Manila Standard - 2019 January 10 - Thursday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

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

Poe most preferred in poll Pulse Asia sees Bato, Marcos in Senate magic 12

Catholic zeal at its biggest, longest show

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Vito Barcelo, Joel Zurbano and Ayee Macaraig THRONGS of believers flung themselves at a historic statue of Jesus Christ as it inched through Manila on Wednesday for an annual procession that is one of the world’s biggest shows of Catholic zeal.

Many in the heaving crowd of men and women, which police said numbered at least 800,000, believe touching the Black Nazarene or being in its presence can heal the sick or grant good fortune.

Quiapo church officials said the number joining the procession–called the Traslacion–was much lower than last year’s record 1.2 million.

Devotees massed before dawn to catch a glimpse of the statue as it was wheeled on a metal float along a seven-kilometer route through Manila’s narrow streets.

“I survived a stroke because of him [God]. I will do this every year until I am 100 years old,” said 70-year-old Joaquin Bordado, who has attended the procession for decades.

“God ordered me to do this and I feel no exhaustion,” he added, wearing an anklelength robe and crown of barbed wire.

Around him people chanted “Viva Nazareno” (Long live Nazarene), cheered and jostled for a glimpse of, or selfie with, the statue cloaked in a maroon robe that is topped with a crown of thorns and cross.

Believers, barefoot as a sign of penitence, scramble over one another to touch towels to the icon which is named for its charred appearance.

It is believed to have survived a fire in the 17th century while en route to the Philippines, which became Asia’s bastion of Catholicism under 400 years as a Spanish Next page colony.

VOL. XXXII • NO. 329 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ENATOR Grace Poe would top the Senate race if the mid-term elections were held today, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed Wednesday.

S

In its survey of the 2019 senatorial candidates, Pulse Asia said the senator placed first with the backing of 75 percent of respondents.

Incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar ranked second with 66.6 percent.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, shared third to fourth spot with 58.5 percent and 55. 4 percent, respectively.

Former Senator Lito Lapid (49.8 percent) and Senators Nancy Binay (46.7 percent) and Aquilino Pimentel III (45.55 percent) were statistically tied for the fifth to seventh spot.

Former Senator Sergio Osmena (38.8 percent) made it to the 8th to 13th spot, while former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. (37.6 percent) made it to the 8th to 14th spot.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos (36.7 percent), former senator Jinggoy Estrada (36.3 percent), and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa (35.7 percent) were also tied in the 8th to 15th spot.

Among President Rodrigo Duterte’s senatorial candidates, only Dela Rosa made it in the so-called “Magic 12.”

Former top aide Christopher Go and political adviser Francis Tolentino Next page

COA on carpet: Rody toys with kidnap idea

Ombudsman dragged into budget fray

By Nat Mariano and Rio N. Araja

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday that state auditors should be kidnapped and tortured for hampering the work of his administration.

In a speech during the Barangay Summit on Peace and order, the President criticized the Commission on Audit for its bureaucratic processes that delay government projects.

“Those sons of b****** in COA. That COA, every time, there is always something wrong. What’s up with this COA? What if we kidnap someone from COA and torture them here? Sons of b******,” Duterte told local officials in Pasay City.

“All it does is make things difficult.

That’s what I don’t want—making things difficult,” added Duterte.

COA, an independent agency, is primarily responsible for examining the accounts and spending of local government agencies, regularly assesses how government departments spend and use public funds.

The Palace again played down the President’s remark about kidnapping and torturing auditors as a joke, saying Duterte only wanted to say COA should stop derailing the administration’s projects.

“It’s too obvious that he was joking. The more you criticize his style, the more he will stick to his mischief and irreverence,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a text message.

Next page

THREAD OF FAITH. Devotees clasp the rope (top photo) pulling the cart of the Black Nazarene during the Traslacion Wednesday from the Quirino Grandstand back to the Catholic Church in Manila’s Quiapo district, deep in the belief holding the rope will cure body pains and illnesses. Above left, devotees carry the statue as the annual religious procession crosses a bridge across the Pasig River while a medic (middle) attends to a woman devotee after losing consciousness during the procession, while ‘Hijos de Nazareno’ (right) or servants of the Black Nazarene give instructions to devotees at the start of the Traslacion. Norman Cruz and Andrew Rabulan with AFP

Bars, beerhouses no place for cops—Año INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año said Wednesday he had ordered the Philippine National Police to issue a circular to ensure that policemen were banned from drinking in bars, nightclubs and public places.

He made the statement following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to that effect.

“The President himself said it is prohibited for the police to drink inside bars, pubs and on the street, and to charge violators immediately,” Año said in a news release.

He said he expected the PNP’s senior officials to lead by example so that their men would follow suit.

He said Duterte was right when he said people lose their trust in policemen and in the entire PNP as an organization when they see drunken policemen in public.

During the Interior department’s Barangay Summit on Peace and Order in the National Capital Region on Jan. 8, 2019, Duterte ordered all law enforcers to refrain from drinking in public places because they tended to get into trouble.

“It’s embarrassing and an eyesore when police officers are seen drinking in public,” Año said. “The job of the police requires the respect of the people. Therefore, they must do what it takes to gain and maintain the public trust.” Next page

Open manhole causes EDSA jam

Old kicks never die, says Aussie PM

HEAVY traffic got even worse on Wednesday as motorists swerved to avoid an open manhole plugged with an orange barrier along EDSA’s southbound lane.

Metro Manila Development Authority general Manager Jojo Garcia said MMDA traffic personnel temporary covered the manhole with the orange barrier as a makeshift warning sign in place of the lid, which was

AUSTRALIA’S prime minister laughed off a clumsy attempt by aides to Photoshop him wearing snazzier, and markedly cleaner, footwear on Wednesday, saying he was perfectly happy with his battered old kicks.

A snap of Scott Morrison with his family—which featured as the banner heading on the prime minister’s official website—drew public attention thanks to his obviously doctored and implausibly white sneakers. Next page

Next page

HOUSE Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. on Wednesday pressed his attack on Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, claiming that field investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman wanted to start their own probe into allegedly anomalous flood control projects in the 2019 national budget.

“Some of these investigators have already made contact with the House rules committee. They are requesting for copies of testimonial and documentary evidence, which our committee generated during a public hearing. Apparently, the Office of the Ombudsman has noticed red flags of corruption on the evidence presented and on the testimonies made during the hearing,” Andaya said.

But Ombudsman Samuel Martires would neither confirm nor deny Andaya’s claim, adding that investigations by his office must be considered highly confidential in nature.

He said access to cases pending before the Ombudsman must be limited to avoid “prosecution by publicity.”

Andaya, on the other hand, said his panel would cooperate with the Ombudsman.

“We will provide them with all the documents requested. The evidence that keeps on piling up with the rules committee are all public record. The testimonies of our resource persons were Next page

A2

News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

State workers’ wage hike on hold T

HE Budget department will hire a third party to study the increase in the wages of government workers for 2020 until 2022, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday.

“There will be [a wage increase], but how much [the increase will be] is not yet determined,” Diokno told reporters.

The planned wage increase comes as the fourth and last tranche of the Salary Standardization Law of 2015 is yet to

be implemented this year pending Congress’ approval of this year’s proposed P3.757-trillion national budget.

Diokno said the bidding for the entity that would be hired to do the study on the salary increase will be done “some-

time [in the] first quarter.”

“A committee is working on it,” he said.

Asked about the reason for the threeyear period for the wage adjustment, Diokno said that was what they wanted.

“I think three years is an optimal period,” he said, adding it would be hard to predict the developments beyond this period.

The increases in the state workers’ salaries are targeted to bring their level near to that of the private sector.

Meanwhile, Diokno said his department could not implement the scheduled wage increase this year because Executive Order 201, which was issued in 2016 for this purpose, “explicitly provides that we need a GAA [General Appropriations Act].

“Plus, the amount involved does not allow us that flexibility, and we don’t want to be committing errors. The best solution really is to get the budget passed.” PNA

Catholic...

From A1

Hours into the procession the police and the Red Cross reported more than 500 injuries including cuts and dizziness. Every year hundreds are hurt and a few deaths are not unusual. In 2016, two devotees died while hundreds of others were hurt or collapsed before and during the Traslacion.

“It is so dangerous to join the procession. If you see people charging forward, this makes me nervous,” said 21-yearold college student Angelica Alcantara.

“Many young people do this for fun but this is about your faith in God,” she added.

Metro Manila police chief Guillermo Eleazar said many of the injuries came when devotees tried to jump onto the carriage carrying the image of the Black Nazarene.

Critics say the procession, which usually takes about 20 hours, is a mish-mash of superstition and unnecessary risk for the people who flock to it each year.

But Church officials say the practice is a vibrant expression of faith in nation of 105 million that is overwhelmingly Christian.

“If you are an outsider, you will not hear, see or feel that faith. You will only see a very unruly or chaotic situation,” said Fr. Danichi Hui, a priest at the procession’s destination, Quiapo church.

“But inside there is a rhythm of peace. There is a serenity,” he said.

Church officials say the procession re-enacts the image’s transfer in 1787 to the Minor Basilica from its original shrine inside Intramuros.

Despite Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada’s appeal to devotees to avoid throwing their trash on the streets, many dumped plastic bottles and bags with urine on the roads.

Task Force Manila Cleanup said they have collected 10 truckloads of garbage along the 6.2 kilometer route from Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica of the Quipao Church.

Street sweepers from the Manila City Hall’s Department of Public Sanitation and the Metro Manila Development Authority followed behind the throng of devotees to collect the piles of trash mostly plastic water bottles, styrofoam food containers and utensils, plastic cups, cigarette butts, wrappers, plastic bags, newspapers and carton boxes.

By early evening, the Nazareno’s carriage was still inching its way back to the Quiapo church and was expected to arrive much earlier than it did last year, when the procession took a grueling 22 hours to complete. With PNA and AFP

Poe...

From A1

struggled to get into the winners’ circle, even with endorsements from the President.

Former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II (35.0 percent), JV Ejercito (33.6 percent) and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV (32.6 percent) completed the top 12.

“This will serve both as an inspiration and challenge to continue working hard, grateful to the people for giving us the chance to help make lives a little better,” the frontrunner Poe said in a statement.

The survey, conducted from Dec. 14 to 21, interviewed 1,800 respondents, asking them to choose from showcards with the names of 70 senatorial candidates.

Pulse Asia noted that only 43 percent of respondents had prepared their own complete slate of 12 candidates.

Respondents named an average of nine and a median of 10 senatorial candidates.

The latest survey has an error margin of ± 2.3 percent.

Open...

From A1

reportedly stolen. The lid has yet to be replaced by the company since it was reported missing last Jan. 4.

“Hindi natin puwedeng i-compromise ang safety kaysa sa traffic,” Garcia told radio DZMM.

AFTERMATH. Maintenance people sweep the trash at the Rizal Park after the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene procession left the area on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Almost a million Catholic devotees joined the annual parade featuring the iconic image. Norman Cruz

New law boosts gov’t response to HIV-AIDS cases

Mindanao solon upbeat on BOL vote

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Supreme Court’s failure to stop the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law will now pave the way for a smooth and orderly plebiscite, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday.

“I believe it will usher in the peace and prosperity that we sorely need in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Zubiri said.

“I, together with my colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives [who] voted almost unanimously for its approval, believe in the BOL’s constitutionality.”

Zubiri, who led public hearings on the BOL, said he trusted the Office of the Solicitor General to defend the measure on the cases pending with the high court and “that we legislators are willing to lend a helping hand to strengthen our case for the BOL. “I am appealing to the Honorable Magistrates of the Highest Court of the land to hopefully be liberal in their discussions on the BOL and to consider the measure as an instrument of Peace for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Zubiri said.

“We appeal as well to all parties, including those who opposed the measure, to give this Organic Law a chance to uplift the lives of our Muslim Brothers and Sisters.”

With the passage of the BOL, Zubiri, the author of the new law, said they were elated by the statements of the largest rebel group, the MILF, that the war was finally over.

He also said they could now proceed with the transformation of the combatants to social and political workers and the quick turnover of their firearms to the government for decommissioning.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he was confident the high court would uphold the constitutionality of the BOL.

COA...

had a modern policy to curb the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the country.

In September of last year alone, she said, there were 954 new cases of HIV in the country, and many of those infected were young people.

“With this law, the government can now effectively update and upgrade its response to this growing problem,” said Hontiveros, the principal author and co-sponsor of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Law. Panelo commended the lawmakers, including several stakeholders, for their “immense” contribution to the passage of the new law to address the growing number of HIV and AIDS cases in the Philippines. Its enactment would also update the decades-old Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.

“This piece of landmark legislation will significantly reduce the stigma of people living with HIV or AIDS,” Panelo said.

He said the updated legal framework focusing on HIV and AIDS cases “provides for the establishment of policies and programs to prevent the spread of the aforesaid epidemic.

“At the same time, [it aims to] deliver proper treatment, care and support services to the Filipinos living with HIV in accordance with evidence-based strategies and approaches.”

The new law will establish the Philippine National AIDS Council to ensure the effective implementation of the country’s response to the spread of HIV and AIDS among the population.

Former top aide Christopher Go said the measure also required the implementation of an education program for HIV and AIDS prevention to provide the public with relevant information to reduce risky behavior, lower vulnerabilities and promote the rights of people living with HIV. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

crease would be unconstitutional if the 2019 national budget has not been passed.

In a related development, House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the alleged irregularities in the budget preparation could be bigger than the pork barrel scam in terms of corruption.

Suarez also suggested the House subpoena Diokno to compel his attendance at committee hearings.

Andaya earlier said the House would not bother to issue a subpoena to Diokno.

At a press conference, Suarez said the pork barrel cam would look like “petty cash” compared to the alleged flood control scam.

House senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Hayaang Yumabong Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza also questioned the sudden huge allocations by

Diokno for flood control projects.

“What are the priorities of Secretary Diokno? Why all of a sudden are there a lot of flood control projects?”

Atienza said.

Diokno earlier denied any irregularities in the allocation of funds in the national budget.

“The DBM believes that citing these amounts to present a picture of a ‘flood control scam’ facilitated by the DBM is irresponsible and misleading,” the DBM said in a statement. “The amount representing the proposed allocation for FY 2019 cannot be accounted for yet.”

Andaya earlier said Diokno allegedly inserted billions of pesos in public funds for the flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways without the knowledge of Secretary Mark Villar.

“We cannot have armed policemen walking around in public reeking of alFrom A1 cohol and not in their best state of mind as it implies lack of discipline among Año said policemen seen drinking in our uniformed personnel,” he said. public places could face administrative He said the police could instead opt charges. to drink alcoholic beverages in the con-

fines of their homes so as not to taint the image of the PNP. “How can police officers respond to an incident when they’re dizzy because they’re drunk? It’s better to drink inside your homes to stay out of trouble and not be charged,” Año said.

“But at the same time, PRRD is chiding COA not to derail ongoing government projects by certain stringent protocols that go against the letter and intent of the law,” he added.

Last December, the President asked the COA to avoid decisions that cause “gridlock” in projects of the government, urging the agency to “invent” decisions that would allow the entry of projects and investments into the country.

Panelo, on the other hand, had earlier clarified that Duterte only meant that there may be a need to change certain regulations and policies of the agency.

In September 2018, the President joked about pushing a COA auditor down the stairs for unfavorably reporting the projects of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, an ally of his administration.

“Who’s from COA? Push him down the stairs so he won’t be able to file a report anymore,” he said, telling local officials to ignore COA circulars.

For decades, the country’s auditors have earned the reputation ofbeing strict as they closely scrutinize government expenditures.

While the COA does not have the authority to prosecute individuals, the evidence they have gathered through auditing has been used to put public officials in jail.

COA officials declined to comment on the President’s latest attack but its chairman, Michael Aguinaldo, advised auditors to “stay away from the stairs.”

Former commissioner Heidi Mendoza, in her Facebook post, came to the defense of the agency.

“If there are too many people getting angry at you [CoA], that only means you are being effective and truthful in what you are doing,” she said.

Mendoza said they just wanted to ensure that public funds were being spent wisely, and that public officials were accountable.

jokily tweeted. “I didn’t ask for the shoeshine.”

“But if you must Photoshop, please focus on the hair [lack thereof], not the feet!”

Morrison posted a first person view of his legs and tattered old blue and what-was-once-white trainers.

“Here they are in all their glory―my footwear of choice whenever I can get

out of a suit,” he said.

The prime ministerial shoes were also resurrected in a more authentic version of the family photo on his website.

Amid a string of suggestions that he resign and general Twitter abuse, some social media users reciprocated the gesture, posting photos of their own questionable shoe choices and portraying Morrison with clown shoes. AFP

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that will strengthen the government’s response to the growing HIV and AIDS cases in the country and reduce the stigma attached to the people infected with those ailments, the Palace said Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the signing and enactment of Republic Act 11166, or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, was “timely and relevant.”

“We consider its enactment and signing timely and relevant on account of the report of the Department of Health disclosing that our country has the highest percentage relative to the increase of new HIV cases in the Asia-Pacific region from 2010 to 2016,” Panelo said in a statement.

With the new law, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Philippine government now

Ombudsman...

From A1

made under oath in a public hearing,” said Andaya, chairman of the House rules committee.

The House rules committee has been investigating alleged irregularities in the preparation of the national government budget.

At the same time, Andaya pressed the Department of Budget and Management to release the pay increase of government personnel in time for the Jan. 15 payroll.

“Civil servants deserve the salary increase due them this year. Pay them now, not later. The Filipino people need every centavo what ever is due them by the government,” Andaya said.

Diokno has said that paying the in-

Bars,...

[We cannot compromise safety over traffic.]

Garcia said the MMDA does not have the equipment to replace the manhole’s lid, saying that the agency will address the situation within the day.

The incident comes amid heavy traffic due to the Traslacion, an annual procession of the 400-year-old Black Nazarene statue that draws millions of devotees.

Old...

From A1

Facing widespread mockery on social media, including suggestion that the fake shoes were both for the left foot, Morrison decided to jump into the furore feet first.

“Message to my Department,” he

From A1

News Group lauds DepEd defiance of PNP ‘memo’

By Rio N. Araja THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines on Wednesday lauded the Department of Education for its assurance that it would not release any information of its employees to “anyone” or even to the Philippine National Police in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Joselyn Martinez, ACT Philippines national chairperson, said Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Nepomuceno Malaluan vowed to protect the welfare of the teachers following the move of PNP chief Oscar Albayalde to conduct a profiling of teachers belonging to leftist groups.

DepEd has already ordered its officials not to entertain the requests of the PNP for a list of ACT-Philippines members.

According to Martinez, officers and other leaders of ACT-Philippines from Metro Manila and Rizal met with education officials and discussed the efforts of the PNP to profile their members.

“DepEd’s commitment comes particularly significant at the moment when Albayalde admitted to targeting our leaders in their surveillance project against our organization,” she said.

Last Monday, Albayalde said the were “pinpointing individuals” in connection with their intelligence gathering on the involvement of ACT with the leftist groups.

“This is a clear threat to our most resolute leaders who sacrifice time and effort to organize teachers’ unions and engage in campaign work, negotiations and lobbying to push for decent salaries, better working conditions and free, quality education while they perform their duties as classroom teachers. We bank on DepEd’s promise that it will not endanger the well-beings of their own employees,” Martinez said.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

A3

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pinoys worry about Du30’s health

By Nat Mariano

S

IX out of 10 Filipino adults expressed concern over the state of health of President Rodrigo Duterte, an independent pollster revealed on Wednesday.

According to the latest Social Weather Stations survey, 66 percent of Filipino adults said they are worried about Duterte’s health while 34 percent of those polled said they are not worried.

“Those worried about Pres. Duterte’s health rose by 11 points from 55 percent while those not worried fell by 10 points from 44 percent,” said the SWS. The net belief that the President has health problems also experienced a six-point increase, registering at 25 percent last December 2018 from the

previous 19 percent recorded last September 2018.

“The December 2018 survey also found that 49 percent believe [17 percent strongly believe and 32 percent somewhat believe], and 24 percent do not believe [11 percent somewhat not believe and 13 percent strongly not believe], that President Duterte currently has health problems.

Twenty-seven percent are undecided about the matter,” the polls firm said.

The SWS also noted that the proportion of those who expressed worry on the President’s health condition was

higher among those who believe the President currently has health problems at 75 percent, compared to the 62 percent who expressed ambivalence on the matter, and the 53 percent of those polled who do not believe he has health problems at all.

The SWS also attributed the 11-point rise in the overall proportion of those worried about Duterte’s health from September 2018 to December 2018 to the increases in all areas.

“The proportion of those worried about the President’s health was highest in Mindanao at 73 percent, followed

by Metro Manila at 66 percent, the Visayas at 66 percent, and Balance Luzon at 63 percent,” the SWS said.

Majorities across locales and socioeconomic classes, ranging from 65 percent to 70 percent are worried about Duterte’s health, the poll firm added.

Meanwhile, the belief that Duterte has health problems was high in Metro Manila, urban areas, and upper classes.

“Net belief that President Duterte has health problems was highest in Metro Manila at +31, followed by Balance Luzon at +28, the Visayas at +26, and Mindanao at +14,” it said.

It was also higher in overall urban areas at +29, compared to overall rural areas at +22.

The SWS also said that the belief was highest in class ABC at +31, followed by class E at +27, and class D at +24.

The survey, conducted from December 16 to 19, used face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults.

