Manila Standard - 2018 July 27 - Friday

DUTERTE SIGNS BANGSAMORO LAW, DELIVERS ON SONA PROMISE

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

VOL. XXXII • NO. 162 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Senators wary of Sara’s ‘role’ in Alvarez ouster

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATORS said Thursday it would be a worrisome development if President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter had a direct hand in the ouster of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte influenced the change in House leadership, this did not speak well for the President’s leadership.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, on the other hand, said if the reports were true, it was unlikely that the President did not know about his daughter’s maneuverings.

“That is the reality that we face. That is not only true today, that is also true for the past administrations and congresses,” Drilon said.

Lacson said power or authority delegated outside the official chain of the government bureaucracy should not only be discouraged, but challenged and checked at every opportunity. Next page

By Nat Mariano

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte confirmed Thursday that he appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires as the country’s new Ombudsman.

“We have a new Ombudsman. I signed the appointment of Justice Martires,” said Duterte during his visit to Zamboanga Sibugay.

Duterte refused to give Martires any specific orders, saying he recognized the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“I do not have the power to order you.

You belong to a different department. We are independent,” he said. “My only statement to you is this: Do what is right. That’s it.”

The President described the newly-appointed Ombudsman as “bright, strict and fair.”

Martires, a graduate of San Beda College of Law, served as justice of the Sandiganbayan for 11 years.

He was the President’s first appointee to the Supreme Court,

assuming the position left by Conchita Carpio-Morales who became the Ombudsman. Her term ended July 26.

Aside from Martires, those on the Judicial and Bar Council shortlist were retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Edilberto Sandoval and private practitioner, Felito Ramirez.

Martires got six votes from the sevenmember JBC, Sandoval got five while Ramirez got four.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court unanimously recommended the nomination of Martires to the JBC. Martires’ appointment as Ombudsman means he will need to take an early retirement from the 15-member bench.

Morales on Thursday left her post after serving a full term of seven years.

She met with the other officials and employees of the Ombudsman to thank them, and had lunch and dinner with them.

She reiterated she did not have any single regret in her seven years as graft buster and that she was thankful for a job well done.

Duterte had accused Morales of “selective justice” and conspiring with opposition figures to oust him.

But Morales dismissed Duterte’s allegations as “fake news.”

“I know I am right in my own work so why should I be scared,” Morales said days before her retirement.

“As long as we have strong institutions, we don’t need strong people to run the government,” she added, emphasizing the importance of independent bodies like her office. With AFP

Associate Justice Samuel Martires

Fariñas loses House majority post; Castro takes over as interim leader

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Nat Mariano

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Rody taps SC justice for Ombudsman post

Federal shift gets P90-m PR blitz; PCOO in harness AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL task force, formed by President Rodrigo Duterte, has been allotted a budget of P90 million to handle a massive information campaign on the consultative committee’s proposed draft of the federal constitution, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidentiasl Spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the creation of the intergovernmental group, which was formed two days ago.

“We have initially identified P40 million, but we can only use P30 million because the P10 million will go to Presidential Communications Operations Office,”

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he had signed the approved version of the Bangsamoro Organic Law that would pave the way for lasting peace in Mindanao.

He signed the bill into law after he promised in his third State of the Nation Address that he would sign the BOL within a 48-hour time frame.

“The BBL has been signed, but I’m

still going back because I have a ceremony with Jaafar and Murad,” said Duterte, referring to Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief Murad Ebrahim and MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.

“Also, I would like to talk to [MNLF founding chairman] Nur [Misuari] so that we can have it by the end of the year.

“I can create also an autonomy for him if that’s what he wants, and pending the federal system implementation he can just wait for it if he trusts me.”

ILOCOS Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas is no longer the majority leader as far as the Arroyo-led House leadership is concerned, a lawmaker said Thursday.

Camariñes Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya said Fariñas was effectively removed as the majority leader of the House with the election of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new Speaker and the ouster of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez,

WOMEN OF PROMISE.

Presidential daughter Sara Duterte Carpio (top left), acclaimed as the power behind the ouster of Pantaleon Alvarez as House Speaker; Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita de Castro (middle), who has opted to accept her automatic nomination to the vacant Supreme Court Chief Justice post; and Ombudsman Emerita Conchita Carpio-Morales—women whose profiles are razor-edged on the present political radar of the country.

Arroyo camp dumps ‘no-el’ scenario, supports Cha-Cha toward federalism

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Arroyo-led House of Representatives’ majority coalition will reject any bid to cancel the May 2019 mid-term elections, a party-list lawmaker said on Thursday.

1-Pacman Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero, an Arroyo ally, said political parties and Party-list organizations who support Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo have joined forces to ensure the mid-term elec-

tions will be held as scheduled.

“Even Speaker GMA [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] will not support it [no election]. This will be her last term [as congresswoman],” Romero said.

Romero said the House majority bloc’s position to reject a “no-el” scenario has solidified Party-list lawmakers and several key leaders of majority parties in the coalition that met with the President last Wednesday.

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De Castro joins chief justice contenders

By Rey E. Requejo

HEALTHY FISTS. President Rodrigo Duterte thrusts his signature pose Wednesday during the Asia-Pacific Healthy Islands Conference 2018 at the Marco Polo Hotel. Matching the presidential propulsion are Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Climate Change Commission Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman and other guests. Malacañang Photo

IN SPITE of her compulsory retirement in October his year, Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo - De Castro on Thursday formally accepted her automatic nomination for the chief justice post.

De Castro, a known nemesis of ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes

Sereno, submitted to the Judicial and Bar Council a letter formally accepting the automatic nomination for the top judicial post as one of the five most senior justices and also the nomination by retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorino.

De Castro, who rose from the ranks in the judiciary from a court clerk and Next page

who appointed Fariñas.

“He is no longer the majority leader and could no longer perform functions of a majority leader because we have a new interim majority leader exercising the function,” Andaya said, referring to Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro.

Castro was appointed majority leader following the election of Arroyo Monday.

On Wednesday session, Fariñas questioned the legitimacy of Arroyo’s election, saying that the resolution electing her Next page

Social media hot topic: Koreans look down on Filipinos A DISCUSSION on colorism has emerged on social media after one Twitter user said Koreans “look down on the Philippines so much that they use the word ‘Filipino’ as an insult for darkerskinned Koreans.’”

Colorism is defined as prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.

The discussion was sparked by a tweet on July 16 from Twitter user only identified as “d” with the username @royaltykai, who noted that “the whole Philippines is in love with Korean culture and promote Korean media everywhere.”

“Name something sadder,” the Twitter user added after noting the epithet for darker Koreans. His tweet gained over 17,000 retweets and 37,000 likes, and in recent days has resurfaced on a discussion on the social media forum Reddit.

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friday, july 27, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bello slapped with graft raps L

ABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III was charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman Wednesday by the owner of a shuttered employment agency.

Amanda Lalic-Araneta, owner of MMML Recruitment Services Inc. and former president of Philippine Licensed Accredited to Kuwait, brought the charges against Bello.

She claimed that Labor officials attempted to negotiate with her and to lift her agency’s suspension for a certain amount of money.

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“We should not have a repeat of our past experiences under the previous administrations from Marcos to [Aquino], where persistent talk of interventions and influence-peddling by relatives of sitting presidents did not help any in the efficient and smooth management of state affairs,” Lacson said.

Drilon said what happened in the House was “simply local politics translated and transformed into the national scene.”

“It is my view that what prompted the change is more of local politics than a policy difference,” said Drilon, doubting claims that the President was not aware of the reorganization.

“Such a major political move, the congressmen assumed, could only be done with the clearance of the President,” Drilon said.

He said the recent power struggle in the House was a sign of lack of any decent political party system as he pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 226 seeking to strengthen the party system.

Drilon issued this statement amid reports that members of the ruling PDP-Laban will bolt PDP-Laban to join the regional party organized by the President’s daughter.

SB 226 or the Political Party System Act, which Drilon authored, is among the bills pending in Congress, and aims to promote party loyalty, discipline and adherence to ideological principles, platforms, and programs.

“The episode in the House of Representative necessitates and justifies the passage of a political party system act,” Drilon told reporters during Thursday’s Kapihan sa Senado.

“We should pass legislation which will govern the political party in our system. Look at that, you know in a more mature democracy with a more mature political party system, that would not happen,” Drilon said.

Drilon also said that politicians switching sides every now and then does not surprise him anymore.

“I am not worried about that because after 2019 there will be again a lot of changing parties. You know, this political party system is so weak that the reports of politicians bolting from one party to another is nothing new to me anymore,” Drilon said.

“This only shows the lack of ideological commitment of the members of the party because they choose parties based on the rise and fall of the tide of opportunity,” he added.

Drilon explained that the bill primarily penalizes political turncoats by disallowing them to run under any political party for any elective position in the next succeeding election after they change party affiliations.

“Political parties in our country are normally used as political vehicles to win an election. Our political party system is centered on personalities rather than ideology and political platform,” Drilon said in the bill’s explanatory note.

Meanwhile, Senator Leila de Lima said the idea that Alvarez and the rest of the ousted House leadership should now lead the minority bloc in the House was preposterous.

“It reeks of opportunism up to the last moment of their fall from grace.

The farcical practice that members of the same ruling party with the same allegiances to the President can simultaneously comprise both the majority and minority in the House must be put to an end,” said the detained senator.

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Roque told reporters in a press briefing in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The 22-man consultative commission, led by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, has set aside a budget of P50 million.

“Apparently, the consultative commission has savings of about P50 million, but they are not sure how they can actually spend it because the operations of the consultative commission will

Bello on Thursday dared his accusers to file their complaints before the courts and not through the media as he threatened to file charges against them.

He declined to name his detractors but said he would reveal their names once he filed the cases against them “I will see you in court,” Bello said.

Meanwhile, Labor Undersecretary

Jacinto Paras, who was reportedly aspiring for Bello’s post, on Thursday denied any hand in the alleged smear drive against Bello and said there was no rift between them.

Paras insisted that he and Bello continued to respect each other, and that they remained civil despite the allegations of a falling-out between them.

Araneta’s agency was shut down for alleged involvement in the trafficking of minors, but an official with supposedly close ties with Bello allegedly told her that her case could be resolved for

P500,000.

Bello supposedly allowed the suspension to stay when she refused to pay the amount.

While Araneta admitted to having no direct contacts with Bello, she said Bello had the final say on any matter related to recruitment agencies.

But Bello denied her accusation in a press conference the same day.

“Any agency owner, magpapakita lamang ng evidence na ako ay tumang­ gap o humingi ng suhol, I am willing to step down,” he said. Vito Barcelo

TRAIN 2 not really that bad piece of bill—Palace “On the contrary, TRAIN 2 will reduce corporate taxes, so, it is not true that the TRAIN will increase the taxes.”

Roque said the second package would only reduce corporate taxation.

He said the Finance department had concluded that the Philippines had a high corporate tax compared to the other Southeast Asian nations.

“It is a matter of telling the senators what TRAIN 2 is and I think we can overcome their initial hesitancy,” Roque said, He said the Office of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office would take the initiative.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said no senator wanted to endorse the proposed second package of the TRAIN law.

“It has very little support from my colleagues and, as a matter of fact, no senator wants to sponsor the measure at this time,” Zubiri said.

The Senate leadership also fears package 2 might lead to job loss, less investment and cut some incentives, provoking businesses to pack up and to look for other countries with a high rate of incentives.

Roque, in defense, said Finance had thoroughly studied the measure.

the evening plenary session Monday, insisted there was no railroading in the approval of the House resolution electing Arroyo.

Antonino said the election of Arroyo, voted by 188 lawmakers as Speaker, was done in the presence of a great majority of House members, with a total of 238 attending the Monday night session.

She added that the matter should no longer be an issue since Alvarez himself conceded defeat to Arroyo.

Andaya said that until the minority question is settled, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez—who voted for Arroyo—would still be recognized as the minority leader.

But House rules provide that those who did not vote for a winning candidate for the speakership would automatically be part of the minority.

Suarez on Thursday attacked sena-

tors who feared that Arroyo’s ascent in the House could make her prime minister in a federal government.

“Many senators have started their scenario building which is unfair because nothing is final yet on Charte change,” Suarez said, referring to allegations that Arroyo might aim for the prime minister post at the end of her House tenure in 2019.

Meanwhile, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo doubted that Congress had time to tackle the proposed shift to federal form of government.

He also said speculation that Arroyo was being groomed by her supporters to be the country’s first prime minister were baseless.

“I have heard about it. But based on what I saw in the draft constitution, there is no such thing as a prime minister. Although the draft is not yet final,” he said.

Lourdes Sereno from the top judicial post by granting the quo warranto petition by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

She also testified against Sereno in the impeachment proceedings before the House committee on justice and had a shouting match with her during the oral arguments on the quo warranto case last April.

Aside from De Castro, the JBC also received on Thursday an application for the chief justice post from Davao City regional trial court judge Virginia Tehano-Ang. On the last day for nomination and application yesterday, there were five candidates for the chief justice post to be screened by the JBC. Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Andres Reyes Jr. have also accepted their nomination for chief justice earlier this week. All three also voted to oust Sereno.

Peralta and Bersamin were also among the senior justices who were automatically nominated for the post, while Reyes was nominated by Victorino along with all 14 incumbent justice of the SC.

Antonio Carpio, the most senior magistrate, already declined the nomination. He said he did not want to benefit from Sereno’s ouster, which he opposed by voting against the SC ruling.

Presbitero Velasco has declined the nomination since he is retiring from the judiciary next month.

The chief justice position was opened last June 25 and set the deadline for nominations yesterday, July 26.

The 1987 Constitution requires that the chief justice position be filled within 90 days from vacancy or from the finality of the SC ruling ousting Sereno last Tuesday, June 19.

This means that President Duterte needs to appoint Sereno’s replacement

by Sept. 16.

The Constitution also requires the chief justice, just like associate justices of SC, to be a natural-born citizen, at least 40 years old, have experience as judge or in private law practice for at least 15 days, and a person with proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.

In other developments: • Senator Win Gatchalian said he remained optimistic that the Bangsamoro Organic Law would work in Mindanao because many of the shortcomings of the past were addressed here.

He cited fiscal autonomy, one of the key features of the bill, as a very specific example. He said it was one of the key features of the BOL that was ratified by both houses of Congress.

“I’ve seen how ARMM would come to Congress, ask for money, ask for funds but it was cut but here, they have

full fiscal autonomy, meaning they will now chart their own direction by utilizing those funds and it’s no ordinary fund,” Gatchalian said.

“Our minimum count for the allocation including everything will be approximately P120 billion a year. So it’s no small change.”

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima had also expressed hope that the BOL would bring lasting peace and stability in war-torn Mindanao and improve the lives of the Bangsamoro people.

• The government will have to review its plan regarding the infrastructure program if the Bangsamoro Organic Law makes it through Congress, the National Economic and Development

Authority said Thursday.

“We will have to review our plans in terms of the [economic] landscape―the new landscape. We haven’t done that yet because the law has yet to be implemented,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia told reporters in Pasig City.

“There will be some changes, but I guess it shouldn’t be that drastic.”

The BOL is one of the requirements under the 2014 peace agreement between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law, known before as the Bangsamoro Basic Law, was certified as urgent by the President.

cease this August,” he said, adding that the Commission hopes to use the remaining funds for information dissemination.

The PCCO’s budget would go to production of materials to help with the information drive, Roque said.

“We have initially agreed on a strategy and we will bring down our dissemination level to the level of the barangay,” said Roque, who said they would use social media and concentrate on training the trainers to increase people’s understanding of the draft constitution.

The need for a nationwide informa-

tion campaign became apparent after a Pulse Asia survey showed that almost seven of 10 Filipinos had at best a low level of knowledge about the proposed federal system of government.

“The survey so far confirmed that there’s a need for dissemination as it shows that the overwhelming majority still do not know anything about federalism. So, we have accepted the challenge, and we will embark on this massive dissemination drive,” Roque said.

The Palace has since then vowed to exert more effort to inform and educate the public on the merits of feder-

alism as the success of the proposed changes in the Charter lies in the hands of the people.

Duterte had earlier announced that he would step down from his post once the proposed federal charter is ratified by the public next year. He also said the present unitary system of government has failed Filipinos by keeping resources and power centralized.

The President has been promoting the shift to a federal form of government to address the country’s economic issues, power unevenness, and armed conflicts in Mindanao.

By Nat Mariano THE Palace will inform some senators that they have a misconception on the second package of the administration’s tax reform law hoping to overcome their hesitation about it, an official said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said there might be a misconception on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law amid the reports some senators were lukewarm to it.

“Maybe it is because of a misconception that TRAIN 2 will increase taxes,” Roque said.

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had not gone through him, as he was the chairman of the committee on rules.

But Andaya countered that the resolution had gone through the proper process, and had gone through Castro, the new majority leader.

He added that they would formalize Castro’s appointment by Monday as they settled a row over who would be the new minority bloc.

“We could have done it yesterday [Wednesday] but since the issue on who will lead the new minority bloc was coming up... we decided to hold that in abeyance and proceed on Monday,” Andaya said.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Magnolia Antonino, the lawmaker motioned to declare the position of Speaker vacant during

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has been serving in the government for 45 years, is set to retire from the judiciary this October.

If appointed chief justice, she would only have a couple of months to lead the 15-member bench.

De Castro was appointed to the high court by former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in December 2007.

Prior to her promotion, she was the presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan and the chairman of the special division of the antigraft court that convicted ousted President Joseph “Erap” Estrada of plunder in 2007.

A recipient of numerous judicial excellence awards, the feisty justice has served as president of the Philippine Women Judges Association and the prestigious International Association of Women Judges.

De Castro was one of the eight justices who voted to oust Chief Justice Ma.

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Palace clarifies ‘fake news’ on ailing Duterte MALACAÑANG on Thursday described as “fake news” the rumor that President Rodrigo Duterte was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte was expected to attend the 69th Araw ng Ipil celebration in Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday afternoon.

“There is no truth to it. It is fake news,” he told reporters.

“The President is fine, although he went to have a regular checkup the night before the Sona [State of the Nation Address], and he has not been to any medical facility since.

“He will in fact be in Ipil to lead the celebration for Araw ng Ipil, So his appearance will belie all these false reports.”

Duterte is also scheduled to visit fire victims and wounded soldiers in Zamboanga City later in the day.

The President’s health has been the subject of much speculation, but he has repeatedly downplayed the reports there is something wrong with it.

He once said he had Buerger’s disease, a condition that causes the constriction of the blood vessels due to nicotine, and Barrett’s esophagus, a disease involving the tissue in the esophagus.

He also said he had a misaligned spine as result of a motorcycle accident years ago.

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Attached to @royaltykai’s post were screen grabs of the Korean television show “Hello Counselor” where the guest recounted how he had a difficult time in school because of his dark skin, and how he was teased and called a “Filipino.”

The English captions to the pictures said: “You especially had a hard time in school… Students asked me, ‘Are you from the Philippines?’… In high school, older students who didn’t know him… would tease him, ‘Filipino! Foreigner!’”

