availability.

More than 3567 households at Bayog, Maahas, and parts of San Antonio and Mayondon in Los Baños will benefit from the improved water pressure.

MAYOR John Rey Tiangco on Wednesday congratulated the 16 graduates of Bidahan, the community-based rehabilitation and treatment program of Navotas for substance use disorder patients.

Fourteen of the graduates completed the course in six months, and two completed 18 months of counseling.

“We are happy that our efforts to help Navoteños with SUD are bearing fruit.

We hope more will participate in Bidahan and take responsibility for their recovery,” Tiangco said.

The mayor thanked Navoteños for their constant support to the city’s antidrug campaign.

Residents may report illegal activities through Text JRT numbers 0915-2601385, 0908-8868578 and 0922-8888578.

Bidahan participants go through a three-day retreat where they learn about the effects of drugs in their body and ways to avoid getting hooked into substance abuse.

They are also taught proper grooming, healthy lifestyle, as well as how to value themselves and their loved ones.

They will then engage in a twicea-week counseling sessions for six months and once a week counseling for 18 months, and undertake random drug testing to ensure their compliance to the program.

Navotas’ anti-drug campaign also includes Philippine National Police– Navotas Nurture and Educate Surrenderees Towards Transformation, and faith-based interventions such as Sipag and Gabay projects.

The Bidahan program started in October 2016 and has since had 18 batches composed of 462 participants. Of this, 90 completed the 6-month and five finished the 18-month program.

‘PAMASKONG HANDOG’. Some 1,100

senior citizens and person with disabilities in Barangay La Huerta receive the city government of Parañaque’s ‘Pamaskong Hando’ giftgiving project that kicked off Dec. 1. Mayor Edwin Olivarez (right) led the distribution of the goodies that will benefit 65,000 senior citizens and less fortunate residents in the city’s 16 barangays

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Life

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @mstandardLIFe

household

C

thursday, december 20, 2018

C1

Great Gifts come

hriStMAS hampers, or those carefully selected edible and non-edible goods in baskets or boxes, are great gifts as they offer a way for the giver to choose or customize their presents that will perfectly suit the need and taste of the receiver. these festive holiday hampers contain treats that have been picked and packed to deliver the perfect Christmas experience.

in holiday boxes

Gourmet treats Marks & Spencer takes gourmet holiday boxes rich roast instant Coffee, instant Latte Sachets, seriously with its tastefully curated sets.

Colombian 10 One Cup Filters, Demerara Sugar the tastiest and most thrilling treats come to- Cubes, and a selection of biscuits. gether in Divine Pleasures On the other hand, the timeholiday hamper which carries less Favourites hamper consists Marques De Alarcon tempraa collection of heart-warming nillo, Olive Oil, Spaghetti, tofavorites, from the bottle of mato and Sausage Pasta Sauce, house red Wine, to the breaktomato Garlic and Chili Pasta fast of champions triple ChocSauce, Scottish All Butter olate Crunch, the Sugar-free Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Sparkling Cloudy Lemonade, a rounds, Sparkling elderflower box of Pure Jasmine Green tea, Soda, and Swiss Milk Chocolate and more.

Bar, among others. italian food-loving friends will For the most discriminating enjoy the sumptuous flavors of tastes, the Lavish Luxury hamitaly with the italian escape hamper will not disappoint. Offering a per. this basket of culinary essentotally luxurious indulgence, this tials features a bottle of rosso di set includes a bottle of Domaine Puglia, italian Penne, Spaghetti, Mandeville Sauvignon Blanc as italian torinesi Breadsticks, Olwell as non-Alcoholic Sparkling ive Oil, Green Pesto, and tomato normandy Apple Juice, Chopped Italian Escape Hamper and Gorgonzola Pasta Sauce. ham, authentic italian Fusilli Pasthose with sweet tooth will deta, a selection of deliciously sweet biscuits, and more. light in Sweet nostalgia and Chocolate indulgence the Sumptuous Selection hamper, on the other hampers; wine lovers will find the holiday sparkle hand, has all the holiday food essentials covered, in the wine gift sets; while other smaller baskets like from the authentic italian Fiorelli Pasta and the Sunrise Bliss and tea-time treats hampers will dematching napoletana Sauce, to the bottle of Las light anyone with the hand-picked items they carry.

Falleras red Wine and Blackcurrant high Juice.

Caffeine-dependent friends will absolutely love Follow @MarksandSpencerPhilippines on Facebook the Coffee Lovers’ Surprise hamper made up of or @marksandspencerph on Instagram to know more.

Divine Pleasures Hamper

Winter has come to SM Mall of Asia as its celebrates its annual Grand Festival of Lights with a “Very Merry Winterland Christmas” theme. every Saturday of December, magical floats delight kids of all ages. these colorful floats include Oppo’s Snow Globe of Wintery Sweets, Lady’s Choice’s Frozen Wishes, toy Kingdom’s icy Castle, PLDt, Smart, and SM Store’s Magical Cable Car, Coca-Cola’s Santa’s Village, and the M Mall of Asia’s Winter express. the parade, which is also happening on Christmas day, starts along the north Arcade and ends in SM by the Bay where spectators can watch the spectacular pyromusical display. the merrymaking at SM Mall of Asia continues with meet-and-greet sessions, as Santa and his MOA magical friends make special appearances on weekends throughout the holiday season at the Mall of Asia Atrium on Saturdays at 2:00-3:00 pm and on Sundays at 3:00-4:00 pm.

Kids can whisper their Christmas wishes while sitting on Santa’s lap or they can also write down and send their list to the Santa Mail. Mall-goers are in for a special surprise SM Mall as they take selfies and insta-stories with the of Asia huge MOA magical snow globe at the atrium celebrates its or the 30-foot gigantic MOA Santa at the annual Grand Festival of MOA Complex.

Lights with a the magic of giving continues with SM Bears of Joy, through which customers can have a cute winter theme, cuddly bear to keep, while another one will be complete with donated to a child at the mall’s chosen benefi- floats, parades, and fireworks ciary, Kanlungan ni erma, for only P200. display.

The Christmas Yet to Come packages include well-curated Healthy Options food and beverage items.