It had sampling error margins of ±2.6 percent for national percentages, and ±5 percent each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Monitor China’s coral reef rehab—Alejano CLOA good as Torrens

By Maricel V. Cruz MAGDALO party-list Rep. Gary Alejano on Wednesday urged the Duterte administration to monitor China’s coral reef rehabilitation at the South China Sea. While China may be sincere in its alleged intention to rehabilitate the coral reefs it destroyed, “let us not forget that there is an existing territorial conflict. The Philippine government to take an active role in monitoring this project being a claimant of the South China Sea. The rehabilitation project could be just one of the many ploys of China to occupy land feartures in the area,” said Alejano, an oppositionist.

China earlier announced that it will rehabilitate the coral ecosystem that it destroyed while building manmade islands in the contested territory. From 2013 to 2016, China’s reclamation and construction of artificial islands caused the shredding of corals in the Spratlys.

Alejano said the process of rehabilitating the coral reefs must also be accessible to the

claimants of the territory other than China.

“To unilaterally rehabilitate them denies the other parties, such as the Philippines, of the right to cooperate. After all, environmental conservation is not only a unilateral concern, but a multi-party one. The unilateral actions of China show a clear disrespect to the Philippines as claimant of the territory,” Alejano said.

He asked the administration to look into the environmental conservation effort especially now that there is an existing territorial conflict among claimants.

Alejano was referring to reports on environmental destruction and legal opinions on the implications of unilateral rehabilitation to the South China Sea dispute, since China has been occupying land features in the region quietly but aggressively.

“This issue should be given attention by the government because China’s rehabilitation project is not merely an environmental issue.

Our conflict with China necessitates us to be vigilant on this issue,” Alejano said.

certificate, DAR insists

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Agrarian Reform on Wednesday stood firm on its ground that a certificate of land ownership award is as good as a Torrens certificate of title.

Secretary Jon Castriciones said land titles issued to farmerbeneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program is a sufficient proof of land ownership.

He welcomed a recent decision of the Supreme Court upholding the authority and jurisdiction of the agrarian reform department to decide on cases involving the issuance, recall or cancellation of CLOAs. “We salute the justices who made the decision in favor of the department. It gives us motivation and justification to continue with our work. We cannot be hampered by any action that would delay the delivery of our main advocacies—land for the landless, agrarian justice and support services to our farmers,” he said.

“We are hoping to pursue our work because the law is behind us and the law is supporting our advocacies,” he added.

The high court earlier ruled a CLOA was an evidence of land ownership.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the

Members of the House of Representatives mourn the passing of a former colleague

HONORABLE CARMENCITA ONGSIAKO REYES Representative, Lone District, Marinduque 8th, 9th, 10th and 14th Congress Governor, Province of Marinduque (1987-1998, 2010-2019) Assemblywoman, Regular Batasang Pambansa, Region IV (1984-1986) Minister of State, Interim Batasang Pambansa, Region IV (1979-1984) Constitutional Convention Delegate (1971)

on Monday, 7 January 2019.

Her remains lie in state in Marinduque.

She will be laid to rest on Friday, 11 January 2019 at the Heritage Park, Taguig City after the celebration of a Funeral Mass at 9:00 a.m. at the Sanctuario de San Antonio Church, Forbes Park, Makati City.

We request the pious readers to pray for the eternal repose of her soul.

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

What about the real road hazards?

AFTER the enactment of Republic Act 10913 otherwise known as the AntiDistracted Driving Act, which carries a hefty fine of P5,000 for the first offense and up to P20,000 and revocation of the driver’s license for the third offense for using mobile phones and other electronics devices while driving on any public thoroughfare, highway or street in the Philippines, the House of Representatives just ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the reconciled version of another

They are the new kings of the road.

bill concerning road safety—House Bill 6938 and Senate Bill 1971 which seeks to provide special protection of child passengers in motor vehicles.

According to the explanatory note on the bill, the measure seeks to ensure the safety and welfare of infants and children, defined as any person below 12 years old, and prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries through the use of child restraint systems in motor vehicles.

The proposed measure defines “child restraint system” as a device approved in accordance with standards established by the measure, and capable of accommodating a child occupant in a sitting or supine position. A child restraint system is designed to diminish the risk of injury to the wearer, in the event of a collision or

of abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, by limiting the child’s body.

The measure further provides that it is unlawful for the driver of a covered vehicle not to properly secure at all times a child, in a child restraint system while the engine is running or transporting such child unless the child is at least 150 centimeters or 59 inches in height and is properly secured using the regular seat belt.

Moreover, no child shall be allowed to sit in a front seat of a motor vehicle with a running engine or while such child is being transported, unless the child meets the height requirement.

And any driver in violation of these provisions shall be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, P5,000 and suspension of the driver’s license for a period of one year for the third and succeeding offenses.

Well and good. Anything in furtherance of road safety is most welcome.

However, why do I feel that every time a measure concerning road safety is proposed, it always tend to target fourwheeled vehicles? Why is it that the new kings of the road—the motorcycles, the tricycles and the pedicabs—are often disregarded?

Yesterday morning I passed by a rider with probably his son tucked between him and another woman, probably the kid’s mother, traversing the stretch of what was once referred to as the killer highway—Commonwealth Avenue.

Less than a kilometer away, I passed by a tricycle with a boy sitting at the back of the driver and the sidecar full of passengers, mostly children. What is this tricycle doing on a national road?

Or better yet, aren’t the motorcycle and tricycle the worst ride for children in a 60-kph maximum speed road?

I hope I am wrong but I don’t think anyone in a motorcycle or tricycle can survive the impact of a crash in a 60-kph maximum speed road. These vehicles are not supported by any seatbelt or airbags unlike four-wheeled vehicles.

EDITORIAL

I

This time, it’s the auditors

N, SEPTEMBER President Duterte wanted to push government auditors down the stairs. Now he says he wants to kidnap and torture them.

After two and a half years we have conditioned our minds not to believe, at face value, everything that comes out of the mouth of the President. That in itself is hardly ideal—imagine not taking the words of your leader seriously. We do this still because the alternative is much worse: If we believed everything he said, then we would be convinced that our President is an irreverent killer and rapist, who is as likely to disobey rules as he is to make them up as he goes along.

Mr. Duterte's latest rant is once again against the Commission on Audit for supposedly making life difficult for local executives.

“Those sons of bitches in COA. That COA, every time, there is always something wrong. What's up with this COA? What if we kidnap someone from COA, we torture them here? Sons of bitches,” he

said, ironically at a local summit on peace and order in Pasay City this week.

Duterte, a long-time local executive before he shot to national popularity has said he sees audit processes as obstacles to governance.

Reacting to the tirades, a former audit commissioner said in a Facebook post that from, the beginning, government auditors are clear about their mandate: They never intended to interfere, slow down transactions and especially create opportunities for corruption.

“Our role is to give the chance to correct and improve how taxpayers' money is used with accountability and how it can be open to feedback from everyone concerned,” she said in Filipino.

The COA has flagged several transactions in the Duterte administration, among them the spending of the Presidential Communications Operations Office when the Asean summit was held here and the multi-million-peso advertisement deal between former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo and an entity owned by her brothers.

The COA is a constitutional commission that is supposed to be independent of any other branch.

While it is not perfect, while there could be some bad eggs and while it is in need of modernization both in facilities and mindset, many of its auditors are dedicated and hardworking. When they find red flags in a transaction, they reach out and obtain the side of that agency for an explanation. Sometimes they face risks just going about their work.

They perform their tasks quietly and publish their findings without fanfare.

This is not to say there is no room for improvement at the COA. There is merit to observations that it needs to be responsive to the need for emergency expenses in special situations. Still, all the caution stems from the need to safeguard public funds from the hands of greedy decision-makers in government who feel they are above scrutiny.

It is unfair and unpresidential to curse at them and to threaten them with harm for simply doing their jobs. Good thing we know better than take the President seriously.

We have learned that much, by now.

Even the chairman of the COA seems to have caught on, merely advising his auditors “to stay away from the stairs.”

Turn to A5

Lapu-Lapu: The man behind the myth

FROM depictions in art and sculpture, we’ve always had a mental image of the chieftain Lapu-Lapu as a muscular young man who engaged and slew the explorer Ferdinand Magellan in handto-hand combat.

However, research by Bicolano historian Dr. Daniel Gerona upends this idea by revealing the hero of the Battle of Mactan to have been elderly at the time. Likewise, our image of Magellan as a tall, 30-ish or middle-aged adventurer is inaccurate.

“We always thought of Magellan as a warrior,” said Gerona, “but he was a short fellow, less than five-footer, and he was in fact limping.” He also found out from Portuguese records that Magellan sired “a lot of children outside marriage,” so it’s probable that the explorer has many living descendants, an interesting factoid for genealogy buffs.

Mhon Estrada, an instructor at Partido State University in Goa, Camarines Sur, recently shared on Facebook these and other excerpts from the lectures of Gerona, the author of “Ferdinand Magellan: The Armada de Maluco and the European Discovery of the Philippines” (2016), a research made from primary sources.

Gerona conducted research at the Museo Naval (probably the one in Portugal) where he saw “voluminous” documents on Magellan, “virtually untouched.” Upon perusing the documents, he realized that “we always thought of Lapu-Lapu as a young, muscular guy [for the last 500 years]. But in the document in Portugal, he was actually seventy years old… he should no longer be carrying a bolo but probably a baston…”

This information comes from Gaspar Correa, a sixteenth-century Portuguese historian. Gerona describes Correa as “the only European chronicler who provided the only clue into the personality of this Mactan chieftain which he obtained from the reports of the survivors of the Magellan expedi-

tion.” Correa described Lapu-Lapu as “one who was very old (veljo in Portuguese and viejo in Spanish).”

Was it Lapu-Lapu himself who actually killed Magellan?

Narratives show that Magellan was slain in a melee on April 27, 1521.

Answering a question on quora.com, Gerona said “A number of eyewitness accounts offered slightly varying details on the captain’s death but all of them seemed to agree on one thing, it was not Lapu-Lapu who killed Magellan.”

In describing Magellan’s death, Gerona quoted from the writings of Fray Rodrigo Aganduru Moriz (an Augustinian missionary in Cebu in the early sixteenth century) which borrowed from the account of Juan Sebastian del Cano, navigator of Magellan’s expedition.

One of the members of the war party was one Cristobal Rabelo or Rebello,

Now this is something we didn’t know before.

said to be Magellan’s illegitimate son.

During the fight, a poisoned arrow or arrows killed Rebello. This so enraged Magellan that, “overwhelmed with grief at the sight,” he rushed into the fray “as if he were a madman,” whereupon “the enemies encircled him and snapped his life miserably.”

Now that’s something else we didn’t know before—that Magellan had a son with him on the expedition. It is no surprise then that he threw judgment away and waded blindly into the fight.

Citing many other sources, Gerona goes on to describe what occurred.

The natives realized that the Spaniards armor did not cover their legs, so they aimed their weapons there, particularly the poisoned arrows. One of these pierced Magellan’s right leg, prompting Turn to A5

The Senate race Duterte. The two others are Francis Tolentino and Bong Go. Speaking of Go, there are questions as to who is funding his campaign. His face appears daily in newspapers where full-page ads portray him as some kind of knight in shining armor helping those in need.

As for me, I think it is significant that there is only one oppositionist—Roxas— in the winning circle. Bam Aquino is not even in the Magic 12!

Do Filipinos despise the Yellows all that much? I am saddened that the opposition will continue to be a minority. I

Awareness is key.

THE latest Pulse Asia survey on who will likely make it to the Magic 12 in the May elections is consistent with an earlier poll done by the Social Weather Stations.

According to pulse Asia, the following would win if elections were held today: Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Koko Pimentel, Nancy Binay, Mar Roxas, Jinggoy Estrada, Imee Marcos, Bong Revilla and Bato dela Rosa.

As I see it, there are several factors

that will determine the winners.

One, awareness. Re-electionists are always included. Only dela Rosa is the newcomer in the group. All the others are already widely recognized by the electorate. have always believed that democracy Dela Rosa is one of the three candiTurn to A5 dates being openly endorsed by President Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion All the same issues LAST Jan. 3, the House of Representatives immediately went back to work and conducted its investigation on the alleged budget insertions in the 2019 General Appropriations in Naga, Camarines Sur. The investigation revealed numerous irregularities involving the budget of flood control projects in the Bicol region, particularly in Casiguran and Sorsogon.

First notable irregularity is the awarding of projects to C.T. Leoncio Construction when it is apparent that the construction firm failed to prove its net financial capacity. The law requires that contractors must be assessed of its net financial capacity and must possess the necessary equipment and manpower in each project.

From the reports received by Majority

We are halfway through the President’s term and yet he is still cleaning up the government.

Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., C.T. Leoncio failed to satisfy these requirements yet was awarded with numerous infrastructure projects. Secondly, Sorsogon and Catanduanes received huge amounts for flood control projects, but such amounts are funneled to certain municipalities only. Strangely, those municipalities are not identified as flood-prone areas, while those identified as flood-prone by various studies did not receive adequate amounts.

These revelations bring to surface cer-

tain actions that are inconsistent with the administration’s intolerance of reproachable actions.

It can be recalled that the President appointed some of his fraternity brothers but remained impartial as to the assessment of their performance. He removed them once found that their actions were below the President’s threshold for integrity and quality public service. Perhaps, it is the time again that Mr. Duterte pay closer attention to the performance of his cabinet members.

We are halfway through the President’s term and he is still cleaning up the government. This continuing problem of corruption hampers the delivery of the needed public goods and services, and ultimately delays the progress of our nation.

We need a clean and honest governance, free from personal bias and conflicts of interest. I reiterate my call to government agencies to be transparent in the budget utilization and follow protocol on the procurement, bidding, and project implementation.

Cleaning up Manila Bay PRESIDENT Duterte could be embarking on what can only be termed as the most ambitious environmental cleanup project in the country. This is the cleaning of Manila Bay. If he succeeds, it will be one of the crowning achievements of his presidency.

The size and scope of this undertaking is mind-boggling. No one expected President Duterte to be an environmental president but he is turning out to be one. The cleaning of Manila Bay is daunting for sure considering that over the last decades, the government cannot seem to clean Pasig River which is a much easier and smaller undertaking than taking on Manila Bay. Before the war, Manila Bay was the destination of Manila residents for swimming and picnicking. This went on until immediately after the war.

Then the bay became polluted. First, because of the water being drained by the Pasig which was dirty. Then, when squatters started to invade the banks of the river and used the river as their waste disposal area, the problem worsened. Then, industrial waste like chemicals were dumped into the river. The pollution was somewhat lessened due to the non-government efforts to clean the river but the river is for all intents and purposes dead. No fish can survive in the river. Today, it would be dangerous to swim in the river or for that matter the Manila Bay although on some occasions, we still see some children jumping and swimming in the Bay during the hot summer months. Fecal matter was dangerously high and worsening.

It would be of interest to some of us to know that Tokyo Bay was in a way like our Manila Bay until the Japanese started to clean it up in the early 1960s.

It was also a monumental undertaking but today, Tokyo Bay is environmentally clean.

We are therefore embarking on an effort never seen before. It will be ex-

What...

From A4

And yet, drivers of motorcycles, tricycles and even pedicabs who venture to ply national, provincial, city and municipal roads are the most abusive and arrogant drivers nowadays.

They disregard traffic lights, signs and even rules. They don’t extend courtesy to other drivers, cut lanes with total disregard, counterflows at any given occasion as if only they possess the

The Senate...

From A4

is about assent and dissent, and that the Senate as an institution should be independent and not composed of the Executive’s minions.

And, before I forget, the non-inclusion of another re-electionist JV Ejercito can be explained by the presence of his better-known brother, Jinggoy. *** Some self-proclaimed analysts have listed three predominant issues in the midterm elections: Economic woes, sovereignty and federalism.

I can go with the gut issue of high prices and joblessness, low wages and sovereignty.

I disagree, however, that federalism is an issue. I believe it is dead in the water.

This is one of the reasons why the Pasig River cannot be kept clean permanently. Squatters living along the river banks continue to discharge their waste into the river. The Duterte administration is targeting 2022 for the project to be completed but considering the size of the problem, it is doubtful whether the project could be completed in so short a time. What is important however, is that it must start now and whatever is not completed will be finished by the incoming administration. Besides, the harder part of the project is seeing to it that when the bay has been cleaned, that it stays clean permanently for everyone to enjoy. The difference between this new plan of the government about Manila Bay and the previous efforts is this time, there is money to bankroll the project. President Duterte plans to use the P47-billion collected from the road users’ tax to clean the bay and because vehicles will continue to increase, this money will also increase thereby providing sufficient funds to finish the project. It is still not clear how the Department of Environmental and Natu-

ral Resources intends to implement the project but at least the Department has some kind of experience because of Boracay and the others that it has tackled. This is important if the Manila Bay cleanup is to succeed.

Another issues to consider is whether DENR will seek foreign participation or whether it feels that it has already sufficient technical expertise to handle the huge project alone. If there is foreign participation, to what extent? Will it be limited to hiring foreign consultants for matters that are technically beyond the expertise of our local engineers?

Whatever, I do not think we will be seeing anything very soon. The DENR once given its marching orders

by President Duterte, will have a lot of preparations to do. It will take time for the Road Users Board to be abolished and the funds to be transferred to the DENR. What we have now is a clear intention of President Duterte to clean Manila Bay. Let us hope that he will follow this through. *** Up to this time, AKO Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe who was killed on Dec. 22, 2018 of last year is the highest elected official killed leading to the 2019 elections which is four months away. There were vice mayors, mayors and a former congressman killed last year for various reasons with the police suspecting that politics is one of the main reasons for the violence.

The Police seem to have solved the Batocabe killing, in record time with the arrest and confession of the alleged gunman, Henry Yuson, an alleged former military and member of the NPA. Five of his accomplices have also been taken into custody and they all seem to be pointing at Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the alleged mastermind. Mayor Baldo, not surprisingly, denied any participation. But the Police has compelling evidence.

If the police is right that it was Mayor Baldo who masterminded the killing, why did he use people known in the community instead of outsiders who cannot be easily identified? It seemed brazen—or simply stupid.

God-given right to any road.

They have in fact, replaced the jeepney drivers as the king of the road.

And yet, they could only scratch their heads if they figure in a vehicular accident with you. And that’s only the minimum as you could actually end up shouldering all the damage even if the evidence points to them as the culprit, all because of the stupid interpretation of the law.

As has been the practice of police investigators in a vehicular accident, the blame is always put on the larg-

er vehicle, between a bicycle and a motorcycle,the fault is on the motorcycle; between the motorcycle and a car, the fault is on the latter; and so on and so forth, regardless of which actually is on the wrong side.

Abusive behavior, arrogance, absence of safety features on their vehicles—and yet no law has yet been passed to discipline them, much more ensure the safety of their passengers.

And we—with the bigger ride, with the most restrictions—have to suffer their shortcomings.

How can federalism be an election issue when four out of five Filipinos are unaware of it? There are many more urgent issues that we have to face.

Among these are the rising prices of goods and services. And then, workers continue to receive low wages.

Sovereignty becomes critical amid our pivot toward China. Along these lines, I believe that the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States must be reviewed. Even Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana believes there is no way the government can end insurgency this year. *** If President Duterte thinks that all his ranting is bothering the Catholic faithful, he is mistaken.

If he watched the traslacion or the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, he would have been amazed

at how deep the faith of Filipinos is.

With faith, everything is possible.

And a devotee does not even have to kiss the image of the Black Nazarene.

All he or she has to do is pray. *** Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu should not concentrate his energies on the rehabilitation of Manila Bay alone.

The contamination comes from Pasig River that flows into the bay itself. The waste along the Pasig River comes from many industries dumping everything there. Worse, the squatters living along the river have made it their toilet.

The Departments of Tourism and the Interior and Local Government should also be involved. To succeed, the rehabilitation of the Pasig River should be holistic.

pensive, and requires every level of government to participate. This would mean that the participation of Local Government Units is essential for the project to succeed and it should not be limited to government alone. Here is an opportunity for all environmental groups to participate.

Most important of all, the public must also embrace the project and participate. No one could just be a bystander.

If the public leaves the effort to the government and non-government groups, the project will not succeed.

Tokyo Bay was in a similar situation decades ago.

www.emiljurado.weebly.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Comprehensive assessment of PH agriculture is needed culture was delivered by the exodus of Filipino workers to overseas jobs.

Undoubtedly one of the best things that has ever happened to the Philippine economy, the OFW experience, by providing this country with bilAT THE time that the Philippines lions of unborrowed dollars every received its independence from the year, has had the unfortunate effect US, the Philippine economy was es- of desensitizing the economic polisentially agricultural. True, some cymakers—in NEDA (National Ecomanufacturing establishments had nomic and Development Authority) been established during the colonial and in Congress—toward the needs era—such as producers of power, ce- of Philippine agriculture. The rapid ment, sugar and beverages—but this growth of the BPO (business process country’s GDP (gross domestic prod- outsourcing) industry, with its close uct) revolved around agriculture. The to $20 billion of annual revenue, has production of rice, corn, sugarcane added to the desensitization.

With the advent of Philippine and tobacco accounted for most of membership in the WTO (World Philippine GDP. In line with its premier-sector sta- Trade Organization), this country’s tus, Philippine agriculture was at the agricultural products lost whatever front and center of national economic protection they once enjoyed. The policymaking. Loans, government only exception was rice, imports of contracts, subsidies and all manner which were granted MAV (maxiof performances were made possible mum access volume) protection. That by the fact that most of the pre-Inde- expired three years ago.