In a later tweet, @royaltykai said: “Mmm point is not sympathizing with the Filipinos who put Koreans on a pedestal and fetishize them... it’s just a shame that Korean culture in general is so well received and well-loved in the Philippines while Korea considers the concept of being Filipino as something degrading.”

The Twitter user also noted in later posts—while tweeting in Filipino— that Filipinos do the same discrimination to their duskier countrymen, and that there was nothing wrong with being “kayumanggi” (brown-skinned).

Over 100,000 Koreans are estimated to be permanent residents of the Philippines, as they have become the largest tourist group to the country with over 1.47 million visitors in 2017, according to Bureau of Immigration data.

Like most of Asia, Filipinos have been obsessed with Korean pop culture for over a decade, as “Hallyu” or the Korean Wave reached mainstream worldwide success with acts like “Gangnam Style” singer Psy and boyband BTS. Also, the dubbed versions of Korean dramas dominate local TV networks’ primetime blocks, and the massive fanbases of BTS and its predecessors Super Junior and Big Bang in the Philippines prove the country’s obsession with “Hallyu” is real. Jimbo Gulle and Rhosedel Grace Gabac

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But Romero said the same group of political parties have remained committed to support the Duterte administration’s bid for Charter change towards the shift to federal system of government.

“We will push for the President’s Charter change initiative to effect federalism. But the no-elections, we will definitely reject it,” said Romero, vice chairman of the House Committee on Sports and Youth Development and on East Asian Growth Area.

“We assure you, Congress assures the public there will be elections in May 2019,” Romero said.

Romero said the no-election scenario being floated by then Speaker Alvarez was one of the principal reasons that led to his downfall.

Romero recalled that cracks within Alvarez’s “super-majority” widened when Alvarez pushed for the cancellation of the 2019 polls so that Congress will be able to focus on federalism.

News

Comelec upholds 25% threshold

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Commission on Elections has sided with Vice President Leni Robredo in seeking for the reversal of the ruling of the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, that set the 50-percent shading threshold for validity of votes in the ongoing election recount on 2016 vice presidential race.

In a 13-page comment, the Comelec stood firm in the 25-percent shading threshold it used in canvassing of votes cast during the May 9, 2016 elections as stated in its Minute Resolution No. 16-0600 that was submitted to the PET

by Robredo’s camp for her appeal.

“To reiterate, for purposes of the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections, Comelec, in order to ensure that votes are not wasted due to inadequate shading or that not accidental or unintended small marks are counted as votes in order to reflect the true intent of the voter, had set the ballot shading threshold at 25 percent,” the Comelec’s legal department said.

The comment was filed in compliance with an earlier order of the SC for Comelec to submit its position after Solicitor General Jose Calida opted to drop the poll body as a client and file its own position as “tribune of the people.”

The Comelec invoked its constitutional power to not only administer elections and decide all questions affecting polls even while it acknowledged the authority of the PET to be the sole judge of all election contests relating to the president and the vice president.

“In deciding election disputes, like election protest, decisions should be based on the standards and procedures used during the conduct of elections and in ascertainment of election results.

To use different standard would be erroneous and may result to unnecessary questions on the legitimacy of all elected officials, from the president down to the last Sangguniang Bayan member,” the poll body said.

The Comelec also cited its Random Manual Audit Guide on Appreciation of Markings as factual basis for the 25-percent threshold rule.

“It cannot be overemphasized that the threshold issue as it is now being presented is more an issue of fact than a question of law. Otherwise stated, it is more an issue of what was used to appreciate, count votes and proclaim winners, than an issue of which rule, as between those of Comelec and the Supreme Court, should prevail,” it added.

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FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC sets rules on debate vs ICC withdrawal

By Rey E. Requejo

ARRESTED. Officials of the National Bureau of Investigation/Task Force Against Illegal Drugs present to the media suspect Haliwin Boromeo Y Wakit alias Net Boromeo ‘JAL,’ ‘DREX,‘ (right) who was arrested on charges of car theft and alleged kidnapping.

Norman Cruz

CoA flags ex-DOT exec Montano on excessive trips

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has flagged actor Cesar Montano for “excessive and extravagant” foreign trips when he was then the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer.

Montano had a total of 14 trips within three months using some business class flights, incurring P2.277 million in expenses.

The trips lasted a total of 91 days or a fourth of the entire year, state auditors said, saying that they were considered excessive and might cause negative impact on the agency.

Montano, along with his executive assistant and private secretary, went out of the country to take part in various events for 10 and 11 trips, respectively.

Because of this, the Tourism Promotions Board had added expenditures of P2.995 million for the purpose of assisting Montano in his overseas travels.

CoA also called the attention of Montano’s former officer in charge and deputy chief operating officer for international promotions for having traveled 16 times for 113 days.

While it was a mandate of the board to market the tourism of the country, “as an austerity measure and in consonance with Section 50 of Republic Act No. 9593, the TPB should find ways to minimize the cost and optimize the performance of duties of its officers and employees for an effective and efficient organization.”

Business class air tickets worth P594,000 were bought for Montano’s two foreign trips using the board’s funds, which according to CoA, was in violation of Section 10 of Executive Order 248 as amended by Section 7 of EO 298 requiring government officials to travel in economy class.

Du30 to limit travel for climate change

By Vito Barcelo DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo R. Duterte has set a limit to the country’s representation to climate change conferences to only one, lamenting that en masse travels abroad did nothing good for the country but drain “The government could not afford to send a big delegation and only allow one representative from the Climate Change Commission to attend conventions as one mouth is enough,” the President made the remarks during the Asia-Pacific Healthy Islands Conference 2018 in Davao city last Wednesday.

The President also said that he has fired 19 high-ranking officials because of travels to participate in such conferences abroad.

The President admitted it pained him to see them go because most of them were his friends and supported him during the election campaign.

“It pains me deeply to see them go,” he said.

He also regretted that many of the top government officials he fired were his close friends.

“I fired a lot. Most of them were my friends who were with me when I was campaigning, and it pains me deeply to see them go,” the President said.

“It makes me sad but you know... Once and for all, we decide. We cannot be going to conventions every now and… I would insist on one representative from the Climate Change Commission, and I will not allow everybody to go out,” he told the audience.

INC marks 50 years of foreign outreach THE Iglesia Ni Cristo will be commemorating another milestone in its storied history today, July 27, Friday as it marks 50 years since first establishing an overseas ministry in Hawaii in the late ’60s while celebrating its 104th Anniversary in the Philippines.

INC began its evangelization campaign on foreign soil when it conducted its first worship service on July 27, 1968 at Ewa Beach, now part of the City of Honolulu.

That local congregation has since grown and become a leading symbol and beacon of INC’s continued push as a global church with a decidedly Filipino character.

A bigger, newly constructed chapel at the pioneering Ewa Beach site shall kick off the 50th year celebrations on the anniversary date itself on July 27, 2018.

“We will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our first church abroad solemnly and joyfully. Our

Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo has expressed a desire for us to be introspective, to be thankful and to fully contemplate the weight of this momentous occasion while at the same time being mindful of the challenge for continued growth and evangelization,” INC general auditor Glicerio B. Santos Jr. explained.

Since the establishment of its Hawaii congregation five decades ago, the INC has phenomenally grown and actively expanded in mainland America and Canada, as well as in many parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

The INC official noted that, “Since September 2009, we inaugurated and dedicated 83 churches in various parts of the world. We never stop reaching out to members who are based abroad, Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike, because the work of God never stops. It reaches beyond national borders.”

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to withdraw from the establishing treaty of the International Criminal Cour will be put to test, as the Supreme Court has issued guidelines for the upcoming Aug. 14 oral arguments on the consolidated pleadings challenging the decision.

The SC, in its July 17 advisory, has set four major issues on the President’s decision to pull out the country’s membership from the genocide and war crimes court, after a prosecutor has alleged that the President had sanctioned the killing of drug suspects in the government’s war on drugs.

The SC will hear the arguments on whether or not the SC may take cognizance of the consolidated petitions, and whether or not the withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the ICC’s establishing treaty, through a note verbale delivered to the Secretary General of the United Nations, is “valid, binding and effectual.”

These will also cover whether or not the government’s executive branch had valid grounds to withdraw from the Rome Statute, and if the withdrawal needed at least two-thirds of the Senate, as claimed by its challengers.

Also set for oral arguments are whether or not the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statue constitutes a breach of its obligations under international law; and whether or not the pullout will “diminish the Filipino people’s protection under International Law”—and if it is at all a question that could be subject to trial in a court of law.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ricardo C. Puno: Requiem to a sage

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

culable treasure trove of wisdom—not only knowledge of the law, but an understanding of the human person. His FR. RANHILIO lectures in family law would invariably CALLANGAN commence with a recital of his credenAQUINO tials—not academic degrees or proMY PARENTS had him as their pro- fessional distinctions, but the number fessor in civil law, and they sang his of children, grandchildren and greatpraises very highly. He was a sought- grandchildren who, he asserted, gave after professor, they said, not only him the right to discourse on the often because when he spoke the otherwise meandering ways of families and their dreary words of the Civil Code came members! But it was no walk in the alive. He was striking in appearance park to be in his classes. As dean of and always commanded respect by San Beda’s Graduate School of Law, simply being at the professor’s ros- I requested him to be among the piotrum. When he announced to his MLQ neer professors, and he accepted—and class—in my parents’ days, one of the stayed on for quite some time as procountry’s premier law schools—that fessor. The questions he asked, even he would no longer be able to teach of graduate students—lawyers, prosday classes, there was a migration to ecutors, judges, law professors—were the night classes where he would still gut-wrenching. I remember a judge enbe professor. And even when my fa- rolled in his class who had no ready anther was already swer for what was a justice of the rather a paltry Court of Appeals question: The difand, my mother, ference between a I shall forever a law dean, the public document fondness never be grateful for the and a private docfaded: they re- privilege to walk in his ument. All it took mained very fond was Justice Ricarcompany. of him, and very do Puno’s steady deferential, and gaze and the quesapparently, he tion: “How long was fond of them have you been a too. I am lucky, because that fondness judge?”—to send His Honor, a student passed to me. He would always pref- in a graduate school class, plummetace his lectures, when I was around, ing into the depths of remorseful selfby announcing to all and sundry that examination. it was he who made me possible—beHe served in all three branches of cause he claims to have been match- government. He was Minister of Jusmaker to my parents. tice, he was Member of the Parliament Very few in the Philippines are pro- that the 1973 Constitution created and fessors of civil law in the best tradi- was a justice of the Court of Appeals. tions of the Spanish “civilistas” and He was the most eminent member the are more than compilers of Supreme Supreme Court never had the honor to Court decisions. After all, in the civil have! His philosophical leanings were law tradition, “doctrine” referred not scholastic, and his method of teaching to the pronouncements of courts but as well as his dichotomy between acts to the disquisitions of professors and of intellect and of will all made this profound thinkers. Ricardo Puno Sr. evident. belonged to that tradition, and when It was my distinct honor to have once he was asked whether the jus- been invited into his family’s life. tices of the Supreme Court were wont When he and Mrs. Puno celebrated to agree with his positions, he quipped 60 years of married life, he asked me half in jest but also half in utmost se- to preach the homily—but only after riousness: “More than a half of them he had given me both an oral narrawere my students, and they have been tive as well as some reading materials properly instructed.” on his life. Thankfully, he loved the His lectures were never tedious. homily I delivered which was a paean They were a pleasure to listen to, a to him as much as it was to the God of privilege to be part of, and an incalTurn to A5

PENSEES

Cheaper rice

T

HE Philippines at last is finding the solution to rice shortage and higher prices. President Rodrigo Duterte in his third State of the Nation Address Monday asked Congress to consider as urgent the passage of the law amending the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996 to stabilize rice prices and address the artificial shortage.

The amendment to the law essentially calls for a straight high tariff or duty on rice imports instead of non-tariff barriers that also make inbound shipments costlier. Market forces eventually will decide on the price of imported rice. With more importers competing for the Philippine demand, the cost of imported rice will soon settle down and offset the high tariff.

The National Economic and Development Authority on Tuesday renewed its call to Congress to pass the Rice Tariffication bill, saying it will help temper inflation and improve the agriculture sector.

“There is no time to waste. All

of us must rally behind the administration’s reform agenda, most especially the Rice Tariffication bill, which if implemented will make our agriculture sector competitive in the long-term,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said.

The government’s chief economist predicted that once the rice tariffication bill filed before the 17th Congress was signed into law and fully implemented, the prices of rice would likely go down. A preliminary estimate by Neda showed that headline inflation rate would be reduced by one percentage point if the domestic wholesale rice market lowered its price to the level of the imported rice.

The Department of Finance earlier said the lifting of the quantitative restrictions on rice imports in favor of a 35-percent import tariff would result in the reduction in the retail price of the food staple by as much as P7 a kilo and help free some 730,000 Filipinos from poverty.

President Duterte has strongly supported the rice bill, issuing a stern warning against “rice hoarders, cartels and their protectors” who were manipulating the prices of the commodity to their advantage and to the detriment of the Filipino people.

Thailand and Vietnam, the two major exporters of rice in Southeast Asia, have learned their lessons after experiencing shortages in the past. Cheap rice imports forced their farmers to be competitive through modern agriculture. Filipino farmers, with government assistance, must adapt to the market forces and find ways to increase their rice production.

The de facto House Speaker session hall were turned off. But as in any political gathering, the majority rules. The House will now vote for a new majority leader with Fariñas and ALEJANDRO Alvarez being pushed further to the DEL ROSARIO fringes of House decision-making.

ILOCOS Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas is Alvarez, in a meeting with Speaker questioning the resolution installing Arroyo, said he was ready to move on former President Gloria Macapagal- and work with his successor “for the Arroyo as Speaker of the House. sake of the nation.” Joining the majorWhy is Fariñas raising the issue ity coalition are those who voted for when more than half of the 292 House Arroyo, including party-list groups members declared the position vacant Alvarez treated as non-sequitur memand elected Arroyo as Speaker? Some bers of the House. members of the House who do not We cannot really blame Fariñas for want to be identihis umbrage. He fied said Fariñas had a taste of is opposing Arpower so long that royo’s election beit became diffiThe lower chamber cause he was the cult to accept bede facto Speaker had a tumultuous ing marginalized. who exercised But as a veteran transition session on as much power politician, Fariñas and influence as Wednesday. should know there Alvarez in major is no such thing as legislative measpermanent powures and commiter. He will know tee hearings. what it is like to Fariñas, the former House majority be in the marginalized minority. leader, was swept away in the swift Still, the claim of Fariñas and downfall of Alvarez. The lower cham- Alvarez to be the minority bloc ber had a tumultuous transition session is being challenged by 12 Liberal on Wednesday. Fariñas was ruled out Party members that they are the true of order by the presiding officer Rep. minority. Arroyo defected to the PDPRodolfo Albano while he was vocifer- Laban party of President Duterte. ously voicing his outrage. Loyal sup- She might soon join the political porters of Fariñas and Alvarez engaged party formed by Sara Duterte who is the acting presiding officer in a shout- reportedly seeking a House seat in ing match when the microphones at the Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

1,000 years of a happy life Tan. You are 83 years old and still a success story on all fronts. I wish you a happy birthday and may you continue to be endowed with good health, countless blessings, and greater success in all endeavors,” said the President.

LAST Tuesday, July 17, President RodThe Kapitan has been PAL chairman rigo Roa Duterte attended the rollout of Philippine Airlines’ brand-new aircraft —the Airbus A350 XWB and Airbus A321neo at the Lufthansa Technik PhilThis was what ippines hangar in Pasay City. The event the President wished coincided with the birth anniversary of Lucio Tan. the legendary PAL Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio C. Tan. “May God grant you a thousand years more of your life. Happy birthday, Mr.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

since 1995. The President and Tan were joined by other PAL officials led

by PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime J. Bautista.

The Airbus A350 XWB and Airbus A321Neo are two of the most advanced planes in PAL’s fleet. They will be used for longer-range routes to North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Enthused Tan at the rollout of the jets: “As the PAL family works together to achieve our dream of becoming a 5-star global carrier, we have achieved great strides in support of this goal. We are in the midst of a fleet modernization program. We are also focused on route Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

The power of economic liberty

Bewitched, bothered and bewildered CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ BEWITCHED, bothered and bewildered. This sums up the state of the administration’s detractors days after President Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address which officially started his third year in office.

They are bewitched by the manner he delivered his third Sona. They could not believe themselves that in his almost an hour of delivery he can be composed and straightforward in summing up what in his view is where the country is at and where he wants us to go from here. They could not imagine a situation where nary a cuss word was uttered or a perceived Duterte detractor, local or foreign, was not called out.

They could hardly come to terms with a President Duterte making sense with what’s happening to the economy, about jobs, about Boracay and mining, about the armed conflicts in the land, about our relations with other countries, about drugs, criminality and corruption—the very foundation of his run for the presidency in 2106.

Indeed, about matters which many of them out of sheer conceit could not simply believe him even mentioning.

Not to mention remembering anything of any significance to the life of this nation at all since some of these groups’ social media political assassins had already sentenced him as unfit and unwell.

But the President did. And they were flabbergasted no end. They were bewitched.

These critics are now bothered.

Having witnessed a new Duterte, if we may call it such, they are now in a quandary what he will and can do next now that he has shown he can keep his emotions in check and his

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network expansion and have improved our services to our passengers. I am happy to welcome the A321neo and A350 to our fleet.”

The new planes are the first of several aircraft deliveries which PAL said are industry game changers with their longer range, lower fuel burn emissions, and lower operating costs.

Explained PAL President Jimmy Bautista: “through these new airplanes, we aim to reclaim our stature as one of the world’s best airlines—to be a beacon of hope … that Filipinos can set the standard of excellence and be the best at what we do. This is the vision of our chairman, Dr. Tan. This is the legacy of Philippine Airlines to our country.”

Added Eric Schulz, chief commercial officer of Airbus. “The A350 XWB has set new standards for long haul flights, combining extra-long range capability with the lowest possible operating costs and the highest standard of comfort.

We are confident that the A350 XWB will be a great success with Philippine Airlines and will enable the airline to reinforce its position as one of Asia’s leading international carriers.”

Chimed in Peter Barret, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, the aircraft leasing company that financed PAL’s A350-900 XWB: “This delivery is an important milestone for SMBC Aviation Capital as it marks the first delivery to our new customer, Philippine Airlines. The Asia-Pacific region is one of the fastest growing markets in terms of air travel and we are delighted to have the opportunity to continue to expand our footprint here with the delivery of the first two A350s to Philippine Airlines.”

PAL’s pacesetting A350 allows the carrier L to fly nonstop almost halfway around the world on the longest routes

The de facto...

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next year’s mid-term elections.