Wrap a christmas story retail store chain healthy Options draws inspiMeanwhile, the Christmas Yet to Come packages ration from a Dickens Victorian Christmas for its include a well-curated selection of items to choose holiday 2018 collection of Christmas boxes. from. Gift-givers can create the magic of a Victorian inspired by Charles Dickens literary classic A Christ- Christmas with the dining table as the focus of the mas Carol published in 1843, celebration: make merry gatherings even merrithe healthy Options Yuletide er with a sumptuous spread collection, dubbed “A Christand delicious bottles of mas Story,” is composed of bubbly—choose from orexquisite Christmas Past, ganic wines from the vineChristmas Present, and yards of Mureda, Spain; Christmas Yet to Come gift non-alcoholic wines from box options. italy; and sparkling grape the Christmas Past juices in several refreshing holiday boxes include the flavors including gold apGourmet Gift hamper, ple, rosé, red grape, acai, and Family Feast, Glutenmore.

Free, Vitality, and LowBut for those who want to Sodium gift boxes, each give their giftee the freedom laden with goodies and to choose their own desired beverages well suited for snacks, ingredients beauty Healthy chips and other snack items the holiday celebrations. products, supplements, or the Christmas Prebeverages, can complement sent packages include natural beauty gift packs their gift with the healthy Options Christmas Gift that are meant to enhance all that is naturally Cards—available in denominations of P500 and beautiful—without harming one’s skin or the P1,000, and redeemable in any healthy Options planet. the beauty gift sets include travel-size stores nationwide. hair nourishing shampoos and conditioners, skinmoisturizing products, and more.

Visit www.healthyoptions.com.ph for more information.

A very merry wintry Christmas

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

.I Standard

as other persons who, in the performance of election-related duties, are in distress at sea; and/or (ii) vessels in distress which are carrying election paraphernalia, equipment, forms and supplies;

TODAY Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS lntramuros, Manila

IN THE MATTER OF DEPUTIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG), THE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION (NAPOLCOM) AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING FREE, ORDERLY, HONEST, PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE CONDUCT OF THE MAY 13, 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. x-----------------------------------------------------------------x

Abas, S.M., Chairman Parreño, A.A., Commissioner Guia, L.T.F., Commissioner Guanzon, M.R.A.V., Commissioner Inting, S.B., Commissioner Casquejo, M.S., Commissioner Kho, Jr., A.T., Commissioner

Promulgated: December 18, 2018

h)

To conduct inspections and emergency readiness evaluation on ships and vessels which will carry (i) personnel and deputies of the Commission as well as other persons performing election-related functions; and/ or (ii) election paraphernalia, forms and supplies;

i)

Render periodic reports on action taken in accordance with this Resolution; and

j)

Comply with and/or implement directives or resolutions which the Commission may issue or promulgate from time to time.

a)

Assist the Commission in removing and tearing down all unlawful election materials, and perform such other duties and functions as the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

b)

Provide facilities and/or equipment necessary in the tearing down of illegal propaganda materials, and perform such other duties and functions as the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

Section 3.6. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Duties and Functions. -The PIA shall perform the following duties and functions: a)

Assist the Commission in its education and information campaign on the conduct of the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections;

b)

Make available to the Commission its facilities and services of its personnel, as may be necessary to ensure implementation of the programs of activities or operation plans for the Commission’s information campaign;

c)

Produce such irformation materials as the Commission may deem necessary to ensure the conduct of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible nationaI and local elections; provided, that in all cases:

NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code and other related election laws, has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to deputize the following law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, in connection with the conduct of the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections:

I. II.

Section 1. Deputization of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Duties and Functions. -The DILG and NAPOLCOM are hereby deputized to:

b)

Provide security to the personnel of the Commission, its deputies and other persons performing election-related functions;

c)

Deploy, at the least time possible, troops for election duty in coordination with the concerned Regional Election Director, Provincial Election Supervisor, and Election Officer;

d)

Make available, at the least time possible, land, air and water-craft assets, communication systems and other equipment, in connection with the conduct of the elections;

e)

Look into the existence of any armed group organized to commit, or which is committing or attempting to commit, acts of terrorism, or threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a candidate, and to suppress or prevent said acts of terrorism or threats;

f)

Assist the Commission in implementing more effectively election laws and/or rules and regulations, particularly the laws governing prohibition against military, policemen and provincial guards acting as bodyguards or security guards for the candidates, the use of armored vehicles and air or water-craft, and the prohibition on bearing, carrying or transporting firearms and other deadly weapons in public places;

g)

h)

i)

j)

Provide security escorts to candidates, subject to the conditions and restrictions on the Resolution imposing the ban on the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons and the ban on the use of security personnel or bodyguards; Conduct a periodic assessment of the peace and order conditions in critical areas and recommend measures which may be adopted by the Commission in the interest of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections; Comply with and/ or implement directives or resolutions of the Commission, which shall take precedence over and above the orders and directives issued by any other office or agency of the Government, except the Supreme Court and those issued in habeas corpus proceedings; and Render periodic reports on action taken in accordance with this Resolution.

Section 2. Deputization of other Law Enforcement Agencies, Duties and Functions. -The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other law enforcement agencies are hereby deputized in connection with the conduct of the May 13, 2019 National and Local Eledions.

Section 2.1. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Corrections, Duties and Functions. -The BJMP and BuCor are hereby deputized to: a)

Enforce the following provision of the Omnibus Election Code: “SEC. 261 (n). Illegal release of prisoners before and after election.

- The Director of the Bureau of Prisons, any provincial warden, the keeper of the jail or the person or persons required by law to keep prisoner in their custody who illegally orders or allows any prisoner detained in the national penitentiary, or the provincial, city or municipal jail to leave the premises thereof sixty days before and thirty days after the election. The municipal or city warden, the provincial warden, the keeper of the jail or the person or persons required by law to keep prisoners in their custody shall post in three conspicuous public places a list of the priisoners or detention prisoners under their care. Detention prisoners must be categorized as such. “; and

iii.

d)

a)

Deploy its agents to designated areas in order to effectively carry out the objective of this Resolution, furnishing the Commission with the list of said agents;

b)

Direct its agents to arrest any person who violates the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code and other pertinent election laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission, without prejudice to Section 266 of the Omnibus Election Code;

c)

Report from time to time to the Commission actions it has taken pursuant to this Resolution; and

d)

Comply with the orders, and directives of the Commission, which shall be given priority over orders and directives from other sources, except the Supreme Court and those issued in habeas corpus proceedings.