Alarmed by statistics showing that pendence political leaders represented the centers of the nation’s leading the agriculture’s share of Philippine GDP was steadag r icult u ral ily declining indust r ies. and that the The Osmenas, poorest FilipiRoxases, YuThe time for nos were still los and Aluthe farmers nans, among piecemeal, industryand fisherothers, saw to by-industry approach men, Congress it that the agripassed, in the cultural sector is long over. late 1990s, the always got the Agriculture and lion’s share of Fisheries Modthe national ernization Act economic pie.

After Independence, the mind- (AFMA). Considering that the lowest set of the economic policymaking quartile of this country’s income strucestablishment changed. Seduced ture is still made up of farmers and by the newly popular development- fisherfolk, it is clear that AFMA has economics idea that the road to eco- been one of the high-sounding but inefnomic transformation lay through fectual pieces of legislation relating to manufacturing, not agriculture, the the agricultural sector.

The creation of a trust fund for economists in the postwar NEC (National Economic Council) and the return of the coconut levy to the their friends in the legislature to shift farmers and the rice tariffication bill from favoring agriculture to favor- are the two most recent legislative acing manufacturing. Economic policy tions dealing with Philippine agriculnow acquired a pro-manufacturing ture. In the short term, and even in the bias. Government loans from the GFI medium term, these new laws cannot (government financing institutions), be expected to make much difference tariffs, subsidies and preferences now to the livelihoods and well-being of moved toward manufacturing and Filipino farmers and fishermen.

The time has come to take steps to away from agriculture. A prime example of this economic policy shift arrest the decline of Philippine agriwas the allocation of most of the Phil- culture and improve the economic ippine-Japan Reparations Program to standing of Filipinos in agriculture, projects in the manufacturing sector. who account for most of Philippine The sugar industry, one of the Big employment. These objectives can Four sources of Philippine exports in be attained only by an assessment of the pre-1980s era, should have taken the agricultural sector that will readvantage of the Laurel-Langley view everything that has happened Agreement (1955-1974) to improve in the agricultural environment—at itself and diversify. But it was com- home and in the world—analyze how placent, with the result that the Phil- the changes have impacted Filipino ippine sugar industry became more farmers and fisherfolk and determine and more inefficient and uncompeti- what realistic solutions need to be tive. Philippine sugar’s progressive brought into play.

The time for piecemeal, industryuncompetitiveness became more manifest with the coming into force by-industry approach is long over. of the ASEAN (Association of South- Hereafter only a comprehensive, east Asian Nations) Free Trade Area. agriculture-as-one-sector approach A further blow to Philippine agri- will do.

Lapu-Lapu...

From A4

lance,” a pre-conquest Visayan custom.

He explained, “the natives regarded the body of Magellan as their dangin, which, according to Fray Alonso de Mentrida’s sixteenth century Diccionario de la Lengua Bisaya, was ‘a trophy of their enemy killed or captured in war (blason, trofeo de enemigo, muerto o cautivo en guerra, la persona asi muerta o cautiva)’.”

Gerona added, “In a society which put premium on prestige and prowess not only as social virtues but also equated with mystical qualities, the body of Magellan constituted as the most valuable war booty.”

These findings by Dr. Gerona affirm that there is still much more that we are discovering about our history. What we’ve taken for so long as gospel truth turns out to be questionable. Scholars are continually stumbling over old documents and materials that tell a different story from what we know at present.

Estrada says after posting Gerona’s lecture excerpts, he has had hundreds of queries about them, and he hopes this interest may serve “as an invitation to revisit our notions of history and update our knowledge of Philippine history with inquiring and open mind.”

And from now on, we can think of the muscular Lapu-Lapu depictions as how the chieftain may have looked in his youth, but not as he was in the Battle of Mactan.

a gradual retreat. But many of the Spaniards ran hastily away, leaving only six or eight soldiers with Magellan, who decided to maintain their position the “distance of a crossbow shot from the shore,” or less than a kilometer from their boats.

In water just above their knees, the Spaniards continued the fight for another hour. Magellan’s helmet was knocked off twice but he stood firm. Another native hit his face with a bamboo spear, but Magellan killed him with his lance, which stuck in his assailant’s chest. As he struggled to pull it out, another bamboo spear hit his right arm. He was then surrounded by native warriors.

Trying to draw his sword, Magellan was hit in the left leg with a scimitar, bringing him down on his face. He was then overcome by sheer numbers. Natives rushed upon him “and ran him through with lances and scimitars, and all the other arms which they had” (from the account of Antonio Pigafetta, another member of the expedition).

Other sources differ on details of the battle, but, Gerona points out, “Not one of these archival sources mentioned Lapu-Lapu killing Magellan!”

What happened to Magellan’s body?

Dr. Gerona said that according to Fray Rodrigo Aganduru Moriz, Magellan was decapitated “in accordance with the martial custom of the natives Dr Gerona’s book will be available where the victor took a trophy, which again starting the first week of January was a part of his body, commonly in National Book Store. Find me on FB the head, and placed it on the tip of a and Twitter: @DrJennyO

News

A6

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF POEA warns overseas job applicants

SURPRISE INSPECTION. Officials from the National Meat Inspection Service conduct a surprise inspection of the Pasig City Public Market regarding the reported African Swine Fever issue—then came away with reports there was no sign of such fever in the meat products. Manny Palmero

Another drug con acquitted due to evidence mishandling

By Rey Requejo THE Court of Appeals has acquitted another drug pusher convicted previously by a regional trial court due to mishandling of evidence by police.

In a 20-page decision, the CA’s Ninth Division overturned and set aside the judgment of Sorsogon City RTC on June 2017 convicting Noel Lasca in an illegal drug sale case, citing as basis the violation of the required unbroken chain of custody of the evidence seized from the accused by the arresting officers.

The appellate court cleared Lasca of criminal complaint for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The CA faulted the arresting officers from the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for violating the chain of custody of evidence under Section 21 of RA 9165 when they did not conduct the inventory of the sachets of shabu confiscated from the accused at the place of the seizure due to unavailability of mandatory witnesses.

“In this case, however, the physical inventory of the seized drugs was not immediately conducted at the place of seizure. In fact, the buy-bust team, along with the appellant, had go to the Burabod Barangay Hall, about 900 meters away from the place of seizure, to conduct the physical inventory,” stated the ruling penned by Associate Justice Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig.

Gov’t acquires 50 X-ray machines worth P1.2b

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE government has acquired 50 new X-ray scanning machines worth P1.2 billion for the country’s seaports and airports, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Fifteen units of fixed baggage x-ray machines, 25 units of hand-carried baggage x-ray machines, four units of mobile baggage x-ray machines, and six units of portal-type x-ray machines will be installed this year, according to Customs Commissioner

Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

The brand new x-ray machines are capable of identifying dense areas and apply the high penetration feature only to the dense area of the shipment.

The equipment can provide a function that automatically detects organic substances with relative atomic numbers one after another or highlighting a region or the system that may display organic substances in orange color.

It is also capable of discriminating between organic and inorganic materials and with Threat Image Projection which is capable of automatic projection of threat images to enhance the alertness of the system operators.

Guerrero said strengthening the agency’s efforts and capabilities against smuggling and other customs fraud was

among the top priorities of the bureau.

“We need to immediately install and upgrade our x-ray machines to strengthen vigilance and prevent the entry of smuggled and contraband goods in the Philippines,” he said.

Guerrero added that the upgrade was significant for the enhancement of the bureau’s non-intrusive inspection of shipments using x-ray machines.

“This measure has helped the BoC intensify its campaign against illicit trade, resulting to the successful apprehension of billion worth of illegal drugs,” he said.

In NAIA, Customs agents conducted a total of 27 drug busts, including those apprehensions made with the help of the x-ray machines, during the first six months of 2018.

DPWH completes construction of revetment wall THE Department of Public Works and Highways completed the construction of the P46.6-million revetment wall that will serve as a protective barrier to flooding of residents living close to Tullahan River in SSS Village, Barangay North Fairview, Quezon City.

The nine-meter high concrete wall was built under Rehabilitation and Improvement of Tullahan River Phase II, according to DPWH-National Capital Region Director Melvin Navarro.

Prior to the construction of the wall, only an old, dilapidated, 3 meters in height riprap served as a defense against force of river especially during heavy rains in the area, Navarro said.

“With the taller and sturdier concrete revetment along Tullahan River, residents near the area are assured that the inundation of flooding and soil erosion along the river banks will be avoided in case of heavy rains preventing damages of properties and loss of lives,” he said. Vito Barcelo

LTO launches new measures for road safety

CHR, Qatar to protect OFW rights

By Rio Araja THE Commission on Human Rights and Qatar government have partnered to protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers and their families.

Chairperson Jose Luis “Chito” Gascon and Dr. Ali Al Marri, National Human Rights Committee of Qatar signed a cooperation agreement for the welfare of over 250,00 OFWs in Qatar on work-related complaints.

Gascon said their partnership was a welcome development to advance the human rights protection of every a Filipino worker in Qatar.

Under the bilateral agreement, the Philippines and Qatar came up with 10 areas of cooperation on the improvement of public awareness on human rights principles both for Filipinos and Qataris.

The partnership will cover a term of three years.

Al Marri gave the OFWs the assurance that they could now bring up their concerns not only to the Doha Embassy but also to the National Human Rights Committee. “[Filipino] Migrant workers can come to us directly. We will take actions to help them [OFWs] resolve their problem,” she said.

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has warned overseas job applicants and recruitment agencies anew against using counterfeit documents in seeking jobs abroad after several Filipino workers were rejected by foreign employers for presenting fake medical certificates.

The POEA issued the advisory over fake documents submitted during the application process after the agency received complaints from foreign employers.

In a statement, the POEA claimed it had received reports concerning individuals roaming around the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and medical clinics accredited by the Department of Health who offer medical certificates and Ministry of Foreign Affairs without the need of undergoing medical examination in exchange for money.

The agency said the scheme involved the submission of fake employment certificates of job applicants to make it appear that the applicant has complied with work experience and training requirements of employers.

“Applicants and recruitment agencies found to be using and submitting fraudulent medical certificates shall be subjected to the corresponding administrative sanctions, as well as criminal liability, the POEA warned.

The POEA encourages prospective applicants to refrain from entertaining these individuals and immediately report their illegal activities to the Anti-Illegal Recruitment of the agency. Vito Barcelo

WHY, OH WHY? Employees of the government’s Department of Social Welfare and Development stage Wednesday a lunch break rally calling for a nationwide protest against the mass layoff of 1,833 workers. Manny Palmero

PH Navy to receive 2 anti-sub helis, 4 AAVs in March

THE Philippine Navy is expected to receive in March its first two anti-submarine helicopters and four out of eight amphibious assault vehicles it has ordered for the Marine Corps.

This was disclosed by PN flag-officerin-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad during a chance interview shortly after the New Year’s Call at the AFP Commissioned Officers’ Club in Camp

Aguinaldo, Quezon City Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the PN flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15), which ran aground off Hasa-Hasa Shoal last August, is expected to be available for operations before the end of 2019.

This was confirmed by Empedrad, who said: “We need to get the propellers from the US because these were the ones that were damaged. It will be available by

yearend. If the delivery of the propellers is hastened, we will be able to fix these immediately.

“The determining factor of the replacement work is the availability of the propellers.”

For the moment, the patrol and other duties of Del Pilar are being carried by its two sister ships, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF16) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17).

THE new measures taken by the Land Transportation Office to make sure medical certificates of driver’s license applicants are genuine will promote road safety, a congressman has said.

House Deputy Minority Leader and AANGAT Tayo Party-list Rep. Neil Abayon said too many people resort to shortcuts including fake or tampered documents “when they transact business with government and private offices.”

“LTO is right in putting in place the new measures and procedures.

Clinics, physicians, and hospitals that issue medical certificates have legal obligations to the public and in this situation, to the LTO as the agency of the State that issues driver’s licenses,” said Abayon, a member of the House Committee on Transportation.

Abayon added that the LTO’s crackdown will go a long way in removing medically unfit drivers from the roads.

He noted that “there is a widespread underground industry engaged in the production of fake certificates, identification cards, diplomas, transcripts of records, baptismal records, birth certificates, medical test results, and various other documents. It has become a culture of utter disregard of basic decency and laws of the land.”

Maricel V. Cruz

SC acquits ex-Buguey, Cagayan Mayor Ignacio Taruc in graft case

By Rey Requejo THE Supreme Court has absolved former Mayor Ignacio Taruc of Buguey, Cagayan of a graft case for withholding of salaries of town hall employees appointed by his political rival.

In a resolution released earlier this week, the SC’s First Division overturned and set aside an earlier ruling

of the Sandiganbayan that found Taruc guilty of violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The high court granted the petition of the former mayor assailing the Sandiganbayan’s verdict that sentenced him to a maximum of 10 years in prison and ordered his perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The SC ruled that the anti-graft court committed error in its verdict because the prosecution failed to prove Taruc was guilty beyond reasonable doubt during trial.

“In view of the foregoing, we find and so hold that the prosecution failed to prove the elements of manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and undue injury beyond reasonable doubt. Absent these elements,

petitioner cannot be found guilty of violating Section 3(e) of RA No. 3019,” read the ruling.

Ombudsman accused Taruc of withholding the salaries for ten months in 2007 of five employees – Melchor Tabajero, Quirino Ayonayon Jr., Delia Nuevo, Nuelyn Pagay and Lilibeth Usigan – who were appointed by then vice mayor Licerio Antiporda III.

thursday, JaNary 10, 2019

Manila

Standard

TODAY Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Comer Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10143, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE TAX ACADEMY ACT Pursuant to the provisions of Section 16 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10143, otherwise known as the “Philippine Tax Academy Act”, the Department of Finance (DOF) hereby adopts and promulgates the following rules and regulations: Section l. Short Title. - These rules shall be known as the “lmplementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of R.A. No. 10143, known as the Philippine Tax Academy Act’.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - lt is the policy of the State to train, mold, enhance and develop all officers and employees involved in tax and customs collection and administration which include fiscal policy formulation, revenue forecasting, examination, monitoring and assessment to help improve their collection efficiency and to become competent and effective public servants for the national interest. The State also recognizes the vital role of taxpayers’ information and education to facilitate compliance with tax and customs laws and regulations and improve revenue generation efforts. For this purpose, the State recognizes the need to create a specialized learning institution that will provide the appropriate education, training, skills, and values to tax and customs collectors and administrators and will disseminate tax and customs laws, regulations, guidelines and relevant information to the public.

Section 3. The Philippine Tax Academy and its Purposes. - The Philippine Tax Academy (the “Academy”) is a specialized learning institution for tax and customs collectors and administrators of the government and selected applicants from the private sector. The Academy shall: a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f) g)

h)

Conduct all the trainings and continuing education programs designed to mold, develop, and enhance the skills and knowledge, moral fitness, efficiency and capability of tax and customs collectors and administrators for all the officials and personnel of the Bureau of lnternal Revenue (BlR), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), collectively referred to as the “Bureaus”; Develop and implement curricula for each of the trainings, continuing education programs and other courses which include those pertaining to: (a) the technical aspects of tax and customs collection, administration and compliance; and (b) the career orientation and development for civil servants; Develop an outcome-based education and learning frameworks in providing appropriate training and education to all applicants (preservice) and to existing officials and personnel (in-service) to systematically and intensively acquire organized knowledge, skills and attitude to improve overall qualifications in the performance of their roles and functions; Offer, on its own or in collaboration with other academic institutions, academic programs including post-graduate level courses of study and such other special courses designed to provide the participants with a broader perspective and advanced knowledge of fiscal policy and tax and customs collection and administration; Disseminate tax and customs laws, regulations, guidelines and relevant information to the general public. For this purpose, it shall administer seminars and courses for applicants from other government offices, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions dealing with tax and customs policies and administration, and parties from the private sector selected in accordance with the criteria prescribed by the Academy; Promote the conduct of research for curriculum and instruction and documentation of tax practices, including those arising from instructional activities, as valuable inputs to policy making; Serve as the country’s center of excellence for studies in tax and customs administration, as follows: i.

To be in the forefront in delivering high-quality outcome-based training for current and future tax and customs collectors and administrators; ii. To be the lead provider of programmes designed to incorporate a combination of theoretical classroom training and real life taxation and customs experience to address the competence needs at different stages of the careers of the training participants; and iii. To be a comprehensive repository of all tax and customs laws, circulars and implementing rules and regulations of said laws and administrative rules and regulations; Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary in carrying out its mandate.

Section 4. Key Participants. - All existing officials and personnel of the Bureaus shall be required to undergo the re-tooling and enhancement seminars and training programs to be conducted by the Academy. The subject matter coverage of the training of each existing official and personnel, and the timing of their training in the Academy, shall be determined by the respective Heads of the Bureaus based on the Learning Needs Assessment (LNA) as guide for strategically developed learning and development interventions, subject to monitoring by the Academy on the Bureaus’ compliance with this requirement. The DOF and its attached agencies may require its officers and employees to undergo the seminars and training program of the Academy.

As a pre requisite in the promotion of officials and personnel to the respective Bureaus, they shall be required to undergo and pass the basic courses administered by the Academy.

All applicants to the Bureaus, including local treasurers, shall be required to undergo and pass the pre-service training administered by the Academy before they can be hired whether on contractual or permanent status. Said applicants shall pay the training fees and other charges for the basic courses. To the extent possible, the Academy shall provide scholarships to qualified but financially challenged applicants.

Section 5. Corporate Powers. - For the attainment and furtherance of the abovecited purposes and objectives, the Academy, as a corporate body acting through its Board of Trustees, shall have all the powers pertaining to a juridical person and is therefore authorized, among others: a) b)

c) d) e)

f)

To adopt, alter and use a corporate seal; To take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, purchase, or lease, either absolutely or in trust for any of its purposes, any property, real or personal, without limitation as to amount or value; to convey such property and to invest and reinvest any principal, and deal with and expend the income and principal of the Academy in such manner as will best promote its objectives; To collect, receive and maintain a fund or funds, by subscription or otherwise, and to apply the income and principal thereof to the promotion of its aims and purposes herein before set out; To contract any obligation, or enter into any agreement necessary or incidental to the proper management of its corporate powers; In general, to carry on any activity and to have and exercise all of the powers conferred by the laws upon private or government-owned and controlled corporation, and to do any and all of the acts and things herein set forth to the same extent as juridical persons could do, and in any part of the world, as principal, factor, agent or otherwise, alone or in syndicate or otherwise in conjunction with any person, entity, partnership, association or corporation, domestic or foreign; and To do all such other acts and things as may be necessary for or incidental to the accomplishment for the purposes and objectives of the Academy.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Section 6. Governing Board. - The governance, administration and policy direction of the Academy is vested in and its powers exercised by a Board, which shall be composed of the following: a) Representative from the DOF - ex-officio Chairperson; b) Representative from the BIR - ex-officio vice chairperson; c) Representative from the BOC - ex-officio Vice chairperson; d) Executive Director of the BLGF - member; and e) Three (3) representatives from the Academe - members.

Section 7. Appointment. - The representatives from the DOF, the BIR and the BOC to the Governing Board shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from the nominees of the Secretary of Finance.

The representatives coming from the academe shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from nominees of state universities and/or private educational institutions accredited by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as such. These representatives shall be chosen on the basis of years of experience, integrity, probity and proven expertise in the field of taxation, customs, economics, public finance, business or public administration or similar/related fields and should have teaching experience and demonstrated knowledge and in the aforesaid fields for a minimum of five (5) years.

Section 8. Term. - The Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons and members of the Board shall serve for a term of three (3) years or until their successor shall have been appointed and qualified.

Section 9. Vacancy. - In case of vacancy in the Board, such vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as provided for herein, and such appointee shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of his predecessor.

Section 10. Compensation. - Members of the Board shall serve without compensation other than reasonable honoraria, allowance, per diem, and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attendance to meetings of the Board or other official business authorized by the Board, subject to the limits of existing laws and regulations.

Section 11. Meetings; Quorum. - The Chairperson shall regularly convene Board meetings at such times and place/s as the Board shall determine.

The Chairperson may call a special meeting whenever necessary: Provided, that members are notified in writing at least ten (10) working days prior to the meeting: Provided, further, that the notice shall contain a brief description of the agenda items to be discussed. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for Board meetings and every decision of at least a majority of the Board members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum.

