Manila Standard - 2018 July 26 - Thursday

Primer on draft Con-Com Charter Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino Con-Com 2018 Member (10th of a series)

VOL. XXXII • NO. 161 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Q: What was it necessary to draft distinct article on initiative, plebiscite and referendum?

A: It was to remedy a shortcoming of the 1987 Constitution that engendered a series of confusing Supreme Court

rulings and to strengthen the power of the people to enact law, repeal law, amend law, even to revise and to amend the Constitution.

Q: How is the draft article an improvement over the provisions of the 1987 Constitution?

A: The previous Constitution left it Next page

Alvarez yields : Time to move on

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta STRIPPED of the speakership in a surprise power grab, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez conceded defeat to Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo, saying it was time to move on.

“We cannot undo the past, but we can certainly shape our future. The House of Representatives has chosen a new Speaker in the person of former President Next page

GOING GREAT GUNS. Ousted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte shakes hands Wednesday (inset) with his successor, former President and incumbent Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying it’s time to move on and her election must be respected as House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte questioned Arroyo’s legitimacy. Above, Paola Alvarez, daughter of the deposed Speaker, holds the erstwhile missing mace, in this Instagram grab released

by Alvarez’s office—but not clear if this was taken before or after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.

3-way fight for Minority

3 justices accept nomination for CJ

By Rey E. Requejo THREE associate justices of the Supreme Court have accepted their automatic nomination for the top judicial post, which was left vacant by the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Andres Reyes Jr. have submitted their respective letters to the Judicial and Bar Council formally accepting the nomination for the chief justice post.

Peralta, Bersamin and Reyes

Makabayan bloc looms as swing vote for Liberals

By Maricel V. Cruz

were among the eight justices who voted to oust Sereno by granting the quo warranto petition by Solicitor General Jose Calida against her.

Both Peralta and Bersamin, dubbed as “twins” in the 15-member bench, rose from the judicial ranks before their appointment to the Supreme Court by former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Peralta, a former presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan and member of the Special Division that convicted

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FARIÑAS

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Nigerian hailed as ‘New Barbie’ TRAIN 2 too hot for Senate to handle THANKS to a photographer who wanted to illustrate the intersection between child and adulthood, a four-yearold Nigerian is being hailed on social media as the most beautiful girl in the world.

Yahoo Lifestyle reported Wednesday that

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‘Blood moon’ on Friday longest eclipse

PARIS—The longest “blood moon” eclipse this century will coincide with Mars’ closest approach in 15 years to offer skygazers a thrilling astronomical double bill on Friday, astronomers say.

For about half the world, the moon will be partly or fully in Earth’s shadow from 1714 to 2328 GMT—six hours and Next page 14 minutes in all.

Top pastry chef has Instagram drooling Paris—When Cedric Grolet takes out his pas- try knife, millions of mouths water.

THE young Frenchman, named the top patissier on the planet last month by “The Wo r l d ’s 50 Best Restaurants”

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By Macon Ramos-Araneta

NO SENATOR wants to sponsor the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion 2, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday.

“I would like to correct and clarify the impression that the Senate will not pass the TRAIN 2 measure in our chamber. That is not for me to decide alone,” said Zubiri.

“What I had said was it has very little support from my colleagues and as a matter of fact, no senator wants to sponsor

Infra buildup assured of P909b under ‘19 budget A TOTAL of P909.7 billion out of the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 will be allotted for the construction of the flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

According to President Rodrigo Duterte’s budget message recently submitted to Congress, the P909.7 billion for infrastructure projects represents 24.2 percent of the cash budget for 2019 or 4.6 percent of the gross domestic product.

“Investments in sufficient and quality infrastructure will increase economic activity through improved mobility, connectivity and sustainability across the country,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, with a total allocation of P1.377 trillion, Social Services remain the administration’s top priority in the Next page

the measure at this time,” he said.

Opposition Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV noted that the statements of Zubiri is a clear indication that nobody is interested in TRAIN 2.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III acknowledged that they were not comfortable in hearing the country’s economic managers saying that TRAIN 1 had no effect on inflation.

But Zubiri said they would have to conduct public hearings on TRAIN 2 once Next page the House approves it.

HE surprise election of former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Speaker of the House on Monday has left three groups contesting the right to be recognized as the minority bloc, but leftist lawmakers could tip the balance in favor of the opposition Liberal Party.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said his leftist Makabayan bloc was interested in the minority leadership but said they would work with anyone who would check the Duterte administration.

He also confirmed they are in talks with the Liberal Party, which insisted Wednesday that they should be the recognized minority bloc.

LP secretary general and Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte said the group of Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez was also considered ousted when lawmakers voted for Arroyo as the new Speaker.

“These are the 12 members of LP who Next page

WEATHER

DISASTER DAMAGE. In this Twitter photo from Joy Tajonera, parts of the

Occidental Mindoro capital of Mamburao remain under floodwaters—at the same time that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council says damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by three typhoons this month P1.37 billion.

Heavy rains destroy P1.3b in farms, infra THE damage to agriculture and infra- Reduction and Management Council said structure caused by the southwest mon- Wednesday. soon enhanced by Tropical Cyclones The agency also said eight people were “Henry,” “Inday” and “Josie” totaled killed and one was injured while another Next page P1,37 billion, the National Disaster Risk

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thursday, july 26, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Labor chief hits out at JBC decision

By Vito Barcelo

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ABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday slammed the decision of the Judicial and Bar Council to disqualify him from the shortlist of candidates for Ombudsman due to a pending criminal case filed against him.

He asked ANC why the JBC let him Bello was interviewed by the JBC go through the process of being inter- last month after he applied to replace viewed if a case had already been filed retiring Ombudsman Conchita Carpioagainst him.

Morales, but was dropped from the list

earlier this week due to the syndicated estafa case against him.

Under the JBC’s rules, an individual with a pending case before any court must be disqualified from being nominated to any judicial post or as Ombudsman or Deputy Ombudsman.

“If I had that case, why did you let me go through the process of being interviewed by you?” Bello told ANC. He said the syndicated estafa case was filed in 2012 when he was allegedly chairman of the board of a certain

corporation. But he claimed that Securities and Exchange Commission documents showed he was not even a member of the corporation’s board.

Bello, who is also facing another case of extortion filed before the Presidential Anti-Corruption commission, said he had no issue with the members of the JBC who disqualified him from the list to replace Carpio-Morales.

He did not discount politics as the reason behind his exclusion from the JBC list.

Duterte told: Kerwin, 3 others charged with drug conspiracy Assert PH control of WPS

By Rey E. Requejo

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to defend and assert the country’s sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea and disputed areas in the South China Sea by invoking the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016.

“With the tribunal ruling, we need to respectfully call on the President to finally do what is necessary to defend what we are fully entitled to under international law,” Del Rosario said during his speech at the launch of “Rock Solid,” a book authored by journalist Marites Vitug at the Ateneo de Manila University.

“We need to listen, not to the Chinese ambassador, but to our people. We need to embrace, not China, but our own country,” the former top diplomat added.

Del Rosario’s remarks came after President Duterte assured the public during his State of the Nation Address that the Philippines remains firm in its position on the South China Sea issue, saying the country’s improved relationship with China does not mean “that we will waver in our commitment to defend our interest in the West Philippine Sea” and Manila will continue to engage Beijing through multilateral and bilateral channels.

Del Rosario also urged the President’s Cabinet secretaries, including his successor Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, to exhaust all diplomatic measures to defend the country’s sovereignty over the WPS and retake areas illegally occupied by the Chinese in the South China Sea.

traIN 2...

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“This is were we will all debate with our finance managers on the possible effects of this new tax reform package. Although we welcome the lowering of corporate income taxes, we need to look at the possible loss of jobs on the plan to remove incentives given to several industries including business processing outsourcing [BPOs] and export manufacturers, which number by the hundreds of thousands of people,” Zubiri said.

As the former chairman of the committee of trade and commerce, Zubiri said he has been briefed on the possible exodus of industries from the country if these incentives are lost.

Aquino maintained his criticism of TRAIN 1, blaming it for the high prices of basic commodities and fuel.

He criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for saying in his State of the Nation Address that TRAIN 1 had helped many people. He noted that this was contrary to what was reallly happening.

THE Department of Justice on Wednesday formally charged confessed drug operator Kerwin Espinoza and three other accused with drug charges before the regional trial court in Manila and Makati City.

The department filed three separate counts of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, particularly conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade, against Espinoza, convicted drug lord Peter Co, Lovely Impal and Ruel Malindangan.

Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said two counts were

3-way...

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abstained from last Monday’s proceedings. We are the duly constituted minority bloc, as stated in the recent jurisprudence, and we are ready to perform the function of providing check and balance in the legislative process,” Belmonte said at a news conference.

Belmonte was referring to Supreme Court ruling affirming the election of Suarez as minority leader in the House.

At the time, the Court dismissed the petition of the group led by Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. seeking to compel the House leadership to recognize them as the legitimate minority.

The group filed the petition in 2016,

heavy...

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went missing after several days of heavy monsoon rain.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau said only occasional rain will persist in Metro Manila as the tropical storm with the international name “Jongdari” outside the

‘Blood...

From A1

The period of complete eclipse—known as “totality,” when the moon appears darkest—will last from 1930 to 2113 GMT. “Totality will last for 103 minutes, making it the longest eclipse of the 21st century!” said the Royal Astronomical Society in London.

At the same time, Mars will hover near the moon in the night sky, easily

top...

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list, is an Instagram superstar.

Videos of him slicing through the exquisite fake fruit he creates to reveal their tastebud-teasing interiors get millions of views on social media.

Millions more drool over images of his glossy hyper-realistic pears, apricots, lemons, peaches and even toma-

mocracy of the Athenian or the New England type?

From A1 A: In a sense it is, because people themselves pass, amend or repeal laws and to Congress to legislate the details and that even the fundamental law of the land, but is exactly what caused one of the knotty the whole process must still be in accordproblems: Whether in fact Congress had ance with the terms of the Constitution provided the legislative mechanism for the and mediated by the mechanisms of State. exercise of people’s initiative in respect to Q: What acts are permitted by revisions of the Constitution. The draft sets out the operative provisions themselves and these modes of direct participation, and what may be the objects of direct makes them constitutional provisions. exercises of the people’s sovereignty?

A: People may propose, enact, amend Q: What is the difference between a constitutional REVISION and a con- or repeal laws, ordinances or resolutions passed by any legislative assembly. stitutional AMENDMENT? A: Amendments are aimed at specific Therefore even regional legislation can provisions of the Constitution, but when be enacted, amended or repealed through the change has the effect of changing the this process. Doubtlessly, the same will structure of government or the balance of apply to local legislation—such as the orpower between branches or, as in this case, dinances of the sanggunians. the establishment of a federal system, then Q: So, fundamentally, what is one deals with a revision of the Constitution.

Under the 1987 Constitution, only amend- initiative?

A: It is the process of enacting, amendments were allowed through people’s initiaing or repealing law, in effect by-passing tive, according to the charter’s text. the Legislature. This is the reason that in Q: Is this not an attempt to return a subsequent article on the Legislature, to the ideal but impractical direct de- the draft has two paragraphs on legisla-

Primer...

filed against the four before the Manila RTC while the third count was filed before the Makati City RTC. He said the DoJ filed the cases after the preliminary investigation conducted by a panel led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera found ample basis in the complaint filed by the police against Espinoza and company, including Cebuano businessman Peter Lim. However, the DoJ has not yet resolved the drug charges against Lim after the panel granted his plea for a separate preliminary investigation.

In a resolution, the DoJ’s investigating panel found probable cause in the

charges of violation of section 26 (B) in relation to section 5 or Article II of R.A. 9165 against all four respondents.

The investigating prosecutors based their findings on the testimony of state witness Marcelo Adorco who confessed participation in the illegal drug trade and pinpointed Espinoza, Co, Impal and Malindangan as his cohorts.

The DoJ prosecutors said that, contrary to the defense of Espinoza, who is already facing other drug cases before the Manila RTC, the confiscation or presence of the illegal drugs was not necessary to establish the criminal liabilities of the respondents.

arguing that Baguilat should be recognized as minority leader because he was the runner-up to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in the speakership race in July last year where Baguilat got eight votes and Suarez getting seven.

Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, who was deputy speaker under Alvarez, said the LP also wrote Arroyo to inform her that they were forming themselves as the minority bloc.

“We have a letter addressed to Speaker Arroyo informing her that we have duly constituted ourselves as the Minority bloc as stated in the House rules. We do not need the consent of the Majority bloc to constitute ourselves as the legitimate House Minority bloc,” Quimbo said.

Quimbo said “the existence of the Suarez’s so called minority group has

no basis under law.”

“The House Rules clearly state that those who voted for the winning Speaker will constitute the majority bloc.

Aside from voting for Speaker Arroyo, the Suarez group did sign the manifesto of support for Speaker Arroyo and even campaigned for her. For the Suarez group to remain a minority bloc is beyond reasonable,” Quimbo said.

Opposition and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman expressed a similar view, “They have ousted themselves as minority members when they voted for Arroyo as Speaker,” Lagman said.

Lagman also said his group “will remain firmly and fiercely intact irrespective of the outcome of the contest for institutional minority leadership in the wake of the change of command in the House of Representatives.”

Philippine Area of Responsibility was too far to enhance the southwest monsoon.

The damage caused by the southwest monsoon may be broken down into P896,721,105 for agriculture and P480,369,000 for infrastructure, Disaster Council executive director Ricardo Jalad said.

Damage was reported in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A (Calabarzon), 4B (Mimaropa), 6, and

the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Also, 566 areas in Regions 1, 3, 4A, 4B, CAR and the National Capital Region have reported flooding, although the floodwaters have subsided in 321 localities.

Jalad said 99 road sections and eight bridges were affected by inclement weather in Regions 1, 3, 4A, 4B, 6, CAR and NCR. PNA with Rio N. Araja

visible with the naked eye.

Our neighboring planet will appear unusually large and bright, a mere 57.7 million kilometers from Earth on its elliptical orbit around the sun.

“We have a rare and interesting conjunction of phenomena,” Pascal Descamps, an astronomer with the Paris Observatory, told AFP. “We should have a coppery red tint on the moon with Mars the ‘Red Planet’ just next to it, very bright and with a slight orange hue itself.” AFP toes, with Vogue—a magazine not known for its championing of high-calorie desserts—saying they “leave you wanting to lick the screen.”

“His fans cry, fall into his arms and demand autographs” and selfies, said the usually sober French daily Le Monde.

His work is pure “food porn,” it declared, with only a select few getting the chance to consummate their desire every day at the top Paris hotel where he works. AFP

3 justices...

Kuwait, Israel next stop for Rody’s itinerary

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte plans to visit Kuwait and Israel after his third State of the Nation Address, the Palace confirmed Wednesday.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Bong Go said Duterte’s visit to Israel will take place in September, with the exact dates up for discussion with the Jewish state.

Duterte would be the first Philippine leader to visit Israel. Israeli authorities were expecting the President’s arrival in May last year, but it did not materialize owing to the Marawi City siege, Go said.

According to Israeli news reports, Duterte will sign agreements concerning Filipinos who provide long-term care in Israel and in relation to the drug trade. He is also expected to discuss matters of agriculture, security, and the establishment of a direct flight route between Israel and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Duterte’s plan to visit Kuwait in October is to honor the Kuwaiti government for a deal that gives overseas Filipino workers better treatment in the Gulf state.

“The visit [to Kuwait] is in October depending on the availability of the Emir,” said Go, referring to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah.

alvarez...

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Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. For the sake of the nation, let us get back to work and move on,” Alvarez said.

This developed even a House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas questioned the legitimacy of Arroyo’s election.

The session Wednesday was presided

by Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. when it adopted a resolution authored

by Reps. Rolando Andaya of Camarines Sur and Karlo Nograles of Davao City, electing Mrs. Arroyo to the post. The resolution was adopted by a voice vote.

But Fariñas asked if the resolution had gone through the regular process, noting that all bills and resolutions that have been transacted in the plenary have to go through the House committee on rules.

Andaya said the resolution had gone through the process, and that Deputy Speaker and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro has been elected as the majority leader after the election of Arroyo Monday night.

But Fariñas said that being the majority leader, he was not aware that the resolution indeed passed through the House rules committee.

From A1

ousted president Joseph Estrada of plunder in 2007, was appointed to the Court in January 2009.

A Quezon City Regional Trial Court judge from 1994 to 2002, Peralta gained the moniker of the “The Hanging Judge” because he had sentenced to death more than 40 people when death penalty was still in effect.

Bersamin was a Court of Appeals justice before his appointment to the Court in April 2009. But like Peralta, he was also a Quezon City RTC judge.

Both were recipients of numerous judicial excellence awards.

Peralta still has four years before retiring from the judiciary, while Bersamin has until October next year before retirement.

Appointed to the SC by President Duterte in July last year, Reyes was presiding justice of the Court of Appeals and has still two years in the judiciary.

Q; What is an advisory opinion? tive power: Legislative power exercized A: Courts in the Philippines have not by the legislature and legislative power had advisory opinion. In other words, exercized directly by the people. they have always ruled on actual disQ: Are the provisions of the Draft putes and controversies only. They more lenient or more severe than never answered moot, academic or hypothetical questions. In the case of those of the 1987 Constitution?

A: They are more lenient, because the proposed legislation by initiative, the Con-Com wanted the people to be able to Court may be asked to render its “adexercise this power more readily. Therefore vise”—actually a ruling—even if no the proposed legislation, amendment or re- one has been injured or threatened by peal needs only 10 percent of votes cast in the proposed legislation yet. This is to the last preceding election (not of the regis- forestall possible objections on constitered voters) and 3 percent of the federated tutional grounds to the legislation. regions. So even if one one province should Q: Does a ruling by the Federal be bamboozled by its governor into voting against the proposal, as long as it gains at Constitutional Commission that the least 3 percent of the votes of the region, proposed legislation suffers from no infirmity foreclose any challenge to then it is a go for the proposal. the proposed legislation?

A: No, it does not, because while a Q: Why is a judicial process interpiece of legislation may be “facially calated into the flow?

A: This is a borrowing from the French valid”—which is what the Constitusystem that makes use of the Constitu- tional Court rules on—in implementational Council to “preview” legislation tion or execution, it may run contrary prior to enactment. Referral by the Fed- to the constitutional rights and guareral Commission on Elections to the Con- antees of persons. In such a case they stitutional Court invokes what is known should be allowed to raise a constitutional challenge. as the Court’s ‘advisory opinion.’

Infra...

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2019 National Budget. This is equivalent to 36.7 percent of the Budget and will be used to finance social programs, particularly human capital development such as education, health care and social protection.

Education continued to get the lion’s share of the 2019 budget with a total funding of P659.3 billion, a 12.3-percent increase from last year’s P587.1 billion.

Duterte said public infrastructure spending in 2019 was estimated to generate 1.1 million jobs—”something we desperately need.”

The Department of Public Works and Highways will get the bulk of the 2019 infrastructure budget amounting to P555.7 billion, while the Department of Transportation will take P76.1 billion.

Duterte said the two departments will use the amount to provide connectivity for all Filipinos and to implement major infrastructure projects. PNA

Nigeria...

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the photo of a girl named Jare went viral on Instagram after Lagos-based Nigerian photographer Mofe Bamuyiwa posted it on her account, drawing raves such as “absolutely stunning” and “doll-like.”

“Oh yes she’s human! She’s also an angel!” Bamuwiya, a lifestyle and wedding photographer, said of Jare, whom she asked to assume a more mature pose to compose the image perfectly. She stressed that the girl isn’t a professional model.

As of presstime, more than 20,000 people have reacted to the photo on Instagram, calling it a “true work of art” and Jare as “the new Barbie.”

“All I want is for everyone to see Jare’s powerful potential. … I want the photo to speak to her when she has reached her adulthood,” Bamuwiya added.

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THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NASA, PH forge partnership on climate research

BOL APPROVED.

Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles (left) congratulates Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema (2nd right) after the House leadership under new Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law Tuesday night at the House of Representatives.

BOL is the first legislation passed under the new House Speaker.

Ver Noveno

By Rey E. Requejo THE United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration will be teaming up next year with Filipino experts through the US CAMP2Ex Project to undertake a comprehensive effort to map and model the country’s meteorological system aimed at helping the Philippine government to better address its disaster risk reduction and preparedness in times of inclement climate and weather conditions.

This came after a team of scientists from NASA visited the Philippines to participate in National Science and Technology Week where they interacted with Filipino scientists, engineering students, and high school teachers and highlighted NASA’s collaboration with the Philippine government on climate research and weather monitoring.

During their July 14 to 26 visit, NASA scientists were working with Manila Observatory scientists to prepare for next year’s CAMP2Ex Project.

CAMP2Ex, which will begin in mid2019, is a $20-million partnership that builds on 10 years of US-Philippine collaboration to better understand cloud formation in the western part of the Philippines, one of the world’s most unpredictable geographic regions for weather and climate models, said the statement released by the US Embassy in Manila.

“As part of the project, NASA and Filipino scientists will undertake a comprehensive effort to map and model the meteorological system of the Philippines, generating high quality data that will inform disaster risk reduction and preparedness,” the statement explained.

Ex-justice chief, CA associate justice Puno passes away FORMER Minister of Justice and Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ricardo Puno Sr. passed away on Wednesday.

He was 95.

Former Antipolo Rep. Roberto Puno announced the passing of his father in a Facebook post, which said, “Today, my dad, Justice Ricardo Puno Sr., joined his Creator.”

However, the former lawmaker did not provide details on what caused the death of the former justice minister.

Puno’s wake was opened at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City last night.