Instruct their respective personnel and the management of all private telecommunications firms to give special preference to, and effect immediate transmission and delivery of messages of the Commission, its field personnel and deputies during the election period;

b)

Impress upon such personnel and management that non-compliance with the provisions of Sec. 9 of the Omnibus Election Code on preferential transmissions of official mails and messages relative to the elections, constitutes an election offense punishable under Sec. 264 of said Code with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years and shall not be subject to probation. In addition, the guilty party shall be sentenced to suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage;

c)

Assign sufficient number of personnel to receive, transmit and deliver election messages ten (10) days before Election Day, on election day, and ten (10) days after election day;

d)

Make operational all its stations during election period; and

e)

Perform such other duties and functions which the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

Section 5. Deputization of Certain Government Financial Institutions, Other Government Agencies and Other Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations, to Provide Means of Transportation in Connection with the Conduct of Elections. -The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS), the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the National Food Authority (NFA), the National Electrification Administration (NEA), and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) shall place at the disposal of the Commission their land, air and water craft, such as airplanes and helicopters, trucks, jeeps, vans, cars and the like, ships, launches, barges, and speedboats, and communication facilities, as the Commission may need from time to time. Said vehicles shall be used to ferry the personnel of the Commission and its deputized agencies in the performance of their election duties, and to transport election forms, supplies and materials to their places of destination, particularly In areas with inadequate or without regular means of transportation.

For the above purposes, they shall provide the Commission thru the Administrative Services Department with a list of available vehicles, together with the pilots/captains, shipmasters, or drivers assigned to said crafts or vehicles. These crafts or vehicles shall be at the disposal of the Commission immediately and until the end of the election period.

Comply with and enforce all orders and instructions of the Commission relative to the election duties and functions of its personnel;

b)

Allow the use of public school buildings for election purposes;

c)

Not to hold, during the election period, conferences, seminars or any school activity, which might interfere, restrict, or prevent the performance of election duties of its personnel, except upon prior written authority from the Commission; and

Provide sufficient personnel to secure the nationwide transmission lines, substations, and other related power facilities;

c)

Provide assistance to and coordinate with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to implement clearing of the nationwide transmission facilities to include substations, towers and other related power facilities, in support of its systems operations functions. Towards, this end, the DENR shall facilitate the clearing of trees within the required transmission right-of-way; Secure the area of Tower 25 located along the Agus 2 -Kibawe 138kV line, to enable the NGCP to undertake immediate repair, clearing, and restoration of the said transmission line tower so that Agus 1 and 2 can immediately inject power to the grid thereby increasing the supply of electric power in Mindanao; and

e)

Provide pertinent information to cause the prosecution of any person or offender for any election offense such as, but not limited to, violation of Section (z)(11) which states that ”Any person who, for the purpose of disrupting or obstructing the election process or causing confusion among the voters, propagates false and alarming reports or information or transmits or circulates false orders, directives or messages regarding anyf matter relating to the printing of official ballots, the postponement of the election, the transfer of polling place or the general conduct of the election.”

f)

Perform such other duties and functions as the Commission may provide.

a)

Section 2, Paragraph 4 of Articled IX (B), and Section 6 Article IX (B) of the Constituion, which provides that:

“(4) No officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly in any electioneering or partisan political campaign. “ xxx.

Comply with and enforce all orders and instructions of the Commission relative to the election duties and functions of its personnel;

“Section 6. No candidate who has lost in any election shall within one year after such election be appointed to any office in the Government or any government-owned or controlled-corporation or in any of its subsidiaries.” b)

c) Not to designate temporary or casual employee as Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Treasurer; and

xxx

Section 3.3. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Information and Communications, Duties and Functions. -The DOTr and DICT, including its attached agencies, shall perform the following duties and functions in connection with their respective mandates: a)

ll,

iii.

iv,

v,

b)

c)

Sec. 89, which prohibits any candidate, political party or organization or any person from giving or accepting transportation, free of charge, directly or indirectly during the five (5) hours before and after a public meeting, on the day preceding the election and on election day;

Require all transportation companies engaged in the operation of transportation facilities to report within thirty (30) days following the day of the election, the use, rental or hiring of their facilities by any candidate, political party, coalition of political parties, or groups or organizations in connection with the election campaign, including the amount paid for such use, rental or hiring, as provided for and in accordance with the Comelec Resolution which governs campaign finance and disclosure in connection with the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections.

Perform such other duties and functions which the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

Section 3.4. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), as a Sectoral Office of the DOTI, Duties and Functions.

-The PCG shall perform the following duties and functions: a)

Provide security to, and render assistance in the deployment of: i. ii.

b)

personnel and deputies of the Commission as well as other persons performing elections related duties; and/or election paraphernalia, equipment, forms and supplies;

Assist the Commission in implementing election laws and/or rules and regulations especially within the maritime jurisdiction of the country, including ports;

7

Engine Wash and Under Chasis Wash

8

Fleet Card TOTAL

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Php 2,604,000.00

Php2,604,000.00

3.

Interested bidder may bid in whole/lot basis. Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

4.

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

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

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DENR-NCR and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during Monday to Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

6.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on December 19, to January 08, 2019 from the address below and upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the DENR-NCR website (http://www. ncr.denr.gov.ph), provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

7.

The DENR-NCR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 27, 2018, 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Conference Room. 4th Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

8.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 10:00 A.M. of January 08, 2019. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18..

Bid opening shall be on 10:30 A.M. onwards of January 08, 2019 at the Conference Room 4th Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

10. For further information, please refer to: RBAC Secretariat Procurement Section, 3rd Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg.

National Ecology Center East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. 932-13-71 December 10, 2018.

