Manila Standard - 2018 June 29 - Friday by Manila Standard

75% of Pinoys unaware of federalism, SWS says By Evalea Casaljay ONLY one in four Filipinos is aware of the federalism, which the Duterte administration is pushing, the latest Social Weather Stations survey shows. The First Quarter 2018 Social Weather Report, showed that only 25 percent of Filipinos know that federalism is being pursued by the administration, while 75 percent only knew about it during the survey. The report also show that 37 percent agree with the federal system of government, consisting of 14 percent who strongly agree and 23 percent who somewhat agree. Twenty-nine percent disagree, consisting of 12 percent who somewhat disagree and 17 percent who strongly disagree. The rest or 34 percent were undecided. Support for the federal type of government was highest in Mindanao with a very strong net agreement score of +43 (59 percent agree, 16 percent disagree), followed by Metro Manila at a neutral +7 (38 percent agree, 31 percent disagree) and the Visayas at a neutral +2 (31 percent agree, 30 percent disagree).

SHOCKING LOSS. Germany’s midfielder Toni Kroos (center) reacts following his team’s loss during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group Football match between South Korea and Germany at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 27, 2018. AFP

Germany crashes out of World Cup KAZAN, Russia—Title holder Germany sensationally crashed out of the Fifa World Cup on Wednesday in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history—failing to make it past the opening round for the first time since 1938. Next page

Next page VOL. XXXII • NO. 134 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

CBCP: No oust-Duterte plot Church calls for sobriety in wake of Rody’s rant; Evasco to join talks

HOSPITAL-GYM. At least 48 patients with Leptospirosis cases are confined at the National Kidney Transplant Institute basketball gym in Quezon City after having been afflicted with the rat-borne disease. Six patients died of the disease, NKTI said. Manny Palmero

HE Catholic Church said Thursday it will not seek to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte “under any circumstance,” one day after a political strategist for the Palace said there was a plot to destabilize the government after the Chief Executive called God “stupid.”

Leptospirosis cases on the rise; 99 killed in 2017—DoH By Macon Ramos-Araneta LEPTOSPIROSIS, a bacterial infection caused by contact with rodent urine, killed 99 people nationwide during the ﬁrst semester this year, an ofﬁcial said Thursday. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo told ABS-CBN the fatality rate from Leptospirosis was a bit high, almost 10 percent.

“Out of 1,000 infected, we have confirmed that 99 died,” Domingo said. He said Leptospirosis cases increased last week due to heavy rain that caused massive flooding. He said floodwaters contaminated with rat urine swamped large parts of the country. He described as “alarming” the report that the state’s kidney hospital recorded six Leptospirosis deaths in 3 days.

Wanda flagged on duty-free purchases By Rio N. Araja

Wanda Tulfo Teo

THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of resigned Tourism secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo and former-undersecretary for administration and special concerns Rolando Cañizal to the withdrawal of luxury items worth millions of pesos from Duty-Free Philippines Corp. stores in 2017, and the charging of these to funds designed to ﬁnance the programs of the Tourism Department. In a 2017 audit report, CoA said P2.52 million worth of items, such as branded bags, luxury brand cosmetics, appliances and chocolates, were withdrawn from stores on the orders from Teo and Cañizal.

Pork witness takes back word vs Revilla By Maricel V. Cruz PORK barrel scam whistleblower Marlina Sula on Thursday recanted her testimony against former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and accused a prosecutor of coaching her to afﬁrm the statements of fellow whistleblower Benhur Luy, who she said lied under oath. When subjected to direct examination during the resumption of the hearing of the case against Revilla at the Sandigan-

bayan, Sula denied meeting Revilla during her employment at JNL Corp., which allegedly handled the bogus non-government organizations of pork-barrel-scam queen Janet Napoles. Revilla, who is facing plunder and multiple graft cases for allegedly pocketing P224 million of his pork barrel funds, said he was elated over Sula’s recantation. “I cried with joy,” the former senator Next page said.

He said among the symptoms of leptospirosis, which could emerge up to 30 days after wading in contaminated waters, are fever, headache, muscle pain, jaundice, difﬁculty peeing and coughing up blood. He urged those possibly exposed to rat urine to take anti-leptospirosis antibiotics and immediately consult doctors upon experiencing its symptoms. Next page

Sereno bares option to run for senator, hits back at Rody By Rey E. Requejo OUSTED Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Thursday said she was considering running for the Senate in the 2019 elections, a complete turnaround from her previous statement that she had no plan to enter politics. “I am open to running for public ofﬁce. It’s an option,” Sereno told ANC Headstart. She made the statement even as Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday the opposition had started talking with Sereno to join its senatorial slate. Trillanes, who is part of the selection committee for the opposition Tindig Pilipinas’ senatorial lineup, said he had already talked with Sereno to join their lineup but Sereno had yet to make a decision. “I talked to her personally but Senator [Francis] Pangilinan, who would eventually become the campaign manager, would also talk to her,” Trillanes said during the weekly breakfast forum at the Senate. But Sereno said she needed more time to think before making a ﬁnal decision on running. Next page

“The church preaches non-violence and sobriety and would not, under any circumstance, actively seek to overthrow the government,” said Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines permanent committee on public affairs. Pastor Boy Saycon said earlier that the government is not discounting the possibility that radical members of the Catholic Church may be used by some organizations to destabilize the government. But Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque played down the remarks of Saycon, one of four ofﬁcials named to a committee to placate religious leaders who are in an uproar over President Duterte’s remarks.

“Maybe because he is new to government, we will give [him] a thorough briefing on how we go about releasing information to the public,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde, reacting to Saycon’s remarks, said they have not monitored any serious destabilization efforts against the Duterte administration. Hours after a meeting with officials from the CBCP and PNP officials in Intramuros, Manila, Albayalde said no less than Evangelista had ruled out any plot. “We did not even talk [about it] because it does not exist,” Albayalde added. The President himself said he would Next page remain silent after his rants.

Joma: Reds opting to wait until Duterte term expires By Joyce Pangco Pañares THE communist rebels have given up on the prospect of signing a ﬁnal peace agreement with the government of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying they would rather support efforts to oust him and wait to resume talks with the next administration. The founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines and chief political consultant for the National Democratic Front Jose Ma. Sison issued this statement Thursday, days after Duterte canceled the resumption of peace negotiations this month as well as back-

channel talks between the two parties. “Based on the implications drawn from the current impasse, the NDF can no longer negotiate with a government that is headed by Duterte. So long as he heads the government, the Filipino people, especially the oppressed and exploited, cannot expect any beneﬁt from negotiating with the Duterte regime,” Sison said. “It is relatively easier and more productive for the NDF to participate in the Oust-Duterte movement and to prepare for peace negotiations with the prospective administration that replaces the Next page Duterte regime,” he added.

POLICE MATTERS.

Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Cavite Bishop Rey Evangelista discuss security concerns and internal cleansing of the PNP on Thursday at the CBCP building in Intramuros, Manila. (Story on A2) Norman Cruz

News

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018

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CA allows testimony of key cop in Jee case By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has paved the way for Senior Police Officer 4 Roy Villegas, a government witness, to testify on the circumstances surrounding the death of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo inside the general headquarters of the Philippine National Police in 2016. In a four-page resolution, the CA’s Thirteenth Division through Associate Justice Myra Garcia-Fernandez denied the appeal of accused Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel for a restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction against Villegas’ testimony. Villegas was one of the police officers who took part in the abduction of Jee, believing that it was a legitimate anti-drug operation. In his affidavit, Villegas tagged Sta. Isabel as the one who strangled Jee to death after talking to a “sir Dumlao” who later turned out to be Police Supt. Rafael Dumlao III, former official of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, also an accused in kidnap-slaying of Jee. Villegas said when he realized it was not a legitimate police operation, he still did not resist and continued to obey instructions for fear of his life and safety of his family. Sta. Isabel opposed the testimony of Villegas when he filed a motion for reconsideration to the Angeles City, Pampanga Court’s resolution last January. But his motion for reconsideration was dismissed in a resolution dated March 15, 2018 prompting him to take the case to the Court of Appeals. “Accused Villegas does not qualify as a state witness and that unless public respondent is enjoined from continuing the hearings, the rights of petitioner would be violated,” Sta. Isabel said, in a petition before the appellate court. However, the CA ruled that Sta. Isabel failed to establish any “grave and irreparable injury” if Villegas will continue testifying before the Pampanga court. “Mere allegation of the possibility of irreparable damage without proof of actual existing right is not a ground for the issuance thereof [of a restraining order or a writ of preliminary investigation],” the appeals court stressed. Villegas already appeared and testified before the Pampanga Court. His testimony will continue in the trial set on July 12 and 30.

Ex-DoJ chief sues Tulfo, PDI board for libel FORMER Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday filed a libel complaint before the Manila city prosecutors office against Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo, Inquirer Publications Inc. Board chairman Marixi Prieto, Inquirer Publication Inc. president and CEO Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez and several others for publishing an article describing the former Cabinet secretary as “callous” as well as “maligning his reputation.” Also included in the complaint were Inquirer COO Renato Reinoso, Inquirer executive editor Jose Ma. Nolasco, Rosario Garcellano, Inquirer opinion editor, Abelardo Ulanday, associate editor (online), Eileen Mangubat, publisher of tabloid Bandera, Dona Policar, editor in chief of Bandera, Jimmy Alcantara, deputy editor of Bandera and several John Does that Aguirre said were responsible corporate officers, publishers, editors, and managers of the Inquirer Publications Inc., PDI, its online publicationInquirer.net, and Bandera. Tulfo, Prieto,Prieto-Romualdez and Reinoso were charged for 12 counts of cyberlibel and 10 counts of libel, while Nolasco and Garcellano were sued for 12 counts of cyber libel. On the other hand, Mangubat, Policar and Alcantara were charged for 10 counts of libel. Aguirre cited an Aug. 26, 2017 article which was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Inquirer.net entitled “Injustice Too Many” written by Tulfo that described him as “callous” and that he tried to downplay as not a “big deal” the killing of 17-year old Kian Delos Santos by members of the Caloocan City police who were supposedly conducting an anti-drug operation and that it was an isolated incident, which was blown out of proportion by the media. The former Justice secretary said the same article was also published in the vernacular on the same date in Bandera with the title “Manhid si Justice Secretary Aguirre.” Aguirre, however, described Tulfo’s accusation as a “complete lie.” “A closer reading of the statement I allegedly made would reveal that I never downplayed the killing of Mr. Delos Santos, or any killing for that matter. All crimes and felonies committed, regardless of the level of publicity, deserve the same barometer of justice under the rule of law,” Aguirre said in his complaint. Rey E. Requejo

Bishops, cops tackle priests’ slays By Francisco Tuyay

HE Philippine National Police and officials of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Thursday agreed to intensfy communications intended to address the safety of clergymen on the internal cleansing of the institution of erring personnel.

After the meeting, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said that both parties agreed to hold constant dialogue to thresh out CBCP’s concerns over the security of priests, and their efforts to assist the PNP on its internal cleansing program. Under the newly established “Ugnayan ng Simbahan at Pulis,” both parties will hold regular dialogue to tackle the recent killing of priests which alarmed the CBCP. Albayalde, along with NCRPO director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar and PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, met CBCP officials led by Fr. Jerome

Secillano, executive secretary of the Public Affairs Committee, Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, Public Affairs chairman and secretary general Fr. Marvin Mejia. The meeting lasted for almost two hours. During the meeting, CBCP officials were assured by Albayalde that the clergy are not “targets.” “The PNP chief himself assured that we were really not targets,” Secillano said in an interview. In a span of six months, three priest have already been killed, the latest victim being Fr. Richmond Nilo of the Diocese

of Cabanatuan City. Albayalde said they revealed to the CBCP’s initial findings on the current status of murder cases involving Catholic priests, as he assured that they would continue investigating the incidents. With regards to the case of Fr. Nilo, Albayalde said they are expecting positive results. “We’ve been following-up the motorcycle [used by the assailants]. I think by next week we will have good developments,” the PNP chief said. When asked if the CBCP requested security for the clergy and parishes, Secillano said that they “didn’t request that police be placed in churches.” “What’s good about this meeting is that communication lines area open, that whenever we need them, we can immediately coordinate with them,” Secillano said. Albayalde thanked the CBCP for being receptive to their request on matters of assisting

Binay upbeat about dismissal of conspiracy raps By Joel E. Zurbano THE lawyer of former vice president Jejomar Binay is confident the case filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the P1.3-billion Makati City Science High School will be dismissed. Daniel Subido said the Ombudsman’s claim of the existence of a conspiracy involving the former vice president, his son, former Makati City mayor Junjun Binay, and several others was mere speculation. “The Ombudsman’s case against VP Binay hinges on a mere speculation of ‘con-

CBCP:... From A1

“And for now, I will just keep my silence for I want to see how the nation reacts. It’s like, I’m shaking the tree. If you would notice me every now and then, either national or local, I really shake the tree,” Duterte said in his speech during the 25th annual national convention of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philipines in Bohol, Thursday. He even loosely paraphrased a passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” This, he said, was a time to be silent. The President also told his audience he wanted to “test the limits of everything,” even when he was young. On Thursday, Roque announced that Cab-

spiracy’,” Subido said in statement. He said the Ombudsman could not even specify the acts that would prove the existence of the alleged conspiracy. “It is only a matter of time for the case to be dismissed because the Ombudsman cannot even point out the ‘overt act’ that can be attributable to the vice president that would support its theory of conspiracy,” Subido said. He said Binay “looks forward to the trial to put this matter to rest.” The Sandiganbayan on Monday dismissed Binay’s motion to dismiss the complaints filed by the Ombudsman, saying the issues raised in the motion should be presented in a trial.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales had ordered the filing of multiple counts of graft and falsification charges against the Binays for allegedly conspiring to rig the procurement processes of the school building along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City. The Makati Science Building project for a 10-story building with a four-story dormitory was completed merely as a 10-story building, the Ombudsman said. The Ombudsman charged the two Binays with four counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and three counts of falsification of public documents, respectively.

inet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. had joined the presidential committee tasked to smooth over strained relations with the Catholic Church and other religious groups. Evasco joins Roque, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella and Saycon in the committee. At his regular briefing in the Palace, Roque confirmed that the Palace has received an invitation to the annual event which celebrates the feast day of Saint Peter, the first Pope. “I don’t think at this point the President will be attending the event but then until the President says so, I’m just wary because the invitation came so late that the President already has a fixed schedule,” Roque said. The invitation of Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, who represents the Vatican in the Philippines, comes just days after Duterte called God “stupid” in

a scathing attack on the Catholic Church. Senator Panfilo Lacson said the advice of President Duterte’s daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte, that people pay no heed to her father when he is talking about religion because he is no priest, did not apply to the leader of the nation. “It is good advice, but may not be applicable because her father is the President of the Republic,” Lacson said in a press statement. The senator, an ally of the President said when Duterte talks, Filipinos listen for different reasons. “Some are waiting for his mistakes so they can have a field day criticizing him; others want to be informed, so they will learn and be guided by his policy statements; the rest may simply want to be entertained, and make their day. In any case, we all listen,” he also said. Vito Barcelo, Francisco Tuyay, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Evalea Casaljay

Wanda...

Joma:...

Teo issued memoranda to withdraw P43,885 worth of items, while Cañizal authorized the withdrawal of items worth P1.37 million. These withdrawals totaled P2.17 million. State auditors also flagged the Department of Tourism for the withdrawal of P346,446 worth of merchandise from a Duty Free store between May and September 2017, saying that the withdrawal was not properly documented. The DoT authorized the delivery of close to 300 items to its offices through gate pass slips only. “The 277 items costing $6,938.35 or P346,446.80, apart from the $43,091.13 or P2,174,150.08 that were recorded in the books, were all duly receipted by the Office of the DoT Secretary upon the release of the items from the DFPC warehouse based on the issued and approved gate pass slips,” the report said. DFPC is a government-owned-and -controlled corporation under the DoT. CoA assailed the agency’s P22,893 cost of shipment of donations and P1.6 million consultancy fee. It said the DoT violated Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009 for the deduction of P3.797 million worth of merchandise, consultancy fees and shipping costs. “Stop the practice of directly charging from DoT’s share in DFPC’s net profits for the cost of items withdrawn by DoT from the DFPC stores and other payments made by DFPC for and in behalf of the DoT pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009),” the report said.

While presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said the postponement was meant to allow the government to engage a “bigger peace table,” a well-placed source said Duterte reached the decision to “reset” the peace talks following Sison’s several pronouncements on the timetable of the negotiations. “The President reviewed the recent statements of Joma because it was Joma who was announcing that there will be a week-long ‘stand down order’ between the NDF and the government that will begin on June 21 and that the formal peace talks will resume on June 28. Is he the spokesman of the government? Perhaps Sison thought he already won the war,” the source said. Sison, however, said the working drafts of the agreements that both panels earlier worked on will not go to waste with the

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Pork... From A1

“After four years, four long years, this. Today’s [Thursday’s] revelations only confirm what I have known from the beginning―that I was targeted,” said Revilla who is detained at the National Police Custodial Center. Sula made the denial during the hearing at the Sandiganbayan’s First Division on Thursday, when lawyer Reody Anthony Balisi asked her if she knew if Revilla was aware of the implementation of projects supposedly funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel. After denying having met Revilla, Sula admitted that while employed at the JLN Corp., she handled the supporting docu-

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Sereno... From A1

Besides, she said, the Liberal Party had yet to formally talk or invite her to join the party and run under its senatorial slate in next year’s elections. “I am weighing all options now,” Sereno said. Sereno last month slammed President Rodrigo Duterte and even called for his resignation. She vowed to lead the fight for respect for the rule of law and accountability in the country. On June 19, the Supreme Court upheld its previous ruling removing her from her ments needed by the Napoles-owned Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. to collect payment from senators. Sula accused Luy of forging the signature of Revilla in the endorsement letters for the PDAF-funded foundations linked to Napoles. She claimed she saw Luy forge at least three letters. “Si Benhur, siya yung mahusay pumirma ng lawmakers at siya yung nakikita kong pumipirma para sa lawmakers. Wala pong alam si Senator Revilla sa paggawa po ng endorsement letters,” Sula said. The anti-graft court’s First Division chairman, Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz, told Sula to say the specific dates when Luy supposedly forged Revilla’s signature. Sula failed to give the dates, aside from those indicated on the endorsement letters.

CPP-NDF’s decision to withdraw from the peace talks. “They can be carried over to the negotiation with government under a new administration. The room is open for the further improvement of the drafts in the meantime,” Sison said. “It is well and good if Duterte withdraws finally from the peace negotiations with the NDF. Thus, he deprives himself of the opportunity of creating false illusions that he is for peace. He stands isolated and ripe for ouster,” Sison added. With the President’s decision to postpone the peace negotiations, five of six rebel leaders with standing arrest warrants who were supposed to participate in the talks have already gone underground. Sison, however, said Duterte is to blame for the situation. “Duterte has made it impossible for our consultants to present themselves before the proper courts. Duterte removed the safe environment for them to face the court again.” post and nullifying her appointment as chief justice in 2012. The Judicial and Bar Council has already opened applications for the post she vacated on June 25. Under the Constitution, Duterte has 90 days to name Sereno’s replacement from a list of nominees submitted by the JBC. Meanwhile, Sereno accused Duterte of violating the Constitution when he said “God is stupid,” though she said it was unclear if what Duterte had said was actionable. In the same television interview, Sereno said she agreed with the statement of Jesus is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva that Duterte’s statement may be considered unlawful. “There is a violation of the spirit of the preamble of the Constitution,” Sereno said.