A necrological service will be offered at the Department of Justice tomorrow (Friday) at 9 a.m.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra expressed grief over the passing of the former justice minister.

“The entire DOJ family grieves the passing of one of their most illustrious department secretaries, who served as head of the agency for several years,” he said in a brief statement.

Puno spent 22 years in public service, according to his profile at Puno & Puno Law Offices, the law firm he founded with his son Ricardo Jr. He served as minister of justice from July 23, 1979 to June 30, 1984.

Rey E. Requejo

P55m in fake cigarettes, P17m in clothing seized

By Vito Barcelo

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HE Bureau of Customs on Wednesday seized more than P55 million worth of fake cigarettes, replicating machines and other merchandise in a raid of a warehouse in Tondo, Manila.

In Davao, the BoC confiscated some P17.8 million worth of used clothing and used dump truck from China at the Sasa Wharf and Davao International Container Terminal.

In both instances, the BoC said it seized the illegal shipment for misdeclaration and failure to secure import permit.

In Tondo, no less than Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña led the raid at a warehouse located at Antonio Rivera Street, Tondo, Manila and found fake cigarettes, cellphone accessories and chargers, DVD replicating machines, and blank DVDs. The operation was in coordination with the local police, barangay officials, and the brand owner representatives.

BoC-Enforcement Security and Service Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz said the three DVD replicating machines are estimated

to have a market value of more or less P45 million, while the fake cigarettes and other merchandise goods are estimated to be worth P10 million.

“The seized cigarettes were verified as fake versions of Marlboro, Jackpot, More, Belmont, Fortune, and Two Moon based on the examination conducted by the brand owner representatives,” Ruiz said.

Based on the initial investigation made by the ESS, the warehouse is allegedly owned by certain Sonny Kho and Tito Yao. The warehouse owners were not in the premises during the raid except the warehouse administrator identified as Reggy Tan. The confiscated goods will undergo seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of the Republic Act No. 8293

or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, and other pertinent provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. “Our relentless efforts to combat the proliferation of fake products were meant to protect consumers, local manufacturers and the public at large,” Lapeña said.

Over in Davao, the confiscated shipments contained used clothes or ukayukay and were consigned to Zainar General Merchandising, Al-Shaeer Enterprises, Suluans General Merchandising, and Mourpling Trading.

The consignees’ import documents were declared as bedsheets, thin blankets, shoes, bags, and stuffed toys but were found to contain bales of used clothes.

“Used clothes or ukay-ukay were classified as prohibited under Republic Act No. 4653 or An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and maintain the Dignity of the Nation by declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile articles commonly known as Used Clothing and Rags,” Lapeñna said.

Lapeña said a used dump truck consigned to Fullwon Philippines Ent. Ltd. Inc. was seized for lack of import permit and misdeclaration.

Binay wants clear guidelines in ‘Bora’ permit reapplication

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Nancy Binay on Wednesday said the Task Force Boracay’s recommendation to revoke and suspend all Environmental Compliance Certificates and business permits of establishments operating in Boracay may be necessary but government must ensure reapplications will have clear, simple, practical guidelines and efficient, transparent and corruptionfree procedures.

Binay said she understands the necessity to rescind all permits of businesses operating in the island, since this would give government and the people a “fresh start” but the reapplying process may be too cumbersome and the compliance could be prone to corruption.

“We want clear guidelines that will not take advantage of others by

harassing applicants,” said Binay. She said these should be clear and simple to understand, reasonable and practical to comply with. The process of compliance must be efficient, transparent and free from any opportunity to elicit favors from the applicant,” she stated.

Binay also said that she wants both national and local governments to shoulder the fees and other payments needed for applying permits.

“To be fair, let everyone be given a fresh start. Everybody applies (for a business permit and ECC) again, and it is also fitting for government to extend them the courtesy to re-apply and waive the fees except for payment of taxes.

Besides, everyone benefits from second chances and it’s an opportunity to be inspired, turn their fortunes around, and give the people of Boracay the needed boost,” she said.

While environmental and legal

compliance of establishments are still being reviewed, she said stakeholders have a chance to make the necessary corrections to ensure full compliance for them to operate.

“Let’s start on the right foot. This is where we get to start fresh and be accountable for the environment. But let us not use the application for a new permit as a fund raising activity,” she said.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu recently issued a memorandum circular ordering the suspension of all existing ECCs and business permits vis-à-vis their compliance with local and national laws.

To avoid another systemic failure in the future, she said it is best to restart and correct whatever wrong settings there may be in order for establishments to be fully compliant with existing laws and environmental policies.

Resolve cases, DAR regional offices told

By Rio N. Araja

TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS. Tourism Secretary Berna Puyat (center) meets with stakeholders on Wednesday’s Bulong Pulungan media forum at Hotel Sofitel and Resort, where she outlines her plans in promoting tourism here and abroad. Flanking the Tourism chief are Bulong Pulungan president Deedee Siytangco (left) and Network of Independent Travel and Allied Services president Bobby Joseph.

AGRARIAN Reform Secretary John Castriciones on Wednesday ordered all regional offices to resolve land cases and deliver justice for farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

He said the Department of Agrarian Reform’s performance review and planning session is currently being conducted to resolve and address problems in implementing agrarian reform.

At least 1,126 agrarian legal cases have already been resolved in Central Visayas in the last six months, he said.

In a recent performance review and planning session in Cavite’s Tagaytay City, regional director Luis Bueno told Castriciones that of the 922 agrarian legal cases targeted to be solved for the first semester of 2018, the agency was able to exceed its target and resolved 1,126

agrarian legal cases.

“Most of these cases have been dragging on for years. With the directive of Secretary Castriciones to streamline legal procedures, we have fast-tracked our legal procedures. We will do our best to help farmers fight for their rights and welfare,” he said.

Meanwhile, Castriciones listed down the agency’s accomplishments in Western Visayas as far as the provision of credit access and development to over 6,000 farmers is concerned.

Regional director Eugene Follante said 68 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations have been provided with access to credit through the agrarian production credit program and other lending institutions in the region.

“We want more farmers to get access to credit. That’s why we are intensifying our efforts in evaluating proposal for credit to agrarian reform beneficiaries,” he said.

Cops kill five rob suspects in Nasugbu

By Francisco Tuyay FIVE members of the notorious Francisco robbery hold-up gang were killed after the armed group resisted arrest that triggered the firefight in Nasugbu, Batangas early morning Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Ronald Cayago, Officer-in-Charge of the Nasugbu Municipal Police Station identified the five slain robbers as Rudy Franciso, alias Kambal; Roland Francisco; Rico Francisco alias Nono, Arian Hernandez and a certain Scoth Pacia.

The killing of the five gang members also resulted to the arrest of an alias ‘Eva’ and ‘Eric’ following the shootout that occurred in Palakulan, Wawa in Nasugbu at about 5:50 am on Tuesday.

No details were provided as to the circumstances of the death of the suspects except that Nasugbu police operatives were reportedly about to serve a search warrant at the houses of the three gang members which resulted to the ensuing encounter.

The report said that all the suspects were members of the Francisco robbery hold-up crime group operating in Batangas and are also reportedly involved in illegal drugs.

Recovered from the scene of encounter were a caliber .45 pistol; two .38 revolvers; a magnum .22 revolver and a hand grenade.

Police officials in Nasugbu numerated the involvement and atrocities of the Francisco rob gang, saying that the group pulled a P3 million heist in Batangas last year; robbed a Petron depot in Nasugbu; and break into the house of Al Perez in Ramos Subdivision, Barangay 3 of the same town; Eric, one of the gang members, was also reportedly involved in a robbery in Calaca, Batangas in 2015, where he stole P40,000 worth of valuables.

Nograles upbeat on ‘smooth’ budget deliberations HOUSE Appropriations Committee Chairman, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles expressed confidence that the deliberations for the 2019 national budget would continue smoothly despite the ongoing transition in the House leadership.

According to Nograles, the transition team formed by newly-installed House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is working hard to ensure the smooth transfer of leadership and assumption of duties.

The legislator from Davao also revealed that the proposed 2019 National Expenditure Program has already been submitted by Malacañang to the House of Representatives. The expenditure details spelled out in the NEP will serve as the basis for the budget hearings scheduled to go full swing on July 31.

Nograles expects Arroyo’s office to soon hand down the NEP to the Appropriations panel, which he has led since the start of the 17th Congress in July 2016.

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Opinion

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Economic reforms are expected from Arroyo economic growth.

I’ve been a journalist for nearly seven decades and have walked the corridors of power. I can say that Gloria was among the best presidents we ever had. *** SOMEBODY wrote that three women The Senate should be thankful that —Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Gloria is now at the helm of the House.

Carpio, Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos and She was a senator before she became Rep. Gloria Arroyo—were responsible president, so she would know the sentifor the ouster of Speaker Pantaleon ments of the Senate when it comes to Alvarez. voting in a joint session as provided for Carpio and Marcos, both presidential in the Constitution. She must know that daughters, called members of the House the two chambers must vote separately. and asked them to install Arroyo.

On that score, the Senate should be asPeople know too well that Alvarez sured that the senators would have their had to be let go because he had offend- say when it comes to Charter change. ed so many of his colleagues with his For his part, President Duterte would dictatorial tendencies. Perhaps he felt have no problem with Gloria as speaker. complacent that his relationship with She will pursue his legislative agenda, fellow Mindanawon President Rodrigo having the support of the supermajority Duterte would make him keep his job. in the House.

He was wrong.

If there is something substantial that Alvarez continthe country can ued with his ofexpect from the fensive ways, but House, it is GloGloria was friendria’s playing her ly to everybody in With her background, part in the attainthe House! of economic she would know what is ment The consensus reform and suswas for Gloria, who best for the nation. tainability. is a former presiAs an econodent herself and an mist, she would ally of Duterte. introduce legislaWhen the Presition to create jobs dent talked to both Alvarez and Ar- and to arrest the rising prices of goods royo, he knew he had no choice but to and services. go with what the majority wanted.

She is a former member of Congress, What I cannot understand is why a senator, a vice president, a president. some senators are now against Glo- She has enough gravitas to be the main ria as speaker. For example, Senator ally of President Duterte so he can fulGrace Poe cannot seem to accept that fill his promise of change. her father lost to Arroyo in the 2004 *** elections. Senator JV Ejercito also canI watched the President deliver his not accept the fact that his father was Sona last Monday. He equated human ousted from office, but I am perplexed lives with human rights. He also said he —didn’t Gloria pardon Erap? would continue his bloody war on drugs.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, Did the President mean he does not brings up the scandals during the Ar- care about the thousands who had been royo administration. killed? I am confused.

All I can say is—“Inggit lang sila!”

If that is the case, there is a flaw in Personally, I know that Gloria, given his reasoning. Human lives and human her expertise that comes from her nine- rights are the same thing. Logic cannot year rule as president, will lead Con- put one against the other. gress well. She knows what is good for No wonder human rights advocates the country, especially in terms of the have slammed Duterte’s campaign economy. against illegal drugs. Human rights have Her legacy as president was become a casualty of his brutal war. economic reform that gave us good Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

‘Influence’

I

T IS true that the way we view the world and regard other people are a function of the circumstances of our birth and upbringing.

What may seem odd for some people may be seen as normal for others.

But as we gain maturity, education and exposure to the world, the prejudices and biases we are born with are at least tempered with the knowledge that while some perceptions are relative, there remain absolute notions of decency and justice.

A popular social media figure from Kuwait, for instance, recently reaped the fruits of her ranting against Filipino maids whom she called “servants.”

Sondos Alqattan, deemed an “influencer” in her sphere, complained about a new law that allowed Filipino domestic workers to keep their passports and have days off.

She did not want a Filipino maid, she said in a post, and wondered how she would be refunded if the maid left suddenly.

What she did not know that the plight of migrant workers, especially overworked or abused ones, is a highly emotional issue that earned the ire of Filipinos working abroad and those with family members in a foreign land.

The resulting backlash included calls for the boycott of the products she was endorsing.

Feeling the pressure, three international brands have cut ties with the so-called

influencer.

She insisted she had been misunderstood: “Just because you don’t agree, doesn’t mean that you’re right!”

Filipinos have been criticized for being oversensitive to comments from foreigners.

Sometimes the reaction was warranted; at other times, the criticism was better left unnoticed. But Alqattan did not just remark on any trivial matter— it was a subject as sensitive and heartbreaking as many of the stories of our workers have revealed.

Our leaders were correct in negotiating such an arrangement with the Kuwaiti government—they could have done no less. As for those who insist on their skewed world views, comeuppance is fast, the digital version, even faster.

Power play at the Lower House replied, “Huwag ninyong pahiyain si Sara.” If true, then it’s hard to believe that her father did not know of the plan beforehand.

Perhaps he was irked by Alvarez’s pronouncements in the past week about WHAT Sona, when there’s high drama having no forthcoming elections, in rehappening in the House of Representa- lation to the moves for charter change, and extending or even doing away with tives?

The much-anticipated State of the term limits of elected officials.

Anyway, it’s said the President was Nation Address spectacle fizzled in the face of the histrionics delivered by the going to walk out of the event but was congressmen early Monday morning as persuaded to stay when he was remindtwo factions struggled for the influen- ed that delivering the SONA is a constitutional mandate. tial position of Speaker of the House.

If Mayor Sara did bring this massive Despite the best efforts of film director Joyce Bernal, who was tasked with coup off, then she is a political stratethe production of the Sona, President gist extraordinaire of immense clout, Rodrigo Duterte’s appearance at the because half of the congressman asevent and his speech were upstaged sembled that night voted for GMA as by the tussle between representatives speaker.

However, other Pantaleon Alvarez analysts say that and Gloria MacaMayor Sara was pagal Arroyo for played by an even the speakership. shrewder political Allegedly it It’s the drama behind manipulator — was presidenGMA. Her nine tial daughter and the scenes that grabbed years as president Davao City Mayor headlines. and all the years Sara Duterte who before and after went on a phonehave been a disa-thon the day play of her savvy before, ringing up and it is possible, congressmen to they say, that she somehow was able to support GMA and topple Alvarez.

Mayor Sara’s move might have bring this power play about and see to stemmed from an animosity between its success. Her new position could put her and Alvarez, after he claimed she her in line to be prime minister if the was a member of the opposition because country shifts to federalism soon.

The President was said to have been of her establishment of another political party, Hugpong sa Pagbabago. She be- annoyed that these shenanigans were lied this vehemently and warned Alva- brought about the morning of the rez, “You messed with the wrong girl.” Sona. Perhaps mentally distracted by Hugpong is a regional political party the occurrence, he read his prepared that aims to support the current admin- speech without ad-libbing or cursing.

Spectators said he looked to be in low istration.

There’s scuttlebutt going around that spirits. Alvarez, after all, is one of Special Assistant to the President Bong his most trusted lieutenants, able and Go, when called by some congressmen willing to push whatever policy the for confirmation of Mayor Sara’s plan, Turn to A5

German post office delivers electric car surprise

By Yann Schreiber ON German streets plied by hulking SUVs and roaring combustion engines, the small, toy-like electric vehicles driven by postmen stand out by their silence and their bright yellow livery.

But even more surprising to many in the car-loving nation is the Deutsche Post horn logo on the prows of the socalled “Streetscooters”—vans that are not much bigger than the iconic Volkswagen Golf.

To some analysts, the former stateowned logistics firm is showing up auto industry giants like Volkswagen, BMW or Daimler by shifting gears towards vehicle electrification even faster.

More than 6,000 Streetscooters number among the 49,300 vehicles Deutsche

Post uses for local deliveries, and the company recently opened a second factory to up production to 40 per day.

When the traditional carmakers were slow to respond to its search for a lowcarbon, low-cost van, bosses snapped up a small start-up firm to build its own.

Industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research calls the move “a starting gun” for electric mobility in Germany, where headlines are more often dominated by a seemingly endless diesel emissions scandal.

For 20-year veteran of the Frankfurt post office Miroslav Arapovic, the new vehicle just means he is “less noisy and better integrated into the environment” as he makes his rounds.

“I’ve already had compliments from

passers-by, like for the fact there aren’t any oil marks” on the street, he says.

Keep it simple Deutsche Post designed its Streetscooter from scratch as a delivery vehicle for inner cities.

Its battery offers a range of just 80 kilometers, massively slashing the costs of production.

Given such “very specific” requirements it was unsurprising that the major manufacturers focused on massmarket models were unable to rise to the challenge, explains Stefan Reindl, director of the Institute for the Automobile Economy (IFA).

Firms like Volkswagen have inflexible production chains, discouraging them from producing at small scale, and

Turn to A5

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can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Opinion Dealing with changes ple that when it comes to “friend” appointees, he expects all hands on deck.

These men should be aligned with his administration. The President gave a stern warning to his friend appointees—do not give him reason to distance from their friendship.

The President also called for government agencies to improve their frontline services and make them more customer-friendly. As for the environment, he called for the preservation of other tourist spots, such as the case of Boracay. He warned irresponsible mining industry players. For the health sector, he aims to institutionalize primary

OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ CHANGE is inevitable. I believe change, with the right attitude, can be a catalyst for positive transitions, even if initially, on the surface, dealing with change can be rough.

President Rodrigo Duterte was elected as he promised to bring about change in our country. #ChangeisComing has become a popular hashtag associated with the President’s platform during his campaign. Two years into the Duterte administration, we have experienced a lot of changes. Many will agree with me that not everything was positive change.

This Monday, President Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address on a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The speech was brief and straightforward.

The President spoke as a worker of government speaking from his heart.

The President didn’t go through every single achievement of his administration but promised to release a report about this in the next few days. I look forward to reading this report once it is made available to the public.

The President started with his war on drugs. I recall my first Turno en Contra as Minority Floor Leader on 2016. We reminded that President that while the drug problem needed to be addressed, there are other urgent and pressing matters that require the President’s attention.

I was pleased to hear the President’s stand against corruption in the government. The President assured the peo-

sources for our country’s food security.

I wish this was something the President discussed during his Sona.

The President mentioned that all 5 packages of the TRAIN will be ready before the year ends, and he hoped to sign the second package of TRAIN into law this year as well. However, I reiterate my “revenue neutral” stand, wherein the government should only spend what it earns. If the government needs more money for its “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, maybe it would be better to borrow, instead of giving the burden to the taxpayers. By the time that these infrastructure projects are in place, we can earn from it and be able to pay our debts.

The President pushed for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which was done by the Senate on Monday and by the House on Tuesday. I look forward to the fruition of the promises of this law to our fellow brothers and sisters in Mindanao.

He also pushed for the amendment of the Constitution, which will establish a federal government. This is truly a big change that would need the support of both Houses of Congress. Speaking of change, we know that this is not far from happening in Congress.

On Monday, former President and incumbent Representative of the Second District of Pampanga, Hon. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, took an oath as the new and the first female Speaker of the House. As I congratulate her, I also expect that she will do her best in carrying out the legislative agenda of President Duterte. We should all work together to achieve what is best for the Filipino people.

It can be rough in the beginning, but positive transitions are always good.

health care as a prerequisite to access higher level of healthcare and supplement human resource gaps of LGUs through a National Health Workforce Support System. He then urged the speedy passage of the Universal Health Care Bill. With regard to the artificial rice shortage, he warned rice hoarders and cartels. However, he failed to tackle food security concerns, particularly the depleting supply of fish. We know that next to rice, fish is a staple in a Filipino family’s table. There is an urgent need to develop our fisheries and aquatic re-

The BRT canceled DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA ONE of the issues President Duterte did not touch in his State of the Nation Address last Monday was the perennial problem of urban traffic congestion and improving the public transportation system in our major cities such as Metro Manila. He instead talked about promised government programs and his favorite topic, the war on illegal drugs.

There was nothing earth-shaking with what he said, except to reiterate the programs he promised when he campaigned for the presidency in 2016.

The President basically followed the script and the speech was finished in 48 minutes without ad libs and his customary colorful language.

On the issue of traffic congestion and public transportation, it was left to the Department of Transportation to announce recently the suspension of the multi billion peso Bus Rapid Transit system or BRT for short that was planned for Cebu and the National Capital Region. The Cebu BRT project was a P10.6-billion project that would have run a total of 16 kms. It consists of 33 stations and a total of 176 buses to serve 330,000 passengers daily.

The NCR project, on the other hand, was supposed to consist of two components. The first was the Quezon City Memorial Circle to Manila City Hall which would have totaled about 12.3 km passing Quezon Avenue and España. The other route was supposed to have been along Edsa costing about P37.8 billion.

Now, some House legislatures are asking the DOTr why the projects are being suspended since money for the projects have been made available after much lobbying was made by the department. There must be very good reasons why the projects have been stopped after embracing the idea wholeheartedly when the Duterte administration initially took over. The DOTr has now lost interest in the project.

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they “tend to overengineer” vehicles rather than pursuing minimalism.

For its part, Deutsche Post “does not want to become a carmaker”, seeking only to optimise the “last kilometer” of its deliveries, Streetscooter chief Achim Kampker says.

The “last mile,” a term adopted from the telecoms industry, is a top question for delivery firms, city authorities and environmentalists, especially in crowded, polluted German city centers.

It refers to the question of how to efficiently move goods from central hubs on to their final destination in densely populated urban areas.

Numbers of delivery vehicles making the rounds have ballooned, as booming e-commerce sets ever-more packages on their way to households’ front doors.

A British study found in 2017 that light van traffic in London had increased 30 per-

The question is why and does it have a good point in suspending the Cebu and NCR BRT projects. From what has been reported in the papers, the projects were all ready to start but Secretary Arthur Tugade is the one who lost interest and implied that he seem to prefer rail transport over the BRT. When traffic congestion started to worsen during the last administration, transportation officials came up with programs in an attempt to alleviate the problem.