Section 12. Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees. - The Board shall exercise the following specific powers and duties: a) b) c)

d)

e) f) g) h)

a7 a

advertise@manilastandard.net

To define in general terms the thrusts of the Academy and adopt policy guidelines to ensure their implementation; To prepare and adopt such rules and regulations as it considers necessary for the effective discharge of its responsibilities; To approve, upon recommendations of the lnstitutes, the curricula for training programs, modules, and courses to be offered to particular target participants, including the basic courses required to be passed for employment with Bureaus; To issue and adopt a Code of Conduct for the Academy after consultation with each lnstitute. This shall be in the form of written manuals separate for (a) faculty and other academic personnel, (b) administrative or support personnel, and (c) students; To award fellowships, scholarships and grants to faculty, staff and trainees having special evidence of merit; To appoint instructors/professors and other officials and employees, to determine the hours of service of instructors/professors and staff, and such other terms and conditions of employment as it may deem proper; To grant leaves of absence of instructors/professors covering periods of one (1) year or more under such regulations as it may promulgate; To impose disciplinary actions on the Academy’s instructors/professors, for cause as provided by law after due investigation and proper hearing, subject to confirmation by the Secretary of Finance when the penalty is dismissalfrom service;

i) j) k) l) m)

n) o) p) q)

To prescribe any fees and other necessary charges as it may deem proper to impose on the training participants; To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided by law for the support of the Academy to the ends specified by law, in order to carry out the purposes and functions of the Academy; To authorize the construction, maintenance or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other facilities; To purchase and acquire real and personal properties, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment; To receive, in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal property of all kinds and to administer and dispose the same when necessary for the benefit of the Academy and subject to the instructions of the donor, if any; Approve, upon recommendation of the President, the program of expenditures of the Academy and the lnstitutes; Approve, upon recommendation of the President, contracts for goods and services of the Academy and the lnstitutes; Approve, upon recommendation of the President, the grading and merit systems to be adopted in the Academy; and To exercise the general powers set out in the Corporation Code and such other powers as may be proper and necessary to carry out the objectives of the Philippine Tax Academy Act. INSTITUTES

Section 13. lnstitutes. - The Academy shall have separate learning institutes each for the BlR, the BOC and the BLGF, respectively. Each lnstitute shall be headed by a chancellor and shall implement curriculum and programs approved by the Board and shall facilitate the development and implementation of its respective programs of instructions; student regulations manual; administration of examinations; report on course readiness and other pertinent reports; and reference manual. ln the interest of providing high-quality training materials, equipment, and competent instructors/professors/trainers, and at the same time promote interaction and experience-sharing among participants from different lnstitutes and for better resource utilization, the Academy shall develop common programs, joint-courses, and cross trainings among the lnstitutes where such arrangements are more desirable.

CURRICULUM Section 14. Development and lmplementation of Curricula. - The Academy, through the Board, upon recommendation of the lnstitutes, shall determine the curricula for the long and short term courses, training programs and modules to be offered to particular target participants. The courses, programs, and modules shall include among others, the following: a)

b)

c) d)

e) f) g) h)

Training programs for job confirmation/appointmen/promotion, including induction/orientation and basic training for new recruits with the following overarching topics: (i) Fundamentals of the revenue generation function of the government; (ii) Revenue and expenditure structure of the government; (iii) lntegrity education and anti-corruption; and (iv) Principles of public financial management. Successful completion of this course will be one of the criteria for job confirmation/appointmen/promotion.

Continuing education training programs for career advancement or specialized management programs to upgrade analytical skills in taxation, appraisal, accounting, risk assessment, internal control and audit for employees of the BlR, the BOC and the BLGF (which includes treasurers and assessors); Training programs for the competency certification of the local treasurers; Training programs relevant to the implementation of all tax and customs laws, tax reform laws and others which require specialized training such as forensic accounting and auditing, transfer pricing, tax incentives, among others; lnternationa/training programs on international/taxation, e-commerce, fraud detection, tax treaties, and similar areas, in collaboration with local and international organizations; Courses in other related fields such as law, accounting, public finance, management and economics; Soft skills training, such as leadership and mentoring, effective communication, customer service skills training for public service training programs; and Courses for trainers/instructors/professors or lecturers.

Section 15. Training by the Bureaus. - The Academy’s respective lnstitutes shall conduct all trainings which are currently being conducted by the Bureaus adopting the standards prescribed by the Academy.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Section 16. Executive Officers. - The Executive Officers of the Academy shall include a President; three (3) Chancellors and three (3) Vice-Chancellors, corresponding to the three (3) lnstitutes of the Academy; a Board Secretary; and a Treasurer.

The Executive Officers shall be appointed by the Secretary of Finance for a term of three (3) years, without prejudice to subsequent reappointment. ln the event of a vacancy, the Secretary of Finance shall appoint a replacement who shall serve for a full three (3) year term. A Chancellor may be designated by the Secretary of Finance as Officer-in-Charge (OlC) for the offices of the President, Board Secretary or Treasurer of the Academy, while any of such positions are vacant. A Vice-Chancellor may be designated by the Secretary as OIC-Chancellor while the position is vacant. ln no case shall the search and appointment of a President, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Board Secretary, or Treasurer be longer than ninety (90) calendar days from the date when the vacancy occurs.

The service of the Executive Officers in the Academy shall be considered as government service. As such, they shall be entitled to retirement privileges, seniority, Government Service lnsurance System (GSIS) benefits, and other benefits and privileges.

Section 17. The President. - The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy. The President shall exercise the powers and functions specifically provided in this lRR, those determined by the Board, those which pertain to the office of the president of an academic institution, and those which are necessary or incidental to his/her functions.

f) g) h)

Section 23. Board Secretary. - The Board Secretary shall have the requisite qualifications and compensation as determined by the Board. He/she shall serve as the Secretary of the Board, keep such records of the Academy as may be designated by the Board, and exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions as may be vested by the Board and the President of the Academy.

Section 24. Treasurer. - The Treasurer shall have the requisite qualifications and compensation as determined by the Board. He/she shall serve as the Chief Finance Officer of the Academy and exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions as may be assigned by the Board and the President.

THE CORPS OF PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS/PROFESSORS Section 25. Corps of Professional lnstructors/Professors. - The teaching staff of each lnstitute shall constitute its Corps of Professional lnstructors/Professors, which shall be headed and presided over by the Chancellor. An instructor/professor shall be nominated by any member of the Board, who shall be approved upon majority vote of the Board. The requirements/restrictions of Civil Service laws, rules and regulations on position classification and salary standardization shall be observed in the appointment of instructors/professors.

The Board shall determine the required instructors/professors needed in the Academy, may invite professors and other experts in taxation, customs administration, economics, public finance, business or public administration or similar/related fields from the Bureaus and other government agencies, recognized public and private educational institutions, non-government organizations and distinguished entities as guest lecturers in the Academy.

Officers, employees and personnel of the DOF, the BlR, the BOC or the BLGF may apply for assignment/secondment to the Academy as professors or instructors on a full-time or part-time basis or to serve as guest lecturers. Their applications shall be submitted to the Board for approval, upon nomination of any member based on the written recommendation of their respective heads of agencies/bureaus. The part-time instructors/professors or guest lecturers shall be entitled to reasonable honoraria and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attendance to lectures and seminars.

For purposes of retirement privileges, seniority, GSIS benefits, and other benefits and privileges, service of officers, employees and personnel from the DOF, BlR, BOC or BLGF hired, transferred or seconded to the Academy shall be considered/credited as government service.

Service 26. Qualification of lnstructors/Professors/Fellows. - An instructor/ professor/fellow should have at least obtained: a)

b)

Section 18. Qualifications of the President. - The President must be a Filipino citizen. He/she should have: (a) meritorious service in the DOF, the BlR, the BOC, or the BLGF for a minimum of five (5) years and is/was a holder of at least a Director lV or its equivalent position; or (b) exemplary service as a teacher/professor/fellow in the subjects of taxation, customs, economics, public finance, business or public administration, or similar/related fields for at least five (5) years or a holder of at least a Master’s Degree in said fields; or (c) experience in tax or customs practice for at least five (5) years; or (d) any combination of the preceding provided that the total years of experience would add up to five (5) years.

Section 19. Powers and Duties of the President. - The President of the Academy shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i)

j)

To act as Chief Executive Officer of the Academy who shall report directly to the Board; To direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the Academy, and to delegate administrative responsibilities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Academy; To sign appointments of research, administrative and support staff of the Academy and the lnstitutes; To oversee the quality of the academic and support programs of the Academy and the lnstitutes; To prepare the agenda for the meetings of the Board, and to submit for consideration such policies and measures as he/she believes are necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Academy; To recommend, coordinate and administer the programs and projects of the Academy; To submit an annual report to the Board setting forth the work and accomplishments of the Academy for the past year, its financial operations and status, and a program and budget for the ensuing year; To represent the Academy in all dealings with offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government and with all persons and other entities, public or private, domestic or foreign; To impose disciplinary actions on the Academy’s administrative or support personnel, for cause as provided by law after due investigation and proper hearing, subject to confirmation by the Board when the penalty is dismissal from service; and To exercise such other powers and to discharge such other functions as may be vested in him/her by the Board.

Section 20. Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors. - The administration of each constituent lnstitute of the Academy is vested in the Chancellor insofar as authorized by the Board and the President. The Chancellor shall report to the President and shall perform the duties and functions subject to the policies and rules prescribed by the Board. He/she shall be assisted by a Vice-Chancellor in his/her functions.

The Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors shall serve on a full-time basis and shall not engage in the private practice of any profession. The Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors shall have the compensation and privileges as determined by the Board, subject to the necessary governmental approvals and applicable budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.

Section 21. Qualifications of the Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors. - The Chancellors must be a Filipino citizen and must have: (a) meritorious service in the DOF, the BlR, the BOC, or the BLGF for a minimum of five (5) years and is/was a holder of at least a Director lll or its equivalent position; or (b) exemplary service as a teacher/fellow/professor of taxation, customs, economics, public finance, business, public administration or similar/related fields in CHED’s accredited center of excellence from those fields for at least five (5) years or a holder of at least a Master’s Degree in said fields; or (c) experience in tax or customs practice for at least five (5) years; or (d) any combination of the preceding provided that the total years of experience would add up to five (5) years.

The Vice-Chancellors must be a Filipino citizen, and must have: (1) meritorious service in the DOF, the BlR, the BOC, or the BLGF for a minimum of three (3) years and is/was a holder of at least a division chief or its equivalent position; or (2) exemplary service as a teacher/professor/fellow of taxation, customs, economics public finance, business or public administration or similar/related fields in the CHED’s accredited center of excellence from those fields for at least three (3) years or a holder of at least a Master’s Degree in said fields; or (3) experience in tax or customs practice for at least three (3) years; or (4) any combination of the preceding provided that the total years of experience would add up to three (3) years.

Master’s Degree from any reputable college or university in the fields of taxation, customs, accounting, public finance, business or public administration, economics or similar/related fields as approved by the Board and a holder of a Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license and/or its equivalent as may be determined by the Board; or a member of the Philippine Bar; or At least three (3) years work and/or teaching experience in the fields of taxation and customs, accounting, public finance, and business or public administration or economics.

STAFF APPOINTMENTS

Section 27. Staff Appointments. - The Academy and the lnstitutes shall have support personnel composed of administrative and technical support staff and shall serve on a full-time basis in a permanent or contractual capacity, and shall be covered by the requirements and restrictions of the Civil Service law, rules and regulations.

Officers, employees and personnel of the DOF, BlR, BOC or BLGF may apply for assignments/secondment to the Academy to serve as support personnel.

Their applications shall be submitted to the President for approval, upon written recommendation by their respective heads of agencies/bureaus. They shall be entitled to the salaries and benefits in accordance with the restrictions of the Civil Service law, rules and regulations.

For purposes of retirement of transferred or seconded officers and employees from the DOF, BlR, BOC or BLGF to the Academy, the services, seniority, GSIS benefits and other benefits and privileges shall be considered/credited as government service.

Section 28. Agreements. - The Academy may enter into consortium agreements and joint venture agreements with the University of the Philippines, public and private universities and training institutions for the development and implementation of the following: a) Curriculum for each lnstitute; b) Programs for orientation; c) Career development; and d) Continuing educations in tax and customs collection, auditing and administration.

Subject to the approval of the Board, the Academy may enter into cooperative or collaborative arrangements with private and foreign government entities for the conduct of training programs, lectures and seminars.

FUNDING Section 29. Sources of Funding. - Pursuant to its corporate powers, the Academy, through the Board, may: a) b)

The President shall serve on a fulltime basis and shall not engage in the private practice of any profession. He/she shall have the compensation and privileges as determined by the Board, subject to the necessary governmental approvals and applicable budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.

laws and regulations, including the Code of Conduct of the Academy; To approve the completion of trainings and grants honors/awards upon completion of training programs; To grant leaves of absence of instructors/professors covering periods of less than one (1) year and leaves of absence of other statf, in accordance with Civil Service rules and regulations; and To exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions as maybe vested in them by the Board and the President.

c) d) e) f)

Accept all income, legacies, gifts, donations, foreign aids and grants for the benefit of the Academy or for its operation, administration, support or maintenance; Contract loans, credits and other indebtedness, on such terms and conditions as it shall deem appropriate for the accomplishment of its purposes; Enter into and execute agreements and other documents specifying such terms and conditions; lmpose tuition fees or charges for courses offered; Perform activities for profit and derive income from its operations and from its real and personal property; and Accept subsidies and other forms of support from the National Government.

The DOF and each of the Bureaus shall contribute a portion of their annual budget and other special funds to fund the initial operations of the Academy. Thereafter, the budget of the Academy shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the program of the DOF. Section 30. Tax Academy Fund. - All legacies, gifts and donations to the Academy shall constitute a special fund to be known as the Tax Academy Fund. This fund shall be administered, appropriated and disbursed by the Board exclusively for attaining the purposes of R.A. 10143.

All accounts and disbursements of the Academy shall be audited by the Commission on Audit.

Section 31. Tax Exemption. - All income, legacies, gifts, donations, foreign aids and grants for the benefit of the Academy or for its operation, administration, support or maintenance shall be exempt from all forms of taxes, fees, assessments and other charges of the government, its agencies, instrumentalities, branches and subdivisions.

ANNUAL REPORT Section 32. Annual Report. - The Academy shall submit an annual report to the President, the Secretary of Finance and the Committee of Ways and Means of both Houses of Congress containing a detailed account of its operations and accomplishments, financial statements, statement of assets and liabilities, revenue sources, contracts and investments entered into, and programs of expenditures.

TRANSITORY PROVISIONS Section 33. Within ninety (90) days after the Board shall have convened, it shall prescribe a five-year program which shall identify the site of the Academy, curriculum,training programs and modules that the Academy and its lnstitutes shall offer, the required/target participants; and the corresponding levels of training. The Board shall, in consultation with the concerned Bureaus issue corresponding guidelines of the provision.

The five-year program shall also include mechanisms for tapping sources of funding necessary to carry out the provisions of the Philippine Tax Academy Act and this lRR. The Academy shall submit, through the DOF, the annual budget to fund its operations.

The requirement under Section 4 that all applicants to the Bureaus, including local treasurers, shall be required to undergo and pass the basic courses administered by the Academy before they can be hired whether on contractual or permanent status will be fully implemented in 2021. The cost of training of said applicants will be included in the annual budget of the Academy.

Similarly, as early as 2019, the Bureaus shall include in their budget proposal the cost of training in the Academy and other related expenses of their existing personnel.

Section 34. Separability Clause. - lf for any reason any section or provision of this IRR is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

Section 35. Repealing Clause. - All rules and regulations, ordinances, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this IRR are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

Section 36. Effectivity. - This IRR shall take effect fifteen working (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation and that a copy of the IRR shall be registered with the Office of the National Administrative Registrar of the UP Law Center, University of the Philippines.

Section 22. Powers and Functions of the Chancellor. - The Chancellors shall have the following duties and responsibilities with respect to their respective lnstitutes: a) b) c) d) e)

To prescribe the requirements for admission to and completion of the programs, modules and courses of their respective lnstitutes; To recommend the curricula for the programs, modules and courses in their respective lnstitutes, including the institution, revision, abolition and merger thereof, subject to the approval of the Board; To monitor compliance and validate the training programs provided by the Bureaus to its employees and develop learning and development interventions in the respective lnstitutes, upon approval by the Board; To act as head and preside over the corps of professional instructors/ professors and staff in their respective lnstitutes; To exercise disciplinary power over participants within their respective lnstitutes, subject to review by the President, in accordance with applicable (MS-JAN. 10, 2019)

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

A8 THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

Sports

SMB favored to win again

By Jeric Lopez FOUR-TIME defending champion San Miguel Beer is still the favorite to win the coming 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. With its championship core intact plus the addition of manytime scoring champion Terrence Romeo, it’s easy to understand why the Beermen are once again picked to be the frontrunners to win a record fifth straight AllFilipino plum.

The PBA governors share the same sentiments.

“San Miguel is still the favorite,” said Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua. “It’s All-Filipino and the biggest concern for all is June Mar (Fajardo).”

After missing action in the last Governors’ Cup, the four-time reigning Most Valuable Player is once again ready while his longtime running mates Chris Ross, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter are all poised to assume their roles.

Add that to a rejuvenated Christian Standhardinger and a motivated Romeo and that gives the retooled Beermen even more weapons to defend their crown.

Toronto Raptors big man Serge Ibaka (center) hangs on to the ring after making a slam dunk against the Atlanta Hawks. AFP

POC promises to give athletes more incentives

By Peter Atencio THIS year, more incentives coming from the Philippine Olympic Committee will be handed to national sports associations and their athletes for performing well in international meets.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas said he plans to do this as the Philippines prepares to host the 2019 Southeast Asian Games later this year.

Vargas talked about the incentive scheme following a POC executive board meeting yesterday.

POC spokesman Ed Picson said the bonuses coming from the POC was part of his campaign platform when Vargas ran for president under his campaign mantra, PRIDE. PRIDE, according to Vargas is all about, Partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission, Rewards for per-

forming NSAs, Improvement of relations with the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity and Empowerment of the NSAs. The POC chiefs will take these matters up before the General Assembly in the coming days.

The last time around, the POC handed out an estimated P14-million for the medallists of the 2018 Asian Games.

This is after the medallists in the recent Asiad received a total bonanza of P24-million for their efforts from the PSC. After the Asiad, the PSC gave out incentives of P2 million for each gold, P500,000 for each silver and P300,000 for each bronze.

The money comes from the P76 million which Vargas was able to raise from corporate donations like San Miguel Corporation (P50 million), the Manny V. Pangilinan group (P20-million) and the PBA (P6 million).

Toronto Raptors slip past Atlanta Hawks L

OS ANGELES, United States—The Toronto Raptors kept the pressure on in the NBA East race Tuesday as Serge Ibaka’s late dunk made the difference in a scrappy 104-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

There was late drama also for Western Conference leaders Denver in Miami, where Nuggets star Nikola Jokic capped another triple-double with a go-ahead floater in the waning seconds in the visitors’ 103-99 victory.

And it was close in Oklahoma City, where the Minnesota Timberwolves edged the Thunder 119-117 in Ryan Saunders’ first game as Minnesota’s interim coach after Tom Thibodeau was abruptly fired on Sunday.

Toronto coach Nick Nurse, whose Raptors improved to a league-leading 31-12 – one game in front of Milwaukee

in the East – admitted it was tough going in a game in which the Raptors and Hawks combined for 46 turnovers.

“We pulled one out,” Nurse said. “We were trying to get away from them and we never could. We were down late there and had to make a couple stops and a couple scores and we did both of those things – so, pretty good.”

Kawhi Leonard led Toronto with 31 points. His sixth steal of the night led to Ibaka’s dunk with 17.1 seconds left, which put the Raptors up 102-101. A rebound by Ibaka on Atlanta’s next possession led to a dunk by OG Anunoby

Makati Super Crunch outlasts Pasig Pirates

NU, Ateneo clash to open second round Games Saturday: (Filoil Flying V Centre) 9 a.m. – UE vs UST (Jrs) 11 a.m. – FEU vs AdU (Jrs) 1 p.m. – DLSZ vs UPIS (Jrs) 3 p.m. – NU vs Ateneo (Jrs)

NATIONAL University plays defending champion Ateneo to cap a four-game bill to open second round action of the UAAP Season 81 juniors basketball tournament on Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The 6-1 Bullpups hope to score a repeat of their 78-62 win in a rematch of last year’s Finals to become the No. 1 team in the first round in their 3 p.m. duel with the Blue Eaglets which will be aired on national TV. Far Eastern University-Diliman and Adamson University, bunched in a three-way with Ateneo in second place at 5-2, clash at 11 a.m.

The showdown will also feature giants Kai Sotto, the 7-foot-1 Ateneo center who is leading the season MVP race, and NU’s Carl Tamayo.

In their first UAAP match-up with Sotto last Dec. 15, Tamayo tallied a double-double effort of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Sotto paced the Eaglets with 23 points, 13 boards and three assists.

Looking sharp as ever, the Bullpups are coming off a PSSBC championship during the Christmas break.

In other matches, University of Santo Tomas (3-4) and University of the East (1-6) collide at 9 a.m., while De La Salle-Zobel (3-4) and UP Integrated School (0-7) take the floor at 1 p.m.

for the final margin.

In Miami, the Heat led by six with 5:27 to play, but Jokic’s 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Denver were ultimately too much for the hosts to overcome.

He drove through traffic to swish in the basket that put the Nuggets up 101-99 with 2.4 seconds left and Jamal Murray added two free throws to complete the scoring.

“The floater is kind of my game,” Jokic said. “I love that shot because I cannot dunk. It was a little bit more tight. (Bam) Adebayo was right there, I got a heavy knee in my charley horse.

We won the game – that’s the most important thing.”

Denver improved to 27-12 and remained one game in front of two-time defending champions Golden State, who cruised to a 122-95 victory over the New York Knicks in Oakland, California. AFP

ONE Strawweight World Championship Joshua Pacio (right) connects with a knee to the side of the head of his opponent inside the ONE cage. ONE Championship

Pacio ready to face pressure of world title defense

ONE Strawweight World Championship Joshua Pacio will attempt to do what previous strawweight champions Yoshitaka Natio or the man Natio took the belt off of Alex Silva could not do. And that is to mount a successful defense of the title.