Leptospirosis... From A1

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Health department said there were 1,030 cases of Leptospirosis reported nationwide to it from Jan. 1 to June 9 this year, which was 41 percent higher than the number recorded during the same period last year. Of that number, 339 were laboratorytested and 77 turned positive for Leptospirosis. There were 93 deaths recorded but Domingo said the total was 99. The department advised the public to watch out for symptoms of Leptospirosis if they had been wading in floodwaters these past few rainy days. The sudden downpour several days this

them on its internal cleansing program. “One of the reasons why we are here is to ask for their help in our internal cleansing program, plus the rehabilitation of drug surrenderees and their willingness to help us in the values formation to our police,” Albayalde said. “We are very happy and thankful to the CBCP for their help,’ Albayalde said. Albayalde added that they also briefed CBCP officials on the updates on the recent killings. “I think they were very much satisfied with our updates,” he said. Secillano, on the other hand, advised PNP officials to make drastic changes not only in its system but also on the personal aspect. “If you are a law enforcer then enforce the law, Make sure that the public is safe, secure. So that’s the kind of help they asked from us,” he said.

75%... From A1

Support for federalism is strong among respondents who trust President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration. Gainers, or those whose personal quality of life is better now compared to 12 months ago, and optimists, or those whose personal quality of life will be better 12 months from now also show strong support for the federal system. On the other hand, the survey showed that 58 percent of Filipinos don’t know or are not familiar with the name of the “state” being promoted in their own locality. Four percent don’t agree with the change of names while 1 percent said no one in their locality is pushing federalism. The level of awareness was highest in Mindanao scoring 37 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 28 percent. Showing that awareness is slightly higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. It was also highest among college students at 53 percent, followed by high school graduates and then elementary non-graduates. The report was conducted from March 23-27, 2018 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults, aged 18 and above nationwide with a sampling error of +/-3 percent for national percentages. The Palace said the survey showed the government must do more to make people aware of the advantages of a federal form of government. “We’ll need to work harder given that the shift to federalism is the cornerstone of the Duterte administration,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. He added that the Palace is still awaiting the recommendations of a constitutional commission that the President created to suggest changes to the Constitution that would pave the way to a federal form of government. With Vito Barcelo

Germany... From A1

In a stunning reverse by the footballing superpower who have reached either the final or semi-finals of every World Cup since 2002, the Germans stumbled to a 2-0 loss to South Korea that left them rooted to the bottom of Group F. Meanwhile, in Seoul, South Korean fans rejoiced Thursday and called for national service exemptions after their team went out of the World Cup in a blaze of glory, eliminating the defending champions with a shock two-goal victory. In one of the great World Cup upsets, Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min both scored in injury time to condemn footballing superpower Germany to their first opening-round exit in 80 years. In another match, Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 to top Group E and cruise through to a last-16 meeting with Mexico. Switzerland joined Brazil in the second round as runners-up after they drew 2-2 with Costa Rica in Nizhny Novogrod. Germany went into the game knowing that a win by two clear goals would have seen them into the last 16. But instead it was Sweden and Mexico who advanced after the Swedes romped to a 3-0 win over the Mexicans in Yekaterinburg. “The disappointment of us being eliminated is just huge,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew, who is now under pressure to quit despite signing a contract extension until 2022 last month. AFP week flooded many low-lying areas in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. “We can prevent the complications of Leptospirosis when its flu-like symptoms are recognized early and treated immediately,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. “My advice to those who had to wade in the flood these past few days is to be alert for any symptom and to seek early consultation,” Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira spirochetes bacteria that is spread through the urine of infected animals, especially rats. Its modes of transmission include wading in contaminated floodwaters and ingesting contaminated food or water. The bacterium has an incubation period of seven to 10 days before the symptoms appear.

News Bam urges gov’t officials: Go down to the people By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Bam Aquino on Wednesday challenged the government’s financial managers to personally go down to the people and listen to their pleas on the high prices of goods due to Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. “That’s true, numbers don’t lie. You go to the market, the prices of goods don’t lie,” said Aquino, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. He said that the ”hard fact’ is that Filipinos are drowning due to high prices.” Aquino made the statement after Budget Secretary Ben Diokno said that “hard facts” will refute President Duterte’s statement that the economy is in the doldrums due to high prices of goods. Aquino, meanwhile, asked the administration to support his measure calling for the immediate suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to ease the public’s burden. Under Aquino’s measure, the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law will be rolled back once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. Aquino also called on the government to fully implement the mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers. Also, Aquino said the high price of sugar will hit poor Filipinos so that the roll back of the TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel is necessary. While the Sugar Regulatory Administration monitors and maintain sugar prices, the senator said the government must ensure that financial assistance and other mitigating measures under the tax reform program are rolled out immediately.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t not criminalizing vagrancy—spokesman By Vito Barcelo

ALACAÑANG on Thursday maintained that the Duterte administration is not criminalizing vagrancy and merely implementing the laws and ordinances and as form of more police visibility intended to act as deterrent towards the commission of crime. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also reiterated that the government’s drive against loiterers or “anti-tambay” is meant to prevent crimes from happening. He said the Palace welcomes any probe by Congress or the Supreme Court on the government’s “antitambay” campaign whether it committed any abuses. “We are not criminalizing vagrancy. We are implementing the laws

and ordinances. Police visibility is intended to act as deterrent towards the commission of crimes,” he said. Under Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code, loitering is a crime but this was overturned by former President Benigno Aquino III when he signed a law in 2012 decriminalizing vagrancy which has been used to justify arbitrary arrests. The President, a lawyer and former Davao prosecutor, acknowledged in

one of his speeches that loitering is not a crime, but ordered police to round up tambays or night idlers on the streets. Roque, in defending the President, said that Duterte wanted local ofﬁcials to implement ordinances against loiterers, to lessen the possibility of the commission of crime. Duterte said loiterers or “tambays” pose “potential trouble for the public.” “To conduct a probe is the mandate of both Houses of the Congress. Especially if they will create a law that would help the President with the kind of implementation he wants,” Roque said. The President even dared the critics of his anti-tambay directive to question its legality at the Supreme Court and should the SC turns down his order, he will just let everyone out in the streets.

Russia’s Putin assigns defense attaché to PH RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has signed an order to send his country’s ﬁrst designated defense attaché to the Philippines, the Russian Embassy in Manila announced Thursday. The move, according to the embassy, signals Moscow’s determination to strengthen military and technical cooperation with Manila. According to Natalia Naumova, press attaché at the embassy, no speciﬁc person has been designated for the post. “It was the principal decision to establish such position at the

embassy. [We] will start working on it now as we have the frameworks,” she told the Philippine News Agency. The Russian leader’s order comes more than a month after the Philippines sent its ﬁrst defense attaché to Moscow. As per an earlier post by Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta, Col. Dennis Pastor was with his administrative assistant T/ Sgt. Pablito Igne when he reported for duty in May 2018 as head of the Ofﬁce of Defense Attaché in the Philippine Embassy.

He described the sending of a Philippine defense attaché to Russia as the “first time in over 40 years” of relations between the two states. The bilateral relations of the two countries continue to improve since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed ofﬁce in 2016. Meanwhile, defense cooperation between Moscow and Manila developed further after the signing of the Agreement on Defense Cooperation and the Agreement on Military-Technical Cooperation in 2017. PNA

Guevarra grants Catalan’s request to be relieved as NPS head By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has approved the request of Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan to be relieved from his post as head of National Prosecution Service. “I granted his [Catalan] request,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters. Catalan was appointed acting Prosecutor General after then Prosecutor General Claro Arellano was designated administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. Guevarra explained that Catalan did not resign, but was only relieved of his duties as concurrent acting prosecutor general. “CP Catalan Jr. did not resign. He just asked to be relieved from his concurrent duty as acting prosecutor general so that he may focus on his full-time job as CP for Makati city,” Guevarra said. In a June 25, 2018 letter sent to Guevarra, Catalan said he wants to focus as City Prosecutor in Makati City, adding he cannot compromise and sacrifice performance and productivity by holding on to both offices. “Concurrent with my capacity as City Prosecutor of the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati, a year ago, I was similarly designated as acting Prosecutor General. Much as I would like to carry on with the parallel arrangement, I am committed to dedicate only the best of what I can offer,” Catalan said. “In the long run, I cannot compromise or sacrifice my performance and productivity by holding on to both offices,” Catalan said. “The privilege was truly an honor and a challenge to be able to organize and manage both offices, despite the exigent demands of supervisory work it entailed.”

Opinion

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018

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Withdrawing from the ICC the latter involving deposit of ratification documents with either a depository state or organization. Looked at FR. RANHILIO through the lens of municipal law, however, no matter that a treaty may have CALLANGAN been ratified and may have entered into AQUINO force, when its provisions collide with I UNDERSTAND that a case has been the Constitution, the latter document filed before the Supreme Court requir- prevails—with the paradoxical result ing that the matter of withdrawal from that while a State’s constitutional order the Rome Statute of the International forbids it from fulfilling its treaty obliCriminal Court be subjected to the con- gations, the State remains bound under currence of Senate in the same way that international law and causes State rethe Constitution requires its concur- sponsibility to become operative when rence for a treaty’s entry into force in it fails to do so. In respect to ratificathe Philippines. Interestingly, the last tion, international law leaves it to the time the Court was asked to pass upon constitutional precepts of each state to a related issue again had to do with our specify how treaties are ratified. In the membership in the International Crim- Philippines, ratification is essentially inal Court. At that time, President Glo- an Executive act, with the requirement, ria Macapagal Arroyo had been pre- under the Constitution, that the Senate vailed upon by the United States—that concur. The requirement of Senate concurwas strongly opposed to court’s coming into being although it helped con- rence is not unique to the Philippines ceive it!—not to ratify the treaty. She and the question has been repeatedly asked why a chamber of the Legislature refused to send it to the Senate. Harry Roque who was then a full- has to grant its fiat to what is essentialtime professor at the UP College of Law ly an Executive function. An argument from “symmetry” and some others has been advanced went to court and con —though not conasked it to compel, vincingly. It has by mandamus, the been argued that President to send It is not a question the Senate’s powthe treaty off to er to concur or to the Senate. The of diluting the powers withhold its concourt refused to of the President in the currence balances order the Presi- matter of the conduct the President’s dent, rightly, to power to sign a my mind, main- of foreign relations. bill into law—an taining that as the Executive intruconduct of foreign sion into what is affairs was within Leg essentially a Legthe province of the Executive, the President’s refusal islative function. But while symmetry to obtain Senate concurrence was tan tan- may convince in the field of aesthetics, tamount to a decision to reject it. Ob- some more compelling reason must be viously, this is not the same case, but advanced for this criss-crossing of the a similar issue is touched upon: Does lines of governmental coordination and the Executive’s prerogative in respect the blurring of separation of powers. I to foreign affairs exclude any role of have always argued that the President’s the Legislature, or a chamber thereof, approval of a bill is necessary because in the matter of the denunciation of or the execution of the law will depend on the Chief Executive whose signature is withdrawal from a treaty? Two standpoints have to be distin- a guarantee of the law’s enforcement. guished. From an international law Obviously, when the Legislature devantage point, the State is bound by cides to override a presidential veto, it a treaty’s provisions and is likewise is sending the Chief Executive the very freed of its obligations in respect to strong message that as the law-making them when the requirements of ratifi- body of the State, it is convinced of the cation on the one hand, or denunciation necessity of the enactment and will not or withdrawal on the other are fulfilled allow the President to stand in the way. When a treaty enters into force for as required by the treaty’s provisions itself. So, ratification will have both the Philippines, it has the same effect domestic and international aspects, Turn to A5

PENSEES

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Health warnings on sweet drinks

ANUFACTURERS of soft drinks and other ready-to-drink products may not readily welcome them but health warnings on the labels of such products give consumers an option on their food choices, and hopefully help them steer clear of the risks posed by sweetened-sugar beverages. The Trade Department is requiring manufacturers of sugar-sweetened drinks to include health warnings on their front labels starting next month after President Rodrigo Duterte cautioned against the high levels of sugar in beverages and their accompanying health risks, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The Philippines is fourth in Asia in terms of prevalence of obesity cases. The health warnings are certain to dampen the sales of beverages with high-sugar content. Beverage manufacturers have already complained about lower sales

this year, following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, which imposed an excise tax of P6 per liter on drinks with caloric or non-caloric sweetener and P12 on drinks with high-fructose corn syrup. The warnings on labels, however, aim to promote healthy eating habits and raise public awareness about the harms of sweetenedsugar beverages. Like the excise tax on drinks, the warnings will discourage consumption and hopefully promote healthy eating habits. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

said the initial list of drinks would cover more products, aside from ready-to-drink, powdered drinks, concentrates and energy drinks. Even beverage sold in coffee shops could be subject to the labeling requirement. Health warnings on labels, such as those on cigarettes and liquor, should succeed in cutting down the consumption of “unhealthy” products and make the population healthier. The budget of the Health department is already stretched in providing health care to millions of Filipinos. Philippine Health Insurance Corp., for one, noted that majority of Filipinos with obesity and diabetes are poor and have little access to prevention. A healthier population, meanwhile, will ease the budget burden and increase the country’s economic productivity.

Fallout from the ‘stupid’ remark whose Jesus is Lord movement has millions of followers, said the President violated the Constitution which stipulates respect for all religions. Bro. EdALEJANDRO die called on Mr. Duterte to apologize DEL ROSARIO to God. He urged the people to speak out against the insult to God. THE constant rain is not the heavens The Palace has said the President crying. It is from the bad weather the would not apologize. This comes as no country is experiencing in the last few surprise considering Mr. Duterte is not days. But there is a continuing fallout known for repentance. His virulent exfrom President Duterte’s “God is stu- pletives and mocking manner rules out pid” remark. Brother Eddie Villanueva, repentance and regret. Malacañang, head of the Jesus Is Lord movement, re- nonetheless, announced the creation minded Mr. Duterte that he was elect- of a special group to dialogue with the ed leader of all the Filipino people— Church and the Catholic Bishops’ ConChristians, Catholics and Muslims. ference of the Philippines. If not the Brother Eddie fear of God, Presiwho lost a president Duterte, it dential run is a seems, is afraid of known ally of the what a widespread President. His backlash from the Whatever god you son, Senator Joel populace can do Villanueva is also believe in, let us all pray to his presidency. aligned with the that peace comes to our For sure the PresiDuterte admindent’s supporters istration. Father deeply divided country. and those with and son now aplines to the Presipear to be driftdential Miscoming away from munications Of OfDuterte. One may fice of Secretary not agree with Bro. Eddie but like oth oth- Martin Andanar will belittle any peopeo ers who believe in God, he is express- ple upheaval. ing what many of us who feel offended Presidential Spokesman Harry and aghast about the Duterte remark. Roque, legal counsel Salvador PanSome may say the President is exer- elo and a few misguided members of cising his freedom of expression. But media think they can mollify the ofeven this freedom carries with it a cer- fended Christian flock. But they only tain responsibility which is to respect succeeded to make matters worse with other people’s religious beliefs. their fudged explanations of the Presi“President Duterte is supposed to be dent’s offensive remark. Roque tried the leader of all the Filipino people and to justify the President’s utterances by he must therefore respect all religions tracing his anti-Church and anti-God and not desecrate any belief,” said Vil- attitude to his being molested by a lanueva, adding calling God stupid is priest when Digong was a young man. blasphemy of the highest order. Duterte has not identified that priest During an interview with Karen who allegedly fondled him. Davila on ANC TV, the evangelist, Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

High cost of medicines in PH VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ TODAY I adopt as my column the article written by my US-based daughter Ivy Lopez Cabaltica, a lawyer, on the high cost of medicines in the Philippines: It’s not until you need to buy medicine that you realize how expensive they are. Then you pay for the whole cost. Filipinos’ out-of-pocket pharmaceutical spending forecast rose from $664 million to over $3.46 billion. Medicine

is 33 percent of their Total Health Expenditure. Rich countries like OECD members spend 16 percent of their THE on drugs. Filipinos pay out-of-pocket for 53.7 percent of their THE.

An illness can put a low-income family into poverty.

Generally, the more affluent a country, the higher it spends on pharmaceuticals to bring down the cost for its citizens. The Philippine government spends 15 percent on Total Pharmaceutical Expenditure. Richer countries like Thailand spend 91 percent on TPE. The Filipino private sector finances 85 percent of the PH TPE. This is simi similar to other lower-mid-income Asean nations like Indonesia-85.7 percent, Vietnam-83.5 percent, and Cambodia-77.5 percent. “Medicines account for a larger share of the health budgets in resourceTurn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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Opinion

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018

Duterte’s key to power: Unpredictability

And now a word from Mayor Sara CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ LET me be very clear about it: No matter how I sometimes detest being lectured on by a priest on purely temporal matters using Scripture for effect or how egregious a number of them are in their interpretation of the Bible I cannot, repeat, cannot even just for a second call God by any other name except the Supreme Being. And, of course, Jesus Christ the name above all others. That said, I am sure President Duterte, after making those remarks about God, has come around to reinforce his personal belief about the Supreme Being who guides the destinies of men and nations. I am sure in his own ways, as he has since noted, he has acknowledged his having crossed the line, as it were, and prayed hard for understanding. So I hope those who continue to vilify him or, worse, ask him to publicly apologize and do some such ritualistic atonement, should now withdraw from center stage and leave things at that. There is really no use unduly needling him for having expressed what many consider blasphemous statements— unless one belongs to that grouping that has no love lost for the man and will curse him to high heavens at every turn. Or wish that he stumbles over and over again. Or to get out of Malacañang by whatever means possible altogether. This matter about God, interpreting the Bible and some such variations should now be laid to rest so the nation and our people can refocus their attention on more mundane things and move on. As my “tambay” friends would say after carousing around with

High... From A4

constrained countries,” says the World Health Organization. The Philippines is the third-largest pharmaceutical market in Asean worth $3.8 billion in 2017. PH pharmaceutical market is predicted to exceed $4 billion by 2020, at a compound annual growth rate of over 3.5 percent. There is an increasing need for accessible, safe, and effective medicine due to the country’s changing lifestyle and demographics. For one, PH life expectancy is shortening at 69, where the world average is 71.4 years. The affluent nations of the OECD average 80.6 years. “Differences in life expectancy across countries may be attributed to differences in income levels, living standards, lifestyles, education and accessibility to quality health services.” Despite its increasing wealth, Filipinos of all ages and incomes are exposed to the same health risks found in the country. Filipinos suffer from the rise of non-communicable diseases (cerebrovascular, ischemic heart, kidney, diabetes); communicable diseases like lower respiratory infection and tuberculosis likely due to pollution; and interpersonal violence. PH is the youngest nation in Asia with a median age of 23.4. Its biggest segment is age 25-54 (37 percent). But its growing middle class has made it vulnerable to high-income diseases and health problems brought about by inactivity, dietary risks, high blood pressure, high body mass index, tobacco and alcohol use, high total cholesterol, and failing kidneys. Over 33 percent of PH population is below age 15, a high rate compared to its neighboring nations. This segment is vulnerable to neonatal diseases (preterm birth, sepsis, encephalopathy), respiratory diseases, and diarrhea. These conditions are prevalent in the low income households who cannot afford, nor have access to, adequate healthcare and medicine. WHO came out with a list of 30 es-

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Roque did not elaborate whether the molestation experience left an emotional scar on his President. But quite obviously, that was the impression give-’em-hell Harry wanted to convey. “Your god is not my god. My god is a perfect god and has common sense,” intoned the President in his shocking remark. But who’s really stupid? The President who uttered a stupid remark or his “perfect god” that created him

their favorite song “My Way”: Pahinga na, tapos na ang kanta (let things rest, the music has played out). Take it from the presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who should know her father better than all of those who have joined the fray and hurled all kinds of unprintable words against him. Said the good mayor who herself has been known as being outspoken and will not take any B.S. from anybody, her father included: “Please do not listen to him (PRRD) interpret the Bible or Quran, he is not a priest, a pastor or an imam. I really do not understand why others listen to him interpret the Bible when he is not a priest; he is a President who is only expressing

She knows her father better than any of us does.