The BRT was one of them and like many of the programs implemented, it was not a good plan like the trains bought from China worth billions of pesos that ended up being unusable.

Putting up a BRT line along Edsa will only add to the traffic congestion along

the road. What will happen to the thousands of buses and jeepneys plying the same route? Will they all be taken off the road? Also, since the BRT is essentially operated like a train, why put another train along EDSA. A BRT line in order to operate efficiently is better operated alone in a single route. Keeping the jeepneys along the same route as the BRT would be chaotic and not advisable. We do not know whether these are some reasons why Secretary Tugade is abandoning the project. It could also be that the BRT may be subjected to flooding because it is not elevated. *** Another factor that the government has to consider before introducing new transportation projects is to consider the effect of a new system to the way the government has tackled urban mass transportation over the decades. Before the Second World War, the principal urban mass transportation in Manila was the Tram operated by Meralco which started in 1905. After the City’s destruction during its liberation in 1945, the

government never attempted to rebuild the system. Instead, the jeepney took over. There is also that 1936 Commonwealth Act known as the Public Service Law which is the basis of the existence of the current Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The law has not been changed and is therefore badly in need of reform. With this law, the practice that has evolved is that almost all urban mass transportation in our cities are privately operated.

We do not have anything like what we see when we travel overseas that the metro trains and the bus company catering to the public are operated by the city government like New York, Rome and others. During martial law, the government did operate the so-called love bus in Metro Manila and reduced the hundreds of bus operators to ten cooperative bus companies. The ten companies were assigned different and specific routes and the system worked very well but when the Cory government took over, it reverted to the old system wherein anyone wanting to operate a bus company even with only one unit can apply for a permit to operate.

This is the reason why we now see those thousands of buses along Edsa with hundreds of different operators.

There is an urgent need to distribute bus routes to decongest Edsa. Yes, there is now a program to modernize the jeepney which is good but in addition, the new operators must be required to manage their companies efficiently and differently and not go back to the old system of operation.

Otherwise, traffic congestion will worsen because the new jeepneys are bigger and occupy more road space.

This is just one of the issues in the jeepney modernization program. There are others. What is becoming clear is that there is a need to continue modernizing not only the transport systems but the laws that govern transportation operation. If this is not done, problems will persist and it will always be a challenge to undertake new transportation systems as the country moves forward.

The public after all deserves more than the old jeepneys and tricycles.

cent over 1993 levels, unlike car and taxi traffic which has been sinking since the early 2000s.

Meanwhile, German cities are scrambling to clean up their air after a court decision ruled that diesel vehicles could be banned as a measure of last resort.

Hamburg and Stuttgart are among the first local authorities to shut off parts of their territory to older cars powered by the fuel.

Stirring giants Despite Kampker’s claims of limited ambitions, Streetscooter has gradually become a key player in this growing market, offering its product to outside customers for the past year at a cost of around 40,000 euros ($46,400) each.

In late May, it announced a sale of 200 vans to a British milk delivery firm, while a subsidiary of energy firm Innogy ordered 300 in early July.

Streetscooter is also working on a larger, more powerful model with US-based Ford, which will supply the new van’s chassis.

Such early wins are no guarantee of

lasting success in an ultra-competitive industry, where traditional carmakers are increasingly switching their focus to electric mobility.

In 2017, Daimler announced a partnership with delivery firm Hermes to develop and produce some 1,500 vans by 2020.

One analyst asks whether Deutsche Post can “remain competitive over the long term” in a market where the likes of BMW and Volkswagen are beginning to throw their massive weight around.

Industry expert Reindl is “certain” that there will be a broad range of offers from the household names in the near future.

“Perhaps it’s the moment for them to adapt and to think about whether their products need to be so complex every time,” he suggests.

Deutsche Post CEO Frank Appel said in June that he aims to keep Streetscooter within the group “at least for the next two years,” although in the long term it may get a separate stock market listing or be bought out by a major carmaker. AFP

Problems will persist.

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Constitution: Fixing what isn’t broken economic grounds, it bears saying that under the present Constitution (1) the Philippine economy has in recent years attained annual GDP growth rates in RUDY ROMERO the vicinity of 7 percent, (2) the Philippines has become the leader of the DURING all the months and weeks that I world BPO (business process outsourchave been following the public discourse ing) industry and (3) numerous signifiregarding the idea of revising the Consti- cant joint ventures with foreigners have tution, an old homespun Yankee saying been established in the financial, comhas been on my mind. The saying goes, mercial and industrial fields.

Good institutions grant the duly elect“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The message of the saying is simple and very ed representatives of the people, assempractical: Fix something that needs fix- bled in the legislature, the right to enact laws designed to improve society and ing, not something that doesn’t.

Judging from the utterances and ac- promote the aspirations of the citizenry. tions of President Rodrigo Duterte, the The 1987 Constitution is no exception, Speaker of the House of Representa- and under its authority Congress has entives, the members of the Constitution- acted all the laws needed to improve the reviewing Consultative Committee and working of Philippine society. The enactMr. Duterte’s most rabid supporters, the ment of laws intended to improve and 1987 Constitution has become inimical promote this country’s politics, economy, to the country’s best interests and needs environment, administration and social to be totally revised at the earliest possi- relations has been entirely possible under ble time. It is broken and it needs to be the 1987 Constitution.

Yet the Filipino people are being told fixed, they are in effect saying.

Is the 1987 Constitution broken and that the present system of government— a unitary system headed by a president in need of fixing?

The best answer to the question is an- vested by the Constitution with the other question. Under what Basic Law power of control or supervision over has the Philippines economy been able 81 provinces and two autonomous reto register the GDP (gross domestic gions—has been a deterrent to this country’s progress product) growth and that the betrates that have ter way forward made the Philipis federalism. The pine economy rule of so-called the second fastest The present system, Imperial Manila growing economy they say, has been must be ended, in East Asia durthe Filipino peoing the last few a deterrent to this ple are told; they years? Has it not country’s progress. will be better for been the same the regions if the Constitution that present Constituthe pro-Charter tion is replaced by change people a Basic Law that now passionately want to cast aside? If in fact the 1987 gives them greater control over their Constitution has been capable of main- lives. Shorn of all the theoretical and letaining economic conditions conducive gal niceties, that means greater control to the attainment of 7 percent annual over the resources found within and revenues generated by the regions.

GDP growth, why must it be junked?

If it is solely about greater access by Nor have any questions been raised about the soundness of the checks-and- the regions to their resources and revbalance structure of the government enues—if the proponents of federalor about the adequacy of the authority, ism have no hidden agenda—the antiwithin that structure, of each branch of federalism will carry the day. There is the government. Successive chief jus- absolutely no need for federalism. All tices of the Supreme Court have shown that one has to do to prove the truth of themselves to be content with the ex- this statement is read the Local Govtent of the power granted the judiciary ernment Code of 1991.

Mandated by the 1987 Constitution, by the framers of the 1987 Constitution. The swagger and the chutzpah the Local Government Code provides of the current Speaker of the House of for (1) the devolution of specified govRepresentative indicates that she does ernment functions to the LGUs (local not regard the legislature as lacking in government units) and (2) the sharing clout and status. As for the Executive between the national governments and department, most constitutional law the LGUs of the revenues generated by experts are of the view that the 1987 the LGUs within their territorial limits, Constitution vested the presidency with with the LGUs’ shares to be released to power sufficient to make the occupant them “automatically.” Thus, the princiof Malacanang a very powerful indi- ples of power-sharing and review-sharvidual. Certainly, President Duterte ing have been clearly established. Nothhas not been heard its complain that he ing more needs to be done by the makers does not have enough power to do his of public policy. All that is needed is compliance by the national government job effectively.

An issue that is repeatedly brought with the sharing provisions of the 1987 forward as a basis for revising the Constitution. If there has been faithful Constitution is the 60-40 limitation on compliance by the national government, foreign ownership of Philippine land, the current agitation for federalism natural resources and public utilities. would be nowhere near as strong as it is.

So I say again, if something ain’t broAlthough the Constitution—this provision first appeared in the 1935 Con- ken, don’t fix it. The 1987 Constitution stitution—can be validly assailed on is not broken.

BUSINESS CLASS

Power...

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pagkakahalal ni Rep. Arroyo.”

Another lawmaker, Rep. Sarah Elago, said: “What happened earlier sets the stage for the darker days to come.

Preview ito ng mas malalang panggigipit at pagkakait ng boses ng dissent sa loob ng Batasan Pambansa.”

According to Rep. Carlos Zarate: “Hindi nga nila ni-recognize that there was a valid objection habang nagbobotohan. Malinaw na ang legitimacy ng pagiging speaker ni Cong.

Arroyo... may question of legitimacy.”

It looks like the fight is far from over, and the Filipino people will be shown more naked displays of friction as politicians claw their way to the top by whatever means.

Meanwhile, this year’s Sona will be a memorable one—not so much for what the President said, not for a famed director’s production efforts, but for the drama that went on behind the scenes.

President desires.

Alvarez’s loss of the speakership to a canny politician who has the potential and power of independent action could be detrimental to the President’s interests, even if GMA did say that her agenda is to support this government.

But the quarrel for power might not be over. A major broadcast network yesterday Tweeted some lawmakers’ objection to the process that resulted in GMA’s successful power grab.

ABS-CBN News tweeted: “Makabayan bloc condemns incident earlier when ACT Party-list [Rep. Antonio] Tinio’s microphone was turned off when he objected to the adoption of the resolution declaring Rep. Arroyo House Speaker.

“Rep. Antonio Tinio: Hindi pinahintulutan ang objection namin. Ayaw Dr. Ortuoste, a writer and researchnilang ilagay sa record, ayaw nilang er, has a PhD in Communication. FB may mag-question sa legitimacy ng and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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*** The thing to watch with the installation of Arroyo as House Speaker is whether or not the House would have time for Charter change and a shift to a federal form of government.

Will Speaker Gloria still pursue what Alvarez had in mind?

If she will—though I don’t think there

will be time—the Duterte administration may as well forget about shifting to a federal system in place of the unitary form that we now have.

It’s just as well. The economy will be sacrificed with no less than 18 federated states—some poorer than others, competing for investments and assistance from the national government.

Will Gloria, an economist, push federalism knowing its impact on the economy? www.emiljurado.weebly.com

News

A6

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

296 drivers flagged down

by MMDA

By Joel E. Zurbano

RELOCATION RITES. Informal settlers pack up their belongings as a team from the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission demolishes houses along the embankment of the San Francisco River in Barangay Talayan in Quezon City on Wednesday. The Commission offered relocation assistance to hundreds of families affected by the government’s widening of the river, bank improvement, dredging and linear park development. Manny Palmero

Gatchalian renews call: Abolish Road Board VALENZUELA City First District Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian has renewed his call for the abolition of the Road Board, after the Commission on Audit revealed that P3.9 billion of the board’s budget for the National Road Lighting Program was not efficiently and effectively implemented.

“As I have previously stated, there really is no cogent reason why in terms of our bureaucratic design this body should still exist. We already currently have a very competently managed DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways]. Another layer of bureaucracy merely increases the chance of inefficiency and irregularity in government,” Gatchalian said in a statement Wednesday.

The Road Board as an organization is entrusted the responsibility to ensure and oversee the optimum utilization of resources for the maintenance and improvement of a safe, efficient, and environmentally balanced road network, thereby contributing to the physical, social, and economic well-being of the country.

In the CoA report, government auditors noted that the Road Board Secretariat implemented the NRLP although the board did not have the technical capability nor the legal mandate to implement infrastructure projects.

The auditors also noted that because of the delays in the construction of the lamps, the goals of the project to lessen road related accidents as well as enhanced security were not fully achieved.

“We are about to go on budget season again in the opening of Congress, and so we are expected to provide billions of pesos once more to this body. With all these reports, I am hoping that before we get to that point, we first deliberate on the merits of the measures seeking to abolish it,” said Gatchalian.

“I believe there are more worthwhile uses for these funds such as in education and to complete the rehabilitation of Marawi,” he said.

Cops to get another pay hike in allowances, other benefits

By Joel E. Zurbano

F

OLLOWING the increase of their basic salary effective last January, policemen will again enjoy the raise of their collateral pay and other allowances.

This, after the National Police Commission amended Resolution No. 91-18 and came up with a new one—Resolution 2018-340—issued last July 11 which provides for the rationalization of said benefits for uniformed officers of the Philippine National Police.

“Such amendment is necessary as the collateral pay and allowances provided under Resolution No. 91-18 are no longer practical and realistic since the rates provided therein were authorized and granted in 1991,” said Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rogelio Casurao.

Based on the new resolution, PNP uniformed personnel shall now receive significant increase in collateral pay and allowances, and other benefits, as follow: Hospital Subsistence Allowance (for policemen who are treated as in-patient in PNP hospitals and dispensaries); Additional Subsistence Allowance (for those who are engaged in search, rescue, retrieval and civil disturbance management operations, and those who provide security on vital installations);

Training Subsistence Allowance (for those who undergo local training); Hazardous Pay (for those who are exposed to occupational hazards or hazardous jobs involving high risk of losing life, limbs or likely deterioration of health); Radiation Hazard Pay (for those assigned to PNP hospitals, dispensaries and laboratories); Incentive Pay (for licensed professionals who joined the PNP and assigned to the Medical, Veterinary, Dental, Nursing, Legal, Air Unit and Engineering); Instructor’s Duty Pay (for those assigned to PNP training schools/centers or detailed with the PPSC); Specialist Pay (for those who are not assigned to critical areas but who demonstrate efficiency through skill, aptitude, training and experience and knowledge of specific police duties and specialties); Flying Pay (for pilots and crew of aircrafts whose duty requires regular and frequent aerial flights); Sea Duty Pay (for those assigned to the PNP Maritime Group and any PNP unit who are required to render official duties on board any wa-

WHERE SMOKE IS. Customs

Commissioner Isidro Lapeña presents P55 million worth of fake cigarettes, DVDs, replicating machines and gadgets like phone cases, chargers authorities seized in a residential area in Antonio Rivera Street, Tondo, Manila on July 25.

Norman Cruz

PCSO spends P4.6b for 236,547 patients in 1st sem PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office reported on Wednesday that in the first semester of 2018, the agency has spent P4,644,615,997.03 to pay for medicines, hospital bills and medical treatments of patients, an increase of 30.62 percent compared with the same period last year.

“Said amount benefitted a total number of 236,547 patients, an increase of 27.9 percent compared with the same period last year,” PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan said.

Assistant general manager for Charity Sector Dr. Larry Cedro said the top three nature of requests was hospital confinement where the agency released P2.03 billion for 93,531 patients; next was chemotherapy at P1.015 billion for 26,009 patients, and medicines at P888.4 million for 72,138 patients.

tercraft/vessel); and Hardship Allowance (for those assigned to police stations which are considered isolated and inaccessible by normal air, water or land transportation.

The increased rates in the Combat Duty Pay and Combat Incentive Pay took effect last September 1, 2016 pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 3 directing the increase of the said incentive pay for the uniformed personnel of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The resolution stated that “considering the uniqueness of the mission and functions of the National Capital Region Police Office vis-à-vis its area, which is Metro Manila, all uniformed personnel assigned to the NCRPO Headquarters (provided they are not on detail or detached service status) and the five Police Districts in NCR shall receive NCRPO Incentive Pay.” “On the other hand, members of the PNP Special Action Force [SAF] shall be given SAF Incentive Pay due to the uniqueness of the SAF mandate.”

Police personnel are also given different types of clothing allowance: Special Clothing Allowance (for those detailed to special duties as aides-decamp, escorts and honor guards, PNP Band members and Base Police).

Other nature of requests included dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal), implant/ prosthesis/ medical devices, laboratory and diagnostic procedures, surgery, radiation treatment, laser treatment, medical appliances, therapy, transplant, and others.

“Thirty percent of PCSO revenues automatically goes to the Charity Fund, which pays for the free hospitalization and medicines of indigent patients and other medical services such as chemo and dialysis treatments, among others,” Balutan said.

Meanwhile, in response to Commission on Audit’s warning against the agency over “questionable” transactions worth more than P10.17 billion intended for charity and programs and medical assistance, Cedro revealed that there’s really a spike in terms of the number of individuals asking assistance from PCSO. “Being an agency dependent on pub-

lic trust, it is not easy for us to turn away individuals. What was recommended for us by CoA is to have supplemental budget for that purpose in order to address the excess in budget,” he said.

Cedro said while measures were being adopted to abide by CoA’s observation and even PCSO has established parameters, the individuals asking assistance from PCSO continue to increase.

“While PCSO recognizes its obligation and responsibility when it comes to disbursing funds, the agency is in a very difficult situation as compared with Philippine Health Insurance Corp. [PhilHealth],” said Cedro.

Members of PhilHealth must have sufficient regularity of premium contributions to ensure that they are able to avail themselves of social health insurance benefits in accredited health care institutions.

NEARLY 300 drivers were flagged down and warned during the first two days of the dry run activity for the implementation of a new policy prohibiting all provincial buses to enter Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

Beginning Aug. 1, the Metro Manila Development Authority will not allow provincial buses coming from the Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon to enter Edsa during rush hours to improve the flow of traffic along the 23.8-kilometer highway.

During the first day of the dry run on Tuesday, MMDA traffic enforcers apprehended 219 provincial buses, 86 of them caught during the morning rush hours between 7 am to 10 am while 133 others were apprehended from 6 pm to 9 pm.

MMDA chief information officer Sharon Gentalian said as of 10 am on Wednesday (second day), a total of 77 provincial buses were apprehended, a majority or 67 of those caught along the northbound lane while 10 others on the southbound.

“Both northbound and southbound provincial buses are banned from traversing along Edsa from Pasay City until Cubao in Quezon City from 7 am to 10 am and from 6 pm to 9 pm on weekdays,” she said.

MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said as an incentive, all provincial buses traversing Edsa were exempted from the United Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or the number coding scheme.

But he said “provincial buses plying C-5 Road, streets of Manila, and elsewhere are not covered by the number coding exemption.”

Provincial buses from the south that do not have terminals in Pasay City are advised to use the agency-operated Southwest Interim Provincial Terminal in Parañaque City.

Umali asks Ombudsman: Drop charge

By Rio N. Araja A FORMER vice mayor from Nueva Ecija is asking the Office of the Ombudsman to reverse its dismissal order on him for involvement in the alleged irregular repacking and distribution of relief goods in 2016.

Former Cabanatuan City vice mayor Emmanuel Antonio Umali filed a motion for reconsideration to review the order and clear his name of grave misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“I believe time will come the truth will set us free. I am not rushing to return to my post. I am willing to wait for the Ombudsman to come up with an [reversal] order. I am drawing my inspiration from the people in the truest sense of public service,” he said.

He belied speculations that he was the one circulating a “fake” reversal order of the Ombudsman that would give way to his reinstatement.

He called on the city constituents not to believe in such allegations, saying the political rivals of the Umalis in Nueva Ecija could be responsible behind the smear campaign against him.

“Let us be calm amid the politicking,” he said.

On July 4, the Department of the Interior and Local Government enforced the dismissal order on Umali.

The case stemmed from allegations that Umali and the other accused conspired to reopen, repack and distribute relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in January 2016 to advance their interests in the May 2016 polls.

Senate OKs bill seeking to improve restroom facilities in terminals THE Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to improve the restroom facilities in land transportation and roll-on/roll-off terminals nationwide.

Senate Bill 1749, or the “Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Resto Areas and Roll-on/Roll-off Terminals,” was approved with 18 affirmative votes, no negative vote and zero abstention.

Senator Grace Poe, the primary author and sponsor of the bill, thanked her colleagues for the speedy approval of the proposed measure, saying the days of unsanitary and unkempt restrooms in transport terminals would soon be over.

“Clean restrooms would not seem like game show prizes anymore. Everything would be clean and no fees should be collected for the use of comfort rooms. Land

and RoRo terminals will become oases for our travelers,” Poe said.

Once enacted into law, operators or administrators of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and RoRo terminals would be required to provide clean and sanitary facilities for passengers.

Collection of fees from passengers for the use of sanitary facilities in transport terminals will also be prohibited.

This, however, does not cover deluxe comfort rooms.

The measure also sought to mandate the Department of Information and Communications Technology, in coordination with the Department of Transportation and other concerned agencies, to provide free Internet access in transport terminals and to establish at least one lactation station that is separate from sanitary facilities. PNA

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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PH wins 8 gold in Asean tilt th

K

UALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Team Philippines continued its dazzling performance with three golds, a silver and a bronze medal on the fourth day of competition in the 10th ASEAN Schools Games at the Mini-Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

After hauling five golds in the first three days of competition, a young hurdler, a table netter and the girls’ basketball squad bamboozled their rivals to raise their total gold medal hauled to eight in this annual event aimed to promote camaraderie and ASEAN solidarity through school sports.

Seventeen-year-old Eliza Cuyom turned in a blistering 14.45 seconds in outrunning rivals Liza Putri

Aires, Argentina next month, stunned rival Josh Chua Shao Han of Indonesia, 3-1, in their boys’ singles titular showdown at the SJK Kong Hoe Hall in Klang.

Over at the Gem in Mall in Cyberjaya, the girls’ basketball team demolished Singapore, 80-42, to clinch its second consecutive ASEAN Schools Games’ gold medal.

With the victory, Philippines achieved another feat of completing a four-game sweep for the second consecutive time.

The Philippines has a total of eight gold medals, nine silvers and 14 bronzes and currently ranks sixth in the 10-member competition, with two

Ramandha of Indonesia (14.76) and Halimatul Saadia Binti Mohammed Raja of Malaysia (15.52) in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles.

Cuyom, a Grade 12 student of Nazareth School of National University, said her training and focus finally paid off as she needed to end her ASG stint on a high note.

