Manila Standard - 2019 January 11 - Friday

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Bank manager guilty of money laundering, gets 32 years in jail

By Julito G. Rada

VOL. XXXII • NO. 330 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A FORMER branch manager of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. was sentenced to at least 32 years in jail and fined $109 million Thursday in the first conviction over one of the biggest cyber-heists that saw $81-million stolen from Bangladesh’s central bank.

Shadowy hackers transferred the cash in 2016 from Bangladesh’s US accounts to RCBC, where it was swiftly withdrawn.

The theft exposed the Philippines as a haven for dirty money, where some of the world’s strictest bank secrecy laws protect account holders from scrutiny.

A Manila court found Maia Deguito, who was an RCBC branch manager where the money landed, guilty on eight counts of money laundering which carry a mini-

mum of four years each behind bars.

The court also ordered her to pay $109 million in fines. Deguito plans to appeal and can remain free on bail until the conviction is final.

Authorities charged that Deguito helped coordinate the transfer of the money, which was taken from Bangladesh’s reserves account at the Federal Reserve bank in the United States.

Deguito is the only person who has been convicted in the case–which has drawn international concern –her lawyer Demetrio Custodio said, adding that his client had been turned into a scapegoat.

“She could not have done this on her own. A bank the size of RCBC could not have allowed a lowly bank officer to have planned this, so there are others involved in this,” Custodio said.

Next page

Swine flu update: NAIA seizes 216 kilos of processed meat

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

EX-BANKER JAILED. Maia Santos Deguito, former branch manager RCBC-Jupiter Branch, shows different expressions during a previous Senate hearing, way before she was sentenced Thursday in the first conviction of one of the biggest ever cyberheists: 32 years in jail and a fine of $109 million. Deguito plans to appeal and can remain free on bail until conviction is made final. Lino Santos

GOVERNMENT agents confiscated more than 216 kilos of pork, beef and processed meat at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport carried by passengers who arrived from countries affected by African swine fever.

Customs agents and personnel of the Veterinary Quarantine confiscated a total of 216.8 kilos of check-in meat from China, Hong Kong and Japan from air travelers arriving at NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

Quarantine chief Enrico Miguel Capulong said the seized items include

55.5 kilos of poultry and poultry products and 75 kilos of pork and processed pork products from Chinese passengers, 69.3 kilos of beef and beef products from China and Japan, and 17 kilos of goat meat and 40 pieces of fresh eggs, also from China.

The seized meat and products were all concealed in their check-in luggage, but were seen when they went through X-ray machines.

Capulong said the seized meat and products were destroyed through burning “so that the virus or bacteria may not be spread.”

Officials of the Bureau of Customs, Next page

Two bomb plots foiled Maguindanao governor among terrorists’ targets

Traslacion effect: Tons of garbage, zero crime rate

By Francisco Tuyay, Nash B. Maulana and Vito Barcelo

By Joel E. Zurbano

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OVERNMENT troops foiled two bomb attacks in Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces, military officials said Wednesday.

METRO Manila Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar said the Traslacion during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila this year was peaceful with zero-crime incidents.

“No untoward incident. There were no casualties except there were 740 devotees who had minor injuries and were provided medical assistance,” Eleazar said.

“It was better than before but we would like to improve it more next year.”

The procession lasted for about 21 hours and seven minutes on the 6.15-kilometer procession route. The Black Nazarene’s carriage reached Quiapo Church around 2:08 a.m. on Thursday.

“We are not really concerned about the travel time because our consideration is the peace and order situation,” Eleazar said.

“Everything went well because all concerned agencies did their respective jobs.”

In the town of Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao, soldiers defused an improvised explosive device where Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu was to turn over a school building in the company of some family members, officials and a medical mission.

Brig. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of 601st Infantry Brigade, said military personnel on security duty discovered a bundle of three live 81 mm mortar shells wrapped in a plastic bag, apparently planted to go off during the ceremony.

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Comelec, law enforcers gear up for BOL plebiscite

Next page

By Francisco Tuyay

‘Auditors’ kidnap yarn made in jest’

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was not threatening the state auditors on Tuesday, he was only frustrated by the Commission on Audit’s stringent rules and processes that impede the administration’s projects, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s scathing remarks against the COA were expressions of exasperation and vexation, which was “made in playful jest” in a “usual hyperbolic style.”

“I think the remarks of the President, Next page

PEACEFUL, BUT... Police claim zero-crime incidents during the annual Traslacion during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Wednesday. But the estimated 1.4 million who attended the procession which lasted about 21 hours left tons of garbage behind which drew the ire of environmentalists.

Norman Cruz

FB ‘oldies’ likely to share fake news

Fast radio bursts a galactic mystery

WASHINGTON—Facebook users aged 65 plus and conservatives are more likely to share fake news on the platform than younger or more liberal counterparts, according to a new study published Wednesday.

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PARIS—Astronomers in Canada have detected a mysterious volley of radio waves from far outside our galaxy, according to two studies published Wednesday in Nature.

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MILITARY and police officials met with the Commission on Elections Thursday to ensure the peaceful holding of a plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law this month and the mid-term elections in May. In a joint statement, the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Committee said they had lengthy discussions on the different electoral processes, the government’s continuing efforts against

loose and undocumented firearms and the nationwide gun ban imposed by the Comelec from Jan. 13 to June 12.

The group also discussed the ongoing campaign against private armed groups and efforts to preempt the outbreak of violence in areas where political rivalry is intense.

The plebiscite to ratify the BOL, which replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, is set for Jan. 21 and Feb. 6.

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FOR ORDERLY POLLS. PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde (right) holds a news conference Thursday with AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal (left) and Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas (middle) after linking arms for a peaceful May elections where they discussed security matters at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

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News

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOH: New law boosts bid for HIV-free status

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Act is a huge step forward in responding to the growing HIV epidemic in the Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

“Now we can give the right support to Filipinos with HIV-AIDS. We are so thankful to President Duterte for giving priority and acting on the campaign against HIV-AIDS,” Duque said.

He made his statement even as Rep. Ron Salo, one of the new law’s principal authors, said parents and guardians would be among those to be made aware of the dangers that HIV-AIDS bring to their children and teenagers and to themselves.

“Including the parents and guardians as primarily responsible over the health and wellness of their children fills one of the major gaps in the HIV-AIDS awareness and treatment campaigns,” Salo said.

He said Section 13 on parents and guardians was a new provision and was not in the old law.

Meanwhile, the National Youth Commission thanked Duterte for signing into law the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Act. NYC Assistant Secretary and Commissioner Victor del Rosario said the commission was “thankful to the President as an increasing number of HIV victims belonged to the youth sector.”

Duque said while the new law had been enacted, the next step was to properly execute the law by developing implementing rules and regulations.

He said a stronger collaboration was key to attaining an HIV-free country.

“The road ahead will be long and our climb will be steep, but we will thrive and win against HIV and AIDS,” Duque said.

With Maricel V. Cruz and PNA

FB...

From A1

Researchers from Princeton University and New York University analyzed the Facebook posts of nearly 1,200 people who agreed to share their data in the aftermath of the 2016 US presidential election.

They then compared links the respondents had shared on Facebook with several lists—including one compiled by BuzzFeed—of websites known to share false information.

The study, published in Science Advances, found less than only 8.5 percent of respondents shared a link from one of these websites.

However, those that did tended to be older and self-identified as being on the conservative end of the political spectrum.

In fact, users over 65—regardless of political affiliations—shared “nearly seven times as many articles from fake news domains” as 18 to 29-year-olds, the youngest age group studied.

“No other demographic characteristic seems to have a consistent effect on sharing fake news,” the authors reported.

“It is possible that an entire cohort of Americans, now in their 60s and beyond, lacks the level of digital media literacy necessary to reliably determine the trustworthiness of news encountered online,” they suggested.

The authors also suggested the impact of aging on memory could have an effect.

“Under this account, memory deteriorates with age in a way that particularly undermines resistance to illusions of truth,” they wrote.

Although the study found that Republicans shared more fake news than Democrats, and ideologically, conservatives shared the most fake news stories—this could be due to the fact that most fake news articles produced during the 2016 presidential campaign favored US President Donald Trump.

“Had the slant of fake news been proClinton instead of pro-Trump, it is possible that more liberals than conservatives would have shared this content,” the authors wrote in a Washington Post op-ed.

Facebook has been hammered for failing to stop information manipulation and misinformation, including from Russian organizations during the 2016 US election.

Its leaders have promised more transparency in hearings in the US Congress and elsewhere, and the network has stepped up efforts to find and root out fake accounts and foreign influence campaigns. AFP

Traslacion...

From A1

But the estimated 1.4 million who attended the annual religious event left tons of garbage, which drew the ire of environmental health activists.

Members of the Ecowaste Coalition Group said tons of garbage messed up the Luneta Park and the processional route for the “Nth Time.”

Urine-filled plastic bottles, yucky diapers,

Palace unmoved by poll clamor

By Nat Mariano

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said there was no reason for the Executive department to publish Duterte’s checkup results.

“No, the Palace will not [release a medical bulletin] because the Constitution requires serious illness,” Panelo told reporters.

“The President knows he is not in serious illness, so he is not obligated to release anything about his condition.”

Panelo said Duterte had always been transparent about his health condition because he had been telling the public

about his ailments.

“He is, in fact, the most transparent President. He keeps telling us, ‘I have this sickness, this one hurts.’ I haven’t seen a President like that. He’s the most transparent,” Panelo said.

He made the remark after the latest Social Weather Stations survey found that most of those polled were concerned about the President’s health.

SWS said 66 percent of the adults it polled were worried about the President’s health while 34 percent were not.

The pollster said the number of those worried over the President’s health rose by 11 percent from the 55 percent recorded in September.

Panelo said the increase only showed that people wanted the President to remain in office.

“They don’t want to be deprived of the change that they have seen with his governance. That’s how I see it,” Panelo said.

He said the survey could also mean that an overwhelming number of Filipinos were praying for Duterte’s good health, wellbeing and a successful term.

“They worry that this President... would not last his presidency,” Panelo said.

“They fear that such an unwelcome event will deprive them of the genuine change they have seen in his unorthodox, tough

Two bomb...

Cotabato for a terror attack in an urban area.

“After the bombing in Cotabato City, I instructed the men of our Joint Task Force Central to be on heightened alert to prevent more bomb attacks in Central Mindanao,” Sobejana said, as he commended the troops for their fast action.

On New Year’s Eve, an improvised explosive device planted by suspected fighters of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters went off outside the South Seas Mall in Cotabato City killing two people and injuring dozens.

Ten days after the explosion, a suspect, Salipudin Pasandalan, 56, surrendered to the authorities but his cohorts are still being hunted.

Chief Supt. Eliseo Rasco, director of Police Regional Office-12, said two counts of murder and 34 counts of frustrated murder were filed against Pasandalan and a certain Saed Odin Kasin, who is still at large.

The Commission on Elections said

Wednesday it is considering putting Cotabato City and the municipality of Daraga in Albay province under its control due to the bomb attack in Cotabato and the killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe in Daraga.

Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said the Comelec en banc received recommendations to place the two areas under its control to prevent more violence before the May elections and to ensure the safety of candidates and voters.

Areas under Comelec control will be secured by a task force headed by one of the commissioners of the poll body and the regional commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and will be in charge of the area’s security management.

The Comelec official said should the two areas are placed under the poll body’s control, the AFP, in coordination with the PNP, can start deploying troops there. With PNA

M

ALACAÑANG said Thursday it will not release President Rodrigo Duterte’s medical bulletin in spite of public concern over it.

From A1

The governor continued with the scheduled turnover despite the bomb threat.

Soldiers, meanwhile, seized anti-personnel mines from two Islamic State-inspired terrorists in the town of Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao.

Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Central, said the land mines were recovered by troops of the 40th Infantry Battalion after a fiveminute gunfight with terrorists.

The mines were made of three unexploded 81 mm mortar shells with a triggering device, and taken from two members of the Dawlah Islamiya Toraype Group under Salahudin Hassan, Sobejana said.

He said the soldiers had been tipped off that the explosive devices were being moved to Cotabato City or Midsayap, North

Bank...

From A1

RCBC said in a statement that it was a “victim” and that Deguito was a “rogue” employee.

The Department of Justice said the case was not closed, but could not immediately provide details on other cases.

A North Korean hacker is also wanted by the United States on charges he and a state-sponsored hacking crew masterminded the Bangladesh heist.

Only $15 million of the money was recovered after it landed in the Philippines and was quickly dispersed.

Tens of millions of the loot disappeared into Manila’s casinos, which were at the time exempt from rules aimed at preventing money laundering.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas imposed a record P1 billion fine on RCBC after the discovery of the heist as it investigated the lender’s alleged role in the theft.

The US reserve bank, which manages the Bangladesh Bank account, has denied its own systems were breached.

RCBC, the 10th largest lender in terms of assets, said the conviction of Deguito, who was manager of its Jupiter, Makati branch, showed she was a “rogue employee.”

“The conviction of Deguito is consistent with the bank’s position that it is the victim in this situation and that Ms. Deguito is a rogue employee,” a statement released by the bank said.

But Deguito’s lawyer Demetrio Custodio said in an interview over CNN Philippines that they would

file a motion for consideration to appeal the decision.

“We have 15 days but we will file as soon as we can prepare a motion for reconsideration,” Custodio said.

Senate investigations found that cyber thieves stole the amount from the account of Bank of Bangladesh in the Federal Reserve i n New York and entered the Philippine banking system through the Jupiter branch of RCBC. The money were then deposited in accounts of fictitious individualsand later on laundered in local casinos.

The Department of Justice had cleared casino operator Kim Wong, junket operator Weikang Xu and the remittance firm Philrem.

For its involvement in the scam, RCBC was ordered to pay a fine of an unprecedented P1 billion, which the bank paid in tranches.

Early this week, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III maintained that the government would not interfere in any proposal of an out-of-court settlement between Bank of Bangladesh and RCBC to recover what was left of the stolen amount from its account in New York.

In a statement to reporters, Dominguez reiterated the government’s handsoff policy on this issue which was announced May last year. “Our position is unchanged,” Dominguez said.

He issued this statement after a report came out last week saying that Bank of Bangladesh was ready to file a case against RCBC in an international court by Jan. 15.

The report also said that Bank of Bangladesh already received consent from the prime minister to file lawsuits against RCBC by the deadline of Jan. 15. With AFP

Swine flu...

From A1

Bureau of Animal Industry and members of the National African Swine Fever Task Force recently met to discuss the possible entry of pork and other meat products from AFS-affected countries, namely—China, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.

In September and October last year, cases of pork contamination were recorded in Korea and Japan through dumplings and hotdogs products.

According to the BAI, an outbreak of the virus can affect the 40 million plus live hogs or pigs in the Philippines and can destroy the P2-billion swine industry.

To safeguard against the epidemic, BAI personnel and Port of NAIA officials initiated more briefings and information dissemination to Customs NAIA frontliners of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to strengthen the vigilance against ASF. NAIA Customs collector Carmelita Talusan said they will coordinate closely with regulating agencies to secure the borders against entry and exit of prohibited, regulated goods to protect the swine industry.

“Safe meat products accompanied by import permits or the sanitary and phyto-sanitary import clearance are the ones qualified for release in ports,” she said.

In Davao, Customs agents also confiscated various agricultural and meat products from passengers arriving at the Davao International Airport.

Davao Port district collector Romalino Valdez said the items confiscated include oranges, chili, spring onions, onions, ponkan, parsley, and meat— frozen pecking duck, chicken, pork, beef and processed meat. These were brought from China, Hong Kong, United States, Canada, China, Australia and Singapore.

The meat products from countries affected by the ASF were confiscated for proper disposal.

Valdez warned arriving passengers and importers to comply with the Customs laws and regulations by obtaining clearance and proper documentation for their goods to ensure the safety and welfare of the general public.

On Thursday, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal vowed to punish all members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit or CAFGU who moonlight for politicians.

Madrigal’s statement came after two rebel returnees who became members of the CAFGU carried out the assassination of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

“We make sure that if there are reports regarding some CAFGUs that are being utilized, we will act and make sure that they will be properly punished,” Madrigal said.

Henry Yuson, the gunman in the killing of Batocabe, and Rolando Arimado, both former CAFGUs were among the six suspects tagged in the assassination.

CAFGUs are deployed all over the country and led by commanders under the direct supervision of the military.

“We will ensure that they will be non partisan and apolitical in this exercise,” said Madrigal said, referring to the upcoming midterm elections in May. “They are under the military justice system and aside from that they can be charged criminally depending on the gravity of violations they have committed,” Madrigal added.

Madrigal said they are not just focused on midterm elections but also the BOL plebiscite in Mindanao with 10,400 troops scattered in Mindanao to ensure a peaceful plebiscite.

“Security measures are already in place, especially in the case of Mindanao and we have added security measures and intelligence monitoring of threat groups,” Madrigal said.

Also on Thursday, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said former senator Lito Lapid got a boost in his company’s most recent opinion poll because he is in the toprate TV show, “Ang Probinsyano.”

Speaking to the ANC news channel, he also said Liberal Party stalwarts Manuel Roxas II and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV were pulled down by criticism leveled against their party by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The so-called anti-dilawan, it’s a factor,” he said.

On the otherhand, Holmes said having a high ranking in the surveys was no guarantee of victory in the May elections.

“We’ve seen changes in the past, in the previous elections, where people in the first to seventh rank eventually go down in terms of electoral preference later because of strategies that are adopted by other candidates,” he said on ANC’s Headstart.

mucky wipes, makeshift beddings, food containers and leftovers, spoiled pancit, cup noodles, instant coffee sachets, cigarette filters and lots of things plastic from carry bags to cutlery were some of the abandoned garbage found during and after the Traslacion.

Ecowaste volunteers also took part in the cleanup of Rizal Park shortly after the image of the Black Nazarene left the Quirino Grandstand for the six-kilometer procession.

“Our public appeal for a trash-less Traslacion has again fallen on deaf ears. Many

people unashamedly threw their garbage anywhere, turning the parade ground fronting the Quirino Grandstand into a dumping ground,” said Daniel Alejandre, Ecowaste zero waste campaigner.

The group earlier urged the devotees, describing them as “stewards of God’s Creation,” to take full responsibility for their discards and not rely on other people to clean up after them.

“Families and friends who flocked to the park and even set up tents for the overnight vigil left piles of rubbish behind just like in previous years. There were

many urine-filled PET bottles lying on the ground,” Alejandre said.

At the Quiapo district, the garbage situation was similarly dreadful with litter scattered all over the place, Ecowaste said.

The group’s volunteers reported rampant disposal of foam food containers in street corners and gutters and in places where exhausted devotees hanged out to eat and rest.

“Despite the painstaking efforts of street sweepers to pick up after the devotees, rubbish can be spotted everywhere! Old habits die hard,” Alejandre said.

Comelec,...

From A1

yet compassionate and caring governance.”

Panelo said Duterte had assured the public that there was no cause for worry as he was healthy.

“His punishing schedule of activities in attending and responding to the needs of the citizenry is proof of his good physical condition,” Panelo said.

“Even as he performs his constitutional duties, he shall endeavor to always watch over his health.”

Duterte’s made the headlines in September last year after the 73-year-old President snubbed two official events, including a supposed meeting with his Cabinet officials.

He then disclosed that he underwent intestine-related procedures to check his digestive tract, and then assured the public that he remained in good health.

Fast radio...

From A1

What corner of the universe these powerful waves come from and the forces that produced them remain unknown.

The so-called repeating fast radio bursts were identified during the trial run last summer of a built-for-purpose telescope running at only a fraction of its capacity.

Known by its acronym CHIME, the world’s most powerful radio telescope— spread across an area as big as a football pitch—is poised to detect many more of the enigmatic pulses now that it is fully operational.

“At the end of the year, we may have found 1,000 bursts,” said Deborah Good, a PhD student at the University of British Columbia and one of 50 scientists from five institutions involved in the research.

Fast radio bursts flash only for a microinstant, but can emit as much energy as the Sun does in 10,000 years.

Exactly what causes these high-energy surges of long waves at the far end of the electromagnetic spectrum remains the subject of intense debate.

More than 60 bursts have been catalogued since 2007, but only one other— observed in 2012 at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico—was a repeater.

“FRBs, it seems, are likely generated in dense, turbulent regions of host galaxies,” Shriharsh Tendulkar, a corresponding author for both studies and an astronomer at McGill University, told AFP. Cosmic convulsions created by the turbulent gas clouds that give rise to stars, or stellar explosions such a supernovae, are both possible incubators.

But consecutive radio bursts are a special case.

No little green men “The fact that the bursts are repeated rules out any cataclysmic models in which the source is destroyed while generating the burst,” Tendulkar added.

“An FRB emitted from a merger of two neutron stars, or a neutron star and a black hole, for example, cannot repeat.”

It is not yet clear whether the breeding grounds of repeating bursts are different from those that produce only a single radio pulse.

Significantly, the 2012 and 2018 “repeaters” have strikingly similar properties.

CHIME—Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment—also spotted a dozen single burst radio waves, but with an unusual profile. AFP

‘Auditors’...

From A1

which was delivered in playful jest, is a criticism that COA should apply even if the rules are very strict. You can liberally construe it within the ambit of the law that will not delay the delivery of services, that’s one,” Panelo told reporters.

“He was furious, but his remarks were not a threat.”

Duterte on Wednesday said he was only using rude words to defend himself from his critics.

“I am intentionally being rude because they have been rude to me even during the campaign period,” Duterte said in a speech in Dimasalang town in Masbate.

He said his use of harsh and vulgar words was mainly to “pursue the limits of civility.”

“I hope I have not offended anybody by my strong words or my jokes,” Duterte said.

Panelo said Duterte was indirectly addressing Congress to look into some of COA auditing protocols and procedures.

“I think it’s addressed to Congress. If there are provisions there that will impair the delivery of services, then Congress should amend the procedures of the auditing protocol,” Panelo said.

He said the COA could simplify the bidding procedures by reducing the number of days of filing the requirement needed for a project or bidding.

“They can bend a little but not in derogation of the provisions of the law, but still within the ambit,” Panelo said.

He maintained that Duterte only wanted the COA to loosen its strict rules without violating the law to make the processes easy.

“The President is a forthright person and the more his critics and detractors lambaste him on his style and action, the more he will stick to them,” Panelo said.

News IN BRIEF Makati exceeds tax collection goal in 2018 THE Makati City government collected a total revenue of P17.8 billion in 2018, up by at least P2.2 billion against its P15.6 billion revenue goal for the year.

The positive collection performance was one of the city’s 2018 major accomplishments presented

by Mayor Abigail Binay during her third State of the City Address held at the Peninsula Manila on Tuesday.

Speaking before members and officials of the Rotary Club Makati during the event, Binay said business tax was the city’s biggest source of revenue last year with P9.1 billion, followed by realty tax with almost P6.2 billion.

“The reforms and innovations we have put in place since I came on board at city hall have not only earned for us the trust of investors and taxpayers, but also the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit,” said Binay.

COA had rendered an “unqualified opinion’ on the city’s financial statements for fiscal year 2017, the very first time for Makati to earn the highest audit rating given by the independent regulatory body.

Binay cited steps taken by the city government to make transactions more efficient and convenient for taxpayers, such as establishing a Business One-Stop Shop at the ground floor of city hall Building II, and streamlining the process for business permit renewal and new applications. Joel E. Zurbano

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Diokno hostaging salary hike—solon

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

H

OUSE Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. on Thursday acccused Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno of hostaging the salary increase due government workers this month in his bid to avoid appearing at a congressional inquiry on the alleged irregularities in the preparation of the proposed 2019 national government budget.

“The increases are not General Appropriations Act-dependent and are authorized by separate laws crafted by Congress and issued by the President himself. Delaying their release is unconstitutional,” Andaya said.

Andaya said Diokno “should stop using our civil servants as pawns in his bid to avoid answering questions of public interest” He added that “the salaries of government officials as determined by existing

pay scales are deemed in force regardless of the status of the national budget.

The Salary Standardization Law 4 is for civilian employees and the second round of the pay increase for soldiers, policemen, firemen, jail guards, Coast Guard personnel are multiyear commitments. Their annual implementation as prescribed by law cannot be suspended by the whims of one man.”

Andaya, chairman of the House committee on rules which initiated a probe against Diokno, said that while Diokno wants debt servicing to foreign banks to go on as scheduled, salary increases of government workers are frozen.