(SGD) GWENDOLYN C. BAMBALAN Chairperson, Regional Bids and Awards Committee DENR-NCR National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. (02) 426-38-46 (MS-DEC. 20, 2018)

Republic of The Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Intramuros, Manila IN THE MATTER OF DEPUTIZING THE ARMED FORCES THE THE PHILIPPINES (AFP), AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING FREE, ORDERLY, HONEST, PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE CONDUCT OF THE MAY 13, 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. x-----------------------------------------------------------------x

Abas, S.M., Chairman Parreño, A.A., Commissioner Guia, L.T.F., Commissioner Guanzon, M.R.A.V., Commissioner Inting, S.B., Commissioner Casquejo, M.S., Commissioner Kho, Jr., A.T., Commissioner

RESOLUTION NO. _______

WHEREAS, Article IX-C, Section 2(4) of the 1987 Constitution empowers the Commission on Elections (Commission) to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections; NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code and other related election laws, has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to deputize the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP), in connection with the conduct of the 13 May 2019 National and Local Elections: Section 1. Coverage. - The AFP and PNP are hereby deputized to ensure free, honest, orderly, peaceful and credible conduct of the 13 May 2019 National and Local Elections.

Section 2. Duties and Functions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police as Deputies. - The AFP and PNP are hereby deputized to perform the following duties and functions: a)

Provide security to polling places, polling centers/voting centers, canvassing centers, and such other places or buildings, including election paraphernalia, equipment, forms and supplies, that will be used in connection with the elections;

b)

Provide security to the personnel of the Commission, its deputies and other persons performing election-related functions;

c)

Deploy, at the least time possible, troops for election duty in coordination with the concerned Regional Election Director, Provincial Election Supervisor and Election Officer;

d)

Make available, at the least time possible, land, air and water-craft assets, communication systems and other equipment, in connection with the conduct of the elections;

e) Look into the existence of any armed group organized to commit, or which is committing or attempting to commit, acts of terrorism, or threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a candidate, and to suppress or prevent said acts of terrorism or threats; f)

h.) Transfer of officers and employees in the civil service. - Any public official who makes or causes any transfer or detail whatever of any officer or employee in the civil service including public school teachers, within the election period except upon prior approval of the Commission.

Assist the Commission in implementing more effectively election laws and/or rules and regulations, particularly the laws governing prohibition against military, policemen and provincial guards acting as bodyguards or security guards for the candidates, the use of armored vehicles and air or water-craft, and the prohibition on bearing, carrying or transporting firearms and other deadly weapons in public places;

g)

i.) Intervention of public officers and employees. - Any officer or employee in the civil service, except those holding political offices; any officer, employee, or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or any police force, special forces, home defense forces, barangay selfdefense units and all other para-military units that now exist or which may hereafter be organized who, directly or indirectly, intervenes, in any election campaign or engages in any partisan political activity, except to vote or to preserve public order if he is a peace officer. “

Provide security escorts to candidates, subject to the conditions and restrictions on the Resolution imposing the ban on the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons and the ban on the use of security personnel or bodyguards; provided that, the APP can provide security escorts omy in the absence of personnel of the PNP and other law enforcement agencies;

h)

Conduct a periodic assessment of the peace and order conditions in critical areas and recommend measures which may be adopted by the Commission in the interest of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections; and

i)

Comply with and/or implement directives or resolutions of the Commission, which shall take precedence over and above the orders and directives issued by any other office or agency of the Government, except the Supreme Court and those issued in habeas corpus cases; and

j)

Render periodic reports on action taken in accordance with this Resolution.

(2) Any government official who promotes, or gives any increase of Salary or remuneration or privilege to any government official or employee, including those in government-owned or controlled corporation.

Sec, 97, which makes it unlawful for any person or organization, whether civic or religious, to directly or indirectly solicit and/ or accept from any candidate for public office or from his campaign manager, agent or representative, or any person acting in their behalf, any gift, food, transportations, contribution or donation in cash or in kind from the commencement of the election period up to and including election day;

Sec. 261 (dd), which penalizes any operator or employee of a public utility or transportation company operating under a certificate of public convenience who refuses to carry official election mail matters free of charge during the election period,

xxx

As an exception to the foregoing provisions, a new employee may be appointed in case of urgent need: Provided, however, That notice of the appointment shall be given to the Commission within three days from the date of the appointment. Any appointment or hiring in violation of this provision shall be null and void.

Sec, 95, which prohibits contributions for partisan political activity given directly or indirectly by natural or juridical persons operating a public utility; or by natural or juridical persons who hold contracts or subcontracts to supply the government or any of its agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities with goods or services or to perform construction or other work; or by natural or juridical persons who have been granted franchise, incentives, exemptions, or allocations or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any of its agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities including governmentowned or controlled corporations; or by natural or juridical persons who within one (1) year prior to the date of the election have been granted loans or other accommodations in excess of P100,000,00 by

Sec, 261 (0), which prohibits the use under any guise whatsoever, directly or indirectly of any printing press, radio or television station or audio-visual equipment operated by the government or by its subdivisions, instrumentalities, agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, or any equipment, facility, apparatus, paraphernalia or vehicle owned by the government or by its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations or by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for any election campaign of for any partisan political activity; and

xxx

“g.) Appointment of new employees, creation of new position promotion or giving salary increases. - During the period of forty five days before a regular election and thirty days before a special election (1) any head, official or appointing officer ofa government office, agency or instrumentality whether national or local, including government-owned or controlled corporations, who appoints or hires any new employee, whether provisional, temporary or casual, or creates and fills any new position except upon prior authority of the Commission.

The Commission shall not grant the authority sought unless, it is satisfied that the position to be filled is essential to the proper functioning of the office or agency concerned, and that the position shall not be filled in a manner that may influence the election.

Circularize to all owners and operators of tind and air transportation facilities and telecommunications services, holders of certificates of public convenience, franchises or other forms of authorization, that the following provisions under the Omnibus Election Code are election offenses: I.