his opinions. He is the President; listen to him when he speaks about his work. And criticize him on his work and not his ‘talkalese.’ People should not waste energy criticizing the President’s personal opinions.” Which is just as well. Even Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called for calm amid this disruption. “Be at peace,” the good Cardinal said in a statement, “don’t let things disturb your inner peace. Let us read the situation with the eyes of faith. Let us not be distracted from addressing other pressing concerns with the fervor of faith and love. For example, the increasing prices of goods, job security, exploitation of women and children, violence in homes and neighbor-

hoods, different types of addictions/ crimes, vulnerabilities of overseas workers, the daily paralyzing traffic in big cities, flooding, reconstruction of destroyed cities, combating terrorism, corruption and others.” With this advisory coming from no less than the pastoral guide of Roman Catholics in the most critical and, might I add, wisened flock in the whole country,need I say more about the need to extend utmost understanding of one another regardless of faith, race or color? And, of course, keeping the faith and moving on? *** Speaking of faith, religion and understanding, I hope no major protests or exchanges of stinging words erupt not only in the United States but in popu countries with majority Muslim populations, with that recent ruling by the US Supreme Court upholding President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from individuals coming from several of those countries. No less than Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts who wrote that the majority (5-4) decision, said that the travel ban “was well within the US President’s respon authority over immigration and responsibility for keeping the nation safe.” The ruling rejected the view shared by a number of lower courts where challenges were earlier raised by petitioners insisting that the ban was anti-Muslim. But the justices restrained themselves as they did not join President Trump’s campaign call for a “complete and total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” On that score, the majority said, “we express no view on the soundness of the policy.” Again, I say we should go back to the constitutional edict on the separation of Church and State and restrain ourselves from unduly stretching the bounds and be dubbed as fanatics.

sential medicines to ensure a healthy population and prevent the spread of communicable diseases. “The core list presents a list of minimum medicine needs for a basic health-care system, listing the most efficacious, safe and cost–effective medicines for priority conditions. Priority conditions are selected on the basis of current and estimated future public health relevance, and potential for safe and cost-effective treatment,” according to the WHO. Basic medicine can easily save hundreds of lives and ease the discomfort of the sick. For instance, diarrhea is the 12th killer in the Philippines. In early 2017, diarrhea affected 1,720 Filipinos, 47 percent of which were one-year-old babies. This could easily be cured by a simple OTC drug and rehydration tablets. But PH medicine is so expensive that an illness can put a low-income family into poverty. “A chronic and debilitating illness hitting a middle or lower income family can be its ticket to join the ranks of the poor or remain poor, particularly if the main income earner becomes the affected member,” according to a 2017 study by Ramon L. Clarete & Gilberto M. Llanto of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. The Philippines has a dedicated agency that selects pharmaceuticals for procurement and reimbursement. Despite a National Drug Policy to deliver essential medicine to the general population, an estimated 30 percent still lack regular access to it. Retail chain pharmacies dominate drug sales (80 percent), followed by non-government agencies, private practitioners (10 percent), private hospitals (8 percent), and public hospitals (2 percent). Given the skewed pharmaceutical market share, a WHO drug study found that 15 key medicines were 100 percent available at private pharmacies but only 53 percent available at public pharmacies. But access plummets for a wider range of 44 medicines that reached only 28 percent of public facilities and 20 percent of private facilities. Due to limited access, only 66 per-

cent of Filipinos were able to dispense 75 percent of prescribed medicine. The PH pharmaceutical supply outweighs the demand since there are more drug suppliers than buyers. This is largely due to an uninformed public, a majority of which are below the poverty line who cannot afford medicine. “While the Philippines is potentially a large home market as well, at least one in every five Filipinos do not have the purchasing power, rendering the effective national demand for medicines low,” according to PIDS. There are 15 multinational pharmaceuticals who control 66 percent of total industry sales, while 30 percent go to Filipino companies. Multinational pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on imports of active ingredients and technology that they become mere traders of finished and raw drugs. Some multinational pharmaceuticals are purely importers. Most hire the manufacturing services of InterPhil, a giant toll manufacturer, which is a locally-owned subsidiary of the multinational Manchester Holdings. Second, these companies subcontract a very small portion of their drugs to local toll manufacturers like Hizon Laboratories, Swiss Pharma, and Euro-Med Laboratories. (Makati Business Club) The Philippines has over 500 drug traders, 700 drug importers, and 5,000 drug distributors. The DoH has a medicine access program to guarantee medicine to a particular group or segment of the population. Drugs are delivered directly to specific facilities deemed included, such as breast cancer, newborns, or mental health. Facilities excluded from the DoH special programs rely on LGUs to fund their own medicine purchase and supply. LGUs cannot afford such an endeavor so health providers and patients rely on the private sector to provide the medicine for sale. However, 80 percent of retail chain pharmacies are located in major cities so the distant rural regions hardly have access to any form of medication.

and 16 million Filipinos who made the mistake of voting him into office? This is an imperfect world. But let us respect each other’s belief whether it is perfect or not, fallible or infallible. When someone speaks in gutter language, others will react and defend that which they hold sacred. If for example your deity is the god of darkness, the devil or Satan, that’s your prerogative. I’ll leave you to your own device and belief as long as you don’t attack my God. In the same manner, I will not call Allah stupid. I will not say that Muslims’ belief that terrorists who murder innocent civilians will go

to heaven with seven virgins waiting on them is a folly. Someone with political acumen said Duterte is really a smart politician. The President, according to this observer, created another distraction to draw the attention away from that inappropriate kiss on the lips of a Filipina worker in Seoul. But Digong might not be that smart after all. He created a bigger controversy that can only add to a gathering political storm. Whatever god you believe in, let us all pray that peace comes to our deeply divided country.

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Shenandoah Valley. Meanwhile, not far away, General George Brinton McClellan, heading a force of 90,000 Union soldiers, was marching south ERIC from Washington, D.C., to lay siege JURADO to Richmond, Virginia, the ConfederTHESE paraphrased excerpts from ate capital. As the weeks of the camThe 48 Laws of Power by Robert paign went by, Jackson repeatedly led Greene explain Duterte’s deliberate his soldiers out of the Shenandoah Valley, then back to it. unpredictability: His movements made no sense. Was Nothing is more terrifying than the sudden and unpredictable. That is why he preparing to help defend Richmond? we are so frightened by earthquakes: Was he marching on Washington, now We do not know when they will strike. that McClellan’s absence had left it After one has occurred, we wait in ter- unprotected? Was he heading north to ror for the next one. To a lesser degree, wreak havoc up there? Why was his this is the effect that unpredictable hu- small force moving in circles? Jackson’s inexplicable moves made man behavior has on us. Animals behave in set patterns, the Union generals delay the march which is why we are able to hunt and on Richmond as they waited to figure kill them. Only man has the capacity out what he was up to. Meanwhile the to consciously alter his behavior, to South was able to pour reinforcements improvise and overcome the weight into the town. A battle that would have of routine and habit. Yet most men crushed the Confederacy turned into a do not realize this power. They prefer stalemate. Jackson used this tactic time the comforts of routine, of giving in and time again when facing numerito the animal nature that has them re- cally superior forces. “Always mystify, peating the same compulsive actions mislead, and surprise the enemy, if time and time again. They do this possible,” he said, “… such tactics will because it requires no effort, and be- win every time and a small army may cause they mistakenly believe that if thus destroy a large one.” This law applies not only to war they do not unsettle others, they will be left alone. Understand: A person but to everyday situations. People of power like Duterte instills a kind are always trying to read the motives of fear by deliberately unsettling behind Duterte’s actions and to use his predictability those around him against him. to keep the initiaHe will throw tive on his side. in a completely He will someinexplicable move times need to Do not presume to and he puts us on strike without the defensive. warning, to make know what he wants. Because we do us tremble when not understand we least expect it. him, we are It is a device that the powerful have used for centuries. unnerved, and in such a state he can Filippo Maria, the last of the Vis Vis- easily intimidate us. Pablo Picasso once remarked, “The conti dukes of Milan in fifteenthcentury Italy, consciously did the op- best calculation is the absence of calcuposite of what everyone expected of lation. Once you have attained a certain him. For instance, he might suddenly level of recognition, others generally shower a courtier with attention, and figure that when you do something, it’s then, once the man had come to ex- for an intelligent reason. So it’s really pect a promotion to higher office, foolish to plot out your movements too would suddenly start treating him carefully in advance. You’re better off with the utmost disdain. Confused, acting capriciously.” For a while, Picasso worked with the man might leave the court, when the duke would suddenly recall him the art dealer Paul Rosenberg. At first and start treating him well again. he allowed him a fair amount of latiDoubly confused, the courtier would tude in handling his paintings, then wonder whether his assumption that one day, for no apparent reason, he he would be promoted had become told the man he would no longer give obvious, and offensive, to the duke, him any work to sell. As Picasso exand would start to behave as if he no plained, “Rosenberg would spend the longer expected such an honor. The next forty-eight hours trying to figduke would rebuke him for his lack of ure out why. Was I reserving things for some other dealer? I’d go on ambition and would send him away. The secret of dealing of dealing with working and sleeping and Rosenberg Filippo was simple: Do not presume would spend his time figuring. In to know what he wants. Do not try to two days he’d come back, nerves janguess what will please him. Never in- gled, anxious, saying, ‘After all, dear ject your will; just surrender to his friend, you wouldn’t turn me down will. Then wait and see what happens. if I offered you this much [naming a Amidst the confusion and uncertainty substantially higher figure] for those he created, the duke ruled supreme, un- paintings rather than the price I’ve been accustomed to paying you?” challenged and at peace. Duterte’s unpredictability is not only Unpredictability is most often the tactic of the master, but the underdog a weapon of terror: Scrambling his pattoo can use it with great effect. If terns on a day-to-day basis will cause Duterte finds himself outnumbered stir around him and stimulate interest. or cornered, he will throw in a series We will talk about him, ascribe moof unpredictable moves. His enemies tives and explanations that have nothand critics will be so confused that ing to do with the truth, but that will they will pull back or make a tactical keep him constantly in our minds. In the end, the more capricious he apblunder. In the spring of 1862, during the pears, the more respect he will garner. American Civil War, General Stone- Only the terminally subordinate act in wall Jackson and a force of 4,600 a predictable manner. Confederate soldiers were tormenteric.jurado@gmail.com ing the larger Union forces in the FROM WHERE I STAND

Withdrawing... From A4

on the legal system as a statute. It can support a cause of action and create legally demandable rights as well as enforceable obligations. If the President alone enjoyed the unfettered prerogative to enter into treaties, he could effectively alter the Philippine legal system and its legislative framework without the participation of the legislature—a proposition anathema to our American borrowing of “separation of powers.” Our accession to the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trades that made us members of the World Trade Organization as well as re-aligned our intellectual property regime and all our laws on tariffs, imposts and customs duties is a very good example. The Constitution wisely involves the Legislation in the process by which the legal system is altered by requiring Senate ratification. The same thing is no less true in respect to the denunciation of a treaty or a withdrawal from membership in a treaty organization. The Phil-

ippines would obviously go through an overhaul of its legal system were we to denounce the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Its effects on the definition of our territorial sea and our claims to sovereign rights would be severely altered. Obviously, it is not much different when one deals with the crimes punished by the Rome Statute, as well as its processes for the arrest, prosecution, trial and punishment of international felons. Our legal order has been reset by the country’s ratification of the treaty— which needed Senate concurrence. It would once more be altered and realigned by our withdrawal from the treaty. And if Congress were to have no part in this, that would effectively confer on the President broad powers of law-making. It is not a question of diluting the powers of the President in the matter of the conduct of foreign relations. It is a matter of maintaining legislative supremacy in the matter of the configuration of the legal order by statutory enactment or its analogy! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

News

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ex-Intramuros agency boss’ penalty affirmed

tions, standards and guidelines governing land use and development within the Administration’s area of jurisdiction,” the Sandiganbayan ruled. Section 3(e) of RA No. 3019 prohibits a public officer from causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party unwarranted benefits, advantage, or preference in the discharge of official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence. The court’s Second Division held Ferrer liable for Offshore Construction’s activities at the Spanish-built structures Baluarte de San Andres and Baluarte de San Francisco de Dilao, as well as the Ravellin de Recollectos.

By Rio N. Araja

HE Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former Intramuros Administration chief to a jail term of six years and one day to 10 years for graft over illegal structures, the Ofﬁce of the Ombudsman afﬁrmed Thursday.

The anti-graft court found former IA Administrator Dominador Ferrer Jr. guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act and was perpetually disqualiﬁed from government service. In August 1998, Ferrer allowed the Offshore Construction and Development Co., a lessee, to construct new structures inside Intramuros without any

building permit or clearance from the city of Manila as required under the Intramuros Charter or the Presidential Decree 1616, and the National Building Code. “As Executive Ofﬁcer of the Intramuros Administration, [Ferrer’s] bounded duty was to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the Walls, including the ravelins and other public areas within the Intramuros, and to take the lead in enforcing the regula-

Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippines

Considering that FM Pass-Through Amounts are not included in NGCP’s Final Determination for any regulatory period, the proposed FM Pass-Through Amounts can be recovered pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR where NGCP is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of an FME. A copy of the FM Pass-Through Amount Computation is hereto attached as Annex “D.”

19.

Further, the FM Pass-Through Amounts in this Application do not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhP0.0347/ kWh in accordance with the RTWR. A copy of the FMTA Computation is hereto attached as Annex “E.”

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

ERC CASE NO. 2017-090 RC 20.

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Applicant. x - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Also, NGCP considered the NFAV of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon given that NGCP would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by said FMEs. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Notice is hereby given that on 12 October 2017, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application dated 02 October 2017, seeking the approval of Force Majeure Event Regulated FM pass-through for Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon, in accordance with the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates, with a prayer for provisional authority.

21.

NGCP respectfully moves for the issuance of a provisional approval for the immediate recovery of the FM Pass-Through Amounts pursuant to Section 3, Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

22.

NGCP needs to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities. It must be emphasized that the rehabilitation of the assets damaged by the aforementioned FMEs in Luzon required capital infusion, the recovery of which should be allowed immediately in order to avoid any financial strain in the operation of NGCP and to allow the continuous provision of transmission service to the grid customers.

23.

In addition, the timely implementation of the FM Pass-Through Amounts will allow the equal or even spread of the increases or decreases in tariffs from the initial implementation of the recovery of the cost.

24.

A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Head, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the instant Application, is hereto attached as Annex “F.”

NGCP alleged the following in its Application: 1.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. (RA) 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).1 Under RA 9511,2 NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and- refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines. On 15 January 2009, NGCP assumed the transmission functions of TRANSCO, including the operation, management and maintenance of the nationwide electrical grid.

PRAYER

STATEMENT OF FACTS 4.

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18.

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE EVENT REGULATED FM PASS-THROUGH FOR TYPHOONS KAREN AND LAWIN IN LUZON, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

‘DIVI’ DIALOGUE. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Special Operations Group head Bong Nebrija (left) talks with vendors during a clearing operation along Juan Luna Street in Divisoria, Manila on Thursday. The vendors were given until Monday to clear the street and look for another place to sell their goods. Norman Cruz

WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission to:

From 13 to 17 October 2016, Typhoon Karen was inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with maximum winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 210 kph. Subsequently, from 17 to 20 October 2016, Typhoon Lawin also entered the PAR with maximum winds of 225 and gustiness of 315 kph.

DECLARE Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon as Force Majeure Events (FMEs);

Immediately GRANT Provisional Approval to implement and bill the following FM Pass-Through Amounts starting October 2017 billing month to December 2020 for Luzon customers, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered:

Due to heavy rains and gusty winds brought by Typhoons Karen and Lawin, NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in Luzon were damaged causing widespread power interruption over the area. Copy of the Certification dated 27 December 2016 issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is attached hereto as Annex “A.” In compliance with Article X of the Rules for the Setting of Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission Force Majeure Event (FME) Notices for Typhoons Karen and Lawin both dated 16 December 2016. Copies of the FME Notices for Typhoons Karen and Lawin duly received by the Honorable Commission are attached hereto as Annexes “B” and “C,” respectively. Immediately after the devastation of Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon, NGCP started the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related facilities in order to restore transmission service to its customers and the public. As a result, NGCP incurred additional costs for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the said damaged transmission assets.

Luzon P/kW-mo. P/kWh 3.

2017

2018

2019

0.30

0.08

0.09

0.0002

APPROVE the CAPEX and OPEX incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to FMEs Typhoons Karen and Lawin broken down as follows; Amount in PHP

CAPEX

13,551,641.83

OPEX

16,131,730.94

TOTAL

29,683,372.77

APPROVE, after due notice and hearing, the proposed FM Pass-Through Amounts to be collected from the Luzon customers starting October 2017 billing month or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, as follows:

FORCE MAJEURE EVENT CLAIM 8.

Typhoons Karen and Lawin were categorized by PAGASA as a “Typhoon” in its Certification dated 27 December 2016.3 Therefore, Typhoons Karen and Lawin fall within the definition of an FME in accordance with Section 1.3 of the RTWR.

10.

Pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR, NGCP is allowed to recover the cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by Typhoons Karen and Lawin through an FM Pass-Through Amount.

11.

Within three (3) months after the occurrence of Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon, NGCP filed before the Honorable Commission FME Notices both dated 16 December 2016 pursuant to Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR.

12.

Thereafter, within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of FME Typhoons Karen and Lawin, NGCP hereby files the instant FME Application, in accordance with Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR. FM PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT COMPUTATION

13.

14.

It must be noted that NGCP has not recovered from its Industrial AllRisk (IAR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2016 the cost NGCP incurred in the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FMEs Typhoons Karen and Lawin, considering that the affected assets are located beyond the 1,000 meters radius from the nearest substation perimeter fence, and that the total cost of damage is below the One (1) Million US Dollars deductible amount. Thus, it is but proper for NGCP to file the instant FME Claim Application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FMEs Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon pursuant to the RTWR.

P/kW-mo. P/kWh

CAPEX

13,551,641.83

OPEX

16,131,730.94

TOTAL

29,683,372.77

Further, the recoverable value or the Net Fixed Asset Value (NFAV) of the assets destroyed by Typhoons Karen and Lawin is Four Million Nine Hundred Twenty-Nine Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-Eight and 40/100 (PHP4,929,388.40).

16.

NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts, in P/kW-month, as additional network charges starting October 2017 billing month until December 2020 for Luzon, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, computed as shown in the tables below:

P/kW-mo. P/kWh

2017

2018

2019

2018

2019

2020

0.30

0.08

0.09

0.0006

0.0002

0.02

APPROVE and ALLOW the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FMEs Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon amounting to Four Million Nine Hundred Twenty-Nine Three Thousand Hundred Eighty-Eight and 40/100 (PHP4,929,388.40); and

EXCLUDE the proposed Pass-Through Amounts from the side constraint calculation. NGCP prays for other relief deemed just and equitable under the premises.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and evidentiary hearing on 30 July 2018 (Monday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 AM), at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City. 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 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;

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

A statement of the relief desired.

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

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon.

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

15.

Luzon

2017

The cost NGCP incurred as additional FME Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operating Expenditure (OPEX) for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon are summarized below: Amount in PHP

17.

Luzon

Under Section 1.3(a) of the RTWR, an FME is defined as a “typhoon, storm, tropical depression, flood, drought, volcanic eruption; earthquake, tidal wave or landslide; or an act of public enemy, war (declared or undeclared), sabotage, blockade, revolution, riot, insurrection, civil commotion or any violent or threatening actions.”

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAPTARUC, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA,, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 1st day of June 2018 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

2020

0.30

0.08

0.09

0.0006

0.0002

NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts for the years 2017 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the CAPEX, OPEX, and NFAV incurred relative to the FME Typhoons Karen and Lawin in Luzon pending the reset process for the Transmission Services for the Fourth Regulatory Period.

