Manila Standard - 2019 January 31 - Thursday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

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

VOL. XXXII • NO. 350 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

STANDING GUARD. Personal belongings are strewn inside a mosque in Zamboanga City following a grenade attack Monday—while a police investigator stands guard at the mosque entrance—which killed at least two people, only days after a deadly Catholic cathedral bombing and a plebiscite supporting Muslim self-rule. AFP

Zambo blast kills 2, hurts 4 Grenade lobbed into mosque where Tabligh members slept

By Francisco Tuyay, Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

WO people were killed after a grenade blew up inside a mosque in Zamboanga City early Wednesday, just three days after a bomb attack on a Catholic church killed 21 people and injured 112 others in Jolo, Sulu.

The latest explosion occurred inside the Kamahaldikaan Mosque in Sitio Logoy Diutay, Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City, during the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday.

Two members of a Tabligh or missionary group from Basilan were killed.

Blood-streaked prayer mats and shattered glass could be seen on the floor inside the mosque where heavily armed security forces were standing guard, footage

from the scene showed.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Islamic State terrorist group could have launched both attacks to spark a religious war in Mindanao. Such an effort would fail, however, because neither the Catholics nor mainstream Muslims want a war, he said.

“In the past when churches were bombed... there were no revenge attacks,” he said.

Next page

Ajang-Ajang man falls; Kamah escapes NOT US. Two suspects caught on CCTV footage, dubbed persons of interest by authorities in the Sulu bombing incident, surrendered Wednesday to authorities who eventually cleared them of responsibility. They were identified as Alshaber Arbi, 18, Grade 11 student (man in ponytail; and Gerry Isnajil, teacher at Kalingalan Caluang National High School (person in maroon cap with red back pack).

China builds maritime rescue hub; PH unfazed

NDF consultant shot dead inside bus

By Abe Almirol, Nat Mariano, Maricel V. Cruz and Francisco Tuyay

By Nat Mariano CHINA has established a “maritime rescue center” in the West Philippine Sea, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said Wednesday.

The rescue center was opened Tuesday in Fiery Cross Reef or Kagitingan Reef, one of the Beijing-occupied artificial islands in the Spratlys in the disputed South China Sea. “The center will offer better support to maritime rescue operations in the southern part of the South China Sea,” Xinhua said, quoting the Chinese government.

Earlier this month, China launched ecological protection facilities to restore coral reefs in the Panganiban and Zamora reefs, both of which belong to the Philippines.

Prof. Jay Batongbacal, director of the Next page

Malayao

By Francisco Tuyay, Maricel V. Cruz, Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano GOVERNMENT troops killed a member of the Ajang-Ajang wing of the Abu Sayyaf Group that was blamed for Sunday’s deadly bomb attack following a raid on its safe house in Patikul, Sulu Tuesday night.

Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman for the

ARITAO, Nueva Vizcaya—A consultant of the National Democratic Front was killed by still unidentified assassins in a parked bus while he was on his way home to Isabela.

Police said Felix Randy Malayao y Paragua, 49, an NDF consultant for peace talks between communist rebels and the government, was aboard a Cagayan Valley-bound Victory Liner bus when it made a usual stop at a restaurant in Barangay Darapidap here.

Next page

Western Mindanao Command identified the slain militant as Ommal Usop, a member of the Ajang-Ajang group that the authorities hold responsible for the bombing of a Catholic Church in Jolo, Sulu that killed 21 people and wounded more than 100 others on Sunday.

The raid in Patikul came hours after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to crush the Abu Sayyaf.

Next page

Next page

Mislatel franchise in question THE “ipso facto” revocation of Mislatel’s franchise must be seriously considered with regard to its status as the country’s new major player in the telecommunications industry, the national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said Wednesday.

During the hearing of the Senate Com-

mittee on Public Services, Abdiel Dan Fajardo said the panel’s finding that Mislatel violated Section 7 of the company’s franchise was of “great importance” and must not be disregarded.

In other developments: • Senators have misgivings on the grant Next page

James Ingram joins ‘Celestial Choir’ at 66

Social media work offer a hoax—DFA

JAMES Ingram, a Grammy winner known for his soulful R&B hits, has died, his friends and colleagues said Tuesday. He was 66 years old.