Section 261 (g) (h) (i) of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to Comelec Resolution 10429 promulgated on 1 October 2018 insofar as the period of prohibition, and other related provision of law: “Section 261. Prohibited Acts. -The following shall be guilty of an election offense:

d) Perform such other duties and functions which the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

Quantity 10,800 liters 51,600 liters 192 liters 96 liters 96 liters 64 liters 64 times (16 car every quarter) 16 pieces

Promulgated: December 18, 2018

Section 7. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) / Duties and Functions. -In connection with the conduct of the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections, the CSC shall enforce and implement the following:

Section 3.2. The Department of Finance, Duties and Functions. - The DOF shall have the following duties and functions:

Ensure that all provincial, city, and municipal treasurers remain in their present assignments and neither transferred, detailed, reassigned, whether temporary or permanently, to another province, city or municipality, except upon prior written authority of the Commission, nor allowed to go on leave of absence from office during the period starting two weeks before and two weeks after election day, except upon prior written approval of the Commission;

Description Gasoline – unleaded/regular Diesel Motor/Engine Oil Brake Fluid ATF Coolant

Section 6.2. Support from COMELEC Field Offices. -All Commission field offices are directed to provide whatever support they can extend to the DOE and NGCP in the information dissemination of public awareness materials.

“Section 2. (1) x x x

b)

Item No. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Provide and maintain stable and continuous nationwide electric power requirements from the start of voting, until the termination or conclusion of the canvassing of votes and the proclamation of the winning candidates;

b)

d) Perform such other duties and functions which the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

a)

The DENR-NCR now invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, authorized franchised dealers to bid for the following item/s, to wit:

Section 6.1. Duties and Functions. - As such deputies, they shall have the following duties and functions:

Section 3. Deputization of Certain Departments Under the Executive Branch. -The Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) along with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority,. (MMDA) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) are hereby deputized in connection with the conduct of the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections.

a)

2.

Section 6. Deputization of Certain Government Agencies to Provide Sufficient Electrical Power Supply in Connection with the Conduct of Elections. -The National Electrification Administration (NEA), the National Power Corporation (NPC), the Local Electrification Cooperatives (LEC), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of National Defense (DND), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are further deputized to provide sufficient uninterrupted electrical power supply and secure the transmission infrastructure and facilities during the critical days of the elections.

d)

Section 3.1. The Department of Education, Duties and Functions. -The DepEd shall have the following duties and functions:

TODAY (DENR-NCR), through the GAA CY’ 2019 intends to apply the sum of Two Million Six Hundred Four Thousand Pesos (PhP2,604,000.00) for the supply and delivery of Gasoline, Oil & Lubricants, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the Contract for Procurement of Gasoline, Oil & Lubricants. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Perform such other duties and functions which the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

a)

Comply with all orders, directives and resolutions which the Commission may issue or promulgate.

Section 2.2. The National Bureau of Investigation, Duties and Functions. - Upon prior order of the Commission, the NBI is hereby deputized to perform the following duties and functions:

Standard 1. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region

Section 4. Deputization of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Duties and Function. - The PHLPost and NTC are hereby deputized to perform the following duties and functions:

a) b)

The Agency shall adhere strictly to the policy of the Commission that the education and information campaign must be absolutely impartial, objective and neutral; The expenses it may incur as such deputy for the information campaign of the Commission, i.e., production of information materials, shall be for the exclusive account of the agency; and Any information material which the Agency, as such deputy, shall produce upon the direction of the Commission, shall be published/ distributed/ released only upon prior clearance from the Commission to ensure that nothing therein contained shall detract from or violate the policy of impartiality, objectivity and neutrality.

INVITATION TO BID Procurement of Gasoline, Diesel, Oil & Lubricants

Manila

Section 3.5. The Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Duties and Functions. The DPWH, along with the MMDA shall perform the following duties and functions:

WHEREAS, Article IX-C Section 2(4) of the 1987 Constitution empowers the Commission on Elections (Commission) to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections;

Provide security to polling places, polling centers/voting centers, canvassing/consolidation centers, and such other places or buildings, including election paraphernalia, equipment, forms and supplies, that will be used in connection with the elections;

REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Despite being deputized, the PCG shall continue its own functions and responsibilities.

RESOLUTION NO. _______

a)

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES National Capital Region

Section 8. The Commission on Audit (COA), Duties and Functions. -In connection with the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections, the COA shall enforce and implement the following provisions of the Omnibus Election Code: a)

Section 261 (v) which prohibits the release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds during the period of forty-five days before a regular election and thirty days before a special election; and

b)

Section 261 (w) which prohibits construction of public works, delivery of construction materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrants and similar devices during the period of forty-five days before a regular election and thirty days before a special election.

Section 9. Precedence of Commission Orders. - Orders issued by the Commission in connection with the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections shall take precedence over and above the orders and directives issued by any other office or agency of the Government.

However, nothing contained herein shall be construed as in any manner affecting or constituting an impairment of the Constitutional powers of the President of the Philippines to conduct and direct the general peace-keeping functions of the PNP. Section 10. Effectivity. -This Resolution shall take effect on the seventh (7th) day after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Section 11. Publication and Dissemination. -The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in at least two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, and disseminate this Resolution for the information of the public.

The Executive Director shall furnish copies of this Resolution to all of the above-named departments, agencies, or offices, and to all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors and Election Officers.

SO ORDERED.

The AFP, despite being deputized, shall continue with the conduct of all Internal Security Operations or its own functions and responsibilities.

From 13 January 2019 to 12 June 2019, no changes in the assignments of PNP personnel can be effected except upon prior written . permission of the Commission.

Section 3. Precedence of •Commission Orders. - Orders issued by the Commission in connection with the 13 May 2019 National and Local Elections shall take precedence over and above the orders and directives issued by any other office or agency of the Government, except the Supreme Court and those issued in habeas corpus cases.

Section 4. Effectivity. -This Resolution shall take effect on the seventh day after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Section 5. Publication and Dissemination. - The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in at least two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, and disseminate this Resolution for the information of the public.

The Executive Director shall furnish copies of this Resolution to the Secretary of National Defense and the Chief of Staff of the AFP, as well as to all Regional Election Directors, all Provincial Election Supervisors and all Election Officers of the Commission.

SO ORDERED.