“What he can defer during the pen-

dency of the budget approval is the release of personnel services [PS] funds for new employees. Withholding part of the salaries for services rendered by regular employees is abuse of power,” Andaya said.

Andaya said there is no truth to Diokno’s claim that there is enough government money to release the salary increase under a reenacted budget.

“Under the reenacted budget, there is P100 billion allocated for salary increases under the MPBF,” he said.

“Besides, who says we need to use the full amount during the reenacted period? That budget is for the entire year,” he added.

SC upholds junking of suit filed by journos in 2007 THE Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of the P10-million class suit filed against the government by 37 broadcast and print journalists arrested while covering the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.

In a 15-page decision released on Thursday, the SC’s First Division sustained the decisions of the Court of Appeals and the Makati City Regional Trial Court, Branch 56, in 2013 and 2008, respectively, that dismissed the civil complaint filed by the journalists against the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and several Cabinet officials during the Arroyo administration.

The SC dismissed for lack of merit the petition of the journalists seeking reversal of the CA and RTC rulings.

In ruling against the suit of the journalists, The SC ruled that the lower courts were correct in dismissing the suit for lack of cause of action because the complainants “failed to prove that their rights were violated which constitute an actionable wrong.”

The SC agreed with the findings of both CA and RTC that the constitutional freedoms of speech and of the press of petitioners were not violated when they were arrested by the PNP and AFP. Rey E. Requejo

AUGMENTATION FORCE. Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco (inset), Director of Police Regional Office 12, sent off Thursday (Jan. 10, 2019) a total of 396 cops to help secure peace and order during the conduct of the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite in Cotabato City slated on Jan. 21. (Photo by PRO-12)

Sandiganbayan wants Revilla’s graft cases tried in own court Bill gives

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan wants to hold the trial of the remaining graft case against former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and his co-accused at its courtroom in Quezon City instead of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

First Division chairman, Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz said the Rules of Court provides that the proceedings should be held at NBP in Muntinlupa City following the conviction of Re-

villa’s former legislative aide Richard Cambe and pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

Cambe is now detained at the NBP. Napoles, on the other hand, has been transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City on Jan. 4—from the Quezon City Extension Jail Female Dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City— after both were convicted of plunder.

Both were absent during the hearing, but Dela Cruz referred to Cambe after

‘Unauthorized chopper landing not Dino’s fault’

Du30 vows to put Masbate under land reform PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday vowed to put Masbate under land reform in a bid to counter the communist insurgency in the province.

In his speech in Dimasalang town in Masbate, the President directed Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones to pursue the implementation of land reform in Masbate.

“Is he here? Tell him to come here and look at Masbate, place it under land reform. I will pursue land reform in Masbate. Believe me. Just tell him, we already talked during the Cabinet meeting,” Duterte said during the ‘Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay’ event in Masbate on Wednesday evening.

“I will put Masbate in land reform. Believe it. With or without the communist, we can,” Duterte told locals, assuring them that the implementation of land reform in the province would push through even without the intervention of communist rebels.

He added that issues of land reform in the country would not be solved using armed struggle.

According to the President, he has been going around the country to distribute certificates of land ownership to agrarian reform beneficiaries. Nat Mariano

his absence was raised by defense lawyer Reody Anthony Balisi.

“Because the accused is confined in the New Bilibid Prison, we should hold the trial there. [But] the court will ask the Supreme Court to give us the authority [to hold the trial at the antigraft cout’s hearing room],” dela Cruz said.

De la Cruz also recognized the number of co-accused and their lawyers who needed to be taken to the NBP for the hearings.

By Nat Mariano

COURTESY CALL. Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan, the only party-list group running in the May midterm polls with a health advocacy, paid a courtesy call on Iglesia Ni Kristo Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo. ‘Maganda yang adhikain niyo para sa kalusugan. Mabibiyayaan ang mga kababayan natin sa mga pinaglalaban ninyo,’ Ka Eduardo told Defensor, a former Housing czar and Anakalusugan first nominee.

PRESIDENTIAL Assistant to the Visayas Michael Dino was not to blame for his unauthorized chopper landing, the Palace said on Thursday, as it blamed the official’s helicopter pilot for the incident.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo came to Dino’s defense, saying that the latter had nothing to do with the disruption of a sports event after the chopper he was riding landed at the PhilSports Complex grounds in Pasig City.

“That’s the fault of the pilot, not the passenger,” Panelo, a lawyer, said in a Palace press briefing.

“He landed there when there was an ongoing game, so naturally it would be disrupted. He [the pilot] should have communicated [with the authorities] if the ground was clear,” he added.

From Panelo’s point of view, Dino has no accountability at all over the incident.

“As far as I am concerned, you’re just a passenger why would it be your fault?

If he knew there was an ongoing game, then it’s his fault as an official, but he wasn’t aware,” Panelo said, saying he talked with Dino over the phone.

Panelo, the President’s chief legal counsel, insisted that the pilot was at fault, saying he must be charged for the unauthorized stop.

PWDs outright PhilHealth benefit

PERSONS with disability (PWDs) shall have automatic Philippine Health Insurance Corp coverage once the enrolled bill providing more benefits to PWDs is signed

by President Duterte.

The House of Representatives has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the consolidation of House Bill 8014 and Senate Bill 1391 which amend Title 2, Chapter 3 of Republic Act 7277, as amended, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability.”

The measure provides the mandatory PhilHealth coverage of PWDs. HB 8014 is principally authored by Rep. Micaela Violago of Nueva Ecija while Senate 1391 is principally authored by Sen. Loren Legarda.

Violago said the amendment provides for the addition of a new section denominated as Section 20-A of RA 7277. The new section entitled “Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage” provides that all persons with disability (PWDs) shall be automatically covered under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Maricel V. Cruz

DILG to create Bora-like task force in Bay rehab INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said on Thursday that they plan to duplicate the rehabilitation of Boracay for the cleanup of Manila Bay, which officially starts on Jan. 27.

To kick off the Manila Bay rehab, Año said the government will ceate an inter-agency task force similar to what was created for the massive cleanup of Boracay early last year.

Like in Boracay, the task force for the Manila Bay rehab will be composed of inspection, investigation, and audit teams to look into the structures surrounding the bay and its tributaries.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu will remain chairman of the new task force while Año will be one of the vicechairmen.

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Fanaticism or sheer faith?

CALL it “choreographed craze,” fanaticism or sheer faith. But don’t mock the millions of devotees who flocked to the route of the Black Nazarene procession. There is no harm in believing even if you’re one of those non-believers in the power of prayers and the miracle bestowed on those seeking deliverance from life’s hardships like a lingering disease, other forms of sickness or poverty.

This is more than the feeding frenzy of the faithful. Some of the cynics call the annual event on January 9 as

Foreigners are just amazed at our fervor.

pure theater that has drawn even for foreign tourists to Quiapo church and its basilica. Foreigners are amazed that Filipinos have such strong faith. The reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday during the Holy Week has also become a tourist attraction. This is a testament to the Filipino people’s unwavering faith despite the desecration and mockery by officials in high places.

I cannot join this procession as I am already old and a person with disability. Even if healthy, I’m afraid to be crushed by the frenzied crowd who jostle against each other to climb and touch the image of the Black Nazarene.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

I have two brothers-in-law who did so very year and they lived to the ripe old age of 80 plus. And so did their widows, my sisters. There has to be something good about devoting religious fervor to the Black Nazarene.

History tells us that the Black Nazarene was carved by an unknown Mexican out of dark wood in 1606. The finished life-sized statue of the Christ in a kneeling position shouldering the cross was later shipped to Manila to be the centerpiece of the altar in the Minor Basilica of Quiapo church. Mexico and the Philippines, then colonies of Spain, had a strong relationship during the Galleon trade. In Mexico there is also an annual religious event—the Feast of the Lady of Guadalupe. People from across Mexico and other parts of the world go on pilgrimage to the basilica in Mexico City to pray and pay homage to the image of the Lady of Guadalupe which is actually the Virgin Mary.

Don’t ask me more about it as I’m sure the historians and the devotees of Guadalupe and the Black Nazarene know more about the lore surrounding these two revered icons.

Stories about the miracles of the Black Nazarene can only be the reason why its Feast Day on Jan. 9 has become such a big event causing classes and offices in the City of Manila to be procesclosed. With streets along the proces movesion closed to traffic, vehicular move ment in the Quiapo district come to a standstill. More than 6,000 policemen are deployed in the district to keep order and prevent possible attacks by terrorist groups. Injuries among the crowd of devotees are recorded every year in the Traslacion which starts at 5 a.m. and often lasts up to 8 in the evening when the Black Nazarene winds its way back to Quiapo church.

Me, I stay home and simply follow the procession covered live by the three major television networks. Because of my age and disability, my own way of keeping faith and sacrifice is by not watching programs on the other channels.

P

A new rice regime

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign into law the Rice Tariffication bill soon.

This will usher in a new market regime and limit the government's role in procuring the commodity.

signature. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia says the bill will make rice affordable and accessible to Filipinos.

Rice supply will also no longer be the sole responsibility of the NFA. 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 NFA will now focus on ensuring sufficient buffer stocks to address emergency situations. While there is a need to periodically replenish the buffer stocks, NFA can still sell cheap rice but to specific markets, like those in farflung areas that some private traders may not find profitable to serve.

The bill aims to liberalize rice imports to foster competition in the domestic market and

The bill essentially allows legitimate rice traders to import the commodity without permit from the National Food Authority, 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 National Economic and Development Authority, this early, is upbeat about the bill set to be transmitted to Malacañang for President Duterte’s

eventually bring down prices.

Lowering rice prices, in turn, will reduce the country's inflation rate after surging to a nineyear high of 6.7 percent in September and October.

The government, meanwhile, must ensure that the tariff or Customs collections from the rice imports of the private traders are well spent to alleviate the plight of farmers and raise their productivity.

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund from the tariff revenues proposed under the bill should assist the farmers, especially in the procurement of farm machinery, and provide the money for rice seed development, expanded credit and crop diversification.

The government should also set rice self-sufficiency as a goal. Food security is a priority and the Philippines cannot be importing rice indefinitely.

Turn to A5

A method for moving on ALONG with the new year come the new resolutions that people make to turn bad habits into good. It’s around this time that people sign up for gym memberships, vow to eat healthy, and promise to cull the clutter in their homes.

Speaking of clutter, it’s likely no coincidence that Netflix released “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Jan 1.

It’s a show starring the author of four home organizing books including the the 2011 bestseller “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” which has been published in more than 30 countries.

The show’s first season sees Kondo visiting the homes of a wonderfully diverse group of people and teaches them the eponymous KonMari technique for organizing, which sorts all items into four categories: clothing, books, ‘komono’ (miscellaneous including documents), and ‘sentimental items’ (photos, memorabilia, etc.)

Culling items follows a set procedure. For clothing, Kondo instructs each client to pile all their clothes on the floor or bed. Each item is held to see if they “spark joy”—Kondo describes it as a physical reaction, in the “cells of your body”—“Ching!”

Items that don’t make the cut are thanked and put away for donation or the trash. The clothes are then folded in a special way so that they ‘stand’ in drawers or boxes, making them easier to see and pull out.

After Kondo’s intervention, each family’s home is much less cluttered, space abounds, and many bags of items are donated to charity.

The KonMari method also changes relationships and family dynamics – the tension between one couple eased when their house became less messy, a widow struggling to let go her late husband’s belongings finally did it, the dad and tween kids of a family decided to give mom more help with chores.

Some critics don’t get where Kondo is coming from. One claimed a “clash of energies” between clients and Kondo, with some of them skeptical of Kondo’s ritual of “greeting” each home she enters. But, the critic conceded, the KonMari method subdues the mess in the end.

Based on social media comments, Filipinxs are much more in tune with and appreciative of Kondo and her methods, and one reason why is perhaps because animism is a feature of the cultures of both the Philippines and Japan.

Animism attributes a soul or a spirit to natural phenomena—trees, rivers, lightning—and objects in the material world—stones, posts. These spirits can help or harm human interests.

Kondo once worked as a Shinto shrine maiden. Shinto is rooted in Ja-

The KonMari system is rooted in gratitude and respect.

pan’s ancient past, and is a belief sys system that recognizes “spirits” (kami) and “essences” in nature and things.

This animistic aspect of Shinto obviously has a huge influence on Kondo’s philosophy that she understatedly describes as “tidying up.” It can be observed in the way she “introduces” herself to the house: first she searches for a spot, often near the entry, where she kneels and “communicates” with the house, making graceful, sweeping gestures with her hands on the floor.

Her respect for the spirits that reside in objects can be seen in the way she “wakes” books by tapping them with the back of her hand, and in the way she thanks each item for their service.

As Filipinos we are taught to say “tabi-tabi po nuno” when passing an anthill and to be careful when chopping down trees because they have a resident “diwata.” We see Kondo’s hand-tapping at stores where vendors Turn to A5

Can martial law restore peace in Mindanao?

CLOSE on the heels of the recent extension of martial law in Mindanao for another year starting January 1st, we ask: Was it justified? And will it lead to elusive peace and development in Mindanao?

We recall that the political opposition stoutly opposed this move of the Duterte administration, pointing out that there was no actual rebellion or lawless violence in the island that required emergency rule.

Islamic State-influenced Maute Group.

When the siege ended in early Novem November after five months of fierce fighting, We don’t see any martial law was extended until the end of 2017, then extended again for the diminution of the whole of 2018 to mop up the remnants terrorist threat in of the Maute Group and prevent them the island, with or from regrouping. The third extension, the government said, was necessary as without martial law. various rebel groups continue to pose a threat to peace and order in the island as a whole.

That we still have an unstable peace canMartial law was first declared over the and order situation in Mindanao can whole of Mindanao after the outbreak of not be denied. This is clear in the Dec. the Marawi siege in late May 2017 by an 31 bombing of the Southseas shopping estimated 800 to 1,000 members of the Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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Opinion Disrupting television THE nation’s largest telephone company, PLDT Inc., owner of Smart, and GMA Network (Channel 7), the largest television network, in terms of ratings and profits, have tied up to disrupt Philippine television. “It will involve the launch of game-changing innovations that will power the media giant’s digital transformation,” said GMA Network.

On Wednesday, Jan. 9, GMA Network announced that PLDT Smart Communications has signed up with GMA subsidiary GMA New Media Inc., for what was described as a “technology, content, and distribution agreement.”

GMA and PLDT have not provided details of the joint effort.

The idea, it seems, is that GMA will provide content and PLDT will provide the medium to distribute that content. In the media business, content has become king, making television just an adjunct of this new media business.

TV has become a go-anywhere medium—from your bedrooms and living rooms into your cars, clubhouses, resorts, even inside your toilets.

The press statement said the partnership signaled that PLDT would play a key role in delivering GMA’s media content across its nationwide telecommunications network.

As of Sept. 30, 2018, PLDT had 55.62-million prepaid cellular subscribers plus another 2.4-million postpaid subscribers.

With those assets, television instantly becomes digital because you need wireless technology to deliver content. Along with tv shows and news programs, wireless technology also delivers data, on top of regular texting, voice, and image delivery. PLDT has 1.859-million line broadband subscribers, 195,015 wireless broadband subscribers, plus 2.778-million landline subscribers.

“This partnership is a clear statement that we are welcoming disruption and embracing digital with open arms,” GMA Network chair and CEO Felipe L. Gozon said in the statement.

“By riding the wave of disruption

Fanaticism...

From A4

As of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, an estimated crowd 800,000 were already in attendance which swelled to millions by dusk with 1,000 needing medical attention. Yet, no matter how hard it is to attend the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the same throng keep coming back every year. This speaks volumes about the Filipinos’ faith whether

Can martial...

From A4

mall in Cotabato City that led to the death of two people and the wounding of 37 others. Another improvised explosive device found near a lottery outlet on the second floor of the establishment was deactivated by bomb experts about an hour later.

The bomb attack took place after the deaths of four members of a local Islamic State-inspired group in an encounter with covert military operatives last Dec. 22 in Maguindanao province.

Two of the fatalities in that incident were foreigners, one a Singaporean and the other, an Indonesian.

Local officials and traditional Moro elders in the three towns identified one of the two other fatalities as the younger brother of a radical cleric named Abdulmalik Esmael, more known as Abu Toraife, figurehead of the third faction of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Abu Toraife’s group has been blamed for the deadly Aug. 28 and Sept. 2 bombings in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat that left a total of five people dead and injured more than 30 others.

The threat from IS-linked groups ap-

A method...

From A4

“bless” their goods with a fan of paper currency.

Because of this cultural background I can readily buy into Kondo’s suggestions to talk to my house and thank it for protecting me and my family, and thank each article of clothing as I fold them neatly.

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,” Gozon pointed out.

GMA’s tie-up with PLDT is significant because the latter operates TV5 and has a new tv setup called One—the functional merger of TV5, Philippine Star, and Businessworld.

GMA’s linkup with PLDT puts one over rival ABS-CBN which has what is called TV Plus—the service that provides television programs for free, wirelessly, using satellite technology captured by a digital box which is sold for P1,500 per unit.

‘This partnership is a clear statement that we are welcoming disruption and embracing digital technology.’

For GMA, Smart and PLDT will sell GMA’s digital connector box which will be the size of a USB which can be attached to the TV set or anywhere it can receive a signal.

“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 chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

TV stations are required to go digital by 2023. The National Telecommunications Commission expects 95 percent of all households to have access to digital TV by then.

“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,” said GMA CEO Gozon.

At the signing ceremony were: Gozon, Pangilinan, GMA Network President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr.; GMA Network Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong; GMA Network’s Executive Committee vice chairman Joel G. Jimenez; NMI President and COO Judd Gallares; and NMI senior vice president and general manager Dennis Caharian.

Representing PLDT and Smart were Oscar Enrico A. Reyes, SVP and Head of Consumer Business– Market Development; Ernesto R. Alberto, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer; and Pangilinan.

In a recent column in BizNewsAsia, Ivy Lopez said “With the influx of online and TV choices, global consumers can watch shows and movies anywhere from any connected device. There is the videostreaming leader Netflix, followed

by YouTube, premium cable TV, network TV, and video-on-demand [VOD].”

She wrote: “Netflix has upended traditional viewing habits of either going to the movies or watching at home. For a $10 unconditional monthly fee, viewers can watch on their connected phone, devices, computer, or TV. Subscribers can cancel at any time and this puts the pressure on Netflix to come up with guaranteed engaging content. Unlike HBO, which fills hours with B movies and reruns, Netflix only has shows that audiences want to watch and actually watch.

“Netflix has nimbly evolved with the video times. It began in 1997 as a $0.50 cent mail-in DVD rental without late fees, which quickly killed video rental giant Blockbuster. Then it quickly became a DVD subscription service. In 2007, Netflix added streaming video and VOD that viewers can watch from their phones and devices, which likely led to more cable cutters. Netflix quickly expanded outside the US and now produces its original movies and shows in 21 countries. It also translates foreign shows for US audiences.”

Netflix has become the world’s largest movie production company.

Its 2018 movie budget: $13 billion, more than any other movie company. biznewsasia@gmail.com

their prayers have been answered or the favors sought still to be granted by the miraculous powers of the Black Nazarene. *** Quote of the week from National Chairperson Jocelyn Martinez of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT): “ We are underpaid, and now we are also under surveillance.”

Ms. Martinez was reacting to profiling of members of their organization by the Philippine National Police which is investigating the alleged in-

volvement of teachers in subversive anti-government activity.

Jose Ma. Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, said in a statement that ACT is not a front organization of the CPP, adding ACT is a legitimate non-government organization who simply want to improve their lot and living condition.

What say you, Education Secretary Leonor Briones? Do the teachers have to pray to the Black Nazarene for answers to their underwhelmed lives?

pears very real, from where we sit. The Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research believes that there are up to 100 foreign fighters in Mindanao who want to pursue their goal of putting up an east Asia wilayah (or Islamic State province). The foreign fighters in Mindanao are said to have mainly travelled not only from neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia but also from Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Middle East.

The armed forces also believes that there are about 40 foreign fighters remaining in the country, with 40 others in their watchlist.

The presence of foreign fighters is likely to embolden local pro-IS groups in their bid to declare a caliphate in Mindanao.

The continuing terrorist threat is borne out by the suicide bombing by a foreign fighter from Morocco in July that killed 11 people. It was claimed by IS as a “martyrdom” operation.

The terrorist threat in Mindanao is also underscored by the apparent establishment of a pro-IS coalition composed of at least three factions of the BIFF, Abu Sayyaf, Ansar al-Khilafah and the Maute Group.

The problem is that Mindanao’s borders with Malaysia and Indonesia are porous, thus allowing foreign fighters to easily cross over to the island. Hence, the Philippine government is working

with both Malaysian and Indonesian authorities to block the border through joint maritime patrols and sharing of intelligence.

A keen observer of the Mindanao conflict, Zachary Abuza, Southeast Asia analyst at the National War College in the US, concludes that based on the Marawi experience, foreign fighters “play a very important role in bridging the parochial divides between Filipino groups.” He shares the view that there could be around 40 foreign fighters in Mindanao at present, perhaps doing training for locals and waiting for the right opportunity to do another Marawi. He stressed the serious threat they posed, amid what he feels is increased support especially among the youth for pro-IS groups in Mindanao.

To the question of whether martial law can immediately restore peace in Mindanao—or a modicum of it—within the year through military operations and vigorous law enforcement, we think that’s not likely given the extent of the terrorist threat and the pervasive poverty in Muslim Mindanao that can be exploited by the Mautes and similar groups to draw more recruits to their cause. In short, we don’t see any diminution of the terrorist threat in the island, with or without martial law, in the next few years.

My take on KonMari is that it’s not only about throwing out unused items and making the house neat and clean, it’s also a mentality of mindfulness. It’s being grateful for what you have, of buying only what you truly need, of recycling reducing reusing, and letting go the rest to share them with others. With letting go comes the blessing of positive change and the freedom of moving on and forward.

Kondo’s system is rooted in gratitude and respect—respect for things, respect for yourself, respect for others, and respect for nature and the world. ** * Are you a ka-Konmari? Caritas Manila (caritasmanila.org.ph) will pick up your items for free: call (632) 564-0205, 562-0020 to 25, 0905-428-5001, 0929834-3857, or email segunda_mana@yahoo.com. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

ernhil@yahoo.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The success of capitalism per classes, the new capitalist industries began to produce things that could be purchased by the general population. It was mass production to satisfy the needs of the masses.

This is the fundamental principle LUDWIG Von Mises (1881-1973) was of capitalism as it exists today in all the 20th century’s foremost economist. of those countries in which there is a The following is excerpted and adapted highly developed system of mass production: Big business, the target of the from his lectures.

Descriptive terms which people use most fanatic attacks by the so-called are often quite misleading. In talking leftists, produces almost exclusively to about modern captains of industry and satisfy the wants of the masses. Enterleaders of big business, for instance, prises producing luxury goods solely they call a person a “chocolate king” or for the well-to-do can never attain the a “cotton king” or an “automobile king.” magnitude of big businesses. And today, Their use of such terminology implies it is the people who work in large factothat they see practically no difference ries who are the main consumers of the between the modern heads of industry products made in those factories. This is and those feudal kings, dukes, or lords of the fundamental difference between the earlier days. But the difference is in fact capitalistic principles of production and very great, for a chocolate king does not the feudalistic principles of the precedrule at all, he serves. He does not reign ing ages.

When people assume, or claim, that over conquered territory, independent of the market, independent of his custom- there is a difference between the producers. The chocolate king—or the steel ers and the consumers of the products of king or the automobile king or any other big businesses, they are badly mistaken. king of modern industry—depends In department stores you hear the slogan, on the industry he operates and on the “the customer is always right.” And this customers he serves. This “king” must customer is the same person who prostay in the good graces of his subjects, duces in the factory those things which the consumers; he loses his “kingdom” are sold in the department stores. The as soon as he is no longer in a position people who think that the power of big to give his customers better service and business is enormous are mistaken also, since big business provide it at lower depends entirely cost than others on the patronage with whom he of those who buy must compete. its products: The Two hundred The development biggest enterprise years ago, before loses its power the advent of capiof capitalism consists and its influence talism, a person’s in everyone’s having when it loses its social status was customers. fixed from the bethe right to serve the Fifty or sixty ginning to the end customer better and/ years ago, it was of his life; he inor more cheaply. said in almost all herited it from his capitalist counancestors, and it tries that the railnever changed. If road companies he was born poor, were too big and he always remained poor, and if he was born rich— too powerful; they had a monopoly; it a lord or a duke—he kept his dukedom was impossible to compete with them. It and the property that went with it for the was alleged that, in the field of transportation, capitalism had already reached rest of his life.