Filipino table netter Jann Mari Nayre, the first Pinoy qualifier for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos

days of action remaining.

Over at the Darul Eshan Aquatic Centre in Shah Alam, Filipino tankers Jerard Dominic Jacinto and Samantha Therese Coronel also secured medals in the boys’ and girls’ backstroke events.

Jacinto checked in 57.72 seconds as he grabbed the silver in the boys’ 100m backstroke, just .53 second slower than the record of gold medalist Farrel Armandio Tangkas of Indonesia (57.25).

Tangkas’ teammate Dwiki Anugrah’ finished third (58.13).

Samantha Therese Coronel settled for the bronze in the 100m girls’ backstroke.

Americans get no favors at Ryder Cup SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France—Big-hitting American stars may have to adjust their games when they defend the Ryder Cup against Europe in September on a tight, punishing course at Le Golf National just outside Paris.

All 12 Europeans are certain to be familiar with the quirks of the French set-up designed to favour strategic play, while American long hitters like world number one Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and even possibly Tiger Woods will have to put away their drivers on the majority of holes.

The Americans regained the Ryder Cup two years ago at a Hazeltine track with forgiving fairways and slick greens, but will find a totally different proposition awaiting them in France as they look to win the trophy on European soil for the first time in 25 years.

Course director Paul Armitage, watching the Americans at the Albatros course during a Ryder Cup practice session in mid-July, said the Europeans will have a head start at the September 28-30 contest.

“The Europeans know the course better. It’s a real advantage,” said Armitage.

He said that even three-time major champion Jordan Spieth was finding out the hard way and had hit two iron shots into the water in succession.

“There is only one way to play some holes and if you don’t know that, or don’t do that, holes like the famous (par-three) 16th will eat you,” he added.

US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk brought five US team hopefuls including two-time Masters winner Watson and Spieth over to France for a weekend ahead of the British Open.

Only two other Americans, Phil Mickelson and world number three Justin Thomas, have already played the course this season.

Furyk said they will share their knowledge with other potential team members who can’t make the trip before the Ryder Cup. AFP

MAHARLIKA Pilipinas Basketball League fans will be treated by Davao OccidentalCocolife Tigers in all of their scheduled games as part of the team’s commitment in the grassroots cage event organized by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Team owner Claudine Bautista of the Davao LGU, backed up by Cocolife president Elmo Nobleza, with FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan, said more than 20 motorcycles will be given away starting from the elimination round until the highest attainment of the team from Mindanao, bracketed at the Southern Division.

At last week’s game in Binan City in Laguna at the Alonte Sports Center, where the Tigers were edged by the Makati Skyscrapers, lady team owner Bautista drew the lucky number 374 of ticketholder Ener Mariano, who won a brand new Honda Wave 110 Alpha of Transcycle.

“This is part of our commitment to the basketball fans, making the MPBL a caring league of our own,” Bautista said.

Davao Cocolife, which ruled the preseason tournament held in Davao City, now sports a 2-2 win-loss record.

NCAA scribes elect officers

Filipino shuttler Mikaela Joy De Guzman in action during her girl’s singles elimination match against Indonesia in the ongoing 2018 ASEAN Schools Games.

Petron, F2 Logistics begin PSL title showdown THE country’s best club teams—Petron and F2 Logistics—lock horns in another epic clash for pride and supremacy when they open their Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference best-of-three finals duel today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Game 1 action erupts at 7 p.m. with both the Blaze Spikers and Cargo Movers putting everything on the line to clinch the title of this prestigious women’s tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

Prior to that, Smart-Army and Cignal collide at 4:15 p.m. for the bronze medal of this conference that also has Senoh, Mikasa, Mueller, Asics and Grand

Games Today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 4:15 p.m. – Smart-Army vs Cignal 7:00 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petron

Sport as technical sponsors.

After surrendering the Grand Prix title to the Cargo Movers last year, the Blaze Spikers fired back and dominated their rivals in a thrilling duel in the import-flavored conference that was overflowing with intensity, action and drama never seen in any volleyball league in the country.

And now, they’re clashing in the finals again—for the fourth consecutive time.

“Definitely, it will be a great matchup,” said Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos, who enjoys a 2-1 edge over F2

Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus in their past three finals showdown.

“It all boils down to the heart of the players because both teams are good skill-wise and the coaches have their respective game plans.”

But Petron’s road to the crown is littered with setbacks as top hitter Frances Molina is tipped to see limited minutes after sustaining a shin injury.

This recurring injury, which Molina sustained when she was still playing for San Beda College in the NCAA, needs three to four weeks of rest and had barred her from joining the national team in its training in Japan on Aug. 5 and the 18th Asian Games starting Aug. 16.

“Ces [Molina] is hurt, but she’s ready to go,” said Delos Santos, lauding the fighting spirit of his prized ward.

Rivera puts Classique title on line

Coryn Rivera has been in scintillating form in 2018 and will be one of the favorites to win the Classique—the richest one-day race in women’s cycling—for the second year in a row.

DEFENDING champion Coryn Rivera will be back in the capital on Saturday 28 July to defend her Prudential RideLondon Classique title.

The Team Sunweb rider has been in scintillating form in 2018 and will be one of the favorites to win the Classique —the richest one-day race in women’s cycling—for the second year in a row.

But she will once again be up against the cream of the world’s female sprinting talent for the iconic circuit race in the heart of London which is the 16th round of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.

The 2016 winner Kirsten Wild (Wiggle High5), last year’s runner-up Lotta Lepisto (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling), Belgium speedster Jolien d’Hoore (Mitchelton-Scott) and 2016 world champion Amalie Dideriksen (Boels-Dolmans) will all also be on the starting line.

Rivera is a rider on a hot streak. She won the overall title at the OVO Energy Women’s Tour last month and followed

Manila uses 27-0 first-quarter assault to bury Cebu MANILA beat Cebu black and blue during Tuesday’s MPBL Datu Cup, even as Bacoor had its share of the spotlight by completing a comeback win at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Stars, supported by Robust Energy Capsule, ripped the Cebu Sharks, 107-76, in what was easily a lopsided match decided 10 minutes into the contest.

Manila held Cebu scoreless the entire first period, 27-0, and the team from the Queen City of the South couldn’t recover from there.

Staring at a frustrating 29-0 deficit,

Davao Cocolife gives away 1 motorbike every game

Cebu finally made it to the scoring column in the 9:05 mark of the second period, but the Casino Ethyl Alcoholbacked Sharks were not able to get their acts together and fell prey to the more superior game of the Stars.

Manila also posted a few more records—the most points by a winning team in MPBL history at 107 and dished out a league-best 37 assists.

The Stars displayed balanced production anchored on Aris Dionisio, the versatile forward, who finished with 19 points, the same output produced by ex-pro Riel

Cervantes. Drian Celada chipped in 14, while Kyles Lao and Vence Laude added 13 and 11, respectively.

Unlike Manila, Bacoor had to do it the hard way, coming form behind before completing a 90-86 win over home team Pasay.

Local fans of Pasay were anticipating a win from the first ever sports team assembled participating in a regional basketball event and for two quarters, they enjoyed every moment, seeing the Voyagers taking a commanding 53-34 lead at the turn.

that up by winning her first USA national title meaning she will be wearing the stars and stripes at this year’s Prudential RideLondon Classique.

The two riders who finished in second and third overall at this year’s Women’s Tour, WaowDeals Pro Cycling pair Marianne Vos and Dani Rowe, will also again be racing in London.

Multiple world champion Vos, who won the 2012 London Olympic road race in London, finished fourth in last year’s Classique, while Rowe will be hoping to lead a British charge which will also include Alice Barnes from Canyon SRAM Racing.

Also in the field is the world champion Chantal Blaak of Boels-Dolmans, Lisa Brennauer (Wiggle High5) who was third last year and two former winners, Barbara Guarischi (Team Virtu Cycling) who won in 2015 and Giorgia Bronzini (Cylance Pro Cycling) the victor in 2014.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

NORMAN Lee Benjamin Riego of ABSCBN Sports has been elected as the new president of the NCAA Press Corps, succeeding Cedelf Tupas of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Riego was the unanimous choice as the group’s new leader for scribes covering the beat, together with vice president Christian Jacinto of Spin.ph, secretary Randolph B. Leongson of Spin.ph, assistant secretary Peter Atencio of Manila Standard, treasurer Matthew Li of Tiebreaker Times, and auditor Yo Sarmenta of ESPN5, in the elections held Tuesday.

Appointed as board of directors were Joey Villar of the Philippine Star, Theodore Jurado of People’s Journal, and Marivic Awitan of Balita, with Tupas and Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph serving as advisers.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that FILINVEST LAND, INC. with office address at No. 79, Highway Hills, EDSA, Mandaluyong City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Futura Homes Zamboanga) with a capacity of 366 economic and low-cost units on a non-pioneer status, with project site located at Boalan, Zamboanga City.

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-JULY 26, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff Mandaluyong City

NOTICE OF HEARING Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing on the petition for Notarial Commission of ATTY. ERNESTO C. SAN JUAN will be held on July 30, 2018, at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the office of the Honorable Executive Judge, Session Hall of Branch 208, 2nd Floor, New Hall of Justice Building.

Any person who has any valid reason or cause to object to the grant of the petition may file with the undersigned before the date of the summary hearing a verified written opposition thereto.

Witness the Hon. Esteban A. Tacla, Jr., Executive Judge, this 20th day of July 2018 at Mandaluyong City.

(Sgd.) ATTY. ERWIN N. BARATA Clerk of Court VI (MStandard-July 26, 2018)

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CORPORATION 11-B Sunrise Drive. Brgy. Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Cubao, Quezon City

Notice of Stocksholders’ Meeting To All ERC Stockholders: Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Educational Resources Corporation shall be held on July 28, 2018; 12:00 noon at Marco Polo Hotel, Meralco Ave. San Antonio, Pasig City to take up the following matters.

1. Election of new directors for the incoming fiscal year; 2. Report of the President; and 3. Other relevant matters Please be guided accordingly (Sgd) Atty. LACANDOLA S. LEAÑO Corporate Secretary (MS-JULY 18 & 26, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

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THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

Manila Softbelles ready to defend title HEMET, CALIFORNIA—As part of its buildup for the 2018 PONY World Series 18-U Girls Softball Championships which kicked off today with an elaborate opening rites at the sprawling Diamond Valley Park, defending champion Team Manila–Philippines held a series of grueling training sessions at the Artesia Park in Cerritos, California before proceeding to this sunny and sizzling hot City in the Riverside County here.

The Big City softbelles, composed mainly of the finest 18-under batters from the UAAP 8–peat Champions Adamson University, is gearing up for its bid to defend the world crown it won in the 2017 edition of the prestigious PONY World Series.

Backed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), Team Manila–Philippines boasts of a youthful but experienced line up, with all members having played in the World Series and other major international competitions.

And to boost its powerhouse roster, five standout pitchers led by last year’s World Series best pitcher Alma Tauli, veterans Shirlette Maygay and Karen Nicole Chavez of Adamson, Glory Alonzo from the Domingo Lacson National High School in Negros Occidental, and the 15-year old heavy-hitting Alexandra Isabel Romero–Salas from the Maria Montessori Children School in Paranaque, will strut their wares in this year’s event.

Manila Softball President Engr.

Rafael “Che” Borromeo is upbeat of their chances of defending the crown in the event. “I think this is a well balanced and experienced team and I expect the girls to give a good account of themselves in this World Series,” said Borromeo.

Also expected to deliver are veteran catcher Aliza Pichon, shortstop Maria Angelu Gabriel, center fielder Khrisha Cantor, first baseman and outfielder Cleofe Magsayo, outfielder Alaiza Montejo Talisik, and second baseman Mary Joy Maguad of Adamson, as well as left fielder Jojielyn Lim and third baseman Madaelene Domaug from the Fortunato Halili National Agricultural School in Bulacan.

Blu Girls step up Tokyo games’ bid THE Philippine Blu Girls set out for the XVI WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship in Chiba, Japan in high spirits, upbeat of their chances against the best in the world in the elite event serving as a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation-sanctioned competition is one of the four exclusive international tournaments staking a berth in the XXXII Olympiad Olympiad among its members and affiliated national teams.

If Japan, already seeded in the 2020 Games as host, wins, the second placer will gain the coveted Olympic spot.

“The Blu Girls are the strongest national team ever assembled and they have shown it last year by consistently beating the Top 10 teams in the world,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier.

The Blu Girls hope to start and finish strong in the World Championship slated Aug. 2-12 and carry the momentum to the 2018 Asian Games for a crack at a podium finish. The Asiad will be held Aug. 18-Sept. 2 in Indonesia.

Making up the Blu Girls squad are Lorna Adorable, Cheska Altomonte, Mary Ann Antolihao, Dianne Arago, Layca Basa, Arlyn Bautista, Garie Blando, Shaira Damasing, Sky Eleazar, Reese Guevarra, Ezra Jalandoni, Sierra Lange, Mia Macapagal, Nicole Padasas, Celestine Palma, Racel Palumbres, Janet Rusha, Cristy Joy Roa, Chelsea Suitos, Angelie Ursabia, and Arianne Vallestero with coach Randy Dizer.

The 16 participating teams from five Olympic continents have been divided into two groups with the Philippines (No. 15) joining the top seed US side, No. 5 Chinese Taipei, No. 6 Puerto Rico, No. 7 Mexico, No. 8 the Netherlands, No. 11 New Zealand and No. 35 South Africa in Group A.

Sports There are key storylines to look out for when the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals unfold this Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum—the duel between SMB’s JuneMar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter, and the matchup between Beerman Renaldo Balkman and Gin King Justin Brownlee.

Marquee battles loom in PBA finals

By Peter Paul Duran

A

NOTHER titular affair between two powerhouse sister teams is in books as San Miguel Beer takes on Barangay Ginebra in a repeat of their finals’ clash since last year’s Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

The Grand Slam-seeking Beermen will look to repeat their 4-1 series triumph over the crowd favorites, while BGSM is keen on taking home a cup they have yet to win in this era.

But beyond what this marquee matchup promises on paper, there are key storylines to look out for when action unfolds at the Commissioner’s Cup Finals this Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kraken vs Godzilla Pundits, scribes, and basketballloving fans of any jersey color will get the chance to finally see two giants of

the league go head-to-head in a championship series as Greg Slaughter and JuneMar Fajardo relive their rivalry in a grand stage they last shared nearly a decade ago in Cebu.

“This is the first time we square off in the finals, and so it brings back good memories of our home in Cebu,” said Ginebra’s Slaughter after their 96-94 semifinal closeout of Rain or Shine.

The fit-again 7-footer had the chance to do so in the 2016-17 Philippine Cup, but an ACL injury forced him to sit out Ginebra’s finals trip against San Miguel Beer.

The last time he met the four-straight

league MVP in the finals was back in 2009 when Slaughter-led University of Visayas beat Fajardo’s University of Cebu in the Cesafi finals.

JB vs RB In contrast with the earlier example, Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee and SMB’s Renaldo Balkman have both hit the floor in the same finals series though in matching uniforms when the two imports carried the Tanduay Alab Pilipinas to an Asean Basketball league championship recently.

Both were former teammates and replacement imports. The two also carried their respective teams out of the cellars early in the conference to a finals’ appearance and everyone knows both want to bring their team to ultimate glory.

The similarities end, of course, when either of the two men finally lift the Commissioner’s Cup.

PH Youth Olympic bet on a roll

By Peter Atencio FILIPINO table netter Jann Mari Nayre, who is the country’s first-ever junior representative in the sport in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, won one of two golds the Philippines earned on the fourth day of the the 10th ASEAN Schools Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 18-year-old Nayre shocked rival Josh Chua Shao Han of Indonesia, 3-1, in their boys’ singles finals at the SJK Kong Hoe Hall of the Klang District in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Philippine Table Tennis Federation secretary-general Pong Ducanes said Nayre, who studies at Living Image Academy of SJDM Bulacan, came up with an impressive showing.

After getting past three of his rivals in the group stage, he got through the difficult quarterfinal and semifinal rounds as well, before outplaying Chua, 11-13, 13-11, 11-9, 11-9, for the gold.

In the semis, Nayre won over Javen Chan of Malaysia, 11-5, 12-10, 11-3, and

that’s after he hurdled Dominic Koh Song Jun of Singapore, 11-3, 119, 11-7, 11-8.

In the Group Stage, Nayre first won over Nguyen Duc Hieu, 11-6, 11-3, 118, before dropping Thailand’s Wattanchai Samranvong, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9.

To reach the quarterfinals, he had an 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 triumph over Chin Wei Jie of China.

Earlier, Palarong Pambansa standout Eliza Cuyom clocked 14.45 seconds to outrun rivals Liza Putri Ramandha of Indonesia and Halimatul Saadia Binti Mohammed Raja of Malaysia.

Ramandha and Raja had clockings of 14.76 and 15.52 seconds to settle for the silver and bronze, respectively.

Altas out to prove solid start no fluke Games today (EAC Gym, Manila) 2 p.m.- UPHSD vs EAC (jrs) 4 p.m.- UPHSD vs EAC (srs)

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta seeks to prove that its solid start was no fluke as it clashes with Emilio Aguinaldo College today in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the EAC Gym in Taft, Manila.

Edgar Charcos, a rookie transferee out of University of the East, has been exceptional in his first two games with the Altas as he averaged 20.5 points in a heartbreaking 65-67 defeat to the San Beda Lions and a 78-75 win over the Letran Knights.

Charcos, who took the full backcourt duties after veteran Kieth Pido was scratched out of the line-up for the whole season due to a broken foot, shone the brightest in the win over Letran as he posted a career-high 27 points with his NCAA career barely starting.

“He’s a big reason why we’re playing like this, I’m confident he could sustain it,” said Perpetual Help coach Frankie Lim of the sweet-shooting Charcos.

Charcos is currently second in the league in scoring behind 6’9” Cameroonian Hamadou Lamanou, who norms 24 points a game.

Although they won’t guard each other, Charcos and Laminou will somehow help try to slow each other down when they face off at 4 p.m.

While Charcos’ squad impressed, Laminou’s Generals barely made heads turn after dropping their first two games.

EAC mentor Ariel Season said they need to finish strong to win games.

“If you’ve noticed, we’ve always finished badly. Now if we could somehow find a way to finish big, we’ll have a chance,” said Sison.

Eagle-spiked 64 propels Polnamin to 4-shot lead TAGAYTAY – Thai Pannapa Polnamin turned from dismal to superb in a matter of days, shooting an eagle-spiked eight-under 64 to seize a four-stroke lead and spoil Princess Superal’s hole-in-one feat and compatriot Ploychompoo Wirairungreung’s sustained charge in the rain-hit ICTSI Champion Tour at Tagaytay Midlands here.

Polnamin actually extended her run of poor form following a tied for last finish in last week’s weathershortened ICTSI Champion Tour at Manila Southwoods ruled by Wirairungreung, bogeying the par-4 11th, the frontside of her game yesterday.

But she hit her stride off the tee and found her touch on the greens, coming through with back-to-back birdies from No. 13 and adding another on No. 16, all inside 10 feet.

The 22-year-old shotmaker then holed out with an eagle off a superb

3-wood second shot from 230 yards to within nine feet on the par-5 18th then capped her charge with four birdies in the first five holes at the front to complete a pair of 32s and build a big cushion over Superal, Wirairungreung and comebacking Tiranan Yoopan before play was halted due to threat of lightning.

“Driving and putting were great today (yesterday),” said Polnamin, who struggled with 74 and 75 at Southwoods’ Legends course and wound up joint 52nd last Thursday.

A slew of others pressed their bid after the 90-minute weather delay but all faltered, including last year’s Philippine Ladies Masters champion Renuka Suksukont, also of Thailand, who pulled within two on a four-birdie binge from No. 3 to go six-under but dropped to joint second with Superal and company with a double-bogey on her closing ninth hole for a 68.

From a mediocre one-birdie round marred by flubbed birdie putts after 16 holes to stay in the middle of the 104-player starting field, Superal also made a huge turnaround at the finish, acing No. 17 then birdying the last to turn in a bogey-free 68 – and back in contention.

“I knew I hit it straight and through.

The ball made one bounce then rolled for two feet into the cup,” said Superal, who used a Ping 6-iron and a Bridgestone Tour BX #3 ball on the 151-yard hole for her third career ace witnessed by flightmates Supakchaya Pattaranakrueng of Thailand and Taiwanese amateur Hou Yu-Sang.

But her ace and those of Wirairungreung’s equally impressive start of 34-34 and Yoopan’s 33-35 card took a backseat to Polnamin’s awesome start in the $75,000 event put up by ICTSI and serving as the final leg of the 11-stage Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

Pannapa Polnamin of Thailand makes a big turnaround with a near-impeccable 64

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

B1

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.4930

Japan

Yen

0.008994

0.4811

UK

Pound

1.314700

70.3272

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127447

6.8175

Switzerland

Franc

1.006543

53.8430

Canada

Dollar

0.760341

40.6729

Singapore

Dollar

0.733299

39.2264

Australia

Dollar

0.742000

39.6918

Bahrain

Dinar

2.644104

141.4411

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

14.2636

Brunei

Dollar

0.730620

39.0831

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029949

1.6021

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.5646

Euro

Euro

1.168800

62.5226

Korea

Won

0.000888

0.0475

China

Yuan

0.146970

7.8619

India

Rupee

0.014505

0.7759

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246124

13.1659

New Zealand

Dollar

0.679900

36.3699

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032672

1.7477

MSME WEEK CELEBRATION. Lazada Philippines, the country’s leading one-stop online shopping and selling destination, joins the Trade Department in its MSME Week 2018 activities in support of the growth of Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (center), poses with Lazada Philippines chief executive Ray Alimurung (second from right) and other business experts and panelists during the National MSME Summit in Clark, Pampanga. Alimurong encouraged the audience to maximize local opportunities and address needs of the Filipino consumers.