“I have lost my dearest friend and

MANILA—Filipinos are advised anew to remain vigilant against illegal recruiters offering jobs abroad through social media.

This, after a 27-year-old Filipina who

Next page

Next page

JUSTICE CHALLENGED. Scene of the Crime Operatives in Quezon City Police District gather pieces of evidence from the Ford Everest carrying Barangay Chairwoman Crisell Belmi Beltran (inset), candidate for Congress in the city’s 2nd district, slain with her driver Melchor Salita in an ambush Wednesday by gunmen riding in tandem in Barangay Bagong Silangan. Three staff members survived the shooting. Manny Palmero

Poll violence: Congressional bet slain

By Rio N. Araja A CONGRESSIONAL bet in Quezon City was shot dead along with his driver in District 2’s Barangay Bagong Silangan on Wednesday morning.

Crisell Beltran, the barangay’s chairwoman, was on board her Ford Everest SUV driven by Melchor Salita along Jose P. Rizal Street near gate 5 of Filinvest 2

Subdivision when four unidentified men on board two motor bikes approached them and fired at their vehicle.

Beltran was taken to the FEU Medical Center in Fairview where she was declared dead on arrival while Salita was also declared dead on arrival at the Malvar General Hospital.

Four other occupants of the van were Next page injured.

A2

News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sick and tired of ’insertions,’ Sotto changes budget tune

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday he will push for a reenacted budget for 2019 because he was “sick and tired of the allegations” in the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget.

Sotto said he will ask Senator Loren Legarda, the head of the Senate’s finance committee, to withdraw the Senate version of the General Appropriations Bill.

“Considering the numerous allegations being leveled at the 2019 budget both from the HOR [House of Representatives] and the Senate, I will propose to Senator Loren, as chair of the finance committee, to withdraw the Senate GAB version and go for a reenacted budget,” Sotto told reporters.

“I hope that will erase all doubts and allegations of pork and other so-called insertions in the budget. I’m sick and tired of the allegations.”

In other developments: • Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday said the Senate should also be transparent in its “institutional amendments” now that the senators had admitted having “amended” or changed some parts of the proposed 2019 national budget “upon the request” of certain agencies.

“Of course we want to have it [2019 General Appropriations Act] come out before it’s too late. I think you have read in the newspapers that the Senate owned up to P200 billion in their [senators’] own amendments. So that has to be sorted out between the House and the Senate,” Arroyo told reporters. With Maricel V. Cruz

Poll violence:...

From A1

In other developments: • Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Wednesday he will recommend to the Comelec en banc a dialogue with the candidates in an attempt to curb election-related violence following Beltran’s killing.

• The Comelec said Wednesday the printing of more than 60-million ballots for the May 2019 elections will start on Feb. 2, 2019. It deferred the printing on Jan. 22 because of the unresolved disqualification cases against the senatorial candidates considered as nuisance bets.

Jimenez said the Comelec will meet the deadline for the printing of the ballots on April 30, 2019, two weeks before the May 13, 2019 national and local elections.

Beltran was running as District 2’s next representative under the Partido ng Demokratiko ng Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan against incumbent Councilor Precious Hipolito-Castelo, the wife of three-term representative Winston Castelo.

Beltran was a staunch supporter of Bingbong Crisologo who is running for mayor against Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and former lawmaker Chuck Mathay.

The Quezon City Police District created a task force to go after Beltran’s killers.

“We will look into all angles to establish the motive behind the ambush in our investigation,” Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said.

Esquivel and Crisologo said the killing of Beltran and her driver was an “electionrelated violence case.”

“We will look into all angles to determine the motive. However, we are considering if the case is politically-motivated since she was seeking a congressional seat in District 2,” Esquivel said. With Vito Barcelo

Mislatel...

From A1

of congressional franchise to Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company or Mislatel to Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy as they braced for a “court battle” of the country’s third telco service provider.

During Wednesday’s hearing on the third telco by the Senate public services committee led by Senator Grace Poe, the senators raised various issues hounding Mislatel, particularly the validity of its franchise. But Poe said it was up to Mislatel to answer the possible charges in court.