While Inday Sara’s new party has yet to be registered with the Commission on Elections, there are many members of the House who are already forming a line to join it. House Speaker Arroyo was one of the early ones to declare she would join Sara’s party. The president’s daughter is seen as the prime mover in the House putsch against Alvarez. She reportedly called House members to

gutter utterances to himself. What’s up his sleeves? Is he launching a crackdown, perhaps? Having promised to keep the drug war going and to its chilling conclusion is he now prepared to unleash the dogs of war, this time after the heads of the cartels and their enablers, whether these ride in motorcycles or in their fleet of luxury cars. Or whether these wear shorts or are in Brooks Brothers suits.

These detractors are so unhinged they have gone to town belittling the administration’s achievements insisting, despite the facts, that the economy is far from growing. Of course, they are also hyperventilating over

The President’s detractors are so unhinged they have gone to town belittling the administration’s achievements.

the war on drugs, corruption and criminality again advising that the country remains mired in these triple evils. In sum, they are so outrageously believing their own propaganda that this administration has failed and is failing big time in moving us to a fresh future.

But the President seems unperturbed. He is moving at his own pace and in his own ways and is getting the country to move with him no matter what. His trust and approval ratings have steadied well above average.

The detractors are truly bewildered.

President Duterte has been fortunate in his friends. After that ruckus in the House prior to his delivering his third Sona, that body has rebooted itself unto be flown by a Philippine carrier.

According to PAL, the A350’s range and efficiency are the result of its allnew design and state of the art technology, starting with advanced Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines.

The A350 can fly up to 8,000 nautical miles (14,800 km.) and boasts of quieter cabin (up to four times less noise), making it the quietest twin-aisle aircraft to-date.

About 70 percent of A350 XWB’s structure is made of advanced material, including 53 percent composites.

This makes A350 not only light weight and very strong but also costs significantly less to maintain.

PAL’s A350 has 30 Business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout giving every passenger direct access to the aisle.

There will be no need to jump over other passengers just to get to the aisle. Seat pitch is at 44 inches and seat width is up to 24 inches. The business seat reclines to a full-flat bed measuring 78 inches in length and has an adjustable air cushion to adjust seat firmness, lumbar massage feature, additional storage for personal items, power ports and augmented reading lights.

The Premium Economy has 24 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration in an exclusive cabin. Seat pitch is at 38 inches and seat width is at 19 inches. Premium Economy seats recline of up to 8 inches and are equipped with leg-rest and footrest, additional front pockets for personal items, bottle holders, reading lights and power ports.

Economy class cabin seats total 241 in a roomy 3-3-3 symmetry, with seat pitch of 33 inches, width of 18 inches and a recline of up to 6 inches.

Features include a 4-way headrest and USB power ports.

All seats on the PAL Airbus A350 have personal TV screens with dual screen functionality, which means that passengers can pair their screens with declare the position vacant and install GMA as House Speaker.

Mrs. Arroyo has a long relationship with the Dutertes of Davao starting in her campaign for the vice presidency and then the election for the highest post in the land after she had completed the remaining term of deposed President Erap Estrada who was convicted of plunder.

Alvarez and Fariñas are pushing for federalism in the draft Charter and together the proposed shelving the mid-term elections next year. This was what did them in. Members of the

der a new and, as even the critics admit, more focused, more prepared and better disciplined leadership. What some sectors had earlier described as a bullying leadership has been replaced by a more sensitive yet firmer one.

Now the House can truly be a deliberative body without any hidden or sudden agenda changes. Now the House can be looked up to deliver not just on the administration’s agenda but better still on the country’s pressing needs and its requirements for the future. So, even as the critics have cried out loud about what they said was an embarrassing House ruckus, the legislative mill has moved on. The Bangsamoro Organic Law has been ratified. The much needed TRAIN 2 fiscal package is being debated upon and the 2019 budget about to be looked into.

The President’s allies are uniting and delivering without being side tracked by extraneous concerns and unwarranted pronouncements.

But President Duterte is even more fortunate in his enemies. Whatever one thinks about his third Sona and his assessment of the country’s state of affairs, his critics unabated, seriously f lawed carping about the “human rights situation” and the West Philippine Sea-cum-China issue is, without doubt, helping him in ways the critics never imagined. On the “human rights situation,” the oftrepeated claim that close to 20,000 have been killed over the last two years of the ‘ war on drugs’ has been dismissed as fake. On the other hand, raising the China/WPS issue has gained no serious traction at all forcing the critics to resort to gimmickry (Remember Philippines: Province of China?) To no avail, of course.

So the President and the country move on, leaving the critics baying by their lonesome by the road, bewildered no end by their inability to rouse the citizenry to do their bidding. their mobile device via the myPAL Player app to select content to be displayed on the screen or track the flight’s progress through the Flight Map. Wi-Fi service is free for all passengers (subject to time and volume caps), with affordable renewal plans.

The A350 will be flown nonstop Manila-New York JFK and Manila-London Heathrow routes by end October 2018.

Flights to other points in North America and/or Europe are planned, as more aircraft join the fleet over the next 12 months, including possible routes to Seattle, Chicago and a point in Western Europe.

PAL had placed six firm orders for Airbus A350-900s, and options for additional six. Four will be delivered in 2018, and other two in mid-2019.

Apology May I end this column with an apology to the spokesman of the Philippine National Police Col. Benigno “Bong” Durana. On July 24, he took the place of his boss, PNP chief Oscar Albayalde as guest speaker of the Manila Overseas Press Club. The day before, July 23, the chief’s mother died. Our condolences po.

At the open forum following his speech, Durana claimed illegal drugs is the No. 1 concern of most Filipinos, citing a Pulse Asia survey. As moderator I said that was a lie and implied Durana was lying.

I am sorry to Colonel Durana for my misapprehension and mistake.

The Pulse Asia survey said 69 percent of Filipinos cite eradicating the problem of illegal drugs as Duterte’s No. 1 achievement. The same survey showed Filipinos wanting Duterte to address three concerns in this order of importance: jobs 56 percent; inflation 52 percent; pay hike 48 percent; reducing poverty 33 percent; and end endo 27 percent. Drugs was only No. 5. biznewsasia@gmail.com House do not trust the duo’s political agenda that would sideline many of them. And that was how events unfolded with majority of the House seizing the moment to call for a new leadership.

The new Speaker, meanwhile, said she was not in favor of Charter change but was still feeling her stand on federalism. In the Upper Chamber, the Senate made known it is also against Charter change and federalism. Senate President Tito Sotto said the Senate will vote separately from the House on the issue of Charter change.

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sweat and good old night-soil!’ The answer of course could be that spitting was due to endemic tuberculosis, and as for the stink, I had seen where and ERIC how the people lived. I knew I was beJURADO ing contemptible.”

Shortly after Gellhorn and HemingHEMINGWAY & Gellhorn is an HBO biopic film about the love story and way left, the city surrendered to the lives of two great 20th century jour- Japanese. British rule returned after nalists and novelists, Martha Gellhorn the surrender of the Japanese in Au(1908-1998) and Ernest Hemingway gust 1945. Two years later, a young (1899-1961). Gellhorn was no stran- Scottish civil servant named John ger to war, hunger, and disease—all Cowperthwaite arrived in the colony of which she insisted on seeing with to oversee its war torn economic deher own two eyes. In 1937, she was in velopment.

Sir John James Cowperthwaite Madrid and witnessed the dark end of the Spanish Civil War. In 1938, she (1915-2006), was the Financial Secwas in Prague as millions of displaced retary of Hong Kong from 1961 to Czechs, who were escaping from the 1971. His introduction of free market Sudetenland after the Munich Agree- economic policies are widely credited ment, crowded the train stations in with turning postwar Hong Kong into search of food and shelter. In 1945, she a thriving global financial center. He accompanied the US Seventh Army as was asked to find ways in which the it liberated the Dachau concentration government could boost the postwar economy but found it recovercamp from the homicidal Nazis.

Gellhorn was one of the world’s ing swiftly without any government first female war correspondents and intervention. He took the lesson to feminists, as well as a force of nature. heart and “positive non-interventionHer articles are invariably powerful ism” became the focus of his ecoand insightful. In her 1978 memoir, nomic policy. “I came to Hong Kong Travels with Myself and Another, she and found the economy working just fine. So, I left it wrote about acthat way.” He recompanying her fused to collect new husband, Ereconomic statisnest Hemingway, Gellhorn was one of tics to avoid offion a trip to a warthe world’s first female cials meddling in torn Hong Kong the economy. His in 1941. The war correspondents and policies helped it city was on the feminists. to develop from front line, with one of the poorthe imperialist est places on Japanese slowly earth to one of gaining ground against Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese the wealthiest and most prosperous: Nationalists. Landing by plane in “Low taxes, a business-friendly regHong Kong, she penned the following ulatory environment, a lack of state subsidies, lax employment laws, abimpressions of a starving city: “The streets were full of pavement sence of government debt, and free sleepers at night. The brothels were trade are all pillars of the Hong Kong small square wood cubicles, lining a experience of economic developnarrow passage; $2 a night per man ment.”

Cowperthwaite’s hands off apper girl. The crimes were street vending without a license, and a fine no one proach meant he was in daily battle could pay. These people were the real against Whitehall and Westminster.

Hong Kong and this was the most cru- The British government insisted on el poverty, worse than any I had seen higher income tax in Singapore; when before. Worse still because of an air of they told Hong Kong to do the same, eternity; life had always been like this, Cowperthwaite refused. He was an always would be. The sheer numbers, opponent of giving special benefits to the density of bodies, horrified me. business: when a group of businessThere was no space to breathe, these men asked him to provide funds for crushed millions were stifling each a tunnel across Hong Kong harbor, he argued that if it made economic other.”

“When finally I visited a dank ill- sense, the private sector would come lit basement factory where small chil- in and pay for it. It was built privately. dren carved ivory balls within balls, His economic instincts were revealed a favorite tourist trinket, I could not in his first speech as Financial Secrebear to see any more. I had a mild fit tary: “In the long run, the aggregate of decisions of individual businessmen, of hysterics.”

“They look about 10 years old,” I exercising individual judgment in a shouted at the UC [Unwilling Com- free economy, even if often mistaken, panion = Ernest Hemingway]. ‘It takes is less likely to do harm than the centhree months to make one of those tralized decisions of a government, damned things, I think it’s eight balls and certainly the harm is likely to be within balls. They’ll be blind before counteracted faster.”

The 2018 Index of Economic Freethey’re twenty. And that little girl with her tortoise. We’re all living on slave dom ranks Hong Kong as both the frelabor! The people are half starved! est economy in the world, a distinction I want to get out, I can’t stand this it has held since this index began ranking countries over 20 years ago, and place!’”

“UC considered me thoughtfully. among the most prosperous places on ‘The trouble with you, M, is that you earth.

While Hong Kong has its share of think everybody is exactly like you.

What you can’t stand, they can’t stand. problems—not least is the Chinese What’s hell for you has to be hell for government’s crackdown on freedom them. How do you know what they of speech—Hong Kong’s success has feel about their lives? If it was as bad been astonishing. In 1950, an average as you think they’d kill themselves in- citizen of the city earned 35 percent stead of having more kids and setting as much as an average citizen of Hong Kong’s colonial master, Great Britain. of firecrackers.’”

“From agonizing over the lot of my In 2017, an average citizen of Hong Chinese fellow men, I fell into a state Kong earned 37 percent more than a of hysterical disgust with hardly a typical Briton. The poverty that Gellpause. ‘WHY do they all have to spit horn bemoaned is gone—thanks to so much?’ I cried. ‘You can’t put your economic freedom and peace. foot down without stepping on a big eric.jurado@gmail.com slimy glob! And everything stinks of FROM WHERE I STAND

Ricardo...

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all faithfulness—and he had copies of my homily printed and distributed to prominent guests who were in attendance. He kept telling me afterwards that he was still being asked for copies of the homily. I knew, of course, that he was merely being kind.

He was not one to share sparingly.

Beyond the usual lecture at the Philippine Judicial Academy where he was founding chairman of the Department of Civil Law, he conducted mock trials

for new judges, giving them tips even on the littlest of details, such as the way the witness’ chairman should be orientated so as to give the judge the full opportunity to observe the proverbial “conduct and demeanor” of the witness.

I will miss Justice Ricardo C. Puno Sr., but I shall forever be grateful that I had the privilege to walk in his company, even if I would have been content only to stand in his shadow! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

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FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DoJ, BIR asked to probe 2 LP execs for tax evasion

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Department of Justice to prosecute two officials of the Liberal Party and their mining firm for alleged multimillion-peso tax evasion.

In a letter sent to the BIR and the DoJ, the DENR sought an investigation of Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice and LP financier Patrick Angelo “Eric” Gutierrez for “the alleged failure of SR Metals Inc. to disclose and comply fully with its tax obligations.”

The plea for tax probe came af-

ter the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau has found after investigation that SRMI has exceeded the 50,000-ton allowed annual volume for a small-scale miner and consequently, which earlier resulted in the issuance of a cease and desist order against the mining firm.

The letter complaint signed by

DENR Undersecretary for Climate Change Service and Mining Concerns lawyer Analiza Rebuelta said the complaint was also sent to the BIR, tasked to conduct fact-finding probe and case buildup on tax evasion cases before filing with the DoJ for preliminary investigation.

The department also forwarded the complaint it earlier received from Rodney Basiana of Basiana Mining Exploration Corp. and asked the BIR and DoJ to “ look into the tax liabilities of SRMI and its affiliates for failing to pay or remit to BIR the tax due from the 5 percent of the gross proceeds amounting to millions of pesos.”

Basiana accused SRMI of carting away with P2.8 billion in reve-

nue from unauthorized operations.

“SRMI began its operations in 2006 as a swindle—I had been hoodwinked. The government, the DENR, in particular had been duped. SRMI used the documents of BMEC under which Tubay Exploration was assigned to go into operations in the guise of smallscale mining, with a 50,000-ton limit on yearly ore extraction. SRMI used a copy of the official receipt for P5,520 that BMEC paid for in its application for a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement [MPSAI] in 1997 with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the DENR,” Basiana alleged, in its letter complaint to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu.

Importance of prayer underlined by Fr. Padilla of SHJP THE parish priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Brookside, Cainta, Fr. Jaime Padilla, underlined Thursday the importance of prayer—to express a person’s gratitude to God for His blessings.

Padilla was delivering his message during the 7th anniversary of the Elderly Ministry at the Multi-

purpose Hall of the church inside the middle income subdivision of Cainta, Rizal.

“One of the four things I would like to convey to you today, on your anniversary, is the importance of prayer, when we communicate with God and thank Him for the blessings given us in

life,” he told members headed by Wilhelmina Imperial of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. He said he was impressed that the elderly had the regular gathering and story-sharing at least once a month, which “lightens whatever load you have in life.”

“It’s God, of course, who helps

us illuminate our lives, and we should not forget to thank Him for the blessings we enjoy...and we must not forget to pray for long years, long faith and for doing good in our daily life,” the priest told the Elderly Ministry, composed of men and women, 60 years old and above.

500 immigration officers at Naia given new tasks

By Vito Barcelo

AT LEAST 500 immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were rotated anew as part of the agency’s continuing program to prevent corruption and improve its service to the traveling public.

Bureau of Immigration OIC Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas said immigration personnel performing counter duties were given new assignments in Terminals 1, 2 and 3 of the Naia.

It was in November last year that the BI Port Operations Division, which Mariñas heads, implemented a similar rotation of airport personnel.

“There were no exemptions from the personnel movement, and we rotated not just terminals, but also shift schedules,” Mariñas said.

He said the rotation was to “prevent fraternization among employees,” seen as a possible source of corruption in government.

He added that moving employees from one workplace to another has been found to en-

hance productivity and dynamism within an organization.

“After five or six months, we will again rotate their terminal assignments at the airport.

This is a continuing activity that we do not intend to stop or scrap,” he said.

He said the move came after conducting risk assessment in their processes to improve their operations.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the BI would be hiring more immigration personnel in the next few weeks in addition to the 100 personnel who were already hired and deployed to the Naia.

The BI chief said the bureau was determined to hire more Immigration officers to augment its manpower at the Naia to address the perennial problem of long passenger queues at the airport.

Morente added that two weeks ago, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra issued a department order directing 44 immigration officers previously assigned at the BI Main Office and other field offices to report to the Naia.

News

A7

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Name new DSWD chief, Du30 asked

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

MID the mass evacuation of nearly 200,000 residents of flooded low-lying areas in Luzon, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to name a new secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Pimentel also said the governments’ flagship poverty-alleviation program, which has a budget of P89 billion for 2018, “needs a stable and excellent leadership of the DSWD for it to be effectively implemented.”

Continuing heavy monsoon rains triggered by tropical storms have claimed seven fatalities and five missing as of Sunday night and caused the evacuation of residents hit by flooding and the threat

of landslides in at least seven regions.

Pimentel said, “Swift action and urgent decision making are needed to ensure that aid will reach residents of affected areas.”

He said because of the limited powers given by law to acting DSWD Secretary Virginia Nazarrea Orogo, the government’s conditional cash grants to poor families to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of their children below 18 years old, “could unnecessarily suffer.”

Cops to bring home Parojinog

By Francisco Tuyay A POLICE team is scheduled to leave for Taiwan today to fetch and bring back Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog to Manila after two months of detention following his arrest by immigration authorities last May 23.

Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde, however, could not provide specific details of his repatriation.

His return surfaced through leaked reports from unknown sources, but Albayalde would not confirm it except to say “still a plan but that’s a big possibility.”

Parojinog, brother of the late Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., one of the local executives in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list, was arrested last May 23 in Taiwan after violating immigration laws.

His arrest in Taiwan came 10 months after he deserted Ozamiz City following the death of his brother Reynaldo and his wife Susan and 14 others in a raid by PNP operatives last September.

Prior to his arrest in Taiwan, the Ozamiz City councilor was being hunted for his alleged involvement in illegal drugs trade and complicity in other unlawful acts in his turf.

Albayalde said the Taiwan-bound police team would be composed of at least three people to escort-back Parojinog to Manila and would be eventually heavily guarded upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Upon his arrival, Albayalde said Parojinog would be subjected to booking procedures, medical examination and subsequently transferred to the concern court that issued the warrant for his arrest.

Albayalde said Parojinog’s repatriation would be considered vital to investigators particularly matters relating to who facilitated his travel to Taiwan.

Probers would also try to unravel his potential networks and the magnitude of the illegal drugs trade.

The PNP, Albayalde said, would provide enough security escorts for Parojinog’s safety.

Orogo, former undersecretary for special concerns of the DSWD, was named

by President Duterte as acting head last May 8 to replace Undersecretary for General Administrative and Support Services Group Emmanuel Leyco.

The President had earlier named Leyco DSWD officer-in-charge after the Commission of Appointments rejected the adinterim appointment of former secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

Pimentel said a new head was also needed to make sure that the Department’s “propoor” and “pro-people” programs like the KALAHI-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) and the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) would be effectively implemented.

He said the onset of the typhoon season placed the DSWD on a “very significant role in the relief and rehabilitation operations of storm-ravaged provinces across the country.”

Pimentel said he wanted to see the DSWD shielded from politics so it could continue to implement its 29 programs, activities and projects aimed at reducing poverty and improving the lives of the poor.