Source: PDS Bridge

IMF retains 6.7% growth forecast T

By Julito G. Rada

HE International Monetary Fund on Wednesday kept its 2018 growth forecast for the Philippines at 6.7 percent, but warned that rising inflation and external developments such as the trade tension between bigger economies may threaten sustained expansion.

“The Philippine economy is performing well. Real GDP [gross domestic product] grew 6.7 percent in 2017 and the team projects that this rate will be sustained in 2018 and 2019, underpinned by strong consumption and investment, including public investment,” IMF mis-

sion chief Luis Breuer said in a briefing at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

An IMF staff team led by Breuer visited Manila and Bohol from July 11 to 25.

“The medium-term economic outlook remains favorable, but short-term risks have risen. Real GDP growth is projected at just under 7 percent over the medium term. Inflation is projected to gradually fall to under 4 percent in 2019 and move toward 3 percent over time,” Breuer said.

Breuer said the country’s GDP was expected to expand 6.7 percent next year. The projection of 6.7 percent for 2019 represented a slight downward revision from the 6.8-percent estimate announced in a report in April.

“Growth for next year is probably unchanged. The adjustment is very minor [and] within the margin of error and it reflects what’s happening outside the Philippines,” Breuer said.

Breuer said the current account was projected to remain manageable, financed largely by foreign direct invest-

ment. He said downside risks stemmed mainly from rising inflation, continued rapid credit growth, higher US interest rates, stronger US dollar, volatile capital flows and trade tensions.

He said the IMF’s discussions focused on the need to support growth while safeguarding macroeconomic stability by adjusting policies and maintaining a healthy external position.

Breuer said the government should maintain a broadly unchanged fiscal deficit in 2018 and 2019― at around 2.4 percent of GDP―to support efforts to contain inflationary pressures.

He said rising tax revenues, including from tax reform and the reallocation of spending from non-priority programs could support expanding public investment

Japan investors adopt wait-and-see stance JAPANESE investors adopted a wait-and-see stance in the Philippines, pending the rationalization of tax incentives under the second package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

MUFG Bank Manila Branch general manager and country head Tatsudo Ishida said Japanese investors were waiting for the finalization of TRAIN 2, before making investment decisions in economic zones.

“The number of Japanese companies in economic zones is decreasing a little bit because they are waiting for the discussion on TRAIN 2. They are on wait-andsee for a while,” Ishida said.

“But existing companies in economic zones are very profitable,

stable and are doing very well.

Existing companies are very good and new investors are just waiting. That is the general stance for now,” he said.

Ishida said it was important for the Philippines to remain attractive versus other markets in the region to attract Japanese investments.

The second package of the tax reform program aims to reduce the corporate income tax paid by some 95 percent of businesses, while rationalizing the fiscal incentives for deserving recipients that will contribute to national development and help generate pro-poor investments and jobs. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority currently provides tax holidays to locators in accredited economic zones.

Security bank and MUFG Bank, Japan’s largest bank, on Wednes-

day opened the 2nd Business Matching Fair between Japanese and Filipino businesses.

Security Bank president Alfonso Salcedo Jr. said both parties arranged a total of 224 business collaboration meetings to provide clients a venue to expand their network and customer base.

Salcedo said Japanese businesses were still bullish on the country’s high economic growth.

“Investors generally see the Philippines’ strong household spending, strong labor force and the so-called ‘demographic sweet spot’ as drivers for more foreign direct investments. Security Bank and MUFG are optimistic that businesses can capitalize on this positive economic outlook through the Business Matching Fair,” Salcedo said.

Isoc Infra submits bid for telco towers

IN BRIEF

Petronas also keen on LNG terminal

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ISOC Infrastructures Inc., a company led by a former co-founder of Megawide Constructions Corp., submitted an unsolicited proposal to the Department of Informations and Communications Technology to build common telecom towers for P100 billion in seven years.

“We are looking to build 25,000 towers nationwide in seven years for P100 billion,” Michael Cosiquien, chairman of ISOC Infra, told reporters in a news briefing Wednesday.

The company committed to invest about P20 billion in the first three years.

Consiquien said the unsolicited proposal aimed to provide solutions to upgrade telecom services through government initiatives. The company tapped OCK Vietnam Pte Ltd. as technical partner for the common tower project.

Jess Chua, president of ISOC Infra, said the tower-sharing model would be beneficial not only to the telco operators but also to the government, as the scheme would provide the necessary infrastructure to improve the country’s communication channels. Darwin G. Amojelar

Finance, Senate set to discuss TRAIN 2

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said he will discuss the second package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and

Inclusion law with the Senate leadership, following reports that some senators are lukewarm to the proposal.

“Really?... I will talk to the leadership of the Senate,” Dominguez said Wednesday in response to a query.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri was earlier quoted as saying that no senator wanted to endorse the proposed package 2 of the Train law.

Zubiri said one of the reasons lawmakers were lukewarm to support the tax measure was the possibility that hundreds of thousands of individuals might lose their jobs if the fiscal incentives currently enjoyed by a number of industries were removed.

Dominguez expressed confidence that the timetable set by President Rodrigo Duterte for the submission to Congress of all comprehensive tax reform packages by end-July would be met.

Dominguez said the Finance Department would extend all the technical support that the Congress needed to heed the president’s call for the passage of package two this year.

“The DoF commits itself to the President’s stated deadline. Tax reform will bring about growth with equity and heightened productivity that will help us attain our aspiration to be a high middle-income country by 2022, lifting one million Filipinos from poverty every year,” Dominguez said. Julito G. Rada

MALAYSIAN company Petroliam Nasional Bhd or Petronas has joined the increasing number of local and foreign investors interested in the country’s emerging liquefied natural gas industry.

“Petronas has expressed interest [in LNG] and possible partner of PNOC [Philippine National Oil Co.],” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Petronas, established in 1974, is Malaysia’s fully integrated oil and gas multinational corporation.

The Department of Energy and stateowned PNOC were looking for investors in the country’s $2-billion integrated LNG hub.

PNOC expects to select its joint venture partner for the facility within the year.

“We are still in the process of evaluating the unsolicited proposals with ADB [Asian Development Bank]. We are strongly hoping to find our partner for the LNG project soon,” Jannefer Pelayo, PNOC head executive assistant/chief of staff, said earlier.

PNOC already received seven unsolicited offers from Korea Electric Power Co., Lloyds Energy Group, China National Offshore Oil Corp., Energy World Corp., First Gen Corp., PT. Jaya Samudra Karunia and PT PGN LNG Indonesia/PT Bosowa Corporindo with local partner MOF Corp.

Alena Mae S. Flores

at a pace that protects stability while sustaining strong growth.

Breuer also supported the further tightening of monetary policy to anchor inflation expectations, conditional on domestic and external developments.

He said the BSP’s recent decisions to increase the policy rate twice were appropriate.

PCC clears 3 mergers, acquisitions

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Competition Commission said Wednesday it approved three merger and acquisition transactions in real estate, housing and manufacturing sectors.

PCC, in three separate decisions dated July 24, cleared the acquisition

by Alveo Land Corp. of properties of Antel Land Holdings Inc. in Makati City; the joint venture between Century Properties Group Inc. and Mitsubishi Corp.; and the acquisition of additional shares in Toyota Autoparts Philippines Inc. by Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. Alveo earlier sought PCC’s approval to acquire Antel’s 1.3-hectare land and assets, including A.Venue Mall, in Makati City.

The commission said the transaction was not expected to result in substantial lessening of competition in the market for medium-cost residential condominiums in Makati and Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

The review also found that there were sufficient number of competitors in the market and that there was no ability nor incentive for Alveo to foreclose the property to be acquired.

PCC said that for the Century Property-Mitsubishi joint venture, the two companies agreed to engage in the development, construction and sale of residential properties on parcels of land in Tanza, Cavite.

The parties stand to invest through the purchase and subscription of shares in a new company, reported as PHirst Park Homes.

PCC said there were no concerns on competition in this transaction because of the numerous companies that are engaged in the residential real estate development within the identified geographic market.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rally; Bloomberry advances

T

HE stock market rose Wednesday to push the benchmark index back to the 7,500-point mark, with select blue chips leading the rally.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 66.98 points, or 0.9 percent, to 7,514 on a hefty value turnover of P6.9 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 125 to 72, with 46 issues unchanged.

Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. jumped 10.6 percent to P11.06, while BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 4.7 percent to P135.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, power generation and hospitals, gained 4.2 percent to P4.70, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 3.6 percent to

P40.50.

The rest of Asian stocks made modest gains Wednesday, after a batch of generally solid US earnings and news of China’s stimulus plans helped drive markets up.

Beijing on Tuesday signaled that it would shift to a looser fiscal policy in a bid to protect the world’s second largest economy from the impact of an escalating trade row with Washington.

The announcement sent Shanghai’s main stock index up 1.6 percent on Tuesday, while the yuan hit a 13-month low versus the US dollar.

Shanghai’s rally stalled Wednesday, with the market edging down 0.1 percent. But Hong Kong and Singapore jumped one percent while Tokyo rose 0.5 percent.

The mixed movements in markets came as analysts warned that investors were still weighing the implications of

cent since Trump announced his first round of tariffs in March,” Innes added.

In what appeared to be the first acknowledgement that Trump’s aggressive trade strategy was hurting ordinary Americans, the US government on Tuesday announced $12 billion in aid for farmers who have been the primary targets of retaliatory measures.

But the US leader showed no sign of backing down on his approach, tweeting: “Tariffs are the greatest!”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who was on his way to Washington on Wednesday to meet Trump in a bid to prevent an escalation of tariffs, said he was “not very optimistic” about the outcome.

“I know Mr Trump pretty well. I have met him frequently and know how to deal with him and know how he deals with others. We will negotiate as equals,” Juncker told German public broadcaster ZDF. With AFP

the spat between Washington and its main trading partners including China and the European Union.

In addition to slapping hefty import taxes on steel and aluminum from the EU, Canada and Mexico, Trump has imposed 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese products, drawing a retaliatory response from Beijing.

Washington has since threatened tariffs on another $200 billion of Chinese goods.

“While investors remain upbeat about earnings and the US economy, it’s increasingly challenging to stay optimistic given all the negative geopolitical news flows all the while staring at the possibility of US followthrough with another 200 billion (in) tariffs late August,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at Oanda trading group.

“The price of US soybeans, meanwhile, has dropped roughly 20 per

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.5 96.05 2.76 129.8 1.49 33.15 6.7 16.46 14.6 3.47 1.52 0.54 73.05 1.03 11.88 47.5 187 87.9 28.75 204 1,871 84

60 101 2.77 136.8 1.5 33.25 6.7 16.46 14.64 3.61 1.65 0.54 74.1 1.06 11.9 48.45 187.8 88 28.8 206.6 1,871 84.05

59 96.05 2.75 129.8 1.48 33.1 6.7 16.46 14.48 3.46 1.52 0.53 73.05 1.01 11.88 47.5 187 87.9 28.7 202.8 1,866 84

FINANCIALS 60 30,620 98.8 2,941,400 2.75 36,000 135 2,985,530 1.5 79,000 33.1 90,900 6.7 100 16.46 100 14.5 1,674,400 3.59 177,000 1.62 152,000 0.54 107,000 73.5 7,068,200 1.05 418,000 11.9 3,900 48 20,700 187.8 70 88 120 28.8 38,500 203 398,500 1,866 320 84 1,160

1,821,413.50 292,489,235 99,290 401,499,160 118,080 3,015,255 670 1,646 24,367,072 624,260 240,490 56,920 520,017,017 428,890 46,336 993,620 13,106 10,550 1,107,045 81,412,134 598,415 97,441

1,332,157.50 28,658,127.50 204,681,507 -361,305 -6,540,528 -37,929,579.50 0 -792,255 -30,456,630 187,000 -3,360.50

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

36.8 15.8 0.77 1.18 0.26 102 3.45 15.64 38.95 22 52 67.45 77.25 1.85 7.58 10.2 15.8 10.76 7.29 5.1 15.7 62.9 23.7 7.4 13.08 2.5 251 5.02 3.32 13.9 26.3 12.62 18.78 370 0.181 6.8 2.26 4.11 8.79 5.5 1.21 11.7 55.5 6.21 4.7 2.24 1.8 13.54 68.5 5.3 1.28 131.1 2.51 2.55 21 1.48

36.85 15.8 0.82 1.18 0.26 102 3.53 16 39.65 22 52 67.45 77.25 1.86 7.58 10.34 15.9 10.86 7.32 5.1 15.78 62.9 24.45 7.4 14.08 2.53 254 5.05 3.32 13.9 26.65 12.62 19.2 375.2 0.189 6.8 2.26 4.17 8.8 5.69 1.21 12 55.5 6.89 4.75 2.56 1.87 13.64 68.55 5.32 1.45 132.3 2.51 2.61 21 1.58

35.15 15.4 0.76 1.13 0.241 102 3.37 15.64 38.35 22 51.95 66.65 77.25 1.83 7.5 10.2 15.72 10.7 7.27 5.07 14.8 61.65 23.7 7.3 13.08 2.45 251 5.02 3.29 13.8 26.3 12.2 18.78 369.6 0.181 6.75 2.25 4.11 8.67 5.5 1.2 11.68 55 6 4.66 2.24 1.8 13.5 67.4 5.28 1.22 128.9 2.51 2.53 21 1.48

INDUSTRIAL 35.15 1,179,600 15.68 383,200 0.8 5,782,000 1.17 2,435,000 0.244 10,980,000 102 50 3.47 5,356,000 16 23,100 39 386,900 22 1,000 51.95 2,630 66.65 2,600 77.25 10 1.83 36,000 7.5 55,300 10.3 2,206,400 15.9 2,888,200 10.7 52,800 7.31 59,400 5.09 2,717,200 14.8 361,800 61.85 13,000 24.45 23,600 7.3 61,400 13.88 2,249,600 2.5 2,314,000 251.2 207,290 5.05 2,100 3.31 18,000 13.8 7,900 26.55 228,200 12.22 364,800 18.98 1,088,900 373 401,250 0.189 370,000 6.8 8,400 2.25 6,000 4.17 129,000 8.67 1,702,800 5.65 175,700 1.2 280,000 12 82,700 55.4 283,250 6 262,800 4.74 246,000 2.55 1,143,000 1.82 743,000 13.64 69,800 68 243,610 5.3 208,000 1.22 13,529,000 128.9 773,790 2.51 1,000 2.6 7,298,000 21 1,900 1.54 7,489,000

42,762,955 5,991,758 4,577,430 2,771,280 2,721,290 5,100 18,533,740 368,502 15,147,375 22,000 136,728.50 174,328.50 772.5 66,460 415,344 22,685,808 45,853,314 571,094 433,553 13,834,337 5,469,332 806,083.50 566,350 449,854 30,987,524 5,782,650 52,267,952 10,602 59,430 109,070 6,058,530 4,522,614 20,750,582 149,779,688 67,150 56,863 13,550 535,020 14,886,003 986,612 336,210 982,604 15,675,562.50 1,614,536 1,165,020 2,827,010 1,364,690 946,608 16,575,030 1,102,104 17,969,180 101,262,171 2,510 18,873,750 39,900 11,554,740

375,785 -72,784 -156,460 -7,500 4,356,700 -113,268 -43,530 -104,000 -310,074 -10,711,902.00 -238,500 -39,421 -11,838,298.00 -885,856 -52,934 -399,910 4,103,314 87,250 -10,022,488 -13,240 -5,862,660 64,106 -1,565,448 2,154,170 -13,550 -352,850 -1,749,783.00 16,740 -100,680 -3,196,891.50 -248,772 4,680 -162,480 -3,609,536 29,180.00 -204,120 59,291,776 -522,790.00 -18,490

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

0.249 53.2 11.84 6.1 32.4 0.79 0.81 955.5 6.2 11.38 7.26 975 5.98 53 0.63 3.85 17 0.68 4.58 0.038 1.34 2.75 136.5 901.5 1.58 259.8 0.34 0.228

0.249 53.3 12.12 6.1 32.4 0.79 0.81 980 6.24 11.48 7.26 998 6 53.6 0.63 3.85 17.2 0.72 4.81 0.039 1.35 2.84 136.8 950 1.6 261 0.35 0.228

0.244 51.9 11.8 6.1 30.5 0.75 0.76 953.5 6.11 11.28 7.1 965.5 5.97 52.4 0.58 3.75 16.96 0.67 4.55 0.038 1.31 2.75 135.2 901.5 1.58 258 0.34 0.228

HOLDING FIRMS 0.245 520,000 52.2 1,133,620 11.94 14,544,800 6.1 1,600 30.6 219,800 0.77 23,368,000 0.79 9,137,000 964 407,050 6.14 168,300 11.32 6,371,100 7.2 23,000 969.5 169,390 6 91,000 53 1,721,630 0.58 526,000 3.75 5,208,000 17.14 6,937,700 0.7 23,390,000 4.7 42,025,000 0.038 2,700,000 1.33 333,000 2.83 1,044,000 136.5 214,340 933 499,770 1.6 309,000 261 3,380 0.345 9,080,000 0.228 130,000

128,440 59,689,746.50 173,496,064 9,760 6,799,390 17,945,250 7,148,390 393,908,955 1,034,682 72,220,912 163,730 166,275,265 543,970 91,435,505 308,270 19,694,700 118,869,134 16,409,360 198,275,130 102,700 438,560 2,934,060 29,199,540 466,287,555 488,940 878,918 3,100,300 29,640

-17,400,269.50 -110,530,506 346,075 2,810,730 -38,056,260 295,221 -12,400,224 26,103,455 4,704,231 -762,170 -88,496,200 -3,938,150 39,822,490 -100 -4,876,988 211,035,270 -

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

7.68 0.98 14.8 1.95 0.72 39.1 3.2 4.63 5.85 5.82 0.43 0.91 0.96 0.218 0.41 8.88 26.15 0.6 0.119 1.44 1.24 1.48 4.7 0.59 0.44 0.51 3.55 30 19.5 2.04

7.68 0.98 14.8 1.95 0.73 41 3.29 4.63 5.85 5.82 0.43 0.96 0.98 0.223 0.41 9.38 26.95 0.6 0.119 1.45 1.26 1.5 4.85 0.6 0.445 0.51 3.58 30 19.6 2.06

7.6 0.96 14.2 1.9 0.72 39.1 3.18 4.52 5.77 5.82 0.425 0.91 0.95 0.218 0.395 8.88 25.95 0.59 0.119 1.43 1.24 1.46 4.69 0.58 0.435 0.5 3.51 30 18.98 2.04

543,585 977,830 123,868 27,140 45,370 857,054,445 4,042,770 1,576,750 5,227 17,460 3,852,550 383,520 481,620 2,160,330 166,050 12,528,400 26,948,680 866,170 1,190 15,613,710 1,992,160 8,362,090 117,898,020 8,408,330 1,138,100 1,075,360 2,086,430 15,000 33,145,358 315,080

-80,310 154,180,190 -2,431,500 -1,356,000.00 221,880 -118,500 -8,861 -4,328,940 -247,800 -11,534,970 12,500 1,334,010 12,921,580 12,760 194,970 -8,611,488 42,840

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

3.28 37 1.14 7.65 5.92

3.28 37.55 1.14 7.65 6

3.26 36.3 1.12 7.39 5.91

3.26 36.3 1.14 7.45 5.95

37,000 7,759,300 976,000 330,500 2,116,900

120,730 287,451,475 1,099,460 2,459,616 12,604,660

-26,422,570 108,721 -2,312,572

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

14.3 22.45 0.48 0.044 13.3 5.01 10.08 0.062 70 8.55 7.23 7 29.5 915 1,780 5.41 277.8 12.64 3.51 2.12 80.1 13.78 7.89 0.136 2.91 3.42 14.74 4.25 1.05 24 4.4 6.45 2.72 2.05 1.98 17.06 9.22 11.02 8.66 3.25 119 5.58 1,340 0.94 0.36 44.7 83 8.4 1.93 1.12 0.54 5.06 0.74 11.64

14.3 22.6 0.48 0.046 13.54 5.01 11.12 0.063 70.8 8.55 7.3 7 29.5 915 1,800 5.42 279 12.64 3.6 2.12 82.8 13.78 7.89 0.139 2.91 3.67 14.74 4.36 1.05 25.25 4.49 7.12 2.72 2.05 1.98 17.74 9.4 11.1 8.66 3.25 121 5.88 1,395 0.98 0.36 46 85 8.7 1.98 1.13 0.55 5.33 0.76 11.9

14.1 22.45 0.475 0.044 13.3 5.01 10.08 0.058 69.95 8.55 7.2 6.75 27.5 910 1,780 5.39 270 12.6 3.51 2.11 80.1 13.6 7.89 0.136 2.77 3.42 14.74 4.24 1.03 23.9 4.3 6.45 2.64 1.98 1.76 17.06 9.12 11.02 8.66 3.25 115.5 5.58 1,338 0.93 0.345 44.4 81.1 8.4 1.93 1.11 0.53 5.06 0.74 11.64

SERVICES 14.3 22.5 0.475 0.046 13.54 5.01 11.06 0.058 70.1 8.55 7.28 6.75 27.95 910 1,780 5.4 279 12.6 3.6 2.12 82.3 13.7 7.89 0.138 2.77 3.65 14.74 4.36 1.03 24.65 4.49 7.05 2.68 2.02 1.9 17.74 9.21 11.1 8.66 3.25 115.5 5.82 1,342 0.97 0.36 45.6 81.1 8.53 1.95 1.13 0.53 5.3 0.74 11.78