• Transpacific Broadband Group International or TBGI plans to create a subsidiary that will build cell site towers to be offered to telcos for common use under lease.

The subsidiary, which will be named Transpacific One Network Inc. or TONI, will be submitting a proposal to the Department of Information and Communications Technology to build and deploy 15,000 cell sites as part of its application as a common tower provider.

Section 7 of Mislatel’s franchise provides that the franchise will be deemed ipso facto [in fact] revoked in the event the franchisee fails to start operations within one year from approval.

“These have legal a effect. In Black’s Law Dictionary, ipso facto means by the very fact. Therefore, we are of the belief that such be considered with respect to the status of the winning bidder,” Fajardo said. PNA, with Macon Ramos-Araneta

’Stretch of shoreline’ closed to public

M

ANILA Bay’s shoreline between the Manila Yacht Club and the US Embassy will be closed to the public temporarily for rehabilitation and cleaning, an official has said.

“We’ll close that stretch hopefully in about one to two weeks,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said Tuesday on the sidelines of the Wood Summit in Mandaluyong City.

In other developments: • The Environment department said Wednesday there will be no eviction and relocation of the squatters along the Manila Bay “in the meantime” but the agency plans

to put up a communal septic tank and waste water treatment facility to ensure that human waste does not end up in the bay.

• The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission is opposing the proposals to postpone the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. In a statement Wednesday, PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia said postponing the rehabilitation would result in the degradation of the condition of Ma-

nila Bay and the Pasig River, as well as the prolonged exposure of the squatters to inhumane conditions.

Cimatu said the promenade will remain open so that the public can continue strolling, jogging and watching Manila Bay’s famous sunset.

Signs, markers and other means of delineating the target area will be installed so the public can be guided accordingly, he said.

Last Sunday, Cimatu led the start of Manila Bay’s rehabilitation that aims to improve the quality of its water.

Cimatu said the rehabilitation of the shoreline from the US Embassy to the Manila Yacht Club was a priority to prevent untreated effluent flowing out of three sewage outfalls from directly discharging into

Manila Bay. He said two of those outfalls would be connected to the third outfall which, in turn, would be linked to a treatment facility.

The effluent would be treated in the facility before flowing into Manila Bay. “It’s our first target,” he said.

Data from the DENR showed that the level of coliform bacteria in the target area’s waters is already more than one million most probable number per 100 milliliters.

The safe level is 100 MPN per 100 milliliters only.

Experts said coliform bacteria is found in human and animal feces. Water contaminated with coliform bacteria has the potential to cause disease.

PNA, with Rio N. Araja

Zambo blast...

“Terrorism has once again reared its barbaric and ugly head by unleashing another bomb in a mosque in Zamboanga killing at least two Muslim religious followers and injuring four others,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines will unleash its might and weaponry against these enemies of the state and hunt them ferociously and relentlessly until the law rolls down its guillotine on them,” he said.

The Palace official said the latest attack was “a taunting challenge to the capability of the government to secure the safety of the inhabitants in Mindanao.”

“The successive attacks on two different places of worship depict the ruthlessness and the godlessness of these mass murderers,” Panelo said.

The Jolo bomb attack came days after the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and days before the oral arguments on the constitutionality of the third martial law extension in Mindanao.

On the sidelines of his confirmation hearing before the Senate, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. urged the public to be cautious and vigilant.

“There are some sectors who want to put religious undertone to what happened and we’d like to ask our constituents, our people to be sober and more vigilant,” Madrigal said.

“We are still investigating the culprits behind the bombings, and looking into all possible angles,” he said.

Former Senate president and defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile warned that there was a danger of more violent attacks if martial law is lifted in Mindanao. “[There would be] more violence if there is no martial law in Mindanao. That is the deterrent and the restraining power,” Enrile said in a radio interview following news of the mosque attack.

He said the government must use “violence against violence” in dealing with terrorists.

“That’s the purpose of your police and your military. Why do we have a military?

Why do we have police? Because the state must have the monopoly of legal violence to control the deviant and aberrant in society,” he said.