“The Passion” is set to have his first defense on January 19 at ONE: Eternal Glory in Jakarta Indonesia against the highly-rated Japanese athlete Yosuke Saruta.

Saruta is a relative newcomer to the ONE roster but made an instant impact when he defeated Silva via unanimous decision in December at ONE: Destiny of Champions.

The 31-year-old former Shooto World Champion is not only a skilled grappler, he also packs lethal right hand, capable of sending his opponents to sleep before they are even aware they have been hit.

None of this is news to Pacio, and the 22-year-old is aware of the fact

that there will be no room for errors when the cage doors close during his title defense.

“I’m coming into this fight, as usual, in the best shape of my life,” Pacio said.

“The way I fight, my style is very fast-paced with constant movement.

To be able to maintain my pace, I have to be in great physical condition. We have worked extensively on my conditioning, and I’m prepared for a five-round war.

MAKATI picked up from where it left off in the latter stretch of 2018, and started the new year on a winning note to extend its streak in the MPBL Datu Cup. The Super Crunch outlasted the Pasig Pirates, 76-71, to sustain its winning run and notch a ninth straight victory. With the win, Makati has improved its winloss record to 15-4 to climb into a tie for third spot with idle San Juan in the tough northern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

But in picking up their latest win, the Super Crunch had to endure a hard test and head coach Cholo Villanueva admitted his squad’s struggle.

“You can see that we’re a bit sluggish.

This is our first game in three weeks and most of the players are still on a vacation mode,” said Villanueva. “But this win means a lot because we were able to climb to third spot and have a chance to improve further.”

Leading the way for the Super Crunch was veteran Mark Isip, who knocked in 11 of his 19 points in the opening quarter to lead his team to a strong start.

The Super Crunch extended its winning run to nine a row and is the second hottest team in the tournament after the Tigers of Davao Occidental, who are protecting a 12-game winning streak.

Joseph Sedurifa added 12 while Jeckster Apinan and John Rey Villanueva had 11 apiece for Makati.

Pasig absorbed its 15th loss in 18 games to stay at the cellar.

Earlier, Quezon City settled an old score with Mandaluyong by winning, 86-76, in the other game.

It was a rematch of the game that was ordered to be replayed after the Black Mamba Energy Drink-backed Capitals filed a protest against the El Tigre for fielding in Ronjay Buenafe, who was ineligible to play.

IN BRIEF

Shakey’s to roll out 20 new stores in 2019

PIZZA chain operator Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. plans to roll out 20 new stores in 2019 to bring its total network to 248 stores.

“We continue to see consumer spending fueling the Philippine economy, which is still one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets,” said Shakey’s president and chief executive Vicente Gregorio.

“This, alongside our strong brand equity and industry-leading margins, supports our drive to open more stores across the country this year and in the years ahead,” he said.

Shakey’s also opened 20 new stores in 2018, bulk of which were opened outside the National Capital Region, in line with the company’s strategy to pursue growth outside first-tier cities.

Seventy-five percent of the newly opened stores were also franchised.

“We are focused on expanding outside Metro Manila where we see great potential in terms of demand for the premium yet affordable dining experience we provide,” said Gregorio.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Green Antz to build Clark research hub

GREEN Antz Builders Inc. will soon supply eco-friendly construction materials for future projects in Clark Freeport Zone.

Green Antz and Clark Development Corp. signed a memorandum of agreement to develop a research facility and training center for eco-friendly construction materials.

CDC president and chief executive Noel Manankil and Green Antz president and chief executive Rommel Benig signed the MOA to promote the conservation of the environment by developing eco-friendly materials including bricks and porous pavers.

Green Antz, the provider of environmentfriendly products and solutions for the construction industry, will collaborate with CDC for its construction needs.

Manankil said the partnership would reinforce CDC’s mission on proper ecological practices to business enterprise in pursuit of a clean and safe environment. Jess Malabanan

PA Properties eyes 25 housing projects

DEVELOPER P.A. Properties on Wednesday unveiled a strategic plan to develop 25 projects within the next five years with an estimated combined revenue of P25 billion.

P.A. Properties chairman Romarico Alvarez said the projects would help narrow the current housing backlog in the Philippines.

“The current housing backlog stands at over 5.9 million countrywide, with socialized and economic housing accounting for the bulk of this requirement. As a result, prevalence of informal settlements that lack basic infrastructure and sustainable service has increased significantly across most towns and cities,” he said.

The socialized housing segment has a backlog of 3,032,351 units while the economic housing segment has 2,588,897.

“The government needs to develop the synergies and participation of all stakeholders, including the private sector, employers, citizens and development partners in the provision of shelter,” said Alvarez. Othel V. Campos

Business

PLDT signs deal to help modernize GMA 7 operations

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Group on Wednesday signed a partnership with GMA Network Inc. to support the broadcast network’s digital transformation.

The two companies signed a technology, content and distribution agreement that will involve the launch of game-changing innovations that will power the media giant’s digital transformation.

“This partnership is a clear statement that we are welcoming disruption and embracing digital with open arms.

By riding the wave of disruption with PLDT and Smart as partners, we will not only upgrade the quality of content we are producing but we are also setting the stage for a new age of digital television,” GMA Network chairman and chief executive Felipe L. Gozon.

“As we transform our business from being a legacy telco into the premier and most trusted digital enabler in the country, this partnership will enable us to power GMA’s digital pivot and help deliver to our millions of fixed and wireless subscribers GMA 7’s unique and compelling content, as well as exciting new digital experiences to more Filipino families,” PLDT and Smart chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said.

The PLDT Group earlier expressed interest to acquire a controlling stake in GMA Network, but talks collapsed partly due to regulatory issues.

The Gozon, Jimenez and Duavit families own a combined 79 percent of the network, which airs on Channel 7 on free TV.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

B1

AC Energy buys 51.48% stake in Phinma Energy

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

C ENERGY Inc., the energy unit of Ayala Group, signed Wednesday an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Phinma Energy Corp. for P3.42 billion.

AC Energy said it would acquire Phinma’s combined 51.48-percent stake in Phinma Energy via a secondary share sale. The Ayala unit signed the agreement with Phinma Corp. and Philippine Investment Management Inc. “Phinma was one of our early partners when Ayala was new to the power sector. This partnership has prospered over the last eight years and we welcome the opportunity to now integrate Phinma

Energy into AC Energy’s platform as we grow our presence in the power generation sector,” said Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

The parties said this was based on the valuation date of Dec. 31, 2018 and would be subject to adjustments.

Ayala and Phinma said in separate disclosures to the stock exchange the closing of the transaction would be subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, such as regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission and compliance with applicable tender offer requirements, AC Energy will also subscribe to 2.632 billion Phinma Energy primary shares.

AC Energy and Phinma Energy started a partnership in 2011 for the development, construction and operations of a 244-megawatt coal power plant in Calaca, Batangas under South Luzon

Thermal Energy Corp.

“Phinma and Ayala have always enjoyed a strong partnership, making this agreement a truly welcome culmination of our joint initiatives in the energy sector, as we believe AC Energy is bestpositioned to grow the business and take it to the next level. This strategic move likewise allows Phinma to focus on our rapidly expanding investments and operations in the education and construction materials sectors,” Phinma president and chief executive Ramon del Rosario Jr., said.

Phinma said it would use the estimated proceeds from the sale of P1.7 billion to focus investments on other sectors such as education and construction materials as opportunities arise.

Phinma said the transaction would result in a loss on sale of P357 million subject to adjustments but would allow it to avoid significant losses from the energy business in the future.

Fitch sees peso hitting 54 a dollar

THE peso may depreciate further to 54.13 against the greenback by the end of 2019, pulled down by a confluence of events both from the domestic and external fronts, Fitch Solutions said Wednesday.

Fitch Solutions cited in a report the domestic political uncertainties, twin deficits and the real interest rate differential vis-à-vis the United States as the factors behind its bearish view on the peso.

“There are three factors informing our bearish peso view. Firstly, real interest rate differential vis-à-vis the US remain in negative territory. Although we forecast the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas to continue its monetary policy tightening in 2019 as we forecast a further cumulated hike of 50bps to its benchmark reverse repo rate to 5.25 percent, the central bank is likely to remain reactive rather than proactive,” it said.

“Secondly, the Philippines’ twin deficit has widened considerably over the past few quarters, and we expect the shortfall to remain elevated with respect to its GDP over the coming year partially due to the government’s expansionary fiscal agenda,” it said. Julito G. Rada

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

SCIENCE PARK TAPS ABOITIZ. Science Park of the Philippines Inc., one of the country’s leading industrial estate developers, taps Aboitiz Power Corp. to energize its 212-hectare Light Industry & Science Park IV in Malvar, Batangas. At the agreement signing ceremony are (from left) SPPI vice president for industrial engineering Bienvenido Jose Alora, SPPI president and chief operating officer Richard Albert Osmond, AboitizPower distribution business group executive vice president and chief operating officer Jaime Jose Aboitiz, AboitizPower enerzone group senior vice president and chief operating officer Dante Pollescas and AboitizPower distribution business group first vice president and chief financial officer Ma. Chona Tiu.

World Bank cuts 2019 growth forecast for PH to 6.5%

By Julito G. Rada THE World Bank on Wednesday reduced its 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.5 percent from an earlier estimate of 6.7 percent, saying “the outlook for the global economy has darkened.”

The Washington-based multilateral lender predicted that annual growth in the Philippines would pick up to 6.6 percent in 2020 and 2021. It estimated that the country’s gross domestic product expanded 6.4 percent in 2018.

The Philippines is seen to remain one of the fastest growing economies in the East Asia and Pacific region this year, outperforming major economies such as China which is forecast to grow 6.2 percent; Indonesia, 5.2 per-

cent; Malaysia, 4.7 percent; and Thailand, 3.8 percent.

“Growth in commodity-importing economies excluding China is moderating.

In the Philippines, activity has slowed as surging inflation, capacity constraints, and currency pressures have prompted authorities to hike policy rates,” the World Bank said in the January 2019 Global Economic Prospects report.

The Philippine economy grew 6.1 percent in the third quarter, pulled down by accelerating inflation that resulted in the slowdown in household spending for the period.

Inflation hit a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in October, before moderating in the following months. It eased to 6 percent in November and 5.1 percent

in December, bringing the full-year average to 5.2 percent, beyond the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Economic managers said the slowdown in inflation at the latter part of the year could be attributed to the immediate measures implemented by the government aimed to curb inflation.

“Growth among commodity importers is projected to moderate in 2019 as it converges with its potential rate.

Excluding China, the 2018 growth outlook for EAP [East Asia and the Pacific] commodity importers has been downgraded because of a moderation in private consumption amid rising inflation in the Philippines,” the World Bank said.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago

PPA poised to endorse Chelsea’s bid for Davao port

By Darwin G. Amojelar STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority said it is set to endorse by February this year to the Transportation Department the unsolicited proposal of Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. to develop, operate and maintain the Davao Sasa Port for issuance of original proponent status.

“Chelsea already completed all the documents for the project. So we will evaluate it and hopefully by end of January or first half of February, PPA on its part would have been able to determine the feasibility of the proposal and if necessary PPA will recommend it to DOTr depending on the outcome of the evaluation,” PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said.

The PPA endorsement would justify the DOTr’s issuance of an OPS for the project.

Chelsea Logistics earlier submitted an unsolicited offer to PPA to develop, operate and maintain the Davao Sasa Port for P16 billion with a proposed concession period of 25 years.

The company plans to spend P16 billion for the Davao Sasa Port in phases.

The National Economic and Development Authority approved the modernization of Davao Sasa Port for P19 billion under the Aquino administration’s public private partnership scheme.

The Transportation Department earlier prequalified Asian Terminals Inc., International Container Terminal Services Inc., Bollore Africa Logistics, Singapore-based Portek International Pte. Ltd. and San Miguel Corp. for the Davao Sasa Port project.

The Duterte administration, however, decided to pursue the project through unsolicited proposal instead of the PPP scheme.

Sasa Port is designed for break bulk cargo vessels, which is vital to the economy of Davao City.

About 500,000 metric tons of steel, wheat, fertilizer, motor vehicles, heavy equipment and other cargo not suitable for containers went through Sasa Port in 2014, according to PPA data.

Davao Integrated Port and Stevedoring Services Corp., an operator at the Sasa port, said the current capacity of Sasa is about 700,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.

The yearly volume handled by Dipsscor, a unit of ICTSI, is 300,000 TEUs.

Neda: Rice tariffication to stabilize inflation

THE National Economic and Development Authority said the immediate enactment into law of the Rice Tariffication bill will stabilize food prices and overall inflation rate.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said once signed into law, the Rice Tariffication bill would make rice affordable from various sources. Rice supply will also no longer the sole responsibility of the National Food Authority.

The measure amends the two-decade-old Republic Act No. 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, and replaces the quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariff.

The bill, which was ratified by both chambers of Congress on Nov. 28, 2018, is set to be transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

“The aim of the bill is to make rice accessible and affordable to every Filipino, and to make the rice sector competitive,” Pernia said.

Under the new rice importation regime, legitimate rice traders can now import rice without NFA permits, provided they secure

a sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance from the Department of AgricultureBureau of Plant Industry and pay the appropriate tariff to the Bureau of Customs.

The NFA, on the other hand, will focus on ensuring sufficient buffer stocks to address emergency situations. As there is a need to periodically replenish the buffer stocks, NFA can still sell cheap rice, but to very targeted markets.

“In selling rice, the NFA may opt to focus on far-flung areas, which some private traders may not find profitable to serve,” Pernia said.

Pernia said wven with rice tariffication, rice subsidy under the government’s conditional cash transfer program or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program would continue benefiting poor households. Pernia said that through the establishment of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund coming from the tariff revenues, the Agriculture Department would have an additional source of funding for its programs and projects to increase the productivity and enhance the competitiveness of the sector. Julito G. Rada

SHELL-SM PARTNERSHIP. Loyal Shell customers can continue earning points and enjoying rewards offered by the SM Advantage Card as Pilipinas Shell and Marketing Convergence Inc., the issuer of SMAC, renews their long-standing partnership. Shown during the contract signing at Top of Citi in Makati City are (from left) Iya Quintana, assistant vice president of MCI; Baldwin Golangco, president of MCI; Cesar Romero, president and chief executive of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.; and Anthony Lawrence Yam, vice president of Shell Retail.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH, Asian stock markets surge T HE stock market jumped Wednesday along with the rest of Asian markets on increasing optimism that China and the United States will be able to hammer out a deal to help ease their trade war.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 217.55 points, or 2.8 percent, to 7,919.67 on a value turnover of P10.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 140 to 72, with 30 issues unchanged.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which is into power generation, banking, food and infrastructure, advanced 6.6 percent to P61, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. climbed 6.1 percent to P995.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei rose 5.9 percent to P63.50, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, gained 5.2 percent to P104.

The rest of Asian markets rallied Wednesday. After taking a battering in December and suffering a shaky start to 2019, confidence is slowly returning to equity trading floors, though dealers remain on edge.

Hong Kong rose 2.3 percent—a fourth straight gain that has seen the index put on around five percent—and Shanghai ended up 0.7 percent, while Tokyo closed 1.1 percent higher.

Sydney jumped one percent with Singapore, while Taipei and Wellington were each more than one percent higher.

There were also gains in Mumbai and Jakarta.

Seoul added two percent as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited

his success.

And the Wall Street Journal said the two were moving in the right direction, with China ready to buy more US goods and services, while further talks at cabinet level were being lined up next week.

The progress in talks “is fueling investor optimism suggesting there might be a light at the end of the trade war tumultuous tunnel”, said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. The gains also come after a strong reading on US jobs creation Friday, which soothed worries that the American economy was slowing down, and ahead of the corporate earnings season.

“When the dust settles, if it ever does, the fear of recession will prove to be premature,” Bob Doll, an analyst at Nuveen Asset Management, told Bloomberg TV. With AFP

Beijing with speculation swirling that he will meet Trump for a second summit later this year.

Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell provided the platform for a rally last week when he said the central bank had no “pre-set” plan for lifting interest rates and was “listening” to markets, signaling that the pace of hikes could slow this year.

Fear of higher borrowing rates was a major cause of last year’s stocks losses.

The mood among dealers held this week as officials from China and the US hunkered down for trade negotiations in Beijing that have extended into a third day. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described them as going “very well.”

Bloomberg also reported White House sources as saying Trump is keen to get a deal done in order to boost stock markets, which he regards as a gauge of

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.7 92.5 2.15 130.5 1.45 27.75 16.2 12.7 4.5 7.4 0.65 1.47 800 0.47 81 0.95 12 18.36 44 179.4 59.3 29 163.6 64.4 1.14

59.9 93.5 2.2 131.8 1.5 28 16.2 12.82 4.7 7.4 0.65 1.47 800 0.48 82.3 0.96 12.46 19.66 44.4 182 59.3 29.5 171 65 1.14

59.5 91.8 2.15 130.1 1.43 27.75 16.2 12.7 4.45 7.4 0.64 1.47 800 0.47 81 0.94 11.98 18.02 43.9 179.4 58.35 29 163.6 64.2 1.14

FINANCIALS 59.9 17,050 93 2,309,930 2.2 85,000 130.3 4,663,530 1.49 119,000 28 100,600 16.2 700 12.8 812,700 4.69 405,000 7.4 600 0.64 97,000 1.47 1,000 800 10 0.47 50,000 81.45 2,647,420 0.94 449,000 11.98 15,700 19.66 4,500 44.2 534,800 182 1,720 59.2 3,750 29.5 122,800 171 2,107,000 64.9 17,170 1.14 60,000

1,018,175 214,560,429 186,760 610,459,555 172,250 2,809,350 11,340 10,392,666 1,848,280 4,440 62,380 1,470 8,000 23,600 216,346,445 427,810 188,644 83,178 23,651,275 309,725 220,805.50 3,605,270 357,442,233 1,108,588.50 68,400

836,700 13,427,047 -32,141,738 -539,415 -1,431,602 1,470 -1,719,223.50 -10,808,395 1,776 -200,300 -5,997,269 -579,679.50 -

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

35.1 16.84 1.14 1.3 0.25 92 2.16 15.78 159.9 30.7 16.98 39.5 1.79 6.75 6.6 11.28 15.02 8.22 7.5 20.3 67.5 25.05 2.06 5.8 11.4 1.9 321 3.17 10 27.45 10.96 18.16 386 0.173 1.4 3.75 7.7 5.83 9.98 1.5 10.9 47.55 5.9 4.74 1.99 1.55 12.34 83.5 6.16 0.128 0.89 130.4 1.91 17 1.65

35.85 16.88 1.19 1.32 0.25 92 2.21 16 159.9 31.45 17.3 41.4 1.79 6.75 6.62 11.4 15.1 8.26 7.52 20.6 67.65 25.5 2.09 5.8 12 1.94 321 3.25 11.4 27.6 11.3 18.22 390 0.186 1.54 3.79 7.78 5.83 9.98 1.5 10.98 48.2 6 4.74 1.99 1.56 12.54 83.95 6.58 0.131 0.89 132.3 1.94 17 1.66

34.5 16.68 1.11 1.28 0.241 91.1 2.07 15.6 135 30.7 16.98 39.5 1.77 6.5 6.4 11.28 15 8.06 7.32 20.15 67.2 25 2.03 5.79 11.34 1.87 316 3.16 9.7 27 10.94 17.88 384.4 0.173 1.38 3.74 7.67 5.66 8.99 1.34 10.8 47.55 5.9 4.74 1.94 1.48 12.28 83.3 6.16 0.126 0.88 130.3 1.9 17 1.6

INDUSTRIAL 34.5 1,857,100 16.8 839,100 1.13 13,800,000 1.32 328,000 0.249 1,820,000 91.1 1,100 2.1 28,579,000 15.98 217,900 150 3,480 31.45 170,400 17.3 1,100 40 1,300 1.77 51,000 6.5 118,000 6.4 55,100 11.36 2,788,600 15.1 45,100 8.06 750,200 7.4 229,100 20.4 1,352,500 67.5 20,080 25.05 33,100 2.07 2,141,000 5.8 1,404,800 11.94 2,174,600 1.92 627,000 319 1,659,810 3.2 12,000 11.3 32,200 27.6 583,700 11.3 835,800 17.88 2,399,000 390 295,770 0.185 1,640,000 1.5 27,910,000 3.74 857,000 7.67 3,942,000 5.72 55,100 8.99 5,100 1.41 164,574,000 10.8 24,600 48 606,900 6 2,059,800 4.74 1,000 1.95 136,000 1.55 182,000 12.54 178,100 83.8 252,380 6.45 1,026,600 0.131 3,010,000 0.89 101,000 131.1 2,409,410 1.92 3,124,000 17 500 1.61 7,580,000

65,352,670 14,103,890 15,937,200 429,440 448,620 101,110 60,837,750 3,466,974 522,716 5,294,090 18,850 52,070 90,680 772,000 359,803 31,675,390 676,950 6,109,467 1,715,578 27,627,515 1,354,872 829,335 4,409,860 8,147,798 25,693,422 1,205,480 529,473,896 38,150 334,824 16,061,870 9,298,460 43,281,680 114,714,412 293,570 41,525,140 3,239,010 30,375,090 318,280 47,715 234,270,040 266,522 29,128,935 12,357,840 4,740 266,740 278,470 2,216,504 21,097,039.50 6,558,576 386,750 89,880 316,322,356 6,001,980 8,500 12,198,640