As for manufacturing, the primitive a stage at which it had destroyed itself, processing industries of those days ex- for it had eliminated competition. What isted almost exclusively for the benefit people overlooked was the fact that the of the wealthy. Most of the people (90 power of the railroads depended on percent or more of the European popula- their ability to serve people better than tion) worked the land and did not come any other method of transportation. Of in contact with the city-oriented pro- course it would have been ridiculous to cessing industries. This rigid system of compete with one of these big railroad feudal society prevailed in the most de- companies by building another railroad veloped areas of Europe for many hun- parallel to the old line, since the old line was sufficient to serve existing needs. dreds of years.

However, as the rural population ex- But very soon there came other companded, there developed a surplus of petitors. Freedom of competition does people on the land. For this surplus of not mean that you can succeed simply population without inherited land or es- by imitating or copying precisely what tates, there was not enough to do, nor someone else has done. Freedom of the was it possible for them to work in the press does not mean that you have the processing industries; the kings of the right to copy what another person has cities denied them access. The num- written and thus to acquire the success bers of these “outcasts” continued to which this other person has duly mergrow, and still no one knew what to do ited on account of his achievements. It with them. They were, in the full sense means that you have the right to write of the word, “proletarians,” outcasts something different. Freedom of compewhom the government could only put tition concerning railroads, for example, into the workhouse or the poorhouse. means that you are free to invent someIn some sections of Europe, especially thing, to do something, which will chalin the Netherlands and in England, they lenge the railroads and place them in a became so numerous that, by the eight- very precarious competitive situation.

The competition to the railroads—in eenth century, they were a real menace to the preservation of the prevailing so- the form of buses, automobiles, trucks, and airplanes—has caused the railroads cial system.

Today, in discussing similar conditions to suffer and to be almost completely in places like India or other developing defeated, as far as passenger transportacountries, we must not forget that, in tion is concerned.

The development of capitalism coneighteenth-century England, conditions were much worse. At that time, England sists in everyone’s having the right to had a population of six or seven-million serve the customer better and/or more people, but of those six or seven-million cheaply. And this method, this principeople, more than one million, probably ple, has, within a comparatively short two million, were simply poor outcasts time, transformed the whole world. It for whom the existing social system has made possible an unprecedented inmade no provision. What to do with these crease in world population.

In eighteenth-century England, the outcasts was one of the great problems of land could support only six million eighteenth-century England.

Another great problem was the lack of people at a very low standard of living. raw materials. The British, very serious- Today, millions of people enjoy a much ly, had to ask themselves this question: higher standard of living than even the What are we going to do in the future, rich enjoyed during the eighteenthwhen our forests will no longer give us century. And today’s standard of living the wood we need for our industries and would probably be still higher, had not for heating our houses? For the ruling a great deal of the energy of the British classes it was a desperate situation. The been wasted in what were, from various statesmen did not know what to do, and points of view, avoidable political and the ruling gentry were absolutely without military “adventures.”

These are the facts about capitalism. any ideas on how to improve conditions.

Out of this serious social situation Thus, if any person in any country of the emerged the beginnings of modern world says today to his friends that he is capitalism. There were some persons opposed to capitalism, there is a wonamong those outcasts, among those poor derful way to answer him: “You know people, who tried to organize others that the population of this planet is now to set up small shops which could pro- ten times greater than it was in the ages duce something. This was an innova- preceding capitalism; you know that all tion. These innovators did not produce people today enjoy a higher standard of expensive goods suitable only for the living than your ancestors did before the upper classes; they produced cheaper age of capitalism. But how do you know products for everyone’s needs. And this that you are the one out of ten who would was the origin of capitalism as it oper- have lived in the absence of capitalism? ates today. It was the beginning of mass The mere fact that you are living today production, the fundamental principle is proof that capitalism has succeeded, of capitalistic industry. Whereas the old whether or not you consider your own life processing industries serving the rich very valuable.” people in the cities had existed almost eric.jurado@gmail.com exclusively for the demands of the up-

News

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EU allocates P7.83-m aid to ‘Usman’ victims THE European Union has allocated EUR130,000 or approximately P7.83million aid for victims of the flash floods and landslides triggered by Tropical Depression “Usman” in December 2018.

According to the EU delegation in Manila, the humanitarian funding will directly benefit 15,000 people in Albay and Camarines Sur, the areas most affected by the storm’s devastation in the Bicol region.

The aid will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering immediate assistance through the distribution of emergency relief items such as tarpaulins, blankets, sleep mats, hygiene kits, and access to clean water.

Meanwhile, the death toll from Usman has reached 140, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

In its 6 a.m. Thursday update, the NDRRMC said the fatalities were from Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol and Eastern Visayas.

In the same report, 28 were still reported missing and 105 injured.

Of the above-mentioned figures, only eight of the fatalities and 42 injured have been confirmed while the rest are still being subjected to verification, according to the update signed and released by NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad.

Also, damage to infrastructure and agriculture for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas is placed at P5,411,793,138.68.

The figure is broken down into P1,948,428,638.68 for agriculture and P3,463,364,500 for infrastructure.

According to the EU delegation, first aid services are now being provided while hygiene promotion activities are carried out to mitigate the spread of water-borne diseases amongst the impacted communities.

Meanwhile, cash grants will be distributed to 4,500 people identified as most vulnerable to enable them to establish livelihood and start anew.

The delegation said the funding is part of EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. PNA

SC asked to probe irregularity

By Rey E. Requejo

A

FORMER board member and stockholder of the United Coconut Planters Bank on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to investigate what he alleged was an irregularity in the resolution by the Court’s Third Division of a case involving the United Coconut Planters Bank in 2017 that would cost the bank about P1 billion in coco levy funds.

In a letter addressed to the justices, Jesus Arranza, also chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and former member of the UCPB Board of Directors and its Legal Oversight Committee, urged the High Court to set aside the ruling of its third division he said would cost UCPB about P1 billion in funds that were supposed to instead go to coco levy funds for the benefit of coconut farmers in the country pursuant to previous decisions of the Court.

Arranza specifically raised alleged “irregularities” in the resolution of the third division on the case involving the mortgage of Revere Realty and Development Corp. owned by businessman Jose Go in UCBP over properties in Lucena City belonging to a couple with whom he had a joint venture that fizzled out.

“While the government is now the owner of the majority of the outstanding shares of stocks of UCPB, which shares have been considered part of the so-called coco levy fund, it must be stressed that this Honorable Court had also directed that the same should be utilized for the benefit of the coconut farmers and the development of the coconut industry Whatever action the Supreme Court will take in this case will definitely impact on the coconut farmers and the coconut industry, in particular, and the government, in general,” he said in a press conference.

Arranza alleged that the Third Division might have violated the Court’s internal rules in resolving the case in-

volving Lucena Grand Central Terminal Inc. Arranza claimed that three justices— now Ombudsman Samuel Martires, now retired Noel Tijam and Alexander Gesmundo—voted to concur with the assailed decision even after only two to three days since they were designated to the third division.

“How could the three above-named justices of the third division [Gesmundo, Martires and Tijam] have adequately studied the cases [which I understand already consists of around 2,000 pages] only for a period of two or three days, before the decision dated Aug.16, 2017 was promulgated?” he asked.

Arranza cited internal rules of SC, which require the writer of the decision to prepare the draft decision and send to the other justices at least seven days before voting.

“It is likely that this rule was not complied with as the said three justices became members of the third division only two or three days before the decision dated Aug. 16, 2017 was issued,” he said.

The UCPB stockholder asked the High Court to correct such infirmity as he also called for resolution of the motions for reconsideration and to elevate the case to the full court that have not been acted upon for over one year already.

“If an irregularity indeed attended the promulgation of the said decision, it is rather difficult to expect the same members of the third division who signed the

decision to reverse themselves and/or in the process, expose the irregularity committed,” Arranza added.

In the said ruling, the SC third division reversed the Court of Appeals’ March 2014 ruling that affirmed the UCPB mortgage of Revere over the property of spouses Felix and Carmen Chua.

In 1997, Go and the Chuas had entered into a joint venture to develop the 44-hectare property in Ilayang Dupay into a subdivision but it did not push through.

Still, several deeds of absolute sale were executed putting the lands in Revere’s name to hold in trust for the Chuas.

In the meantime, the Chuas executed a mortgage with UCPB to secure their per-

YOUR HONORS, PLEASE. Federation of Philippine Industries Chairman Jesus Arranza shows to media a copy of the letter he submitted to the Supreme Court Thursday to immediately investigate an irregularity he says was committed by one of its divisions. In a five-page letter, Arranza urges the Supreme Court to look into whether a decision rendered

by Justices Lucas Bersamin, Benjamin Alfred Caguioa, Noel Tijam, Samuel Martires and Alexander Gesmundo violated the Constitution pertaining to the United Coconut Planters Bank and developers of the Lucena Grand Central Terminal. Norman Cruz

PNP explanation on teacher ‘profiling’ awaited THE National Privacy Commission on Thursday said it was waiting for the Philippine National Police explanation over its reported profiling of left-leaning teachers that triggered allegations of government crackdown on dissent.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers had claimed police officers visited in several schools asking for the names of its members.

The NPC has reached out to police own data privacy unit

over the incident and expected to meet with its representatives soon, said agency chairman Ramon Liboro.

“We must face this formally and have this issue addressed in a formal forum,” he told radio dzMM, beamed nationwide.

Liboro said police officers did not need NPC’s clearance for intelligence operations.

He said the body only needed assurance that in enforcing the law police were not violating another existing law.

Customs reshuffles key officials

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs reshuffled key officials, including shabu whistleblower Lourdes Mangaoang, who was back as the bureau’s X-Ray division chief, while BoC spokesperson Erastus Austria was assigned as acting district collector of the Manila International Container Port.

In a personnel order signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and approved by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, the order also transferred Acting Port of Manila district collector Maritess Martin to Subic Port, replacing lawyer Rhea Gregorio who was reassigned as acting head of the POM. Mangaoang, who previously held the post as deputy collector at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, became controversial after exposing the P11 billion worth of shabu in magnetic lifter that slipped out of the bureau while under the watch of former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.

The XIP is the BoC office in charge of monitoring and training Customs X-ray personnel across the country.

Mangaoang was a key figure in the recent congressional investigation of the four magnetic lifters that slipped through the Manila International Container Terminal and later found in a Cavite warehouse emptied of its contents.

Drug enforcement authorities believe the lifters contained an estimated 1.6 tons of shabu, valued at P11 billion.

The new BoC-X ray chief vows to “professionalize” all X-ray inspectors and stop the bata-bata system or the culture of patronage in the bureau.

sonal loans and corporate obligations for the Lucena Grand Central Terminal Inc. Unknown to the Chuas, Go and Revere took out a mortgage over the properties too. When the land was foreclosed, the Chuas were prompted to ask UCPB to apply the proceeds only to their obligations and not Go’s, but the bank did not heed the request.

The SC agreed with the Chuas that they had not consented to Go’s mortgage over the land, which they still effectively owned.

The Court said UCPB should have exercised greater care in handling the mortgages and determined the real ownership of the subject properties.

REACHING OUT. Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go reaches out to the young and elderly fire victims at the San Agustin covered court in Barangay Moonwalk in Parañaque City. Some 60 families lost their homes Tuesday when a fire razed the residents of St. Mary’s, St. Daang Batang. Ey Acasio

DepEd chief backs creation of disaster dept FOLLOWING the onslaught of Tropical Depression “Usman,” Department of Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones has welcomed the proposal in Congress to create a Department of Disaster Management.

Presenting the emerging challenges in disaster risk reduction and mitigation before fellow members of the Cabinet during a situation briefing last Jan. 4 in Pili, Camarines Sur, Briones underscored the need to facilitate the passage of the bill, creating a separate department on natural disaster.

“The financial, organizational, and administrative requirements for dealing with natural disasters cannot be managed by the government alone. All sectors of society have to be mobilized and activated to help ensure the safety of lives and the continuity of education,” she said.

Briones said it was high time for the government and the public to transform the country’s approach to the reduction and management of disaster risks in the face of a continuously changing climate.

“In previous years, DepEd schools were damaged by strong winds brought about by tropical cyclones [and] we have been busy preparing for the perfect storm.

In Metro Manila, we are bracing for the perfect earthquake. We better prepare for the perfect flood,” Briones added.

She said although “Usman” was technically described as a tropical depression, its resulting floods and landslides left extensive damage to school buildings and facilities in affected areas.

Repair and replacement of damaged facilities due to “Usman,” typhoons “Ompong” and “Rosita” are estimated to use up DepEd’s entire P2-billion Quick Response Fund for 2019.

8 back-up groups of NPA operating in Occidental Mindoro surrender

By Francisco Tuyay AT LEAST eight active back-up groups of the New People’s Army operating in the hinterlands of Sablayan town in Occidental Mindoro voluntarily surrendered to the military while an operative was arrested in Nueva Ecija.

Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban, Public Affairs officer of the 2nd Infantry Division based in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal, said

the surrender of the support group also resulted in the recovery of arms cache in Sitio Culasis, Barangay Batong Buhay, Sablayan.

He said the surrenderers belonged to the Mangyan tribe that the NPA was using under its “Milisyang Bayan.”

“They also operate along with the NPA regulars when the group is in need of additional manpower to conduct atrocities such as ambush, sniping, and extortion,” said Lt.

Col. Mario Lito Retirva, commander of the 76th Infantry Battalion.

Retumban said the arms cache consisted of three M16 rifles which were buried by the NPA in the forested area of Sitio Kabilugan, Barangay San Vicente, Abra de Ilog town.

The discovery of the said firearms was facilitated by former NPA rebels who surrendered to the military last December.

“Soldiers trek two days before reaching

said arms cache,” said Retirva.

The surrenderers admitted holding several key positions from the “Samahan ng Magsasaka,” “Samahan ng Kababaihan,” and “Samahan ng Kabataan,” organizations created by the CPP-NPA. Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said “it’s a great kick-off for the new year. This decision in choosing to live a peaceful life is right.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Notice of Loss Standard Stock Certificate

TODAY

Notice is hereby given that San Miguel Corporation Stock Cert. Nos. 4695328, 1662542,99558060, 97454794,96345126, 95247482 and 94196662 for 2,370 shares, issued to Ma. Cristina Coronel were lost. If no contest is received, a new stock cert. will be issued.

(MS-DEC. 28, 2018, JAN. 4 & 11, 2018)

Solon raps Office of Transportation Security for failure to provide benefits

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Thursday criticized the Office of Transportation Security for its failure to provide the benefits due to its employees which led to the latter’s recent protest.

This week, the OTS personnel aired their grievances by wearing red armbands over the benefits which they allegedly never received including annual performance-based bonus, annual collective negotiation agree-

ment, leave credit monetization and team building allowance.

The OTS personnel are the ones who man security checks at airports.

“Government should not be remiss in taking care of its own employees,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva, also the chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, added the situation in the OTS “shows that more attention should be given to ensure that regular employees receive their le-

gally mandated benefits and emoluments.”

In an article, Senior OTS inspector Liza Abacan said the OTS management failed to increase the salary of its personnel from salary grade four to salary grade eight.

She added the Department of Budget and Management “refused to allocate funds for the salary standardization of employees.”

The budget of OTS comes from terminal fees of domestic and international passengers.

The OTS gets P15 from P200 paid by a do-

mestic passenger and P60 from the P550 terminal fee paid by an international passenger.

From January to November 2018, a total P451-million terminal fees from international passengers were remitted by the Manila International Airport Authority and another P131 million from domestic passengers.

“Aside from this problem, one major issue being confronted by the government is the huge number of job orders and contractual workers in the public sector,” Villanueva lamented.

Sports

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

AksyonTV redefines action as 5 Plus 5’S SISTER channel AksyonTV is set to relaunch as “5 Plus” on Sunday .

5 Plus will act as a secondary channel to 5, primarily serving atypical sports and sports-related content and showcasing action geared towards a younger, more adventurous audience.

“We are excited to start the new year with the launch of 5 Plus. The intent was to create a home for what we call atypical sports—titles with a highly engaged audience base that don’t typically receive visibility of this scale,” said Vincent P. Reyes, president and CEO of TV5.

“Expanding our sports coverage also enables us to attract a new audience: the younger sports fan. 5 Plus aims to serve content that resonates with the pace of their active lifestyle, and is in line with their varied interest. The combination of both 5 and 5 Plus allows us to cement and expand further our foothold in sports,” Reyes added.

For extreme sports enthusiasts, 5 Plus will cover the X Games, featuring sports like freestyle BMX and skateboarding.

For esports buffs, 5 Plus will air some of the biggest international esports tournaments, along with the highly anticipated The Nationals, featuring games such as Dota 2, Mobile Legends, and Tekken.

For college sports fans, 5 Plus will broadcast the National Basketball Training Center League, the National Cheerleading Championship and more.

Meanwhile, the simulcast of Radyo5 news programs airing on AksyonTV will be transferred to its new home on CIGNAL. The rebrand also sees a complete overhaul of the channel’s look, aimed at visually communicating its new identity. A young, dynamic design language was developed to represent the new programming and target audience. Music identity and sonic branding were also created to complement the visual changes of the channel.

With its expanded repertoire, 5 Plus aims to complement 5’s main channel, as the latter will continue to promote more established sports like basketball, volleyball, and boxing, among others.

A selection of 5 Plus’ atypical sports coverage will also be made available online via www.tv5.com.ph and on 5’s various social media platforms.

3-division tourney kicks off new PPS tennis season

A MIX of the young and old, plus the current crop, gears up for a fierce battle in the next two weeks as the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala tennis tournament kicks off its new season today (Jan. 11, Friday) with the Actifit Open national age-grouper in Valenzuela City.

Alexa Milliam, who dominated the last quarter of last year’s edition of the country’s biggest talent-search, banners the cast in the girls’ 14- and 16-and-under divisions, upbeat but wary of her chances against a souped up field in the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop.

Mariel Jarata, Mica Emana and Jiana Hernandez set out to stop the Pontevedra, Negros Occidental ace in the 14-U section while Franchezka Malaki, Romika Custodio and Hernandez are tipped to spoil Milliam’s bid in the 16-U category of the week-long event which drew 200 players in nine age-group divisions at the Actifit Sports Center.

The event, co-organized by John Mari Altiche, will also feature the Legends division to be played on Jan. 19-20 and Jan. 26-27 with the men’s and women’s Open, featuring some of the country’s leading players, capping the two-week meet on Jan. 21-27.

“We have lined up a record 70-leg circuit this year that will keep our age-groupers busy, particularly those from the countryside where talents are waiting to be tapped and developed,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Action shifts to Mindanao on Jan. 31Feb. 4 with Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and Kabacan, North Cotabato hosting the next two legs of circuit sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Like Milliam, John David Velez, coming off a couple of victories in a recent tournament, seeks a two-title feat in boys’ play with the rising star from Davao bracing for a tough grind against the likes of Loucas Fernandez, Elvin Geluz, Daniel Estanislao, Miguel Vicencio and Angelo Mates in the centerpiece 18-U division.

Giannis leads Bucks past Harden’s Rockets

Vincent P. Reyes, president and CEO of TV5, talks about expanding 5’s sports coverage.

Djokovic, Halep top seeds at Aussie Open M

ELBOURNE—World number ones Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep were named top seeds on Thursday for next week’s Australian Open, with 23-time major winner Serena Williams lurking at 16 on the women’s side.

Djokovic heads long-time rival Rafael Nadal and defending champion Roger Federer, with young-gun Alexander Zverev seeded four as he targets a maiden Grand Slam title.

The Serbian world number one is aiming to make history by claiming a record seventh Australian Open crown when the tournament starts at Melbourne Park on Monday, as is Swiss legend Federer.

The pair face a stern challenge from Zverev, the torch-bearer for the next generation who has so far failed to get beyond the quarter-finals at any major.

With world number five Juan Martin del Potro missing through injury, South Africa’s Kevin Anderson is elevated to fifth seed with last year’s beaten finalist Marin Cilic at six.

Halep takes the top seeding among the women courtesy of her world number one ranking, but she enters the tournament with only one match in four months under her belt after an injury lay off.

The Romanian, the beaten finalist last year, is returning from a herniated disc and was bundled out of the Sydney International on Wednesday at the first hurdle.

Denmark’s defending champion Caro-

line Wozniacki, who is battling health problems and poor form, is seeded three, one behind Germany’s Angelique Kerber.

US Open champion Naomi Osaka is at four while Sloane Stephens, who also slumped out of Sydney early, is at five.

Overshadowing them all is the mighty Williams, who last played the tournament in 2017 when she won while eight weeks pregnant.

The 37-year-old enters the tournament seeded 16, but has proved in the past that such numbers mean little to her. She is the hot favourite to claim a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam.

Men’s singles 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB), 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP). 3. Roger Federer (SUI), 4, Alexander Zverev (GER). 5. Kevin Anderson (RSA), 6. Marin Cilic (CRO), 7.

Dominic Thiem (AUT), 8. Kei Nishikori (JPN), 9. John Isner (USA). 10. Karen Khachanov (RUS), 11. Borna Coric (CRO), 12. Fabio Fognini (ITA), 13. Kyle Edmund (GBR), 14. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE), 15. Daniil Medvedev (RUS), 16.

Milos Raonic (CAN), 17. Marco Cecchinato (ITA), 18. Diego Schwartzman (ARG), 19. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO),

20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL), 21. David Goffin (BEL), 22. Roberto Agut Bautista (ESP), 23. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP), 24. Chung Hyeon (KOR), 25. Denis Shapovalov (CAN), 26. Fernando Verdasco (ESP), 27. Alex de Minaur (AUS), 28. Lucas Pouille (FRA), 29. Gilles Simon (FRA), 30. Gael Monfils (FRA), 31. Steve Johnson (USA), 32. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) Women’s singles 1. Simon Halep (ROU), 2. Angelique Kerber (GER), 3. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), 4. Naomi Osaka (JPN), 5. Sloane Stephens (USA), 6. Elina Svitolina (UKR), 7. Karolina Pliskova (CZE), 8. Petra Kvitova (CZE), 9. Kiki Bertens (NED), 10. Daria Kasatkina (RUS), 11. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 12. Elise Mertens (BEL), 13. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT), 14. Julia Goerges (GER), 15. Ashleigh Barty (AUS), 16.

Serena Williams (USA), 17. Madison Keys (USA), 18. Garbine Muguruza (ESP), 19. Caroline Garcia (FRA), 20.

Anett Kontaveit (EST), 21. Qiang Wang (CHN), 22. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), 23. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP), 24.

Lesia Tsurenko (UKR), 25. Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU), 26. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK), 27. Camila Giorgi (ITA), 28. Hsieh Suwei (TPE), 29. Donna Vekic (CRO), 30. Maria Sharapova (RUS), 31. Petra Martic (CRO), 32. Barbora Strycova (CZE) AFP

FOILED. Princess Bello (3) and Carla Donato (15) of defending champion Arellano Lady Chiefs challenge the smash attempt of the Perpetual Help Lady Altas’ Cindy Imbo during their National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 94 Women’s Volleyball Tournament game at the Fil Oil Flying V Centre in San Juan City, Thursday. AU won, 18-25, 25-19, 25-16, 26-24.

Dennis Abrina

LOS ANGELES—Milwaukee’s NBA Most Valuable Player contender Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points to lead the Bucks to a hardfought 116-109 victory Wednesday over reigning MVP James Harden and the Houston Rockets.

Antetokounmpo added 21 rebounds and was a physical presence on both ends of the floor as the Bucks battled back from a 60-54 halftime deficit to end the Rockets’ 10-game home winning streak.

“He just does everything,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of the imposing Antetokounmpo, who drained 11 of his 14 free-throw attempts. “He has a huge impact on winning.”

The Bucks led by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, but Harden and the Rockets had whittled that lead to three with less than two minutes remaining.

Antetokounmpo, after missing a free throw with 1:39 to play, came out of a timeout and made the second to keep the Bucks ahead by four.