During the oral arguments on the petitions against the third extension of martial law in Mindanao this week, the Supreme Court engaged Solicitor General Jose Calida and the AFP in an agreement to lift martial law in Mindanao if the military can reduce the capability of terrorist groups in Mindanao by at least 70 percent.

The petitions were filed against the extension of martial law, which was granted

by Congress in December 2018.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV denounced the grenade attack and urged the public to come together to condemn violence, because the terrorists wanted to divide the people.

“Now is the time to come together to denounce violence as it has no place in our society,” Aquino said. With AFP

From A1

TELCO IN TROUBLE. Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, fires a barrage of questions while Nicanor Escalante, president of Mislatel, waits for his turn to respond during the public hearing on Mislatel's franchise as 3rd telco player.

Ey Acasio

Ajang-Ajang...

From A1

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also said the miltiary conducted airstrikes Tuesday on Abu Sayyaf positions in the towns of Patikul and Indanan in Sulu, in retaliation for Sunday’s church attack.

He could not say how many sorties were conducted or if the airstrikes continued on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, four people who were seen on CCTV footage leaving the cathedral that was bombed in Jolo surrendered to the police, saying they wanted to clear their names.

Alsimar Maohammad Albi, 24, resident of Bus-Bus, Jolo, Sulu and Julius Abdulzam Albi, 17 of Brgy Takut-Takut said they had gone to a pharmacy to buy medicine for Alsimar’s mother when the bombs went off.

Alsimar said he told Julius to stay away when the suspects who fled the scene appeared behind him.

Earlier, two others also came forward.

Alshaber J. Arbi, 18, a grade 11 student, and Gerry Isnajil, a high school teacher, also presented themselves to the police provincial office.

Security forces were still hunting for the bombers of the cathedral and said initially the attack was not a suicide bombing.

However, on Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte contradicted them, saying one of the bombers had blown himself up outside the cathedral.

On Wednesday Lorenzana appeared to walk back the President’s comments, saying: “The final conclusion is not there yet.

It’s still being investigated.”

The probe was zeroing in a group tied to the notorious Islamist kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf, which has pledged allegiance to ISIS. Besana said troops of the Philippine Marines Ready Fleet Sulu, the 35th Infantry

Battalion, the 110th Infantry Brigade, and the police Special Action Force swooped down on the Ajang-Ajang lair in Sitio Kalimayahan Village in Brgy Latih at about 5:40 p.m. but found no occupants there, including Kamah, the main suspect in the church bombing.

As troops were clearing the site, however, Usop fired upon them, forcing them to return fire and kill him on the spot.

Troops recovered a .45 caliber pistol, five bullets, a sniper scope, two cell phones and a motorcycle.

Besana said Kamah, the subject of a massive manhunt, is the logistic officer of the ASG. Besana said the Ajang-Ajang belong to the Daulah Islamiya with five groups under Sawadjaan with 38 members and about 50 assorted high-powered firearms.

The Ajang-ajang is reportedly made up of mostly teenage bandits, who are said to be next generation members of the ASG. The authorities have identified three of the suspects in the CCTV footage, including one alias Kamah, who supposedly wore the green jacket in the video and who is said to be a brother of Abu Sayyaf bomb maker Surakah Ingog.

Also on Wednesday, Sulu caretakerrepresentative and Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles on Wednesday urged the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to conduct DNA testing on the two recovered heads from the blast site of the Jolo church bombing.

“Based on reports, the President and other officials have raised the possibility that suicide bombers carried out this appalling attack. It is entirely possible that these individuals are foreigners and DNA testing may be able to verify these reports,” Nograles said in a statement.

Nograles was designated as the caretakerrepresentative of the First District of Sulu since September 2016 after the death of Rep. Tupay Loong in July 2016. With PNA

NDF...

China...

Two unidentified men reportedly boarded the parked bus at about 2:30 a.m. and one of them shot the victim dead.

The gunmen were said the attackers fled riding a black Yamaha motorcycle.

Malayao had two gunshot wounds to the right temple, about two inches apart near his eye.

In a statement, the Cagayan Valley chapter of the human rights group Karapatan said Malayao was on the Justice department list that tagged him a terrorist, after peace negotiations collapsed.