10,100 46,500 1,210,000 16,800,000 31,800 16,000 25,958,700 95,540,000 665,200 1,900 1,646,100 7,000 237,800 200 19,790 68,000 3,240 1,000 982,000 24,000 1,220,770 600 23,000 6,260,000 5,484,000 128,000 9,500 850,000 313,000 3,094,100 104,000 18,951,000 600,000 168,000 5,000 1,100 1,933,200 15,000 8,100 2,000 36,370 3,964,500 91,800 29,567,000 120,000 2,698,400 508,710 104,900 6,050,000 1,944,000 22,885,000 6,128,200 1,777,000 5,758,200

144,090 1,047,305 575,300 750,500 423,060 80,160 280,663,772 5,725,990 46,642,209 16,245 11,969,729 47,399 6,627,275 182,100 35,367,225 367,428 890,308 12,610 3,510,840 50,740 100,467,919 8,208 181,470 862,780 15,391,190 461,720 140,030 3,652,920 324,210 76,248,360 456,650 129,979,745 1,601,290 339,090 9,600 18,860 17,813,713 166,100 70,146 6,500 4,327,092 23,037,564 124,920,350 28,472,560 41,700 121,526,935 41,644,017.50 890,423 11,825,610 2,176,700 12,210,160 32,045,589 1,326,390 68,282,508

14,200 2,708 63,079,272 62,620 -9,305,905.50 -2,999,662 13,520 34,275 3,393,450 -5,520 461,910 -19,757,303 13,700 -209,480 -111,530 2,377,450 25,685,479 -18,710 -114,854 -528,745 49,500 12,173,700 -2,842,180 -36,744,080 -23,889,027 267,138 1,257,860 -1,271,000.00 -12,423,678 -300,690 -12,214,788

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

0.0025 1.47 3.9 20.55 1.7 1.93 0.3 7.61 2.1 0.218 0.125 0.126 0.0082 1.55 4.3 1.23 0.54 1.1 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.02 4.32 11.06 33.05

0.0026 1.47 3.94 21.6 1.7 1.94 0.315 7.61 2.14 0.227 0.126 0.127 0.0082 1.55 4.44 1.23 0.54 1.1 0.013 0.012 0.012 3.08 4.44 11.06 33.05

0.0025 1.44 3.9 20.55 1.6 1.89 0.3 7.26 2.09 0.218 0.123 0.126 0.0082 1.52 4.29 1.17 0.53 1.08 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.02 4.32 10.56 32.3

MINING & OIL 0.0026 20,000,000 1.44 848,000 3.9 144,000 20.6 10,400 1.6 15,000 1.94 981,000 0.315 290,000 7.55 300 2.11 65,236,000 0.227 560,000 0.124 1,930,000 0.127 510,000 0.0082 1,000,000 1.53 134,000 4.38 115,000 1.2 87,000 0.53 102,000 1.09 740,000 0.012 584,800,000 0.012 2,000,000 0.011 81,500,000 3.05 82,000 4.43 25,000 10.6 1,662,100 32.5 1,818,200

51,300 1,229,070 561,660 215,025 24,390 1,871,490 89,400 2,242 137,030,460 126,930 240,340 64,570 8,200 206,920 499,680 102,630 54,100 801,890 7,018,200 24,000 901,100 249,740 108,940 17,802,416 59,200,200

-31,240 -8,400 33,710 12,200 253,310 113,490 8,200 -42,650 11,800 -24,000 -8,640 614,592 -38,092,900.00

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

21.35 506 101.7 5.15 970 99.6 102.5 1,030 101.2 990 76.15 79.25 75.05 76.5 75.3 75.5 75.25

21.5 506 102 5.4 970 99.6 102.5 1,030 101.2 1,000 76.25 79.5 75.05 77 75.3 75.5 75.5

21.3 504 101.7 5.15 970 99.5 102.5 1,030 101.1 980 76 79.1 75.05 76.2 75.25 75.5 75

PREFERRED 21.5 11,200 504 380 101.9 10,300 5.34 46,400 970 1,920 99.5 10,000 102.5 10 1,030 150 101.2 3,700 1,000 17,000 76 289,910 79.5 14,060 75.05 52,660 76.2 36,570 75.25 41,000 75.5 62,990 75.5 52,770

240,180 191,880 1,049,190 245,714 1,862,400 995,100 1,025 154,500 374,130 16,685,100 22,033,212.50 1,112,192 3,952,133 2,798,105 3,087,250 4,755,745 3,961,215

-21,385 -54,936 497,500 -1,025 -

LR WARRANT

2.55

2.7

2.5

WARRANTS 2.7 1,195,000

3,123,630

-

5,769,639 1,955,820

-41,214 -63,800

1,686,828

112,000

MS

PROPERTY 7.67 0.96 14.56 1.9 0.73 40.5 3.23 4.52 5.77 5.82 0.43 0.96 0.98 0.22 0.395 9.15 25.95 0.59 0.119 1.44 1.25 1.49 4.8 0.58 0.435 0.51 3.58 30 18.98 2.06

71,100 1,011,000 8,700 14,000 63,000 21,175,500 1,249,000 348,000 900 3,000 8,960,000 420,000 504,000 9,820,000 420,000 1,366,600 1,029,000 1,468,000 10,000 10,842,000 1,593,000 5,632,000 24,641,000 14,426,000 2,610,000 2,141,000 589,000 500 1,709,500 154,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.2 3.2

5.3 3.2

5.1 3.17

FIRST METRO ETF

110.8

112.9

110.8

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.1 10.02

10.1 10.02

10 10.02

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

17,581,665

INDUSTRIAL

76,967,568

HOLDING FIRMS

150,886,309

PROPERTY

123,540,808

SERVICES

265,447,105

MINING & OIL

764,612,497

GRAND TOTAL

1,400,782,447

5.2 3.2

SME

1,117,500 613,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 112 15,080 DDS 10 10.02

4,470 2,500

44,897 25,050

-

VALUE 1,874.67 (up) 43.49 1,439,365,309.66 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,604.23 (down) 46.19 684,531,784.50 HOLDING FIRMS 7,350.45 (up) 74.67 1,891,661,412.81 PROPERTY 3,687.40 (up) 21.18 1,472.43 (up) 16.24 1,407,696,867.065 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,885.82 (down) 74.00 1,241,117,018.47 PSEI 7,514.00 (up) 66.98 228,507,803.128 All Shares Index 4,535.53 (up) 30.30 6,902,295,491.38 Gainers: 125; Losers: 72; Unchanged: 46; Total: 243

PLDT taps Asian firm as partner in Voyager

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. expects to seal a deal with a strategic investor from Asia for Voyager Innovations Inc. in the next few weeks.

“There are a few initiatives underway for Voyager so we hope something will happen in the next few weeks,” PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan said Wednesday.

Pangilinan declined to identify the prospective investor, adding it was based in Asia.

Pangilinan earlier said it was open to other partners for Voyager after receiving no word from Tencent Holdings Ltd., a Chinese multinational investment holding conglomerate.

Tencent is a leading provider of Internet value-added services in China with services that include social network, music, web portal,s e-commerce, mobile games, internet services, payment systems, smartphones and multiplayer online games.

Rival Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), a wholly-owned unit of Globe Capital Venture Holdings under Globe Telecom Inc. and Ayala Corp., earlier signed a strategic partnership with Ant Financial Services Group.

Ant Financial is an affiliate of Chinese billionaire Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group.

The Voyager Group focuses on digital customer engagement, digital marketing solutions, digital financial services and e-commerce platforms, as well as incubation of other new technologies.

Voyager posted revenues of P1.24 billion in 2017, up 70 percent from P728 million in 2016, due to the increase in PayMaya mobile payment transactions.

PayMaya recently teamed up with Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and grocery chain Super 8 to deploy its QRbased mobile payment.

In addition, PayMaya’s QR-based payment system has been deployed in some of the country’s biggest brands, including The SM Store, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Appliances and other Robinsons Retail Holdings brands.

City of Dreams registers slightly lower revenues

By Jenniffer B. Austria CITY of Dreams Manila, an integrated resort and casino being operated

by Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp., reported secondquarter revenues of $173.9 million, down 1.3 percent from $176.2 million in the same period last year.

Melco Resorts in a disclosure to the stock exchange attributed the decline in revenues to the adoption of a new revenue standard.

Adjusted EBITDA rose $87.3 million, up 39 percent from $62.8 million in the second quarter of 2017, due to better performance in all gaming segments.

Rolling chip volume totaled $3 billion in the second quarter, down 6.2 percent from $3.2 billion, while mass market table games increased to $196.9 million, up 16 percent from $169.8 million on year.

Gaming machines handle reached $855.9 million from $292.2 million a year ago.

Meanwhile, non-gaming revenue at the City of Dreams reached $29.2 million from $28.1 million a year ago as the average occupancy rate hit 98 percent.

Melco Resorts said in May its controlling shareholder was considering the sale of shares in the company to local partner Premium Leisure Corp. of the Sy family.

Melco Resorts said it was notified by its controlling shareholder that it had discussions with PLC “in relation to a potential transaction whereby PLC or its affiliated entities may become equity holders” of the company.

Premium Leisure, which owns the land where City of Dreams Manila sits, has an operating agreement with Melco Resorts that entitles the company to a share in gaming revenues for the use of land.

City of Dreams Manila, which opened in February 2, 2015, is an integrated casino resort on a 6.32-hectare property at the government-sponsored Entertainment City in Parañaque City.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

REHEARSAL.

Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian performs as Salome and German tenor Julian Pregardien as Narraboth during a dress rehearsal of Richard Strauss’ opera ‘Salome’ at the Felsenreitschule in Salzburg on July 24, 2018.

The Opera premieres at the Salzburg Festival on July 28, 2018.

AFP

HK, US airlines bend to China pressure over Taiwan listing HONG KONG―Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific and major American airlines moved to comply Wednesday with Beijing’s demand that they list Taiwan as part of China, sparking anger on the self-governed island.

Taiwan condemned what it called the “insolent actions” of Beijing, which it said was wielding its political and economic clout to pressure international firms.

“Taiwan’s existence in the international community is an objective fact. It will not disappear because of suppression by Chinese authorities,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said.

Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy but Beijing sees it as part of its territory, to be reunified by force if necessary, and is pushing to isolate the island on the international stage.

The Chinese Civil Aviation Administration sent a notice to dozens of airlines around the world in April asking them to adhere to Beijing’s standards, setting a deadline of Wednesday to make changes.

Cathay Pacific and subsidiary Cathay Dragon had previously listed Taiwan as its own entity, but as of Wednesday morning, the island was listed as “Taiwan, China” on both its English and

Chinese language websites.

Asked about the move, Cathay said its airlines were registered as part of “the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China”.

“We must comply with the regulations and requirements of the relevant civil aviation authorities,” it added in an emailed statement.

American Airlines spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said in an email to AFP: “Like other carriers, American is implementing changes to address China’s request. Air travel is global business, and we abide by the rules in countries where we operate.”

That comes despite the White House slamming China’s demands as “Orwellian nonsense” in May. Bloomberg News reported that four US carriers―American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines―planned to change their websites over the coming days, citing a source familiar with talks.

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines still mentioned “Taiwan” as an entity on parts of their websites Wednesday, but the name had been wiped from some searches. AFP

Rescuers scour scorched Greek towns

A

THENS―Rescue workers in Greece scoured charred homes and burned-out cars on Wednesday as the toll from some of the worst wildfires this century was expected to rise from at least 74 dead and 187 hurt.

Scores of locals and holidaymakers fled to the sea to try to escape the flames as they tore through towns near Athens stoked by 100-kilometer-per-hour wind gusts, devouring woodland and hundreds of buildings.

Greek media have described the disaster as a “national tragedy”, while Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras cut short a visit

to Bosnia and announced three days of national mourning.

The government has not yet said how many people are still missing from the fires, which broke out on Monday, as firefighters continue to battle blazes in some areas.

Terrified residents and tourists were overtaken by the flames in homes, on foot or in their cars. AFP photographers saw the burned bodies of people and dogs.

The charred bodies of 26 people, including small children, were discovered at a villa at the seaside resort of Mati, 40 kilometers northeast of Athens, rescuers said.

They were huddled together in small groups, “perhaps families, friends or strangers, entwined in a last attempt to protect themselves as they tried to reach the sea”, said rescuer Vassilis Andrio-

IN BRIEF 27 feared dead in jade mine landslide YANGON―At least 27 people are feared dead following a landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar, police said Wednesday, as heavy rain hampered the search for survivors.

The poorly-regulated and notoriously corrupt multi-billion-dollar industry in remote Kachin state is frequently hit by fatal disasters, and the victims often come from poor ethnic communities.

The latest disaster hit remote Set Mu sub-township early Tuesday following heavy rain in the area, burying at least 27 people, mostly from the impoverished ethnic Rawang group, local police officer Aung Zin Kyaw told AFP. “We haven’t found any dead bodies yet. We will search again today with the Red Cross and fire brigade,” he said.

With only about 70,000 members, the mainly-Christian Rawang are one of Myanmar’s smallest ethnic groups and live predominantly in the mountainous north, with many employed in the informal mining sector.

With few regulations and little oversight in the hugely profitable sector―mostly fueled by soaring Chinese demand―conditions are often dangerous, especially during the wet months. AFP

1.

Spain rescues nearly 500 migrants MADRID―Spanish rescue services said Tuesday they had plucked nearly 500 migrants from the Mediterranean in a single day who were trying to reach the country’s coast.

The Spanish Maritime Safety Agency said on Twitter that it had picked up a total of 484 people in 30 makeshift vessels in the Strait of Gibraltar and Alboran Sea, which separate Spain from Morocco.

According to a count by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), some 18,653 migrants reached Spanish shores between the beginning of the year and July 18.

They are mainly from sub-Saharan Africa―notably Guinea, Mali and Mauritania―as well as Morocco.

At least 294 migrants have died in their attempts to reach Spain this year, out of a total of 1,489 who died in the Mediterranean, according to IOM. In June Spain agreed to take in 630 migrants who arrived aboard three vessels, including the French NGO rescue ship Aquarius.

The Aquarius rescued the migrants off Libya’s coast on June 9 but Italy’s new populist government and Malta both refused to let it dock, triggering an international outcry before Spain stepped in to help. AFP

Some 187 people have been hospitalized, with 82 still being treated on Tuesday evening, including almost a dozen children, most of whom were in a “serious condition”, the fire services said.

Rain is forecast for the coming days, which will help efforts to douse the flames after temperatures topped 40C (104 Fahrenheit) on Monday.

Dramatic video footage showed people fleeing by car as the tourist-friendly Attica region declared a state of emergency.

Athanasia Oktapodi, whose home is surrounded by pine trees, said she first spotted the fire moving down the hill “and five or ten minutes later it was in my garden”.

“I ran out like a crazy person, got to the beach and put my head in the water.

Then the patrol boats came,” said the 60-year-old. AFP

INVITATION TO BID BOARD AND LODGING FOR THE CAPACITY BUILDING ON LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

INVITATION TO BID BOARD AND LODGING FOR THE ENHANCED SCHOOL HEADS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: FOUNDATION COURSE

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON, through the 2018 OSEC funds intends to apply the sum of One Million Eight Hundred Forty Thousand Pesos Only (Php1,840,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Board & Lodgingfor the Capacity Building on Learning and Development System. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON now invites bids for the Procurement of Board & Lodging for the Capacity Building on Learning and Development System. Delivery of the Services is expected for the Contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Interested bidders shall bid for all the Modules in a lot.

1,

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”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON (BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hour at 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON, through the 2018 HRTD funds intends to apply the sum of Twelve Million Three Hundred Sixty Nine Thousand Pesos Only (Php12,369,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Board & Lodging for the Enhanced-School Heads Development Program: Foundation Course. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

One lot composed of three (3) Modules: Module 1 ------------------372 pax x 7 days “x 1,750.00 Module 2 ------------------372 pax x 6 days x 1,750.00 Module 3 ------------------372 pax x 6 dyas x 1,750.00

2.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON now invites bids for the Procurement of Board & Lodging for the Enhanced-School Heads Development Program: Foundation Course. Delivery of the Services is expected for the Contract duration. Bidders should h~ve completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Interested bidders shall bid for all the Modules in a lot.

3.

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”.

(i) 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.

3.

ATTAPEU, Laos―Rescuers recovered 19 bodies and hundreds remain missing after a dam collapse swamped several villages in southern Laos, as survivors Wednesday questioned why they got little warning of the deluge.

Two South Korean contractors said they reported damage a day before parts of the Xe-Namnoy dam gave way Monday and unleashed a wall of water.

A Thai consular official, Chana Miencharoen, at the scene of the relief effort in Attepeu province told AFP 19 bodies had been recovered.

“Seventeen others are injured and in hospital,” he said, adding rooflevel floodwater was hampering rescue efforts.

In an update on Wednesday afternoon state-run Laos News Agency said hundreds of people remained unaccounted for, with at least 50 missing from the village of Ban Mai alone.

Footage on Laos television showed people huddled on roofs awaiting rescue as muddy water swirled menacingly just below them.

Questions began to emerge over the collapse, with some of the displaced saying they were warned to evacuate homes only hours before disaster struck.

“It happened quickly, we had little time to prepare ourselves,” Joo Hinla, 68, from one of the worst-hit villages of Ban Hin Lath, told AFP from a warehouse crammed with over 700 displaced people in a neighboring province.

“All of the houses in my village are under water. Four of my family are missing, we don’t know about their fate yet.”

Hundreds of other displaced people, including women, children and the elderly, sat on the floor nearby surrounded by plastic bags crammed with meager belongings.

Laos, poor but blessed with abundant natural resources, aims to become the “Battery of Asia” allowing dozens of foreign-funded dam projects across its network of rivers. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Education REGION IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2, Karangalan Village, Cainta, Rizal

Phase 1 ---September 4 - 6,2018 -------115 pax x 3 days Phase II -September 17 - 21,2018-----115 pax x 5 days

2.

19 bodies found after Laos dam collapse

Republic of the Philippines Department of Education REGION IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2, Karangalan Village, Cainta, Rizal

One lot composed of two Phases;

15 detained in China vaccine scandal BEIJING—Chinese authorities have arrested 15 people―including the chairwoman of a rabies vaccine producer under fire for fraudulent quality control in the country’s latest drug-safety scandal.

News that pharmaceutical manufacturer Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology had fabricated records and was ordered to cease production of rabies vaccines has revived deep consumer unease over product safety in the country, fueled by recurring scandals over the years.

Authorities in the northeastern city of Changchun, where the company is based, have arrested 15 people, including the company’s chairwoman, on “suspicion of criminal offenses”, city police announced late on Tuesday.

The announcement did not give the chairwoman’s full name but she has previously been identified as Gao Junfang.

The affair has shattered the already fragile trust in regulators and spotlighted the frustrations of China’s increasingly sophisticated consumers, who took to social media en masse to vent their anger over the case. AFP

poulos.

“Mati no longer exists,” said the mayor of nearby Rafina, Evangelos Bournous, adding that more than a thousand buildings and 300 cars had been damaged.

On Wednesday a blaze was threatening houses near the seaside town of Kineta, 25 kilometers west of Athens.

Dozens of firefighters were battling the flames aided by helicopters and planes dropping thousands of gallons of water.

A fire service official said that searches to find those missing from the fires would continue Wednesday, although there was still no official word on the number of people still unaccounted for.

The death toll is almost certain to surpass the 77 people who perished in blazes that ripped through the southern island of Evia in 2007.

B3

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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

4.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on July 23, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00) Only.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON (RAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hour at 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on July 23, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00) Only.

Note: (For lot procurement, the maximum fee for the Bidding Documents for each lot shall be based on its ABC, in accordance with the Guidelines issued by the GPPB; provided that the total fees for the Bidding Documents of all lots shall not exceed the maximum fee prescribed in the Guidelinesfor the sum of the ABC of all lots.).

Note: (For lot procurement, the maximum fee for the Bidding Documents for each lot shall be based on its ABC, in accordance with the Guidelines issued by the GPPB; provided that the total fees for the Bidding Documents of alJ lots shall not exceed the maximum fee prescribed in the Guidelinesfor the sum of the ABC of aIl lots.).

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

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

4.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 26, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. to be held at the Bulwagan ng Karangalan, DepEd IV -A, Cainta, Rizal which shall be open to prospective bidders.

5.

5.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 8, 2018 at 11:00 a.m .. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON will hold a Pre-Bid Conference2 on July 26,2018 at 10:00 a.m. to be held at the Bulwagan ng Karangalan, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

6.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 8, 2018 at 10::00 a.m.. 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 August 8, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bulwagan ng Karangalan. 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.

Bid opening shall be on August 8, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at the Bulwagan ng Karangalan 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.

6.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON 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.

7.

For further information, please refer to:

10. For further information, please refer to:

Ann Geralyn T. Pelias DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal 6477487 & 6474914 www.depedcalabarzon.ph

Ann Geralyn T. Pelias DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal 6477487 & 6474914 www.depedcalabarzon.ph

9.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON 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.

(SGD.) FRANCIS CESAR B. BRINGAS BAC Chairperson 2

May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a Pre-Bid Conference.

(MS-JULY 26, 2018)

(SGD.) FRANCIS CESAR B. BRINGAS BAC Chairperson 2

May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a Pre-Bid Conference.

(MS-JULY 26, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

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thursday, july 26, 2018

LocaL government units

40 PWDs receive P10,000 aid from Manila city gov’t at leaSt 40 persons with disabilities in Manila have received P10,000 each from the city Government to help them start a sustainable source of income as part of the city’s celebration of PWDs Week.