After Harden turned the ball over, than regained it with a steal only to miss a three-pointer, Antetokounmpo made sure the next Bucks possession produced some points as he rose to tap in a miss by Khris Middleton.

Harden, who finished with 42 points and 11 rebounds, missed another three-pointer and the Bucks held on to take their record to 29-11 —percentage points ahead of the 3112 Toronto Raptors for best record in the league.

Malcolm Brogdon added 24 points, connecting on nine of 12 from the field. All of those baskets came from the paint, where the Bucks outscored the Rockets 70-24.

In Boston, the Celtics led by as many as many as 31 points in a wireto-wire 135-108 romp over the Indiana Pacers.

The Celtics notched their fourth straight victory—all coming at home before they set off on a road trip that starts in Miami on Thursday. AFP

Secret Spices rules Wang’s Chairman’s Cup SECRET Spices ruled the recent Wang’ Basketball Chairman’s Cup, beating the Green Bankers, 101- 97, in a come-from-behind victory at the Aquinas Gym in San Juan.

The champion team was led by the trio of league MVP Jacob Lucas with 20 points, together with Jayniel Ilac, who top-scored with 22 markers and three-point champion Ricson Guerrero, who chipped in 20 points.

The Green Bankers had playing coach Pablo Lucas leading the scoreboard with 23 points supported by Joseph Navarro (20 points), Topel Gonalo, Johnlord Bal and Sandy Pazziuagan with 10 points..

The two teams tied or the top spot after the elimination round, necessitating the one-game championship match in the four-team tournament now on its 18th year, according to sportsmanbusinessman Alex Wang, who is the moving force behind Wang Basketball.

“We had an exciting tournament this year which we do every end of the year. I am happy that former and current PBA players who have previously played with Wang’s still take time every year to drop by at the awarding ceremonies to encourage the new players who will be playing the the D League again,” said Wang.

ONE champ Pacio eyes Eternal Glory; Jakarta fight airs live on S+A RISING Filipino mixed martial arts superstar Joshua “The Passion” Pacio stakes his ONE Championship Strawweight World Championship belt against seasoned Japanese fighter Yosuke Saruta in the upcoming “Eternal Glory” fightcard, which will air live on ABS-CBN S+A and S+A HD on Jan. 19 at 11 p.m. straight from Jakarta, Indonesia.

After his breakthrough performance in 2018 when he snatched the crown from former champion Yoshitaka Naito, Pacio (13-2, 11 Submissions) aims to prove he is the real deal in his first title defense. Analysts believe the 22-year-old submission artist from the legendary Team Lakay will still be tough to handle for Saruta (18-8)—the older and more experienced fighter between the two—especially with Pacio’s improved striking game.

“This version of Joshua Pacio could be the best yet. Based from what we saw during his fight with Yoshitaka Naito, Pacio has improved tremendously in terms of grappling defense and positioning, as has the rest of Team Lakay. At just 22 years old, Pacio has evolved into one of Team Lakay’s most complete fighters, mixing his elite-level striking with a continuously-improving grappling base that, as we’ve seen in the past, can hang with the best of the best in the division,” shared longtime ABS-CBN Sports MMA writer and section editor Santino Honasan.

Fellow MMA writer and analyst Nissi Icasiano agrees with Honasan’s thoughts, saying, “Pacio finally tasted gold last September, defeating Yoshitaka Naito in their rematch in convincing fashion.

While it’s easy to point at Pacio’s versatile and exquisite skill set that steered

him to a title victory, people tend to overlook the championship experience that he gained from the match-up against Naito, making him a newly-sharpened katana.”

Having followed the career of “The Passion” since the young star’s entry to the world of ONE Championship, both believe that Pacio can subdue the Japanese challenger and successfully defend his crown.

“Pacio will be facing a tough Japanese contender who immediately made a name for himself in ONE Championship by beating a former champion in Alex Silva last December. I believe that Pacio’s allaround game is at a different level now. The way he’s able to mix up his striking with his grapping is largely what has made him a champion today, and I think it’s what will get him through this first world title defense as well. But Saruta’s used to going the dis-

tance with his wins via decision so endurance and conditioning will be a major factor,” Honasan said.

“Pacio could tear a page off his game plan against Naito, who is virtually identical in terms of skill set to Saruta. Pacio should maintain his striking superiority for the majority of the bout while while exhibiting solid takedown and grappling defense,” Icasiano said for his part.

The card, which is ONE Championship’s first offering for 2019, promises to be a blockbuster as ONE chairman Chatri Sidyodtong claimed on his personal Twitter. Apart from Pacio, Filipinos will also be cheering for stablemate Edward Kelly (11-5, 5 KOs), who is in the undercard with a rematch with Singaporean Christian Lee (10-3, 6 KOs), whom Kelly beat last September.

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

Members of the Philippine Azkals sing the national anthem prior to their game against South Korea in the Asian Football Confederation Cup. Dennis B. Mallari

Azkals try to do better against Team Dragon

By Peter Atencio

William Ramirez

Year’s 1st PSC Children’s Games kicks off in Abra OVER 500 children from the municipality of Bangued in Abra will participate in the Philippine Sports Commission’s first edition of the Children’s Games “Sports for Peace” for 2019 today.

“We are starting 2019 with the same purpose, but with a greater motivation to expand the reach of the PSC by conducting the Children’s Games all over the country,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez.

The agency’s centerpiece program for grassroots, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization back in 2017, is opening its four-day program by training sports volunteers in the Ate/Kuya Workshop, that will be followed by the games proper the next day.

Philippine Sports Institute Deputy Director for Grassroots Marlon Malbog informed that “that the PSC has a standing agreement with Abra provincial Governor Jocelyn Bernos, to conduct an edition of the games in their province.”

Kids from Muslim, Christian and indigenous communities will be playing various team and individual sports like basketball, volleyball, football, badminton and table tennis, as well as the muchanticipated Larong Pinoy.

Last 2018, the PSC surpassed its mark for kids reached in the Children’s Games and catered to a total of 10,746 children in 22 cities, municipalities and provinces.

C

HINA’S Team Dragon, which is trying to overcome its own struggles, plays a crucial showdown with the Philippine Azkals in their second game in Group C of the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup 2019.

After hurdling Kyrgyzstan, 2-1, in its opening encounter, Team Dragon is expected to play a cautious game against the Azkals, who took a 0-1 setback from South Korea last Monday.

Game time is set at 5:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. in Manila) at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Team captain Zheng Zhi said they are preparing hard for the game, an encounter which will put China nearer the knockout stages.

Against Kyrgyzstan, the Chinese started well, but were limited to longrange shots.

Three minutes before the first half ended, Kyrgyzstan took the lead with a well-placed goal.

China, ranked no.76th in the world,

equalized five minutes later at the start of the second half off a goalkeeping blunder, before scoring again 12 minutes before the game ended.

“Our team needs to walk, step by step, to our next target,” said Zheng.

After an impressive showing against Korea, the Philippines, ranked 116th in the world, three notches higher than Kyrgyzstan, will try to do better against Team Dragon and hope to stay alive until the next stage as well.

“I want to see that we dominate and keep the ball better against China,” said Azkals’ coach Sven Goran-Eriksson, who indicated they were able to create good chances against Korea Republic despite their setback.

“And I’m sure we can do that against

China as well, but we must keep the ball a little more. Good for the heart of the coach, too,” added Eriksson.

“Even after we lost, the confidence went up. I spoke brief ly with the players in the dressing room and the mood is good even though we lost the game. They know they did a good job,” said Eriksson.

Korea will meet Kyrgyzstan in another encounter at the Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

China, which is on its 11th Asian Cup appearance, will be banking on forward Gao Lin, who has 21 goals and over 100 caps for his country.

Meanwhile, Qatar weathered a storm to beat Lebanon, 2-0, in Group E at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Wednesday.

Qatar found the breakthrough in the 65th minute through a brilliantly struck free kick by defender Bassam Al-Rawi.

Then, striker Almoez Ali scored in the 79th minute to give Qatar ts first triumph in their bracket.

Spieth hopes 2019 a bounce-back campaign LOS ANGELES—Jordan Spieth launches what he hopes will be a bounce-back 2019 campaign Thursday when he tees it up in the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

The former world number one endured his worst professional season in 2018, finishing 31st in the US tour’s FedExCup points race and failing to qualify for the Tour Championship for the first time in his six year career.

Spieth, who married fiancee Annie Verret in November, said this week’s tournament at Waialae Country Club would be a chance to assess just where his game is given he didn’t earn a berth in last week’s Tournament of Champions open only to last season’s winners.

Spieth said he decided he “really could come down and try out the very little work I was able to put in, but at least knock some rust off and gather some information about where I am at and hopefully

Jordan Spieth

make some adjustments going forward into the season”.

Spieth, whose five top-10 finishes in 23 starts last season were the fewest of his career, admitted it was a frustrating campaign.

“I was certainly frustrated with last season results-wise compared to previous seasons,” he said.

“It was also something I kind of embraced as an inevitable at some point in the career,” added Spieth, whose 11 titles before the age of 25 included three major championships.

“I almost took ignorance as bliss in a lot of parts of my game,” he said. “I did things well, but I didn’t know why. I just did them. Then they got off, and so I had to figure out why I did them well and how to train it back.”

Although limited practice time as he enjoyed his wedding and honeymoon mean he isn’t sure just what to expect this week, he said he thought the break did him good.

“I needed some time away from the game after being off and having to play through it at the end the season,” Spieth said. AFP

Senate, Palace seek 1st quarterfinal wins Jeff Sanders hopes to lead the Senate Defenders to a fourth straight win when they face the PITC Global Traders at the start of the quarterfinal round of the 7th UNTV Cup on Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center.

THE defending chamand former PBA player Games Sunday pion Senate Defenders Jeff Sanders.

(Pasig City Sports Center) look to sustain their Also going for a win3 p.m. – Malacañang-PSC vs NHA impressive showing ning start is Malaca4:30 p.m. – Senate vs PITC in the second phase of ñang-Philippine Sports the elims when they Commission, which face the PITC Global Traders at the tackles the National Housing Authority start of the quarterfinal round in the at 3 p.m.

7th UNTV Cup on Sunday at the Pasig The four teams play one more round City Sports Center. with the top two finishers joining early Game time is at 4:30 p.m. with the De- semifinalists Armed Forces of the fenders slightly favored on account of Philippines and Philippine National their improved plays that enabled them Police in the next round, which is a to recover from a roller-coaster perfor- best-of-three affair. mance in the first round.

Malacañang-PSC missed securing an Mentored by Mike Fermin, the Senate outright semis berth after losing badly to Defenders finished the two-round elims the AFP Cavaliers, 98-87, last Sunday. with a with a 6-3 mark after going 3-1 in The chosen charity of the champion the second round, including a thrilling team in the event organized by UNTV 64-63 win over longtime rival Judiciary. president and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon Out to lead the Defenders are Harly will get P4 million, with the runner up’s Ng, Reynaldo Malaga, Jr., Garri Sevilla charity taking P2 million.

Kuwaiti girls use martial arts to counter bullies, violence KUWAIT CITY—Asma Hasnawi and her daughter Riham spend more than 12 hours a week learning kajukenbo, a mixed martial art the mother says boosts her child’s confidence and thwarts bullying.

In a small hall in Kuwait City, women and girls in black uniforms gather to learn the basics of self-defence.

On their left sleeves are the flags of Kuwait and the US state of Hawaii, where the hybrid martial art of kajukenbo was developed in the 1940s.

The sport’s name was derived from the various forms of martial arts it includes: karate (KA), judo and jujitsu (JU), kenpo (KEN) and boxing (BO).

Each form teaches techniques that can be used to fend off an attack, says Hasnawi, 33, who stands in class alongside her 12-year-old daughter and other girls.

“I initially wanted to explore this sport, but I continued to practise it to be able to defend myself,” she tells AFP. Hasnawi still remembers being bullied as a child—something her daughter has struggled with at school too.

But she says Riham has “changed a lot” since they started practising kajukenbo, gaining patience and strength through the sport.

“She has transformed. At school, she used to get really angry and quickly agitated if someone would say something to her,” Hasnawi says.

“Now, it’s something normal that she can (healthily) deal with.”

There is no recent data in Kuwait on cases of violence against women, who enjoy more freedoms than those in neighbouring countries.

A 2010 study found that a woman is assaulted a day in Kuwait, according to Ghada al-Ghanem, of the Women’s Cultural and Social Society (WCSS).

The WCSS, whose goal is to help and encourage women’s participation in the Kuwaiti community, has dealt with a number of assault cases and Ghanem believes the actual figure may be higher.

‘Strength and honour’ Hung on the red and black walls of the Street Warrior Academy is a poster of two men practising the sport.

“Kajukenbo teaches your child the methods and arts of self-defence,” it reads, complimenting the mottos of “strength and honour” and “street warrior” on the backs of the girls’ uniforms.

The students closely watch their instructor, Faisal al-Gharib, as he explains how to counter an attack with the help of his son.

The girls then pair up to take what they have learnt and put it into practise.

In another instance, the instructor’s son mimics an attack with a wooden knife on one of the more experienced pupils, who wears a black belt.

Already familiar with the exercise, the student explains: “I pretend that I have surrendered... and then I grab his hand on my neck, push it down and move it away.” AFP

Bullpups, Eaglets clash on Sunday Games Sunday (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 fourgame bill to open second-round action of the UAAP Season 81 juniors’ basketball tournament on Sunday 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 7’1” 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 SalleZobel (3-4) and UP Integrated School (07) take the floor at 1 p.m.

IN BRIEF Sarangani Energy posts 1m safe hours ALSONS Power Group’s Sarangani Energy Corp.recorded more than one million safe man-hours in its on-going operations in Maasim, Sarangani province.

The safe man-hour is the equivalent of hours each worker has served under one corporation or company. It is calculated by multiplying the number of workers to the number of man-hours they have served.

Alsons said that as of November 2018, SEC was able to log 1,067,692 worth of safe man-hours, while avoiding catastrophic events and work-related deaths.

SEC’s one million safe man-hour was not only exclusively computed based on the number of plant workers but also on the number of workers employed by its partners.

“One million man-hours without any significant injuries or safety issues are a big thing for us because it underscores our commitment to providing the best working condition for our workers,” said Joel Aton, human resource head and project assurance manager.

ATI expands Batangas Port LISTED Asian Terminals Inc. deployed additional modern equipment at the Batangas Container Terminal as it continuously expands the port’s role as trade facilitator and smart logistics option for Calabarzon.

BCT recently welcomed two new shipto-shore cranes and four more rubbertired gantry cranes, manufactured by Shanghai-based ZPMC, effectively doubling the port’s STS and RTG fleet to four and eight, respectively.

The new STS cranes can reach up to 16 container rows, lift two 20-foot containers simultaneously and handle loads of up to 70 tons. The RTGs, meanwhile, can stack up to six containers high.

Aside from these, ATI also acquired more cargo handling equipment such as reach stackers, side loaders, internal transfer vehicles and chassis to further boost terminal efficiencies.

ATI’s latest investment forms part of its commitment with the Philippine Ports Authority and complements the expansion of BCT’s berth and yard space which began in 2017.

Business NTC, Mislatel sign deal for national broadband S

By Alena Mae S. Flores

TATE-RUN National Transmission Corp. and Mislatel Consortium of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy and China Telecommunications Corp. on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the National Broadband Plan.

Mislatel submitted the highest committed level of service bid to the Department of Information and Communications that won it the New Major Player title.

Mislatel committed to deliver 27 megabits per second of minimum av-

erage broadband speed in the first year of its operations before upgrading to 55 Mbps in the next four years.

The consortium said it would spend P257 billion in infrastructure and service rollout during the five-year period.

“This will be part of the backbone of the network that we will roll out, so it is a precondition to having a reliable national coverage. With a well-established network, we can have better and more affordable internet services,” Mislatel spokesman Adel Tamano said.

TransCo owns the ‘dark fiber’ asset although the transmission network’s operations were privatized through a concession agreement.

Tamano said that aside from TransCo, Mislatel was also planning to sign an MOU National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, operator of the country’s transmission network, National Electrification Administration and the electric cooperatives for the successful rollout

of the NBP. “We are open to partnering with NEA and the coops. We are working on that [NGCP] as well,” he said.

DICT, TransCo and NGCP earlier forged a tripartite agreement for the use of spare optical fiber to speed up the implementation of the government’s NBP. The agreement would enable the government to save around P50 billion by using the dark fiber assets of TransCo. The agreement is initially for the rollout to government offices and agencies and other public places but a separate agreement with the National Electrification Administration and the electric cooperatives would bring connectivity to the households.

Mislatel’s partners China Telecom and DICT signed a joint letter of intent on Nov. 20, 2018 for a feasibility study in using the government’s cable landing stations and connecting it to the former’s submarine cable.

Govt spending strong in November GOVERNMENT spending sustained its upward momentum, as total disbursements reached P298.8 billion in November 2018, up 19 percent from a year ago, according to the Budget Department.

This put total spending in January to November to P3.095 trillion, higher by P601.7 billion or 24 percent, compared to the same period in 2017.

“We have an expansionary fiscal policy so we can upgrade our public infrastructure, as well as provide our people with quality and accessible healthcare, education, and poverty-reduction programs,” said Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

“With the pace of public spending, it is clear that the government is following through with its ambitious plans, especially ‘Build, Build, Build’,” he said.

Infrastructure and other capital outlays hit P62.9 billion in November 2018 on the back of completed road infrastructure projects by the Public Works Department, repair and rehabilitation of school buildings and facilities of the Department of Education and State Universities and Colleges and acquisition of medical equipment of the Department of Health.

Local glass makers urge DTI to impose import standards

By Othel V. Campos LOCAL glass manufacturers said they expect the Trade Department to re-impose the mandatory standards for both locally-manufactured and imported glass products.

The Flat Glass Alliance of the Philippines Inc. said it was hoping the standards would be implemented within the first quarter of 2019.

Concerns on the safety and quality of flat glass in the country prompted the Trade Department to review the imposition of mandatory standards again.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez ordered the review to determine if there was a need to include flat glass in the list.

Members of FGAPI sought audience with the department to address the alleged deteriorating quality and safety of imported glass amid the lack of standards for these products.

The group alleged that many of the imports did not comply with the mandatory thickness of glass. A flat glass is the semi-finished material used to make other kinds of glasses.

The importation of flat glass surged after the government relaxed the rules on mandatory quality control.

The Trade Department removed flat glass under the mandatory list in 2015 and placed it under voluntary list following a department review that glass products were not as life threatening as other products.

THE FINAL PITCH. Businessman and 1 Pacman Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero (second from right) attends the final screening of entrepreneur contestants of reality business TV show ‘The Final Pitch: Season 3’. Romero, the lead investor judge of the TV show, says he is looking for a business that contributes jobs to fellow Filipinos. With Romero are (from left) Final Pitch host John Aguilar, investor judges Michael Dargani of IceDream Inc., Mark Vernon of Tagcash Ltd., millennial entrepreneur Milka Romero and William Tiu Lim of Mega Global Corp. Final Pitch will start airing in March on CNN Philippines channel. Lino Santos

Energy approves LNG hub proposal of Uy, China firm THE Energy Department said Thursday it approved the application of Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc. of businessman Dennis Uy and CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd. to develop the country’s first liquefied natural gas terminal.

Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos confirmed the approval of the issuance of a notice to proceed to Tanglawan, but did not provide more details.

Rino Abad, Energy director for oil and natural gas, said the application effectivity date was Dec. 21, 2018.

Tanglawan, the joint venture of CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd. and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines led

by Uy, submitted its proposal to the DoE for an LNG facility in October.

CNOOC is a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp., China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator.

Phoenix signed a memorandum of understanding with CNOOC in June to study, plan and develop an LNG receiving terminal project in the Philippines.

“As provided by PNGR [Philippine

Downstream Natural Gas Rules], the requirements for the next six months [extendable for another six months based on valid reason] is for the company to get all the permits from other government agencies, ECC, NICP, if applicable, LGU endorsement, etc and financial closing. Upon compliance it can now proceed to construction,” Abad said.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusicommitted to decide on Tanglawan’s application by December.

Tanglawan is one of the more than 20 parties that expressed interest to participate in the DOE’s selection of investor who will build the country’s first LNG hub Marcos earlier said Tanglawan’s proposal was ahead of its rivals although other serious bidders included US-firm Chevron with partners Jera Co. and NYK and Japanese company Tokyo Gas with partner First Gen Corp.

He said another company, Limay LNG Power Corp., also submitted an application only for an LNG power plant and not a terminal.

Excelerate Energy L.P., a US-based LNG company located in The Woodlands, Texas also submitted its application for an LNG facility.

Marcos said applications should “prove to us it has commercial viability so we can be assured of the success of the project.”

He said Tanglawan’s proposal involved the construction of a 5-metricton per annum onshore LNG terminal in Batangas.

“They are looking at two sites. They have a memorandum of cooperation or understanding with AG&P and they are also looking at NDC [National Development Corp.] land,” Marcos said.

Marcos said Tanglawan did not identify the existing natural gas plants in Batangas as their captive market but was looking at building its own natural gas plants with over 1,000 megawatts of capacity.

The government wants to put in place the LNG terminal by 2020 to safeguard against the anticipated depletion of the Malampaya gas facility starting 2024.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

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Trade deficit widened 61% to $37.7b in 11 months

By Julito G. Rada THE trade deficit widened 19 percent in November to $3.9 billion from a $3.3-billion shortfall a year ago, as imports continued to grow while exports declined, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday.

Nicholas Mapa, senior economist of ING Bank Manila, said these latest figures brought the merchandise trade deficit to $37.69 billion in the first 11 months of 2018, wider by 61 percent than the $23.4-billion gap registered in the same period in 2017.

Data showed exports dropped 0.3 percent in November to $5.57 billion and 0.9 percent in the 11-month period to $62.8 billion. Imports increased 6.8 percent in November to $9.5 billion and 15.8 percent in 11 months to $100.5 billion.

“With both the government and corporates doubling down on this capital-intensive growth, wide trade gaps will likely be the norm in the medium term. Meanwhile, exports have seen a nice rebound but continue to lag outbound shipments with more than half of the entire portfolio linked to electronics,” Mapa said.

“Going forward, the current account will likely remain in the red as imports run away from outbound shipments. Imports posted the slowest pace of growth since March mainly because of base effects and as inbound shipments for cars posted a hefty drop of 28.1 percent as fourthquarter 2017 saw a car buying spree ahead of the Train [Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion] law implementation,” he said.

The PSA said the 0.3-percent decline in exports in November was due to the decreases in export sales of the four of the top 10 commodities.

These were chemicals (-16.9 percent); ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships (-14.9 percent); electronic products (-1.6 percent); and coconut oil (-1.3 percent).

The 6.8-percent growth in imports for the month was driven by the expansion of the top 10 major import commodities. These were cereals and cereal preparations (113.5 percent), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (34.1 percent), iron and steel (24.9 percent), other food and live animals (19.9 percent), plastics in primary and non-primary forms (12.5 percent), industrial machinery and equipment (10.5 percent), telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (4.5 percent), miscellaneous manufactured articles (4.4 percent), electronic products (3.9 percent), and transport equipment (0.2 percent).

Electronic products continued to be the country’s top export with total earnings of $3.16 billion. This amount, which accounted for 56.7 percent of the total exports’ revenue in November 2018, decreased by 1.6 percent, from $3.21 billion export receipts in the same month of the previous year.

444 gas stations start collecting higher tax THE Department of Energy said 444 retail stations began implementing higher excise tax on petroleum products in compliance with the second tranche of excise tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Data from the Oil Industry Management Bureau showed that 369 outlets of Petron Corp., 46 of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and 29 of Flying V implemented the higher excise tax ahead of the February 2019 schedule expected by the department.

“We are ensuring that our consumers do not become subjects of profiteering. We are issuing show-cause orders to the concerned retail outlets for them to explain their implementation of the second tranche of excise taxes,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement.

Two teams from DOE-OIMB visited various retail outlets in Caloocan, Quezon City and Malabon on Thursday to serve the SCOs and validate their

documents relative to the imposition of excise tax and its corresponding additional Value Added Tax. Under the second tranche of Train law’s implementation, an additional excise tax of P2 will be imposed per liter on diesel and gasoline and P1 per kilogram on cooking gas or LPG (excluding value added tax).

“In addition, we are also validating the prices of their fuel products whether they have already imposed the second wave of excise taxes,” Cusi said.