AROUND 50 children from all over the Philippines presented a creative uniﬁed statement calling on leaders and concerned groups for the deliberate involvement of children in the Disaster Risk Reduction agenda. They asked key government agencies, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Ofﬁce of Civil Defense, and the National Youth Commission, to document children affected by disasters and account for the economic impact of disasters to children. The kids also asked them raise awareness on policies and campaigns promoting DRR, allocate budget for child-focused DRR activities, engage children in the local DRR councils, and in planning and mapping assessments and implementation. The children gathered to discuss the important role of Filipino youth in mitigating disasters and promoting resilience. United Nations children’s agency Unicef and World Vision organized the National Consultation with Children and Youth on Disaster Risk

Reduction to gather youth voices for the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction’s 8th year to be held in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia. “It is undeniable that children are the most vulnerable during disasters and emergencies. If we don’t involve them to be resilient and more proactive, all our DRR initiatives could only go so far. Youth participation is pivotal in ensuring our efforts are adaptive to their context and capacity to mitigate disaster risks,” World Vision’s National Director Rommel Fuerte said. The workshop gave the young participants an opportunity to learn the Sendai Framework of Action, a global agreement comprised of seven targets that aim to collectively track and reduce the loss of lives and increase national disaster resilience among participating countries, including the Philippines, by 2030. “Children typically represent 50 to 60 percent of those affected by disasters, whether through loss of life or from diseases related to malnutrition and poor water and sanitation,” said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Philippines representative.

Condiment firm lauds DoLE order

2020

0.0006

PH kids want involvement in nat’l disaster risk agenda

Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaiqing Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for Other Purposes”

Republic Act No. 9511 entitled “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 Or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for Other Purposes”

Please see P AGASA Certification, Page 2 of for Typhon Karen and Page 3 for Typhoon Lawin. (MS-JUNE 29 & JULY 7, 2018)

By Vito Barcelo FOOD condiment firm NutriAsia Inc. has welcomed the ruling of the Department of Labor and Employment, which confirmed that the supposed striking workers of the company were in fact employees of B-Mirk, a multipurpose cooperative hired by NAI as a third-party toll packer. “There is no truth to the striking workers’ allegations that the DoLE has issued an order to make them regular NutriAsia employees,” the company said in a statement. “The truth is these B-Mirk employees misrepresented themselves as employees of NutriAsia to file a union certification. They then wrote NutriAsia to voluntarily recognize them as the sole collective bargaining agent for NutriAsia employees,” the firm added. When they were asked by their employer, B-Mirk, to explain such misrepresentation, the workers picketed and accused NutriAsia of illegally dismissing them and “doing actions on union busting,” the firm added. In the ruling released June 6, the department order noted that B-Mirk Multi-Purpose Cooperative was compliant with general labor standards (GLS) and cleared it of any gaps or deficiency. DoLE also noted that BMPC was a legitimate job contractor for NAI because it had sufficient paid-up capital and current assets, had invested in tools and machinery for its operation, acquired a factory lot and machines, paid for the utilities and materials used in its production, and leased the land it was operating on. The ruling, the firm said, “clearly states they are not NutriAsia employees but of B-Mirk Group,” which the department said “is clearly engaged in legitimate job contracting with NAI and there is no iota of evidence to support the presence of labor-only contracting” in the service arrangement between the firm and the co-op. “Despite this, we continue to be compassionate and to work hard to bring this labor dispute to a peaceful resolution,” added NutriAsia. It said it “stands firm with its values of malasakit [compassion], excellence, respect, integrity and ingenuity, and teamwork.”

BI corners American fugitive Dunn IMMIGRATION officers on Thursday intercepted an American fugitive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport when he tried to mislead the agents by booking a flight to the United States at Naia Terminal 2 and booking another flight scheduled for Tokyo, Japan on the same date from Naia Terminal 3. The fugitive, identified as Kenneth Collins Dunn, is wanted in Oregon for violating his parole, which he obtained after being convicted of burglary, according to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente. The US Embassy sought the Bureau of Immigration’s assistance in intercepting Dunn, who attempted to escape despite being issued an order by US authorities to proceed directly to the United States. Marc Red Mariñas, BI OIC deputy commissioner and Port Operations Division chief, said the

US Embassy had requested to be notified of any attempt of Dunn to travel outside the Philippines. Dunn arrived three days prior from Bangkok but was scheduled to fly immediately to the US. However, he was a no-show at the Naia Terminal 2 for his scheduled flight to Los Angeles on the same day he was intercepted. He was caught at Naia 3 when he was about to leave aboard an Air Nippon Airways flight to Tokyo. Dunn used his Belizean passport under the name of Kelsey Brian Dunn when he tried to leave, but the immigration officer at the gate found he was the subject of the US Embassy report. “Apparently, the American used his Belizean passport—he allegedly threw away his US passport—so he could evade arrest by American authorities and leave Manila undetected,” Mariñas said. Vito Barcelo

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

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TODAY

Alido, Lee lead ICTSI golf meet M

ANOLO Fortich, Bukidnon—Young guns Ira Alido and Lee Song matched their outputs for the second straight day—a pair of 69s built around blistering starts on opposite nines that kept them at the helm halfway through the P3 million ICTSI Del Monte Championship here yesterday.

From the backside, Lee gunned down three birdies in the last five holes, added another on No. 5 from close range but missed grabbing the solo lead with a bogey on the par-4 No. 8 for a 3633 card. Alido also hit Alido three birdies in a solid frontside stint but unlike Lee, the rising Filipino star needed to birdie the last to negate a bogey on No. 17 and preserve a 33-36 round at the Del Monte Golf Club. With 137s, Lee and Alido, who shot identical 68s Wednesday, stood a stroke ahead of new pursuer Nicolas Paez of the US, who highlighted his tournament-best 67 with an eagle on No. 14, and James Ryan Lam, who turned in a 69 for 138s while Tony Lascuña lay another shot back at 139 after a 68. Alido actually blew a couple of eagle chances, including on No. 6 from 15 feet on a superb 4-iron second shot from 230 years and on the 18th from 30 feet out. “I could’ve taken the lead had I made those eagles,” said Alido. “I

failed to read clearly my lines of putt on those holes.” But he’s unmistakably in the hunt for a crack at a maiden crown although with a slew of aces just a stroke or two adrift, the 17-year-old shotmaker will have a lot of toughening up to do in the last 36 holes to achieve a dream championship so early in his career. Lee, in contrast, banked on his superb iron play to stay in joint command, sinking four birdies inside four feet against a missed green bogey on the eighth. “I played relatively good, especially my short game and putting,” said the 19-year-old Lee, who will be as much tested as Alido in the featured threesome, with Lam, in the pivotal third round today. Jobim Carlos likewise kept his back-to-back Philippine Golf Tour title drive going, firing a 69 to lead the 140 group that includes Michael Bibat, erstwhile joint leader Lexus Keoninh of the US, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Korean Kim Joo Hyung.

Lawyer Armando Sanchez Jr. (right) hopes to lead the Ombudsman Graft Busters to a crucial win over the Judiciary Magis on Sunday.

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

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 600,558,709.23 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Construction of Cruise Ship Port (LFP SUG No. 016-2018). 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 RC Wharf (Area=1,800.00 sq. m.) B. Construction of RC Platform (Area=2,520.00 sq. m.) C. Construction of Back-up Area (Area=5,280.00 sq. m.) D. Construction of Access Road with Back-up Area (Area=10,440.00 sq. m.) E. 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 nondiscretionary “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 29 June 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 SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 75,000.00). 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 10 July 2018 at 10:30 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 July 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 July 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. Late bids shall not be accepted. •

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

ANGIL Jay Balaoing toppled teamed up with Andrei Padao to three top seeded rivals, including beat Hurtado and Palo, 8-2, in the Bruce Hurtado in the centerpiece 18-U doubles of the tournament 18-and-under division, to score sanctioned by the Unified Tennis a rare feat in singles play in the Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, PPS-PEPP Gen. Santos regional Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, age-group tennis tournament Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. at the Gen. Santos City Tennis “Winning titles in three diviCourts recently. sions is no mean feat and BalaoThe unranked Balaoing actu- ing should inspire the other young ally shocked Hurtado in the semi- players that anything is possible finals, 6-1, 7-5, then the rising star through hard work and determifrom Koronadal City routed Jude nation,” said Palawan Pawnshop Padao, 6-1, 6-0, to clinch the pre- president/CEO Bobby Castro, mier crown in the Group 2 tour- whose year-long, nationwide cirnament sponsored by Palawan cuit provides the stage for these Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera future stars to develop their skills. Padala and presented by Dunlop. As No. 2, Balaoing also crushed Padao, 6-1, 6-0, in the 14-U finals and overpowered Karl Palo 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ from Kidapawan, 6-0, 6-2, to run away with the 16-U diadem and com00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ plete a three-title romp in the five-day event which served as part of DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 the Mindanao swing of the year-long, nationDIGITS 00-00-00 wide circuit backed by Asiatraders Corp. He actually made EZ2 00-00 it four-of-four as he

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 6/42 6 3 2

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 51,974,954.78 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Extension of RC Pier & Provision of RORO Ramp, Port of Virac, Catanduanes (LFP BCL No. 017-2018). 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 RC Pier and RORO Ramp B. Mooring and Fendering System. Completion of the Works is required in 360 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 29 June 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 10 July 2018 at 10:30 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 25 July 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 25 July 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

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

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

Balaoing grabs PPS spotlight

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE EXTENSION OF RC PIER & PROVISION OF RORO RAMP, PORT OF VIRAC, CATANDUANES

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 954-88-00 loc. 539

STREAKING Ombudsman and Judiciary try to firm Games Sunday (Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. – GSIS vs AFP up their bids for the second 3:30 p.m. – Ombudsman vs Judiciary twice-to-beat advantage in 5 p.m. – DOJ vs Malacañang-PSC the semis when they square off on Sunday in the 2nd UNTV Cup Executive Face-Off at the Pasig City Sports Center. The Graftbusters and the Magis clash at 3:30 p.m. with both teams going for a crucial win in the single-round elimination round now heading to its last two playdates. Both teams tote similar 4-1 cards with the Magis coming off a 10850 thumping of the GSIS Furies last Sunday—thanks to the 30-point show of Pampanga MTC Judge Wendell Ramitere. The Graftbusters, however, will be playing with fresher legs than the Magis having rested for two weeks in the event organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon. Aside from Ramitere, also expected to deliver for the Magis are Jose Midas Marquez, Joey Yabut and Gerard Tomacruz. Idle Philippine National Police is already assured of a bonus after extending its winning streak to six games two weeks ago. Meantime, Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission will be going for its third win against the already eliminated Department of Justice. With a 2-3 card, the Sec. Bong Go-led Kamao should win their last two games to forge a playoff for the last semis berth in the tournament offering P1 million to the champion team.

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 PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF CRUISE SHIP PORT, PORT OF JUBANG, DAPA, SURIGAO DEL NORTE

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

Crucial tiffs at UNTV Cup

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

ADRIAN FERDINAND S. SUGAY Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

ADRIAN FERDINAND S. SUGAY Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) M. Standard – June 29, 2018

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 EXTENSION OF RC PIER, PORT OF SINDANGAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 67,542,516.83 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Extension of RC Pier, Port of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte (LFP ZDN No. 018-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Extension of RC Pier. Completion of the Works is required in 360 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 29 June 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 10 July 2018 at 10:30 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 26 July 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 26 July 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

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

M. Standard – 29 June 2018

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 PROPOSED SIQUIJOR PORT EXPANSION PROJECT, PORT OF SIQUIJOR, MUNICIPALITY OF SIQUIJOR, PROVINCE OF SIQUIJOR The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018 intends to apply the sum of P 168,021,729.01 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Siquijor Port Expansion Project, Port of Siquijor, Municipality of Siquijor, Province of Siquijor (LFP NOS No. 019-2018). 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 RC Wharf with RORO Ramp (Area=1,395.00 sq. m.) B. Construction of Back-up Area (Area=4,735.71 sq. m.) C. Port Lighting System. Completion of the Works is required in 450 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 29 June 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 10 July 2018 at 10:30 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 27 July 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 27 July 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 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

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph ADRIAN FERDINAND S. SUGAY Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) M. Standard – June 29, 2018

ADRIAN FERDINAND S. SUGAY Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

M. Standard – 29 June 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018

Road Warriors looking ahead By Jeric Lopez ALREADY out of contention in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, NLEX now looks forward to the coming Governors’ Cup early. In an attempt to bounce back and prepare for next conference, the Road Warriors are already bound to field in an import that it will use for the Governors’ Cup. For its last game for the Commissioner’s Cup on July 4 against Magnolia, NLEX will parade Olu Ashaolu as its import as a start for its preparation for its next campaign. In line with this, Arnett Moultry will no longer be around for the Road Warriors to finish the conference. Ashaolu will be NLEX’s third import for the conference. The Nigerian-Canadian reinforcement played briefly for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA before bouncing around in Spain and in France. NLEX hopes that he can be a big boost since star guards Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena are both out for a long stretch. The Road Warriors only managed two wins in their 10 games so far in the Commissioner’s Cup, prompting their early exit. NLEX (2 wins, 8 losses) is at eleventh place just ahead of doormat Blackwater Elite (1-9). Leading the standings are the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (9-1), the Alaska Aces (7 wins, 3 losses) and TNT KaTropa (7-3). The other teams include the the Meralco Bolts (7-4), the San Miguel Beermen (5-4), the GlobalPort Batang Pier (5-5), Barangay Ginebra (5-5), the Magnolia Hotshots (4-5), the Phoenix Petroleum Fuelmasters (4-6) and Columbian Dyip (4-7).

Koreas to unite at Asiad JAKARTA, Indonesia—North and South Korea will field joint teams in three sports—canoeing, rowing and women’s basketball—at the Asian Games, organisers said Thursday, in the latest sign of thawing tensions. The two countries will also march together at the opening and closing ceremonies for the showpiece event being held in Indonesia from Aug. 18Sept. 2, they added. South Korea’s national Olympic committee previously told AFP that the country’s governing bodies for basketball, judo, canoe, gymnastics, table tennis, rowing and soft tennis had expressed an interest in running combined teams. Seoul and Pyongyang agreed this month to form unified teams for some sports though the specifics were only confirmed Thursday after a meeting in Jakarta between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Games organizers and representatives from the two Koreas. “We won’t add any more [sports],” Games deputy chairman Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters after the meeting Thursday. “We have to be strict with scheduling so there will be no more changes.” Further details about logistics would come later, he added. “The meeting was very friendly and enthusiastic, and was based on a spirit of togetherness of the two countries,” Sjamsoeddin said. The two Koreas formed their firstever unified Olympic team—a joint women’s ice hockey squad—for February’s Winter Games in the South Korean resort of Pyeongchang. It provoked a backlash in the South, on the grounds that Seoul was depriving its own athletes of the chance to compete on the Olympic stage. Ultimately the sight of North and South Korean skaters wearing the same jersey and passing the puck to each other drew emotive responses from spectators and quickly became an Olympic favorite, despite the team being thrashed in all five of their matches.

Brazil’s midfielder Paulinho (right) celebrates with teammates Brazil’s forward Neymar (top), Brazil’s forward Gabriel Jesus (left) and Brazil’s forward Philippe Coutinho after scoring during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group E football match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. AFP

Brazil favored to win record 6th World Cup M

OSCOW, Russia—Brazil coach Tite says his team can handle being made World Cup favorites after defeating Serbia 2-0 on Wednesday to set up a last 16 clash against Mexico. After holders Germany earlier suffered a shock exit in the group stages, the Brazilians are now the bookmakers’ favorites to claim a record sixth World Cup and Tite says his South American superstars can cope with the extra pressure. “We don’t live off expectations, we live off reality,” said the Brazil boss. “We can take the pressure, we are a balanced team and for us, this is about getting stronger and growing.” Brazil’s victory on Wednesday came after a sparkling performance from striker Neymar. Brazil took the lead when Paulinho scored with a superb dinked finish on 36 minutes before Neymar swung in a cross for Thiago Silva to head the Selecao’s sec-

ond with 22 minutes left in Moscow. Having opened his Russia 2018 account with the second of Brazil’s two late goals in Friday’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica, Neymar was again impressive. After the tearful emotion of Saint Petersburg, Neymar cut a more joyful figure after this win, blowing kisses to the crowd as the five-time champions celebrated. As Group E winners, Brazil will now face Mexico in Samara on Monday, with group runners-up Switzerland taking on Sweden in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. In the pre-match build-up Brazil coach Tite said Neymar alone cannot “shoulder the responsibility” for his team’s World Cup hopes. However, the 26-year-old seemed

content to carry Brazil’s attack, motoring through Serbia’s midfield and crashing an early shot just wide of the post. The match at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium began at a ferocious tempo and Brazil left-back Marcelo was an early casualty, limping off after ten minutes to be replaced by Filipe Luis. Neymar had the best chance of the opening half hour when he forced Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic to palm his shot away. Tempers frayed when Serbia midfielder Adem Ljajic scythed down Neymar, in full flight on the left flank, to earn a booking on 33 minutes. Brazil conjured the opener from nothing when a beautifully lofted pass from Philippe Coutinho found Paulinho, who flicked the ball over Stojkovic’s reach on 36 minutes to make it 1-0 at the break. Serbia repeatedly struggled to contain Brazil’s fleet-footed attack. AFP

BanKo-Perlas leads charge to wild Final 4

BanKo-Perlas spiker Kia Bright hammers in a kill against Anastasiia Trach of PetroGazz during their clash for the No. 3 spot in the semifinal round of the PVL Reinforced Conference.

BANKO-PERLAS will bring a winning feeling when it faces second seed PayMaya while Pocari-Air Force gears up against a well-rested and hungry Creamline side when the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Reinforced Conference Final Four is fired off Sunday, July 1 at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan. The Perlas Spikers are riding the crest of their fivegame sweep of the tough quarterfinals round, capping their romp with a shutout win over erstwhile contender PetroGazz Angels that likewise gave the Lady Warriors a free ride to the semis of the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision. Another thing going for BanKo-Perlas is that it will be taking on a team which it edged in five in the eliminations although experts maintain the semis is an entirely

Games Sunday (Semifinals) 10 a.m. – Cignal vs PLDT (men’s) 1:45 p.m. – Creamline vs PocariAir Force (women’s) 3:45 p.m. – PayMaya vs BanKoPerlas (women’s) 6 p.m. – Vice Co vs Air Force (men’s)

different phase where each team pays no heed to seedings, stats and the likes. That makes the upcoming pair of best-of-three series an anybody’s game although experience-wise, Pocari tops the batch with a championship and a runner-up feat in last year’s inaugurals of the league backed by Mikasa and Asics.a But the defending champions will be in a tough, rough outing against the Cool Smashers, whose pair of third-place efforts in the Reinforced and Open Conferences last year only made them hungrier and fiercer with top gun Alyssa Valdez also raring to nail a first-ever PVL championship.

Tenorio named PBA Player of the Week BARANGAY Ginebra guard LA Tenorio’s all-around game is one of the biggest reasons why the Kings are on a roll heading into the final stretch of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round. The veteran Ginebra court general averaged 14 points, 6.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals in leading the Kings to a pair of blowout wins over Columbian Dyip and the Alaska Aces, respectively last week. The impressive showing made Tenorio an easy choice for the CignalPBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period of June 18-24. The 33-year-old former Gilas Pilipinas playmaker fired 16 points, issued 10 assists, grabbed three rebounds and added the same number of steals as Ginebra hammered Columbian, 133-104 last Wednesday. Four days later, Tenorio churned out 12 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists as Ginebra humbled Alaska, 105-86. The 5-10 guard beat teammate Japeth Aguilar, San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter, Phoenix wingman Matthew Wright, Rain or Shine guard Maverick Ahanmisi and TNT’s Troy Rosario for the weekly citation. Ginebra, which has won its last four games overall, won’t be back in action till July 6 where it will face GlobalPort at the Cuneta Astrodome.