The NDF condemned the killing.

“The NDF in Cagayan Valley region, with all its allied organizations and member individuals, condemns the murder of NDF Consultant Felix Randy Malayao by death squad elements of the AFP,” the statement said, pinning the murder on the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Comrade Felix was a humble servant of the masses, who spent 33 years of his life arousing, organizing and mobilizing the people against an unjust ruling system.

He lived among the peasants and workers of Cagayan Valley, later serving as the region’s representative to the NDF-GRP peace talks, all the while performing other revolutionary duties,” the NDF-Cagayan Valley statement said.

Malayao was arrested in 2008 and was imprisoned for four years, but he was released after the courts found no sufficient evidence to convict him.

University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, told CNN Philippines that China’s move only legitimizes the establishment of its military bases in the area.

“It is trying to mask its militarization of the area by highlighting possible civilian benefits or public goods provided by their artificial islands,” Batongbacal told CNN. China has occupied the Kagitingan Reef since it occupied it in 1988.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas being contested by China within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, or the West Philippine Sea. But China refused to recognize the court’s jurisdiction and rejected the arbitral ruling.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines would not contest the establishment of a rescue center on Philippine territory because it could help distressed seafarers.

“Maybe this is a humanitarian facility that will benefit seafarers in distress,” Lorenzana said.

Even with China’s plan to expand its facilities in the contested seas, Lorenzana said tensions between Manila and Beijing would be reduced.

“Considering everything, I think I’m happy with that. What we can achieve is to lower the tension there. No misunderstanding, no miscalculations between troops, so there would be no trouble,” he said in an interview with GMA News. With PNA

From A1

From A1

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the explosion was from a grenade.

Mijares identified the fatalities as Haj Sattal Bato, 46 and Rex Habil, 46, while the wounded were Palson Asgali, 46; Alnizcar Sabbaha, 41; Jikilani Albani, 67 and Amidz Kassara, 30.

Reports said the victims were sleeping inside the mosque when the grenade was hurled into it by unidentified suspects.

Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said the victims were members of the Tabligh from Basilan who sought shelter for the night at the mosque. They were the to teach Islam to children, police said.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega of the Western Mindanao Command urged the public not to speculate or propagate false information about the attacks, saying this would only make matters worse.

The attacks have cast a shadow over hopes that voters’ decisive push to give Muslims in the south more control over their own affairs would help quell longrunning separatist violence.

Rebels and the government in Manila have expressed hope the new so-called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will finally draw the investment needed to pull the region out of the brutal poverty that makes it a hot spot for recruiting radicals.

However, hardline factions aligned with ISIS were not part of the decades-long peace process with the nation’s largest separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, that culminated Jan. 21 with the resounding approval of a new Muslim-led region in the south.

Sulu, which includes Jolo, is home to hardline Islamist factions, and was the only area in Mindanao that voted against the Bangsamoro.

The grenade attack on Wednesday drew immediate condemnation from authorities.

“There is no redeeming such blasphemous murder. It is the highest form of cowardice and obscenity to attack people who at prayer,” said regional leader Mujiv Hataman.

“We call on people of all faiths... to come together to pray for peace.”

The Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez said the grenade attack demonstrated the “extreme length terrorists will go to in order to sow fear, hatred and terror among the populace.”

“Clearly, the perpetrators of these terror acts do not have any respect for human life and are willing to engage in mass murder in order to promote their twisted and extremist ideologies. By and large, they are enemies of the state and must be stopped at all costs,” he said.

Against the backdrop of a series of terrorist attacks, the Palace said the Armed Forces will “ferociously and relentlessly” unleash its might against the enemies of the state.

James...

From A1

creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir,” performer Debbie Allen tweeted. “He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity.”

A native of the US state of Ohio, Ingram launched his music career with the band Revelation Funk and later played keyboard for soul pioneer Ray Charles.

His rise to fame came after he lent his smooth vocals to the songs “Just Once” and “One Hundred Ways” on an album recorded by industry legend Quincy Jones.

Ingram earned three Grammy nominations for the works, including Best New Artist, winning for Best Male R&B Vocal

Social media...