The DSWD has a P137.55 billion budget this year, sixth among national government agencies with the highest budget allocation.

“DSWD also has role in distribution of aid to the poor under TRAIN Law hence, important that Secretary be appointed as soon as possible!” Pimentel added. With Vito Barcelo

Roque to Senate: Prioritize Universal Health Care Bill

PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday urged the Senate to heed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to pass its version of the Universal Health Care Bill, a measure the Palace spokesman stressed was already passed in September last year by the House of Representatives.

In his radio interviews on Thursday, Roqu—who authored the UHC Bill and was still a member of the House when it passed the measure on third reading— urged the Senate to take its cue from the President, who not only certified the bill as urgent earlier this month, but reiterated his support for the bill in his third State of the Nation Address last Monday.

“The President has sent a clear, loud, and unequivocal message regarding universal healthcare to Congress, and the House has done its part; it’s time for the Senate to do the same,” the former legislator said.

In his Sona, the President acknowledged

that “much needs to be done to improve our healthcare system, which remains highly fragmented, resulting in disparity in health outcomes between the rich and the poor in the urban areas and rural.“ To address this, Duterte said it was necessary to “pool all our resources for health services under the [PhilHealth]; institutionalize primary care as a prerequisite to access higher level of healthcare; and supplement human resource gaps of the LGUs through a National Health Workforce Support System.”

“These will ensure that every Filipino family gets the appropriate, affordable, and quality health services in appropriate facilities and will be protected from financial burden due to sickness,” added the President.

“To this end, I urge the speedy passage of the Universal Health Care Bill authored by Former Representative Harry Roque.“

STL nets P12.4b, up by 146.85% PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan on Thursday said revenues from the Small Town Lottery registered a whopping P12,336,974,971.04 in the first semester of 2018, up by 146.85-percent or P7.4-billion increase compared to the same period last year.

“Our P12.4-billion revenues in STL, which is 146.85 percent higher compared to last year is a testament of PCSO’s success in implementing STL across the country and the government’s fight against all forms of illegal numbers game,” Balutan said in a statement.

In 2017, STL earned P15.7 billion with 81-84 Authorized Agent Corporation-STL. Balutan attributed the big leap of PCSO’s STL revenue to the aggressive efforts of law enforcement partners such as the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines in going against operators and kabos of all illegal numbers game nationwide.

“We would also like to mention the cooperation of our local government units or LGUs in allowing the entry and operations of STL in their respective jurisdiction and to the public in general for accepting and patronizing STL,” Balutan said.

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

3-way tie for lead at Champ Tour TAG AY TAY— Thai Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng flubbed a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 9 and settled for a 69, dropping to joint lead with compatriot Renuka Suksukont and Suksukont Taiwanese Ching Huang as erstwhile leader Pannapa Polnamin faltered in the second round of the $75,000 ICTSI Champion Tour at Tagaytay Midlands here yesterday.

That final hole miss actually typified Wilairungrueng’s struggle on Midlands’ unpredictable putting surface that saw her muff six other birdie chances but the 23-year-old ace from Chiang Rai still moved in the threshold of a second straight championship as Polnamin limped with a 75 in tough condition in afternoon play.

“I’m not getting enough birdies but I’m happy to be among the leaders,” said Wilairungrueng, who ran away with the rain-shortened ICTSI Champion Tour at Manila Southwoods with a bogey-free 10-under card last week.

“I will just try to have fun tomorrow [today] and not expect too much.

But make no mistake about it, I want to win again,” she added.

So do Suksukont and Huang, who shot 69 and 70, respectively, to force a three-way tie for the lead at sevenunder 137 with another Thai, titlehungry Tiranan Yoopan, seizing solo fourth at 138 after a 70 and Nattagate Nimitpongkul also carding a 70 to join Polnamin at 139, guaranteeing a wild finish in the final event of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour put up by ICTSI.

San Miguel Beer’s JuneMar Fajardo will again be a marked man and the focus of Barangay Ginebra’s defense when the two teams open their much anticipated best-of-seven championship showdown in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup today.

SMB, Ginebra begin faceoff

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE wait is finally over.

Goliaths San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra finally begin their all-out war as they open their much anticipated best-of-seven championship showdown in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. Game 1 is scheduled at 7 p.m. tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with both teams eager to come out of the gates swinging.

With all their early tournament struggles behind them, San Miguel Beer and Ginebra are peaking when it matters most with both playing at a very high level leading up to the finals.

The Beermen and the Gin Kings, who have won 10 of their last 11 games

dating back to the eliminations, both easily dismantled their respective foes in the semifinals to arrange their titanic battle ahead.

Defending champion San Miguel Beer annihilated Alaska while Ginebra shrugged off top seed Rain or Shine in the semis with both series ending at 3-1.

Looking forward, coaches of the protagonists see a tough grind ahead

of them given how loaded both powerhouses are in terms of talent and depth.

“Of course, our players want to win another championship and also defend our crown. We’re a veteran team and we will be focused and ready,” said San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria, who is now gunning for his seventh title as Beermen coach. “However, we can’t be complacent against Ginebra.”

“San Miguel is probably one of the greatest teams in the PBA ever but I believe we can match up well with them and we’ll see where that takes us,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, who is looking to add to his championship record of 19 titles as a mentor.

There are a lot of talked about matchups in this war of star-studded teams.

The face-off between leading Best Player of the Conference candidate and

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Rain or Shine to represent PH at Asiad in Indonesia

PSunHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE Plaza Building, 1507 Shaw Boulevard cor Princeton St., Mandaluyong City INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF FORTY-FIVE (45) UNITS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE VEHICLES (EMSVs) FOR PCSO WITH AN ABC OF EIGHTY-ONE MILLION PESOS (PHP81 ,000,000.00) 1.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), through the PCSO Corporate Budget intends to apply the sum Eighty-One Million Pesos (PhP81,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Forty-Five (45) Units of Emergency Medical Service Vehicles (EMSVs) for PCSO. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

PC SO now invites bids for the Procurement of Forty-Five (45) Units of Emergency Medical Service Vehicles (EMSVs) for PCSO. Delivery of Goods shall not exceed ninety (90) calendar days upon winning bidder’s receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed within the last ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

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

4.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders on July 27, 2018 (Friday) up to 9:00 a.m. of August 24, 2018 (Friday) 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 Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP50,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website the following websites: www.pcso.gov.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

5.

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

VENUE

Issuance of the Bidding Documents

July 27, 2018 (Friday) to 9:00 a.m. of August 24, 2018 (Friday)

Pre-Bid Conference

August 6, 2018 (Monday), 1 :30 p.m.

Deadline of Submission of Bids

August 24, 2018 (Friday), 9:30 a.m.

Deadline of Opening of Bids

August 24, 2018 (Friday), 10:00 a.m.

BAC Room, 3/F Conservatory Building, 605 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City

6.

The Pre-Bid Conference is open to prospective bidders.

7.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

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

9.

For further information, please refer to: The Bids and Awards Committee c/o The Secretariat PCSO BAC Room 3/F Conservatory Building 605 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City (02) 997-0247 (Telefax) www.pcso.gov.ph (Sgd) Atty. LAURO A. PATAG BAC Chairperson

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

four-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter will certainly be the center of attraction as the two dominant big men will face each other for the first time in a championship series.

Also, former teammates Justin Brownlee and Renaldo Balkman, who helped carry Alab Pilipinas to a championship in the Asean Basketball League two months ago, will now be matchedup against each other.

The battle of the backcourts is also expected to create fireworks as the deadly trio of Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter will take on LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson and Jeff Chan.

The last time these two teams met in a f inale, the Beermen owned the Gin Kings, 4-1, in last season’s Philippine Cup.

Some of the world’s leading and rising male triathletes taking part in the Ironman 70.3 Philippines which unfolds Aug. 5 at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City are shown here.

Biggest Ironman PH set in Cebu TWENTY-ONE of the world’s leading and rising male triathletes and 17 in the women’s side gear up for what promises to be a battle royale in the biggest gathering ever of endurance runners in Ironman 70.3 Philippines which unfolds Aug. 5 at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City.

Tim Reed, one of Australia’s best triathletes and winner of the event the last three years, will be hard-pressed in his drive for a fourth championship with a slew of equally talented rivals all primed up for the keenly-awaited put up by title sponsor Aguila Energy Drink and Regent Food Corp. and organized and produced by Sunrise Events Inc. Mexican Mauricio Mendez, the former XTERRA champion and winner of the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Davao last March, 12-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown and three-time world titlist Craig Alexander are but three of the early favorites to foil Reed’s record bid in the grueling 1.9km swim-90km bike-21.2km run event.

“Everybody is excited for this particular Ironman race for its star-studded cast in the centerpiece pro division and a championship course ready to challenge even the best in the fold,” said Wilfred Uytengsu, founder of SEI, which incidentally is marking its decade-long staging of triathlon events in the country.

Sam Betten, another top Aussie triathlete who considers Ironman 70.3 Cebu as one of the best Ironman events in the world, is also in the mix along with Kevin Collington, Brad Williams, Matt Burton, Luke McKenzie, Braden Currie, Matthew Chrabot, Josh Amberger, Nathan Groch, Brent McMahon, Mike Phillips, Casey Munro, Michael Raelert, Jakub Langhammer, David Mainwaring and Tyler Butterfield—all raring to prove their worth in the blue-ribbon event backed by presenting sponsors Alaska Milk Corp., Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board Phl.

But it won’t be an all-male show as an equally star-studded cast braces for a spirited duel for the women’s tiara, to be led by Czech Radka Kahlefeldt, who will be shooting for her third crown after ruling the Ironman 70.3 Subic last year and the first Ironman 70.3 Davao.

But like Reed, the former No. 1 in the European Triathlete Union faces a crack roster of rivals out to spoil her drive, including veteran campaigner Dimity Lee Duke, four-time Philippine champion Caroline Steffen and former Ironman Australia titlist Beth McKenzie.

Throw in Anna Eberhardt, Lauren Goss, Beth McKenzie, Bruna Mahn, Sabrina Stadelmann, Saleta Noquiera, Lisa Tyack, Lauren Brandon, Grace Thek, Mel Hauschildt, Simone Maier, Holly Khan, Manami Iijima, Maja Stage Nielsen and Angela Naeth and this upcoming Ironman 70.3 Cebu has all the trimmings of a classic edition.

The elite pro field is part of a record cast of 2,700 triathletes from over 51 countries vying in the event, which also boasts of the one biggest and most complete triathlon expos to date. All finishers will receive podium trophies and medals designed and hand made by world class Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue.

Local celebrities will also spice up the event, backed by venue hosts Province of Cebu, City of Lapu Lapu and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa and bike course partners City of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay, official logistics and courier partner 2GO Express, official hydration partners Gatorade, official energy gel Gu, official swim cap TYR, official footwear and apparel Asics and official registration partner Active Network and official hotels BE Resorts Mactan, Crimson, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan and Mont and Michel and Metropolitan Cebu Water District.

THE core of Rain or Shine team to be handled by coach Yeng Guiao will comprise the Philippine team seeing action in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia.

At least seven to eight Elasto Painters will be included in the pool of players to be submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC), together with three members of the Gilas cadets, a few big men from NLEX, of which Guiao is the coach, and Fil-Am and NBA stalwart Jordan Clarkson.

The SBP, in consultation with Guiao, is looking to submit the list to INASGOC by Friday.

“We’ve been way past the deadline so we’re pushing him, rushing him [coach Yeng] to really come up with the lineup already,” said SBP president Al Panlilio, who was joined by league commissioner Willie Marcial, and Rain or Shine board representative Atty. Mamerto Mondragon during a mini-press conference that followed the regular monthly PBA board meeting on Thursday.

During the meeting, the board formalized its approval of Rain or Shine as the lead team that will overlook the country’s campaign in the Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 Asian showcase.

Panlilio said Guiao has the list of Rain or Shine players he’d like to be part of the team along with cadet players Ricci Rivero, Kobe Paras, and Abu Tratter.

For good measure, the SBP official said Guiao is also working out on possibly getting some of NLEX’s big men be included in the pool.

“I spoke to coach Yeng kanina and he was even thinking of including Asi [Taulava] to help out in guarding the big guys from the other teams,” said Panlilio of the veteran center, who played during the 2002 Asiad in Busan, South Korea.

Bangko Sentral to keep RRR at 18% this year

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said Thursday the Monetary Board will keep the reserve requirements ratio for banks at 18 percent this year while waiting for inflation rate to return to the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Espenilla made the statement a day after the International Monetary Fund said the BSP should consider the idea of pausing for the meantime further reduction in reserve requirements to improve communications and wait until inflation was on a downward path.

“We’ve done enough with 200 bps [basis points] in total RRR cuts this year in line with the strategy to implement this important financial sector reform over the medium term in a gradual and phased manner,” Espenilla said in a response to a query regarding the IMF comment.

“This initiative can resume next year just as inflation returns to target based on our forecast,” Espenilla said.

He said the goal of achieving a single-digit RRR by the end of his term remained “quite attainable without sacrificing effective monetary control.”

The IMF’s comment on RRR was contained in a statement after a team visited Manila and Bohol on July 11 to 25. IMF mission chief Luis Breuer said the IMF supported the Bangko Sentral’s move to reduce the RRR for banks, which was part of an overall financial sector reform agenda.

The IMF staff, however, suggested enhanced communications of the rationale behind the reform for better market understanding and for the BSP to calibrate timing of further cuts in the RRR to consider progress in lowering inflation.

Espenilla said cutting RRR by 200 basis points this year already sent a credible and concrete signal to the financial system of BSP’s commitment to structural reforms so the industry could be guided accordingly in developing their long-term strategic plans.

IN BRIEF

Holcim’s income falls 25% to P1.56b

HOLCIM Cement Philippines Inc. saw its net income decline 25.6 percent in the first six months to P1.56 billion from P2.1 billion a year ago, as costs grew faster than sales.

Holcim said in disclosure to the stock exchange first-half net sales climbed 7.8 percent to P18.75 billion from P17.39 billion in the same period in 2017.

Cost of sales rose 16.4 percent to P14.8 billion from P12.75 billion a year earlier, driven by increasing cost of fuel, power and distribution, coupled with the impact of the depreciation of the peso against the dollar.

Holcim said production in the first half was better than in the same period last year arising from improved productivity across all plants.

Holcim said in the second quarter alone, net income reached P886.6 million, down 25.5 percent from P1.16 billion booked in the second quarter of 2017. Net sales increased 18.5 percent to P10.14 billion from P8.6 billion in 2017.

The double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter was also an improvement from the three previous quarters of decline in sales.

Jenniffer B. Austria

PSALM asked to honor contract

STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. will have to raise $3.2 billion to $3.5 billion as payment to San Miguel Corp. if the former insists on spot market rates as the basis for administrator fee computation.

San Miguel’s subsidiary South Premier Power Corp. trades the contracted capacity of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas plant in Batangas under an independent power producer agreement with PSALM. PSALM is claiming receivables of P22.39 billion from SPPC. The state-run agency said SPPC should have sold its power generation to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity instead of Manila Electric Co. to take advantage of increased revenues due to high WESM prices in November and December 2013.

“We will pay them P20 billion. If [they are] serious, we will pay P20 billion but the contract should now be based on the WESM and we think by 2022, [they will] owe us at least $3.5 billion,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

Ang said PSALM should stick to the terms of reference of the privatization of the Ilijan plant.

He said PSALM should honor the terms of the IPPA contract by using the rates approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission pegged at around P5 per kilowatt-hour and not the higher WESM charges for the last two months of 2013.

Alena Mae S. Flores

ATI actively looking for foreign acquisitions

ASIAN Terminal Inc. said it is “actively” looking to acquire ports outside the Philippines.

“We’re on the lookout for that. We’re always on the lookout for that. Nothing specific, but if there’s a good opportunity that comes, we’ll certainly consider,” ATI president Eusebio Tanco said.

Tanco said ATI would “invest a quite a bit this year.”

“We have a lot of projects. We are expanding the South Harbor. And then we are expanding Batangas. And we’re moving into logistics,” Tanco said.

ATI programmed P8 billion for 2018 capital expenditures, up by 74 percent from last year’s P4.6 billion, to expand the capacity of ports in Manila and Batangas.

The company reported a net income of P2.5 billion last year, up 31 percent from P1.9 billion in 2016.

ATI’s revenues rose 15 percent in 2017 to P10.6 billion from P9.2 billion in 2016 on higher volumes of containerized cargoes and favorable cargo mix in the non-containerized segment.

ATI’s international ports in Manila and Batangas handled a combined container cargo throughput of over 1.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units last year. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

B1

PLDT disputes Labor’s directive P

By Darwin G. Amojelar

LDT Inc. is questioning the Labor Department’s directive to regularize more than 7,300 employees of the company’s service contractors.

PLDT in a manifestation sought to impugn the clarificatory order of Labor Secretary Silvestro Bello III, saying it was “irregularly issued, procedurally inappropriate, based on selective and/or biased information and vague.”

“It was irregularly issued because, among others, the clarificatory order was released even though the previous

orders of the Labor Secretary [issued on Jan. 10 and April 24, 2018] are final, cannot be modified and subject to the proceedings before the Court of Appeals,” it said.

“If the intent of the clarificatory order is to expand, modify or alter the regularization orders, then to that extent it contravenes jurisprudence and established procedure,” PLDT said in the manifestation.

PLDT said the order was also issued without giving the company a chance to be properly heard, as required by due process of law.

The leading telecom company earlier advised its customers about operational issues, after the Labor Department issued a cease and desist order to a number of its service providers requiring them to stop rending services to PLDT.

Bello released the clarificatory order immediately after he met with representatives of PLDT labor union, the Manggagawa sa Komunikasyon sa Pilipinas, on July 11, 2018. PLDT said in an earlier manifestation to the Labor secretary on July 16, said did not receive a notice calling it to such a meeting.

“Regretfully, because the clarificatory order was issued immediately after this meeting with the MKP, it cannot escape the impression that the order is based entirely on a factual position advocated by the MKP which is … inaccurate and misleading. In all candor, these circumstances also increase PLDT’s concern that it will not receive a fair hearing on this matter before this Honorable Office,” PLDT said.

PLDT said the clarificatory order was

issued because the Labor secretary appeared to have concluded that PLDT was “defying or disobeying its regularization orders”.

“If this is the conclusion of the clarificatory order or this honorable office, then with due respect it is wrong. PLDT has not taken any act to ‘frustrate or tend to frustrate’ this honorable office’s regularization orders,” PLDT said.

PLDT said its intake process is “the logical, reasonable and necessary step in response to those regularization orders.”

The process does not require workers in the Labor Department’s list to “apply” for employment, contrary to the false and misleading claims by the MKP. PLDT said it was not even asked by the Labor secretary to explain the intake process.