‘Burmese Python’ defends ONE crown AUNG LA N SANG, ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, defends his middleweight crown at ONE: Spirit of a Warrior today June 29 at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar. N Sang, better known as the ‘Burmese Python’ said he is eager to defend his title against the best challengers. “Everytime I perform in front of my people in Myanmar, my heart is full and my soul fulfilled. As the reigning ONE Middleweight & Light Heavyweight World Champion, I welcome all challengers. Those who want to come get it, come get it. But this belt is staying in Myanmar, and I will do everything in my power to protect our honor,” said N Sang. “This title means a lot to me and my fans, and to everyone who has support-

ed me since day one. I will step onto the canvas this 29 June in the best shape of my career and claim victory once again in front of my friends and family back home.” N Sang stakes his crown against a worthy challenger in Ken Hasegawa of Japan. “My career inside the cage has brought me to the pinnacle of the sport, and now, to a world title shot in Asia’s largest martial arts organization. It is an honor to lend my talents to ONE Championship, and I will relish this opportunity to showcase my skills to the world and to make Japan proud. Taking on Aung La N Sang for the middleweight title, it’s not going to be easy. He is a tremendous competitor and an even greater champion. But I am confident of victory and that my hand will

be raised as the new champion,” said Hasegawa. ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia.

ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion Aung La N Sang faces the media ahead of his title defense.

IN BRIEF

Meralco expects 6.5% sales growth POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said sales volume will likely grow 6.5 percent in the first half amid the strong demand for electricity in its franchise area. “For the first five months year to date, we had a growth of 7.5 percent per annum, but June is trending a little softer because rains have started and it’s been cool during the last three months,” Meralco president Oscar Reyes told reporters. “I think we will probably end up end-June with roughly around 6.5 percent [growth],” he said. Meralco recorded a sales growth of 5 percent to 42,102 gigawatt-hours in the first half of 2017. “This year is higher because I think, to the country’s credit, industrial and commercial activities have been strong. Maybe it’s the growth of the economy,” Reyes said. He said while demand was strong until May this year, the growth softened below 3 percent in June with the onset of the rainy season. Meralco announced a 7-percent increase in consolidated core net income at P4.9 billion in the first quarter. Alena Mae S. Flores

AIIB wants to fund more PH projects BEIJING-BASED Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank expressed interest in investing more in the Philippines’ ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program amid the government’s sustained efforts to shift to investment-led growth. Top AIIB officials led by vice president and chief investment officer Dr. D. J. Pandian discussed projects for possible cooperation with the Philippines during a meeting in Mumbai, India with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Dominguez said the possible AIIB loans would cover infrastructure projects that focus on improving the delivery of healthcare and education in line with the Duterte administration’s goal of human capital development. “We are exploring a possible sectoral loan with AIIB to finance healthcare facilities, school buildings and rural roads,” Dominguez said. The AIIB so far approved one project in the Philippines―the Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1 which it is co-financing with the World Bank. Julito G. Rada

Business George Ty set to invest $200m in Japan’s Toyota By Jenniffer B. Austria

T Capital Holdings Inc., the investment company of billionaire George Ty, said Wednesday it will invest up to $200 million or 22 billion yen in Japanese automotive giant Toyota Motor Corp.

The move is the ﬁrst overseas investment of GT Capital, which already has a 51-percent direct ownership of Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., the local distributor of Toyota brand motor vehicles in the Philippines. GT Capital said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would purchase Toy-

ota shares through the Tokyo Stock Exchange based on the current prevailing rates on the dates of purchase. Funding of the transaction will be through debt. The acquisition will represent less than a 0.1-percent stake in Toyota, which is valued at $208.7 billion. This will be the ﬁrst offshore investment of GT Capital, which is into automotive, insurance, banking and real estate in the Philippines. GT Capital president Carmelo Bautista said in mobile message the investment in Toyota would be both opportunistic and strategic for the conglomerate. “Opportunistic because Toyota announced a share buyback program last month and it is timely to take a position. At current price levels, Toyota is a good investment. Consensus among key research reports point to a +25 percent appreciation. The dividend yield also

gives a positive carry,” Bautista said. “It is strategic because Toyota is making a pivot from automobiles to mobility. And since we have been global strategic partners for the past 30 years, we subscribe to this strategic shift with this investment,” Bautista said. TMC and GT Capital are joint venture partners in Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., the country’s leading automotive manufacturer and distributor. Several Philippine conglomerates including Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Metro Paciﬁc Investments Corp. have ventured overseas, particularly the Southeast Asian region. GT Capital earlier said it would allocated P112 billion for 2018 capital expenditures. It said of the total, over P60 billion would be used to support the expansion plan of banking unit Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.

DOTr set to ban bidders with cases THE Department of Transportation said Thursday it will no longer allow prospective bidders with pending cases to participate in bidding activities. Transportation Undersecretary for legal affairs and procurement Reinier Paul Yebra said this was the instruction of Secretary Arthur Tugade in line with the procurement principles under Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act. “Prospective bidders who want to do business with government must have a clean record, and must have a history of good dealings with the government. It’s that simple,” Tugade said. Yebra said the DOTr was duty-bound to ensure that all prospective bidders were properly screened towards the goal of preventing opportunities for corruption in government. He said all prospective bidders were required to submit a certification, under oath, certifying that they had no pending case/s against the government. This certification should be included in the bid data sheet that the DOTr requires for all its projects. “Failure of a bidder to comply with the requirement or submission of a false certification shall constitute a ground for automatic disqualification,” Yebra said. Darwin G. Amojelar

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Ban gko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, June 28, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States Japan

Dollar

1.000000

53.4820

Yen

0.009070

0.4851

Pound

1.311500

70.1416

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127426

6.8150

Switzerland

Franc

1.003009

53.6429

Canada

Dollar

0.749794

40.1005

Singapore

Dollar

0.731422

39.1179

Australia

Dollar

0.734000

39.2558

Bahrain

Dinar

2.643754

141.3933

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

14.2615

Brunei

Dollar

0.728757

38.9754

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.030303

1.6207

UAE

Dirham

0.272294

14.5628

Euro

1.155500

61.7985

Korea

Won

0.000891

0.0477

China

Yuan

0.151469

8.1009

India

Rupee

0.014571

0.7793

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.248262

13.2775

New Zealand

Dollar

0.678900

36.3089

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032775

1.7529

Source: PDS Bridge

RSB’S MEMBERSHIP CLUB. RCBC Savings

Bank launches the Hexagon Club, its first exclusive membership club that entitles members to special rates, preferential treatment via dedicated relationship managers, free insurance and discounts on partner establishments. Unveiling the premier club are (from left) RSB president and chief executive Rommel Latinazo, chairperson Helen Yuchengco Dee and executive vice president and chief operating officer Richard Lim.

MARCVENTURES’ SEEDLING DONATION. Marcventures Holdings Inc. signs a partnership agreement that includes donation of 3,750 bamboo seedlings to MgaAnakniInangDaigdig or Maid, a foundation engaged in community-based enterprise development in Rizal province. Main will plant the seedlings in a 580-hectare area under a stewardship agreement with the Environment Department. Sgning the agreement are (seated from right) MHI president Isidro Alcantara Jr., Main executive director Fr. Benigno Beltran and MMDC president Yulo Perez.

Beverage industry worried over health warning label By Othel V. Campos THE beverage industry expressed concern over the government’s plan to include health warnings on the label of sugar-sweetened drinks, saying this could further weaken demand. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said beverage manufacturers aired the sentiment during a meeting to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to warn the public against the health risks of consuming sweet beverages. Lopez said the beverage industry insisted that beverages per se were not harmful to health and had less amount of sugar compared with non-beverage products like rice, bread and processed food. The beverage industry, he said, also proposed that packaged food be subject to the same health warnings. “Sugar in beverage is generally a low source of sugar and calorie, typically at

3 percent. It supplies the energy requirement of Filipinos,” Lopez quoted the industry group as saying. He said the group was worried about the negative connotation of health warning on labels. Lopez said the group feared that using the word “warning” or “caution” would be detrimental to the sweetened beverage industry, whose sales were already affected by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. “We emphasized that we are not taxing the products, but this is more like to raise consciousness of consumers on sugar content, by giving prominence to the sugar content of the product on the front label similar to calorie content, ” Lopez said. He said the beverage sector was keeping an open mind to the proposed labelling requirement as long as there would be no “warning” sign. Lopez said the Trade Department and

the sugar industry still needed to determine which products should carry the words “High in Sugar” on the front label. “We will indicate sugar grammage content per pack. Our studies will continue and consultations with technical agencies like Food Nutrition Research Institute, National Nutrition Council and the Food and Drug Administration. Whatever the decision, we will set a transition period to allow them to use up current packaging,” Lopez said. He said his agency would meet with FNRI and NCC to determine the reasonable benchmark on the deﬁnition of “High in Sugar” and which products should be included in the list. Article 74 of the Consumer Act of the Philippines states that it is crucial to obtain accurate information on nature and quantity of the contents of various products for labelling and fair packaging.

Govt spending P319m to replace aerobridges at Terminal 1 of Naia By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Manila International Aiport Authority said it will spend P319 million to modernize the aerobridges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1. MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said the agency embarked on a project to replace the decades-old passenger boarding bridges with new ones. The project involves design manufacturing, factory testing, delivery and installation of new and customized units of apron-type and pedestal-type PBBs. Phase 1 of the project consists of replacement of nine units, while Phase 2 includes eleven of boarding bridges. Phase 1 has a project cost of P319 million. Actual replacement commenced this week. Phase 1 is expected to be com-

pleted in December this year. Phase 2 is due for bidding with actual implementation expected to commence by the ﬁrst quarter of 2019. The PBB connects the airport walkway directly to the aircraft. It provides ease and convenience to passengers and protects them from both hot and humid or inclement weather. From steel walls, the new aerobridges are made of glass wall. The units are also air-conditioned and equipped with CCTV camera with a view of the apron. The bridges are also designed with programmable motor controller and are ground power unit-ready. The agency said the bridges being replaced have been in operation for 33 years and are now outdated, rendering them unreliable with incidents of breakdown occurring from time to time.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018

Peso slumps to 12-year low of 53.55 a dollar By Julito G. Rada THE peso fell to a new 12-year low of 53.515 against the US dollar Wednesday amid concerns over the country’s widening trade deficit. The local currency lost another 0.1 percent Wednesday from its 53.475 finish Tuesday. It was also its weakest level since July 2006. The all-time low was 56.30 a dollar in October 2004. The peso, which averaged 52.19 a dollar in May, is expected to depreciate further to 52.91 in July and 53.03 in August, according to economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific. The economists said the solid upswing in the US economy provided further strength to the US dollar while widening Philippine trade deficit added pressure to the peso. The US recorded its lowest unemployment rate in 18 years, adding a monthly average of 200,000 jobs this year. “The peso will continue to feel the heat as the US economy [and dollar] roars ahead and as long as the domestic economy manages to whittle down significantly its trade deficit, while inflation concerns should ease…,” the economists said. Citing latest available data, they said the peso averaged P52.19 per dollar in May, representing a 0.2 percent depreciation from April and marking the fifth consecutive month of peso depreciation in 2018. “The actual peso-dollar rate in May remained above both the 30-day and the 200-day moving averages, suggesting that the peso will remain under pressure in the near and long term largely explained by the PH’s large trade deficits coupled with the improving economic fundamentals in the US,” the economists said. First Metro said the peso depreciation would actually have positive impact both in the short and medium terms. “First, the US dollar has been strengthening since end of the first quarter of 2018 due to several reasons: The IMF projects the US economic growth to accelerate to 2.9 percent this year compared to 2.3 percent in 2017,” they said.

Ayala to build big Vietnam wind project By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Ayala Group and Quang Bihn province of Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 352-megawatt wind project which can cost up to $493 million. Vietnam’s Quang Bihn Radio and Television Station reported on its website early this month the Vietnamese delegation of Quang Binh province and other ofﬁcials met with Ayala Corp. president Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala on investment cooperation in Quang Binh province. The website reported that Ayala expressed interest to invest in renewable energy projects in the province. “After discussion, in the witness of the leaders of both sides, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quang, standing vice chairman of Quang Binh Provincial People’s Committee together with representative of the group signed a memorandum of understanding on investment of B&T wind farm with a capacity of 352 MW in Quang Binh province with a total investment of $493 million; in which, the ﬁrst phase has capacity of 252 MW, with a total investment of $353 million,” the report said. Ayala’s planned investment in wind farm in Quang Binh is expected to unlock the economic potential of the province. AC Energy Holdings Inc., the energy arm of the Ayala Group in partnership with BIM Group of Vietnam, also agreed in January this year to jointly develop over 300 MW of solar power projects in Ninh Thuan province. AC Energy Vietnam Investments Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AC Energy International Pte. Ltd., also entered into a 50-50 joint venture with AMI Renewables Energy Joint Stock Co., a joint stock company incorporated in Vietnam, to invest in New Energy Investments Corp.

Business

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks slump; Jollibee leads losers

TOCKS sank Thursday as trade war worries again permeated markets across Asia, with investors quickly taking proﬁts after a brief rally the other day.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slumped 109.86 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,066.57 on a value turnover of P5.8 billion. Losers beat gainers, 114 to 79, with 51 issues unchanged. Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fastfood chain, lost 4.2 percent to P259.60 on concerns a faster inﬂation will curb sales, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. dropped 3.5 percent to P34.25. Megaworld Corp., the largest lessor of ofﬁce spaces, declined 3.6 percent to P4.25, while GT Capital Holdings Inc.

of tycoon George Ty slipped 1.7 percent to P900. Mixed signals from the White House, meanwhile, again fueled uncertainty in Asian trading, but energy firms kicked higher thanks to another surge in oil prices. Concerns about the Chinese economy are also hurting confidence, with the yuan continuing to weaken and mainland stocks now in bear market territory having fallen more than 20 percent from recent highs. Dealers are struggling to get a handle on the situation owing to confusion over Donald Trump’s trade strategy. The president seemed to back off a plan to impose tough new restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States, soothing concerns about a conflagration between the world’s top economies. But later his economic advisor and trade hawk Larry Kudlow warned that

stern measures were still being contemplated. “If the administration doesn’t understand what the president is trying to achieve from his trade policy, that is hardly a sign of confidence for investors,” said Stephen Innes, head of AsiaPacific trade at OANDA. “It would be entirely natural if investors were a bit confused as indeed confusion reigns supreme.” Equity markets fluctuated through the day and Tokyo ended slightly lower, while Hong Kong shed 0.4 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai closed 0.9 percent down. Seoul fell more than one percent, while there were also losses in Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta. Sydney rose slightly 0.3 percent. With no sign of the trade spat easing any time soon there are growing concerns about the impact on the Chinese

economy, with growth already showing signs of slowing and stocks plunging 22 percent since its 2018 peak in January. The yuan is also at its weakest level against the dollar since December, having endured one of its worst runs since its mid-2015 devaluation that sparked a global market meltdown. But speculation the People’s Bank of China is allowing the currency to weaken to offset the effects of any US tariffs were dismissed by Capital Economics. “While a weaker currency could offset some of the economic damage done by US tariffs, the wider risks to financial stability would not be ones worth taking,” the consulting firm said. Investors were also spooked by reports of a leaked report by a government-backed think tank that warned of possible “financial panic” in the Chinese economy. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.5 4,100 88.7 1,820,400 125 2,002,900 1.59 35,000 33.55 339,000 16.5 2,200 14.14 749,600 3.54 9,000 8.65 25,000 830 180 0.54 197,000 72 2,514,910 1.04 331,000 11.9 9,900 20 500 48.5 710,400 200 2,350 111 720 28.5 46,800 200 921,340 1,900 55 87.05 350,160

243,950 161,725,167.50 249,165,133 53,560 11,384,490 36,320 10,743,278 31,540 216,250 149,550 103,090 180,839,560 345,580 117,804 10,020 34,454,400 470,000 78,800 1,313,895 184,277,063 103,500 30,481,428

214,200 12,091,811.50 13,874,787 2,096,390 -1,130,080 -56,949,685.50 0 -22,911,400 -280,950 -20,361,953 75,000 -13,928

34.1 15 0.56 1.15 23 0.24 2.98 15.8 48 21.5 57.1 60 1.85 8 10 15.76 10.56 7.19 5.2 14.28 61.2 21.15 7.02 13.7 2.22 259 5.1 3.15 16.18 27 11.12 19.9 341 0.176 6.85 2.2 4.11 8.68 7.5 1.25 11.92 51 5.8 4.55 2.47 3.32 1.83 12.5 58.5 5 0.126 0.9 117.5 2.6 1.43

INDUSTRIAL 34.25 1,647,000 15.28 1,113,200 0.58 83,000 1.15 609,000 23.95 62,900 0.24 23,400,000 3.01 1,154,000 15.8 199,600 48.15 474,600 23 22,900 57.1 399,960 60 20 1.85 102,000 8 16,200 10.02 3,056,500 15.8 353,100 11.2 959,900 7.23 111,800 5.22 7,946,500 14.3 923,300 61.2 61,320 21.15 3,900 7.05 89,400 13.9 1,708,100 2.22 726,000 259.6 1,761,980 5.1 50,400 3.31 11,000 16.18 300 27.1 878,900 11.12 79,200 19.96 1,405,000 344.2 341,730 0.189 100,000 7.2 33,700 2.2 212,000 4.15 31,000 8.89 622,500 7.5 128,300 1.28 1,134,000 11.92 31,600 51.55 44,170 5.8 17,700 4.55 9,000 2.47 4,595,000 3.32 17,000 1.83 64,000 12.5 2,037,200 59.9 341,550 5.22 56,000 0.126 50,000 0.9 1,000 118.9 775,280 2.65 15,608,000 1.58 16,799,000

57,034,070 16,910,982 47,800 711,870 1,487,355 5,826,880 3,476,260 3,154,686 22,948,490 522,200 22,837,716 1,200 189,820 129,800 30,606,050 5,579,806 10,743,446 807,034 41,524,717 13,243,468 3,755,548.50 82,485 647,171 23,872,458 1,634,560 459,395,622 259,050 36,120 4,854 23,817,825 889,810 28,424,140 117,504,532 17,980 236,609 466,420 128,290 5,477,546 962,399 1,509,460 377,052 2,275,517 102,707 40,950 12,258,310 56,440 117,730 25,465,000 20,085,515.50 282,830 6,300 900 91,787,534 41,554,110 25,479,940

-25,360,180 4,569,630 -77,220.00 10,000 894,390 -1,132,160 28,200 -69,000 801,316 -75,840 10,442,968 -300,534 -4,355 -7,505,548 -2,468,901 -2,920 5,665,172 -187,890.00 -192,319,650 -3,300 699,125 104,940 -11,274,481.00 52,260,690 -446,590 -2,573,549 -781,375.50 -4,067 19,760 -23,880 25,380,000 476,310.50 38,226,052 -6,535,310 71,820

0.245 54.4 11.7 0.97 6 0.62 0.64 905 6.2 10.84 7.19 4.7 913.5 6 50.4 5.58 5.4 6.38 0.57 3.79 18.9 0.59 4.65 0.038 1.2 2.72 2.99 139 2.55 875 1.57 538 259 0.25 0.224

0.235 53.8 11.56 0.92 5.96 0.61 0.63 886 6.1 10.4 7 4.5 883 5.96 49.2 5.5 5.3 5.33 0.52 3.6 17.9 0.57 4.5 0.037 1.15 2.62 2.95 137 2.55 850.5 1.57 500 253 0.242 0.202

HOLDING FIRMS 0.239 1,630,000 54 4,321,450 11.6 7,517,600 0.95 19,000 5.96 370,100 0.62 514,000 0.64 3,000 905 244,010 6.1 278,600 10.54 5,145,500 7.01 14,900 4.7 31,000 900 257,350 6 6,100 49.2 2,124,510 5.5 399,900 5.4 4,300 6 1,700 0.53 2,137,000 3.72 848,000 18.08 3,679,200 0.58 716,000 4.5 11,991,000 0.038 3,300,000 1.18 265,000 2.62 348,000 2.99 88,000 139 200,320 2.55 2,000 851.5 256,510 1.57 24,000 500 40 259 4,780 0.247 3,670,000 0.224 460,000