-21,484,065 475,384 8,910 -10,807,160 989,250 1,500 -2,009,075 35,790 -255,952 9,520,026 150,140 -1,174,593 586,534 1,724,385 601,182.50 556,110 1,242,470 -7,969,780 12,670,544 -144,000 86,633,186 -28,550 -7,000 1,549,405 -4,061,266 -16,944,588 8,147,010 1,850 -20,910,070 -14,599,453 -24,233,250 -2,567,850 -12,163,200 0 339,392 -8,456,188.50 -1,578,100 69,420 -116,969,986 292,990 -8,500 -10,830

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

0.7 58.2 11.9 0.81 6.5 28.15 1.44 1.45 984 7.07 12.62 13.1 980 6.12 59.95 5.79 0.6 4.63 15.84 0.6 4.7 0.038 1.18 2.55 146.5 957.5 0.76 1.4 500 250 0.255 0.224

0.76 61 12.22 0.83 6.5 29.35 1.46 1.45 1,003 7.18 12.86 13.3 1,011 6.12 63.5 5.8 0.6 4.7 15.96 0.61 4.76 0.038 1.19 2.63 148.8 995 0.76 1.4 500 250 0.255 0.228

0.7 57.4 11.8 0.81 6.5 28.1 1.38 1.39 971 7.06 12.52 13 970.5 6.11 59.95 5.79 0.57 4.57 15.4 0.59 4.69 0.037 1.18 2.51 144.8 950.5 0.76 1.38 500 248 0.247 0.221

42,086,030 161,545,691 170,304,334 265,700 13,650 5,996,930 34,860,460 5,757,400 675,885,715 27,860,072 47,411,324 21,842,460 153,933,390 40,374 295,223,532.50 57,940 112,050 11,202,090 86,763,536 144,160 101,275,670 147,700 219,040 3,660,930 112,539,665 765,028,380 38,000 257,840 95,000 804,520 765,600 44,860

387,340 75,189,258 -47,819,476 13,000 -145,000 1,839,600 407,728,845 20,614,283 2,963,286 3,242,608 52,669,200 130,563,462 456,410 -23,368,600 93,220 9,812,120 -13,100 5,266,370 409,085,880 627,440 -

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

8.45 0.84 1.69 0.96 43.9 2.39 4.27 6.41 0.44 0.89 0.25 0.37 7.99 20.4 0.48 1.44 1.17 4.96 0.47 0.475 2.25 0.435 3.55

8.76 0.86 1.79 1 45 2.48 4.34 6.41 0.445 0.92 0.25 0.385 8.28 21.45 0.48 1.46 1.19 5.11 0.475 0.475 2.27 0.445 3.56

8.45 0.84 1.68 0.95 43.9 2.38 4.27 6.1 0.435 0.89 0.241 0.37 7.99 20.4 0.48 1.43 1.17 4.96 0.46 0.46 2.21 0.425 3.53

15,839,332 1,830,340 317,410 6,460,380 911,140,525 4,665,170 1,832,560 64,412 720,250 7,240 1,607,860 156,300 994,207 39,925,090 72,000 17,082,540 936,370 224,908,900 10,614,350 394,700 10,997,550 1,813,700 2,060,630

639,482 67,320 335,135,910 -1,451,780 -888,540 57,700 -25,000 4,860 2,760,235.00 -5,835,730 52,242,000 -89,850 250,900 -411,640

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

39.5 21.4 2.01 3.1 38.45 1.41 5.96 0.73 5.64

39.5 21.85 2.05 3.16 39 1.45 6.6 0.73 5.85

39.5 21.35 2.01 3.1 38.2 1.38 5.93 0.73 5.6

39.5 21.7 2.05 3.12 38.75 1.42 6.25 0.73 5.85

300 5,368,800 470,000 127,000 13,693,300 4,848,000 2,360,500 1,000 8,801,300

11,850 116,181,755 952,740 394,600 530,007,595 6,860,330 14,775,796 730 50,789,762

42,744,085 194,868,125 208,200.00 12,500 -15,746,065

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

15 21.5 1.39 0.42 0.039 3.51 10.1 78 7.66 6.81 19 900 1,890 5.6 327 3.25 100 11.78 0.139 6.2 14.88 3.62 0.86 18.4 0.345 5.29 2.75 2.21 2.25 3.99 9.76 8.9 120 3.5 1,165 0.85 48.75 84.8 7.7 2.43 0.76 0.45 5.34 0.78 13.9

15 21.75 1.43 0.42 0.04 3.55 10.2 79.5 7.66 6.91 20.6 900 1,935 5.66 329 3.28 104.6 11.78 0.153 6.36 14.88 3.69 0.9 18.5 0.345 5.33 2.81 2.28 2.32 4.08 10 8.9 122.2 3.55 1,186 0.91 49.5 87 7.8 2.5 0.78 0.455 5.36 0.79 14

14.6 21.4 1.38 0.41 0.039 3.44 10 78 7.66 6.8 17.8 900 1,861 5.56 318.6 3.2 98.75 11.76 0.137 6.11 14.88 3.57 0.85 17.5 0.34 5.1 2.7 2.12 2.25 3.82 9.75 8.7 119.5 3.4 1,165 0.84 48.55 84.55 7.7 2.43 0.75 0.435 5.3 0.77 13.76

SERVICES 14.84 21.45 1.42 0.42 0.04 3.49 10.04 79.2 7.66 6.86 17.8 900 1,930 5.66 329 3.2 104 11.76 0.14 6.28 14.88 3.57 0.88 18.4 0.34 5.29 2.74 2.19 2.32 4.03 9.75 8.7 119.5 3.49 1,186 0.89 49.05 85.5 7.7 2.46 0.78 0.435 5.36 0.79 13.78

180,400 123,000 86,000 170,000 12,700,000 1,543,000 7,373,400 251,880 300 1,111,700 1,364,700 10 53,305 296,400 1,940 970,000 2,923,920 200 95,470,000 5,366,300 200 1,467,000 743,000 584,000 150,000 13,400 3,062,000 649,000 5,000 3,851,000 49,100 13,000 66,940 2,001,000 104,990 44,195,000 6,039,200 107,510 17,500 4,399,000 11,820,000 48,020,000 804,100 2,557,000 3,189,800

2,661,664 2,644,575 120,640 71,000 496,900 5,379,040 74,437,984 19,950,352 2,298 7,649,892 25,889,170 9,000 102,015,505 1,675,612 634,502 3,126,220 301,205,149 2,354 13,733,840 33,593,376 2,976 5,309,940 655,610 10,714,534 51,250 69,017 8,431,690 1,418,930 11,460 15,378,400 483,416 115,290 8,032,949 6,942,420 124,079,990 39,452,790 295,967,490 9,175,391.50 135,540 10,810,940 9,110,820 21,156,300 4,296,123 1,995,450 44,138,054

-1,478 -376,430 16,015,010 5,333,930 -51,765 159,564 -14,864,925 -75,620 171,500 -152,075,280.50 -17,450 1,880,395 -576,320 -775,638 1,879,800 1,391,930 49,315 -2,932,330 59,137,345 674,410 50,602,215 2,481,214.50 2,443,490 1,267,120 2,142,450 -746,631 -18,822,664

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

0.002 1.68 2.74 14.68 1.26 1.49 2.12 0.295 7.85 1.68 0.219 0.117 0.13 1.25 2.4 1.04 0.65 0.98 0.012 0.013 0.012 4.1 4.01 15.68 24.4 0.0078

0.002 1.7 2.95 15.5 1.28 1.49 2.12 0.295 7.9 1.69 0.219 0.12 0.13 1.26 2.45 1.09 0.67 0.99 0.014 0.014 0.013 4.1 4.19 15.98 24.85 0.008

0.002 1.62 2.61 14.68 1.25 1.49 2.06 0.285 7.61 1.67 0.215 0.116 0.13 1.22 2.33 1.02 0.65 0.97 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.59 3.94 15.58 24.35 0.0075

MINING & OIL 0.002 512,000,000 1.62 5,968,000 2.61 1,205,000 15.5 1,200 1.25 83,000 1.49 3,000 2.07 262,000 0.285 300,000 7.89 2,500 1.69 740,000 0.216 120,000 0.12 6,090,000 0.13 10,000 1.22 400,000 2.33 4,798,000 1.08 49,000 0.67 140,000 0.99 364,000 0.013 275,400,000 0.013 1,305,100,000 0.013 287,100,000 3.59 208,000 4.17 5,421,000 15.6 657,400 24.6 1,183,400 0.0078 50,000,000

1,024,000 9,868,960 3,226,740 18,418 104,100 4,470 545,060 87,000 19,556 1,246,470 26,210 714,700 1,300 495,090 11,404,440 51,930 93,630 356,890 3,580,500 17,266,300 3,727,500 803,660 22,056,160 10,280,906 29,125,620 385,300

-3,296,680 365,470 8,700 169,000 3,721,850 -13,000,000 -13,000 -75,600 -1,169,160 -289,396 -1,830,520 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

19.5 462 480 99.05 97 104.8 479 5.49 900 96 1.02 99 1,002 100 108 1.6 971 76.1 74.25 74 74.3 73.4

19.5 475 497.8 99.05 98.2 104.8 479 5.59 900 96 1.02 99 1,002 100 108 1.6 971 76.4 74.3 74 74.3 73.4

19.4 462 480 99 97 104.8 479 5.49 900 95 0.99 99 1,002 100 108 1.6 971 76 74.25 74 74.3 73.4

PREFERRED 19.48 13,000 473.8 1,310 497.8 2,010 99 500 98.2 610 104.8 1,420 479 10 5.5 64,200 900 100 95 5,100 0.99 50,000 99 8,000 1,002 6,100 100 10 108 10 1.6 1,000 971 5,950 76 2,920 74.3 1,000 74 700 74.3 10 73.4 120

253,246 618,602 964,978 49,504.50 59,775 148,816 4,790 352,500 90,000 484,635.50 50,100 792,000 6,112,200 1,000 1,080 1,600 5,777,450 222,588 74,260 51,800 743 8,808

-39,046 28,500 1,000 743 -

LR WARRANT

2.12

2.14

2.11

WARRANTS 2.12 204,000

434,040

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.4 2.7 1.8

5.5 2.7 1.81

5.25 2.7 1.76

5.35 2.7 1.77

4,367,441 51,300 7,521,900

-344,920

FIRST METRO ETF

114.9

117.6

114.9

2,147,808

-

MS

HOLDING FIRMS 0.76 56,988,000 61 2,684,420 12.18 14,129,700 0.83 328,000 6.5 2,100 28.2 208,100 1.41 24,805,000 1.42 4,074,000 1,000 677,340 7.14 3,903,300 12.66 3,730,900 13 1,669,000 1,008 154,010 6.11 6,600 63.5 4,767,460 5.8 10,000 0.58 195,000 4.6 2,426,000 15.4 5,511,600 0.61 243,000 4.74 21,376,000 0.038 3,900,000 1.18 185,000 2.62 1,411,000 145 769,240 995 776,700 0.76 50,000 1.39 185,000 500 190 248 3,240 0.255 3,070,000 0.221 200,000 PROPERTY 8.7 0.85 1.79 0.99 45 2.42 4.34 6.4 0.445 0.92 0.248 0.38 8.12 21.45 0.48 1.45 1.18 5.05 0.475 0.475 2.22 0.445 3.56

1,839,500 2,160,000 184,000 6,620,000 20,331,600 1,912,000 425,000 10,500 1,630,000 8,000 6,480,000 410,000 122,400 1,887,300 150,000 11,811,000 797,000 44,557,000 22,670,000 840,000 4,930,000 4,130,000 581,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

15,193,550

INDUSTRIAL

286,575,329

HOLDING FIRMS

158,459,259

PROPERTY

181,267,532

SERVICES

266,153,396

MINING & OIL

2,457,999,601

GRAND TOTAL

3,370,719,493

SME

808,800 19,000 4,223,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.6 18,420

VALUE 1,797.86 (up) 24.45 1,490,704,036.39 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,362.95 (up) 54.78 2,242,983,856.82 HOLDING FIRMS 7,918.66 (up) 339.43 2,728,457,013.41 PROPERTY 3,955.85 (up) 85.24 SERVICES 1,519.47 (up) 37.45 2,261,399,501.805 MINING & OIL 8,814.39 (up) 35.14 1,315,972,072.105 PSEI 7,919.67 (up) 217.55 116,541,756.588 All Shares Index 4,727.97 (up) 93.80 10,170,151,304.02 Gainers: 140; Losers: 72; Unchanged: 30; Total: 242

Cargill taps DoubleDragon to construct complexes

By Jenniffer B. Austria DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. has formed a strategic partnership with US-based commodities giant Cargill to develop industrial facilities across the country.

DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the partnership between Centralhub Industrial Centers Inc. and Cargill’s subsidiary in the Philippines, C-Joy Poultry Meats Production Inc., would boost the company’s goal of becoming the country’s leading provider of industrial complexes.

Cargill is a globally recognized brand and the largest private company in the United States. Cargill worldwide operates across 70 countries as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers with a combined 153 years of experience and new technologies and insights.

“This partnership with Cargill is in line with DoubleDragon’s vision to make CentralHub the leading provider of industrial complexes in the Philippines. These industrial facilities will add a substantial amount of leasable space to our growing leasable portfolio nationwide,” said DoubleDragon Chairman Edgar Sia II. “Among its peers, DoubleDragon aspires to deliver the highest level of recurring revenue from its string of appreciating prime properties across the diversified sunrise industries of provincial retail, office, hotels and industrial facilities,” he added.

Industrial leasing is one of DoubleDragon’s four pillars of growth, which include provincial retail leasing, office leasing and hospitality.

“We are very optimistic for the growth prospects of CentralHub as we expect the demand for modern industrial complexes to continue to increase significantly as more companies will require modern standardized multi-use warehouses suited for commissaries, cold storage, light manufacturing and logistic distribution centers,” said DoubleDragon chief investment officer Hannah Yulo.

ICTSI guarantees loan facility to fund port deal in Sudan

By Darwin G. Amojelar INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said it will guarantee the 260 million euro facility loan of ICTSI Middle East DMCC, which recently secured a 20year contract to operate, manage and develop a port in Sudan.

ICTSI said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange its board authorized its execution of a term loan facility agreement in which the company will be acting as the guarantor and ICTSI Middle East DMCC as the borrower.

ICTSI said the agreement follows a deal signed on July 24, 2014 by ICTSI Global Finance B.V. as the borrower, the company as the guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon, Singapore Branch as the trustee.

The agreement relates to a term loan credit facility for an aggregate amount of 260 million euro with a tenor of up to four years.

Citigroup Global Markets Asia Ltd. and Standard Chartered Bank were appointed as exclusive original mandated lead arrangers and book runners of the facility, while Citicorp International Ltd. was named the facility agent.

ICTSI Middle East DMCC earlier signed a concession agreement with Sea Ports Corporation of Sudan to operate, manage and develop the South Port Container Terminal for a 20-year period at the port of Port Sudan, Sudan.

ICTSI will assume the operational and development responsibility for SPC’s existing container terminal infrastructure and terminal handling equipment, while SPC will become the landlord and supervisory authority of the terminal.

The transfer of the facilities to ICTSI management will take place in the first quarter of 2019.

extrastory2000@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

UN to discuss new Yemen mission

UNITED NATIONS―The UN Security Council will on Wednesday discuss a proposal for a new observer mission to Yemen to monitor a ceasefire and oversee a pullback of forces, diplomats said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined the proposal in a letter to the council seen by AFP after the Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels agreed to a truce during talks in Sweden last month.

The new mission would provide for the initial deployment of up to 75 monitors to the ports of Hodeida, Saleef and Ras Isa, backed by additional administrative and security staff, according to the proposal.

The international observers would “monitor the compliance of the parties to the ceasefire in Hodeida governorate and the mutual redeployment of forces from the city of Hodeida and the ports of Hodeida, Saleef and Ras Isa,” according to the document.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths will brief the council on Wednesday on his latest efforts to end the war following a new round of shuttle diplomacy in rebel-held Sanaa and in Riyadh.

On Tuesday, Griffiths met with Yemen’s President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in Riyadh after holding talks with Huthi rebel leaders in Sanaa.

The United Nations is proposing to bring the sides together again for a new round of talks later this month, probably in Kuwait.

The proposed mission “would contribute to sustaining the fragile political process recently relaunched by the special envoy,” said Guterres in his proposal.

“This would provide important support for the special envoy’s efforts to facilitate an inclusive political process with the aim of reaching a negotiated settlement that will bring about a permanent end to the conflict in Yemen.”

Business/World

Once the council endorses the proposal, diplomats would begin negotiations on a draft resolution to formally establish the mission. AFP

Trump demands $5.7b for barrier WASHINGTON―President Donald Trump demanded $5.7 billion to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border in his first televised Oval Office address Tuesday, describing a “growing crisis” of illegal immigration hurting millions of Americans.

The president stopped short of calling for a much-touted state of emergency, instead appealing to the need to slash the cost of the illegal drug trade, which he put at $500 billion a year.

“There is a growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border.

Every day customs and border patrol agents encounter thousands of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country,” Trump said.

“We are out of space to hold them and we have no way to promptly return them back home to their country. America proudly welcomes millions of lawful immigrants who enrich our society and contribute to our nation. But all Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration.”

Trump had spent days mulling declaring a state of emergency along the border that would have given him powers to bypass Congress, which has so far refused to fund the wall project, and draw funds from the military to build the border barrier.

He didn’t mention the idea in his nineminute address but repeated his call for a wall and spoke of an “overall approach” that would use technology for detecting drugs and weapons.

“At the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall. This barrier is absolutely critical to border security. It’s also what our professionals at the border want and need,” he said.

“This is just common sense. The border wall would very quickly pay for itself.” AFP

B3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

United Nations hit hard after US cut its funding U NITED NATIONS―The year 2019 started off at the United Nations with Somalia brazenly kicking out the UN envoy, followed soon after by Guatemala ditching a UN-sponsored anti-corruption commission.

After a tough year that saw the United States, the UN’s top financial backer, cut funding, pull out of the Human Rights Council and scrap UN-backed agreements, the United Nations is taking more hard hits.

Some UN watchers are questioning whether the global organization created at the end of World War II to safeguard world peace is facing a slow demise, increasingly under attack by governments with nationalist agendas.

Nearing the half-way mark in his fiveyear tenure, UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned that multilateralism is under

fire at a time when the world needs it most.

Leading the anti-UN charge is President Donald Trump whose AmericaFirst approach to foreign policy has emboldened other governments to thumb their noses at the United Nations, analysts say.

“The UN is having a nerve-wracking start to 2019,” said Richard Gowan, senior policy fellow at UN University.

While the United Nations may not be on the brink of total collapse, “the Trump administration’s attitude encourages others to defy the UN,” he said.

On Monday, the new envoy for Syria, Geir Petersen of Norway, took up his post as the UN’s fourth peace broker, but the United Nations has been sidelined by Russia and Iran in its efforts to end nearly eight years of war.

Peacekeeping—at the heart of the UN’s security approach—is under serious financial strain after the United States announced plans in late December to further cut back its budget contribution.

Meanwhile, the Security Council is

divided over how to respond to the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Both Somalia and Guatemala have cited UN interference to justify their decisions.

UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Haysom was declared persona non grata last week after he questioned the Mogadishu government’s decision to arrest an Al-Shabaab defector who ran for election.

Guatemala announced it was unilaterally ending the mandate of a UN-backed anti-corruption commission that had been looking into President Jimmy Morales’ election campaign finances.

Jeffrey Feltman, the UN’s former political chief who stepped down last year, worries that the United States and European powers no longer have the UN’s back when disagreements like those with Guatemala or Somalia arise.

“What concerns me is that there no longer seems to be effective push-back against such decisions,” said Feltman, now a fellow at the Brookings Institution. AFP

PECO’s fate is no longer in the hands of the Cachos PANAY Electric Co. Inc., or Peco, will officially cede control of the electricity distribution in Iloilo City on January 18 to either the government or MORE Electric and Power Corp. of businessman Enrique Razon Jr. Either way, the Cacho family will lose the business with PECO reduced to a shell company with no tangible assets to hold on after the Senate public services committee, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, in November voted unanimously in favor of House Bill No. 8132 granting MORE the franchise to operate a distribution system in Iloilo City.

A number of key industry players, however, may provide a twist and cause a series of corporate maneuvers that could complicate the identity of MORE as franchise holder.

Some analysts say Mr. Razon will likely use MORE and his Prime Metroline Holdings Inc. in the possible takeover of PECO to preserve the latter’s electricity distribution assets and prevent a disruption of power services in Iloilo City. In such a case, Mr. Razon will inevitably sit down with the Lopez Group that controls 30 percent of PECO. The Lopez Group is playing coy so far in the word word war between the Cacho family, which controls 70 percent of the Iloilo power distributor. But a source said the Lopez Group could soon be an active go-between for the Cachos and Mr. Razon to pave the way for a smooth takeover. Many things could happen in these negotiations, depending on the tack Mr. Razon will take.

For one, Mr. Razon may resort to flipping MORE for quick profit. He can quickly sell MORE to an interested party, including the Lopezes and the Cachos, or even the Aboitiz Group. Mr. Razon’s Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. back in 2010 sold its 30-percent stake in National Grid Corp. of the Philippines to OneTaipan Holdings Corp. of Henry Sy Jr., after his group just won the franchise to operate the government’s nationwide power transmission system.