SHERIFF M. ABAS Chairman

c)

At the least time possible, deploy within the maritime jurisdiction of the country, troops for election duty in coordination with the concerned Regional Election Director, Provincial Election Supervisor and Election Officer;

d)

Make available, at the least time possible, land, air and water-craft assets, communication systems and other equipment, in connection with the conduct of the elections;

e)

Look into the existence of any armed group organized to commit, or which is committing or attempting to commit, acts of terrorism, or threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a candidate, and to suppress or prevent said acts of terrorism or threats;

MA. ROWENA AMELIA V. GUANZON Commissioner

f)

Conduct a periodic assessment of” the peace and order conditions in the · maritime jurisdiction of the country and recommend measures which may be adopted by the Commission in the interest of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections;

MARLON S. CASQUEJO Commissioner

g)

To render aid, including rescue operations, to (i) personnel and deputies of the Commission as well

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

LUIE TITO F GUIA Commissioner SOCORRO B. INTING Commissioner ANTONIO T. kHO, JR Commissioner

(MS-DEC. 20, 2018)

(MS-DEC. 20, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment Adjeng, a recording artist of considerable mainstream experience, is now literally singing on a higher range with her band AdJunDie.

W

HEN your vocal coach informed you that you are a soprano and not an alto, which you long accepted as your vocal capacity, that sounds extra positive. It is a realization that you can beautifully hit higher notes for real.

Simply...

From C4

Lea’s voice is the thread tying Bahaghari together. “Because the arrangements were all so different from one another, I needed to stylistically adapt my vocals to fit them while holding on to my own voice and how I sing,” reflects Lea. “The more playful stuff, like ‘Pobreng Alindahaw,’ was just so much fun to do in the studio, and some of the more dramatic music, like ‘Matud Nila,’ was straight from the heart. The melodies are just as informative as the lyrics, so I latched on to them.”

“There is a large Filipino diaspora around the world. They have very tight ties to their homeland, yet many children in the diaspora don’t learn Tagalog or one of the other languages.

We hope this album can become a resource for families, to inspire interest in these languages and their wonderful songs,” explains Angela.

This project felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce the languages of my country to a bigger world,” Lea explains. “A world that might not be aware of the intricacies and differences between these languages. Many of these tongues feel very foreign and strange, and since there’s always a danger that these languages won’t be spoken by future generations, there was a need on our part to preserve them in some way.”

Bahaghari is now available in Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer and all digital platforms worldwide.

Physical CDs with a special booklet containing cultural notes written by award-winning writer and director Floy Quintos, and original lyrics with English translations are also available at local record stores. *** Alice Dixson Charity Bowl now

on its 2nd year On Dec. 9, the ever-stunning dramatic actress kicked off the second year of the charity bowling event, Alice Dixson Charity Bowl, at the E-Lanes Bowling Center, Greenhills.

Her beneficiary, the Kalipay Foundation, is a Bacolod-based orphanage that provides longterm care for abused, destitute and marginalized kids.

But what inspired Alice Dixson to spearhead such a noble venture?

She explains, “Last year, we were thinking of what to do for my birthday with my friends, and one day, we went bowling. We had so much fun t hat we thought, ‘Why not do a charity bowl event?’ I had no idea how to organize it, so I spoke to one of my director friends, direk Rich Ilustre, who produces fundraisers for PAWS. In one month, we were able to raise P250k and we really enjoyed putting it together.”

“By His grace, we’ve been able to expand our efforts by finding bigger venues, more participants and more support for our beneficiary through sponsors and donor participation.”

The Kalipay Foundation earned a soft spot in Alice’s heart when she personally saw how they looked after their constituents.

She recalls, “I went to visit Kalipay two years ago while I was in Bacolod, and I saw how the children were treated, the facilities they had and overall, the general condition of the orphanage. It’s not just a place where they’re sheltered and fed, but also experience care and love from the social workers who treat them like their own kids.” *** More stories of these kinds at www. isah.red. Follow me on Facebook (@ isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred) and Instagram (@isahvred). ΙŘ

That essentially happened to and has given Filipina singer Adjeng more confidence in pursuing further her musical journey grounded on years of professional experience both in live gigging and proper recording.

Years back as frontwoman, she had albums with Sipol and Wink released under GMA Records.

On Spotify you can check her sing relaxing versions of Wilson Philip’s “Hold On” and the original “Half-hearted,” among others.

“I am learning how to maximize my vocal range even more. Love that there is still so much room to grow and learn even after all these years,” expressed the comebacking act initially known under her maiden name Adrienne Sarmiento.

Family, motherhood, and some fine time off from music’s limelight stage gave her the somewhat necessary break. One can sense how happy her married life is, with her use of dash-Buenaventura in social media reflecting that pride. Many singing artists do get that added bloom and more inspired look after getting married.

Last month, Adjeng formally began her singing rebirth with a benefit show held at the famed 19 East bar in Paranaque City. It’s a springboard for more special shows, functions, and events.

She declared, “Praise God, we were able to raise funds to provide toiletry kits and personal water bottles for 120 street children from Payatas.”

The Nov. 18 gig featured as special guests the award-winning songwriter Toto Sorioso, singer-actress Lilet, Luchie Huang (of Passage Band), and now-rock queens in their own right

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Barbie Almalbis and Kitchie Nadal.

Even with such a notable line-up of support performers, it was an evening that saw Adjeng in full command owing to her new-found voice and YUGEL confidence. If this decade is a strong showcase of LOSORATA Filipino women empowering themselves whether in beauty pageants or local music scene, she’s one embracing that evident sense of strength. And mind you, she’s just revealing the tip of an iceberg.

She said with excitement, “My band AdJunDie (with drummer/percussionist Junjun Regalado and guitar player Ardie de Guzman) is getting together again and excited to have more shows. We want to collaborate on more original materials apart from our AdJunDie-fied covers from the ‘80s,’90s, 2000s, and even a few current hits.”

“Singing has an even greater purpose for me now. Excited to catch up and collaborate!” she stressed.

Adjeng may have yet to prove her full worth as a singer. But with a tight team of musicians committed to back her up and an extra lift in her singing, there is no denying she is up for a thrilling ride ahead, likely even more than what she had before.