Energy officials previously said they were expecting the entire 8,006 retail stations to implement the additional excise tax by February at the latest.

The DOE-OIMB said that a retail outlet’s imposition of excise tax would depend on the exhaustion of the 2018 existing inventories.

Only new inventories in 2019, directly imported or locally produced by refineries, are covered by the second tranche of excise tax.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PILIPINAS CONFERENCE. The Stratbase ADR Institute for International and Strategic Studies holds The Pilipinas Conference at The Conservatory, The Peninsula Manila, to assess the current administration’s performance and provide for a comprehensive vision and outlook for 2019. The third session of the conference brought together perspectives on how the administration fared economically in the past two years and provided for an outlook as well as recommendations for the year ahead. Shown after the close of the third session are (from left) Atty. Michael Toledo, managing director of MVP Group Media Bureau who led the session; Foundation for Economic Freedom president Calixto Chikiamco; former Foreign Affairs Secretary and Ambassador Albert del Rosario; National Scientist and UP Economics Professor Dr. Raul Fabella; Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman George Barcelon; and Stratbase ADRi founder and managing director Victor Manhit.

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Business

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rise as index nears 8,000

T

HE stock market extended its rally Thursday, with the Philippine Stock Exchange Index close to topping the 8,000-point mark.

The PSEi added 65.56 points, or 0.8 percent, to 7,985.23 on a value turnover of P10.1 billion. Gainers beat losers, 109 to 82, with 51 issues unchanged.

Blue chips led the market rally on expectations the Philippine economic growth will stay firm and household consumption will recover after inflation decelerated to a seven month low of 5.1 percent in December.

Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan advanced 4.4 percent to P12.72, while Security Bank Corp., the

sixth biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 4.3 percent to P178.40.

PLDT Inc., the largest telecommunications firm, rose 4 percent to P1,234, while affiliate and conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. gained 3.8 percent to P4.92.

The rest of Asian markets mostly turned south Thursday as investors took a breather after rallying this week on optimism over China-US trade talks and the Federal Reserve’s softer tone on interest rates.

Hong Kong was down 0.2 percent in the afternoon after rising around five percent over the previous four days, while Shanghai closed 0.4 percent off.

Seoul eased 0.1 percent, while Wellington, Taipei and Mumbai fell, though Sydney gained 0.3 percent and Singapore rose 0.5 percent.

There was also growing unease over

the US government shutdown, which is now in its third week, after President Donald Trump walked out of a meeting with Democrats to resolve the issue, meaning it will likely drag on for some time to come.

Tokyo led the losses, with exporters hit by a rising yen against the dollar after minutes from the Fed’s latest policy meeting showed the policy board happy to slow its pace of rate hikes to prevent a slowdown in the economy.

Central bankers said they “can afford to be patient” owing to low inflation and uncertainty about the outlook and while there would likely be more increases in borrowing costs, it would be a “relatively limited amount.”

The minutes reinforced comments from Fed boss Jerome Powell last week that there was no “pre-set” plan on rates, which fanned a global market rally.

Fears about rising costs were a key factor in driving equities lower last year.

They also fueled a dollar sell-off with the greenback weakening across the board and the Chinese yuan at its highest level since late August.

While the dollar stabilized against its major peers Thursday, it saw more losses against higher-yielding currencies, with the new-found optimism providing a boost to riskier assets.

“I’m happy to see that there was caution in the minutes,” Alicia Levine, chief strategist at BNY Mellon Investment Management, told Bloomberg TV. “You want it to be that this is what the (Fed policy board) really believes, that caution is warranted, that they’re going to be data-dependent, and there are alternative outcomes that they should be aware of. I take great comfort in these minutes.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 10,000 94.5 3,572,540 2.25 32,000 131.3 4,018,460 1.46 128,000 28 369,900 16 1,300 12.82 1,192,700 4.73 281,000 0.485 340,000 81.9 3,183,820 1.02 5,001,000 12.02 22,900 18.42 500 44.45 307,400 183 3,590 58.75 6,150 29.05 235,800 178.4 2,807,810 1,800 5 64.7 22,330 1.14 70,000

590,000 337,732,606.50 71,660 527,815,277 185,790 10,387,200 20,800 15,240,334 1,317,600 166,850 258,853,531.50 4,953,080 286,214 9,210 13,700,275 656,981 363,252.50 6,893,745 490,433,449 9,000 1,457,423 79,800

53,787,520.50 2,260 70,260,905 -8,518,635 1,152,246 69,200 29,250 -4,198,121.50 71,390 -1,270 -5,913,060 94,488,366 -597,225 -

34.8 16.66 1.13 1.31 0.243 2.09 15.68 145 30.7 17 40 60 1.73 6.43 6.62 11.2 15 8.15 7.4 1.61 19.96 67.5 25.05 2.01 5.79 11.9 1.9 312 4.3 10.6 27.05 11.32 17.9 386.2 0.178 5.76 1.48 3.7 7.69 5.5 9.1 1.34 10.76 47.65 6 4.7 1.92 2.85 1.49 12.6 83.55 6.25 0.125 0.89 131.5 1.9 1.6

INDUSTRIAL 36.9 2,312,400 16.72 407,600 1.18 8,969,000 1.35 1,006,000 0.249 750,000 2.1 18,702,000 15.92 82,500 145 1,390 31.4 191,800 17 2,100 40 1,000 60 210 1.79 115,000 6.46 120,100 6.65 17,900 11.34 5,117,000 15.1 153,900 8.15 177,500 7.49 88,300 1.61 2,000 20.2 2,674,000 71.1 202,770 25.5 44,900 2.05 1,956,000 5.95 3,068,300 12.2 2,482,700 1.9 449,000 314 1,064,200 4.3 8,000 11 13,600 27.5 1,050,600 11.42 884,100 18.1 12,793,100 393.4 333,520 0.189 140,000 5.76 5,500 1.49 37,268,000 3.76 846,000 7.86 4,037,600 5.65 187,100 9.11 16,900 1.38 69,217,000 10.88 67,400 48 458,700 6 6,000 4.7 4,000 1.95 2,152,000 2.85 8,000 1.55 75,000 12.86 103,800 83.95 886,810 6.3 396,900 0.125 20,000 0.89 15,000 133.9 3,571,020 2 28,937,000 1.62 1,340,000

83,054,125 6,820,504 10,414,160 1,344,100 184,230 39,890,240 1,316,142 206,720 5,937,605 35,700 40,000 12,605.50 203,530 774,496 120,472 58,110,718 2,314,672 1,456,656 661,024 3,220 54,372,706 14,101,001 1,136,050 3,988,010 18,041,421 30,113,120 859,350 334,913,822 34,630 149,280 28,887,765 10,126,992 232,894,014 130,476,494 25,830 31,715 57,811,580 3,178,130 31,382,787 1,051,082 160,722 96,965,920 729,132 22,002,930 36,000 18,800 4,193,300 22,800 113,740 1,321,312 74,236,135.50 2,512,809 2,500 13,350 475,352,238 56,372,850 2,161,520

5,465,575 170,534 -81,780.00 -39,440 -16,623,940 268,220 -2,692,865 14,320 -61,819 5,207,572 902,800 -694,056 496,807 6,542,559.00 5,522,447 20,040 626,700 -13,484,511 17,520,772 -67,250 -75,873,878 285,310 -1,790,180 -36,259,818 57,650,848 22,130 -19,330,190 -2,309,669 -2,192,020 -8,873,250 544,346 -5,661,368.50 -442,569 -109,654,140 -12,917,220 -35,650

0.72 60.1 12.26 0.8 6.52 27.35 1.41 1.41 995 7.14 12.66 13 1,005 6.14 62.55 5.56 4.82 0.57 4.59 15.2 0.61 4.77 0.038 1.21 2.5 2.55 145 976 0.77 1.35 238 0.249

HOLDING FIRMS 0.73 51,207,000 61.6 3,007,220 12.72 26,274,400 0.8 95,000 6.52 70,000 28 30,100 1.42 5,922,000 1.42 666,000 1,000 342,855 7.15 8,681,500 12.82 4,843,800 13.16 1,611,100 1,020 89,590 6.14 1,000 63.5 3,937,490 5.76 17,100 4.82 20,000 0.58 67,000 4.61 4,520,000 15.2 4,784,100 0.61 58,000 4.92 29,362,000 0.038 1,800,000 1.22 186,000 2.57 2,734,000 2.58 175,000 147.6 952,120 985 442,820 0.77 13,000 1.4 278,000 250 2,380 0.255 14,320,000

38,052,000 184,926,759 330,672,806 76,100 457,400 837,835 8,424,070 951,170 342,679,037.50 62,142,666 61,894,250 21,121,104 91,075,990 6,140 250,097,167.50 96,266 96,400 38,670 20,807,970 73,861,340 35,380 143,281,800 68,400 226,390 7,131,990 448,200 140,063,860 436,398,720 10,010 381,900 589,540 3,727,210

-213,450 125,087,226.50 8,362,286 -5,640 183,078,395 38,727,399 -2,375,904 139,904 44,382,700 137,776,293.50 138,420 -15,164,828 45,884,860 -25,610.00 26,078,974 78,166,315 -49,070 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 93.7 2.21 131.7 1.44 28 16 12.8 4.73 0.485 81.45 0.94 11.98 18.42 44.2 180 59.2 29.5 171.1 1,800 64.5 1.14

59 95.65 2.26 132.5 1.49 28.5 16 12.82 4.77 0.495 82.15 1.02 12.7 18.42 44.9 184 59.2 29.85 178.4 1,800 65.8 1.14

59 92.5 2.2 130.8 1.44 27.9 16 12.54 4.6 0.485 80.75 0.94 11.98 18.42 44.2 180 58.75 29 171.1 1,800 64.5 1.14

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

34.8 16.88 1.15 1.32 0.249 2.13 16 150 31.4 17 40 60.05 1.74 6.45 6.62 11.36 15.1 8.21 7.4 1.61 20.4 67.5 25.05 2.07 5.8 11.96 1.95 318 4.38 11.22 27.5 11.36 17.9 390 0.185 5.77 1.53 3.74 7.77 5.66 9.8 1.44 10.8 48.2 6 4.7 1.96 2.85 1.55 12.68 83.8 6.42 0.125 0.89 131.8 1.93 1.64

36.9 16.88 1.18 1.37 0.249 2.17 16 150 31.4 17 40 60.05 1.79 6.46 6.79 11.42 15.1 8.4 7.5 1.61 20.75 71.15 25.5 2.07 6.07 12.24 1.95 319 4.38 11.22 27.5 11.58 18.54 393.4 0.195 5.77 1.6 3.79 7.9 5.7 9.8 1.47 10.96 48.2 6 4.7 1.96 2.85 1.55 12.94 83.95 6.5 0.125 0.89 134.8 2 1.64

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

0.76 61 12.28 0.8 6.54 28.85 1.42 1.41 1,000 7.19 12.8 13 1,015 6.14 63.3 5.79 4.82 0.6 4.68 15.44 0.61 4.78 0.038 1.21 2.64 2.55 145 994 0.77 1.39 245 0.255

0.78 62.6 12.88 0.81 6.54 28.85 1.44 1.44 1,007 7.21 12.84 13.16 1,020 6.14 64 5.79 4.82 0.6 4.68 15.8 0.61 4.96 0.038 1.23 2.68 2.58 148 995 0.77 1.4 250 0.27

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

8.74 0.85 10.54 1.78 0.99 44.8 2.42 4.33 6.05 0.445 0.92 0.248 0.385 8.18 21.6 0.49 1.45 1.19 5.06 0.475 0.475 2.22 0.445 3.55

8.75 0.86 10.98 1.78 1.01 45.25 2.47 4.34 6.4 0.45 0.92 0.248 0.385 8.23 22.2 0.6 1.47 1.23 5.09 0.475 0.49 2.23 0.445 3.56

8.65 0.84 10.54 1.7 0.99 43.7 2.42 4.29 6.05 0.435 0.92 0.246 0.375 8 21.35 0.49 1.43 1.16 5.03 0.465 0.47 2.19 0.425 3.54

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

40 21.75 2.05 3.12 38.7 1.43 6.48 0.73 5.85

40 22.25 2.06 3.15 39.5 1.47 6.48 0.81 5.92

40 21.65 2.03 3.12 38.55 1.42 6.18 0.73 5.8

40 22.25 2.04 3.12 39.45 1.42 6.2 0.77 5.9

100 3,550,100 122,000 118,000 14,200,500 1,716,000 882,000 1,525,000 10,341,000

4,000 77,888,225 249,440 368,220 556,484,045 2,464,830 5,508,407 1,174,250 60,910,216

33,595,570 102,500.00 246,484,215 311,550 -25,360,526

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

15 21.4 1.43 0.42 0.04 3.49 10.1 79.45 7.8 6.86 7.39 2.15 17.92 1,930 5.66 3.2 1.86 104.7 10.52 7.5 0.141 6.29 3.16 14.6 3.57 0.89 18.4 0.345 5.05 2.74 2.2 2.02 4.06 9.85 8.8 3.2 119.5 3.51 1,185 0.91 0.34 49.15 86.9 7.56 2.49 0.78 0.44 5.38 0.79 13.9

15.5 21.6 1.49 0.42 0.04 3.51 10.3 81.3 7.8 6.86 7.39 2.15 19 2,020 5.75 3.24 1.98 105 10.52 7.5 0.141 6.31 3.39 14.78 3.62 0.89 18.42 0.345 5.3 2.74 2.67 2.5 4.25 9.85 8.8 3.5 122 3.71 1,236 0.91 0.34 50.25 87.4 7.85 2.5 0.78 0.455 5.49 0.83 13.9

14.82 21.05 1.37 0.415 0.039 3.3 10.06 79.4 7.75 6.7 7.39 2.15 17.84 1,920 5.66 3.12 1.86 102.3 10.52 7.5 0.135 6.15 3.1 14.6 3.48 0.85 17.88 0.345 5.05 2.68 2.2 2.02 3.9 9.85 8.7 3.2 112 3.47 1,182 0.88 0.34 48.95 85 7.55 2.46 0.77 0.435 5.38 0.78 13.76

SERVICES 14.84 21.5 1.37 0.415 0.04 3.33 10.12 80.7 7.75 6.7 7.39 2.15 18.1 2,020 5.74 3.2 1.98 104.6 10.52 7.5 0.136 6.2 3.22 14.78 3.52 0.88 17.88 0.345 5.28 2.7 2.59 2.5 3.95 9.85 8.8 3.5 122 3.68 1,234 0.89 0.34 49 85 7.83 2.47 0.78 0.445 5.46 0.8 13.78

251,100 74,800 268,000 540,000 2,900,000 3,411,000 9,644,400 201,820 10,700 1,659,500 7,000 1,000 334,400 59,135 517,800 1,115,000 10,000 3,315,160 100 1,300 14,510,000 3,390,100 159,000 1,600 1,126,000 245,000 448,900 10,000 21,300 7,002,000 3,662,000 118,000 11,109,000 4,200 6,600 4,000 238,990 4,678,000 194,335 16,851,000 40,000 4,683,400 194,530 510,600 5,060,000 5,225,000 16,260,000 1,591,500 14,007,000 7,542,600

3,789,896 1,607,420 383,880 225,300 114,100 11,538,370 98,602,666 16,256,981.50 83,031 11,212,495 51,730 2,150 6,069,296 116,710,110 2,956,222 3,533,990 19,180 347,514,946 1,052 9,750 1,992,200 21,069,521 499,610 23,558 3,962,730 213,090 8,133,362 3,450 108,648 18,985,030 9,043,080 283,710 45,658,560 41,370 57,850 13,210 28,050,924 17,077,570 236,437,415 15,052,970 13,600 230,502,770 16,747,512 3,954,172 12,539,240 4,051,110 7,242,350 8,634,165 11,294,340 104,098,100

14,860 83,000 -622,230 10,238,486 5,203,193.50 40,400 33,758 31,349,890 158,140 41,866,748 180,033 10,540 735,790 10,282,630 -1,620,410 93,254 -6,519,960 80,968,315 77,819,995 12,283,164.50 3,744,890 718,920 114,550 294,322 -16,400 11,664,870

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG 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 1.63 2.65 15.5 1.26 2.05 0.3 1.69 0.215 0.119 0.13 1.22 2.34 1.02 0.66 0.96 0.014 0.014 0.013 3.35 4.2 15.9 24.6 0.0078

0.0021 1.66 2.65 15.6 1.28 2.11 0.3 1.7 0.216 0.122 0.13 1.27 2.41 1.08 0.67 0.99 0.014 0.014 0.013 3.63 4.2 15.9 25.25 0.0082

0.002 1.62 2.61 15 1.26 2.04 0.3 1.68 0.211 0.117 0.13 1.21 2.34 1.02 0.63 0.96 0.013 0.014 0.013 3.35 4.06 15.48 24.4 0.0075

MINING & OIL 0.0021 419,000,000 1.64 2,486,000 2.65 703,000 15.5 6,600 1.28 2,000 2.07 1,071,000 0.3 130,000 1.69 5,705,000 0.215 100,000 0.122 1,710,000 0.13 10,000 1.21 186,000 2.38 5,679,000 1.08 113,000 0.67 213,000 0.96 365,000 0.013 373,600,000 0.014 470,400,000 0.013 23,800,000 3.46 340,000 4.13 4,616,000 15.5 1,000,300 24.4 3,186,700 0.0077 32,000,000

839,100 4,057,800 1,836,110 100,270 2,540 2,203,830 39,000 9,665,170 21,430 204,200 1,300 226,770 13,469,790 115,440 140,630 353,420 5,225,000 6,585,600 309,400 1,199,770 19,150,820 15,587,026 79,062,435 247,100

-95,140 51,650 -100,200 2,082,390 -1,400,000 6,500 -3,460 1,674,240 -367,550 -13,356,630 15,200

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

19.46 475 490 98.5 455 480 5.49 918 96 1.02 999.5 1,002 100 971 75.45 76 74.1 74.3 73.5

20 475 497.8 98.5 455 480 5.6 918 96 1.02 999.5 1,002 100 971 75.45 76.9 74.1 74.3 73.5

19.46 460 490 97 455 480 5.49 918 96 1.02 999.5 1,000 100 970 75.2 76 74 74.3 73.5

PREFERRED 19.62 228,000 473.8 1,130 497.8 4,950 97 130 455 40 480 30 5.59 403,300 918 10 96 600 1.02 1,000 999.5 20 1,000 210 100 30 970 4,000 75.25 2,750 76.9 5,180 74 35,000 74.3 100 73.5 880

4,504,014 523,158 2,425,578 12,775 18,200 14,400 2,224,422 9,180 57,600 1,020 19,990 210,020 3,000 3,880,455 206,944.50 396,822 2,590,022 7,430 64,680

-3,956,594 4,600 -954,742 33,884.50 -

LR WARRANT

2.12

2.12

2.03

WARRANTS 2.04 157,000

325,070

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.35 1.73

5.35 1.73

5.06 1.63

5.2 1.65

7,961,715 36,767,750

59,870 -2,443,150

FIRST METRO ETF

117.6

118.5

117.3

2,663,646

-5,870

32,421

-32,421

MS

PROPERTY 8.69 0.86 10.98 1.72 1 45 2.43 4.34 6.4 0.445 0.92 0.246 0.38 8.13 21.4 0.56 1.44 1.23 5.06 0.47 0.48 2.2 0.425 3.56

360,100 1,759,000 20,000 539,000 6,351,000 22,832,200 1,371,000 299,000 17,600 8,930,000 1,000 5,040,000 60,000 185,500 2,628,700 16,580,000 26,836,000 2,417,000 29,959,600 11,950,000 8,420,000 5,168,000 800,000 505,000

3,135,506 1,495,620 214,438 924,050 6,353,300 1,025,812,710 3,333,110 1,294,470 108,310 3,964,750 920 1,243,240 22,750 1,498,233 57,379,815 9,284,400 38,921,620 2,905,330 151,805,114 5,595,450 4,057,650 11,384,130 349,150 1,794,470

572,460.00 99,000 312,954,185 -1,575,760 -819,360 22,255 637,100 1,013,280 44,715 -4,364,970 46,700 -19,142,370 -58,000.00 38,601,747 -1,377,100 319,900 -138,450

USD DMPL A1

10.1

10.1

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

22,097,828

INDUSTRIAL

218,102,815

HOLDING FIRMS

182,374,140

PROPERTY

187,206,229

SERVICES

144,114,979

MINING & OIL

1,347,162,238

GRAND TOTAL

2,124,630,435

10.1

SME

1,544,700 22,003,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.2 22,590 10.1

DDS

3,210

VALUE 1,818.42 (up) 20.56 1,735,493,502.37 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,474.95 (up) 112.00 2,019,449,196.155 HOLDING FIRMS 7,930.61 (up) 11.95 2,609,841,078.45 PROPERTY 3,990.24 (up) 34.39 1,545.07 (up) 25.60 2,105,100,169.115 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,789.32 (down) 25.07 1,433,641,525.585 PSEI 7,985.23 (up) 65.56 160,680,501.54 All Shares Index 4,764.91 (up) 36.94 10,111,606,418.67 Gainers: 109; Losers: 82; Unchanged: 51; Total: 242

URC vows to upgrade 2 acquired sugar mills

By Jenniffer B. Austria UNIVERSAL Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, has made several commitments to the Philippine Competition Commission to address potential competition issues regarding its planned acquisition of the sugar milling and refining assets of Roxas Holdings Inc. and its unit in Batangas.

URC plans to purchase all buildings, improvements, machineries and equipment owned by RHI and unit Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc., as well as the land on which these assets are located.

The voluntary commitment of URC comes after the PCC’s Mergers and Acquisitions Office issued a state of concern detailing the potential competition issues arising from the transaction.

Among the commitments made by URC are increasing sugar recovery rates of the Balayan sugar mill and CADPI for a period of 10 years following the completion of the acquisition, and perform capital upgrades on CADPI to improve its energy efficiency.

URC also committed to assist planters in terms of fertilizer, cash loans and use of mechanical harvester within the vicinity of Balayan and the CADPI mills over at least 10 years following the completion of the acquisition.

URC has committed to increase the planters’ share of the raw sugar milled at the CADPI mill from 68 percent to 70 percent beginning in crop year 20192020, and at the Balayan mill, from 67 percent to 68 percent beginning in crop year 2019-2020.

PCC’s MAO in June was notified of the proposed acquisition of URC of the milling and refining assets of CADPI and RHI in Batangas.

The MAO identified competition concerns and informed the parties the need for a more comprehensive and detailed analysis of the transaction.

PCC’s MAO in October said transaction would likely result in substantial lessening of competition in the market for the provision of sugar cane milling services in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Quezon, as URC-Balayan and CADPI are the only sugar milling firms operating in the area.

TV 5 Network bares rebranding of sports channel

By Darwin G. Amojelar TV5 Network Inc. on Thursday announced the rebrand of its sports channel Aksyon TV to 5 Plus as part of a strategy to meet its break-even target this year.

“We are excited to start the new year with the launch of 5 Plus. The intent was to create a home for what we call atypical sports—titles with a highly engaged audience base that don’t typically receive visibility of this scale,” TV5 president and chief executive Vincent Reyes told reporters.

“Expanding our sports coverage also enables us to attract a new audience: the younger sports fan. 5 Plus aims to serve content that resonates with the pace of their active lifestyle, and is in line with their varied interests. The combination of both 5 and 5 Plus allows us to cement and expand further our foothold in sports,” he added.

The rebrand sees a complete overhaul of the channel’s look, aimed at visually communicating its new identity.

“With 5Plus coming on board, hopefully we can further improve that [advertising revenues] by the end of the year,” Reyes said.

He said the company was still confident of achieving its target to post break-even this year. “That still remains to be a target, more importantly, in 2018 we improved our bottom line by 30 percent. Shifting to sports allowed us to greatly reduce our expenditures. So far that’s very promising.”

“It’s very difficult to achieve that by the end of the year. But I am confident that we have assembled a team that is going to take advantage of any such opportunity that will allow us to achieve that target by end of this year. It remains a target,” he said.

MediaQuest Holdings Inc. bought TV5 in 2009 from the Cojuangco Group for P4 billion, and acquired MPB Primedia of Malaysia, a TV5 major blocktimer, for $16 million.