From A1

took up a similar job offer in Dubai ended up with a spinal fracture after jumping off a building to escape.

The Department of Foreign Affairs did not identify the worker but said she took the job offer via social media.

The Filipina entered the United Arab Emirates in December using a tourist visa.

Upon arrival, she was brought to her agency’s accommodation where she was locked

Performance in 1981.

With Jones, he also co-wrote Michael Jackson’s hit “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).”

“There are no words to convey how much my <3 aches,” tweeted Jones. “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James was simply magical.”

“He was, & always will be, beyond compare.”

Over his career, Ingram was nominated for 14 Grammys along with two Golden Globes and two Oscars, one for his duet with singer Patti Austin, “How Do you Keep the Music Playing?” that was featured in the movie “Best Friends.”

Ingram also joined singer Linda Ronstadt to perform the song “Somewhere Out There” from the 1986 animated musical adventure film “An American Tail,” which sees a family of Jewish Russian mice flee to the United States. AFP up and denied food.

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, the worker decided to escape by jumping off her agency’s building. The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai is making arrangements for her repatriation.

In a statement, the agency urged applicants to first check the veracity of any job offer with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Philippine Overseas Labor Offices abroad.

The DFA assured that the Consulate General continues to work with authorities in UAE to prevent similar occurrences. PNA

News Senators urged to reconsider stand on MACR

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATORS who are objecting to the proposed measures to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) urged their colleagues to consider the results of a recent survey showing majority of Filipinos want the MACR to remain at 15 years old.

Senator Bam Aquino expressed hopes that lawmakers pushing for the lowering of the age of criminal liability will take this as a clear signal not to pursue this initiative which may honestly do more harm than good.

He said his position on the issue has not changed and vowed to continue opposing moves to put in jail children.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the survey highlights the fundamental importance in Filipino culture of protecting and nurturing the nation’s children.

“The sentiments of the people should be an important consideration for the Senate as we take up the proposal to lower the MACR,” he said.

Gatchalian said the government should also take the survey as a signal that a more prudent approach to disciplining children in conflict with the law (CICL) would be to fully implement the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. “The critical first step in accomplishing this would be to prioritize funding for the construction and operation of the required number of Bahay Pag-asa under the law. Our experience in Valenzuela City shows that a functioning Bahay Pag-asa can go a long way towards helping CICL turn their lives around and nurture them into responsible young Filipino citizens,” he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, said she is elated and feels vindicated on the result of the survey.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

A3

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CA junks DOLE ruling on Meralco T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Court of Appeals has reversed the decision rendered by the Department of Labor and Employment, which found Meralco’s engineering and construction company along with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company guilty of illegal labor-only contracting activities.

In an 18-page decision, the CA’s Seventeenth Division through Associate Justice Luisa Quijano-Padilla granted the petition filed by Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp., a domestic corporation engaged in the business of providing engineering and construction support and facilities management ser-

vices, seeking the reversal of the Jan. 10, 2018 and April 24, 2018 resolutions of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Bello had affirmed the findings of the regional director of DOLE that MIESCOR and PLDT were engaged in laboronly contractor activities and ordering them to pay 279 workers the total

amount of P2.36 million, representing payment for service incentive leave conversion and refund deductions for tools and uniform.

The Labor chief also sustained the ruling of the regional director, which held that the workers of MIESCOR deployed in PLDT are deemed regular employees of the latter from the time of their engagement.

Consequently, the labor department held that MIESCOR’s workers should be included in PLDT’s payroll of regular employees and be paid of the benefits enjoyed by regular employees.

Prior to the controversy, PLDT entered into several agreements with MIESCOR for the installation of line works and splicing works, construction of manholes and other related engi-

neering and civil works.

The two companies also entered into an agreement for work customer line installation, repair, rehabilitation and maintenance activities of PLDT’s cable and line networks.

In May 2016, several labor law compliance officers conducted a special assessment and visit of the establishments at various PLDT branches where several violations were noted, including the prohibition on labor-only contracting scheme.

However, the appellate court held that the DOLE erred in finding that MIESCOR and PLDT were engaged in labor-only contracting activities.