Mayor Joseph estrada led the distribution of cash to PWDs from Manila’s six districts and baseco compound as part of his administration’s livelihood program for the marginalized sectors of the city. the Manila chief executive emphasized that livelihood assistance to the vulnerable sector, especially those coming from the city’s poorest districts, is a priority of his administration. livelihood projects approved by the city government are sari-sari store, shoes and bags repair shop, home baking, leche flan and peanut butter making, rice dealer, panciteria and cafe, accessories vending, e-load station, barbershop, t-shirt printing and toys or candy vending. estrada said the livelihood project was in support of the Department of labor and employment PWDs assistance program recently held at the bulwagang Villegas, Manila city Hall. the mayor was assisted by DoleManila Field office Director Ma. corazon M. Pepito and nanet tanyag, oIc of the Manila Department of Social Welfare.

During the ceremony, estrada said the city government strictly observes republic act 10524, rule no. 4, section 7, in hiring of at least one percent of the regular and non-regular workers reserved for PWDs. the mayor also said that in line with the implementation of ra 9442 or the Magna carta for Disabled Persons, social services are provided to give full support for the improvement of their total well-being and their integration into the mainstream of the society.

PWDs are likewise provided with disability IDs to avail of benefits and privileges provided by law, such as the 20 percent discount on medicines, restaurants, cinemas and other amenities and 5 percent discounts for grocery items and agricultural products.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (left) inspects equipment for search and rescue operations during the local DRRM Equipment Expo at Muntinlupa City Hall Quadrangle in Putatan. Fresnedi assures residents that the city government is equipped to respond to disasters and calamities and protect them in such times.

Munti Disaster Council, BFP hold DRRM Expo In celebratIon of national Disaster resilience Month, the local government of Muntinlupa hosted an expo and demonstration of equipment for Disaster risk reduction Management together with the local bureau of Fire Protection office and other emergency response team partners.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the opening ceremony of the DrrM equipment expo on Wednesday at the Muntinlupa city Hall Quadrangle in brgy. Putatan.

Selected vehicles and equipment for extrication activities, search and rescue for collapsed structures, firefighting efforts, and other operations were showcased in the event. these include a rescue ambulance with automated external Defibrillator, hydraulic cutters, drones, fiber boats, pneumatic light masts, and tools for high and low angle rescues.

Fresnedi noted that Muntinlupa is equipped to respond and rescue residents in times of disasters and calamities. other exhibitors who participated in the expo include bFP Muntinlupa, city Health office-Health emergency Medical Services, brgy. ayala alabang, brgy. bayanan, brgy. Poblacion, brgy. Putatan, brgy. tunasan, Kabalikat-civicom, volunteers from Sampaloc, Manila, the Philippine red cross, and suppliers of search and rescue equipment. the Muntinlupa city Disaster risk reduction and Management office also highlighted infomercials on disaster preparedness in the duration of the expo.

Muntinlupa recently pioneered the screening of disaster ads at local cinema and theater houses through city ordinance 17-708. the city council partnered with cinema house operators and owners of similar establishments to provide a free three to five minutes airtime of infomercials on disaster risk reduction.

Ceza beats ‘17 take on fintech

S

ta ana, cagayan—the cagayan economic Zone authority has earned P205.976 million from offshore financial technology or fintech firms in the second quarter of the year to raise its total revenues to P340.625 million as of the first half of 2018. this Q2 amount already exceeds its full 2017 income by 51.70 percent, ceza administrator and chief executive officer Secretary raul l. lambino said Wednesday. “the overwhelming interest by offshore firms in financial technology solutions and crypto currency trading wanting to locate at the cagayan Special economic Zone has surpassed all our expectations,” lambino said, adding inquiries about the ceza project are mounting every day.

“It’s only the end of the second quarter, and we have already exceeded our target for the entire 12 months of last year,” he added, referring to the P116.077-million increase over ceza’s 2017 income of P224.548 million, mostly from online gaming operations. lambino said the P205.976 million income from fintech firms planning to con-

duct offshore virtual currency exchange, initial coin offering, blockchain development, and financial technology solutions at the cagayan Special economic Zone and Freeport only cover their application and license fees as principal licensees.

He said ceza stands to earn P 3.6 billion from an initial batch of 25 principal licensees, including their investment commitment of US$1 million each but excluding the 0.1-percent shares from every transaction value generated from the offshore virtual currency exchange services. aside from giving ceza a new source of income, lambino said the fintech operations would initially create more than 20,000 new jobs for high-paying and highly skilled information technology employees, plus the needed highly technical and managerial positions.

He said 12 of the 17 fintech and oVc (offshore virtual currency) firms, led by

Golden Millennial Quickpay, have fully paid their application and license fees as Principal licensees. Five have paid their application fees and 19 more have already signed up with ceza, bringing to 39 the registry total. the first fintech and oVc principal licensees are Golden Millennial Quickpay, Ultra Precise Investment ltd. and liannet technology ltd., the latter setting a high-level marketing launch on thursday with participants from china, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia. lambino, who concurrently serves as Presidential adviser for northern luzon, said ceza would authorize principal licensees to operate in its designated offices in Metro Manila. but they will have to course all trading transactions of digital assets through lr Data, its accredited cyber park located in Sta. ana, cagayan.

He said the back offices of all Fintech firms will eventually be installed in Sta. ana after a two-year incubation period at a 10-hectare property that would be developed as a modern fintech hub that could rival the best in asia.

Contractor slams Puerto Princesa bid to take lots

Bacolod leaders warn vs social media ‘posers’ bacoloD cItY—top city officials here have warned bacolodnons to be wary of fake social media accounts using their names to deceive the public. bacolod city lone District rep. Greg Gasataya, Mayor evelio leonardia and Vice Mayor el cid Familiaran have been victimized by “posers” on Facebook.

Gasataya posted on his official personal account Greg Gasataya a screenshot of the fake fan page using his name.

“Warning! the page below is not my account. this is a fake one. Sugod na sila [they are starting to do it],” the lawmaker wrote on Sunday.

For his part, leonardia said in a separate interview he was also informed on Sunday about the latest fake Facebook page in his name, which has posts making him look funny and ridiculous.

“I’m sure that the purpose is to discredit me or to destroy me. I ask the people of bacolod not to believe these,” the mayor said on tuesday.

Screenshots of the fake “Mayor bing leonardia” account are posted on the Facebook page of the bacolod city Public Information office with hashtags “Fakeaccount,” “notrealMayorbing” and “Sabotage.” according to the bacolod city PIo, the mayor maintains two official sites on Facebook. these are the evelio “bing” leonardia, which is a fan page, and the bing leonardia, which is a personal account. PNA

others that have already paid the required fees are Formosa Financial Holdings, Sino-Phil economic Zone agency Development and Management corp., asia-Pacific Intl. ltd., Hongkong Yuen Shing-Hong ltd., tanzer Inc. and rare earth. on the list that have paid their applications are bitVentures Inc., rare earth asia technologies corp., I-Dragon Science Development corp., cr8tIV Solutions, Seryna coin Metrics Inc., and bcb Global trading corp. ltd.

Firms with pending applications include changwei Intl. co. ltd., IPe Global Pte. ltd., Hachiman technology Sdn. bhd., MX exchange Ventures, Superior tech. Pte. ltd., Madison blockchain Strategy Investment co. ltd., asia Pacific blockchain association; Pacific Strategic Investments ltd., Superangels Ventures ltd., anX Holdings ltd., northern orient resources Inc., Mobile Pole Position Pte. ltd., coinbundle, cSM corp., transGlobe Ventures ltd. Stepwyze llc, Paradigm technologies Unlimited Solutions corp. and St Union.

GROUNDBREAKING. The Social Security System led by its president and chief executive officer Emmanuel F. Dooc and provincial officials broke ground on the future site of the new SSS office in the Isabela capitol compound in Barangay Alibagu, Ilagan. Dooc shook hands with Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III (inset photo) for the donation of the 4,000 sq m lot. Photo also shows (inset, second row, left to right) Office of the Commission secretary senior vice president Santiago Dionisio R. Agdeppa, chief legal counsel and legal enforcement group senior vice president Voltaire P. Agas, Labor undersecretary Ciriaco A. Lagunsad III, branch evaluation services department manager III Gloria Cuisia, Isabela Provincial administrator lawyer Noel Manuel R. Lopez, Labor secretary and SSC commissioner Ex-Officio Member Silvestre H. Bello III, Isabela Vice Governor Antonio T. Albano, and members of Isabela provincial board.

Pateros biz gain OVP, Hapinoy aid

SPOTTING A FAKE. Bising Trading Ashitaba Tea owner Adela Ang demonstrates in a press conference in Quezon City the fake Ashitaba tea compared to her company’s products. Ang said she will file a case against the fake tea makers. Manny Palmero

oVer 50 residents of Pateros can now start a sari-sari store business as the office of the Vice President, in partnership wth Hapinoy, turned over P540,000 worth of seed capital to the new micro-entrepreneurs. this was after the new business owners completed a series of financial literacy workshops called “basiKaalaman” seminar at Pateros Municipal Hall from March until June this year.

Vice President leni robredo on Wednesday witnessed the turnover ceremony at the Pateros Municipal Hall with Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III, Vice Mayor Gerald German, and Hapinoy President Mark ruiz. the oVP provided seed capital worth P10,000 to 25 of the sari-sari store owners who participated in the

training. this was made possible through the oVP’s livelihood subsidy initiative last 2017. Meanwhile, Hapinoy and other donors gave P10,000 capital for each of the remaining 29 participants.

Pateros is one of the five areas under the office of the Vice President’s angat buhay program that will receive training from the oVP and other partner organizations. the financial literacy workshop will also be given to residents in caloocan city, Malabon city, Marikina city, Muntinlupa city and Pasay city—all among the pilot areas of the oVP’s Metro laylayan program.

In her remarks, robredo lauded the determination of 54 residents who successfully finished the training.

a ProMInent contractor has branded as “premature, illegal and oppressive” the Puerto Princesa city government’s plan to forcibly take over the city market and the terminal located in the city proper, presently in the contractor’s possession through a lease contract with the city government. lawyer Ferdinand topacio, representing areza cruz realty Development co. Inc., said that although the court of appeals may have invalidated the firm’s contract with the city government, “it does not automatically mean that the city of Puerto Princesa has the right to take possession of the property.”

“For one, the ruling of the ca is still the subject of a motion for reconsideration. What if the ca reverses itself, as it has done on so many occasions?” topacio said in a statement issued by areza cruz on Wednesday. topacio, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and local Government, said the issue in the case against the city government, which initially lost to the firm in the regional trial court of Puerto Princesa, “is only about the validity of the contract.”

“It is not about who is entitled to possession of the property, which is subject to a different set of procedures,” the areza cruz counsel said. “Under the law, one cannot dispossess another of any property by force without a court order to that effect. any such act will subject the perpetrators thereof to criminal, civil and administrative sanctions.” the city administrator of Puerto Princesa has announced several times that it would disarm the guards of the contractor and throw out the tenants after the ca rendered its decision in favor of the city, topacio said.

“Possession is nine-tenths of the law, as they say. We appeal to the city government not to escalate tensions and open the possibility of physical danger to the guards, staff and tenants of areza cruz by standing down and allowing the Supreme court to make a definitive ruling on the matter before taking any drastic action,” he added.

Life

Bernadette lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardlIFE

household

thursday, july 26, 2018

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Raising happy and healthy kids

FUN AND NURTURING. Proper nutrition and a nurturing environment, where children can play and learn, are vital factors in raising a

happy and healthy kid.

P

arents go through great lengths in giving their children the best. On top of every parent’s priorities is their kids’ happiness, the second—but just as important—is their health, especially during their formative years.

Children’s milk brand nestokid Four believes that food, such as milk, is just one of the key components to raise a happy and healthy child, hence it encourages parents to complement proper nutrition with nurturing environment where they can play, imagine, and bond with loved ones. the brand’s newest endorser and proud mommy of two, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco agrees, saying, “I learned from experience with amelia, that proper nutrition should go hand in hand with a happy home.”

“I really think it makes all the difference, lalo na ngayon na nakikita ko kung gaano siya ka-confident sa school at kung gaano kadali sa kanya makipagkaibigan. Daig pa ako sa pagiging Ms. Congeniality! (I really think it makes all the difference, especially now that I can see how confident she is at school and how easy it is for her to make friends. she’s better than me in being Ms. Congeniality!),” she enthuses. as the brand highlights proper nutrition, it emphasizes the importance of choosing the right milk. nestokid Four is specially formulated with L. Comfortis, a probiotic that helps strengthen tummies to provide better digestion and help in absorption of nutrients, making sure that kids get the nutrition they need during their growing-up years.

Moreover, it is packed with 24 vitamins and minerals among which are protein, vitamin a, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and DHa for overall growth and development. to exhibit the importance of combining proper nutrition with a fun and nurturing environment, nestokid Four staged the Grow Happy nation event at Midtown atrium of robinsons Place Manila on July 14-15 and at sM City Dasmariñas Cavite activity Center on July 21-22.

Parents and kids had fun learning about growing happy through four interesting interactive stations, namely: Laro (Play), which allowed kids to be physically active through a friendly game of ring toss; Likha (art), gave participants the freedom to express themselves through lines and colors; Musika (Music), challenged kids to a fun game of musical chairs with a twist, and nutrisyon (nutrition), which reminded parents about the importance of raising happy, healthy kids through a storytellNestokid Four endorser Melai Cantiveros-Francisco with daughter Amelia ing video. Mae Gianina Pascual

Enjoy watching your favorite programs in the latest innovative television that boasts superior picture and sound quality, among others.

Appliance installment deal HOMeOwners looking to get new appliances for their homes can choose from sM appliance Center’s wide range of products which are offered at 0 percent installment deals. there are innovative LeD televisions that provide superior quality, performance, and design from skyworth, samsung, and sony. the sM appliance Center also has energy-saving inverter air conditioners in window and split type orientations that refresh and renew the air in room from tCL, american Home, and Panasonic. also available in branches are high performance refrigerators from Condura, LG, and Panasonic that keep food always fresh and crisp, as well as freezer and refrigerator combinations that provide convenient access to fresh food for different seasons and special occasions. energy-saving washers with inverter technology are also available. the sM appliance Center also has compact, innovative kitchen appliances like Indesit Gas Oven that makes cooking family’s favorite meals healthier, faster, and more convenient; and the Breville smart Oven Pro—the first and only smart Oven in the Philippines with slow Cook Function. aside from home appliances, there are also mobile phones and other gadgets, such as samsung J7 Pro with 5.5-inch Full High Definition (FHD) screen. every customer who avails of any financing promo (0 percent interest installment or regular financing) through Home Credit at any participating sM

Condura 7.8-cu. ft. two-door refrigerator in red

appliance Center branch until July 31 entitles them to one raffle coupon and a chance to drive home one of 10 Honda wave 110 alpha spokes, or bring home one of the 30 new tCL appliances: window aircon, smart tV, or washing machine.

Go to www.smappliance.com for more information.

Update your kitchen with smart appliances available at SM Appliance Center.

Parents and their kids learn about growing happy at Nestokid Four’s interactive stations.

Life

C2

thursday, ju juLy 26, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

A ‘Citi’ for every community M

ore than 5,000 Citi Philippines employees, with their families and friends, marked recently the bank’s annual Global Community Day by doing various service activities in their local communities.

“Citi is committed to making a positive difference in the Philippines. Participation in our Global Community Day continues to grow every year and I’m proud to volunteer alongside more than 5,000 of my colleagues and members of their families,” said Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed.

This year, GCD volunteers took part in Brigada eskwela, an annual project of the Department of education to prepare public schools for a new school year. In five days, Citi volunteers painted classroom desks and chairs, cleaned schools, brought plants, and refurbished textbooks.

Volunteers also helped build and paint 10 homes and prepare for planting lots in Cavite; conducted workshops on career readiness, finance, and legal matters; donated clothes and toys, and

showed a movie for street children; and took part in the Freedom Walk to raise awareness of and respect for people with disabilities.

This year’s GCD partners were the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Gawad Kalinga, Bayan Academy, Childhope Philippines, habitat for humanity, GMA Kapuso Foundation, World Vision Foundation, and the Philippine Foundation for the rehabilitation of the Disabled.

Globally, more than 100,000 Citi volunteers from over 450 cities across 90 countries and territories participated in 1,400 service projects helping to address a range of community needs. Citi has contributed nearly four million hours of service to GCD projects in hundreds of cities since the initiative was launched in 2006.

Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed (center) with Global Community Day volunteers at the Upper Bicutan Elementary School in Taguig.

From left: Pasig City vice mayor Iyo Bernardo, Philippine Federation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled president Manuel Agcaoili, and Ahmed

Citi Asean and Philippines operations and technology head Abhijit Kumta (right) and Citi Asean and Japan finance and risk shared services head Jim McCue (left) join volunteers at the Gawad Kalinga Bayanihan Village in Cavite.

Bedroom in full bloom Luxury bed linen brand Sheridan launches a new collection inspired by nature and man-made landscapes, bringing to life masterful floral creations, shell patterns, geometric, and abstract shapes.

The brand pays homage to botanical wonders that have been digitally printed in Portugal, hand-painted in Sydney and, reinvented by its in-house team of artists.

Classic chintz pattern is updated in Petersen with its earthy tone and elegant self-stitched border, complete with vertical golden bands of decorative patterns for a more tailored appeal.

The Scandinavian influence is evident in Sontag, with floral bouquets drawn in pencil and brushed with watercolor, then scattered sparingly in the dove grey background for that clean, minimalist look.

From afar, Leabrooke looks like an animal print, but upon closer inspection it features a youthful forest with cornflower blooms and meandering pathways, transforming room into a whimsical wonderland.

romance is in the air with Amerell, which showcases the flowering Wisteria vine in its vivid purple hue in a natural background. The vines appear abundantly at the top of the quilt cover before diminishing softly at the bottom of the cover.

Though digitally printed in Portugal, the nuances of delicate line work and shadows amidst botanical flowers are not lost in the design Kingscote. hand-painted botanical wonders Zenflower and Circinus, also made in Portugal but designed exclusively for the Asian market, are Sheridan artists’ modern take on decorative exotic florals using bold and vibrant colors.

Although the collection has more floral influences, it does not lack a smattering of geometric and abstract designs.

The inspiration of Adelaide architecture can be seen in hentley, where marl threads were woven within the line work to give a soft textural handfeel to this geometric pattern depicting perspective and space. Meanwhile, the

aerial views of South Australia’s Barossa Valley is reinterpreted in watercolor in the abstract print Walkers.

Bridgewater is a twist on the classic stripe pattern by using graduating tonal colors and subtle texture. riverton features small stripes and geometric quilted face that reverses to a soft cotton chambray reilly design.

Stylized shell motif in various scales and patterns provide a visual feast in Asten, which boasts of intricate handiwork with meticulous details in gold and silver.

These designs showcase high quality and standards which is what Sheridan has been known for since 1967. Sheridan continues to provide innovative designs with distinct Australian style that is well crafted by its team of hard working artists and master weavers.

Sheridan’s showroom is at Level 4 Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City.

Its other outlets are at Rustan’s Makati, Alabang, and Cebu. For inquiries, call (02) 635-4928.

Include children in choosing recipes and preparing their school meals.

Back-to-school ‘baon’ tips There are creative ways parents can do to make their kid’s meals at school, not only healthy and delicious, but exciting, too.

Appliance brand Beko shares these tips on how to make sure children will eat their baon:

Plan ahead

Meal preparation is a great way to save time. By creating a timeline and assigning specific meals for the days ahead not only make cooking easier but also economical since it gives parents an overview of everything they need to prepare. It is better to have the kids around when choosing a recipe and to give them healthy options to choose from. Since they are the ones eating it, take their suggestions seriously—this will allow them to develop the habit of making choices on their own.

Make it simple

For kids, breakfast or lunch break is a great time to play. hence their meals should be easy to eat to avoid any chances of it being left untouched. Prepare dishes such as fried fish, chicken, or pork and include fruit or vegetable as their side dish.

Add a bit of fun

Make kids’ baon more fun by jazzing up the packaging. For example, a bento box is a good way to make them eat their foods. Cookie cutters can turn sandwich, fruits, and other foods, into

fun, exciting shapes. Doing this will allow also children to scarf down their meals easily.

Think small servings

Big portions can be overwhelming, especially for kids. Sometimes, an adult’s idea of the right serving is more than what a child needs. Cut the foods into small pieces to make them easier to eat. For example, instead of putting a whole apple, slice it into small cubes.

This way, wasted food can also be reduced.

Keep it safe and fresh

Food items such as meat, cheese, fish, and milk are likely to spoil when left out in heat. Consider using a thermal/ insulated lunch box to pack perishable foods. Insulated containers can also be used for soups or stew. By controlling the temperature of the food, helps minimize the chance of kids getting sick.

To keep foods in an optimal condition, consider Beko refrigerators. Its new age of NeoFrost Technology makes it easy for homeowners to keep produce fresh and safe. With two times faster cooling, the new age of NeoFrost helps retain the moisture for a longer time to keep the food as nutritious as when they were first bought. Its two separate cooling systems also help maintain the high humidity in the fridge, which keeps the freezer dry, frozen, and frost-free.

Visit www.beko.ph to know more about the brand and its products.

iphoto

The SM Store supports NRCE 2018

Sheridan’s new collection of bed linens features floral prints, geometric patterns, and other shapes inspired by nature and man-made landscapes.