B3

World

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Second taxi driver in protest suicide

SEOUL―A South Korean taxi driver burned himself to death in protest against a ride-sharing service being introduced by the country’s largest mobile chat app, the second to do so in a month.

The 64-year-old, surnamed Im, parked near the US embassy in central Seoul moments before his vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The driver remained conscious after he got out of the burning vehicle on Wednesday evening, witnesses said, and was taken to a nearby hospital but died hours later, according to police, who found melted fuel bottles in the car.

Im left a suicide note, Yonhap news agency reported, calling for a ban on what he called “illegal car-pooling”.

He is the second cab driver in a month to have burned himself to death in protest at a ride-sharing service created by chat app Kakao.

Ride-sharing firms have cut transport costs and increased services for passengers around the world, but are conspicuous by their absence in South Korea, where US giant Uber has only a minimal presence.

Uber closed its main ride-sharing service in 2015 amid an extensive backlash from cab drivers and now only offers taxiand licensed-hire vehicle hailing. AFP

Airline brings live music to the skies

STREET SCENE. A fruit vendor waits for customers at her roadside stall in Hong Kong in the early evening of January 9, 2019. AFP

President Xi hopes US and N. Korea will meet halfway SEOUL―Chinese President Xi Jinping offered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un firm backing in the deadlocked nuclear talks with the United States, insisting the two sides should meet “halfway”, state media said Thursday.

Kim visited Beijing by train this week for two days of discussions that reasserted China’s role in the process, and were seen as a strategy session ahead of a second summit between the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump.

At their first meeting in Singapore in June, Kim and Trump signed a vaguely worded document with Kim pledging to work towards the “denuclearization of the Korean peninsula”.

But progress has since stalled with Pyongyang and Washington—which stations 28,500 troops in South Korea —disagreeing over what that means.

North Korea wants relief from the multiple sets of sanctions imposed on it over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, while the US wants the measures to remain in place until Pyongyang gives up its arms -something it has made no public promise to do.

China also wants the sanctions relaxed and Xi said he “hopes that the DPRK and the United States will meet each other halfway” according to China’s state news agency Xinhua, using the initials of the North’s official name.

Xi “spoke highly of the positive measures taken by the DPRK side”, it added.

North Korea has carried out six nuclear blasts and launched missiles capable of reaching the whole of the United States, but has performed no such tests for more than a year, and blew up the entrances to a nuclear testing ground it said it no longer needed.

Pyongyang has rejected demands for what it calls its “unilateral” disarmament as “gangster-like”.

China is the North’s sole major ally and key trade partner but relations had deteriorated over Pyongyang’s nuclear activities, before warming up last year, with Kim meeting Xi three times.

Kim noted the “difficulties and concern” in talks with the US, according to Pyongyang’s official KCNA news agency, which said the Chinese leader had issued a ringing endorsement of the North’s position.

Xi said that “the principled issues suggested by the DPRK side are deserved requirements and its reasonable points of concern should be resolved properly”, it said.

Each of the previous Kim-Xi meetings have come shortly before or after the North Korean summits with either Trump or South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Trump said Sunday the US and North Korea were negotiating the location of their next summit, a meeting Moon said Thursday was “imminent”. AFP

US employees struggle as shutdown continues W ASHINGTON― Federal employees are demanding that President Donald Trump and Congress “stop playing chicken with our lives,” warning that thousands of workers caught up in a US government shutdown are struggling to make ends meet.

As some 800,000 employees brace for their first missed paycheck later this week due to a partial shutdown that began December 22, a grim reality has set in for many, particularly those in lowpaid federal jobs.

Trump and Democratic lawmakers are at an impasse over his demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall on the Mexican border, and non-essential government employees in several departments have been sent home on unpaid leave or are working with no immediate prospect of payment.

In poignant testimonials in the US Capitol, workers from offices like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said many of their colleagues faced swelling financial crises, unable to cover daycare costs, make mortgage payments or pay other bills.

“Many of our professionals are single mothers who are being forced to work without pay, and still have the responsibility to pay for childcare and other expenses, like gas to get to work,” said Eric Young, a union representative for Bureau of Prison employees, the lowest paid law enforcement officers in the nation.

Security is also a growing concern, he said at a US Capitol event where 20 federal workers stood with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday.

“This underfunding, the lack of staffing, is so bad, we have secretaries, cooks and teachers filling in every day behind missing correctional officers,” Young said.

“If something happens to any of our professionals behind this distraction, blood will be on your hands,” he added, gesturing towards the cameras at the back the room without singling out either side for blame.

“Stop playing chicken with our lives.”

Many workers are living “paycheck to paycheck” but are embarrassed to admit it, said Holly Salamido, an employee at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and a leader in the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

They are missing car payments, risking having their children removed from daycare, and are facing eviction, all events that can hurt a person’s credit

rating, which creates lasting financial problems.

“The repercussions of this shutdown are real, and we need Congress to reopen the government immediately,” Salamido said.

Steve Reaves, a 23-year US Army veteran who works for FEMA, said the agency that was prepared to let its staff recover and refuel after a brutal hurricane season and historic California wildfires is now seeing employees locked out of work and pay—and many Americans grasping for FEMA’s help.

“Anyone who needs insurance claims, property damages while we’re out, and the American people ask ‘Where is FEMA?’ We’re furloughed,” he said.

“We need the government opened now.”

AFGE president J. David Cox said members earned an average of about $500 per week, and a lapse in paychecks could spell disaster.

“Federal employees are absolutely, completely and without reservation opposed to this government shutdown lockout,” he said.

“We oppose being collateral damage.

We oppose the use of extortion instead of debate.”

Trump delivered a nine-minute address to the nation Tuesday night laying out his argument for Congress funding his border wall, and his demand for border security.

He made no direct mention of federal workers. AFP

JAKARTA―Indonesian national flag carrier Garuda is bringing music to the skies with a series of live acoustic concerts on domestic flights, the airline said.

Passengers will be serenaded at 35,000 feet in a scheme aimed at wooing millennials “who want a different flight experience”, airline spokesman M. Ikhsan Rosan told AFP. The carrier held its first in-flight concert on Wednesday, when two musicians performed for a captive audience aboard a flight between the capital, Jakarta, and the holiday island of Bali.

Garuda said sets would last 10 to 15 minutes on select flights, and there would be a focus on promoting upcoming talent.

While it may prove an unforgettable flying experience for some, it may not be everyone’s idea of a good time.

In 2017, US airline Southwest introduced live shows on some flights to a mixed reaction from passengers.

Some travelers said they preferred minimum human interaction while flying and that music would distract them from sleeping or reading.

Indonesia is one of the world’s fastestgrowing aviation markets, but it has come under fresh scrutiny since a fatal Lion Air crash in October last year that killed all 189 people on board.

Garuda said it had embarked on extensive consultation to ensure the concerts posed no threat to safety or security. AFP

German airport strike cancels 600 flights

FRANKFURT―Almost 640 flights were canceled in Germany Thursday as security staff went on strike at three airports, meaning disruption for around 100,000 passengers.

The number of flights blocked was more than half the 1,050 planned for Duesseldorf, Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart.

Duesseldorf—the country’s third-largest airport—said in a statement that 370 of Thursday’s 580 planned departures had to be canceled.

News agency DPA reported that the walkout, slated to last from 3:00 am (0200 GMT) to midnight (1100 GMT), was expected to affect around 100,000 travellers.

At Cologne-Bonn, where 131 of almost 200 flights were canceled, union Verdi told DPA the security strike was also slowing freight handling.

Representing 23,000 airport security staff across Germany, Verdi is demanding a pay increase to 20 euros ($23.08) per hour from the present rate of 17 euros, or almost 18 percent.

Employers’ association BDLS meanwhile is offering increases of between two and eight percent. AFP

Central Americans fleeing crime and poverty for better life in US SHOPPING. Kate Upton shops Copper Fit at Dicks Sporting Goods on January 9, 2019, in El Segundo, California. AFP

MESILLA, United States―Ovidio Lopez Tum sold tortillas in his hometown of Chicaman in Guatemala to support his wife and eight children.

But after being wounded in machete and grenade attacks by extortionists, the 53-year-old Lopez said he decided to flee to the United States.

To bolster his request for asylum, he brought along documentation of his injuries—cuts to his head and fingers from the 2014 machete attack and shrapnel wounds from the 2017 grenade blast.

He also brought along his 12-yearold daughter, Ingrid Maribel, hoping to provide her with an education she could not receive at home.

Lopez and his daughter are among the thousands of migrants from Central America turning up at the US southern border with Mexico.

President Donald Trump has described the situation there as a humanitarian and security crisis and is engaged in a standoff with Congress over his demand for $5 billion to build a border wall.

AFP spoke with a few families who have arrived in the United States— where they await an uncertain future.

Lopez and his daughter said they left Chicaman, where they lived in a crude

home with dirt floors, on December 20.

They arrived at the US border 10 days later, after walking and taking buses through Mexico.

They were released after two nights in detention during which they said they were well treated by the US immigration authorities.

Upon their release, they were housed in the Basilica of San Albino, a church in the New Mexico town of Mesilla, before leaving by bus the next day for Alabama, where Lopez has family.

Lopez said he hopes to eventually bring his wife and other children to the United States—or at least to provide them with enough money to move to somewhere safer in Guatemala.

Ricardo Chub-Bo, a 40-year-old corn farmer, also made the perilous voyage from Guatemala to the United States with his 14-year-old daughter, Rosa Maria.

He said he decided to come to the United States because he could no longer support his wife and three children growing corn.

They were released into the care of the Basilica of San Albino after eight days in detention and will head to Philadelphia by Greyhound bus. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

No ‘meningo’ outbreak in QC, just one patient

By Rio N. Araja A QUEZON City government official on Thursday said there is no outbreak of the deadly meningococcemia virus in the locality.

Novaliches District Hospital medical director Olivia Favor, however, said there was one patient with the disease.

“There was no outbreak at all. Everything is under control,” Favor said.

A picture of an 11-year-old boy, supposedly infected with meningococcemia and confined at the NDH, went viral, along with a photograph of Favor’s memorandum ordering the closure of the hospital’s emergency room for quarantine and decontamination.

“The shutdown was a normal preventive measure. The risk has never been considered a threat,” said Favor’s message posted on the city government’s Facebook account.

“It was closed for 24 hours for appropriate decontamination of all the equipment used on the said patient. Preventive treatment was also given to persons who were exposed to the patient. It was a single case, and not an outbreak,” she added.

According to the city government, the “temporary shutdown of the emergency room of the NDH was a biosafety measure after a patient was taken to hospital for treatment last Jan. 4. The patient was immediately transferred to a specialized facility for treatment and isolation.”

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday backed the passage of the HIV and AIDS Policy Act to strengthen the government’s response in addressing the increasing number of human immunodeficiency virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease.

She lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of the law designed to make health services more accessible to HIV patients.

“I am happy that a more updated law for HIV/AIDS was finally signed. As an advocate of reproductive health, I commend the administration for addressing this issue since the number of HIV cases has increased exponentially,” she said.

“This law reflects the administration’s concern for those who are diagnosed with this disease. I hope through this, more people will turn to the government and get themselves checked because the assistance is now made more accessible,” Belmonte added.

Last Jan. 8, the President signed Republic Act 11166 or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act mandating the government to deliver more assistance and treatment to persons living with HIV, and to eliminate the stigma and discrimination to patients.

In October last year, the vice mayor vowed to intensify the city’s education and awareness campaign, especially to high school students, saying people living in big cities, such as in Quezon City, were the most vulnerable in terms of sexual infections.

SCHOOL SAFETY. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael G. Mangudadatu coaches school children on how to secure a safe refuge in times of danger at the sidelines of the turnover ceremony of a school building in Pidsalenggian Elementary School, which was briefly disrupted by the discovery of an improvised explosive device nearby by authorities in Barangay Tabungao in Radjah Buwayan on Wednesday. Nash B. Maulana

Bulacan airport’s domino effect seen

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE construction of a new airport in Bulacan would set off a “domino effect” of development in the province that would provide economic opportunities for millions of Filipinos outside Metro Manila, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said Thursday.

Pimentel, chairman of the Senate Trade and Commerce committee, agreed with President Rodrigo Duterte, who said that Metro Manila “is in the ICU (intensive care unit) and if nothing is done to decongest the nation’s capital, it will be virtually unlivable.”

Metro Manila, also known as the National Capital Region, is composed of 16 cities and one municipality. It is home to 12.8 million Filipinos and is the most densely populated region in the country and the fifth most populous urban area in the world, with over 20,000 residents per square kilometer.

Pimentel said dispersing development to other areas of the country was one of the major plans of the President when he ran for office in 2016, “and it is clear that his administration is following through

on his commitment to bring economic development in areas outside NCR.” “Aside from the P735.6-billion Bulacan airport being proposed by San Miguel Corp. that is expected to directly and indirectly generate 1.8 million jobs by 2025, the development of New Clark City in Tarlac is currently under way,” said the senator.

“These are going to be major growth areas with world-class airports. The businesses and jobs these new urban centers will create will provide Metro Manila residents—as well as those who want to come here—with viable livelihood alternatives outside NCR,” Pimentel added.

“In the future, those who come to Manila for college or advanced studies will not have to stay in NCR to obtain gainful

employment,” explained the lawmaker, who began studying in his hometown of Cagayan de Oro and later finished his studies and law school in Metro Manila.

Construction of the new airport is expected to begin after the government holds a “Swiss Challenge” by the first quarter of 2019.

A Swiss Challenge is a procurement system in which the government allows other parties to match or improve on an unsolicited proposal.

The airport project, dubbed the New Manila International Airport, will be located in Bulakan, Bulacan. Once completed, it will have six parallel runways and will be able to accommodate 100 million passengers a year, and contribute as much as P395 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product by 2025, according to SMC. “When it comes to giving employment and business to Filipinos, the President is serious. He is also serious about decongesting Metro Manila and spreading development across the regions. As long as the administration focuses on these priorities, we can expect more balanced progress in our country moving forward,” Pimentel said.

SMFI scholars pay it forward with own tack OVER a thousand alumni of the SM Foundation scholarship program are paying it forward by presenting to the Sy family their own scholarship program to increase the number of beneficiaries that the Foundation sponsors.

The SM scholars did this on Sunday when they flocked to the SMX Convention Center to reunite with SM patriarch Henry Sy, Sr., matriarch Felicidad T. Sy, eldest daughter Tessie Sy-Coson and youngest son Harley Sy. After presenting “Tatang” and “Nanang” with a simple gift of gratitude, the six founders of the “Scholars for Scholars” movement presented Debbie P. Sy, Executive Director of SM Foundation with a seed money of P100,000 they raised amongst themselves, vowing to increase the amount in time for enrollment in July.

The movement is headed by Loida Ongteco-de Vera, now Operations Manager of SM Hypermarket; Ellyson C. Bala, SAVP, IT Department, SM Prime Holdings; Novelyn B. Donoso, Finance Analyst, San Miguel Foods, Inc.; Emylou M. Cadalzo, RS Department Manager, NKC Manufacturing Phils. Corp.; Jeffrey C. Manhulad; and Junnair B. Manla, Network Engineer, NTT Singapore Pte. Ltd. The founders of the “Scholars for Scholars” movement of the more stable alumni of SM Foundation also distributed voluntary pledge forms during the program.

Also present at the gathering were Mr. Jose Sio, President of SM Foundation; Linda Atayde, Executive Director for Education and Trustee of the Board, Dr, Lydia Echauz, and Chito Macapagal.

SM Executives led by SMIC’s Paul Arcenas and Ronald Tumao also came to lend support to the activity.

Wearing blue jackets gifted them by the foundation as a remembrance, the former scholars rendered song and dance numbers.

Heartwarming testimonials were delivered by Ericson Cabrera, 2010 graduate; Junnair Manla 2014 graduate of National University now based in Singapore, Novelyn Beboso, 2005 graduate, and Ellyson Bala, Far Eastern University graduate of 1999. Their stories drew tears of joy among the audience.

An alumna, Gemma Gutierrez, composed an original thank-you song, which she herself sang, prodding her peers to sing along with her.

The scholars came from all over the Philippines, and many of them are working in countries like the United States, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Singapore, and the Middle East.

They came to pay tribute to the founder of SM Foundation and to pledge to pay forward the generosity of the Sys to other less-fortunate but bright students who were once like them.

But Harley Sy asked the alumni not to oblige their peers, especially the fresh graduates, who are just in the process of etching their names and fortunes.

“It’s not bad to be selfish for now because you have to earn for yourself first.

But if you start having more than what you need then look at others around you and help them so, in the future, they can also help others,” Harley said.

Harley said more than raising funds, what is important for the alumni is to undertake a mentoring program for current scholars, many of whom get discouraged because of academic failures or personal hardships that make it difficult to maintain their grades.

Red tide warning Munti anti-rabies program unwraps up in East Visayas

ROTARIANS IN NAGASAKI. Rotary Club of Nagasaki president Tsuyoshi Kawahara

(center) exchanges flaglets with visiting Rotary Club of Manila director and Tourism Committee chairman Robert Lim Joseph (left) and Rotary Club of Cebu honorary member Valeriano ‘Bobit’ Avila during a recent luncheon meeting at Hotel New Nagasaki in Japan.

‘Residents around Clark should get jobs’

By Romeo Dizon ANGELES CITY―Qualified residents living in the cities and municipalities around Clark Freeport must be given top priorities in the employment opportunities and other benefits generated by the growth and development in the former American base here.

Mayoral candidate Alexander Cauguiran, former president and CEO of Clark International Airport, said that communities surrounding the Freeport gave their concurrence to the creation of the Clark Special Economic Zone, a prerequisite for the conversion of the base land into economic use.

Speaking before the barangay officials and residents of Balibago, Cauguiran said “based on this agreement, qualified

residents of Angeles and Mabalacat cities and Porac all in Pampanga and town of Capas, Bamban in Tarlac must be given priority in the employment inside the Freeport.”

The former CRK boss also said he is supporting the four business thrusts of the Bases Conversion Development Authority and Clark Development Corp. to pursue the further development of Clark Freeport Zone, Clark Global City, Clark International Airport Corporation and New Clark City.

At present, about 107,000 workers are inside the Freeport. This is expected to grow once the multi-billion infrastructure project of the government, private sector investors and current locators will be finished a few years from now, Cauguiran said.

TACLOBAN CITY—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources imposed a shellfish ban on two Eastern Visayas bays due to the recurrence of red tide phenomenon.

On Thursday, BFAR found the red tide algal bloom in Cancabato Bay in this city after a week-long laboratory analysis. Red tide phenomenon has been up in Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar since October 2018, according to a local advisory of the fisheries bureau.

“Pollution and high salinity triggered red tide recurrence in Cancabato Bay, but we expect the organisms will be flushed out soon due to strong current in the area,” BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview.

This is the third red tide recurrence after Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ struck in Cancabato. The first only lasted three days and the second lasted three weeks, Albaladejo said.

“Usually, it is taking so long for Matarinao Bay because the area is enclosed.

The longest recorded was in 2010 where it extended for a year. We need strong continuous rains and sustained wave action to flush out the red tide organism,” he added.

The presence of red tide in both meat and water calls for prohibition of gathering, trading and consumption of shellfish from identified areas over the possibility of shellfish poisoning. The bay, however, has a good flushing action due to the strong current in the San Juanico Strait. PNA

TO INTENSIFY its rabies prevention and control program, the local government of Muntinlupa has partnered with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control to launch the Community-Based Rabies Surveillance project.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed a memorandum of agreement with GARC Asia representative Dr. Sarah Jayme and other local officials on Thursday at Muntinlupa City Hall.

Fresnedi hopes the project will improve the city’s efforts on the control and elimination of human and animal rabiesrelated cases.

The CBRS system aims to pilot and enhance the early warning and rapid response for rabies. It intends to facilitate

and improve active rabies surveillance at the community level through an integrated approach including community health workers, veterinarians, and human health and laboratory professionals.

Muntinlupa City Veterinarian Dr. Pamela Hernandez said the partnership seeks to develop and implement and all-inclusive surveillance system that tracks and links suspect animals and humans that have been potentially exposed to rabies, including laboratory diagnosis.

Hernandez added that the project also involves participation from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the Barangay Rabies Control Committee of Muntinlupa’s nine barangays.

PHOTO EXHIBIT. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (second from left) graces the recent launching

of the Muntinlupa Business Locators Photo Exhibit at Muntinlupa Sports Complex. Joining Fresnedi in the program are Rep. Ruffy Biazon (right) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Muntinlupa president Elvie Sanchez-Quiazon (second from right). Members of the business sector applaud the city government’s thrust of championing ease of doing business in Muntinlupa, which has been named the Most Business-Friendly LGU in the country by PCCI for 2017 and 2018.

Life

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

CULTURE AND MEDIA

An early still life of Don Amorsolo

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019

An early still life of Don Amorsolo

C1

Fernando Amorsolo, Jr.'s 'Battle of Mactan,' reminiscent of Juan Luna's Spoliarium.

FERNANDO AMORSOLO:

One tough act to follow

By Diana Noche

T

HE 20th century art is an outgrowth of the Impressionism art movement in Europe. Old masters like Paul Cezanne, Georges Seurat, Claude Oscar Monet, Joaquin Sorolla, Edouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro, and Paul Gauguin gave prominence to the art style.

In America, Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, and Maurice Prendergast were the

first to shift their allegiance to the Old School traditions in exchange for an unfamiliar, less trodden, newer visionary concept as they saw the world.

Impressionism was an art movement that easily caught fire as art audiences, long accustomed to Renaissance art and the homoeroticism of Pontormo, Signorelli, and Michelangelo, took an interested look at fresh works that offered straightforward interpretation.

A vibrant wave of the Impressionism art movement greatly influenced the works of Filipino painters Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo (1855-1913) whose work, “Pareja de jovenes tagalos ante un rio” dated 1879 was auctioned in Madrid on October 23, 2018 and sold at 1.145 million euros. Luna and Hidalgo both went to the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, Spain as the art movement flourished.

And then, there was Fernando Amorsolo. Born in Paco, Manila on May 30, 1892, he is the country’s most recognized painter for his lushly hued countrysides and idyllic vignettes of summer activities where his human subjects stood out in their speckled, luminous skin.

Fernando Amorsolo’s road to greatness started on the drawing board doing commercial ads for the Pacific Commercial Advertising. On the side, he did calendars, book covers, and illustrations such as on the Your Country and Mine textbook by Camilo Osias. One special illustration became the classic San Miguel Archangel overpowering the devil, a.k.a., the “Marca Demonyo” label of a local gin. Señor Enrique Zobel of the Zobel-Ayala clan, held that eidetic image so keenly enough that in 1919 he sent Amorsolo as a pensionado to the same Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando.

At the academia, Amorsolo was a pupil of Cecilio Pla from whom he acquired a finer and more diverse artistic options. However, it was the works of Joaquin Sorolla, Spain’s most prominent Impressionist—the vitality and motion, the warmth and playfulness, and the matrix of all-out colors of the Castillan sun—that created a marked direction

Artworks by Dan Amorsolo, the graphic artist great grandson of Fernando Amorsolo.

National Artist Fernando Amorsolo doing portrait of US President Woodrow Wilson.

to his artistic journey to international fame.

His next stop, New York, exposed him to the works of Impressionist painters in America. His “Afternoon Meal of the Rice Workers,” done in oil, won the highest honors at the 1939 New York World Fair and a cash of $200. It was an image that was to become an Amorsolo particularity: a landscape of sunlit atmosphere where the ordinary became remarkably appealing in its nostalgia for the simpler and more serene lifestyle.

Upon his return to the Philippines, Amorsolo acknowledged his artistic indebtedness to the works of Impressionists he had committedly embraced through several one-man exhibits out of which came the praises and acclaim including the first award for National Artist for Painting conferred posthumously (he died in April 1971, a month before his 80th birthday) on him by former President Ferdinand Marcos.

In his 50s, and with a large family to support, he accepted offers of commissioned portraits of celebrities, presidents, politicians, and high-profile

Fernando Amorsolo, Jr.'s wife Patty and son Don in oil

personalities in his Mabini studio in Ermita. His first wife, Salud Jorge, bore him six children: Virginia, Fernando, Jr., Chita, Gracia, Adrian, and Lina.

Virginia’s eldest son is the father of Paulo Ballesteros, known for his uncanny makeup transformations. Gracia is the mother of TV actress Eula Valdez.