385,110 233,716,686.50 87,289,246 17,770 2,220,552 313,950 1,910 218,845,570 1,707,593 54,574,466 104,559 141,500 231,110,240 36,596 105,044,831 2,199,458 23,200 10,358 1,136,530 3,152,950 66,529,560 412,160 54,640,800 122,400 306,580 915,560 261,150 27,707,103 5,100 220,222,815 37,680 20,380 1,222,114 903,080 96,010

-11,314,486 -22,090,996 54,646,080 -97,865 -10,007,640 93,902,525 -22,810,706.50 -54,000 1,517,350 -55,648,716 -30,258,050 -12,349,269 -21,252,935 -2,550 16,160

7.39 1.02 14.98 1.98 0.78 37.45 3.3 4.68 5.9 0.43 0.96 0.208 0.395 26.45 0.63 0.121 1.45 1.2 1.45 4.39 0.59 0.45 0.485 3 19.42

7.16 0.99 13.58 1.96 0.76 36.9 3.1 4.56 5.6 0.425 0.9 0.204 0.395 24.2 0.61 0.115 1.4 1.18 1.28 4.25 0.57 0.43 0.48 2.9 18.5

2,293,936 4,823,230 33,012 104,390 214,360 352,048,855 861,260 3,971,120 5,110 531,400 320,370 226,060 15,800 77,617,760 70,320 2,360 13,941,360 555,250 26,812,270 78,087,990 6,662,270 825,450 110,750 4,242,600 36,130,582

-346,542 109,000 -48,574,590 -34,600 -1,885,060 -2,280 2,828,840 -5,314,430 -237,610 -49,437,610.00 31,230 -30,000 -7,439,146

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

59.5 89.7 123.6 1.52 33.7 16.6 14.58 3.5 8.65 832.5 0.51 71.8 1.06 11.84 20.05 48.5 200 105.4 28 200 1,875 87.05

59.5 89.7 125.3 1.59 33.7 16.6 14.58 3.54 8.65 832.5 0.54 72.7 1.06 11.9 20.05 48.5 200 111 28.5 200.4 1,900 87.05

59.5 88.5 123.1 1.52 33.45 16.5 14.14 3.5 8.65 830 0.51 71.35 1.04 11.84 20 48.5 200 105.4 27.95 199 1,875 87.05

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

35.5 15.16 0.56 1.17 23.9 0.255 3 15.88 48.05 21.5 57.1 60 1.89 8 10.1 15.94 10.56 7.21 5.25 14.88 61.3 21.15 7.44 14.5 2.26 270 5.2 3.29 16.18 27 11.12 20.3 344 0.176 6.9 2.2 4.11 8.86 7.53 1.25 12.2 51.35 5.81 4.55 2.67 3.32 1.83 12.5 59 5 0.126 0.9 117.6 2.63 1.46

35.5 15.3 0.58 1.21 24.5 0.255 3.06 15.88 48.65 23 57.1 60 1.89 8.1 10.1 15.94 11.22 7.25 5.26 14.88 61.45 21.15 7.44 14.5 2.32 270 5.2 3.31 16.18 27.15 11.48 20.65 344.8 0.189 7.2 2.21 4.15 8.89 7.75 1.42 12.2 51.75 5.81 4.55 2.78 3.32 1.87 12.5 60.5 5.22 0.126 0.9 118.9 2.71 1.59

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

0.235 54 11.62 0.97 6 0.62 0.63 891 6.2 10.84 7.19 4.5 898 6 50.4 5.5 5.3 6.38 0.54 3.6 18.9 0.58 4.64 0.037 1.2 2.72 2.98 138 2.55 868 1.57 538 255 0.25 0.204

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

7.16 1.01 14.98 1.98 0.78 37.4 3.28 4.65 5.6 0.43 0.94 0.205 0.395 24.95 0.63 0.115 1.45 1.2 1.39 4.39 0.59 0.44 0.485 3 19.4

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

2.03 3.22 35 1.11 7.5 0.77 6.26

2.03 3.23 35 1.15 7.91 0.77 6.26

2.01 3.18 34.15 1.11 7.21 0.75 6.1

2.03 3.21 34.25 1.13 7.21 0.75 6.15

304,000 24,000 9,315,500 12,547,000 3,011,300 39,000 7,923,000

612,360 76,680 320,912,800 14,212,480 22,320,463 29,410 48,773,887

1,886,220 342,500 -229,738 -30,052,296

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

15.2 25.4 0.46 0.043 13 9.7 0.054 75.3 7.29 7.12 21 1,545 5.4 263.2 11.32 3.32 78.2 12.9 8 0.135 2.47 5.16 15 4 1.04 24.15 4.25 5.34 2.65 2.82 2.8 17.02 9.6 11.1 8.65 3.88 123 5.2 1,218 0.87 0.35 47 79 8.4 1.87 1.13 0.415 4.85 0.77 11.58

15.2 25.5 0.46 0.043 13.06 9.7 0.054 76 7.3 7.57 21 1,545 5.4 268 11.32 3.4 78.2 12.9 8 0.139 2.76 5.2 15.3 4 1.04 24.15 4.25 5.34 2.65 3.03 2.99 17.76 9.87 11.1 8.65 3.88 123 5.2 1,275 0.87 0.35 47.5 79 8.4 1.87 1.14 0.415 4.89 0.78 12.02

14.8 24.9 0.445 0.043 12.86 9.53 0.053 72 7.17 7.02 19.22 1,504 5.33 240.4 11.32 3.22 76.95 12.9 8 0.133 2.42 4.45 15 3.93 1.02 23.8 4.1 5.18 2.58 2.61 2.7 17.02 9.5 11.06 8.65 3.6 120 5.16 1,214 0.85 0.34 46.5 76.5 8.03 1.82 1.13 0.41 4.85 0.75 11.54

SERVICES 15 25.15 0.445 0.043 13.06 9.6 0.053 72 7.21 7.48 19.22 1,507 5.4 250 11.32 3.24 77.2 12.9 8 0.135 2.57 4.48 15.3 4 1.02 24.05 4.1 5.23 2.6 2.62 2.7 17.76 9.5 11.06 8.65 3.74 120 5.17 1,248 0.85 0.345 47.3 77.8 8.15 1.84 1.13 0.41 4.86 0.78 11.8

9,400 150,900 590,000 400,000 12,000 4,167,900 16,420,000 421,800 840,300 27,100 142,000 27,505 251,100 33,230 200 286,000 1,873,570 100 5,000 12,880,000 30,009,000 2,004,600 1,500 258,000 131,000 206,600 14,000 6,168,200 90,000 3,838,000 67,000 2,200 4,248,600 7,000 600 389,000 30 138,400 120,595 1,634,000 390,000 559,400 1,282,350 75,200 2,197,000 260,000 2,170,000 6,265,000 1,041,000 3,322,600

139,520 3,817,995 265,800 17,200 155,514 39,999,182 874,460 31,578,782 6,060,193 195,379 2,812,777 41,759,990 1,353,533 8,400,924 2,264 945,750 144,965,396 1,290 40,000 1,733,240 78,674,870 9,493,426 22,802 1,023,800 134,990 4,954,235 58,450 32,313,470 234,840 10,890,050 187,140 38,184 40,661,910 77,588 5,190 1,447,600 3,660 717,007 149,519,865 1,395,090 135,200 26,354,505 99,801,508 612,767 4,015,410 294,300 892,600 30,470,380 793,530 39,284,130

-11,900 1,300 -1,397,512 -14,646,674.50 1,333,660 -12,695,630 27,918 -6,730 -74,558,305.50 101,250 -424,110 117,816 295,180 -477,230 21,250 724,655 -23,710 -28,000 286,005.00 1,230 15,540 92,412,315 -628,360 97,350 -8,387,510 -50,170,280 -1,504,220 -90,600 -9,397,980 -7,826,754

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 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.0026 1.48 4.1 21.7 1.7 0.295 7.12 2.2 0.183 0.13 0.128 0.0079 1.64 4.61 1.1 0.5 1.23 0.012 0.012 0.011 2.25 4.5 10.66 30.25

0.0026 1.49 4.1 21.7 1.7 0.3 7.98 2.24 0.188 0.13 0.128 0.008 1.77 4.67 1.41 0.51 1.39 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.05 4.51 11 30.25

0.0025 1.44 4.08 20 1.68 0.295 7.12 2.19 0.183 0.129 0.127 0.0079 1.62 4.61 1.1 0.5 1.18 0.011 0.012 0.011 2.24 4.48 10.6 29.55

MINING & OIL 0.0026 115,000,000 1.44 1,019,000 4.08 21,000 20.9 12,800 1.68 785,000 0.3 150,000 7.88 46,700 2.2 3,094,000 0.188 90,000 0.129 470,000 0.127 160,000 0.008 13,000,000 1.75 1,252,000 4.67 616,000 1.33 3,085,000 0.51 326,000 1.25 22,727,000 0.011 1,300,000 0.012 7,000,000 0.012 56,100,000 2.84 3,543,000 4.48 114,000 10.98 957,600 30.05 1,092,500

290,100 1,493,490 85,700 264,705 1,325,540 44,900 349,335 6,865,200 16,820 60,850 20,370 103,200 2,148,650 2,867,210 3,938,050 163,260 28,849,100 15,400 84,000 661,100 10,028,700 512,650 10,390,222 32,820,240

-340,000 643,860 920,390 16,900 -151,470 12,000 37,200 -8,500 11,488 -179,610

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

24.5 495 500 100.8 80 100.1 5.14 99.9 1.04 103 1,080 102.8 1,000 75.35 79 75.3 76.05 76 76.5 76.4

24.5 495 505 100.8 80 100.1 5.25 99.9 1.04 103 1,080 102.8 1,000 76.3 79 75.3 76.5 76 76.5 76.4

24.2 495 500 100.2 80 100.1 5.14 99.9 1.04 103 1,080 102.8 1,000 75.35 79 75.3 76.05 76 76.5 76

PREFERRED 24.2 161,600 495 12,060 505 300 100.7 13,480 80 10,000 100.1 19,300 5.14 122,800 99.9 5,500 1.04 152,000 103 2,000 1,080 100 102.8 1,200 1,000 500 76.3 237,220 79 1,740 75.3 2,000 76.5 2,170 76 12,490 76.5 800 76 41,050

3,925,615 5,969,700 150,050 1,356,477 800,000 1,931,930 641,139 549,450 158,080 206,000 108,000 123,360 500,000 17,874,691 137,460 150,600 165,330 949,240 61,200 3,120,200

-2,650,450 -575,591 -

LR WARRANT

2.27

2.35

2.27

WARRANTS 2.3 120,000

278,970

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.15 3.14

5.15 3.19

5.02 3.03

5.06 3.19

1,345,838 5,073,820

102,034 1,561,110

FIRST METRO ETF

107.7

105.8

883,809

121,542

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.1 10

26,664 1,000

NAME

PROPERTY 7.35 0.99 13.58 1.96 0.76 37 3.17 4.56 5.9 0.425 0.9 0.208 0.395 24.4 0.61 0.121 1.41 1.2 1.4 4.25 0.58 0.445 0.48 2.9 18.5

313,800 4,813,000 2,400 53,000 279,000 9,486,600 275,000 863,000 900 1,240,000 346,000 1,100,000 40,000 3,061,100 112,000 20,000 9,861,000 464,000 19,445,000 18,233,000 11,571,000 1,880,000 230,000 1,446,000 1,937,000

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

11,283,668

INDUSTRIAL

94,296,430

HOLDING FIRMS

51,369,843

PROPERTY

123,642,015

SERVICES

108,011,951

MINING & OIL

233,132,776

GRAND TOTAL

623,630,708

SME

263,600 1,622,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 106 8,290 10.1 10

DDS

2,640 100

VALUE 1,772.24 (up) 1.04 960,773,133.57 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,254.44 (down) 140.92 1,235,751,744.24 HOLDING FIRMS 6,937.59 (down) 145.00 1,497,272,122.20 PROPERTY 3,444.08 (down) 89.80 1,371.74 (down) 5.36 1,138,527,959.88 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,631.53 (up) 9.84 850,365,114.34 PSEI 7,066.57 (down) 109.86 103,426,675.4857 All Shares Index 4,323.23 (down) 56.07 5,793,420,839.36 Gainers: 79; Losers: 114; Unchanged: 51; Total: 244

Global-Estate to open P1.5-b Batangas hotel by end of 2018 By Jenniffer B. Austria GLOBAL-ESTATE Resorts Inc., a unit of major property developer Megaworld Corp., will open the P1.5-billion Twin Lakes Hotel inside its 1,200-hectare Twin Lakes development in Laurel, Batangas province by the end of the year. GERI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the 126-room Twin Lakes Hotel offered spacious rooms of up to 72 square meters in size and balconies facing either Taal Lake or a terraced vineyard, one of the main features of the Twin Lakes community. The hotel will be operated by Megaworld’s Global One Hotels Group, which is also the owner and operator of the company’s homegrown Belmont and Savoy Hotel brands. The eight-level hotel features an allday dining restaurant facing the vineyard and Taal Lake, an in-house Wellness Spa, heated infinity pool and a grand ballroom with a banquet capacity of up to 500 people. The ballroom can be divided into smaller banquet rooms. The hotel will also have a business center, boardroom and meeting rooms, game room, pool deck, kiddie pool and an outdoor lounge. “We envision Twin Lakes Hotel to be a perfect venue for weddings and celebrations. Aside from the unparalleled views of Taal Lake and Volcano, this is the only hotel in the Philippines that has an actual grape-growing vineyard at its backyard,” GERI president Monica Salomon said. Twin Lakes is a 1,200-hectare integrated tourism estate development of GERI and the company’s largest single development to date. It offers residential condominiums, residential villages as well as other leisure and commercial properties. GERI has five tourism estates and two integrated lifestyle communities across the country covering over 3,000 hectares of land. Net income attributable to the parent company stood at P407 million in the first quarter of the year, up 25 percent from P326 million year-on-year. Consolidated revenues in the first quarter of 2018 amounted to P1.66 billion as rental income tripled to P87 million after the company opened Southwoods Mall, its first full-scale mall in Biñan, Laguna.

DFNN declares iWave shares as property dividend DFNN Inc., a listed information technology company, said it will declare as property dividend some 40,000 shares in unit iWave Inc. DFNN said in a disclosure to the stock exchange shareholders as of record date Dec. 18, 2018 would receive one iWave common shares for every 8,155.5 DFNN shares owned. iWave is a leading company in the Philippines that specializes in designing and developing turnkey solutions for the information system requirements of retail financial institutions with high volume transactions. iWave in February of this year signed an agreement with the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and a Tokyo-listed financial services company, Traders Holdings Co. Ltd. The agreement gives iWave the opportunity to be part of the first Asian special economic zone focused on the development of financial technologies. “iWave has very strong and innovative competencies and continues to assert itself in the financial technology space. We look forward to further pioneering breakthroughs in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors,” DFNN chief executive Calvin Lim said. DFNN also reported that its board approved the acquisition of a 100-percent stake in internet cafe and gaming outlet operation LuckyU Inc. DFNN will acquire 302,500 shares in LuckyU at P62.80 per share, for a total purchase price of P19 million. The IT firm said the acquisition would provide the company a new stream of revenues. Jenniffer B. Austria

World

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Foreign divers join search for children trapped in cave MAE SAI, Thailand―A team of US military personnel and British divers joined the rescue efforts at a flooded cave in northern Thailand where 12 children and their football coach have been trapped for five days as heavy overnight rain hampered the search. Flood waters seeped into a second chamber of the Tham Luang cave and forced some of the rescue divers to turn back, according to officials. The children, aged between 11 and 16, went into the cave Saturday and were trapped when heavy rains clogged the main entrance. Around 1,000 Navy SEAL divers, police, soldiers, border guards and officials have been mobilized for the around-theclock rescue in a remote and mountainous part of Chiang Rai province near the Laos and Myanmar borders. A team of American military personnel from the US Pacific Command, including para-rescue and survival specialists, arrived at the site overnight to help rescue operations, according to embassy spokeswoman Jillian Bonnardeaux. “Operators are trained in personnel recovery tactics and techniques and proce-

CHURCH VISIT. Britain’s Prince William walks alongside father Roman Archimandrite during a visit to the Mary Magdalene

Church, in east Jerusalem, on June 28, 2018. The Duke of Cambridge is the first member of the royal family to make an official visit to the Jewish state and the Palestinian territories. AFP

dures,” she told AFP. “Essentially what they’re looking at is assessing with the Thai authorities the potential courses of action and complementing the efforts underway.” Three British cave diving experts made a second attempt at entering the cave through chimneys Thursday after they tried to go in through the main entrance on the day before but were turned around by rushing flood waters. At nearly 10 kilometers, Tham Luang cave is one of the longest in Thailand and has the reputation of being one of the toughest, even among experienced divers. It frequently floods during Thailand’s monsoon season between July and November, rendering some of its narrow passages difficult to pass through. There are several air pockets within the complex and the kids are believed to be in a large chamber in the middle of the cave. But fast-running and murky flood waters have prevented rescue divers from reaching them and heavy rains continue to seep into the cave through narrow openings on the sides and through the main entrance. AFP

‘Kim Jong Nam’s murder not a prank’ IN BRIEF Mexican leftist closes in on presidency MEXICO CITY―Fed up with rampant corruption and violence, Mexicans vote Sunday in historic elections that look set to punish the political establishment and deliver the presidency to leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Leading by more than 20 points in the polls, the sharp-tongued, silver-haired politician known as “AMLO” looks poised to become the next figure on the growing global list of anti-establishment candidates swept into office by a wave of popular discontent. But there is also something uniquely Mexican in his message and the way it has resonated with voters. Mexicans are angry over endemic corruption and horrific violence that left a record 25,000 murders last year -- a record on track to be broken again this year in an orgy of bloodshed fueled by the country’s powerful drug cartels. Many voters despise the two parties that have governed Mexico for nearly a century: the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party and the conservative National Action Party. Lopez Obrador, 64, calls them both part of the same “mafia of power,” a message that resonated with many people― even if the former Mexico City mayor has been vague on what the change he promises will look like. “The policies we’ve been applying for the past 30 years haven’t worked. We haven’t even had economic growth,” Lopez Obrador told supporters as he wrapped up his campaign on Wednesday. “What’s grown is corruption, poverty, crime and violence. That’s why we’re going to send their policies to the dustbin of history.” AFP

HAH ALAM, Malaysia―The assassination of the estranged half brother of North Korea’s leader was not a prank, Malaysian state prosecutors said Thursday, insisting it was a “carefully planned and executed” murder using a UN-banned poison.

Prosecutors dismissed the defense case that the two women defendants were recruited to take part in what they thought were prank TV shows but were instead tricked into becoming inadvertent assassins, in an elaborate plot by a group of North Korean agents. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong are accused of killing Kim Jong Nam by smearing the toxic nerve agent VX on his face at Kuala

Lumpur airport last year in a Cold Warstyle hit that shocked the world. VX is so deadly that it is classiﬁed as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations. Kim died within minutes. “It is an assassination, where the murder was carefully planned and executed,” prosecutors said in a written submission, adding that the women had been “trained” to ensure success. They said the women “used criminal force” to attack Kim. “The element of aggressiveness was present and this alone should have negated the existence of a prank,” they said. They said pranks involved the “element of humor” but the video evidence showed the accused were not laughing during and after the attack. The prosecutors added “it was not a prank and they knew what they were doing”. The women, in their 20s, deny murdering Kim. They face death by hanging if found guilty.

The trial, which began last year, resumed Wednesday after a break since early April, with the lawyers from both sides making their ﬁnal submissions. Aisyah’s lawyer Gooi Soon Seng in his submission told the Shah Alam High Court, outside Kuala Lumpur, that the investigation into the assassination “was not only shoddy but was lopsided”. He added that the charge was “vague” and the prosecution “has failed to make out a prima facie case against” his client. Gooi also said it was unusual that Aisyah did not suffer any symptoms from contact with VX. Doan’s lawyer Hisyam Teh Pok Teik in his separate submission said his client did not intend to cause the death of Kim and did not know that the liquid she applied to his face was dangerous. Hisyam said the prosecution had “failed miserably” in presenting their case, adding that “the actual assassins are the North Koreans” and that his client had been “denied a fair trial”.