The interest of the Lopez Group in keeping a stake in the Iloilo electricity distribution business is understandable. First Philippine Holdings Corp. of the Lopez Group in 1996 purchased 30 percent of the capital stock of PECO in exchange for a stake in Panay Power Corp., which operates a 72-MW diesel plant in Iloilo City. Iloilo City and the province are the bailiwick of the Lopezes and they surely want to join the city’s current economic boom.

The Cachos led by president Luis Miguel Cacho and chairman Mariano Cacho Jr., meanwhile, will have to agree on a buyout of the family’s 70-percent stake in PECO, unless they can get an ally with the financial muscle and offer Mr. Razon a price he cannot resist.

The power standoff in Iloilo City, one way or another, will be resolved through a series of corporate maneuvers that will hopefully result in a win-win solution The Department of Energy earlier warned that it would take over the operations of PECO if it refuses to turn over its distribution facilities to MORE. The DoE, according to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, had formed a task force with the National Electrification Administration to take over PECO’s facilities and operations in case the company refuses to implement a transition plan.

Mr. Razon has minced no words in slamming PECO and its alleged poor electricity services in the central Visayan city. He criticized PECO for alleged inefficiencies that paved the way for his company MORE to apply for the franchise to distribute electricity in Iloilo City.

“Four generations of Ilonggos have suffered under PECO. Neither are they heard by PECO, who has not addressed the many pending complaints– numbering 1,800―against it… Clearly, it is time that the Ilonggos are relieved of their misery,” Razon, who also chairs port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., said.

Razon got into the new business through Apex Mining Co. Inc., which owns Monte Oro Resources and Energy Inc., later renamed MORE Electric and Power Corp. Razon’s Prime Metroline, which owns Bloomberry Resorts Corp., subscribed to 2 billion shares of Monte Oro. Prime Metroline is now the single biggest stockholder of Apex.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard.net or extrastory2000@gmail.com

VISIT. Miss Philippines/Universe Catriona Gray visits AOL Build at Build Studio on January 08, 2019, in New York City. AFP

Singapore’s Maduro ignores legitimacy questions tourism plan sparks protest SINGAPORE―Singapore is creating a vast eco-tourism zone in a bid to bring in more visitors, but environmentalists fear the development will damage natural habitats and are already blaming it for a series of animal deaths.

While it may be best known as a financial hub with scores of high-rise buildings, tropical Singapore is still home to patches of rain forest and an array of wildlife, from monkeys to pangolins—also known as scaly anteaters.

In one green corner of the city sits a zoo and two sister attractions -- a night safari and river safari -- that have long been big draws for foreign and local visitors.

Now jungle is being cleared in the same area to make way for a bird park, a rain forest park and a 400-room resort, to create a green tourism hub it is hoped will eventually attract millions of visitors a year.

But the project in the Mandai district has ruffled the feathers of environmentalists.

They believe that rather than promote biodiversity, it is too imposing for the area, will destroy forest habitats and they say insufficient safeguards were put in place before work began—leading to animals being killed on roads.

The row has highlighted concerns about rapid development in spacestarved Singapore, and worries that some of the country’s more wild and green corners are being lost only to be replaced with something more artificial.

“I think you are getting your priorities wrong if you are replacing natural heritage with captive breeding,” Subaraj Rajathurai, a veteran wildlife consultant, told AFP. AFP

CARACAS―Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will begin his second mandate on Thursday plagued by accusations of illegitimacy and increasing international isolation in a country crippled by an economic crisis.

The 56-year-old leader will be sworn in by the Supreme Court rather than the sidelined—and opposition controlled —parliament having been reelected in May in a poll boycotted by the majority of the opposition and dismissed as a fraud by the United States, European Union and Organization of American States.

The EU even reiterated on Tuesday its call for new and “free” elections.

“We believe the (2018) presidential election was neither free nor credible.

The EU demands a new election that is free and fair,” said EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic.

With the exception of Mexico, the Lima Group—made up of 14 mostly Latin American countries—has urged

Maduro to renounce his second term and deliver power to parliament, a demand Caracas blasted as incitement to stage a coup d’etat.

Maduro’s second term coincides with the assumption of power in Brazil of one of his greatest detractors, ultra-conservative Jair Bolsonaro who, backed by US President Donald Trump, is looking to form a regional coalition against the “dictatorship.”

Increasingly shunned by its neighbors —the OAS plans to hold an extraordinary session Thursday to discuss Venezuela—Caracas has reached out ever more to its few remaining international allies: Russia, China, Iran, Turkey and North Korea.

“Those who refuse to recognize the legitimacy of Venezuela’s institutions will be given a reciprocal and opportune response, we’ll act very firmly,” said Maduro, who has the support of the military and the controversial Constitutional Assembly that he created last year to bypass parliament. AFP

DEMOLITION. In this picture taken on November 22, 2018, Indian laborers clear rubble from a demolished building in the Lahori Tola area of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh state. India’s ancient city of Varanasi is clearing the way for a grand temple corridor by razing hundreds of houses, wiping away its oldest neighborhood and irking locals. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

SCHOLARS’ THANKS. Over 1,000 alumni from different parts of the country recently gathered at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City to celebrate the 25 years of the SM Scholarship program. The assembly started with a series of inspirational talks from SM Foundation trustees led by SM Investments Corp. executive director Harley T. Sy. SM Alumni showed their gratitude to the founder of the SY conglomerate by giving testimonials of how their lives changed and became better. To date, SM Foundation supports 4,000 college scholars and 2,000 technical-vocational scholars in different parts of the country who are enrolled in partner schools. SM scholars enjoy a choice of specialization in accounting, information technology, engineering and education; full tuition, monthly allowance, part-time job opportunities during school breaks, job offers with the SM group upon graduation, and fun-filled activities and enrichment programs. Jun David

GenTri opens BOSS for faster biz registration GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite— Mayor Antonio “Ony” Ferrer has launched the GenTri Fast Track Service tagged as “Business One-Stop Shop” payment scheme for business owners through the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office.

Ferrer said on Wednesday the local government’s BOSS caters to processing of all business permits, filing and renewal needs, thus saving business owners the time and effort to do the procedures all in one place at the Audio Visual room, 3rd floor of the city hall building.

He said proprietors no longer have to hop from one place to another and spend long lines and hours waiting at the city hall.

“We placed all the city departments involved in the filing of permits to be housed in one location,” Ferrer said.

“You literally don’t have to leave the place. Instead of you going to the offices, the office comes to you,” the mayor added.

Ferrer said the higher revenues the city collects, the bigger the city budget that will be translated to better services for education, health, infrastructures, and social services.

According to BPLO Head Romel Olimpo, the transactions and the business permit renewal under the the BOSS scheme will be open from 8 am to 5 pm for the renewal of business permits without penalties until Feb. 8.

SBMA ‘saddened’

by Hanjin debt S

UBIC BAY FREEPORT― Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Wilma T. Eisma on Wednesday said she was saddened to learn that Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines is facing serious financial trouble.

Hanjin, which is currently the biggest foreign investor in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, filed on Tuesday a petition at the Regional Trial Court in Olongapo City to initiate voluntary rehabilitation under Republic Act 10142, “An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation or Liquidation of Financially Distressed Enterprises and Individuals.”

Hanjin officials, Eisma said, had revealed that the company owes some $400 million in outstanding loans from Philippine banks on top of another $900 million in debts with lenders in South Korea.

Eisma said she was informed that the company still has six pending multi-million new building projects at its Redondo Peninsula shipyard here, and that these may have to be cancelled if a rehabilitation plan does not materialize.

“The bottom line is that the company said it does not have enough cash to repay its loans, and that it cannot continue with its operations under these circumstances,” Eisma said.

“It’s really sad that Hanjin would be

in dire financial straits after successfully building some of the world’s biggest ships here and putting the Philippines in the map as the world’s fifth largest shipbuilder,” she added.

HHIC-Phil, which has focused in building high-value vessels, was established in 2006 as a subsidiary of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd., a multinational company that provides shipbuilding, construction, and plant services in South Korea and internationally.

After frenzied construction of its 300-hectare shipyard began in May 2006, HHIC-Phil rolled out its first ship, the “Argolikos” in July 2008.

With some $2.3 billion in foreign direct investments here, the firm proceeded to manufacture some of the world’s biggest cargo and container ships, bulk carriers, liquefied petroleum gas carriers, very large crude oil carriers and very large ore carriers.

According to company records, Hanjin has delivered since 2008 a total of 123 vessels to valued clients across the globe,

thus cementing its foothold in the highly competitive shipbuilding market.

In the course of its operation, the Korean firm also became the biggest employer among all registered businesses in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone with some 30,000 employees at peak season, and was recognized by both the Philippine Exporter Foundation and the Department of Trade and Industry as top export performer.

However, in face of recent liquidity problem, Hanjin has laid off more than 7,000 workers last December, Eisma said.

The firm is about to lay off another 3,000 early this year until just about 300 local workers and as few as seven Korean supervisors would remain in March to do facility maintenance, she added.

“The SBMA, of course, expressed its concern about the separation of shipyard workers, but we received assurances that those who were laid off were amply compensated. Still, we’re having this aspect checked out,” Eisma said.

She added that the SBMA is now working with Hanjin officials to find some way to keep the shipbuilder, which has helped build Subic’s huge reputation in the global maritime industry.

“I really hope that Hanin’s creditors would agree to some rehabilitation plan, or that the company would find some financial partner to continue with its shipbuilding operations in Subic,” Eisma said.

Chinese visit validates CL as tourist spot

By Romeo Dizon CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga― The promotion of Central Luzon as one of the majors tourist destinations of the country is now a reality after 525 Chinese tourists visited this historic former military base on Wednesday.

The tourists on board of MV World Dream cruise ship made a port call in Subic Bay and visited the land-based tourism spots of the former American airbase.

On board 15 luxury buses, they toured the different spots of the sprawling Freeport like the Nayon Filipino, Clark Museum, souvenir shops, parade ground, barn houses, historical buildings, White House, Mimosa Filinvest Leisure Estate, Bicentennial Park, K9 cemetery among others.

Their cruise ship is docked at the Alava Wharf in Subic, Zambales.

At the Clark Museum, the tourists were treated with 35 minutes film showing on the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 in 4D. The China National Tourism Administration statistics show that about 130 million Chinese travel overseas in 2017.

To cater for more tourists and investments in the region, Subic Freeport is now engaged in capacity building to attract cruise ships to make port of call in the area.

Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Clark Development Corporation including Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the PhilDiliman Confucius Institute to educate officials and employees on the customs and language of the Chinese tourists visiting the country.

NV crime rate drops in Q4 2018— police

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— Crime incidents in this province have decreased during the fourth quarter of 2018, police officials here said.

Police Senior Supt. Jeremias Aglugub, Philippine National Police provincial director, said Nueva Vizcaya only posted 694 crime incidents compared to 1,126 for the same period in 2017.

“Physical injury, motornapping and rape are the most prevalent index crimes. On non-index crimes, reckless imprudence cases and others decreased. Violation of special laws however increased,” he said.

Aglugub attributed the drop in vehicular accidents to the conduct of two Road Safety Summits in the province during the third quarter last year.

“Through the Road Safety Summits, our riding public were further empowered on traffic laws and regulations that provide protection for them,” he said.

For various crimes, Aglugub said physical injury incidents registered the highest with 43, followed by rape with 25, motornapping with 20, theft with 18, robbery with 14, murder with 8 and homicide with 4.

The prevailing analysis and forecast show that the province is generally peaceful and enjoying a good atmosphere, the provincial police chief said.

“Crime situation does not totally affect the socio-economic development of the province,” he added.

‘Munti scholars remain despite political leaning’

TOP FISHERMAN. Fisherman Manuelito Villanueva (seventh from right, holding

certificate) stands with his family and other awardees of the Most Outstanding Navoteño Fisherfolk after receiving the award from Mayor John Rey Tiangco. Jun David

New recruits boost Davao City police force DAVAO CITY—The Davao City Police Office has added more than a hundred new recruits that will serve as additional force in its anti-criminality drive.

Police Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum said the infusion of additional officers has increased the DCPO’s strength to more than 2,000 personnel.

“They are the new graduates of PRO [Police Regional Office] 11. This is the biggest number that is downloaded to DCPO primarily because of the request of the City Peace and Order Council during the last meeting,” Tagum said.

Tagum said the additional personnel will be distributed to the 12 police precincts, traffic, and the mobile patrol group.

Meanwhile, he said the planned expansion of the DCPO into a police district is still under study by the National Police Commission.

“The proposal is being studied but according to our contacts, it is favorable to Napolcom. Its approval would be appropriate because the biggest city in Mindanao can now be elevated to a district office,” he added.

Tagum said the expansion may take place two years from now. PNA

THE Muntinlupa Scholarship Program said there’s no truth to the video making the rounds in the Internet and assured local scholars of the City Government’s impartiality in the implementation of its programs and delivery of public service.

MSP released its official statement on its Facebook page following the posting of a video in social media claiming the removal of local government scholars in the grounds of political preference.

MSP warned the scholars to be vigilant and wary against fake news with the intent to mislead the public.

Muntinlupa City holds the most number of scholarship program beneficiaries in the country with over 60,000 scholars.

The local government offers a comprehensive educational assistance program for students in elementary to college, including technical-vocational, graduate school, and for students taking up law and medicine.

Established in 1990, the scholarship program in Muntinlupa City initially catered to college students in local universities including the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, then called Muntinlupa Polytechnic College.

On 2013, under the leadership of Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, the local government

expanded to an inclusive scholarship bracketing as educational assistance was made available for elementary and high school students.

Mayor Jamie Fresnedi stressed his commitment to uphold fairness and objectivity in governance during his message in the local government’s flag raising rites last Jan. 7.

“The local government will remain to place public service above politics. We are committed to be unbiased in the delivery of service for all Muntinlupeños, no one left behind,” Fresnedi said.

The local exec urged local officials to observe solidarity despite approaching the mid-year elections as to not hamper or delay services for the constituents.

Department of the Interior and Local Government-Muntinlupa director Bing Ferino (second from left) confers an ‘deal’ status marker to Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (center) for the local government’s outstanding initiatives in building drug-free communities on Monday. Muntinlupa earned the high standing for garnering 90 points in DILG’s AntiDrug Abuse Council on 2017. The city government was lauded for its exemplary efforts in complementing the national government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. Also in photo are Drug Abuse Prevention and Control chief Florecito Ragudo and City Councilors Alan Camilon, Louie Arciaga, and Ivee Tadefa.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

Baby care

C1

BABY LOVE. Local baby

care brand Orange and Peach, which specializes in products that help mothers nurture their babies, brings its products to more parents with its partnership with Rustan’s.

in the hands of a mother A

HOMEGROWN brand that specializes in products that help moms nurture their babies recently launched its partnership with a premier department store via an afternoon shopping party.

Orange and Peach was launched in 2011 primarily to answer the needs of mothers in breastfeeding and childrearing. It has grown today into a 100 percent local brand that offers effective, practical, and affordable products.

The brand brings its products to more moms and babies, or oranges and peaches, so to speak, through Rustan’s department stores.

Guests who attended the shopping and launch party were introduced to Orange and Peach products including breastfeeding essentials, health and safety, feeding, bathing, and grooming.

They were also treated to special discounts, offers, and prizes.

While the moms were busy shopping, kids were delighted with the Parol Cookie decorating station. The guests were also served sumptuous Filipino snacks especially prepared for the event.

One of the event’s highlights was the informative talk held by Dr. Elton S. Po on how to care for babies especially in times of colds and flu. This was further enriched with the introduction of Orange and Peach’s battery-operated Nasal Cleaner, a device that effectively yet gently removes mucus to help relieve nasal congestion.

Orange and Peach is available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Gateway, Rustan’s Alabang Town Center, and Rustan’s Cebu.

Nothing keeps babies looking tidy more than a mother’s gentle touch and a gentle wooden brush.

From left: Silicone Bib, Battery-operated Nasal Cleaner, Wooden Hairbrush Set, Nipple Balm, Nasal Cleaner

Senate spouses play Santa MEMBERS of the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. recently played Santa to the children from the Gentle Hands Orphanage in Quezon City.

A joint project of the SSFI and SM, the event was a day of fun for the kids who were treated to lunch at Jollibee and shopping at The SM Store in SM Megamall.

Senate spouses Audrey Zubiri (wife of Senator Migz Zubiri), Gladys P. Cruz (wife of Sen. Joel Villanueva), and Kathryna Yu-Pimentel (wife of Sen. Coco Pimentel), together with Councilor Gian Sotto and Beverly Sotto who represented Helen Sotto (wife of Senate President Tito Sotto), took the kids around the store to shop during the yearly Christmas outreach program.

Jinky Pacquiao (wife of Sen. Manny Pacquiao) and Cindy Ejercito (wife of Sen. JV Ejercito) likewise sent their representatives.

They then proceeded to Wendy’s for some snacks, and as a touching gesture, the kids sang a thank you Christmas carol before returning to Gentle Hands Orphanage, spreading more the spirit of sharing love and thanksgiving.

The holiday affair was held during Christmas in November, an annual gift-giving event to the kids of The SM Store Megamall. Now on its 20th year, the Christmas in November is one of the ways the SM Store in Megamall spreads cheer to the less fortunate during the Christmas season.

The children from the Gentle Hands Orphanage with Senate Spouses Foundation member Gladys P. Cruz, Audrey Zubiri, and Katrhyna YuPimentel as well as Beverly Sotto and SM’s senior vice president for marketing and communications Millie Dizon.

The kids filled their bags with goodies from The SM Store Megamall and their tummies with yummy treats from Jollibee.

SM Retail Chairman Teresita Sy-Coson (center) with Gladys P. Cruz, Audrey Zubiri, and Katrhyna Yu-Pimentel, and Jollibee’s vice president and head for corporate affairs Carina Agarao

Life

C2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

R

USTIC countryside meets luxury living in Tagaytay Highlands’ exclusive and premier log cabin.

Luxury log cabin living

Set against panoramic vistas of mountain ranges and lush f lora, Woodlands Point is home to a community of charming, contemporary ski resort-inspired luxury log cabins.

Sprawled on a 12-hectare, lowdensity neighborhood, Woodlands Point blends harmoniously with its lush landscapes of thousands of Norfolk pine trees and the serene backdrop of the Canlubang countryside, Laguna de Bay, and verdant mountains.

Residents can savor the year-round cool and misty weather nestled on one of the most elevated terrains in Tagaytay Highlands for the perfect mountaintop ambiance.

Those who dream of spending summers in a log cabin can do so in these homes made of Western red cedar, a sturdy handsome hardwood from Canada that lasts a lifetime and exudes a fragrant scent.

As they are inspired by the log cabins of North America, homes at Woodlands Point, ranging in size RUSTIC CHARM. Each stylish home at Woodlands Point has beautifully designed living spaces made of quality craftsmanship and engineered floorings. from 239 to 320 square meters, are impeccably crafted with elegant detailing of glass and stone and large picture windows for an unobstructed view of the countryside.

Luxury comes in the form of beautifully designed living spaces—living and dining areas with high ceilings allowing natural light and ventilation, spacious bedrooms, en-suite toilets and baths, and a semi-furnished kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, cooking range, and range hood.

Call (02) 505-2422 or visit www. tagaytayhighlands.com for more information.

Tagaytay Highlands’ exclusive and premier log cabin community Woodlands Point features charming homes, ranging from 239 to 320 square meters, made of Western red cedar imported from Canada.

TO REGIFT OR NOT TO REGIFT:

5 things to do with unwanted holiday gifts RECEIVING an unwanted present has happened to everyone.

While the thought definitely counts, there are times when the gift doesn’t suit one’s needs, size, and preferences, and thus needs to be put to a good use, or better still, find a new home.

“Christmas is the most festive holiday celebration in the Philippines. Even before December 25th, Filipinos had already given gifts to their friends and gone to numerous parties, where prizes are raffled off,” said Rambo Joinani, head of goods and services at OLX, the leading online classifieds platform in the Philippines.

Joinani further related, “Some of these presents and raffle items don’t end up being useful to their recipients, though.

On OLX alone, the number of consumer-to-consumer listings in certain categories grew by as much as 24 percent from October 2018 to the first few weeks of December 2018. Brand new TVs, tablets, and smartphones are listed on our platform, their item descriptions indicating that they were either a gift or a raffle prize from a party.”

The online classifieds platform suggests five ways to make There are several ways to make the best out of a gift that doesn’t fit.

the best out of unwanted gifts so they don’t end up gathering dust in a closet.

Sell online

Those who find themselves with a gift that just isn’t the right fit don’t have to be stuck with it forever, as they can make money out of it by selling it online. OLX provides a wide-reaching and accessible platform, connecting people who buy and sell brand new and pre-owned items and services.

Donate

Giving gifts or even party raffle prizes and tokens to nonprofit organizations or charities is a great way to give back to those in need. Just make sure the items to be donated will be useful to their new owners.

Swap

Got other friends who received something they don’t need or want? Host a gift-swapping party. Invite friends and tell them to bring their unwanted gifts for browsing, and let them pick the ones they want. That way, each one has a chance to trade in a gift for something they’d actually enjoy. Unwanted holiday gifts can also be put up for swap on OLX.