He also had children with his model, Virginia, who bore him sons Manoling and Luis. When Salud Jorge passed away, he married Maria del Carmen with whom he had eight children: Sylvia, Helen, Christy, Luz, Emma, Rosie, Nilo, and Delfin.

Amorsolo left behind him an exceptional body of works that has faithfully inhabited both mass culture and museum culture. His genius is widely accepted, his name entrenched solidly in Philippine art history—a revered name that would put to test a new dynasty of Amorsolo artists.

Fernando Amorsolo, Jr. remembered his father as a private man having a close affinity with Guillermo Tolentino, Teodoro Buenaventura, Ben Alano, and Miguel Galvez, and who did not harp upon his renown. He liked going to the movies with his children. The son had reason to know that the name bore a strong influence from which he forced himself to be free. The mere proximity to his father was a whirlpool where he could easily sink away.

Of course, Fernando Amorsolo was an obvious influence initially. There were group exhibits where he did paintings he used as vehicle to visibly prolong the life of his ideas, away from

the inevitable comparison. He painted recognizable images, a few of his works were deeply considered, but mostly the group shows were by and large scantily attended and forgotten as soon as viewed. The art world wasn’t ready for him as heir apparent to the great name.

Fernando Amorsolo, Jr.’s painterly muse wavered and evanesced. He died an obscure artist at age 41, frustrated with a career that squeezed shut even before it reached its season. He was remembered, if he was at all, with a flitting mention in Philippine art history books, and only as the son of the artist, Fernando Amorsolo. He left behind his wife, Patty, and children Don and Donna.

Never for one moment did Don Amorsolo consider himself to not become an artist. Growing up in a house crammed with artworks of two previous Amorsolos, he nevertheless decided he would create a world different from that he was exposed to where efforts at interpreting his vision will not be compromised.

Where collectors of Amorsolos preferred sentimental or elevatory images, Don Amorsolo’s works, at first glimpse, were blurs of color and style, brush strokes, and subjects. His images were non-narrative, viewed initially as primitive yet strikingly so sophisticated that a spectator would find himself suspended in contemplation.

In 1983 he went to Czechoslovakia on a scholarship from the Czech-Philippines Bilateral Technical Assistance Program and a travel grant from the

'Dalagang Bukid' by Fernando Amorsolo, Jr.

UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines to study Theory and History of Arts. In 1985 he went to Madrid as a researcher on the Spanish historical and social influence in the Philippines en el terrero artistica.

From Europe he went to the USA in 1986 and exhibited his Prague paintings at the Philippine Consulate Office in San Francisco, California. Filipino expatriates who had expected to see rural scenes in the manner of the National Artist were unprimed to view abstracts by the grandson who has been resolute in his own destination, off the beaten track from what his grandfather had initiated.

A new generation of artists, in all corners of the universe, populates the latest art movement characterized by an unconditioned disregard of conventional imagery rules where anything, any image may be intentionally diffracted on another genre of periphery—the computer.

Great grandson of Fernando Amorsolo, grandson of Fernando Amorsolo, Jr., and son of Don Amorsolo, Dan Amorsolo was dissuaded from being another artist in the Amorsolo stable with a supplementary “No” from his mother, Doris, who studied Fine Arts under his father, Don, and who later became head of the University of the East Visual Arts Department.

Dan Amorsolo knew from the gene pool he would be an artist. After drifting from one college to another, his parents finally relented. The Diploma in Computer Science, major in Multimedia, exposed his restless visual imaginations to a wider field of view where he would extend the parameters of the digital art esthetic into still undiscovered realms of pop culture.

The universality of the current digital art movement utilizing the nanosecond speed and creative apps on the computer has, as a consequence, spawned a sure-enough clash between art and commerce. Dan Amorsolo, who works home based for an international art agency, insists that a graphic artist can still stamp his style on a commercial assignment and create something he can be really proud of—and that, from the wisdom of a Great Master, “Mang Nanding,” would be more than enough.

What is in a name? Amorsolo is Amorsolo is Amorsolo. Your name is how you lived it.

Photos courtesy of Dodet NA

Don Amorsolo's abstracts

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Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES Office of the Director General

Corrigenda Number

Date applicable

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Date entered

a person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of:

Entered by

BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 2012-054

WHEREAS, Section 4 of R.A. No. 9497 provides that Title

WHEREAS, the CAAP Board of Directors, in its 03 March 2011 Board Meeting, approved the request of the Director General to initiate amendments and/or revision of the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations of 2008 including the CARAANS, subject to public consultations/hearings, WHEREAS, in May 2011, after public hearing and consultation by the CAAP Regulations Review Committee (RRC) and on the basis of the recommendations of the Directors General, the CAAP Board of Directors duly approved the 2011’ Revised Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR); WHEREAS, on 3rd of June 2011, CAAP Board of Directors’ Regular Meeting, the Revised Aerodrome Manual was duly approved,

5.

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RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT MANUAL; AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR MANUAL; OPERATIONS INSPECTOR MANUAL; APPROVED MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION (AMO) ADMINISTRATION MANUAL; DANGEROUS GOODS APPROVAL MANUAL; DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES MANUAL; PERSONNEL LICENSING MANUAL; FLIGHT STANDARDS ORGANIZATION MANUAL; FLIGHT STANDARDS TRAINING MANUAL; CASORT DATABASE TRAINING MANUAL; AIR OPERATING CERTIFICATE ADMINISTRATION MANUAL; MANUAL OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS APPROVALS; ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION MANUAL; CAAP ADVISORY CIRCULARS AND BULLETINS; CHECK-LIST; and FORMS

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Record of Amendments and Corrigenda

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List of Effective Pages

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Table of Contents

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RESOLVED further that any issuance or promulgation or order made by the Director General arising from the immediate implementation involving safety issues covering the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR and CARANS) is immediately executory subject to appeal to the CAAP Board of Directors for proper resolution within ten (10) days from publication or receipt of notice of the subject matter, if an y issue arises.

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Note 4.— Guidance for the determination of aircraft damage can be found in Attachment F of Annex 13.

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Airplane. A power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft, deriving its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under given conditions of flight.

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Aircraft. Any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface.

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Helicopter. A heavier-than-air aircraft supported in flight chiefly by the reactions of the air on one or more power-driven rotors on substantially vertical axes.

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Note.— Some States use the term “rotorcraft” as an alternative to “helicopter”.

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Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

CAR-SM I.S.

I.S. 2.2.1

I.S. 3.1.1

I.S. 4.3.1

RECORD OF AMENDMENTS AND CORRIGENDA……………………………………

iii

LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES…………………………………………………………......

iv

INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………...

vi

CHAPTER 1…………………………………………………………………………..........

1-1

1.

GENERAL………………………………………………………………………….............

1-1

1.1

APPLICABILITY AND DEFINITIONS…………………………………...........................

1-1

1.1.1

APPLICABILITY…………………………………..........................................................

1-1

1.1.2

DEFINITIONS……………………………….................................................................

1-1

1.1.3

ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………....................

1-4

CHAPTER 2………………………………………………………………………..............

2-1

2.

STATE SAFETY MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES…………..............................

2-1

2.1

STATE SAFETY PROGRAMME…………………………………………...………...……

2-1

2.2

STATE SAFETY OVERSIGHT……………………………………….........………..........

2-2

Operational personnel. Personnel involved in aviation activities who are in a position to report safety information.

Note.— Such personnel include, but are not limited to: flight crews; air traffic controllers; aeronautical station operators; maintenance technicians; personnel of aircraft design and manufacturing organizations; cabin crews; flight dispatchers, apron personnel and ground handling personnel.

Safety. The state in which risks associated with aviation activities, related to, or in direct support of the operation of aircraft, are reduced and controlled to an acceptable level.

Safety management system (SMS). A systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures.

Safety performance. A State or a service provider’s safety achievement as defined by its safety performance targets and safety performance indicators.

Safety performance indicator. A data-based parameter used for monitoring and assessing safety performance.

Safety performance target. The planned or intended objective for safety performance indicator(s) over a given period.

Safety risk. The predicted probability and severity of the consequences or outcomes of a hazard.

Serious injury. An injury which is sustained by a person in an accident and which: (i) requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within seven days from the date the injury was received; or (ii) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes or nose); or (iii) involves lacerations which cause severe hemorrhage, nerve, muscle or tendon damage; or

3-1

(iv) involves injury to any internal organ; or

3-1

3.2

International General Aviation – Airplanes……………………………….......................

3-1

(v) involves second or third degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 per cent of the body surface; or

CHAPTER 4………………………………………………………………………..............

4-1

(vi) involves verified exposure to infectious substances or injurious radiation.

SAFETY DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND EXCHANGE………......................

4-1

4.1

Safety Data Collection - Reporting systems………………………………...............

4-1

State of Design. The State having jurisdiction over the organization responsible for the type design.

4.2

Safety Data Analysis…………………………………………………………...............

4-1

4.3

Safety Data Protection………………………………………………………................

4-1

Safety Information Exchange………………………………………………................

I.S. 3.1.1

4-2

IMPLEMENTING STANDARDS……………………………………………….................

I.S. 1-1

STATE SAFETY OVERSIGHT SYSTEM………………………………….....................

I.S. 2-1

1. Primary Aviation Legislation…………………………………………….......................

I.S. 2-1

2. Specific Operating Regulations…………………………………...................................

I.S. 2-1

3. State System and Functions……………………………………………......................

I.S. 2-1

4. Qualified Technical Personnel………………………………………….......................

I.S. 2-2

5.Technical Guidance, Tools and Provision of Safety-Critical Information.................................................................................................................

I.S. 2-2

6. Licensing, Certification, Authorization and/or Approval Obligations........................

I.S. 2-2

7. Surveillance Obligations……………………………………………….........................

I.S. 2-2

8. Resolution of Safety Issues…………………………………….................................

I.S. 2-2

FRAMEWORK FOR A SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS) - Service Provider Level………………………………………………….......................................

I.S. 3-1

1. Safety Policy and Objectives…………………………………………........................

I.S. 3-1

2. Safety Risk Management……………………………………….................................

I.S. 3-3

3. Safety Assurance……………………………………………………….........................

I.S. 3-3

4. Safety Promotion…………………………………………………................................

I.S. 3-4

LEGAL GUIDANCE FOR THE PROTECTION OF INFORMATION FROM SAFETY DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING SYSTEM……………...............

I.S. 4-1

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………......................

I.S. 4-1

2. General Principles………………………………………………..................................

I.S. 4-2

3. Principles of Protection………………………………………………….......................

I.S. 4-2

4. Principles of Exception……………………………………………….....………...........

I.S. 4-2

5. Public Disclosure……………………………………………………….........................

I.S. 4-3

6. Responsibility of the Custodian of Safety Information……………….......................

I.S. 4-3

7. Protection of Recorded Information……………………………………......................

I.S. 4-3

Civil Aviation Regulations – Safety Management addresses the safety management requirements and meets the standards contained in ICAO Annex 19.

ICAO Annex 19 consolidates material from existing Annexes regarding State Safety Programme (SSP) and Safety Management Systems (SMSs), as well as related elements including the collection and use of safety data and State safety oversight activities.

State of Manufacture. The State having jurisdiction over the organization responsible for the final assembly of the aircraft.

State of the Operator. The State in which the operator’s principal place of business is located or, if there is no such place of business, the operator’s permanent residence.

State safety programme (SSP). An integrated set of regulations and activities aimed at improving safety.

1.1.3 ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations are used in CAR– Safety Management: ADREP

Accident/Incident Data Reporting

AIS

Aeronautical Information Services

ATS

Air Traffic Services

CNS

Communications, Navigation and Surveillance

CVR

Cockpit Voice Recorder

MET

Meteorological Services

PANS

Procedures for Air Navigation Services

SAR

Search and Rescue

SARPs

Standards and Recommended Practices

SDCPS

Safety Data Collection and Processing Systems

SMM

Safety Management Manual

SMP

Safety Management Panel

SMS

Safety Management System

SSP

State Safety Programme CHAPTER 2

1. GENERAL 1.1 APPLICABILITY AND DEFINITIONS 1.1.1 APPLICABILITY Civil Aviation Regulations – Safety Management shall be applicable in the Philippines to safety management functions related to, or in direct support of, the safe operation of aircraft.

Note 1.― Safety management provisions for States are contained in Chapter 2 and relate to a State safety programme.

Entered by

Note.— Some States accept and reference industry codes of practice in the development of regulations to meet the requirements of Annex 19, and make available, for the industry codes of practice, their sources and how they may be obtained.

GENERAL…………………………………………………………………….………….....

CHAPTER 1

Date entered

Industry codes of practice. Guidance material developed by an industry body, for a particular sector of the aviation industry to comply with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Standards and Recommended Practices, other aviation safety requirements and the best practices deemed appropriate.

3.1

INTRODUCTION

Amendments

Note.— The types of incidents which are of interest for safety-related studies include the serious incidents listed in Annex 13, Attachment C.

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CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Date applicable

Incident. An occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft which affects or could affect the safety of operation.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM……………………………………….....................

CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Number

Note 3.— The type of unmanned aircraft system to be considered for investigation is only those with a design and/or operational approval.

CHAPTER 3………………………………………………………………………..............

I.S. 4.3.1

RECORD OF AMENDMENTS AND CORRIGENDA

Note 2.— An aircraft is considered to be missing when the official search has been terminated and the wreckage has not been located.

3.

HON. RAMON R. JIMENEZ Secretary, Department of Tourism

Date: 07 JANUARY 2019

the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible.

Note 1.— For statistical uniformity only, an injury resulting in death within thirty days of the date of the accident is classified, by ICAO, as a fatal injury.

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HON. PAQUITO N. OCHOA OIC-Secretary, DILG

CAPTAIN JIM C. SYDIONGCO Director General Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines

(iii)

1-1

I.S. 2.2.1

By virtue of the powers vested to the Director General, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, provided in the Republic Act No. 9497, this Civil Aviation Regulations for Safety Management is hereby approved to provide regulatory requirements to the management of safety for civil aviation in the Republic of the Philippines.

would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component,except for engine failure or damage, when the damage is limited to a single engine, (including its cowlings or accessories), to propellers, wing tips, antennas, probes, vanes, tires, brakes, wheels, fairings, panels, landing gear doors, windscreens, the aircraft skin (such as small dents or puncture holes), or for minor damages to main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, landing gear, and those resulting from hail or bird strike (including holes in the radome); or

Chapter 1

HON. LEILA M. DE LIMA Secretary, Department of Justice

DECEMBER 2018

(b)

03 December 2018

4.4

HON. ROSALINDA D. BALDOZ Secretary, DOLE

adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and

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4.

HON. CESAR V. PURISIMA Secretary,, Department of Finance

(a)

vi

Approved this 28th of September 2012, at DOTC, Mandaluyong Philippines.

HON. MAR A. ROXAS Chairman/Secretary, DOTC

direct exposure to jet blast,

Introduction

PAGE

WHEREFORE, RESOLVE, as it is hereby RESOLVED, that request of the Director General for the approval of REGULATIONS AMENDMENT PROCEDURES for Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations, Manuals, Technical Guidance Materials and Civil Aviation Regulations – Aerodrome and Air Navigation Service, be APPROVED, and shall be valid and effective upon completion of the requisite publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation and a copy filed with the University of the Philippines Law Center-Office of the National Administrative Register (UP-ONAR);

HON. ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO Department of Foreign Affairs

03 December 2018

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, the CAAP Board of Directors established the very foundation of aviation regulations □ the PCAR and CARAANS, and what is needed, as requested by the Director General, aside from the implementation of these vital aviation regulations, is the regulation on amendatory/revision process, timely in character, as recommended by the ICAO and FAA in their Audit Findings, and immediate promulgation of new and updated aviation regulations within the primary competence, jurisdiction and technical expertise of the Director General, the Flight Standard Inspectorate Service (FSIS), and, the Aerodrome and Air Navigation Safety Oversight Organization (AANSOO),

(c)

the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which:

Effective Date

Date of Approval

including all related technical guidance materials, training and licensing manuals, safety bulletins, administrative and flight-safety hand-book, circulars and advisories on technical and safety matters - arising from the implementation of the Philippine’ Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR) and Civil Aviation Regulations - Air Navigation Services (CAR-ANS);

HON. WILLIAM K. HOTCHKISS III Vice-Chairman/Director ice-Chairman/Director General , CAAP

Amendment No. Original Issue

WHEREAS, on 23rd of September 2011, the Director General recommended and the Board approved the following 1.

2.

3.

4.

Page No.

Cover Page

WHEREAS, the CAAP Board of Directors duly approved the initial Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations in October 2008, WHEREAS, in June 2009, the CAAP Board of Directors approved the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations on Aerodrome and Air Navigation Service (CAR-AANS),

direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft, or

(ii)

LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES

WHEREAS, under Section 23, paragraph (J) of the same Law, the Board is empowered to promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary in the interest of safety in air commerce pertaining to the issuance of the airman’s certificate including the licensing of operating and mechanical personnel, type certificate for aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers and appliances, airworthiness certificates, air carrier operating certificates, air agency certificates, navigation facility and aerodrome certificates, air traffic routes, radio and aeronautical telecommunications and air navigation aids; aircraft accident inquiries, aerodromes, both public and private-owned, construction of obstructions to aerodromes, height of buildings, antennae and other edifices, registration of aircraft, search and rescue, facilitation of air transports, operations of aircraft, both for domestic and international, including scheduled and non-scheduled, meteorology in relation to civil aviation, rules of the air, air traffic services, rules for prevention of collision of aircraft, identification of aircraft, rules for safe altitudes of flight, and such other rules and regulations, standards, governing other practices, methods and /or procedures as the Director General may find necessary and appropriate to provide adequately for safety regularity and efficiency in air commerce and air navigation,

being in the aircraft, or

(b)

except when the injuries are from natural causes, self-inflicted or inflicted by other persons, or when the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew; or

WHEREAS, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) was created by virtue of Republic Act Number 9497 (R A 9497) which took effect on 23rd of March 2008,

xxx Creation of the Authority. – There is hereby created an independent regulatory body with quasi-judicial and quasilegislative powers and possessing corporate attributes to be known as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), hereby referred to as the “Authority” xxx ,

(a)

Note 2.― Safety management provisions for specified aviation service providers and operators are in Chapter 3 and relate to safety management systems (SMSs).

Supplementary safety management provisions specific to individual service providers or operators are contained in other parts of PCARs, CAR-ANS, and CAR-Aerodromes, as referenced in this regulation.

1.1.2 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of CAR–Safety Management, the following definitions shall apply: Accident. An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which, in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time as it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which:

2. STATE SAFETY MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES Note 1.— This Chapter outlines the safety management responsibilities of the State, through compliance with SARPs, the conduct of its own safety management functions and the surveillance of SMSs implemented in accordance with the provisions in this regulation.

Note 2.— Safety management system provisions pertaining to specific types of aviation activities are addressed in the relevant parts of PCARs, CAR-ANS, and CAR-Aerodromes.

Note 3.— Basic safety management principles applicable to the medical assessment process of licence holders are contained in PCAR Part 2.

Guidance is available in the Manual of Civil Aviation Medicine (ICAO Doc 8984).

2.1 State Safety Programme (SSP) 2.1.1 The Authority will establish an SSP for the management of safety in the Philippines, in order to achieve an acceptable level of safety performance in civil aviation. The SSP shall include the following components: a) State safety policy and objectives; b) State safety risk management; c) State safety assurance; and d) State safety promotion.

2.1.2 The acceptable level of safety performance to be achieved shall be established by the Authority.

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2.1.3 As part of SSP, the Authority will require that the following service providers implement an SMS: a) approved training organizations in accordance with PCAR Part 3 that are exposed to safety risks related to aircraft operations during the provision of their services; b) operators of airplanes or helicopters authorized to conduct international commercial air transport, in accordance with PCAR Part 9; c) approved maintenance organizations providing services to operators of airplanes or helicopters engaged in international commercial air transport, in accordance with PCAR Part 6; d) air traffic services (ATS) providers in accordance with CAR-ANS Part 11; and Note.— The provision of AIS, CNS, MET and/or SAR services, when under the authority of an ATS provider, are included in the scope of the ATS provider’s SMS. When the provision of AIS, CNS, MET and/or SAR services are wholly or partially provided by an entity other than an ATS provider, the related services that come under the authority of the ATS provider, or those aspects of the services with direct operational implications, are included in the scope of the ATS provider’s SMS. e) operators of certified aerodromes in accordance with CAR-Aerodromes.

2.1.4 As part of SSP, the Authority shall require that international general aviation operators of large or turbojet airplanes in accordance with PCARs, implement an SMS. Note.― International general aviation operators are not considered to be service providers in the context of these Regulations.

2.2 State Safety Oversight 2.2.1 The Authority will establish and implement a safety oversight system in accordance with I.S. 2.2.1 of these regulations.

CHAPTER 3 3. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS) Note 1.— Guidance on implementation of an SMS is contained in the Safety Management Manual (SMM) (ICAO Doc 9859).

Note 2.― The term “service provider” refers to those organizations listed in Chapter 2, 2.1.3.

3. State System and Functions

3.1.1 The service provider shall develop and maintain the means to verify the safety performance of the organization and to validate the effectiveness of safety risk controls.

3.1 The Philippines shall establish relevant authorities or agencies, as appropriate, supported by sufficient and qualified personnel and provided with adequate financial resources. Each authority or agency shall have stated safety functions and objectives to fulfill its safety management responsibilities.

3.1.2 The service provider’s safety performance shall be verified in reference to the safety performance indicators and safety performance targets of the SMS.

3.2 The Authority shall take necessary measures, such as remuneration and conditions of service, to ensure that qualified personnel performing safety oversight functions are recruited and retained.

3.3 The Authority shall ensure that personnel performing safety oversight functions are provided with guidance that addresses ethics, personal conduct and the avoidance of actual or perceived conflicts of interest in the performance of official duties.

3.4 The Authority shall use a methodology to determine its staffing requirements for personnel performing safety oversight functions, taking into account the size and complexity of the aviation activities in the Philippines.

3.2 The management of change The service provider shall develop and maintain a process to identify changes which may affect the level of safety risk associated with its aviation products or services and to identify and manage the safety risks that may arise from those changes.

3.3 Continuous improvement of the SMS The service provider shall monitor and assess the effectiveness of its SMS processes to enable continuous improvement of the overall performance of the SMS. 4. Safety Promotion

4. Qualified Technical Personnel

4.1 Training and education

4.1 The Authority shall establish minimum qualification requirements for the technical personnel performing safety oversight functions and provide for appropriate initial and recurrent training to maintain and enhance their competence at the desired level.

4.1.1 The service provider shall develop and maintain a safety training programme that ensures that personnel are trained and competent to perform their SMS duties.

4.2 The Authority shall implement a system for the maintenance of training records.

4.1.2 The scope of the safety training programme shall be appropriate to each individual’s involvement in the SMS.

5. Technical Guidance, Tools and Provision of Safety-Critical Information

4.2 Safety communication

5.1 The Authority shall provide appropriate facilities, comprehensive and up-to-date technical guidance material and procedures, safety critical information, tools and equipment, and transportation means, as applicable, to the technical personnel to enable them to perform their safety oversight functions effectively and in accordance with established procedures in a standardized manner.

The service provider shall develop and maintain a formal means for safety communication that:

5.2 The Authority shall provide technical guidance to the aviation industry on the implementation of relevant regulations.

6. Licensing, Certification, Authorization and/or Approval Obligations The Authority shall implement documented processes and procedures to ensure that personnel and organizations performing an aviation activity meet the established requirements before they are allowed to exercise the privileges of a licence, certificate, authorization and/or approval to conduct the relevant aviation activity.

a) ensures personnel are aware of the SMS to a degree commensurate with their positions; b) conveys safety-critical information; c) explains why particular safety actions are taken; and d) explains why safety procedures are introduced or changed.

I.S. 4.3.1 LEGAL GUIDANCE FOR THE PROTECTION OF INFORMATION FROM SAFETY DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING SYSTEMS 1. Introduction

7. Surveillance Obligations

3.1 General 3.1.1 Except as required in 3.2, the SMS of a service provider shall: a) be established in accordance with the framework elements contained in I.S. 3.1.1.; and b) be commensurate with the size of the service provider and the complexity of its aviation products or services.