The SM Store has signed up as Platinum Sponsor of the 25th edition of the National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo 2018 slated on August 9-10 at the SMX Convention Center Manila. The SM Store’s support will give the Philippine Retailers Association a major boost in its efforts to ensure the successful staging of the twoday NRCE 2018, with the theme “Future-Proofing Retail.” Photo shows PRA chairman Paul Santos (left), president of Picture City and PRA vice chair Lorenzo C. Formoso (right) sealing the agreement with a handshake with The SM Store senior vice president—Men’s Fashion Management Corporation Jeffrey Lo.

Entertainment Lady luck smiles on

KATHELYN DUPAYA

By Robbie Pangilinan MANY people know her now because of the estafa case filed against her by a popular businessman, and because of local celebrities accusing her of scamming them. Yet, in spite of this misfortune, Kathelyn Dupaya still considers herself “lucky.”

“Suwerte pa din ako kasi hindi ako iniiwan ng family at staff ko. I admit I am undergoing depression, but I have to stand up and fight,” says the woman who is known for bringing Filipino artists to Brunei.

Luck has always been on Kathy’s side – an article said she “may have an unlimited supply of four-leaf clovers.” The first time Kathy joined the lottery in Malaysia, she used the numbers from the plate of a vehicle that her child pointed to, and won P1 million.

Many of the appliance in her home were prize items from raffles. When she was down to her last 50 ringgit, she again joined the lucky draw and won P3 million. She joined once more, and won P10 million.

Her lucky streak seems to have rubbed off on her children, who played the winning numbers in Malaysia’s lottery in 2010, winning P33 million.

With their lucky money, the family was able to put up businesses both in Brunei and the Philippines. Kathy owns a beauty salon, spa, boutique, bakery, restaurants, an apartelle, UV Express units and a grocery store. She has seven companies in Brunei with 51 Filipino and 10 Indonesian workers.

But Kathy’s successes are only made sweeter because of the difficulties and challenges she has experienced in life.

Kathy was allegedly thrown into a garbage site in Iligan City at three months old. She was told her mother died giving birth to her and her father was too busy with his other women to care about his daughters. She and her older sister grew up under the care of their grandparents in Jolo, Sulu. At 9, Kathy sold banana que so she could have money for her baon and to buy materials for her school projects.

Kathy would not give up. Despite everything, she graduated cum laude with an office management degree.

After graduation, at 17, her uncle and aunt brought her to Manila. A Chinese couple helped her, and in only two weeks, she was already flying to Brunei.

Her first work in Brunei was as a waitress at Prisma Restaurant. During her free time, Kathy would wash the dirty clothes of the restaurant’s cooks who paid her monthly. On her three-hour breaks, she would clean the house of her boss for extra income.

After a while, her employers noticed that she was good in accounting so she was transferred to the office to do accounts. On her 18th birthday, it was the first time Kathy experienced having a birthday cake, care of her boss and coworkers. This is where she met Mariano, a Filipino working for the royal family’s electrical company.

“My first dance on my 18th birthday was my husband pero hindi ko siya kilala noon kaya nagtaka ako bakit nandoon siya sa party. Doon nag-start ang panliligaw. He was my only boyfriend,” says Kathy. They have seven children.

Kathy never forgot the people who loved her and raised her well: her grandparents.

“Ang wish ng lolo ko noon, magkaroon ng TV at ng lola ko, magkaroon ng refrigerator,” Kathy recalls. “Lahat

CONTROVERSIAL. Kathelyn Dupaya opens up to MS Entertainment and talks about her struggles and sweet milestones in life. ng pangarap ng grandparents ko, tinupad ko. Full salary at extra income ko pinadala ko sa kanila lahat,” shares Kathy.

In 1999, Kathy started a small business–lending money to OFWs and foreign workers in Brunei so they can put up small enterprises like phone recharging, prepaid cards, home appliance, and loans.

In 2010, Kathy built a company in the Philippines and rented out rooms in an apartelle and started her UV Express and grocery business. In Brunei, she opened a salon in 2010, a boutique in 2011, a restaurant in 2014, a bakery in 2015, and a spa in 2017.

She invited Filipino celebrities to come to Brunei to grace the opening of her businesses, attend her company’s annual dinner and the birthday parties of her children, and do meetand-greet sessions for Filipino fans. In 2015, Kathelyn’s life was featured in GMA’s Magpakailanman. Many other celebrities knew her, and she kept inviting them to visit Brunei.

Some of these celebrities have become her close friends. She even considers one of them her “BFF,” so she was truly heartbroken when this same celebrity started accusing her of business scams. Kathy also figured in a social media heated post about a beauty queen.

With the cases she is facing, Kathy has remained strong and determined. After all, it was her grit that brought her to where she is now.

Bravely, she accepts these challenges head on.

She thanks her supporters, many of whom she does not even know personally. As for her haters, Kathy has this to say: “Sa mga haters, salamat din sa inyo. Hindi ko kayo masisisi kasi mga idol ninyo ang kalaban ko at kung sa tingin ninyo tama sila, wala ako magagawa.”

Kathy adds, “Itong laban na ito, hindi ko susukuan. I promise to myself and to my family na papatunayan ko at lilinisin ko ang pangalan ko. Mahirap kasi mag-isa ako sa laban na ito at sila ay mabibigat na kalaban. Pero pinanghahawakan ko lang para malinis ang pangalan ko ay ang katibayan na binayad ko sa kanila lahat at sana sa laban na ito ay manaig ang katotohan,” Kathy says.

Through it all, Kathy sees this as a learning experience that will help build her character.

“Hindi ako mayaman, nakaahon lang ako sa kahirapan at kung ano ang mayroon ako ngayon ay dahil sa suwerte at sipag. Hindi ako perfect pero marami ako nagawang mabuti sa kapwa ko,” ends Kathy.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, July 26, 2018

ACROSS 1 Ships’ journals 5 Epic 9 Very important 14 Neutral shade 15 Lois of “Lois & Clark” 16 Accustom 17 It comes before Fri. 18 Hoople expletive 19 Rani’s garments 20 Garnet or ruby 21 Temperamental ones (2 wds.)

23 Foundlings 25 Unrefined metals 26 Mo. multiples 27 Establishes 29 Mild brew 32 Symbols of peace 35 One-liner 36 Targets 37 Birds of ill — 38 Cubed 39 Lose a toehold 40 Wynter or Andrews 41 Sorts 42 Makes eager 43 O’Hare’s code 44 Millinery 45 Winged insect 46 Poet’s black

48 Snow vehicle 52 Changes 56 Dazzle 57 Wedding-dress fabric 58 Common metal 59 Expedition 60 Sketch 61 Klondike — 62 Mean person 63 Height, to a cager 64 Prof.

65 — Harper of “Tender Mercies” DOWN 1 Release (2 wds.)

2 Yellow pigment 3 Cranky person 4 California’s Big — 5 Bow opposites 6 Sponsorship 7 Lab weight 8 Verdi masterpiece 9 Cap brims 10 Lacking sense 11 Subway gate 12 Libretto feature 13 Smaller amount 21 Golf scores 22 Was overfond 24 Safari sight 27 Argyles

28 Barely makes ends meet 30 Give off heat 31 Cobra’s kin 32 Extinct bird 33 Bradley or Sharif 34 Feuds 35 Spurn 36 What coals become 38 Moon goddess 42 Entanglements 44 Stinging insect 45 Infant’s wear

47 Light brown 48 Mukluks 49 Sweater size 50 Washstand items 51 Fakes out, on the rink 52 — Minor 53 Hasty escapes 54 Polynesian carving 55 Turkey’s neighbor 59 Little one

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

A

T THE Overlook Film Festival that celebrates all things horror, thriller/horror film Still/Born directed by Brandon Christensen won the “Scariest Film” upon its world premiere.

The movie tells the story of the perfectly happy life of newlyweds Mary (Christie Burke) and Jack (Jesse Moss) until they lose one of their twins at childbirth. The plot thickens when Mary develops psychosis after learning of a demon, “Lamashtu” who preys on newborns and their mothers.

“The amount of attachment that happens between a parent and child is beyond anything I’ve ever imagined, and the thought of losing one is incomprehensible.” Christensen shares his thoughts about the concept, “So how does it feel when you lose one twin that you never met, but at the same time, still have the other one perfectly healthy?”

After the nominations at the British Columbia award program Leo Awards for Black Fly (2014) and a role in Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2 (2012), Christie Burke plays a phenomenal Mary as she depicts the depth of the mind of a mother stuck between two worlds.

While four-time Leo-nominated and Best Male Lead in Canadian TV drama Whistler, Jesse Moss captures the audience as he represents the perspective of a man who witnesses the

In Brandon Christensen's horror film 'Still/Born,' Christie Burke plays a mother who fears that a demon is attempting to steal her newborn baby

‘SCARIEST FILM’ ‘STILL/BORN’ hits PH theaters

love of his life become someone he can no longer trust.

Also among the cast are Michael Ironside, Rebecca Olson, Sean Rogerson, and Grace Christensen. Written by Colin Minihan of The Vicious Brothers (Grave Encounters) and Brandon Christensen, Still/Born is rapidly becoming one of this year’s most compelling horror films. It debuted The Overlook Film Festival at horror’s most iconic hotel The Timberline Lodge and won “Scariest Film” of the fes-

tival in 2017.

According to Slashfilm, Still/Born “Elicited a genuine shriek from an audience member, a terrified, genuine cry of terror, the like of which I’ve never heard before during a screening.” while Frightday reviews, “Hits terrifying notes, splitting its time between effective jump scares and chronic paranoia and dread.”

Still/Born is coming out in Philippine theaters on Aug. 1 distributed by Cinescreen.

Nepomuceno, Zuniga take centerstage at Theater at Solaire MARTHA and the Vandellas chirped their way to stardom with these lines and even the late, great David Bowie and Mick Jagger injected a sensuality to it, “All we need is music, sweet music, there’ll be music everywhere,” adding to these lyrical truths, a spoonful of laughter, what produce do we get from such a combination?

For sure, you cannot help but wonder who will be the strong men capable of bringing a harvest of songs and guffaws?

Wonder no more, dear MS Entertainment readers, as Willie Nepomuceno and Nonoy Zuniga headline the perfect fusion and frenzy in Music and Laughter, which takes centerstage at the Theatre at Solaire on Saturday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m..

We get to watch the Foremost Balladeer and King of Impressionism by their lonesome, or with other artists. In this one-nightonly shindig under the direction of Joey Nombres, the Filipino performing icons are coming together with a promise to all of an exhilarating and enchanted evening filled with sweet music and rip-roaring laughter.

Balladeer Nonoy states, “It’s my first time to work with him in a show that is not in a corporate event. Masaya at masarap sa pakiramdam na we’re going to perform together.”

“Nonoy is a naturally funny guy,” Willie declares. “He has the ability to make people laugh without him being aware of it. He is witty and even in our private moments when we do corporate shows or performances abroad, we would exchange jokes, pati sarili

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO niya napagtatawanan niya, he is so down to earth and good natured.”

Willie carries on, “His songs appeal to all ages because their themes are universal. Of his many songs, I particularly fancy his ‘I’ll Never Ever Say Goodbye’ because everyone somehow passes through that sentimental episode in life.”

The difference of Music and Laughter is crystal, the balladeer says, “Most of the times we’re all singers in a show. We have solo spots and then we are grouped. This time, I’m sharing the stage with the master impressionist who is also a comedian. Perfect pa ang impersonation. Lahat halos yata, he can impersonate. Hindi lang mga tao, even inanimate objects. He truly is a genius.”

Willie’s take on what makes their show distinct, “It offers pleasant entertainment and engaging humor. It is a magical combi-

nation that allows us to be nostalgic of the good times, and hopeful of the future.”

Fresh and definitely exciting, this artistic collaboration Nonoy avers, “Of course, they will get to hear my hits, some songs from other artists like Don McLean and James Taylor which I truly love. For millennials, we have Ed Sheeran.”

On Willie’s end, “No political satires this time but what they will see are characters or people given life by me in real time situations.”

Willie and Nonoy are most vocal about their collective wish for more original Filipino compositions and songs for public consumption and appreciation. They wish that the government make new measures so that these new compositions will get the air time in radio stations.

Nonoy declares, “Kailangan ang support talaga para mag-flourish pa lalo ang OPM. Hindi lang Tagalog o English songs ang dapat naririnig sa radyo. It’s about time to open it up to other dialects.”

Willie concludes with an invitation, “See you at the Theatre at Solaire. Please give us your love and support. Be part of a communal experience that is Music and Laughter.

Yes, there is humor that pinches and punches and songs that bring happiness to all.”

Music and Laughter is produced by Grand Leisure Corporation. For tickets, log on to Ticketworld or call 891-9999.

OPM pillar Nonoy Zuniga (right) shares the stage with Willie Nepomoceno in a one-night-only performance.

Sign language interpreters aid Duterte’s SONA

PNASLI President John Baliza and Benilde SDEAS Dean Nicky Templo Perez for ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), and DZMM.

LOCAL news networks ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), GMA, TV5, and PTV4 recently tapped Filipino Sign Language (FSL) interpreters for the Third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

To be able to fully deliver the President’s speech to the country’s Deaf community, the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, together with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf and the Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI), lent the helping hands of its skilled and steadfast Deaf and hearing coordinators, partners, and associates to interpret the SONA through FSL. Sign Language interpreters include SDEAS Dean Nicky Templo-Perez and John Baliza for ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) and DZMM; Jojo Esposa and Joi Villareal for GMA; Jun Sevilla and Rjay Soriano Jr. for TV5; and Naty Natividad and Febe Sevilla for PTV 4.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

YUGEL LOSORATA

THE BAND

Sonic State built EVERYTHING that went behind the creation of a record can make or break a band. In the case of IV of Spades, the recording studio work has spurred success that so far amassed more than 50 million streams on Spotify for just five digital singles they have released under Warner Music. Their biggest hit, “Mundo”, now accounting for nearly 33 million.

Yes, that “Mundo” riff was created inside Sonic State Audio Studio, a well-known haven among Filipino artists aiming for high-standard records.

“We’re thankful the collaboration between IV of Spades and us worked out. We tried as much as possible to blend modern and vintage sounds to come up with something okay to all of us,” stated Not Vinzons, one of the studio’s resident recording and mixing engineers.

The band was recording their latest release, “In My Prison” when I witnessed Not grooving to the final result, a picture of that positive vibe felt when the boys known for donning colorful, retro fashion are in.

The song, with bassist Zild Benitez on lead vocals, establishes further the band’s penchant for disco played out in bold modernish strokes. Its official music video showcases the power trio’s tight grip on playful metaphor.

Guitarist Blaster Salonga, an Eat Bulaga Ultimate Music Hero titlist, and drummer Badjao De Castro are the two other key young men in the fold. IV of Spades won the Dreams Come True with Air Asia competition that enabled them, as part of the prize, to perform with the world-renowned David Foster.

“We are open to experimenting in the studio, and we’re doing it for the music and not for the ego,” Zild imparted.

Things are made easy with IV of Spades being technically gifted musicians. “These guys are very advanced compared to musicians their age,” observed another of Sonic State’s all-around recording expert Brian Lotho, “They’re skilled and embracing new ideas so as a team we push ourselves as long as we can.”

Winning the Myx New Artist and MYX Bandarito Performance of the Year only solidified their youth image.

Zild, whose mestizo looks is well-serving the band’s classy “tunog-foreign” output, commented, “We’re humbled by whatever the band has achieved so far. Things are unpredictable and we are being careful.”

Not added, “We saw the band’s potential right from the start and we here at Sonic State are happy to help shape their sound.”

At a quick glance Sonic State is basically constructed in the garage area of an ancestral house in Mandaluyong City where musicianowner Jonathan Ong grew up.

Ong is trained abroad and brought the change-the-game recording approach in the Philippines. A look at its track record proves there’s something magical going on when work is being done inside this home studio, having produced some of the biggest OPM hits of the past 15 years. Seemed like the ‘garage’ sound has taken a new, empowering lift under Sonic State’s care.

Good bands that come in here come out even better.

IV of Spades with Sonic State recording engineers

Life begins anew as ‘EAT BULAGA’ gears up for VERSION 4.0

Noontime show Eat Bulaga marks another milestone as it celebrates a year-long anniversary starting this Saturday.

Catriona Gray’s new task before taking on the Universe

VERY WANG

T

NICKIE WANG

HE notion that “life begins at forty” is passé and definitely just a state of mind but nevertheless there’s no other way to describe a person’s renewed vigor as he reaches middle age.

In the same sense, no other appropriate phrase to describe Eat Bulaga’s forthcoming 40th anniversary. In this incredible and historic milestone, the show doesn’t just leave a promise of new beginnings but also a commitment to continuously adapt to the ever changing TV landscape, specifically the digital revolution, all for the entertainment of its loyal and growing viewers.

Starting this Saturday, the longest running noontime variety program looks back at its humble beginnings and its 39-year journey that made it a staple lunchtime companion to millions of Filipinos worldwide.

Eat Bulaga’s SVP for Creatives and Operations Jeny Ferre said it’s going to be a simple, nostalgic and heartwarming celebration as they prepare for Eat Bulaga version 4.0.

“We are constantly reminded of the unforgettable and historic journey of Eat Bulaga. And as much as we would like to reminisce about the past, we are now looking forward to exciting times ahead. We always hear the phrase ‘life begins at 40,’ and we feel the same way. We are excited to present the ‘forty-fied’ version of the show every Filipino grew to love,” she said.

Launched on July 30, 1979, Eat Bulaga is a brainchild of Television and Production Exponents, Incorporated (TAPE) boss Antonio Tuviera. He tapped brothers Tito and Vic Sotto with comedian Joey de Leon to headline the show aimed to rival then number one program Student Canteen.

Throughout the years, the formidable trio, with the help of numerous co-hosts, stayed true to its promise of providing “isang libo’t isang tuwa” to television viewers through its more than 300 segments, including the well-loved “Pinoy Henyo,” “Super Sireyna,” “Bulagaan,” and “Juan for All, All for Juan”.

Ferre, who has been working with the show for more than 20 years, said there’s no pattern or secret formula to Eat Bulaga’s success. She said it all boils down to love for work and continuously evolving as a team.

“I think when you love what you

PAMILYA NUNAL. The year-long celebration of' Eat Bulaga' commences with 'Pamana,' a horror telemovie directed by first time director Jose Manalo and stars Maine Mendoza, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros. do, you love the people you work with, and you love the industry you are in, then success will follow. It’s not every day that you get to make someone laugh or to change someone’s life, so we value what we do.”

She also said that work gets easier because Eat Bulaga is like a family.

“We are a small group but we respect each other. We don’t see this as work but as extension of our homes which we share to millions of Dabarkads around the world. Like in every family, we go through happy and challenging moments, but we are always together. We will fight as one —that’s the culture we have here.”

Ferre also assures everyone that even though they’ve been on-air for four decades, Eat Bulaga family still has the same dedication, hunger and passion to bring quality programming to all.

She said they are more challenged to come up with bigger and better segments.

“We don’t rest on our laurels. Our advantage is our experience that will back us up because we’ve been through so many challenges and I’m proud to say that we emerged stronger and better.

We are more challenged now more than even to be attuned with the time, to keep on changing, to be flexible, and to be able to adapt to the ever changing world of television. We need to innovate and to remain trendsetters.”

Apart from being leaders in this format and timeslot, Eat Bulaga now enters a new period in its history— adapting to the digital age.

For some time now, all daily episodes of the show were made accessible on its official YouTube channel while overseas viewers can regularly watch the live broadcast through its online streaming.

Eat Bulaga also started producing contents that are only available for netizens. Its first effort is “Eat Bulaga Behind the Scenes” where one host gets to do the job of someone from the production team, be it as a production

assistant, floor director, researcher, social media manager or writer.

“We are extending Eat Bulaga to the interwebs. It is the same kind of fun, same kind of entertainment, same kind of excitement but we are no longer up to 2:30 p.m. The vision is to make the show 24/7 for people online.

You can check videos and watch our episodes anywhere and anytime you want,” Ferre said.

As to what’s in store for loyal Dabarkads now that they are gearing up for Eat Bulaga version 4.0, the creative head said expect four times the fun, laughter and entertainment. They will also continue to be of service to every Filipino household.

“For me personally, it feels like we are starting again because we have new challenges to overcome. We still have that same attitude when Eat started Bulaga 39 years ago. We are guided by the knowledge and experiences we gained in the past four decades to create a bigger and better Eat Bulaga. We are all looking forward to turning 40.”

Don’t miss the year-long celebration of Eat Bulaga and comedian J o s e M a n a l o ’s directorial debut in horror telemovie Pamana airing this Saturday, July 28, only on GMA-7.

ABS-CBN Lifestyle welcomes its first celebrity guest editor—Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray—as she steers the website with her inspiring insights on makeup, men, martial arts, and many more this month.

The leading celebrity lifestyle site redefines its motto “Inspiring Stellar Stories” by introducing its first ABS-CBN Lifestyle Inspo, a guest editor the site will collaborate with on a monthly basis. This July’s Lifestyle Inspo, Catriona, helps curate content on style and fashion, food and dining, health and wellness, travel and leisure, pop culture, and all other inspiring stories to guide every Filipina to live her best life.

Besides boarding the beauty queen as a temporary part of the team, ABS-CBN Lifestyle continues to produce more timely and relevant content catering to the Filipina millennial.

The site has just released I Love My Job, a series of webisodes discussing some of the hottest jobs in the country today and the stellar standouts who are part of it.

ABS-CBN Lifestyle also unveiled On Our Radar, a series of short videos on the coolest and craziest trends spotted on celebrities.

Catch more “Inspiring Stellar Stories” on ABSCBN Lifestyle by logging on to Lifestyle.ABSCBN.com and following the site through its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter The talented Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray wears the crown as ABS-CBN Lifestyle's first celebrity editor.