It’s a good sign that she began her new path with a successful show for a cause. That’s singing in high spirit and with a lot of heart.

MET Opera in HD season 6 opening salvo THE Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Metropolitan Opera of New York, and the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., in cooperation with the Ayala Mall Cinemas, opens the sixth season of the Met Opera in HD with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) on Jan. 8, 2019.

Featuring the German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, The Magic Flute tells the story of a handsome prince who has been persuaded by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from captivity. Accompanied by Papageno, the prince and the princess undergo severe trials, which end in triumph. Soprano Golda Schultz stars as Pamina, tenor Charles Castronovo as Tamino, baritone Markus Werba as Papageno, and soprano Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night.

Julie Taymor’s spectacular production is a classic of the Met repertoire.

The CCP partners with the Met Opera of New York to feature

screenings of its operatic productions through the high-definition digital video technology and Dolby sound, recreating the experience of watching an opera production at the Met “live.”

Other productions slated for the 2018-2019 season are: Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on Feb. 12; Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore (The Elixir of Love) on March 19; Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme on April 16; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte on May 21; and Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma on June 11.

All screenings will be held at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3, 6:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at P450 for a single screening. Season subscription is at P2,400 for six shows. For subscription and ticket reservation, contact CCP Sales and Promotions at 8323706, email ccpsalesandpromo@gmail.com or call Greenbelt 3 cinemas Customer Service at 757-7883. You may also visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

The MET in HD opens its sixth season with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 'Die Zauberflote' (The Magic Flute) on Jan. 8, 2019.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

ACROSS 1 Punctuation mark 6 Redding or Skinner 10 Propagated 14 Love affair 15 Army base 16 Comic — Rudner 17 Painter’s ground 18 Small band 19 Alda or Ladd 20 Strong interest 22 Epsilon follower 23 Of that kind 24 Boxing great 26 Fastens down 30 Parboiled 34 More than uptight 35 Cheerleader’s shouts 36 Poet’s before 37 Parson’s exclamation 38 Zen questions 40 — Miles of “Psycho” 41 Society column word 42 Blarney Stone locale 43 The fifth element 44 Book appendixes

46 Flour grinders 48 Some, in Cannes 49 Malt shop order 50 Military cap 53 Mushrooms 59 Was, to Ovid 60 Strongly advise 61 Take advantage of 62 Far East staple 63 Doctor’s charges 64 India’s Jawaharlal — 65 Tall grass 66 Cavalry outpost 67 More genuine DOWN 1 Parakeet home 2 Portent 3 Majority 4 Thick porridge 5 Woke up 6 Study of light 7 Hebrew scroll 8 Wife of Osiris 9 Tolerates 10 Sugarloaf site 11 Annoy 12 “L’—, c’est moi” 13 Wynter or Andrews 21 Heat source 25 Musical notes 26 Safari leader 27 Pointed a gun

28 Brought to bay 29 Kayo count 30 — Antonio 31 Steel plow inventor 32 Wrong move 33 Mr. Koontz 35 “Norma —” 38 Child’s play (2 wds.)

39 Mouths 40 Library abbr.

42 Hydrocarbon suffix 43 Brazen 45 Made typo-free

46 Unassuming 47 Psyche parts 49 More prudent 50 Chef Graham — 51 Cleveland’s waters 52 Tempo 54 Layered cookie 55 In charge of 56 Honolulu’s isle 57 Former Italian money 58 Run words together

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Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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Entertainment

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

LEA SALONGA sings

popular regional ditties NEW generation prosper in the Philipof Filipinos are no pine music industry, longer familiar with given the prevalence of the folk songs many pop music now. of the older generaYet, the album BaISAH V. RED tions had been singhaghari is in the market ing with pride in now, thanks to Curve every gathering of Entertainment Inc. and families and communities. These days, GLP Music. It is Lea Salonga’s latest a 15-year old may find it strange to hear music project. She is indomitable in a voice on the radio singing the popular her desire to present the rich and colditty “Leron, Leron Sinta” or the Bicol- orful music of the Philippines to the ano anthem “Sarung Banggi.” world. This she expressed to member But, there was a time when even of the press at the launch of the album popular Amrican singers, like the group at Makati Shangri-La’s Bespoke Grill.

The Lettermen, sang a version of ubiqThe album has 15 songs popular in uitous tunes, like “Dahil Sa Iyo” (trans- the past in various regions of the counlated as “Because of You”), and Timi try and sung in the original dialects— Yuro who once visited Manila and was Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Bienamored by some of the tunes she was col, Bisaya and Ilonggo. Lea and the able to listen when she was here.

GLP Music and Curve is hoping the Apprehensive that these treasured would touch the consciousness of the gems of Philippine music would be young Filipino generation and help buried in obscurity, when Filipino them in their dreams to revive our trasinger Lea Salonga was introduced to ditional music’s heritage and preserve Angela Jackson and Rex Niswander, the importance and beauty of this art. founders of GLP Music, part of Global Produced by Ryan Cayabyab, reLanguage Project (GLP), an educa- cently named NationalArtist for Mutional nonprofit that supports world- sic, whose deep knowledge of Filipino language learning through best-in-class music proved key to the project. He curricula and innovative teacher devel- was able to make the album musically opment thus enabling students, particu- interesting not only with the diverse larly those in underserved communi- selection of the songs’ languages, but ties, to develop language proficiency also with the diverse line-up of arrangfor further education and the global ers that he tapped for each song, which workforce, the idea of putting together include Lea’s brother, Gerard. in an album of nearly forgotten tunes in “The songs had to be varied in subvarious parts of the Philippines became ject, in emotion and in tempo and something within arms reach. rhythm,” Cayabyab notes. “The collecGLP Music produces music that in- tion could not all be slow songs or only troduces children to world languages celebratory songs. We had to have a and world cultures. “We are focused good representation not only of on world music, music in lanlanguage, but of a variety guages other than English, of subjects and emobut we had not considered tions. This would an album in the languaghopefully make es of the Philippines,” for a lovely ausaid Niswander. “That ral spread.” all changed when we Continued on met Lea Salonga.