3.1.2 The SMS of an approved training organization, in accordance with PCAR Part 3, that is exposed to safety risks related to aircraft operations during the provision of its services shall be made acceptable to the Authority.

3.1.3 The SMS of a certified operator of airplanes or helicopters authorized to conduct international commercial air transport, in accordance with PCAR Parts 8 and 9, shall be made acceptable to the Authority, as applicable.

3.1.4 The SMS of an approved maintenance organization providing services to operators of airplanes or helicopters engaged in international commercial air transport, in accordance with PCAR Part 9, shall be made acceptable to the Authority.

3.1.5 The SMS of an ATS provider, in accordance with CAR-ANS Part 11, shall be made acceptable to the Authority.

Note.― The provision of AIS, CNS, MET and/or SAR services, when under the authority of an ATS provider, are included in the scope of the ATS provider’s SMS. When the provision of AIS, CNS, MET and/or SAR services are wholly or partially provided by an entity other than an ATS provider, the related services that come under the authority of the ATS provider, or those aspects of their services with direct operational implications, are included in the scope of the ATS provider’s SMS.

The Authority shall implement documented surveillance processes, by defining and planning inspections, audits, and monitoring activities on a continuous basis, to proactively assure that aviation licence, certificate, authorization and/or approval holders continue to meet the established requirements. This includes the surveillance of personnel designated by the Authority to perform safety oversight functions on its behalf.

8. Resolution of Safety Issues 8.1 The Authority shall use a documented process to take appropriate corrective actions, up to and including enforcement measures, to resolve identified safety issues.

8.2 The Authority shall ensure that identified safety issues are resolved in a timely manner through a system which monitors and records progress, including actions taken by service providers in resolving such issues.

I.S. 3.1.1 FRAMEWORK FOR A SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS) – Service Provider Level Note 1.— Guidance on the implementation of the framework for a SMS is contained in the Safety Management Manual (SMM) (ICAO Doc 9859, 3rd edition).

Note 2.— Within the context of this I.S., the term “service provider” refers to those organizations listed in Chapter 2, 2.1.3.

These Implementing Standards specify the framework for the implementation and maintenance of an SMS. The framework comprises four components and twelve elements as the minimum requirements for SMS implementation: 1. Safety Policy and Objectives 1.1 Management commitment and responsibility

3.1.6 The SMS of an operator of a certified aerodrome, in accordance with CARAerodromes shall be made acceptable to the Authority.

1.2 Safety accountabilities

3.2 International General Aviation – Airplanes

1.3 Appointment of key safety personnel

3.2.1 The SMS of an international general aviation operator, conducting operations of large or turbojet airplanes shall be commensurate with the size and complexity of the operation.

1.4 Coordination of emergency response planning 1.5 SMS documentation

3.2.2 The SMS shall as a minimum include: a) a process to identify actual and potential safety hazards and assess the associated risks;

2.1 Hazard identification 2.2 Safety risk assessment and mitigation 3. Safety Assurance 3.1 Safety performance monitoring and measurement

CHAPTER 4

3.2 The management of change

4.1.3 Subject to Regulation 4.3.1, the authorities responsible for the implementation of the SSP will have access to appropriate information available in the incident reporting systems referenced in 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 to support their safety responsibilities.

Note. — In the Philippines, the authorities responsible for the implementation of the SSP include Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation (AAII).

4. Safety Promotion

4.2.1 The Authority will establish and maintain a safety database to facilitate the effective analysis of information on actual or potential safety deficiencies obtained, including that from its incident reporting systems, and to determine any actions required for the enhancement of safety.

Note.— The term “safety database” may refer to a single or multiple database(s) and may include the accident and incident database. Provisions on an accident and incident database are included in PCAR Part 13 – Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation.

4.2.2 The Authority will, following the identification of preventive actions required to address actual or potential safety deficiencies, implement these actions and establish a process to monitor implementation and effectiveness of the responses.

4.2.3 The database systems shall use standardized formats to facilitate data exchange.

Note.— The use of an ADREP-compatible system is to be encouraged.

4.3 Safety Data Protection 4.3.1 The voluntary incident reporting system referred to in 4.1.2 shall be non-punitive and afford protection to the sources of the information.

Note 1. – I.S. 4.3.1 contains legal guidance for the protection of information from safety data collection and processing systems.

Note 2.— A non-punitive environment is fundamental to voluntary reporting.

4.3.2 The Authority shall not make available or use safety data referenced in 4.1 or 4.2 for other than safety-related purposes, unless exceptionally, an appropriate authority determines in accordance with their national legislation, the value of its disclosure or use in any particular instance, outweighs the adverse impact such action may have on aviation safety.

4.2 Safety communication 1. Safety Policy and Objectives

Note 1.— Guidance on the critical elements of a system that enables a State to discharge its responsibility for safety oversight is contained in the Safety Oversight Manual, Part A, The Establishmentand Management of a State’s Safety Oversight System (ICAO Doc 9734).

Note 2.— The term “relevant authorities or agencies” is used in a generic sense to include all authorities with aviation safety oversight responsibility which may be established by the State as separate entities, such as: Civil Aviation Authorities, Airport Authorities, ATS Authorities, Accident Investigation Authority, and Meteorological Authority.

Note 3.— Within the context of this I.S. the term “service provider” refers to those organizations listed in Chapter 2, 2.1.3.

1. Primary Aviation Legislation 1.1 The Philippines shall promulgate a comprehensive and effective aviation law, consistent with the size and complexity of its aviation activity and with the requirements contained in the Convention on International Civil Aviation that enables it to regulate civil aviation and enforce regulations through the relevant authorities or agencies established for that purpose.

1.2 The aviation law shall provide personnel performing safety oversight functions access to the aircraft, operations, facilities, personnel and associated records, as applicable, of service providers.

2. Specific Operating Regulations The Authority shall promulgate regulations to address, at a minimum, national requirements emanating from the primary aviation legislation, for standardized operational procedures, products, services, equipment and infrastructures in conformity with the Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Note.— The term “regulations” is used in a generic sense and includes but is not limited to instructions, rules, edicts, directives, sets of laws, requirements, policies, and orders.

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1) records pertaining to accident and incident investigations, as described in PCAR Part 13 Subpart H and I of this Regulation; 2) mandatory incident reporting systems, as described in PCAR Part 13 Subpart G of this Regulation; 3) voluntary incident reporting systems, as described in PCAR Part 13 Subpart G of this Regulation; and 4) self-disclosure reporting systems, including automatic data capture systems, as described in Annex 6, Part I, Chapter 3, as well as manual data capture systems.

Note.— Information on safety data collection and processing systems can be found in the Safety Management Manual.

2.1 The sole purpose of protecting safety information from inappropriate use is to ensure its continued availability so that proper and timely preventive actions can be taken and aviation safety improved.

2.2 It is not the purpose of protecting safety information to interfere with the proper administration of justice in States.

2.4 National laws and regulations protecting safety information should prevent its inappropriate use.

a) reflect organizational commitment regarding safety;

c) include safety reporting procedures; d) clearly indicate which types of behaviours are unacceptable related to the service provider’s aviation activities and include the circumstances under which disciplinary action would not apply; e) be signed by the accountable executive of the organization; f) be communicated, with visible endorsement, throughout the organization; and g) be periodically reviewed to ensure it remains relevant and appropriate to the service provider.

2.5 Providing protection to qualified safety information under specified conditions is part of a State’s safety responsibilities.

3. Principles of Protection 3.1 Safety information should qualify for protection from inappropriate use according to specified conditions that should include, but not necessarily be limited to whether the collection of information was for explicit safety purposes and if the disclosure of the information would inhibit its continued availability.

3.2 The protection should be specific for each SDCPS, based upon the nature of the safety information it contains.

3.3 A formal procedure should be established to provide protection to qualified safety information, in accordance with specified conditions.

3.4 Safety information should not be used in a way different from the purposes for which it was collected.

1.2 Safety accountabilities The service provider shall: a) identify the accountable executive who, irrespective of other functions, has ultimate responsibility and accountability, on behalf of the organization, for the implementation and maintenance of the SMS; b) clearly define lines of safety accountability throughout the organization, including a direct accountability for safety on the part of senior management; c) identify the accountabilities of all members of management, irrespective of other functions, as well as of employees, with respect to the safety performance of the SMS; d) document and communicate safety responsibilities, accountabilities and authorities throughout the organization; and e) define the levels of management with authority to make decisions regarding safety risk tolerability.

The service provider shall appoint a safety manager who is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of an effective SMS.

I.S. 2.2.1 STATE SAFETY OVERSIGHT SYSTEM

c) SDCPS refers to processing and reporting systems, databases, schemes for exchange of information, and recorded information and include:

The service provider shall define its safety policy in accordance with international and national requirements. The safety policy shall:

4.4.1 If the Authority, in the analysis of the information contained in its database, identifies safety matters considered to be of interest to other States, the Authority will forward such safety information to them as soon as possible.

Implementing Standards (I.S.)

b) inappropriate use refers to the use of safety information for purposes different from the purposes for which it was collected, namely, use of the information for disciplinary, civil, administrative and criminal proceedings against operational personnel, and/or disclosure of the information to the public;

2.3 National laws and regulations protecting safety information should ensure that a balance is struck between the need for the protection of safety information in order to improve aviation safety, and the need for the proper administration of justice.

1.3 Appointment of key safety personnel

CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS SAFETY MANAGEMENT

a) safety information refers to information contained in SDCPS established for the sole purpose of improving aviation safety, and qualified for protection under specified conditions in accordance with 3.1 below;

1.1 Management commitment and responsibility

4.4 Safety Information Exchange

4.4.2 The Authority will promote the establishment of safety information sharing networks among users of the aviation system and should facilitate the free exchange of information on actual and potential safety deficiencies.

1.5 Throughout these I.S.:

4.1 Training and education

b) include a clear statement about the provision of the necessary resources for the implementation of the safety policy;

4.2 Safety Data Analysis

1.4 The guidance contained in these I.S., therefore, takes the form of a series of principles that have been distilled from examples of national laws and regulations provided by States. The concepts described in these principles could be adapted or modified to meet the particular needs of the State enacting laws and regulations to protect safety information.

3.3 Continuous improvement of the SMS

4.1.1 The Authority shall establish a mandatory incident reporting system to facilitate collection of information on actual or potential safety deficiencies.

4.1.2 The Authority shall establish a non-punitive voluntary incident reporting system to facilitate collection of information on actual or potential safety deficiencies that may not be captured by the mandatory incident reporting system.

1.3 Because of the different legal systems in States, the legal guidance must allow States the flexibility to draft their laws and regulations in accordance with their national policies and practices.

2. General Principles

4. SAFETY DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND EXCHANGE 4.1 Safety Data Collection - Reporting systems

1.2 The guidance contained in these I.S. is therefore aimed at assisting States enact national laws and regulations to protect information gathered from safety data collection and processing systems (SDCPS), while allowing for the proper administration of justice. The objective is to prevent the inappropriate use of information collected solely for the purpose of improving aviation safety.

2. Safety Risk Management

b) a process to develop and implement remedial action necessary to maintain an acceptable level of safety; and c) provision for continuous monitoring and regular assessment of the appropriateness and effectiveness of safety management activities.

1.1 The protection of safety information from inappropriate use is essential to ensure its continued availability, since the use of safety information for other than safety-related purposes may inhibit the future availability of such information, with an adverse effect on safety. This fact was recognized by the 35th Assembly of ICAO, which noted that existing national laws and regulations in many States may not adequately address the manner in which safety information is protected from inappropriate use.

1.4 Coordination of emergency response planning The service provider shall ensure that an emergency response plan is properly coordinated with the emergency response plans of those organizations it must interface with during the provision of its products and services.

1.5 SMS Documentation

3.5 The use of safety information in disciplinary, civil, administrative and criminal proceedings should be carried out only under suitable safeguards provided by national law.

4. Principles of exception Exceptions to the protection of safety information should only be granted by national laws and regulations when: a) there is evidence that the occurrence was caused by an act considered, in accordance with the law, to be conduct with intent to cause damage, or conduct with knowledge that damage would probably result, equivalent to reckless conduct, gross negligence or willful misconduct; b) an appropriate authority considers that circumstances reasonably indicate that the occurrence may have been caused by conduct with intent to cause damage, or conduct with knowledge that damage would probably result, equivalent to reckless conduct, gross negligence or willful misconduct; or c) review by an appropriate authority determines that the release of the safety information is necessary for the proper administration of justice, and that its release outweighs the adverse domestic and international impact such release may have on the future availability of safety information.

5. Public Disclosure 5.1 Subject to the principles of protection and exception outlined above, any person seeking disclosure of safety information should justify its release.

5.2 Formal criteria for disclosure of safety information should be established and should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: a) disclosure of the safety information is necessary to correct conditions that compromise safety and/or to change policies and regulations;

1.5.1 The service provider shall develop an SMS implementation plan, formally endorsed by the organization that defines the organization’s approach to the management of safety in a manner that meets the organization’s safety objectives.

b) disclosure of the safety information does not inhibit its future availability in order to improve safety;

1.5.2 The service provider shall develop and maintain SMS documentation that describes its:

c) disclosure of relevant personal information included in the safety information complies with applicable privacy laws; and

a) safety policy and objectives;

d) disclosure of the safety information is made in a de-identified, summarized or aggregate form.

b) SMS requirements; 6. Responsibility of the Custodian of Safety Information c) SMS processes and procedures; d) accountabilities, responsibilities and authorities for SMS processes and procedures; and e) SMS outputs.

1.5.3 The service provider shall develop and maintain an SMS manual as part of its SMS documentation.

Each SDCPS should have a designated custodian. It is the responsibility of the custodian of safety information to apply all possible protection regarding the disclosure of the information, unless: a) the custodian of the safety information has the consent of the originator of the information for disclosure; or b) the custodian of the safety information is satisfied that the release of the safety information is in accordance with the principles of exception.

2. Safety Risk Management 2.1 Hazard Identification 2.1.1 The service provider shall develop and maintain a process that ensures that hazards associated with its aviation products or services are identified.

2.1.2 Hazard identification shall be based on a combination of reactive, proactive and predictive methods of safety data collection.

2.2 Safety risk assessment and mitigation The service provider shall develop and maintain a process that ensures analysis, assessment, and control of the safety risks associated with identified hazards.

3. Safety Assurance 3.1 Safety performance monitoring and measurement

7. Protection of Recorded Information Considering that ambient workplace recordings required by legislation, such as cockpit voice recorders (CVRs), may be perceived as constituting an invasion of privacy for operational personnel that other professions are not exposed to: a) subject to the principles of protection and exception above, national laws and regulations should consider ambient workplace recordings required by legislation as privileged protected information, i.e. information deserving enhanced protection; and b) national laws and regulations should provide specific measures of protection to such recordings as to their confidentiality and access by the public. Such specific measures of protection of workplace recordings required by legislation may include the issuance of orders of non-public disclosure.

(MS-JAN. 11, 2019)

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

Motoring Facial recognition gaining traction among automakers

Euro-IV powered Hino jeepneys now ply the Fort Bonifacio-Taguig route.

HINO TAKES ON PUVMP

I

Commuting reaches new heights

MPROVED riding experience for commuters and better driving conditions for drivers summarized the first few months of rollout of modern jeepneys.

These are the findings of Hino Motors Philippines, exclusive distributor of customized Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines, which visited the PaterosFort Bonifacio Transport Service and Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Taguig Transport Service Cooperative a few months after endorsing Hino modern jeepneys to the cooperatives in support of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Hino turned over 13 air-conditioned jeepneys to Pateros-Fort Bonifacio TSMC and 20 non-air-conditioned units to Taguig TSC during its second turnover ceremony held recently. The Euro 4-powered Hino Class II jeepneys have a seating capacity of 23 with side-facing passenger seats resembling the conventional jeepney. Their design accommodates standing passengers to maximize the vehicle’s capacity.

Tailor-made to requirements set by the Bureau of Philippine Standards, the modern jeepneys are also air-conditioned and equipped with a Beep Card system, speed limiter, GPS, CCTV and a dashboard camera.

Still in the initial stages of plying the roads, the modern jeepneys involve the assistance of a passenger assistance officer in place of the Beep Card system.

PAOs collect passengers’ fares and inform the driver when they are getting off.

Improved performance Emerson Vizconte, a jeepney driver with the Pateros-Fort Bonifacio TSMC,

YOKOHAMA--Nissan has unveiled the Nissan LEAF e+, further broadening the appeal of the world’s best-selling electric ca by offering a new powertrain with additional power and range.

The “e+” refers to the increased energy density of the model’s battery pack and the higher output of its powertrain. The new powertrain adds to the car’s range by approximately 40%, ensuring that there’s a Nissan LEAF to meet the driving needs of a wider range of customers.

“The LEAF e+ is ‘more’ LEAF, offering customers more choice in terms of power and range,” said Daniele Schillaci, executive vice president of Nissan.

“By offering customers a choice of powertrains to suit their needs, the awardwinning Nissan LEAF is now more convenient and appealing than ever.”

More than 380,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles have been sold globally since the 100% electric model first went on sale in 2010. Equipped with advanced technologies including the ProPILOT*2 semi-autonomous driving system and

noted the advantages of the modern jeepneys in comparison with old jeepneys. “Okay po ang performance nito. Bukod sa malamig ay maganda po siyang tumakbo at di pa ako nakararanas na masiraan,” he said.

Jose, a driver with the Taguig TSC who has been driving jeepneys for 12 years, had some misgivings about switching to modern jeepneys. “Noong una, nag-alangan ako kasi baka masyadong iba itong modern jeepney doon sa nakasanayan ko. Pero noong nahawakan ko na ‘yong unit, okay naman pala. Mas magaan at mas komportable imaneho ang modern jeepney kaysa sa dating jeepney,” he shared.

In addition to better working conditions, the PUVMP aims to give operators and drivers benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth and accident insurance. The Pateros-Fort Bonifacio TSMC and Taguig TSC are also looking to supporting their drivers with fixed salaries to replace the boundary system.

Strong partnership

Freddie Hernandez, chairman of the Taguig TSC, expressed his appreciation for Hino’s service. “Isa sa mga kinatutuwaan namin kay Hino ay kapag may problema at tinawag namin sila, nandiyan agad sila, nakaalalay. Ipinapakita nila na very supportive sila sa project. Nababaon kasi kami kapag tumitigil at hindi umiikot yung gulong ng jeep. Pero ngayon, dahil sa magandang assistance ng Hino, madaling naaayos ang mga problema at walang back time,” he said.

“The country’s transport system is long overdue for a real shakeup,” said Vicente Mills, Chairman of Hino Motors Philippines. “The Department of Transportation envisions a structured transport system that involves small, medium and large vehicles plying structured routes.

The modern jeepney project is the first of the series of changes that DOTr wants to implement in the next few years. We at Hino hope to continue being a part of this endeavor in line with our mission of ensuring the welfare and safety of the Filipino riding public,” Mills added.

IMAGINE walking into a store where a robot greets you by name, lets you know that your online order is ready, and then suggests other products you might want pick up.

Facial recognition is making that possible as the technology gains traction in a range of consumer products, automobiles, and retail and hotel services, in addition to its longstanding but controversial use in law enforcement and security.

At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, exhibitors pointed to how facial recognition may be used to “personalize” experiences and enhance personal security.

While facial recognition has been on smartphones for some time, some newer uses include in care and entry systems for homes and offices, along with retail applications.

SoftBank Robotics chief strategy officer Steve Carlin, who showed CES attendees how the company’s Pepper robot could offer retail customers personalized attention, said the technology could also be used in hotels where an automated system could deliver a customized experience to a regular client.

“They should be able to say ‘Welcome back, you don’t need to stand in line, we’ve already checked you in and we’ve sent the key to your phone,’” Carlin said.

Carmakers at CES were showing how facial recognition could improve and personalize the travel experience through music, entertainment and other preferences.

Abe Chen of the Chinese-based auto startup Byton said its vehicle, set to launch later this year, would be able to make useful recommendations based on facial recognition.

“It knows who is in the car, how long you’ve been on the road and what you like to eat, so it could make a restaurant recommendation,” Chen told a CES presentation.

Custom signs Richard Carriere of the Taiwan-based tech firm Cyberlink said the firm’s new facial recognition being shown at CES is “very precise” and is being offered for retail, home and law enforcement applications.

Carriere said retailers can customize ads on digital signs by using this technology—so a teenage girl might not see the same message as an elderly man.

“If someone walks into a store, based

People look at the Waymo car, formerly the Google self-driving car project, during the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES 2019 in Las Vegas on January 9, 2019. AFP

NISSAN BROADENS EV APPEAL

e-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving, the Nissan LEAF embodies Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision for changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society.

Having pioneered mass-market electric cars with the Nissan LEAF, Nissan says it is continuing to promote alternative vehicle transportation. The Nissan LEAF plays a vital role in Nissan’s efforts to integrate electric vehicles and energy systems into customers’ lives – creating an “EV ecosystem.” Among these efforts is Nissan Energy, the company’s initiative for its electric vehicles to easily connect with energy systems to charge their batteries, power homes and businesses, or feed energy back to power grids, as well as new efforts to reuse batteries.

The Nissan LEAF e+ is scheduled to join the Nissan LEAF at Nissan dealerships in Japan in late January 2019. U.S. sales are expected to begin in the spring of 2019, and European sales will commence in mid-2019.

The Nissan LEAF e+ represents a

step forward in each of the three key areas of Nissan Intelligent Mobility: Intelligent Power, Intelligent Driving and Intelligent Integration.

Increased range The Nissan LEAF e+ features a new version of the Nissan LEAF’s revolutionary electric powertrain, delivering

Nissan LEAF e+ boasts enhanced powertrain.

on gender or facial expression or age group we can customize what shows up in the signage,” he told AFP. Other startups were integrating facial recognition into home doorbells or security systems, enabling family members and friends to gain entry while alerting homeowners about potentially suspicious people.

“This is one more element of autonomy in your intelligent home,” said Bill Hensley of the security firm Nortek, who showed how its new Elan system can easily let people in and then customize the home environment.

Chinese startup Tuya introduced its AI video doorbell using real-time facial recognition to identify family members, friends, couriers, property managers and even pets, and to create a “whitelist” of accepted people.

“You will be able to give people a onetime pass, and you can talk with them over a video connection,” said Tuya sales chief Sandy Scott of the device, which is to go on sale later this year.

Scott said the device could be used in assisted living homes to limit entries of unknown people, and also recognize if someone with dementia is wandering off.

It stores data on the device to reduce risks of data leakage.

Other CES exhibitors including Procter & Gamble were demonstrating the use of facial recognition to enable customers to personalize skin care treatments.

Ready for the masses?

Even as the uses for facial recognition grow, the technology remains controversial, especially regarding law enforcement building up databases.

Some critics worry about the accuracy of the technology and whether it means more kinds of surveillance and tracking.

Retailers and other firms “may already have every data point about me except my face,” Brenda Leong of the Future of Privacy Forum in Washington said.

“So you wonder, what is the value added?”

Equating the technology to online tracking, she said facial recognition means “your face as a cookie,” the tracking files used by online data collectors.

A Brookings Institution survey earlier this year found 50 percent of respondents opposed facial recognition software in retail stores to prevent theft, and 44 percent said using this software in airports to establish identity was unfavorable. AFP

excellent energy efficiency and robust torque and power output. While the Nissan LEAF meets the needs of many customers with its driving range of up to 322 km (estimated WLTC Japan cycle)*4, near-silent operation and smooth and responsive acceleration, the Nissan LEAF e+ offers more than 40% addi-

tional range of up to 458 km (WLTC Japan cycle), allowing customers the ability to do more between charges.*5 The high-capacity battery and more powerful motor in the LEAF e+ combine to produce 160 kilowatts of power and 340 Nm of torque, enabling faster acceleration when driving at high speeds. Accelerating from 80 kph to 120 kph is nearly 13% quicker. This allows the LEAF e+ to confidently pass slowermoving vehicles, exit corners faster and more seamlessly and merge easily with fast-moving traffic. The top speed has increased by approximately 10% for comfortable cruising.

Thanks to an available new 70 kW (100 kW peak) Quick Charging system, the 2019 Nissan LEAF e+ can charge more efficiently than ever.*5 Based on early testing, Nissan LEAF e+ owners can expect similar charging times when hooked up to a 100 kW charger as current Nissan LEAF owners do with a 50 kW charger, despite a 55% larger battery storage capacity.