Four gaming firms want to invest $800m in Cagayan

By Othel V. Campos

CHINA BANK’S AWARDS. China Banking Corp. receives double honors from Hong Kong-based publication Corporate Governance Asia at the recent 8th Asian Excellence Awards. China Bank was again named the Best Investor Relations Company (Philippines) while the bank’s senior vice president and investor and corporate relations group head Alexander Escucha was awarded Best Investor Relations Professional (Philippines) again. Receiving the awards are (from left) China Bank president William Whang, chairman Hans Sy, senior vice president and investor and Escucha.

MPTC named original proponent for Tagaytay Expressway A UNIT of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. secured the original proponent status from the Public Works Department for the P22.4 billion CaviteTagaytay-Batangas Expressway project.

“We are glad to award the original proponent status to Metro Pacific Tollways South. Their commitment to nation-building is commendable,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

MPTC South became the first company that was granted an original proponent status for a new expressway under the Duterte administration.

CTBex is a 50.4-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu, with another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.

Villar said CTBEX would decongest about 23,000 vehicles daily from existing thoroughfare.

“Our objective in proposing this

road is connectivity, providing thousands of motorists an alternative route to and from Region 4A. It is sensible connection to CaLaEx [Cavite-Laguna Expressway], as both alignments will decongest traffic in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas,” MPTC South president and chief executive Luigi Bautista said.

“This awarding of the original proponent status of CTBEX is just the beginning, we are cognizant that this proposal will still be subject to NEDA approval, successful negotiation with DPWH on the terms on the concession and lastly, a Swiss Challenge; al of which should be completed by the second quarter of 2019,” he said.

Bautista said construction of the project was expected to start by 2020, subject to the acquisition of right of way.

Completion date is 2022.

Once completed, the project would cut travel time from Sta. Rosa, Laguna

HK company plans to spend $1.5b in Entertainment City

By Jenniffer B. Austria HONG KONG-LISTED Landing International Development Ltd. said a wholly-owned unit obtained a license from state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for its planned $1.5-billion integrated resort project in Parañaque City.

The project would become the fifth resort to open in the Entertainment City project of Pagcor.

Landing International said in disclosure to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange unit Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. signed a provisional license agreement with Pagcor for the establishment of a resort that would open by 2022.

“The total investment of the Integrated Resort is currently estimated to be approximately US$1,500,000,000 and will be funded by the group’s internal resources and/or debt financing. The group will not seek to fund this new project by way of any form of equity financing, be it via open offers, share placements, rights issues, or

any other form of equity fundraising,” the company said.

The group said it planned to hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the integrated resort on Aug. 7.

Sources said the project would be located in the former Nayong Filipino in Paranaque City. The planned facility will be built on a 9.5-hectare of land with a gross floor area of 329,000 square meters.

It will feature a Filipino cultural theme park, an indoor waterpark, an indoor movie-based theme park, a convention centre, luxury hotels, retail and dining areas and other commercial and entertainment facilities.

The final master plan for the project is still subject for approval by Pagcor.

Pagcor earlier issued licenses to four companies in Entertainment City complex, including Solaire Resort and Casino, City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila and Westside City Resorts World Manila.

The first three resorts are already operational.

to Nasugbu, Batangas from 2.5 hours to just an hour.

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

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

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

The company is also building the P26billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway project, an 8.25-km bridge that will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova. The project is expected to be completed by 2020.

Darwin G. Amojelar

FOUR foreign gaming and entertainment companies are seeking permission from the Cagayan Economic and Freeport Zone Authority to establish integrated resorts with combined investments of at least $800 million.

A Hong Kong-based company plans to put up a $500-million integrated casino and resort complex in the 10,000-hectare Fuga Island in Cagayan province.

Three Japanese, Korean and Malaysian companies also committed to invest $100 million each for the construction of hotels with casino components in Cagayan.

“We haven’t finalized anything yet.

I happened to receive their letters only recently and we’re still discussing how to go about it. Their proposals are akin to the operations of Resorts World and Solaire Resort and Casino.

I gather that the minimum investment for the casino hotel is about $100 million and for an integrated casino and resort facility is about $500 million,” Ceza administrator and chief executive Raul Lambino said at the sidelines of the launch of blockchain technology company Liannet Technology Ltd. Liannet is a subsidiary of the Apsaras Group Ltd. of Hong Kong.

Lambino said Ceza was not covered by the moratorium on construction of new gaming facilities issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. He said Ceza is an independent body and has the authority to issue operation licenses to any investor company including gaming firms.

Lambino said Ceza had a standing inventory of 55,000 hectares of idle lands, public and private, that could be utilized by the gaming companies.

He said the agency was also willing to look for new sites in Cagayan to accommodate the foreign investors.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain for third straight day

T

HE stock market rose for the third straight day Thursday on prospects of a strong economy this year and the next.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 151.85 points, or 2 percent, to 7,665.85 on a value turnover of P6.7 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 125 to 79, with 42 issues unchanged.

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday kept its 2018 growth forecast for the Philippines at 6.7 percent and predicted the economy would sustain the pace in 2018 and 2019.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which is into power generation and distribution, banking, flour mill, cement manufacturing and infrastructure, surged 5.3 percent to P54.95.

SM Investments Corp. of retail ty-

coon Henry Sy Sr. advanced 3.9 percent to P969, while unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. climbed 3.3 percent to P37.50. JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei gained 3.7 percent to P54.95.

The rest of Asian stocks mostly fell Thursday as investor relief at US President Donald Trump and the European Commission chief’s plan to ease trade tensions was offset by disappointing Wall Street earnings.

Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker announced the agreement after talks Wednesday at the White House, as the two major economies sought to end the dispute that had rattled markets and sparked fears of an all-out global trade war.

The plan means Washington will not follow through with a threat to impose tariffs on autos, which would hurt the dominant German car industry, while

growth in the second quarter met expectations.

The EU-US deal had given American equities a “late boost,” said Jingyi Pan, market strategist at trading group IG. But she added that “the blips in the latest US earnings performances look to undercut some of these positive inspirations for the Asian region.”

The biggest shock of Wednesday’s results came from Facebook, which reported a stunningly weak financial outlook that raised fresh concerns for the company giant as it tries to recover from the impact of data protection scandals and investigations.

After-hours trade saw Facebook shares plunge by some 21 percent, wiping out an estimated $130 billion in market value if the slump is confirmed at Thursday’s market opening.

With AFP

the pair also vowed to look at existing duties on steel and aluminum imposed by the US that had angered the EU. Asian bourses initially made gains at the open Thursday, tracking overnight advances in the US. But most exchanges quickly fell back into negative territory with analysts blaming the lackluster US results, from companies including social networking giant Facebook and major carmakers.

Tokyo closed down 0.1 percent, with speculation that the Bank of Japan could review its buying of exchange-traded funds to invest in listed companies at a meeting next week adding to negative sentiment.

Shanghai ended 0.7 percent lower, Sydney closed flat while Hong Kong was down 0.5 percent.

Seoul bucked the negative trend, rising 0.7 percent, as investors cheered official data showing that economic

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JULY 26, 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 FILIPINO FUND IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

59.95 99 2.71 135 1.54 33.15 6.7 16.48 14.5 4.21 9.61 1.64 850 0.54 74 1.02 11.9 19.8 48.45 194 88 28.75 204 1,870 84.4

60 100 2.8 138 1.54 33.2 6.7 16.48 14.7 4.6 9.61 1.64 850 0.55 74.3 1.04 11.9 19.8 48.8 204 88 30.2 206.6 1,870 84.5

59.9 98.95 2.7 135 1.54 33.05 6.68 16.42 14.5 3.95 9.61 1.64 850 0.53 73.75 1.02 11.9 19.8 47.6 193.7 88 28.75 204 1,870 84

FINANCIALS 60 47,100 99.5 1,944,170 2.76 26,000 137.5 3,225,970 1.54 1,000 33.05 210,900 6.68 2,400 16.42 21,200 14.56 663,100 4.11 7,347,000 9.61 2,000 1.64 5,000 850 30 0.54 565,000 74 4,933,580 1.04 274,000 11.9 24,800 19.8 100 48.8 94,300 204 1,440 88 460 29.5 656,400 204 144,210 1,870 50 84.5 1,190

2,823,900 193,729,653.50 70,450 443,058,759 1,540 6,983,610 16,076 348,152 9,674,850 31,512,130 19,220 8,200 25,500 305,190 365,440,424.50 282,710 295,120 1,980 4,574,130 282,707 40,480 19,347,505 29,539,286 93,500 100,450.50

2,774,756.50 -18,092,639 153,735,045 1,554,605 -5,004,500 429,590.00 30,079,459 -2,178,875 -14,280 2,323,010 6,253,270 -10,134.50

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL 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 LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

36.55 15.78 0.81 1.17 0.243 3.47 16 195 39 21.35 52 66.75 91.5 1.84 7.56 10.32 15.88 10.8 7.17 5.09 15.06 62.9 24.5 7.35 14 2.5 253 38.15 5.06 3.32 14.48 27 12.4 19.16 375 0.181 2.22 4.17 8.7 5.62 7.97 1.21 11.7 55.4 6.01 4.7 2.55 1.86 13.56 67.8 5.3 1.22 129 2.53 2.6 1.56

36.6 15.88 0.81 1.18 0.246 3.53 16 195 39.4 21.75 52 67 91.5 1.86 7.6 10.38 15.9 10.9 7.32 5.12 15.5 63 24.5 7.74 14.38 2.51 257.8 38.15 5.07 3.32 14.48 27.1 12.7 19.7 379 0.185 2.25 4.17 8.83 5.82 7.97 1.21 12 56.5 6.36 4.7 2.55 1.87 13.7 69.5 5.31 1.26 132.9 2.53 2.67 1.57

36.25 15.62 0.78 1.17 0.235 3.4 15.7 195 38.55 21.35 52 66.75 91.45 1.83 7.56 10.26 15.74 10.6 7.17 5.06 15.06 61.95 23.8 7.34 14 2.4 252 38.15 5 3.32 14.48 26.1 12.4 19.1 375 0.18 2.22 4.1 8.67 5.6 7.9 1.19 11.66 55.4 6.01 4.68 2.35 1.84 13.52 67.8 5.29 1.2 129 2.53 2.6 1.52

INDUSTRIAL 36.6 1,411,600 15.74 546,100 0.79 2,163,000 1.18 303,000 0.241 9,510,000 3.48 4,288,000 15.9 14,300 195 10 39 498,700 21.75 8,200 52 3,010 66.95 150 91.45 20 1.84 84,000 7.6 1,300 10.3 2,508,100 15.9 921,600 10.9 587,200 7.3 804,500 5.1 2,213,100 15.2 388,500 62.85 244,240 24.2 19,400 7.4 169,400 14.28 589,800 2.4 1,799,000 256.2 714,360 38.15 300 5.06 105,100 3.32 2,000 14.48 2,700 26.25 596,100 12.5 317,700 19.3 1,599,500 378.8 277,700 0.18 460,000 2.24 45,000 4.12 157,000 8.8 1,967,100 5.78 243,500 7.96 3,500 1.19 88,000 12 141,800 56 40,780 6.05 15,800 4.68 55,000 2.5 185,000 1.87 818,000 13.7 69,400 69.5 154,890 5.3 313,000 1.25 2,686,000 131 1,405,130 2.53 3,000 2.65 8,158,000 1.53 5,063,000

51,594,415 6 8,606,506 1,707,770 356,660 2,282,680 14,891,590 226,790 1,950 19,498,370 175,750 156,520 10,039.50 1,829.50 154,480 9,832 25,883,478 14,650,262 6,358,698 5,848,770 11,253,285 5,930,522 15,285,658 467,880 1,256,883 8,432,362 4,378,300 183,033,852 11,445 525,967 6,640 39,096 15,698,310 3,985,416 31,001,814 104,984,994 83,150 100,560 648,100 17,297,436 1,390,164 27,760 105,430 1,679,072 2,286,852 95,842 258,400 449,070 1,522,860 944,716 10,676,983 1,658,942 3,306,260 184,252,074 7,590 21,503,950 7,767,390

,126,279.9997 394,018 164,910 2,350,050 -196,560 -3,940 -104,520 1,850 -11,553,838 10,531,674 5,349,976 -3,124,521 -10,854,014 2,060,318 2,362,602 -1,025,663 -1,091,072 12,000 -22,567,710 30,363 -10,696,110 -993,704 1,192,250 31,553,518 -22,400 -288,990 368,412 1,030,068 -18,349 -511,890 -1,624,620.50 58,360 100,000 23,247,851 -37,060 -55,110

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

0.245 53.3 12 0.97 6.1 30.6 0.78 0.79 970 6.2 11.32 7 4.5 988 5.97 53 0.58 3.78 17.28 0.7 4.75 0.039 1.31 2.83 2.6 136.8 2.55 941 1.61 260 0.345

0.249 55.3 12.18 0.99 6.1 31.8 0.84 0.88 984.5 6.2 11.48 7.2 4.5 990 6.77 55.2 0.61 3.79 17.96 0.71 4.79 0.039 1.35 2.84 2.6 136.8 2.55 969 1.61 261 0.355

0.243 52.95 11.84 0.92 6.06 30.15 0.77 0.79 969 6.14 11.26 7 4.5 969.5 5.97 53 0.57 3.71 17.22 0.69 4.59 0.037 1.31 2.78 2.6 135.8 2.55 941 1.6 260 0.345

HOLDING FIRMS 0.244 1,600,000 54.95 1,677,310 11.88 8,169,200 0.99 27,000 6.09 117,600 30.7 109,500 0.8 59,321,000 0.83 25,972,000 980 314,780 6.18 818,800 11.32 3,467,600 7.19 1,100 4.5 2,000 985 103,850 6.73 6,800 54.95 2,085,210 0.61 763,000 3.78 574,000 17.62 3,065,700 0.71 7,032,000 4.59 50,441,000 0.037 600,000 1.33 775,000 2.79 428,000 2.6 51,000 136 258,590 2.55 5,000 969 580,280 1.6 6,000 261 350 0.35 9,110,000

390,010 91,894,092 97,736,728 25,980 714,565 ( 3,358,830 48,069,700 22,058,110 308,050,945 5,060,153 39,305,344 7,895 9,000 101,981,215 41,996 114,041,278 438,250 2,163,830 54,017,196 4,934,600 235,895,720 22,400 1,027,730 1,202,250 132,600 35,169,197 12,750 555,482,065 9,610 91,100 3,178,250

29,804,889.50 -58,519,274 625,079.9998) 307,250 8,524,070 78,283,545 205,095 20,867,122 -902,285 55,610,102.50 149,650 -19,952,592 -1,749,440 -38,492,300 -8,430 -7,485,601 248,818,295 -

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

7.67 0.96 14.56 1.86 0.73 40.6 3.28 4.61 5.7 0.435 0.95 0.96 0.22 0.4 9.2 25.95 0.6 0.116 1.45 1.26 1.49 4.8 0.58 0.435 0.51

7.7 0.97 14.8 1.9 0.74 41.2 3.28 4.66 5.7 0.445 0.95 0.98 0.222 0.4 9.35 26.5 0.6 0.116 1.45 1.26 1.49 4.86 0.59 0.445 0.51

7.54 0.96 14.4 1.86 0.72 40.4 3.19 4.51 5.62 0.435 0.94 0.96 0.218 0.4 9.2 25.95 0.6 0.116 1.43 1.22 1.46 4.73 0.58 0.435 0.5

2,018,885 814,730 42,008 144,370 270,430 878,906,605 1,567,580 6,531,640 76,670 5,378,600 64,870 181,070 1,288,770 8,000 2,979,160 9,060,765 94,200 58,000 16,984,940 1,678,680 4,789,170 189,827,870 3,285,870 712,000 1,394,310

-533,564 11,520 231,419,770 -59,430 -246,780 -286,500 56,230 -18,600 1,089,290 -9,564,990 390,550 96,827,430 58,000 -

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

3.6 19.5 2.05 3.23 36.55 1.14 7.45 0.75 5.95

3.7 19.76 2.06 3.24 37.5 1.15 7.63 0.77 5.99

3.58 19.5 2.04 3.22 36.55 1.14 7.45 0.75 5.94

3.7 19.62 2.06 3.22 37.5 1.14 7.54 0.77 5.97

1,583,000 4,290,600 193,000 39,000 8,868,200 4,875,000 386,300 69,000 3,219,900

5,758,040 84,131,614 396,380 126,060 331,661,360 99 5,575,070 2,918,353 51,820 19,212,108

1,829,000 -13,911,190 100,450.00 ,732,675.0004 817,420 -12,158,168

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA 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 NOW CORP PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

14.3 22.5 1.35 0.48 0.045 13.3 5.01 11.04 0.058 70.3 7.28 7.24 2.15 27.95 930 1,780 5.43 272 3.61 2.15 80.7 13.68 7.89 0.139 2.78 3.64 14.7 4.37 1.05 25 4.33 7.05 2.7 1.99 2.1 9.2 8.63 3.25 117 5.89 1,355 0.98 0.35 45.5 81.55 8.53 1.96 1.13 0.53 5.33 0.75 11.76

14.78 22.85 1.35 0.485 0.046 13.5 5.01 11.04 0.06 72 7.3 7.24 2.15 28.8 930 1,810 5.43 279 3.7 2.15 84.1 13.68 7.89 0.141 3.07 3.64 14.72 4.4 1.08 25 4.73 7.16 2.77 2.02 2.1 9.3 8.9 3.4 118 5.89 1,380 0.98 0.36 46.2 85.25 8.67 2.15 1.13 0.56 5.33 0.76 11.76

14.3 22.5 1.35 0.47 0.045 13.3 5 10.64 0.057 70.3 7.18 7.24 2.15 27.6 930 1,780 5.31 271.8 3.53 2.15 80.6 13.68 7.89 0.135 2.76 3.6 14.7 4.31 1.04 24.5 4.33 6.81 2.65 1.98 1.93 9.16 8.63 3.25 115.5 5.66 1,355 0.91 0.35 44.85 81.55 8.22 1.96 1.12 0.52 5.11 0.74 11.6

SERVICES 14.5 22.85 1.35 0.47 0.046 13.5 5 10.76 0.057 71.5 7.26 7.24 2.15 27.95 930 1,804 5.4 279 3.56 2.15 83.35 13.68 7.89 0.136 3.05 3.6 14.7 4.31 1.06 24.65 4.65 6.99 2.74 2 1.93 9.16 8.9 3.4 116 5.75 1,361 0.91 0.35 45.3 83.95 8.64 2.08 1.13 0.54 5.18 0.74 11.66

10,300 20,100 100,000 3,080,000 1,600,000 2,700 14,100 9,948,000 28,490,000 153,190 1,183,100 400 4,000 107,900 10 37,225 79,700 3,050 862,000 4,000 1,294,770 500 10,000 6,490,000 13,771,000 4,000 2,400 685,000 1,523,000 1,204,200 700,000 4,412,800 751,000 218,000 47,000 1,575,900 3,000 2,000 3,200 680,100 75,085 18,227,000 310,000 1,890,100 407,760 284,600 18,283,000 1,328,000 32,120,000 1,174,700 3,033,000 648,800