C3 Thanks to her, we began to appreciate the significance of an album that would presLea Salonga ent the linguistic drops her 10th and cultural studio album, diversity of the which features Philippines.” songs in six This idea different local would languages. never

Saxophone artists rock Music Museum SAXOPHONE performers rocked the Music Museum during SILA SAXO PH concert on Nov. 29. The concert was a first in Philippine music history as it gathered all the finest saxophonists in the country on one stage to showcase their talent.

The crowd, which included Jaybee Javelosa, the CEO and president of Saxophone Fastrack, was treated to a feast of saxophone mastery.

Jaybee, a humble saxo maestro, was also the coach of the symphony. He did a performance that came from the heart, easily touching the hearts of the audience. Jaybee’s mastery of playing the sax reached fever pitch when he performed the classic hit “We Are The Champions,” sending everybody in a frenzy as they asked for more.

As a result of the concert’s success, SILA SAXO PH is expected to do more shows, share their skills and inspire more people.

SILA (Saxophone’s Live In Actions) was produced by Saxophone Fastrack, and supported by Ej Sanches and Gonz Photography and Photobooth, SILA’ s official photographer.

Jaybee Javelosa, one of SILA SAXO PH's main artists, when he performed the classic hit “We Are The Champions.”

SENIOR ACTORS. The lead cast of MMFF 2018 entry, 'Rainbow's Sunset' Eddie Garcia, Gloria Romero, and Tony Mabesa.

VERY WANG

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NICKIE WANG

AINBOW’S Sunset presents a message that being accepting of one’s sexual preference fosters respect. It’s a story that is relatable now.

The film is a family drama that is perfect for the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival. It gathers some of best actors of different generations —from multi-awarded actor Eddie Garcia, MMFF Best Actress Gloria Romero and respected theatre actor Tony Mabesa to seasoned thespians and younger counterparts like Tirso Cruz III, Aiko Melendez, Max Collins, and Sunshine Dizon.

“Why don’t we do a movie for Tony, a love story about an elderly or senior citizen. Then we developed the story with the help of Eric Ramos who wrote the script,” shared Joel Lamangan, the director of the film, said of the story’s inspiration.

The story is from Ferdinand Lapuz and the director of photography is noted cinematographer Rain Samson II. The members of the cast were carefully chosen to give life to important roles in this film that tells the story of one great love—a love that knows no gender or age, just genuinely caring for a person dear to one heart.

“We should respect the different kinds of love because everyone is equal in love. That’s therein message of the film,” Lamangan said in an interview.

In the film, Eddie plays Ramon Estrella, an 84-year old retired senator who temporarily leaves his wife of six decades (Gloria) to take care of his best friend (Tony) who is dying of cancer. He has his wife’s blessings, but Ramon’s three children feel scandalized by their father’s move.

The old man defies their collective protest.

The news quickly sends shock waves to the community, raising the heckles of his second born, the first of two feisty

The most colorful

SUNSET

Aiko Melendez, Sunshine Dizon and Tirso Cruz III in a scene from the film helmed by Joel Lamangan.

daughters.

When the youngest child—a formidable feminist and activist— sides with her father and godfather, and the eldest—a weakling flawed bureaucrat—figures in a scandal of his own, the siblings turn their backs on each another, resulting in full-blown three-sided war.

Their ever patient and loving matriarch does her best to encourage her brood to make peace with one another with some timely help from the absent patriarch.

Blood eventually proves thicker than water, but the force of filial piety

cannot mend all the differences among the children.

The movie also stars Jim Pebanco, Tanya Gomez, Sue Prado, Marcus Madrigal, Noel Comia, Ross Pesigan, Ali Forbes, Adrian Cabido, Neil Marie Dizon, Hero Bautista, Vince Rillon, Zeke Sarmenta, Tabs Sumulong, Benz Sangalang, Ace Cafe and Celine Juan with the special of Albie Casino and introducing Shido Roxas.

Rainbow’s Sunset is from Heaven’s Best Entertainment Productions and an official entry to the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival which starts on Christmas Day.

HOLLYWOOD NEARLY a century after the idea was first floated, a museum dedicated to the magic of cinema is finally set to open in Los Angeles, with the first temporary exhibition devoted to Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, slated to open by the end of 2019, will be devoted to the past, present and future of film, offering visitors a look behind the screen and into how movies are made.

“Los Angeles was at one time and still is to some degree one of the major capitals for the production of film... so it seems the natural place to have a major museum to ensure that the legacy of film lives on,” said Kerry Brougher, director of the museum, which is the brainchild of the Academy of Picture Arts and Sciences, the institution behind the Oscars.

Dorothy’s famed ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, a copy of a script annotated

by Gregory Peck for the 1962 drama To Kill a Mockingbird, the doors to Rick’s Cafe Americain from Casablanca or the typewriter used by Joseph Stefano to write the screenplay to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho are among a trove of objects that will be on display.

Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the near $400 million museum will

Museum devoted to magic of cinema to open in LA

A view of the fully restored 1939 Iconic building facade at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures' future home one Wilshire and Fairfax is seen during the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences unveiling ceremony, in Los Angeles, California

be housed in a historic building -- the Saban Building formerly home to the May Company department store—and will feature six floors that include exhibition spaces, a cafe, a store, plus a 1,000-seat theatre.

“The Museum will be a gathering place for film lovers and will invite people from all over the world to re-experience and deepen our collective love of this art form,

accessible to all,” said Dawn Hudson, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.”

“Like the experience of watching a movie, a trip to the Museum will be a kind of waking dream in which visitors feel as if they’ve slipped through the screen to see how the magic is created,” she added.

Several Hollywood A-listers, including Tom Hanks, Annette Bening and Laura Dern, have been involved in the project, hosting fundraising events and drumming up support both at home and abroad.

“It’s going to be a combination of the Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art and the Hermitage,” Hanks told reporters on a recent tour, referring to world-class museums in Paris, New York and St. Petersburg, Russia.

“Everybody who comes to Los Angeles will want to see what’s inside and they will linger for more than just a few hours.”

The museum will open with a retrospective devoted to Miyazaki, whose animation masterpieces include Princess Mononoke and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. AFP