Reporter barred by Taiwan for writing ‘fake news’

Korean Air head grilled over tax evasion SEOUL―The patriarch of South Korean ﬂag carrier Korean Air was grilled by prosecutors Thursday over alleged tax evasion and other crimes, as a series of probes reached the top of the troubled business dynasty. Cho Yang-ho, 69, and his brothers and a sister allegedly avoided paying 50 billion won ($45 million) in taxes on the overseas assets they inherited after their father Cho Choong-hoon died in 2002. “I am sorry. I will sincerely face the investigation,” Cho told journalists when he appeared at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Ofﬁce. Cho is chairman of the Hanjin Group, which includes Korean Air and used to own the now-bankrupt Hanjin Shipping line. He also faces allegations of embezzling over 20 billion won from company funds and unfairly awarding contracts to companies controlled by his family members. The super-wealthy owners of chaebols―the sprawling conglomerates that dominate the world’s 11th-largest economy―often attract controversy, but a series of scandals have made the Cho family one of the most notorious in South Korea. Cho’s wife and children are being probed over alleged assaults, smuggling and illegal hiring of foreign housekeepers. The two daughters, who held management positions at Korean Air, became viral sensations for temper tantrums which were dubbed the “nut rage” and “water rage” scandals online. The elder, Cho Hyun-ah, made global headlines in 2014 for kicking a cabin crew chief off a Korean Air plane for being served macadamia nuts in a bag rather than a bowl. She later served a short prison sentence. AFP

Four North Koreans are accused of involvement in the murder but ﬂed the country immediately after the killing. Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin likened the killing to a James Bond movie as it involved trained women assassins. “Looking at the bigger picture, the four North Koreans still at large must have trained the two accused in executing the plan,” he said. South Korea accused the North of masterminding the killing of Kim, who had been living in exile after falling out of favour with the ruling family in Pyongyang. The assassination also sparked a row between North Korea and Malaysia, which had historically been one of Pyongyang’s few allies. However, the ties appear to be improving, with the new Malaysian government announcing plans to reopen its embassy in Pyongyang, as tension on the Korean peninsula ease. AFP

MEETING. French President Emmanuel Macron (C) arrives with French Overseas Minister Annick Girardin (L) to attend the meeting “Assises des outre-mer” at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 28, 2018. AFP

Teenager’s suicide sparks soul-searching in China SHANGHAI―The suicide of a teenager in China whose sexual harassment case was dismissed has triggered a bout of national soul-searching over her treatment and anger at the onlookers who encouraged her to jump off a building. Li Yiyi, 19, died last week after throwing herself from the eighth floor of a department store in Qingyang, a city in northwest Gansu province, following previous suicide attempts, police told reporters. A public outcry erupted after videos of the scene circulated online and reports that some bystanders had jeered her and urged the young woman to “jump quickly” while firefighters tried to save her. The police said Monday they had detained two people who had booed, and started investigations into six others for verbally abusive online posts about Li. “The world is getting more and more indifferent. I’m scared. Just how

mentally defected are those people who booed her to jump?” questioned one user on Twitter-like Weibo. The case has put a new spotlight on the struggle among Chinese women to get legal help in sexual abuse allegations. The teenager had been upset because prosecutors cleared a high school teacher whom she had accused of forcibly kissing her and trying to take her clothes off in September 2016. Li and her father had repeatedly sought charges against him but local prosecutors decided not to try him, declaring that his behavior was a “slight” offense that did not constitute a crime. She appealed to a higher prosecutor, who also rejected her case. The teacher was briefly detained but kept his job. “She fought for two years. Except for her father, no one including teachers, the school, the court and the prosecutor cared about her pain. Only those firefighters kept trying to save

her,” a Weibo user wrote. Sexual harassment cases have rocked Chinese university campuses in recent months, fuelling a #MeToo movement that has been more low-key than in other countries due to censorship by the authorities. There is no legal deﬁnition of sexual harassment in China and no national regulations on how to handle sexual assault cases in schools and workplaces. Guo Jianmei, a women’s rights lawyer in Beijing, said very few sexual assault cases are prosecuted due to lack of evidence and a lack of respect for women has contributed to such cases not being taken seriously in China. “Her case is a typical pattern where her helplessness and loneliness after long-term pressure sent her toward a death path,” Guo told AFP. “It happens a lot. And it is hidden harassment, which is hard to get convicted as there is no obvious violence in the action,” she said. AFP

TAIPEI―Taiwan authorities have barred a reporter for a television network in China from working on the island, accusing him of spreading “fake news” at a time of heightened cross-strait tensions. It is the first time a mainland Chinese reporter has been banned from the island for “creating cross-strait conflict,” according to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which handles official affairs with China. It said the decision was due to multiple incidents in which Ye Qinglin, from Southeast Television in China’s Fujian province, breached rules governing Chinese media in Taiwan. The rules say that Chinese press should stick to a pre-approved plan and follow the principles of fair and objective reporting. Ye had regularly been sent to Taiwan on assignment for the past 10 years but his latest application to re-enter had been rejected, the MAC said. “The government respects and protects press freedom, but we definitely will not allow Chinese press to spread false information through fake news,” it said in a statement. The council’s spokesman Chui Chui-cheng told AFP that Ye had in the past attempted to report at military bases without authorization. Ye also sparked controversy in February when he accused a Japanese rescue team sent in after a deadly earthquake in Taiwan’s Hualien city of refusing to go into a badly damaged building out of fear for their safety. AFP Manila

Standard

TODAY

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that PRIMA CASA LAND & HOUSES, INC with office address at LGF Bldg. B, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Developer of Economic and Lowcost Housing Project (Lumina Classic 1 Annex A) with a capacity of 356 house and lot units on a nonpioneer status, with project site at Barangay San Vicente, Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-JUNE 29, 2018)

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

B4 FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018

The unforgiving race tracks of Japan’s legendary Suzuka Circuit turn into a vast playground of Lamborghini racing drivers this weekend.

LAMBORGHINI SUPER TROFEO ASIA

Battle royal shaping up at Suzuka

last month, making his championship intentions clear with a podium and victory which put him second in the title chase. An unlucky DNF in Race 4 was a setback for talented Chinese duo Bian and Han Huilin at D1 Racing Team, but the pair will be back on the hunt for championship points in Suzuka. Returning to the championship after having missed the third and fourth races last month are Japanese drivers Ken Urata and Daisuke Matsunaga of FPC Racing. With a pair of podium ﬁnishes in the opening rounds in Malaysia, Urata and Matsunaga are hungry for more. Lamborghini Cup The Hong Kong 852 Challengers Paul Wong and Clement Li lead the race for the Lamborghini Cup title. Italian Gabriele Murroni’s 2018 campaign was dealt a cruel blow with a DNF in Race 4,

INGAPORE—The Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia 2018 charges back into action this weekend for the fifth and sixth races of the season, and a battle royal is anticipated as the season reaches its midway point. The epic rivalry between Pro championship leaders FFF Racing Team and title rivals Leipert is set to resume at one of the world’s most challenging and unforgiving race tracks, Japan’s legendary Suzuka Circuit. After a run of bad luck at the season opener in Malaysia, Leipert’s Ben Gersekowski and Richard Muscat fought back with a pole position and victory in Race 3 at Thailand’s Buriram circuit last month, but the top of the Pro leaderboard remains an FFF Racing Team lockout—for now. Andrew Amici of Italy and Poland’s Artur Janosz have a 12-point advantage over team mates Jack Bartholomew and James Pull, while the Australian Leipert duo have everything to do in Japan to overhaul their rivals in the points. Joining the championship at Suzuka are last year’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Pro champions, Kei Cozzolino of Japan and Aﬁq Yazid of Malaysia. In 2017, the pair won 10 of 12 races and will be looking to repeat their winning formula in Japan. Winning ways Japan’s Takeshi Matsumoto and Toshiyuki Ochiai were absent from the podium after Race 3, but quickly returned to their ISUZU Philippines Corporation successfully concluded its annual Isuzu Service Skills Olympics (ISSO) held at its compound in Binan, Laguna last June 1 and 2. On the 13th edition of the ISSO, 24 participating dealers—including three new dealers Isuzu Cebu, Batangas City, and Sta. Rosa—entered their best Parts and Service personnel to compete in this year’s three categories, Service Technician, Service Advisor, and Parts Analyst. The competitions were divided into two parts, the written and practical tests. At the end of the competitions on June 2, the winners for the categories coming from Isuzu dealerships from across the Philippines were announced. They were: For the Service Technician category— Jonathan Mediona and Arniel John Alom of Isuzu Davao (2nd runner up); Crispin Maldonado and Jumar Verano of Isuzu Pasig (1st runner up); Ahrjay Pulvera and Reynaldo Gepulle of Isuzu Alabang (champion).

winning ways with victory in Race 4 to retain their place at the top of the Pro-Am leaderboard. Another strong weekend for the Gama Racing duo of Evan Chen and Akihiro Asai sees them trail the HoJust pair by a mere ﬁve points, with Leipert Finns Mikko Eskelinen and Juuso Puhakka seven points further back in third. Season debut Joining Malaysia’s Kumar Prabakaran at Aylezo Motorsport for the Suzuka round is a sportscar veteran, the superquick Italian Massimiliano (Max) Wiser. Kumar is making an impressive Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia debut this season, and currently lies fourth in the Pro-Am classiﬁcation, ahead of the D1 Racing Team pair of Armaan Ebrahim and Anindith Reddy. With brothers Saravut and Sarun Sereethoranakul absent in Japan, fellow Thai Bobby Suttiluck will be looking to capitalize on his absence to climb the Am leaderboard. The True Vision Motorsports driver joined the series in Thailand

while Japan’s Takamichi Matsuda made a strong championship debut with a pair of second place finishes in Thailand. Built in 1962 as a test track, today Suzuka is regarded as one of the world’s most challenging circuits. The scene of countless great moments in motorsport history, Suzuka continues to win as many hearts as it breaks. The 5.807km track, with its distinctive figure-of-eight configuration, is packed with a multitude of challenges, and all in rapid succession. Elevations, the tight esses, a hairpin, chicane and quick straights combine to make it a circuit which commands bravery, intelligence and razor-sharp focus. Two hour-long free practice slots on Friday, June 29, will be followed by qualifying sessions for each race on Saturday, with the weekend’s first race beginning at 12:35 local time (GMT+9). The sixth race of the season begins at 13:10 local time on Sunday, July 1. Highlights videos will be available on Lamborghini Squadra Corse social media channels.

Isuzu service skills olympics

Isuzu executives present some of the winners at the podium.

For the Service Advisor category— runner up); Jorussel Reyes of Isuzu CabaDyrenerose Benecio of Isuzu Pasig (2nd natuan (1st runner up); Julius Caesar Opa-

Enticing sojourns IT IS still prime road trip season for the majority of Manila’s citizens. The call of the open road and pristine beaches proves to be irresistible to families stuck in the metropolis.Most popular summer destinations tend to get very congested during the weekends. Good thing that there are still plenty of places to visit which offer their own attractions that don’t come with the lines and crowds at usual summer haunts. Columbian Autocar Corporatio, the distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, encourages Kia owners to explore the outdoors, share and mark their photos on the Kia Motors Philippines facebook page with #MyKiaPH. To join #MyKiaPH, you can contribute by sharing the epic photos from your latest escapade or the nifty hacks to get your car’s seats organized for a good night’s sleep. With the #MyKiaPH community you can take inspiration from other Kia owners’ journeys and motivate others to move out of their comfort zones and conquer new territories aboard their trusty Kia. Handle the Hills of Amadeo in Sorento Tagaytay City in Cavite is infamous for its trafﬁc during the summer. Instead, drive a Kia Sorento to visit the adjacent municipality of Amadeo, nicknamed “the coffee capital of the Philippines”, to experience the same cool climate. Visit Café Amadeo for a cup of their signature Pahimis blend coffee and a serving of hot suman and other kakanin as well as other café staples. After enjoying your hot meal, cool down by taking a dip in the refreshing waters of nearby Balite falls. The Kia Sorento’s 200 horsepower 2.2L diesel engine makes driving up the hills of upland Cavite easy and fun. The torque of the Sorento engine will happily eat up the steady gradient without the driver having to press heavily on the accelerator. Big and powerful as it may be, the Sorento has enough ﬁnesse to handle the sweeping bends and tight side-roads of your chosen route to Amadeo. The tuned suspen-

co of Isuzu Mandaue (champion). For the Parts Analyst category—Christopher Garcia of Isuzu Cabanatuan (2nd runner up); John Louie Carlos of Isuzu Pasig (1st runner up); Joana Zorilla of Isuzu Pampanga (champion). For this year’s ISSO, IPC also handed out special awards for the Best in Written Exam for each category. The winners here were: For the Service Technician category, Crispin Maldonado of Isuzu Pasig; for the Service Advisor category, Jorussel Reyes of Isuzu Cabanatuan, and; for the Parts Analyst category, Joana Zorilla of Isuzu Pampanga. After all results of the participating crews were tallied, and their combined efforts in all categories factored in, Isuzu Pasig emerged as the Dealer Grand Champion. The annual ISSO, now on its 13th year, recognizes the importance of the key dealer Parts and Service personnel, namely the service advisor, service technician, and parts personnel in providing quality service and customer satisfaction, and im-

sion and balanced weight distribution make traversing both smooth tarmac and gravel roads equally enjoyable. Picanto Tour in Manila The Capital has lots to offer for air-conditioned indoor spaces where families can spend time together and keep cool while everyone else hits the road on their excursions. Instead of the usual trip to the mall, enjoy the cobblestoned streets of Intramuros or visit the National Museum. With the Picanto’s efficient 29.23km/l* gas consumption, one can ride the down from the Quirino Grandstand across Luneta Park, marvel at the array of collectibles at Yexel’s Toy Museum inside Manila Ocean Park, and visit the Metropolitan Museum of Manila beside the Manila Bay. Finish off by crossing Roxas Boulevard to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex to visit the CCP Museum with fuel to spare. A trip like this is also where the Kia Picanto shines as Kia’s perfect city car. Its relatively short 2.4m wheelbase is suited to maneuvering the tight streets of the city. With the Picanto’s compact 1.595m x 3.595m footprint, it’s easy to find a parking spot on your tour of the city. Cruising in your Grand Carnival to Tarlac Most people consider Tarlac as a stopover on their way to other destinations in the north like La Union or Baguio. The province has plenty to offer tourists that are willing to spend the time to discover its hidden gems. With the Grand Carnival as your carrier, adrenaline junkies can fit biking, hiking and other outdoor gear in its spacious cargo room and sinking rear seats for increased capacity as you and your friends try white river rafting or the challenging trek of the ANZAP (ASEAN New Zealand Forestation Project) Waterfalls to marvel at the majesty of a 200-foot wall of water. Set aside a whole day to explore the entire 78-hectares of Tarlac Recreational Park, best explored on a mountain bike.

proves the theoretical and technical skills of these key personnel. The ISSO also serves as the main platform where IPC will develop two teams to represent the Philippines in the upcoming 2018 Isuzu World Technical Competition to be held in Thailand on September 12, 2018 (for the light commercial vehicle or LCV category) and in Japan on December 6, 2018 (for the commercial vehicle or CV category). Since 2015, IPC has consistently placed 5th or higher in the Isuzu World Technical Competition, and a large part of its success has been attributed to the high level of competition at the ISSO, apart from the professional dedication and discipline the Isuzu dealers’ Parts and Service personnel pour into their daily work. The Philippine Team landed 5th in the CV Category B in 2017, 3rd in the CV Category in 2016, 2nd place in the LCV Category in 2015 and 2016, and champions in the CV Category in 2015.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 advertise@manilastandard.net

STRENGTHENING PHILIPPINE UTILITY SERVICES FOR RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH (POWER AND WATER SERVICES)

Ensuring a stronger power utility in PH By Angelica Villanueva and Charles Dantes

OWER, considered as one of the basic utility services in the country, continues to become more significant as it remains essential to improve the people’s quality of life in emerging economies. Through the years, a steady increase in demand in various sectors such as business, transportation, agriculture, and in households, leads to the need of a sound power utility infrastructure to address the needs of all sectors. Back in 2016, the Department

of Energy released a report stating a significant 10% growth in electricity consumption due to several factors like the El Niño phenomenon and the National elections in the same year. From high demands of Filipinos utilizing cooling equipment

to beat the heat, to the need to maintain a clean and orderly election, power consumption peaked at 8.7%. Role of private power utilities We all know the drill, power utilities are companies that engage in distributing and generating electricity in different areas. Yet, there are more significant roles that power utilities corporations have. “It ensures adequate access to basic services that individuals in this age cannot live without,” said Alsons Power Group in a statement forwarded to the Manila Standard. National Power Corporation, a corporation controlled and owned by the government, encourages the private sectors through EPIRA or RA 19136 “to infuse private capital in the power industry.” Napocor also fortifies the backbone of Philippines’ utility services in terms of power. Meanwhile, the Energy Regulatory Commission regulates the rate that will be charged to all electricity end users. Moreover, ERC ensures that these electricity end users are charged with the approved subsidized rate “to sustain the true cost of generation of their facilities.” Strengthening power utilities To improve the lives of Filipinos, power enterprises guarantee that they will continue to boost the country’s power utility services. Napocor emphasizes that aside

from being an economic driver for development, having a strong power utility can attract local and foreign investors. And the government cannot do it alone. Based on EPIRA, private sectors are encouraged to instill private capital in improving and strengthening the power industry. Moreover, while the government provides the policies like EPIRA, these private sectors produce the goods and services and provide jobs that boost the economy. With that, private enterprises such as Alsons Power Group, Roxas Holdings, Inc., and the Energy Development Corporation have their ways of showing their support for our power facilities. Alsons Power, being Mindanao’s first independent power producer, provides safe, reliable and affordable power to over eight million people in 13 cities and 8 provinces in the region. In an email sent to Manila Standard, Alsons Power revealed that near the site of the Sarangani Energy Power Plant, in Maasim, Sarangani, they are engaged in the largest watershed protection project of its kind in the country to provide forest cover for the Siguil and Kamanga River watersheds. The project encompasses an area of 7,500 hectares which is larger than the City of Manila and almost twice the size of Makati. With the continued high demand for power, Roxas Holdings, Inc. partners not just with the government in helping to strengthen the

country’s power industry, but also collaborates with its communities and stakeholders with their corporate social responsibility campaigns. Just like Roxas Holdings, EDC, being the largest producer of geothermal energy in the country, also contributes to fortify the backbone of the power utility sector. Recently, to magnify their CSR campaign, EDC has launched its BINHI program, “a species conservation program that focuses on native tree species.” Through this campaign, their mission is not just to plant native tree species but also to multiply and propagate them. Filipino citizens are also welcome to participate in strengthening power facility. Private sectors of the power industry encourage people to participate in their CSR campaigns that can contribute to reinforcing the power utilities. Empowering power for a rapid growth As the high demand for power continues to rise, the more the government and private sectors need to improve and develop our power

utilities. Government-owned Napocor is planning to put generation and transmission facilities to electrify all missionary areas not connected to the three major grids of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that will result in the total electrification of the Philippines. As for the private sectors, higher quality forms of infrastructures and more innovative solutions are expected to be prepared in the future for a stronger power facility. But, are we prepared and how well-prepared our country is for more power industry projects and innovations? Napocor said that the Philippine power industry is very much matured. However, what the country needs are grants, soft loans and innovative solutions from neighboring countries to effectively implement the necessary power projects. We already have the power sources that we need, what we must have is the support not just by other neighboring countries, but local investors who are willing to take the risk in developing and innovating what we have.

friday, june 29, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Life

Pancho Piano's 'Mindscape' displayed at the Hagod exhibit

Basketball superstar Stephen Curry is one of the world-renowned athletes immortalized at the Champions Zone.