149,956 456,110 135,000 1,456,950 72,800 35,930 70,591 107,228,344 1,646,710 10,948,510.5(2, 8,583,457 2,896 8,600 3,009,865 9,300 67,140,075 427,520 843,362 3,078,510 8,600 107,711,083 6,840 78,900 888,380 40,956,010 14,440 35,282 2,975,970 1,613,900 29,756,485 3,252,410 30,640,859 2,055,680 435,890 92,160 14,500,069 26,160 6,650 372,883 3,921,490 102,371,550 16,934,590 109,100 85,586,050 34,173,724.5 ( 2,413,006 1 37,626,970 1,492,740 ( 17,395,030 6,114,427 2,276,650 7,580,826

-22,353,024 -58,000 223,646.0003) -2,331,578 5,660 -28,097,125 261,790 22,843,639.50 821,950 201,910.00 372,000 27,150 2,432,619 192,550 3,880 105,588 -1,726 3,400 -187,317 -37,732 12,016,120 -1,914,910 -32,485,635 18,688,923.5) ,568,516.9997 3,636,580 931,739.9999) -393,250 -1,101,198 -516,890 -2,478,362

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

0.0025 1.44 3.9 20.6 1.94 0.3 7.21 2.11 0.229 0.125 0.127 0.0077 1.53 4.39 1.18 0.53 1.09 0.013 0.012 3.05 4.44 10.6 32.85

0.0026 1.47 3.9 21 1.94 0.31 7.57 2.12 0.229 0.125 0.127 0.0077 1.53 4.52 1.21 0.53 1.14 0.013 0.012 3.08 4.55 10.86 32.85

0.0025 1.43 3.89 20.5 1.89 0.3 7.21 2.08 0.224 0.121 0.127 0.0077 1.53 4.36 1.17 0.53 1.09 0.012 0.011 3 4.44 10.6 31.9

MINING & OIL 0.0026 40,000,000 1.43 1,015,000 3.89 76,000 21 4,300 1.94 1,509,000 0.305 840,000 7.57 3,200 2.08 62,621,000 0.224 390,000 0.122 2,130,000 0.127 470,000 0.0077 1,000,000 1.53 3,000 4.45 1,454,000 1.2 302,000 0.53 15,000 1.13 1,147,000 0.012 18,900,000 0.012 1,200,000 3 86,000 4.5 252,000 10.78 510,700 31.9 1,278,200

100,100 1,459,040 296,140 89,470 2,890,390 252,700 23,108 131,473,790 87,990 261,350 59,690 7,700 4,590 6,476,380 354,240 7,950 1,283,960 227,300 13,800 259,660 1,136,970 5,509,430 41,058,615

-15,580 1,940 232,870 1,142,160 -52,730 8,990 -91,128 -25,782,080

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

21.5 501.5 101.7 101.9 104 507 5.16 100.2 1.04 102.5 101 976 76 79.1 75.05 76.7 77 75.3 75.5 75.55

22 502 101.7 102 104 507 5.25 100.2 1.04 102.5 101 1,000 76 79.1 75.05 76.7 77 75.3 75.5 75.6

21.4 501.5 101.6 101.5 104 505 5.16 100.2 1.04 102.5 101 975 76 79.1 75.05 76.7 77 75.3 75.5 75.55

PREFERRED 21.7 46,200 502 6,700 101.6 400 102 14,230 104 2,600 505 3,230 5.25 121,200 100.2 940 1.04 10,000 102.5 16,000 101 30 976 7,490 76 20,560 79.1 3,350 75.05 20,000 76.7 26,000 77 1,000 75.3 20,350 75.5 38,010 75.6 1,930

995,565 3,363,000 40,660 1,450,740 270,400 1,631,190 636,092 94,188 10,400 1,640,000 3,030 7,357,410 1,562,560 264,985 1,501,000 1,994,200 77,000 1,532,355 2,869,755 145,858

-66,845 20,340 -629,900 390,400 -1,562,560 15,100 -

LR WARRANT

2.75

2.75

2.57

WARRANTS 2.6 404,000

1,069,390

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.21 3.21

5.28 3.21

5.2 3.15

5.24 3.19

2,162,198 3,948,600

29,868 828,320

FIRST METRO ETF

113

114.5

112.3

1,110,664

210,900

MS

PROPERTY 7.55 0.97 14.4 1.88 0.74 40.85 3.2 4.66 5.62 0.44 0.94 0.98 0.219 0.4 9.32 26.15 0.6 0.116 1.44 1.23 1.47 4.86 0.59 0.445 0.5

264,200 848,000 2,900 77,000 370,000 21,502,700 489,000 1,414,000 13,500 12,220,000 69,000 186,000 5,860,000 20,000 321,100 347,100 157,000 500,000 11,804,000 1,365,000 3,246,000 39,368,000 5,603,000 1,620,000 2,783,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

USD TECH B2

1.01

TRADING SUMMARY

1.01

SHARES

FINANCIAL

22,663,774

INDUSTRIAL

54,827,861

HOLDING FIRMS

182,680,754

PROPERTY

134,020,306

SERVICES

166,109,622

MINING & OIL

135,315,522

GRAND TOTAL

697,285,930

1.01

SME

413,600 1,244,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 114.3 9,780 1.01

DDS

33,200

33,532

-

VALUE 1,893.84 (up) 19.17 1,347,803,865.35 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,774.96 (up) 170.73 805,876,753.52 HOLDING FIRMS 7,547.92 (up) 197.47 1,799,812,535.18 PROPERTY 3,757.32 (up) 69.92 1,484.06 (up) 11.63 1,579,654,576.47 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,822.11 (down) 63.71 928,218,028.37 PSEI 7,665.85 (up) 151.85 193,359,666.32 All Shares Index 4,605.52 (up) 69.99 6,661,949,600.54 Gainers: 125; Losers: 79; Unchanged: 42; Total: 246

Aboitiz Power approves sale of retail bonds worth P27b

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE board of Aboitiz Power Corp. on Thursday approved the issuance of fixed-rate retail bonds amounting to P27 billion out of the P30 billion worth of debt instruments registered in 2017 with the Securities Exchange Commission.

“The bonds will be issued in one or more tranches depending on market conditions and are expected to be offered to the general public in the third or fourth quarter of 2018,” Aboitiz Power said.

Aboitiz Power successfully listed the first tranche of its P30-billion shelfregistered securities consisting of P3 billion in Series A Fixed Rate Bonds due 2027 in the secondary market of Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. in July last year. The company plans to list the new bonds with the PDEx. Aboitiz Power will use the proceeds of the bonds to finance, potential acquisitions, future investments, refinance existing debt, and other general corporate requirements subject to the discretion of management.

Aboitiz Power has earmarked a capital expenditure budget of P62 billion this year, with the bulk to be spent on the ongoing construction of the 1,336-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Diningin, Mariveles.

The company is also looking at acquisition opportunities locally and internationally to expand its generation portfolio.

Part of the budget will be spent for the Therma Visayas coal plant (340 MW), Pagbilao unit 3 (420 MW), the capital expenditure of its distribution utility unit and other purposes.

The company is searching for opportunities in the overseas power markets such as Myanmar and Indonesia, while at the same time evaluating local investments.

Aboitiz Power’s capacity sold 3,215 MW in the first quarter, up 22 percent from 2,630 MW year-on-year, driven by the new capacity of Pagbilao 3 and an increase in the number of contracts.

Aboitiz Power is the holding company of the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, and retail electricity services.

Philex posted P552-m income in 1st 6 months PHILEX Mining Corp. on Thursday posted a lower net income of P552 million in the first half of 2018, down 23 percent from P719 million year-on-year.

Philex Mining said Thursday in a disclosure that core net income fell 14 percent to P646 million in the first six months from P748 million on year.

“These results reflect lower metal production, higher non-cash charges and a 100-percent increase in excise tax rates,” it said.

Philex Mining said the Padcal mine milled 4.388 million tons of ore during the period or 6 percent higher than 4.138 million tons a year ago when low delivery was experienced due to issues associated with bouldery ore, equipment availability and ground problem.

The company said it was currently addressing the issues.

Consolidated revenues amounted to P4.646 billion, down from P4.756 billion in the same period last “due to lower metal output, brought about by lower head grades and lower recovery, partially offset by higher tonnage, improved metal prices, and favorable foreign exchange rates.”

Revenue from copper reached P2.262 billion during the period from P2.007 billion a year ago as the average realized copper prices rose to $3.11 per pound from $2.65.

Increased revenues offset lower copper production of 14.149 million pounds during the period from 14.992 million pounds a year ago.

Gold revenue totaled P2.349 billion from P2.71 billion as average gold prices reached $1,314 per ounce from $1,258.

Gold production, however, is lower at 34,583 ounces from 43,251 ounces last year.

Revenues from silver declined to P35.9 million from P38.9 million last year.

Philex Mining said as the challenges of operating the mature Padcal mine continued, the company was exploring several globally-accepted mining practices geared toward mine life extension beyond 2022. Alena Mae S. Flores

World IN BRIEF

SWAMPED. People use a makeshift ferry to cross the swollen Xe Khong river due to flash flooding in Sanamxai, Attapeu province, on July 25, 2018. Rescuers recovered 19 bodies and hundreds remain missing after a dam collapse swamped several villages in southern Laos, as survivors on July 25 questioned why they got little warning on the deluge. AFP

Australia told to change its flag WELLINGTON―New Zealand’s Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters called on neighboring Australia to change its flag Thursday, saying it had pinched the Kiwi banner’s design and was causing confusion.

“We designed it and they borrowed it and if we wanted to clear the matter Manila up they should change their flag,” Peters Standard TODAY told reporters.

“It must be patently obvious that all over the world people are confused. I’ve been in places like Turkey and elsewhere where they’ve confused our countries on the basis of those flags. It’s not helpful.”

Both the New Zealand and Australian flags are dark blue with the Union Jack emblem of former colonial power Britain in the top right corner.

The only major difference is that the Australian version has six white stars, five representing the Southern Cross, while New Zealand depicts the constellation with four red stars.

Peters, who is temporarily leading the country while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is on maternity leave, feels strongly about the flag issue.

The 73-year-old also raised it earlier this week, complaining “we got there first with this design”. AFP

Russia dismisses US Crimea declaration MOSCOW―Russia scoffed at a US declaration saying that Washington would not accept Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, suggesting Washington’s Ukraine policy could change in the future.

“We know the worth of these ‘fateful declarations’,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakarova said in a sarcastic comment on Facebook.

She suggested that Washington’s Crimea policy could still change―perhaps even under a new leader in the future.

She said that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran and the Paris agreement for slowing climate change “were also official US policy not long ago” because Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama “personally decided so.”

“And then Trump came and decided differently,” she wrote late Wednesday.

The US government said Wednesday it would not accept Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, as Trump stepped up his damage control operation after a hugely controversial summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. AFP

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FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

WASHINGTON-US President Donald CYAN MAGENTA YELLOWdelayed BLACKa second Trump on Wednesday summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, while his top diplomat insisted there was no letup against Moscow following the two leaders’ controversial meeting in Helsinki.

Facing mounting calls to release the details of Trump’s closed-door talks with Putin, the US administration stepped up its damage control operation, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo going before Congress to defend his boss.

The US president himself, under fire for plans to invite Putin to the White House in the fall, opted to delay until 2019―pushing the talks back until Robert Mueller has completed his probe into Moscow’s election interference, according to National Security Advisor John Bolton.

And Pompeo went on the offensive to stress steps Trump has taken to show resolve against the Kremlin, stepping into a white-hot spotlight during a three-hour grilling by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The top diplomat said he would back bipartisan efforts in Congress to slap new sanctions on Russia in response to the examples of Germany in the 1920s their meddling in the 2016 US election, and Zimbabwe in the 2000s. and as a deterrent against meddling this Poverty climbed to 87 percent in 2017 and year or in 2020. extreme poverty to 61 percent, according to “I personally made clear to the Rusa group of leading Venezuelan universities. sians that there will be severe consequences for interference in our demoThey said six out of 10 people claim cratic processes,” he said in his opening to have lost on average 11 kilograms (24 statement. pounds) due to hunger. Maduro’s governBut Pompeo remained frustratingly ment refutes those numbers, claiming exvague about perhaps the biggest questreme poverty is at only 4.4 percent. tion of all: what transpired in the private Venezuela, though, is dependent on its meeting between Trump and Putin? oil exports that account for 96 percent Pompeo reaffirmed as official policy of revenues, but output has dropped to that the United States “rejects Russia’s its lowest level in 30 years―1.5 million attempted annexation of Crimea”―an barrels a day, from 3.2 million in 2008― issue on which Trump had appeared to according to the Organization of the Oil waver.

Producing Countries.

And with the US president accused― This has prevented the country from benincluding by members of his own Reefiting from a recovery in oil prices, while publican Party―of casting doubt on the the Maduro government’s decision to print alliance’s founding principle of mutual more money due to lack of foreign exchange defense, Pompeo sought to smooth rufhas provoked economic paralysis. fled feathers.

The IMF justified its projection saying it “NATO will remain an indispensable expects the government to continue printpillar of American national security,” he ing more money, fueling “an acceleration said. “We know weakness provokes our of inflation as money demand continues to enemies, but strength and cohesion protect us.” AFP collapse.” AFP

B3

Inflation in Venezuela hits 1,000,000 percent B3

C

ARACAS―Whether it sparks a social revolution or forces the government to open up the economy, one thing for sure is that Venezuela’s projected one million percent inflation will heap more misery on an already suffering population.

Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund made the stunning projection, adjusting its previous estimate that inflation would hit 14,000 percent to a figure more than 70 times higher.

Already, poverty is reaching unprecedented levels, an estimated 1.6 million people have fled the country, social unrest is on the rise amongst those who stay, salaries have become almost worthless, there are shortages of food and medicine―and yet President Nicolas Maduro clings to power.

“Nothing surprises me,” Marcos Sala-

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE PROPOSED WIDENING OF WHARF PHASE-2 (SOUTH BANK), TMO PASIG, PASIG RIVER, SOUTH HARBOR, MANILA The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 97,591,914.45 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Widening of Wharf Phase-2 (South Bank) (LFP NCS No. 020-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

zar told AFP after being told of the IMF projection as he munched on a hamburger while standing beside a street stall.

That burger cost five million bolivars (around $1.50 on the black market), equivalent to the minimum monthly salary, which is itself partly paid in food vouchers.

“Week after week, day after day, things cost more. It’s not gradual, it’s exponential,” added Salazar, a 31-year-old professor working three jobs, which still isn’t enough to support him and his partner.

They survive thanks to money sent home from relatives who fled the country.

Hyperinflation has not only contributed to shortages of food and medicine but also to the collapse of public services, including water, electricity and transport.

Specialist Henkel Garcia of economics consultancy Econometrica believes Venezuela desperately needs political and social reforms in order to maintain “a minimum of stability.”

“You can only escape from hyperinflation through a profound reform of economic policy,” he told AFP, pointing to

BONIFACIO DRIVE, SOUTH HARBOR, PORT AREA, MANILA 1018, PHILIPPINES P.O. BOX 436, MANILA, PHILIPPINES Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855 HTTP://WWW.PPA.COM.PH

Bonifcatio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines P.O Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356 / Fax No. (0632) 527-4855 http://www.ppa.com.ph

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 301,318,609.49 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Existing Berth and Back-up Area (LFP NCN No. 021-2018).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Existing Berth and Back-up Area (Area = 15,213.85 sq. m.) B. Port Lighting System. Completion of the Works is required in 600 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

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

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

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 27 July 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 FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 27 July 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 FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 August 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 August 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 23 August 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 23 August 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 23 August 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Required PCAB Registration: Medium A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

Bid opening shall be on 23 August 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Large A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 954-88-00 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 321,616,766.20 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Borac Port Development Project, Brgy. Borac, Coron, Palawan (LFP PLW No. 022-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Backup Area B. Mooring and Fendering System. Completion of the Works is required in 540 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 27 July 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 FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 August 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 24 August 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 24 August 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Large A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 954-88-00 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 954-88-00 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) Standard - July 27, 2018

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE BORAC PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, BRGY. BORAC, CORON, PALAWAN

For further information, please refer to:

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

Bonifcatio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines P.O Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356 / Fax No. (0632) 527-4855 http://www.ppa.com.ph

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION AND UPGRADING OF EXISTING BERTH AND BACK-UP AREA, PIER 18, VITAS, TONDO, MANILA

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Widening of RC Wharf (Area = 1,225.06 sq. m.). Completion of the Works is required in 540 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

•

Trump postpones Putin visit

M. Standard – July 27, 2018

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

Standard - July 27, 2018

B4 Manila

Standard

TODAY

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

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friday, july 27, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs LocaL government units

Makati anti-flood drive on

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

hE Makati City government has intensified its campaign to clean up drainage systems to prevent severe floods in the city.

Mayor Abigail Binay tapped the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works to step up its declogging of the city drainage system to mitigate flooding due to heavy rains brought by typhoons and the southwest monsoon.

“I have directed the DEPW to continuously implement maintenance and massive declogging operations to ensure that our drainage system flows freely, especially at this time of the year, to prevent flooding,” said Binay.

During the first six months, the DEPW under the supervision of Engineer Lauro Reyes collected 1,056 metric tons of solid waste and silt, roughly equivalent to 26 garbage trucks.

A total of 107,454 linear meters long of drainage in 27 barangays in the two districts

were declogged during the same period. however, Binay noted that floods cannot be prevented altogether in low-lying areas in the city, particularly those that are near creeks and other waterways.

“We can only do so much with floodprone areas that serve as catch-basins when creeks overflow. Our waterways are connected with those of other localities, so even as we continuously clean up our waterways, we cannot stop the influx of solid waste from outside sources,” she said.

Instead, the city chief executive has directed the DEPW, together with the Department of Environmental Services and other city offices, to religiously clean up waterways and clear out illegal structures along easement areas and sidewalks. Through their combined efforts,

floodwaters have been noted to recede faster after a downpour.

Based on data from the DEPW, the average receding time for floodwaters in District 1 is 30 minutes, while for District 2 is 15 to 20 minutes.

Through its declogging operations conducted since January, the DEPW has hauled 620 metric tons of debris and silt from a total length of 72,610 linear meters of drainage in 15 barangays in the first district.

These included Pio del Pilar, Olympia, Bangkal, Tejeros, San Antonio, Palanan, Sta. Cruz, La Paz, Poblacion, Bel-Air, Valenzuela, Carmona, Kasilawan, San Isidro, and Singkamas.

In District 2, its operations on around 34,844 linear meters of drainage in 12 barangays have yielded about 435 metric tons of solid waste. Covered were barangays Pembo, Rizal, Comembo, West Rembo, Guadalupe Viejo, Pitogo, Cembo, Pinagkaisahan, Guadalupe Nuevo, East Rembo, South Cembo, and Guadalupe Nuevo.

Sara, Joy give out 1k ‘bags for change’ to QC moms, kids

By Rio N. Araja DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday spearheaded the distribution of “bags for change” to 1,000 mothers and their children to promote responsible education and family planning.