Do-It-Yourself

Transforming unwanted gifts is a great way to keep things out of the dump. These little projects allow gift receivers to completely repurpose items into something useful like a gift mug transformed into a pen holder or flower pot, a handkerchief as bag design or accessory, or a picture frame turned into a light switch design cover.

Regift

Those who know someone who will love and actually use/appreciate the gift can spread the joy by passing the unwanted present on to someone who will want it. Be careful, though: avoid an awkward situation by giving the present to someone who is not acquainted with the original sender. Make sure the gift is not customized, say, it has the intended receiver’s initials.

SALE ALERT Discounted digital appliances

CMA regional winner for Visayas Rosario Amoroto and Joey Concepcion

16th CMA national winner Erwin Ramos and Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed

Award celebrates Filipino microentrepreneurs NINE outstanding Filipino micro business owners, who overcame adversity to achieve success, were formally honored in a ceremony held at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Citi Foundation, and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. recognized the microentrepreneurs during the 16th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards.

Extolling the value of unwavering perseverance, hard work, and innovation displayed by the winners, Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed said Citi is “honored to recognize and celebrate successful entrepreneurs whose perseverance, determination and conviction to pursue their dreams serve as an inspiration to others.”

Accepting the top award was Erwin Ramos of Bulacan, producer of fishballs and other processed products.

Ramos was joined by other awardees: Maria Elena Estadola, a handicrafts business owner, regional awardee for Luzon; Rosario Amoroto, a calamansi processing business owner, regional awardee for Visayas; Arnold Viado, a balut producer, regional awardee for

Mindanao; and Mary Grace Bayalas, midwife and owner of a birthing home, Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year.

Special awards recipients were Estrella Balnao, a coffee farmer and producer; and Romeo Ponio, a corn and vegetable farmer, who both took home the recognition for agri microbusiness. The special award for community leadership went to Jessette Oquendo, owner of a pasalubong center for Palawan crafts; while Marisa Ganding, a spa and wellness center owner, received the special award for startup microbusiness.

The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards has, since its inception, remained steadfast in its mission of raising awareness on the transformative power of microentrepreneurship and microfinancing, serving as tools in poverty alleviation.

BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier underscored how the CMA program “has served as a vehicle to encourage other aspiring microentrepreneurs nationwide and to spread the message that through the value and nobility of hard work, anything is possible.”

Samsung treats homeowners who want to upgrade their homes with new digital appliances offered at up to 20 percent off until Jan. 31.

Families can eat healthier with the Top Mount Freezer Refrigerator, which uses its Smart Conversion technology to prolong the freshness of produce while saving energy. Aspiring chefs can develop their cooking skills with the Smart Oven, a 6-in-1 kitchen solution which works as a griller, steamer, fryer, oven, microwave, and yogurt maker.

Homemakers can keep their homes fresh and snug with newly washed clothes and linens with the help of Activ DualWash Fully Automatic Top Load Washing Machine, an all-in-one laundry partner that can handle from pre-washing to the actual cycle. Families can bond comfortably with the Wind-Free Air Conditioner, with thousands of micro-holes that evenly distribute cold air without direct wind draft.

On top of the generous discount, customers can also avail of eVouchers or bundle items from restaurants, convenience stores, and travel brands.

Go to Samsung Electronics Philippines’ official Facebook page for more information.

Samsung has an ongoing digital appliances sale.

From left: Citi Philippines public affairs head Lisa Coory, BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, and BSP Inclusive Finance Advocacy Office concurrent head Pia Roman Tayag

Entertainment

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

COCO and ANGEL

Daddy's Gurl's Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza

M

EDIA giant GMA Network capped off another successful year as it continued to lead in nationwide ratings throughout 2018 based on full year data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider.

From January to December (with Dec. 23 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA tallied 40.8 percent total day people audience share, which bested ABS-CBN’s 37.5 percent, in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM).

The Kapuso network was also the most watched station in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila —winning across all day parts including the hotly contested primetime block. Urban Luzon and Mega Manila respectively account for 76 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

Full year 2018 data showed that GMA still kept a doubledigit advantage in Urban Luzon with 45.9 percent total day people audience share while its rival only managed to get 31.5 percent.

With official data from January up to Dec. 22, the network posted an even bigger margin in its bailiwick Mega Manila with 47.7 percent, which was way ahead of ABS-CBN’s 28.7 percent.

For the month of December 2018, GMA registered 38 percent total day people audience share in NUTAM as against ABS-CBN’s 34.8 percent.

The Kapuso channel similarly maintained its winning streak in the viewer-rich Urban Luzon with 42.8 percent versus competition’s 28.8 percent.

Furthermore, GMA led competition in Mega Manila (with official data from Dec. 1 to 22) with 44.6 percent outscoring the 26.1 percent of ABS-CBN. Kapuso shows also took the lion’s share in NUTAM’s list of overall top programs for 2018 with the awardwinning magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) holding the top spot as the most-watched GMA program for the year.

Following KMJS were Daddy’s Gurl, The Clash, Kambal Karibal, Pepito Manaloto, Onanay, 24 Oras, Victor Magtanggol,

GMA Network reigns in 2018 nationwide TV ratings Magpakailanman, and Studio 7.

Also included in the list of top-rating Kapuso shows last year were Super Ma’am, The Cure, Cain at Abel, Sherlock Jr., Amazing Earth, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Inday Will Always Love You, and Lip Sync Battle Philippines.

“Coming from the network’s strong ratings performance in 2018, we are optimistic that we will be able to deliver even better numbers in 2019 as we prepare to launch a number of exciting and innovative programs,” said GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon.

As GMA’s opening salvo for 2019, three new primetime offerings are set to launch within the first quarter: the inspiring story of a young Badjao woman in Sahaya , which will be headlined by Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix; GMA Public Affairs’ political romantic comedy series TODA One I Love, which will feature the well-loved pair of Kylie

The lead cast of "Onanay"

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, January 10, 2018

ACROSS 1 Doctrine 6 Trivial mistake 10 Squirrel’s abode 14 Lower in dignity 15 Prefix for “trillion” 16 Lubricates 17 Florida bay 18 Pavlov or Turgenev 19 Tasteless 20 Tar’s reply 21 Soft wool 23 Greek cheese 24 Makes indistinct 26 Actress — Witherspoon 28 Tight spot 30 Brightness 32 Arrange for 33 Bouquet 34 Slice 37 Wedding word 41 Use a calculator 42 Ms. Verdugo 43 Game-show prize 44 Ferber novel 45 Circumvents 47 Goatee sites 49 Famed orca 50 Noted limerick maker 51 Eucalyptus diners

54 Great many 57 Sour-tasting 58 Swit co-star 59 Ladder cousin 61 Pickling herb 62 In good order 63 State Farm rival 64 “What — is new?”

65 A portion of 66 Onion relatives DOWN 1 Brit’s farewell (hyph.)

2 Auction site 3 Well-known (hyph.)

4 Mind-reader’s letters 5 Join forces (2 wds.)

6 Moves a little 7 Jacob’s son 8 Modern Persia 9 View 10 Molasses candy 11 Exasperates 12 Overjoy 13 This, in Madrid 22 Previous to 25 Director Fritz — 27 Latin 101 word 28 Pet-adoption org.

29 Lump of dirt 30 Bear’s com-

ment 31 “Damn Yankees” vamp 33 Nefertiti’s god 34 Wrinkle 35 Army outfit 36 Kitchen meas.

38 Horse stopper 39 Klondike natives 40 Information of note 44 Foundation garment 45 Gleeful cry

Padilla and Ruru Madrid; and lastly, a riveting tale of two sisters based on a true story from India and an urban legend in Great Britain—Kara Mia, which will star Barbie Forteza and Mika dela Cruz.

Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.

Nielsen TV Audience Measurement’s client pool covers a a total of 32 clients/subscribers consisting of 6 local TV networks including ABS-CBN, TV5, Aksyon TV and CNN Philippines, among others; 3 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; and 21 agencies (17 media agencies, 3 consulting agencies, and 1 digital agency).

46 Feudal tenant 47 — B. DeMille 48 Rains ice pellets 49 Metamorphic rock 50 Put cargo on board 52 Mock butter 53 Mr. Sandler 55 Barnyard sound 56 Grille protectors 60 Pipe joint

together in new TVC MANG Inasal, the leading branded grilled chicken, has recently launched a new television commercial (TVC) that captures the peculiar eating habits of Filipinos that make their dining “solb.”

Starring Mang Inasal endorsers Coco Martin and Angel Locsin, the 30-seconder starts with a scene where Coco and Angel are each leading a group of hungry diners to a Mang Inasal store.

Once inside Mang Inasal, Coco’s group, the “Samahang Nagkakamay,” is shown eating their Chicken Inasal with their bare hands, while Angel’s group, the “Samahang Simot,” is shown finishing their halohalo up to the last drop. Lastly, another group of diners dubbed “Samahang Crunchy Kumagat” is shown enjoying the loud crunchy bite of their Pork Sisig.

Although having different quirks when enjoying their food, these groups converge in their number one destination for delicious, satisfying food: Mang Inasal. Together, they are known as the Samahang Solb.

The 30-seconder ends with a scene showing the three groups all seated in one long table, celebrat-

Very Wang..

From C4

Reliving retro ‘80s vibe The term New Wave immediately comes to mind when listening to electronic, alt-pop band Brisom.

Sure enough, leader and band namesake Brian Sombero admits that ‘80s New Wave style pop rock and melodies have a direct influence on the band’s sound.

“I listened to the best groups of the ‘80s, New Order, The Cure, The Police, and all those bands. And the funny thing is I was opened up to these great artists because of my mom. You could say I just grew up with this music because that what’s playing in the background while I was growing up,” the musician shared.

Sombero, with drummer Jeffrey Castro, bassist Jason Rondero, and synth-keyboardist Timothy Abbott is a tight pop-rock and electronic unit that have already proven their worth on the indie band scene when they released their self-produced album Limerence two years ago.

But these days, the Brisom is keeping themselves significant with a brand new single that they released with Viva Records. Entitled “Hagkan,” the new track is a synth-drenched, mid-tempo ballad that recalls the cool sounds of, yep, the ‘80s.

The track also has an undeniable dancelike beat to it and listening to it, one can’t help but think of images and inspirations from the hit TV show “Stranger Things.”

“Actually, we also like that show and somehow, the new song and the vibe that we want to put across is somewhat inspired by Stranger Things. But that’s as far as it goes. Because I’m sure you’ll notice it right away that the song is in Tagalog.”

As far as what music style Brisom dabbles in, Sombero has a comfortable term for it. “Brisom is a Retro Wave, synth-pop band,” he declared.

Right now, there’s nobody else out there who sounds and plays like Brisom.

ing a toast with their Mang Inasal favorites, as Coco and Angel speak out “Solb sa sarap! Solb sa saya!”

According to Mang Inasal Marketing Head Aileen Natividad, their latest catchphrase perfectly captures the quick service restaurant’s brand promise, that is, to satisfy every Pinoy’s desire to be “solb” or to have their hunger satisfied with a filling meal that they can eat the way they want to.

“One sure way to be solb is to go to a place like Mang Inasal where we can eat our favorite meals the way we love to, that is, nakakamay, nagsisimut-sarap, crunchy kumagat (with our hands, finishing it to the last few bits, or with a loud crunchy sound), or whichever way we prefer,” she said.

And people are noticing them, including some pop singers who have since worked with the band, namely Rhian Ramos and Lovi Poe. Besides fronting the band as the singer-songwriter, Brian Sombero is also a producer and has produced tracks for the aforementioned artists.

But everything else takes a backseat after Brisom. “We’ve already set ourselves apart from the usual bands out there today,” said Sombero. “Right now, with the help of our Viva Records label, we want to see how far we can take the music.”

Feels like home Feel Day is an alt-rock band based in Metro Manila. The band consists of Jek Buenafe (vocals, keyboard), Jin Solomon (guitar), Kim Casim (bass), and Ram Gloria (drums).

They play all-original music that is often described as “chill”, faithful to their goal of producing songs that make every listener feel welcome and at home. Lyricwise, the songs mainly appeal to Pinoy millennials. With lots of “hugot” lines, an overall feeling of being “sawi, pero kaya pa naman”, as well as the fact that they are millennials themselves, the band is able to foster a sense of camaraderie with their listeners through the words in their songs.

As to the sound, the band follows the principle that songs should be fun to play even with just a guitar. Thus, the arrangements and the melodies are often designed to be easy and memorable.

The band heavily favors chemistry over individual skill.

For their debut under Viva Records, they gave us the tuneful track “Salamin.”

This first from the band successfully introduces who they are to the local music scene—a modern-day band with exceptional talent and a great ear for good music.

Feel Day, together with indie soul artist Hans Dimayuga, recently bagged the PhilPop 2018 2nd Runner-Up award after interpreting the song “Ako Ako”, written by the band’s frontman, Jek Buenafe.

At present, the band is working on new songs while also playing gigs around Metro Manila.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

Vintage vinyl SOME years back, I was attending a friend’s exhibit in a Makati art gallery when something caught my attention: a pool of visitors gathered around a firstrate turntable as the Dire Straits classic “Money For Nothing” plays on.

Imagine how the people encircling it or within earshot got excited upon hearing the fade-in drum rolls leading to the distorted guitar hook. There was that visceral push from the sound coming off that I did feel Mark Knopfler and his mates were like right there in the middle of it playing live.

Looking back at that precise moment, I am now less surprised that vinyl collecting has experienced a resurgence even with digital music distribution leading the way. In a piece uploaded by digitaltrends.com last year, it says that the “warmer sound of the format and widespread embrace of big-scale art” have a lot to do with it.

Early last month, I hopped in and witnessed a weekend vinyl event held at Ali Mall in Araneta Center complex, Cubao, Quezon City. The occasion was dubbed “Kagatan 29” for good reasons. It was the 29th edition of a quarterly event which began more than five years ago. Also, the word kagatan is used to pertain to the competitive nature of vinyl collectors obtaining their must-have lists, and as homage to a Juan Dela Cruz Band song of the same name.

“Na-miss ng tao yung physical aspect to music. Sa vinyl kasi, you are forced to focus on the music at uupo ka talaga para makinig,” analyzed DJ Arbie Won, proponent of Kagatan trade fairs and a strong voice in the

YUGEL LOSORATA vinyl collecting community.

Arbie expressed thrill that Kagatan grew over the years, recalling it only started with three sellers on board. The artist crowd frequenting Cubao Shoe Expo surely witnessed its growth since it is often being held there. This time, the mall exposure made it a bigger draw.

“We want to see new blood joining our community. Besides sharing the music, we can help you properly set up your sound system and build your collection at a competitive price,” he added.

A DJ of modern classic genre inclination, Arbie has a vinylheavy music store of his own called Treskul Records located at Ali X—a stylish, colorful strip of stall and stores inside Ali Mall that easily complements the lifestyle of hobbyists, high-taste artists, and bohemians. One can’t help but feel intelligently cultured and fashionsensible while strolling along in such an arts and memorabilia lane.

Kagatan 29 showcased boxes of vinyls featuring some of the greatest musical artists, LPs, and singles. A music collector in my own right, I got for myself a copy of The Beatles “Rubber Soul” package.

I agree with Arbie that the tangible allure of a physical release can’t be matched by releases in digital format.

Small wonder artists fortunate to have their records marketed in physical releases brag about them as trophy.

BennyBunnyBand, just like its name, has a unique brand of music that electrifies the local music circuit

What is KUNEHO ROCK?

A DJ Arbie Won, who owns Treskul, is a key player in Kagatan vinyl event series.

Ben&Ben ushers in the New Year with free concert

Members of the award-winning and fast-rising Folk-Pop band Ben&Ben

EVER felt like everything you want is at your fingertips, then the world suddenly tries to slow you down and personal worries get in the way, so you stop to wonder, “Is it even worth it?”

This 2019, Yellow Cab promises to make hustlers everywhere unstoppable as it backs them up and breaks down all their doubts with the So Worth It: The Yellow Cab Pizza Tour.

The tour kicked off on Jan. 5 at the Eastwood Central Plaza in Quezon City, headlined by Ben&Ben, one of the country’s most sought-after bands who continue to inspire through their musical journey.

Bringing in more entertainment are other participating artists who also prove that their music is so worth it: indie rock group Oh, Flamingo! and high-octane spinners DJ Miaow and DJ Marxx.

It won’t be Yellow Cab without the iconic pizza joint’s all-time bestseller, so hustlers can expect to get fueled up with a free slice of New York’s Finest pizza when they enter and answer this one simple question, “What is your personal chase and why is it so worth it?” Guests

also get to bring home Pizza Passes which they can use to redeem discounts for dinein purchases made at selected Yellow Cab stores.

The Pizza Tour will also land in Baguio on Jan. 12, Davao on Jan. 19, and Cebu on Jan. 26, with all stops featuring homegrown acts and Yellow Cab eats that will excite local communities.

“At Yellow Cab, we don’t just make food, we deliver generous, edge-to-edge flavors that fill you up and keep you going,” says Mark De Joya, Brand Development Director for Yellow Cab Pizza Co. “We do what we do because we want to support those who hustle the hardest for what they believe is so worth it.

We want to fuel them throughout their chase and make them unstoppable with positive energy for their hustle by serving our edge-to-edge pizzas, and legendary chicken and pasta, which anyone would agree are also so worth it,” he adds.

For more information about the So Worth It! The Yellow Cab Pizza Tour, please visithttps://www.yellowcabpizza. com/soworthit.

S UNIQUE as they may seem, BennyBunnyBand’s out of the box live performances actually have a simple reason behind it— to gain attention. They even pioneered their own music branding which people now call “Kuneho Rock.”

The genre may sound alien to most of us, because, well, it is.

In a quick chat with the band members of BennyBunnyBand, when their group together with music acts This Band, Brisom, and Feel Day were introduced as Viva Records newly signed artists, they shared how they came up with their name and what “Kuneho Rock” is all about.

“We are full of energy and ‘Kuneho Rock’ is all about energy,” band frontman Benny Giron told Manila Standard.

The young musician shared that they couldn’t find the right genre to describe their music which is why the members decided to come up with a term that could perfectly describe the band and the kind of music they play.

“Like a rabbit, the band has an overflowing source of energy. It spreads and it's electrifying. Before, we didn’t really know what genre we would fit in, we’re playing different music from numerous genres, so we decided to create our own genre that better describes us, our music,” Giron said in vernacular..

BennyBunnyBand is an electrifying three-piece band composed of Giron on ukulele and vocals, Ess Bobadilla on bass, and Jhenico “Pogi” Dela Cruz on drums.

This Band is an independent act that aims to share its stories by creating original countrypop songs

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG “When we were starting out, I wasn’t the main vocalist. It’s my brother. And our band’s former name was Pakingge Ire, it means pakinggan mo ito. We’re from Cavite. The name didn’t have an impact, so my brother who used to be part of the band suggested to use BennyBunnyBand instead,” Giron narrated.

But he didn’t buy the idea as it sounded “too self-centered,” but he finally agreed on it when he realized that the name was some sort of a tongue twister.

“Kuneho Rock is close to ‘90s OPM if you want a better description.

It is basically the product of our own style fused with our music influences including Parokya Ni Edgar, Eraserheads, and Grin Department,” Giron shared.

In September 2015, the band independently released an Extended Play (EP) album entitled Nagmamahal, BennyBunnyBand. The songs from the album are currently being played on FM radio stations and their music videos are aired on MTVph and MYX Philippines.

The undeniably fun trio started out as a five-piece but continued later on as just Benny, Ess, and Jhenico.

Funnily enough, when creating music, the band doesn’t sit down together and write. Giron said he gives the credit to their ‘chemistry’ as a band with all of the songs they’ve created.

Letting Ess and Jhenico add their own unique flair on each track. It all ends well and all that’s left is to give it all they have performing it live.

This Band is it Hitting number one at the Philippine

Viral 50 charts, heating up the Top Hits Philippines listings and just recently, breaking into the Global Viral Charts of streaming giant Spotify are just among the few things that This Band has been doing of late. That and seemingly being on everybody’s personal music playlist is the big buzz about This Band.

A six-piece band with members mostly hailing from Las Pinas, the group was formed in 2017 by a shared passion and love for all things music. What started out as a band who did cover songs for fun until they found their sound and brought it to life.

In the band’s earlier days, there was just Euwie Loria on rhythm guitar, John Macaranas on drums, and Miccael Galvan on bass. The three went through a few male vocalists. Little did they know that the voice they were looking for was that of Andrea Manzano. The sound and link so to speak, that would tie it all together for This Band.

From there, Loria started writing the songs that are now the band’s claim to fame. When they released their major hit “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na”, the band came out as a four-piece group. This continued on when they released two more of their songs that are also crowd favorites, “Bitaw Na” and “Tampisaw”.

On their latest single “Hindi Na Nga”, the band felt and looked complete as they debuted their two new members Melvin Carson on keyboards and Raymart Gubat on lead guitars.

This Band was finally complete. Their quirky and catchy name may make someone think that it wasn’t well thought out but it actually was. Coming from different bands individually, the original core members felt that this iteration of their musical life was finally it.

That their current lineup together was it. “This is it,” they would all agree. “This is the band!” Hence, This Band.

Even only after a year of being together, it’s evident that This Band quickly turned into a tightlywoven family. The music and the sound is clear. With people out of their sphere calling their songs as “millennials’ favorite hugot tracks.”

And the best thing about This Band? Is that they’re just getting started.

Their most recent achievement yet is having their hit “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na” as the theme song of the film bearing the same title, “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na.” Continued on C3