Rubbing elbows

with famous personalities

mbarking on a mission to meet all popular personalities and icons could be extremely exhausting, if not impossible. a particular museum, however, has been, for the past 200 years, allowing people to meet, greet, and take souvenir photos with famous figures, alive and dead. madame Tussauds wax museum celebrates two centuries of immortalizing the world’s greatest icons, particularly royal and historical figures, religious leaders, artists, film stars, sports stars, and famous murderers. marie Tussaud, its founder, previously created wax figures victims of French revolution, criminals, and other famous individuals. The closest Filipinos can get to the iconic wax museum is the one in Hong kong. madame Tussauds Hong kong Sing along with Taylor Swift at the Music Icons Zone. features diverse zones, each offering something for visitors to enjoy. The music icons Zone, on the other The most stylish stars serve as hand, features legends from different fashion inspiration at the Fashion eras. Wax figures of The beatles, miZone. Visitors can take posing cues chael Jackson, Lady gaga, and Taylor from supermodel kendall Jenner or Swift are displayed together for music become an Elle fashion magazine fans of all ages. cover star for a day. a new augmentmere mortals can literally rub eled reality feature at this zone offers bows with Her majesty Queen Elizatips on upgrading personal style. beth ii and His royal Highness Prince korean drama fans can reenact their Philip at the Historical and national favorite scenes at the k-wave Zone, Heroes Zone. where kim Soo-hyun welcomes guests Favorite characters such as Hello as the charming Professor Doo min kitty and marvel superheroes like the Joon from the beloved TV show My Hulk, iron man, and Spiderman come Love from the Star, along with bae to life at the animated World. Yong-joon from the k-drama Winter madame Tussauds Hong kong is Sonata, Lee Jong Suk from While We likewise home to the Yayoi kusama Were Sleeping, and Park Hae Jin from gallery. The gallery is an entire room Man to Man. k-pop fans will also find dedicated to the world-renowned contheir idols at the zone, including Suzy temporary artist and multimedia collaband Siwon. orator and her signature polka dot-andThe k-Wave Zone also features a gourd motifs. The addition of mirror LED Dancing game and a korean panels creates an illusion of infinite Fashion Style game. space. at the center sits kusama herSuperstars of the sporting world come self, a figure of inspiration to hopefuls together at the Champions Zone. Visi- Escape from the Hulk at the Animated Zone. across different industries, from film to tors can try, and succeed, in outscoring fashion to literature. basketball greats Stephen Curry and David beckham and Cristiano ronaldo, Yao ming, mimic the forehand swing and go toe to toe with the greatest boxer Go to www.madametussauds.com/ of maria Sharapova, score a goal with of all time, muhammad ali. hongkong for more information.

Ikebana workshop at Sunshine Place marC Tomas, president of ikebana international manila Chapter 108, will teach the basics of the Japanese art of flower arrangement at the fourth batch of ikebana classes at Sunshine Place in makati starting July 14 until august 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Call (02) 856-4144, 8564162, 0917-5155656, or email seniorhubjupiter@ gmail.com for inquiries and Marc Tomas leads a series of classes on Ikebana at Sunshine Place in Makati from July 14 to Aug. 4. more details.

A lightness of being aCCLaimED visual artist Pancho Piano has put the bicolano culture in the spotlight for 35 years through his distinctive paintings, impressive murals, and liturgical stained glass designs. While most of his bodies of work are paintings, the artist has also crafted masterpieces of wood carvings and clay sculptures. but regardless of the medium he chooses to express his creative side, the theme of his artwork gravitates toward bicol’s many interesting myths, legends, culture, and traditions. “i want my art to be a way to bring the beauty of the bicolano culture, and the Filipino people in general, to the forefront. When people look at my work, i want them to think, reflect, and appreciate the beautiful culture that we have,” shared Piano. With a penchant for realism and abstractionism, Piano’s paintings often portray the beauty of humanity, with a signature stroke where softness and loudness are both in harmony. His works have a “jolly” vibe to them, a reflection of Piano’s disposition in life. Some of Piano’s favorite themes are indigenous deities such as Haliya, the moon goddess of abundance and fertility; Daragang magayon in the folktale of ill-starred lovers; as well as myths surroundings the

origin of albay province. He also loves to incorporate in his work the region’s festivals especially that of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia water festival. born in a quaint town in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, Piano discovered his love for the arts early in life. “When i was in high school, the fishermen in our barrio would ask me to paint artworks in their fishing boats. in exchange, they would give me fish that they had caught,” recalled Piano. He added, “being an artist is kind of like being a fisherman—sometimes the catch is plentiful, sometimes there’s almost none.” Piano is armed with an economics degree from the University of nueva Caceres as well as a fine arts degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman as a Jose Joya scholar. aside from the various exhibits that he has committed himself to, he also spends his time mentoring younger artists in a group he organized—the Salingoy art group, an organization of bicol-based artists; and bicol Expression, a group of manila-based artists whose roots originate from bicol. Piano recently displayed his latest artworks at two exhibits, dubbed “Hagod” at Okada manila and “merging of Colors” at Sm aura.

'Mother and Child,' 'Japanese Lady,' and 'The Emperor' by Bicolano artist Pancho Piano

Whang-od Oggay receives the Dangal ng Haraya award

Whang-od receives ‘Dangal ng Haraya’ award

kaLinga tattoo artist Whang-od Oggay, popularly known as Whangod, on monday was conferred with the Dangal ng Haraya award for intangible Cultural Heritage by the national Commission for Culture and the arts. The revered tattooist received the award in recognition of her contribution for preserving and celebrating the traditional art of hand-tapped tattooing

or batok, which uses charcoal as ink and calamansi thorns as needle. The Dangal ng Haraya award is given to living Filipino artists, cultural workers, and historians; artistic or cultural groups; historical societies; institutions; foundations; and councils, for their outstanding achievements in relevant fields that have made an impact on and significant contribution to Philippine culture and arts.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Who is

Piolo Pascual’s NEWEST DAILY PARTNER?

A-list actor Piolo Pascual

The Coca-Cola Philippines receives the silver plaque under the Youth Brand category of the Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards 2018.

EITHER a “he” nor “she,” the country’s enduring heartthrob has found partner in life.

Coke Studio receives industry nod for OPM advocacy

Recently, he revealed “it” in a gathering of members of the press, bloggers, and other media personalities at an events place in Quezon City. Everyone in the hall was excited to see the now iconic matinee idol, the elusive bachelor, dreamboat, and every woman’s fantasy and listen to what he was going to reveal. Piolo Pascual is ubiquitous—if he’s not working in a new movie or on the road promoting a teleserye, he’s either preparing for his another marathon or working on one of his many advocacies. He’s an award-winning actor, a strong athlete, a doting father (as evidenced by his kulit Instagram posts), an in-demand endorser, a passionate advocate, a reliable friend. The list goes on! How does he do it? The Ultimate Heartthrob has only one simple answer: “I take care of myself inside and out.” The twist was when he added something, “I eat my breakfast then my supplements like vitamins and collagen.’’ The Since I Found You star has now made My Daily Collagen part of his daily regimen, even calling it a super protein. For years, collagen has only been associated to maintaining beauty when in fact, collagen is a common structural protein found in all types of skins and connective tissues—that is even with men. Collagen is considered as the “glue” that holds the bones, muscles, tendons, joints, and the skin together. But more than that, since it’s packed with the super protein, My Daily Collagen is packed with myriads of benefits that Piolo attest to. “For me, it may increase energy levels, may fasten recovery from intensive workouts, may reduce joint pains, may help rejuvenate skin to look younger, and may improve sleeping habit!” he vouched. Even at his age, Piolo’s energy has been high constantly and he is unstoppable. He credits this to My Daily Collagen. The drink contains the right dosage of easily absorbed marine collagen peptide at 1000 mg, which is the ideal amount of collagen for the body. The actor whose career spans more than two decades have a few tips to those who wanted to live an energetic and vibrant life like his. “Be humble. Enjoy life with your loved ones. Be active. Eat and live healthy. And perhaps, drink healthy na rin,” he said. *** Rising singers Princess Sevillena, Kimberly Baluzo, Louie Anne Culala, Carmela Ariola, and Ace Bartolome returned to the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on June 19 for their much-awaited Wishful Journey concert—their first major project as bona fide recording artists since their online singing competition stint on Wish 107.5. The event coincided with the unveiling of their debut album as the Wishful 5, released under Star Music and is composed of 18 original and revival tracks. The five belters were the top contenders of Wishcovery: Your Road to Stardom Starts Here,, the online singing competition of Wish 107.5 that aired on the radio station’s YouTube channel from September 2017 until March 2018. All five have secured an exclusive two-year recording contract with Star Music, and a five-year management deal with Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International, the content provider for Wish 107.5. *** In need of a refresher on the whole Star Wars series for the latest installment, Solo: A Star Wars Story? There’s no better way to do so than with the newly launched DisneyLife app. In the new film, moviegoers will see how Han Solo—the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy—meets his mighty future co-pilot Chewbacca, encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, and becomes one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld. With the new DisneyLife app, brush up on the epic space saga with a movie maraThe Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Return of thon of past Star Wars movies—The —all available on DisneyLife the Sith, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi—all for your binge-watching pleasure. Experience all the wonders of Disney in one app with Globe Postpaid ThePLAN. The DisneyLife app is compatible with iOS and Android devices. To learn more about DisneyLife promos, visit a Globe store now. Check out disneylife.ph or globe.com/content/DisneyLife for more details.

Stand-up comedian Mike Unson

STAND-UP comedian Mike Unson headlines Mayhem B. Funny all Tuesdays of July at Johnny B. Good, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. A 15-year veteran on the local standup comedy scene, Unson has performed in the biggest stages in the Philippines including Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT), Solaire Grand Ballroom, PICC, NBC Tent and Waterfront Hotel Cebu Grand Ballroom, to name a few. He’s shared the stage with comic Rob Schneider, Schneider best-selling author and humorist David Sedaris, and Fil-Am Rex Navarette. Navarette Currently you can catch Unson on iFlix’s series Hoy Bibig Mo, where he’s featured in the ﬁrst episode of the ﬁrst season. Unson is known for building up comic rhythm with impeccably time punchlines and thought-provoking insights, leaving the audience in stitches and wanting for more. Unson and his brand of point of view standup comedy puts emphasis on everyone’s head-scratching, cringe-worthy or even absurd life experiences. His arsenal of wholesome jokes in-

THE ﬁrst season of Coke Studio was recognized for its outstanding contribution in the development of Original Pilipino Music at the recently concluded Asia Paciﬁc Tambuli Awards. The Tambuli Awards is one of the longest-running award giving bodies that recognizes marketing campaign and programs that adhere to the promotion of human good. For changing the OPM landscape, Coke Studio Season 1, a music platform of Coca-Cola Philippines, was given the silver award under the youth brand category. “Bringing Coke Studio to the Philippines was a great experience for all of us— seeing how music is a huge part of the lives of Filipinos. This award is for everyone who was part of this milestone in the history of CocaCola and in the local music industry. It keeps us excited as we prepare for the second season of Coke Studio,” said Stephan Czypionka Czypionka, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Philippines. Coke Studio aimed to strengthen the connection of Filipino teens with the brand by underscoring the language of music as a bridge. In the process, Coke Studio became a platform to showcase OPM and increase the interest of teens with local artists and their music. The program provided the local music scene’s new-

comers with the opportunity to collaborate with the more established names. The collaborations resulted in the production of exciting new music. The music platform engaged upcoming artists with some of the established names in the industry to create new music. Musicians like Abra, Gracenote, Ransom Collective, Sandwich, Franco, Urbandub, Moonstar88, Reese Lansangan, Ebe Dancel, Autotelic, Noel Cabangon, Curtis Smith, Jensen and the Flips, and BP Valenzuela were part of the ﬁrst season. The language of music as a unifying force is at the core of the Coke Studio campaign, underscoring the role of music in the lives of Filipino teens, especially in selfexpression and as a way to connect with their peers. Like music, Coke is also one of the brands that brings people together. Coke Studio in the Philippines was initiated by Stephan Czypionka, Jenny Cinco, Nina Mahnik, Jesus Ferreira, Jason Gervasio, Macy Magpayo, Jenna Macalagay, Kris Perez, Jonah de Lumen, JB Cajita, Kristine Macaraniag, and Krisha Iliscupidez, all from Coca-Cola Philippines, together with their partner agencies—McCann World Group as the creative agency, Ogilvy One as the digital agency, Ant Savvy as the events agency, Unitel as the production house, KPPR and Stratworks as the public relations agencies, and Starcom as the media agency. Coke Studio Season 2 will air later this year, creating music with more local artists and more Filipinos.

Snapshot

cludes his views on urban life, childhood memories, relationships and interactions with everyday people as he dishes out his original material on annoying encounters with cab and jeepney drivers; street vendors; mall security guards; (un)talented bands; his childhood nanny; dealing with middle child syndrome; being in the friend zone, breakups and many more relatable true to life situations. Also performing is Unson’s Comedy Mayhem troupe consisting of Ruther Urquia, a ventriloquist, stand-up comedians Eric Salazar, Sergio Belarus, Korte Supremo, Edward Chico and spoken word artist Jerome Cleofas. Currently, Unson is part of the creative team of GMA 7’s Pepito Manoloto, the number one TV sitcom in the Philippines. Earlier in his career, he was one of the hosts of an alternative comedy show Front Act on TV5. He was also part of the Men’s Room on Studio 23 and a recurring guest on Jojo Alejar’s The Medyo Late Night Show. Tickets are for P400 inclusive of one soda, iced tea or local beer. Call Johnny B. Good at +632 893-4661 for table reservations.

A MILLION RICHER. Clemen Cadpa is the grand winner of the Payless Xtra Big Doble Dami Doble Sarap Promo, a proof-ofpurchase promo presented by Payless Pancit Canton in partnership with Radio GMA (RGMA) through its FM stations Barangay LS 97.1 (Mega Manila), Barangay FM 92.7 (Baguio), and Barangay FM 89.3 (Tuguegarao). Cadpa (center) received the P1 million check from RGMA President Mike Enriquez (right) and RGMA Account Manager for Payless Junjie Alanis (left) during the turnover ceremony last June 4 in Quezon City. The father of three from Irisan, Baguio City said that he intends to use his winnings to buy a house and lot for his family. For updates on the next promos, listen to Radio GMA’s AM and FM stations nationwide or visit their website at www.gmanetwork.com/radio.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2018 advertise@manilastandard.net

STRENGTHENING PHILIPPINE UTILITY SERVICES FOR RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH (POWER AND WATER SERVICES)

LWUA bats for lone water services department

LWUA ADMINISTRATOR JECI LAPUS

By Gianne Mae Antonio and Mar Jensen Arinto FOR former congressman Jeci Lapus, the water system in the Philippines is fragmented. Like an orchestra, he said there should be a conductor to ensure that everybody is in sync to produce impeccable harmony. For Lapus, there should be one governing body to address all water-related issues. Currently, there are several water agencies in the country such as the National Irrigation Authority for irrigation; Laguna Lake Development Authority for preservation and management of Laguna de Bay; Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for water privatization in Metro Manila; and the Local Water Utilities Administration for managing water management outside Metro Manila. Amid the Duterte administration’s “Build Build Build” program, LWUA Acting Administrator Lapus pushed for the creation of a water department that will regulate water districts in providing faster, simpler and more efficient delivery services of safe drinking water to Filipinos nationwide. “First and foremost is how do we sustain safe water for us? Wherever we go, water is an essential need… There’s no point in Build Build Build if you’re dead; so we have to sustain life first,” Lapus said in an interview with the Manila Standard. Under this plan, one department will be able to control and manage water, irrigation, sewerage, and sanitation -- compared to the present situation where there are various agencies managing water-related matters.

The proposal for a unified water department is currently being discussed at the legislative department. Lapus said that similar to the Department of Transportation and Department of Energy, a water department is being eyed by some lawmakers with the support of LWUA itself. He also emphasized that the private sector can help in improving the country’s utility services for they have the capital and resources to undertake big projects which the government cannot provide as of the present. Aside from funds, the private sector also has the manpower to oversee whether utility services are being run at optimal levels. This will make it easier to reach out to millions of households all over the country that still receive unstable water connections since they would be dealing only with one agency. “Water is very essential in our life,” said Lapus. “It is the most crucial as man can live without electricity or communication lines, but cannot survive for more than 3 days without drinking water.” The agency’s main objective is to provide safe drinking water to all Filipinos. As of the moment, LWUA has over 520 water districts in the country, catering up to 21% of the Filipino population. LWUA is continuously undertaking projects to provide safer water to Filipinos in the countryside to ensure sound utility service for the people. Their projects include water quality improvement, water supply development and expansion, and watershed management. Despite LWUA’s efforts to ensure that most Filipinos have access to safe drinking water, Lapus admitted that LWUA alone cannot sustain sound utility service for the people. Lapus believes that the creation of the water department will be the solution to make various water agencies to “act as one,” in order to provide Filipinos a better service. On the other hand, he also guaranteed that his agency is constantly in touch with other neighboring countries in pooling knowledge, technology, and resources to improve utility services in the Philippines. Established back in 1973, LWUA is a government-owned and controlled corporation with a specialized lending function mandated by law to promote and oversee the development of water supply systems in provincial cities and municipalities outside Metro Manila.

Inaugurated last April, the EDC-BINHI Vegetative Material Reproduction nursery in Antipolo uses a state-of-the-art, automated mist irrigation system that mimics natural forest habitat conditions, which increases the survival rates of the seedlings. It can house a total of 50,000 seedlings at a time, addressing the needs of the BINHI program’s partners in Luzon for these seedlings.

EDC inaugurates Vegetative Material Reproduction nurseries in Antipolo, Negros GEOTHERMAL leader Energy Development Corporation marks another milestone with the inauguration of two Vegetative Material ReproductionNurseries in Antipolo City, Rizal and in Valencia, Negros Oriental last April 20. In support of EDC’s BINHI program, the company’s corporate greening initiative, EDC constructed state-of-the-art VMR Nurseries to restore 1,000 hectares of denuded forests and bring back the abundance of the country’s premium threatened native tree species within 10 years. EDC’s BINHI team has already identified, located, and collected samples of 96 targeted threatened native tree species and have sought out to propagate them. As the company aims to plant more native trees throughout the country, “the first VMR nursery in Luzon was built in Antipolo to serve the big and ever-growing demand for our native trees in the region. It can house a total of 50,000 seedlings at a time,” said Ricky Carandang, EDC’s Vice President for Corporate Affairs.

The VMR facility in Negros Oriental will serve the need for native seedlings of EDC’s BINHI partners in the Visayan region and its 10 million in 10 years for a Greener Negros movement partners who have committed to plant, grow, and maintain at least 10 million trees in 10 years to grow back the forests in Negros island. To date, EDC has 152 partners from 16 regions around the country who have pledged to plant and nurture native trees in addition to the 6.3 million seedlings that the company has already planted since 2008. With the establishment of the two VMR nurseries, EDC intends to multiply the endangered tree species in secluded spaces to safekeep the seedlings. The seeds planted in the nursery will be used to grow mother trees to ensure the survival of high-value and fast-dwindling native trees. “Most of the species have limited stocks while some are not prolific seed producers. Mother trees are needed in our gene bank and this is where this scientific

approach is useful,” said Jay Joel L. Soriano, head of EDC’s Negros Island Geothermal Business Unit (NIGBU). Both nurseries utilize an automated mist irrigation system that can be programmed automatically to activate the mist irrigation at an accurate time and percent moisture content to mimic the conditions of a natural forest habitat. With EDC’s mission to promote a sustainable environment for the future, EDC and its partners are proud of successfully propagating, nurturing, and growing native tree species that have evidently grown in numbers. To widen the reach of the BINHI program, EDC further reveals its plans to build another automated nursery in its Mt. Apo Geothermal Business Unit in North Cotabato to better serve its partners in Mindanao.EDC is the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal company and the only diversified renewable energy firm in the country, with an installed total capacity of 1,456.8MW of purely renewable energy.