The “PagbaBAGo Program” was Duterte’s way of initiating the renewed partnership between the two cities after signing a sister-city agreement with Quezon City Mayor herbert Bautista.

“We gave the children school bags to encourage them to finish their studies and the mothers health kits to help them plan the size of their families in order to allow them to provide for the needs of all their children,” Belmonte said.

The program aims to help the family work together so that children may finish their schooling with flying colors and use their education to lift their family out of poverty.

“Education is the most formidable tool that we have to fight poverty. It is only through education that we can help improve the lives of every citizen,” Belmonte said.

“In our pursuit of progress and development, this partnership opens a lot of opportunities to learn from each other and to collaborate on initiatives that can help uplift the lives of our constituents,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, the 37-member Quezon City council has approved a resolution adopting a comprehen-

TWO house committees, in a joint session on Wednesday, unanimously passed the draft proposal creating the Department of Disaster Resilience, on orders of new house Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The approval took place just two days after President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his State of the Nation Address, where he reiterated the country’s urgent need for such an agency, according to Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, author of the DDR proposal in the lower chamber.

Arroyo ordered the house committees on Government Reorganization and Defense and Security to convene, approve the draft proposal, and endorse it for the plenary—following her election to the speakership—immediately after the 2018 Sona.

Duterte has repeatedly underscored the urgency for the creation of a department level disaster management agency, a version of which he had approved in his recent regular Cabinet meeting.

DDR has become one of the President’s priority agenda items. he first tossed the idea to Congress in his 2017 Sona.

Salceda said passing house Bill 6075 would now be easier with Arroyo as Speaker, since she is familiar with such legislations, having approved during her presidency Republic Act 10121 in 2010, the law which sought to “strengthen the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system.”

A noted economist and pioneer of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the country, Salceda submitted his DDR bill immediately following Duterte’s 2017 Sona, in answer to the President’s first urgent call. he headed the technical working group that consolidated 43 other related proposals with his own. his proposed DDR will be tasked to “develop, implement, manage and oversee a broad climate-disaster program of governance” to help Filipinos cope with disastrous calamities and ensure the country’s sustained and inclusive economic growth.

BONIFACIO DRIVE, SOUTH HARBOR, PORT AREA, MANILA 1018, PHILIPPINES P.O. BOX 436, MANILA, PHILIPPINES Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855 HTTP://WWW.PPA.COM.PH

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL RESERVOIR AT TRESTLE-2, PORT OF ILIGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 10,125,423.25 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Installation of Additional Reservoir at Trestle-2, Port of Iligan, Lanao del Norte (LFP LNI No. 023-2018).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Installation of Additional Reservoir at Trestle-2. Completion of the Works is required in 180 calendar days.

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

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 27 July 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 FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 25,000.00).

Taguig 2nd District Rep. Pia Cayetano (right) joins Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte (2nd from right) in playing with children with disabilities during the opening of the Kabahagi Center for Children with Disabilities in Barangay Batasan, Quezon City. Former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte was among the attendees. Manny Palmero

sive development plan for 2017 until 2020.

District 2 Councilor Roderick Paulate introduced City Resolution Sangguniang Panlungsod 7473-2018 aimed to adapt a com-

prehensive development plan pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991 mandating local government units to prepare a comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan.

Villar, S. African envoy plant 100 trees at LP wetland Senator Cynthia A. Villar (center) leads the planting of 100 trees at the Las PiñasParanaque Wetland Park with South African Ambassador to the Philippines Martin Slabber (left) and actress Antoinette Taus, founder of the group Planet CORA. The park plays a vital role as a coastal urban wetland and bird sanctuary within Metro Manila, Villar noted. Lino Santos

House committees approve disaster department pitch

By Macon Ramos-Araneta TO MARK the 100th birthday celebration of the late South African President Nelson Mandela, Senator Cynthia A. Villar and South Africa Ambassador to the Philippines Martin Slabber on Wednesday led the planting of 100 trees at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park.

Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, was the guest of honor of the event, which was organized by United Nations Information Centre Manila.

“Let us all continue to work together to bring back ecological balance, which has been severely affected by climate change caused by man’s abuse of our natural resources,” said Villar.

She noted that activities like this encourages the public to stop their environmental negligence and do something to bring back the grandeur of Mother Nature.

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 August 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 24 August 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 24 August 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Small B – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 954-88-00 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) M. Standard – July 27, 2018

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

Culture and media

@MStandardlifE

C1

friday, july 27, 2018

ARMM holds splashy festival to mark last anniversary

LIFE-SIZE DIORAMA. In celebration of what Governor Mujiv Hataman calls the 'last anniversary of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao,' the open grounds

of ARMM's Office of the Regional Center has been transformed into a festive exhibit venue where five life-size houses were built to present the Moro lifestyles in five of the six member provinces of the region.

By ayunan G. Gunting

T

HE Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, now on its final year before it is replaced by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, is celebrating its last anniversary with a splash. As it has done in past anniversaries, the distinct and venerable cultures of Muslim Mindanao are being showcased in this year’s celebration called, “2018 Pakaradjaan sa ARMM.” The festival is organized by the office of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, who said past anniversary celebrations of the ARMM have always focused on the colorful Bangsamoro heritage, history, culture, arts, and tradition. “This year won’t be different as we present the rich ethnicities of the various provinces and tribes that comprise Muslim Mindanao,” he said.

This one, however, is notably bigger and more lavish. The ARMM has converted its headquarters in Cotabato City into a Moro village where five life-size houses were built to capture the essence of the Moro lifestyles in five of the six member provinces of ARMM. The open grounds of ARMM’s Office of the Regional Center have thus been transformed into a festive neighborhood.

ARMM is composed of the Mindanao provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

It’s not yet too late to visit the display in Cotabato City as the festival, which opened on March 26, runs until December.

Tourists who have visited the exhibit are marveling over the five houses, each of them built and designed to represent the distinct culture of the ARMM member provinces. The concepts for each house were the brainchild of the respective local government units, which also shouldered the costs of building them, according to Gov. Hataman.

In their own way, the houses serve as giant dioramas that present a sumptuous illustration of the traditions and lifestyles of the Moros of ARMM. It’s also a competition since the best house will be chosen and given a prize at the end of the festival.

Basilan

The province of Basilan is depicted in the Yakan house, which was designed to showcase the works of the Yakan weavers. On display are banigs, table runners, baskets, blankets, and pillows of various colors. Tourists are encouraged to try on the traditional costumes of the Yakans and shoot a colorful selfie inside the house.

On the ground floor, actual weavers are present to show their skills to visitors, while an adjacent makeshift restaurant serves dishes from Basilan.

They’re cooked and prepared by two ladies who own a restaurant in their home province, Nursidra Idris and Misra Indasan. Their specialty is served boodle fightstyle and presented with a mound of malagkit na kanin surrounded by various delicacies.

visitors can sit on the banigs and have a feast. The food in the latal food containers at the foot of the sultan’s bed is always abundant.

Lanao del Sur

Like the Sulu residence, the house of the Maranaos of Lanao del Sur is glittered with gold and silver décor though it’s somewhat made more somber by the antique furniture made of hardwood. It’s more conventional in the sense that guests are entertained in a living room where cof coffee and local delicacies are also served in a latal and silverware.

colorful banig and wall décor. Like the Sulu house, this one has an elaborate bed for the Maguindanao sultan and layers of banig where his guests can relax. The room is

Maguindanao

If ever there was a traditional luxe house, it must have belonged to the sultans of Maguindanao.

Not an inch of wood or wall is exposed. Everything is covered with

The Meranaw torrogan from Lanao del Sur features the signature carved beams called panolong, with tendrils and dragon designs.

wishes are made to a person while he is still being carried in his mother’s womb, hence the egg is present in every meal.

Tawi-Tawi

Sulu

The Sulu province is represented by a house that recaptures the opulent living quarters of the Tausug sultan. It is adorned with mounds of carpets and colorful wall décor.

The centerpiece is a large bed though it’s not exactly a private bedroom since the place is used to entertain the sultan’s visitors. The host sits on the majestic bed while The games the Meranaw sultans or datus played required the use of brains.

According to BCH-ARMM executive director Marites K. Maguindra, eggs to the Moros are like noodles to the Chinese.

large enough to welcome more hungry guests. There are more than a dozen latals containing local delicacies. It makes visitors presume that the buffet was invented in Maguindanao.

As with the other Moro tribes, the food in Maguindanao is served with eggs. Reportedly, eggs to the Moros are like noodles to the Chinese. Eggs signify a long and healthy life, happiness, and good luck. These good

The house of Tawi-Tawi is more practical and less frivolous. The Badjaos live a life of simplicity, and since fishing is their livelihood, the replica recreates a house in a fishing village. It sits over the sea on stilts and is surrounded by wooden planks and piers. Beyond the house is a model of the famous mountain of Tawi-Tawi, Bud Bongao.

Preserving traditions

Gov. Hataman said the presentation of old Moro traditions during the ARMM anniversaries has become a tradition in itself. He said, “They serve as a constant reminder of our unique customs and traditions, which must re-

TAM-AwAn’s 20Th yeAR ART show goes To The Bellevue TAM-AwAN Village, Baguio City’s popular art colony, brings its 20th anniversary art exhibit roadshow to The Bellevue Manila in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The art show, entitled “Tam-Awan @ 20: Celebrating Two Decades of Unwavering Passion for Culture and the Arts,” has previously toured The Gallery of SM City Baguio, Ayala Museum ArtistSpace, and Tam-awan’s home base in Pinsao.

The exhibit finale features the top 55 works hand-picked from the first three phases of the art roadshow.

According to The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts chairman Johnny Chan, who spent his growing up years in the City of Pines, the hotel’s hosting is its way of paying homage to the arts in the countryside as part of the hospitality chain’s corporate social responsibility.

The show will run until mid-August.

From left: Urban Lady by Buddy Cabrera (acrylic), Rice God by Edwin Macadaeg (textile ink and sand art) and The Kikay by Ben Lorenzo

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TODAY friday, juLy 27, 2018 ju manilastandardlife@gmail.com

P

Understanding pressed flower painting ReSSeD flower painting is a unique and charming way to preserve the beauty of nature; a renewed way of looking at the beauty of blooms.

The craft involves drying flowers and leaves in a flower press and using them in various creative projects, from letter cards to fragrant flower soaps. Pressed flower and leaves are often mounted on a special paper such as handmade paper and Japanese paper.

It has long been practiced as an art form in Asia. One of the experts of this art form is Back Mi-Kyoung from South Korea.

Mi-Kyoung holds the distinction of being the first Pressed Flower Master of the Federation of Artistic and Cultural Organization of Korea since 2014. She finished Complete Modern Art Course at Hongik University and is president of BackHyang Pressed Flower Organization.

She has received several awards, including the grand prize in Pressed Flower Competition by

Korea Modern Art Association in 2016; and has mounted 16 pressed flower solo exhibitions.

Sunshine Place brings Mi-Kyoung to the country for a series of two-day workshops in August.

Mi-Kyoung’s workshop at the Sunshine Place will include lessons in applying pressed flower techniques in creating hand mirror, pressed flower set, letter cards, folding fans, hair/clothing accessories, and mini frames.

The two-day workshops will be held in three batches: Batch 1: Aug. 7 and 9; Batch 2: Aug. 11 and 18; and Batch 3: Aug. 13 and 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sunshine Place in BelAir, Makati. each participant will get a pressed flower painting kit from South Korea.

Call (02) 856-4144 or 0917-515-5656, or email sen- Pressed Flower Master Back Mi-Kyoung will teach during her two-day workshops how to apply pressed flower techniques in accessories and handmade soaps, among others. iorhubjupiter@gmail.com for more information.

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arMM...

average of the hourly dispatched portion of the Contracted Capacity scheduled and the nominated AS price

Republic of the Philippines

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THERMA LUZON, INC., WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

From C1 PHP CPIm = Philippine CPI All Items 2006 = 100, end of Billing Period PHP CPIo = 123.2, Philippine CPI as of January 2011 Billing Period US CPIm =US CPI All Items 1982-84 = 100, end of Billing Period

ERC CASE NO. 2018 -059 RC

US CPIo =219.179, US CPI as of January 2011 Billing Period

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND THERMA LUZON, INC. (TLI), Applicants. x - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

Fxm = Bangko Sentral ng Philipinas PHP-USD exchange rate, end of Billing Period FXo =PHP /USD exchange rate of 42

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In the event that revisions are made on the above index, including any shift made in the base year and other adjustments to such index made by the relevant authorized entity, its successor-in-interest, there shall be a corresponding change in the base index such that the use of the revised index will yield the equivalent values as the use of the original base index.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 21 June 2018, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Therma Luzon, Inc. (TLI) filed an Application dated 30 May 2018, seeking the approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA), with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

In the event that the index (a) becomes unavailable, (b) is replaced by a new benchmark rate as determined by the relevant authorized entity, its successor in interest, or (c) ceases to exist, or (d) in the reasonable determination of either Party, fails to reflect the real costs and forms an integral part of this price mechanism, the Parties shall agree to adopt a new price index.

NGCP and TLI alleged the following in their Application: NATURE OF THE CASE 1.

Fuel = the fuel rate, in Php/kWh, submitted by the Service Provider every month based on their Actual Fuel Stock Inventory Consumption Report and their actual generation for that month.

This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) dated May 29, 2018 between the NGCP and TLI (“2018 ASPA”), pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC, entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services -Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority. “

REVWESM

Service Provider shall attach to the AS power bill the Actual Fuel Stock Inventory Consumption Report which includes the following relevant information for the applicable billing month:

PARTIES 2.

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through highvoltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

3.

Applicant TLI is a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippines laws with office address at NAC Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It is the Independent Power Producer Administrator that manages and controls the contracted capacity of the 700 MW (net) coal-fired power generating facility in Pagbilao, Quezon (the “Power Plant”). It may be served with pleadings, notices, orders, and other processes of the Honorable Commission through its undersigned counsel.

i. ii. iii. iv. v.

The capacities contracted under Non-Firm arrangement are the maximum that can be offered

by TLI. However, for clarity, the basis for the AS Provider’s nomination and scheduling shall be the capacities listed in its valid AS Certificates.

2

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system3.

5.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services4 and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Service tariffs to the Energy Regulatory Commission (“ERC”).

6.

Ancillary Services (“AS”) as defined in Section 4 (b) of the EPIRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

7.

8.

9.

Applicants submit that the 2018 ASPA Rates represent a reasonable recovery of the opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

15.

The 2018 ASPA Rates were subjected to a simulation by NGCP with the following results:

AS Type CR

During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on the Power Plant, and certified that it has met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing CR. The copy of the Accreditation Certificate No. 2018-L003 issued on 23 December 2017 is attached as Annex “B.”

Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Luzon Grid.

17.

TLI respectfully submits copies of the following documents:

19.

Firm Contracted Capacity

Php 1.50/kW/Hr

Non-Firm Contracted Capacity

Php 2.25/kW/Hr (maximum rate)

Payment of AS = A+B Where: A

to:

n

= number ofdays in the billing month Scheduled Capacity =refers to: i) ii)

B

= [G x (CP + OM+Fuel)] -REVWESM Where: G

= energy generated or dispatched due to Scheduled Capacity, in kWh, for trading interval i and day j

n

= number of days in the billing month

Latest Audited Financial Statement

“H”

Certification on WESM Registration

“I”

It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2b, EPlRA). With this end in view, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS through a procurement contract. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same could be implemented.

The current levels of CR in the Luzon Grid have not yet met the required levels under the ASPP. A copy of the relevant actual data and its corresponding graphical presentations showing the required and available levels of CR in the Luzon Grid and the impact of the AS contribution of TLI to the Luzon Grid entitled: Luzon Contingency Reserve Availability is attached as Annex”J”.

22.

Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the 2018 ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to ensure the reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lisaflor Bacani-Kater of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP, which is attached as Annex “K.”

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the 2018 ASPA; APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the 2018 ASPA.

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

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

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

3)

A statement of the relief desired

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

Pasig City, 10 July 2018.

= Summation of energy generated or dispatched in a particular interval hour due to Scheduled Capacity, in kWh

Energyij

“G”

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and evidentiary hearing on 16 August 2018 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 AM) at Queen Margarette Hotel, Domoit, Diversion Road, Lucena, City.

with respect to the Firm Contracted Capacity, the capacity declared as available by Service Provider in accordance with Schedule 1 with respect to the Non-Firm Contracted Capacity, the capacity nominated

by Service Provider and scheduled by NGCP in accordance with Schedule 1 = Revenue from Scheduled Capacity with energy dispatched

“F”

Latest Security Exchange Commission-General Information Sheet

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

Where: = Scheduled Capacity without energy dispatched, in kW, for trading interval i and day j

Articles of Incorporation

As the demand for power in the Luzon increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability and security likewise increase. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

a) b)

= Revenue from Scheduled Capacity without energy dispatched

Capacityij

“E”

PRAYER

Schedule 4 of the 2018 ASPA provides for the formula for the computation of the Ancillary Services Fees and the applicable hourly rates (“ASPA Rates”) for the firm and non-firm contracted capacity covered by the 2018 ASPA, as follows:

Capacity Fee

“D”

Summary of TLI’s Power Supply Agreement

21.

Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve) initially set at 60 MW for Units 1 and 2 of Service Provider, or as indicated in the valid AS Certificates, for the hours where no Firm capacity is scheduled, provided that the Non-Firm Contracted Capacity will be amended according to the results of the Ancillary Service Certification Test.

Contracted Capacity

Certificate of Compliance (“COC”) No. 14-07-GXT 40-0040L

NGCP must be guaranteed of available AS on a daily basis to ensure reliability of the grid. Thus, it is necessary for the Honorable Commission to approve the 2018 ASPA.

b. Non-Firm Contracted Capacity:

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairman & CEO

CP

CP

= Capacity Fee =Php 1.50/kW/Hr 1

= Capacity payment for the dispatch portion of the AS capacity scheduled by NGCP and shall be computed based on the weighted

Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City Invitation to Bid

The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2018intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contracts: Ref. No.

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration

Public Bidding

1,980,000.00/ Corporate Receipts

Cost of Bidding Documents (P)

30 c.d.

2,000.00

Public Bidding

22,999,985.00/ NG Subsidy

180 c.d.

10,000.00

Public Bidding

59,277,962.00/ Corporate Receipts

60 c.d.

25,000.00

Public Bidding

16,228,200.00/ Corporate Receipts

90 c.d.

10,000.00

Mode of Procurement

Projects

2018- Procurement of Toners 07- (CF283A) for HP 271 LaserJet Printers Procurement, Delivery and Distribution of Materials 2018- Housing (HOMA) for 07- Assistance Families Affected by 272 the Calamities in the Lone District of Mandaluyong City (Re-Bid) Procurement of 2018- Information and 07- C o m m u n i c a t i o n s 273 Technology (ICT) Equipment (Re-Bid) Procurement of (17) Units 2018- Seventeen Utility 07- Crossover (CUV), Brand 274 Vehicle New, 2018 or Latest Model (Re-Bid)

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

The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited project. Delivery of the Goods is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission of bids, a single contract similar to the Project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABCand for the of Expendable Supplies, the requirementmust be at least twenty five percent (25%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/ authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific Project and Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and printed copy of the project/s to be bid from PhilGEPS website at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City and Payment for Bidding Documents should be made at Treasury Department, NHA Main Building starting on July 27, 2018until August 21, 2018 (Tuesday) before 9:00 AM. For further information, the NHA BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel./FAX No. 928-8272.

The NHAwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 6, 2018 (Monday) at 9:00a.m. at the SLB-AMO Conference Room, Annex Building NHA Main Complex, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN only to all interested parties. However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents may participate the discussion at said conference.

Bids must be delivered at the SLB-AMO Conference Room, Annex Building NHA Main Complex, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City on August 21, 2018 (Tuesday), not later than 9:00 AM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount as stated in BDS. Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders representative who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For Firm,

For Non-Firm,

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

Annex

20.

Firm Contracted Capacity

Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve) -initially set at 60 MW for Units 1 and 2 of Service Provider, or as indicated in the valid AS Certificates, from interval 2200h to 0900h of the following day.

13.

0.0150

16.

18.

FIRM CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATE AND IMPACT SIMULATION

For clarity, the basis for AS Provider’s nomination and scheduling shall be the capacities listed in its valid AS Certificates.

P/kWh equivalent

7.6626

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Schedule 1 of the 2018 ASPA provides that TLI shall provide: a.

P/kW-month

Document

On 13 March 2013, NGCP and TLI entered into an ASPA (the 2013 ASPA) with a term of five (5) years and filed an application for the approval of said ASPA before the Honorable Commission on 27 March 2013 docketed as ERC Case No. 2013052RC. In the Order dated 10 June 2013, the Honorable Commission issued a provisional authority for the implementation of said ASPA and in the Order dated 26 May 2014, the Honorable Commission extended the provisional authority until revoked or made permanent.

11.

Indicative Rate Impact

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation for TLI with a brief discussion on how NGCP derived the proposed ancillary services rates is attached as Annex “C.”

Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on different dates published in newspapers of general circulation a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services Providers, inviting all grid-connected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services.

In view of TLI’s proposal to continue providing ancillary services, NGCP agreed to procure and TLI agreed to supply Ancillary Services in the form of Contingency Reserve (“CR”) under firm and non-firm arrangements. A copy of the the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement between NGCP and TLI dated 29 May 2018 is attached as Annex “A”.

12.

14.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (“ASPP”) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services Cost Recovery Mechanism (“AS-CRM”) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

10.

Net generation, in MWh; Coal Consumption, in MT; Light Fuel Oil (LFO) consumption, in liters Calculated coal consumption rates, in MT/MWh; Calculated LFO consumption rate, in liters/MWh

Failure to submit the Actual Fuel Stock Inventory Consumption Report within the next billing period after the relevant billing period will forfeit the payment to Service Provider for Fuel in B (e.g. for fuel costs in January, the Actual Fuel Stock Inventory Consumption Report must be submitted by March, at the latest. Otherwise, Fuel in B for January will no longer be paid).

ANTECEDENT FACTS 4.

= Summation of WESM revenue in a particular interval hour based on Final Ex-post market clearing price of the AS Provider’s trading Node arising from G above.

main strong and alive for our future generations to appreciate and further cultivate.”

“The old traditions of other provinces in the Philippines are already dying because only a few members of the younger generations are willing to nurture them. The rest of them have chosen to migrate to the big cities,” he lamented.

Fortunately, much of the beloved customs of Muslim Mindanao continue to thrive since each generation has successfully passed them on to the next. Gov. Hataman cited the legendary weavers of the Yakans, who hail from his home province, Basilan. Their products have been quickly gaining national recognition and prestige, he said.

Aside from visiting the houses, tourists can also witness and attend the other events happening at the ARMM compound in Cotabato City during the year-long festival: July 23: Food Festival August 24: Master Chef competition September 21-23: ARMM Debate competition October 17: Lanao del Sur Cultural Night October 24: Tawi-Tawi Cultural Night October 31: Sulu Cultural Night November 7: Sheik Makhdum celebration November 14: Basilan Cultural Night November 19: ARMM Cultural Night, street dance competition, peace concert November 21: Maguindanao Cultural Night November 26: Moro Walk December 4-7: Moro Film Festival December 7-9: SportsPeace – Moro Sports Festival December 19: Shariff Kabunsuan Festival, Fluvial Float competition, Closing Program and Awards Night

2 3 4

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes; The Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or EPIRA. Ibid., Section 9 (c) and (d); Section 6.3.1.2.

(MS-JULY 20 & 27, 2018)

(SGD) AR. SUSANA V. NONATO Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) ( M S - J U LY 2 7, 2 018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

While Kapuso claims ratings leadership,

ABS-CBN STAYS ON TOP IN JUNE

MORE Filipinos turned to ABS-CBN for news and information and values-laden stories as the TV network hit an average audience share of 45 percent versus GMA’s 32 percent last month, according to data from Kantar Media.

The Kapamilya network won in both rural and urban homes, particularly in Metro Manila with an average audience share of 43percent, compared to GMA’s 29 percent. ABS-CBN likewise led in Total Luzon with 41 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent; in Total Visayas with 54 percent, compared to GMA’s 24 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 53 percent, while GMA only got 26 percent.

Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population.

FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (42.6 percent) held the top spot for the whole month of June, followed by Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids (33.6 percent).

Also part of the top 10 are Bagani (32.7 percent), TV Patrol (29.9 percent), MMK (27.9 percent), Home Sweetie Home (25.6 percent), Wansapanataym (24.9 percent), It’s Showtime (Saturday) (22.6 percent), and Rated K (21.2 percent).

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN also led across all time blocks, particularly the primetime block as it garnered an average audience share of 48 percent, or 15-point lead against GMA’s 33 percent. The primetime block is the most important time of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investments in to reach more consumers effectively.

The Kapamilya network also ruled the morning block (6:00 a.m. to 12:00 nn) with an average audience share of 39 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent; the noontime block (12:00 nn to 3:00 p.m.) with 47 percent, compared to GMA’s 31 percent; and the afternoon block (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) with 44 percent, beating GMA’s 36 percent.

Naturally, the Kapuso network challenges these data with their own from the ratings provider they use (NUTAM) and insistently claims it has overtaken the Kapamilya network as the country’s no. 1 broadcast network.

Well, both networks subscribe to different research agencies and both have their own teams that extrapolate the figures they see in the two data providers. Statisticians of both networks naturally know what data to highlight in their respective claim as leader in the broadcast industry.

Now, it depends on whether you follow which network, and you will tend to buy the data they release for the mass media.

Booster of US and RP brands Numbers don’t lie. Data, in fact, tell startling truths about a population niche in the United States whose profile may be low, but whose income leads most populations: Filipinos.

A median household income of $81,929 puts Filipinos near the top among all American consumers (only South Asians, Jewish Americans, and Taiwanese Americans are ahead, the US Census Bureau reports), while the current median household income for the US is $53,657. A median family income of $65,910 still makes America one of the world’s leaders in this category. But this number pales in comparison to the median family income of Filipinos in New York: a jaw-dropping $92,486. In the city with the most billionaires in the world, this figure ranks New York-based Filipinos as first or second among all population groups in the US. Filipinos’ purchasing power is not lost on marketers at major American brands. Their stake in the Filipino consumer segment can clearly be seen at Fiesta In America Expo and Consumer Show. The event will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on Aug. 11 and 12 as the biggest expo and cultural show of its kind on the east coast. Its home for the past 18 years, New Jersey’s Meadowlands Exposition Center in the city of Secaucus, is one of the most prestigious convention sites in the American northeast region.

Fiesta In America’s blend of consumer show and concert attracts a two-day audience of more than 5,000 Filipinos and multicultural consumers from New York, New Jersey and five peripheral states.

According to Daphne Kwok, vice president, Multicultural Leadership, at the 37 million-member American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), “Our partnership with Fiesta in America has been very exciting and we look forward to creating more innovative ways on how we can share AARP’s resources with [this] population.”

For Meriterese Racanelli, MS, Food Scientist, Nutritionist and Chef at Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic food company, “It was a joy to work with Fiesta In America. The talent and entertainment are outstanding!”

Nemesio Kinsora, an executive at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s foremost health management organization (HMO), cited the event’s niche-marketing value. “Fiesta In America gave us the chance to connect with the Filipino community on a large scale.”

In the Philippines, a diverse spectrum of Filipino industries is drawn to the buying power of Filipinos in the east coast of the US who attend Fiesta In America, and whose median household income far exceeds that of their kababayan in California. These business participants include some of the most respected names in Philippine real estate; small to medium-size manufacturers of handicraft, packaged food, shoes and apparel, holiday and home décor, and a myriad other products; Philippine Airlines; as well as the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board.

“Our two-day event is uniquely located at the junction of Filipino culture and U.S. diversity marketing,” said Nanding Mendez, founder and CEO of not-for-profit Fiesta In America.

“For our historic 20thyear, the concert headliners are Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Ogie Alcasid, and love team of Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona.

For more information, log on to www.fiestainamerica. com

By Michie Marie Galanida

A

NDRE Paras dabbles between sport and showbiz, and with a series of workload being part of GMA-7›s new talent competition, The Clash, it’s good to note that he knows too well what he really wants.

“Hosting, acting, or whatever I could do, basta my main point is to entertain people.

And just to make other people happy. And if I make these people happy, I feel that I’m doing a great job,” he shared with MS Entertainment.

For Andre, to be able to entertain his audience, he needs to be open to feedback and flexible in terms of balancing his schedule considering he chose to be part of a very dynamic environment. He added that being in the business allows him to explore different facets of his career, which obviously, gives him a different kind of satisfaction.

“And then, they gave me this opportunity to host. It’s something new. It’s nice to learn, it’s nice to make mistakes. This makes everything so exciting,” Andre said.

While he is learning, Andre also likes the fact that he gets to work with talented people. In The Clash, which is hosted by Regine Velasquez with Christian Bautista, AiAi delas Alas and Lani Misalucha as judges, he had nothing but good words to his coworkers especially to his co-backstage host, Joyce Pring.

“Before I was just listening to her on radio. I was a huge fan of her that’s why working with her now is definitely a dream come true.”

“I learned a lot from her. She gives me tips, of course di ako pwedeng mahiya. She has so much to say, so much to give. She’s very open, very humble. She’s someone easy to work with,” he added.

Since it’s Andre’s first time co-hosting a show, a talent show at that, he wanted to use this experience as training so if he would be given a similar assignment, he would be well-equipped.

Asked if he’s leaving basketball and wold focus on his hosting and showbiz career, the 22-year-old Kapuso talent underscored the changes a person encounters and the decision he has to make when career path is the subject.

“Basketball is fun and very competitive. I guess, I’m at a point in my life that I can do both, in fact I can still do a lot of things. But one day when you reached a certain age, you really need to decide which path you’re going to take. Right now, I enjoy doing many things. Balance is the key I guess,” he said.

Troubled young women trapped in

‘DOWN A DARK HALL’ FROM the producers of the Twilight Saga comes a thrilling and horrifying story of troubled young women who find themselves trapped in a mansion meant to heal them from emotional and psychological wounds in Down a Dark Hall.

Kit (Anna Sophia Robb), a difficult young girl, is sent to the mysterious Blackwood Boarding School when her heated temper becomes too much for her mother to handle. Once she arrives at Blackwood, Kit encounters eccentric headmistress Madame Duret (Uma Thurman) and meets the school’s only other students, four young women also headed down a troubled path. While exploring the labyrinthine corridors of the school, Kit and her classmates discover that Blackwood Manor hides an age-old secret rooted in the paranormal.

Based on the classic gothic young adult novel of the same name by Lois Duncan—author of I Know What You Did Last Summe—and produced by Stephenie Meyer (author of Twilight, The Host), Down A Dark Hall is a supernatural thriller directed by Rodrigo Cortés (Buried), from a screenplay by Mike Goldbach and Chris Sparling, and stars Anna Sophia Robb (Soul Surfer, The Carrie Diaries), Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan), Victoria Moroles (Teen Wolf), Noah Silver (The Tribes of Palos Verdes), Taylor Russell (TV’s Falling Skies), Rosie Day (Outlander), and features a truly memorable turn by the iconic Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill: Vols. I & II).

Down a Dark Hall opens Aug. 8 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Anna Sophia Robb stars in the supernatural drama 'Down a Dark Hall.'

ABS-CBN’s SONA 2018 special coverage got a national TV rating of 16.8 percent from both urban and rural homes

More Filipinos watched ABS-CBN’s

SONA 2018 SPECIAL COVERAGE

MORE Filipinos chose to watch and follow ABS-CBN News’ special coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s third “State of the Nation Address” (SONA) on Monday.

Based on data from Kantar Media, ABS-CBN’s SONA 2018 special coverage on ABS-CBN got a national TV rating of 16.8 percent from both urban and rural homes, well ahead of the 12 percent rating that GMA 7 drew for its own live coverage.

Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population.

Even on the internet, thousands of netizens watched ABS-CBN News’ live coverage via Facebook, where it drew 714,000 views, 27,000 reactions, 26,000 comments, and

6,300 shares.

Viewers also chose to watch ABS-CBN’s news program for the entire day starting with Umagang Kay Ganda, which got 6.3 percent over Unang Hirit’s 4.9 percent, TV Patrol, which got 30.4 percent over 24 Oras’ 19.4 percent, and Bandila, which had a rating of 3.1 percent, ahead of Front Row’s 2.2 percent.

As the largest news organization in the country, ABS-CBN News has been in the forefront of providing news and information to Filipinos especially during big events in the nation such as the SONA. More than delivering the President’s message, ABS-CBN News also aims to explain and provide context and analysis of issues to Filipinos through its panel of veteran anchors, seasoned reporters, and respected resource persons.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

Motoring

HOT WHEELS. Matchbox and come-from-behind Hot Wheels have their share of contribution to keep kids cherishing their first toy car until he is old enough to own his first honest to goodness real car. It is not surprising then that their charm would never fail to prompt a grown-up man to retroage once he opens a mothballed cabinet and feel with his fingertips the reminders of his happy childhood. We can certainly not censure the man for looking 60 going on 10

HONEY, I SHRANK THE CAR! Text and photos by Diana B. Noche

R

EMEMBER when enjoying life seemed to be the crest of childhood? It was a guiltless journey of wonder and discovery— constantly revisitable, unlike those brief vogues for Captain Barbell and He Man merchandise that took off like a skyrocket and floundered just as fast.

History has a way of repeating itself, spiced with stories told by grandfathers and Dads, dense with details that gratify children at each retelling. Today’s kids between 4 years old and their prom date in high school are in a millennium where they are growing up with electronic gadgets glued to their twitchy-fingered hands. There was a time, in the not so distant past, however, when kids of that generation went all hopped up about toy cars—the kind of look-at-me toy cars where at tony toy stores and thrift shops the stuff roared by leaps and bounds out the doors. And if you think Matchbox toy cars were so yesterday, think again.

These mini wonders have been around in a long, long while.

In 1947 English friends Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith established the Lesney Products foundry, then enlisted another friend, Jack Odell, an engineer and toolmaker, into the team. They made all sorts of toys from the late 1940s to the early ‘50s. In 1953 at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, Lesney Products made a scaled down model of the Queen’s

coach to the size that would fit in a matchbox. And a legend was born! Soon thereafter the trio produced models of Land Rover and Daimler Ambulance castings in bigger scale to perk up their play value. Succeeding models were mostly commercial and construction vehicles to bolster up Britain’s spirits after its World War II disablement. In 1954 the foundry introduced its first passenger car, an MG TD #19. Later on they introduced toy cars modelled from other countries. European kids were introduced to small scale American cars such as a 1950 Ford Station Wagon, a 1959 Impala, a ’58 Cadillac, a ’59 Chevrolet, a ’60 Pontiac Boneville, Mustang Fastback, Lincoln Continental, and Mercury Cougar. And their reaction? Everywhere the response was predictable: the same amazement, an undifferent delight.

There were other companies that tailgated Matchbox’s success but while other companies fabricated unrefined versions of cars common at the time, Matchbox models adhered faithfully to the true details they were cast after.

VW partners with CW Home Depot CW HOME Depot has taken delivery of four units of Volkswagen Santana subcompact sedans that the pioneering home construction and renovation store will issue to its top sales performers.

CW Home Depot’s unique brand proposition for its customers—which revolves around the convenience, practicality, and efficiency of its retail concept— is perfectly aligned with its choice of the Volkswagen Santana as the vehicle for its top sales representatives, who tirelessly do the rounds of client calls and sales meetings with architects, builders, contractors, engineers, interior designers, and DIYers in promoting the practicality, quality, reliability and convenience of CW Home Depot’s products.

With the Volkswagen Santana, CW Home Depot’s sales representatives also get to experience the same core characteristics in their service vehicles.

The Santana is the most affordable European car available in the market powered by an ef-

ficient 1.4-liter Multi-Point Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, with maximum power output of 90 Ps at 5,500rpm and maximum torque of 132 Nm at 3,800rpm.

For passenger comfort, the Santana features power outer mirrors, keyless entry and the longest wheelbase in its class— translating to more space for you and the family. Safety highlights include ISOFIX anchorage points (mounting fixture for two child seats on rear seat bench), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and immobilizer.

With an SRP of only P686,000, the Santana provides the opportunity for more hardworking Filipinos like CW Home Depot’s sales representatives to experience the premium Volkswagen driving lifestyle, and motivating them to excel even more in their work.

CW Home Depot’s sales representatives also get an additional advantage of a worryfree maintenance experience

with the Santana, as the warranty coverage is comprehensive. Aside from the 3 years or 100,000-km general warranty, whichever comes first, Volkswagen Philippines also offers a 3-year warranty for paint and another 3-year warranty for through-corrosion of the main steel body structure.

The periodic maintenance service interval schedule of the Santana is also structured for its owners’ convenience. The PMS interval is once a year, or every 10,000 kms, whichever comes first. This is more convenient and more cost-efficient compared to the industry-standard 5,000-km PMS interval, and thus also gives more time for CW Home Depot’s sales team to focus more on servicing their customers’ needs than on their vehicles’ upkeep.

The four Santana units turned over to CW Home Depot represent the initial batch of requirements, as the top sales performers from the store’s 9 outlets will be handed their own dura-

TURNOVER. Volkswagen PH chief operating adviser Klaus Schadewald (left) and CW Home Depot general manager Kenneth Tung hold a giant replica of a key during the ceremonial turnover of the Santana sub-compact car. ble, reliable, practical and fuel efficient Santana sedans.

CW Home Depot outlets are located in Alabang in Muntinlupa City; Balintawak and Com-

monwealth in Quezon City; Santa Rosa in Laguna; Imus in Cavite City; Makati; Manila Bay; San Fernando in Pampanga and its pioneering branch in

Ortigas.

The Volkswagen Santana is available in exterior colors Polar White, Reflex Silver, Pepper Grey and Deep Black.