The CA noted that the prohibition of engaging in labor-only contracting is found in Section 6 of Department Order (DO) 18-A Series of 2011.

IN BRIEF CAAP says Heroes’ Lounge’ now completed THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced on Wednesday that it has completed the construction of special rooms designed to provide comfort to traveling military and police officers in various commercial airports in the country.

CAAP Media-Communications Office chief and spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the government has completed and opened Heroes’ Lounges in 24 CAAP-operated airports in the country to provide comfort to traveling cops and soldiers.

He added the project is also in line with the government’s program to uplift and honor the country’s uniformed personnel.

“The Heroes’ Lounge was installed to accommodate traveling uniformed personnel, including those who have retired, Medal of Valor awardees, and their immediate families traveling with them,” said Apolonio. Joel E. Zurbano

BATO, THE MOVIE. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte interacts with his supporters upon his arrival at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City to watch the premiere of the movie ‘Bato The Movie: The General Ronald Dela Rosa Story’ on Jan. 29. Presidential Photo

20 nominees vie for vacancies at SC, JBC says TWENTY aspirants have applied for a vacancy in the Supreme Court left by the promotion of Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin in November last year, according to the Judicial and Bar Council.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, ex-officio member of JBC, on Wednesday disclosed that the preliminary list for the SC associate justice post consisted mostly of insiders from the judiciary.

Court Administrator and SC spokesman Midas Marquez leads the list of nominees submitted to the seven-mem-

ber council during the period of nomination and application that ended last Jan. 22.

Guevarra said 15 of the nominees are associate justices of the Court of Appeals, namely: Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, Oscar Badelles, Ramon Bato Jr., Apolinario Bruselas Jr., Ramon Cruz, Stephen Cruz, Edgardo de los Santos, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Garcia, Henri Jean Paul Inting, Amy LazaroJavier, Jhosep Lopez, Mario Lopez, Eduardo Peralta Jr. and Ricardo Rosario.

The list also included two magistrates of the Sandiganbayan—Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang and Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz—as well as Justice Roman del Rosario of the Court of Tax Appeals.

The three other nominees considered “outsiders” from the judiciary are former Ateneo law dean Cesar Villanueva, Bureau of Internal Revenue deputy commissioner Lanee Cui-David and law professors Jeremy Gatdula. Rey E. Requejo

Ombudsman running after ex-senator Revilla FORMER Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla is not yet off the hook as far as his case at the Ombudsman is concerned.

According to Ombudsman prosecutors, Revilla should return to the National Treasury the P124.5 million that was plundered through the pork barrel scam.

In a Jan. 28 filing, prosecutors said that Revilla did not file any kind of appeal.

“Considering that the decision of Dec. 7, 2018, has attained finality with respect to Revilla, the latter’s civil liability is ripe for execution.”

Actor Gutierrez tax evasion case junked THE Department of Justice has dismissed the P38.57-million tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against actor Richard Gutierrez and his production company.

In an eight-page resolution released on Wednesday, the DOJ junked for lack of probable cause the complaint for violation of National Internal Revenue Code against Gutierrez and his R Gutz Production Corp. in April 2017.

In another resolution, the DOJ also dismissed a separate complaint of BIR against the actor for falsification of document and perjury when he allegedly submitted fake income tax returns and value-added tax returns during preliminary investigation on the case. Rey E. Requejo

FINAL BRIEFING. Bicameral Meeting Chairman House Panel and House Majority Leader Rep. Rolando Andaya (center) gives his final instructions to all members of House panel shortly before the Bicameral Meeting between Senate and the House of Representatives to discuss 2019 National Budget at Manila Polo Club in Makati City. Ver Noveno

PDEA files case vs. parents of minors in anti-drug raid

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Wednesday filed charges of child abuse before the Navotas City Prosecutor’s Office against the parents of the minors rescued in an antidrug operation last Jan. 16 in suspected drug dens at the Navotas fish port.

Director general Aaron Aquino led the filing of violation of Section 10 of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination.

“This is the first case ever filed against the parents and guardians of minors allegedly involved in drug offense. [All] Parent must learn a lesson from this case,” he said.

He said the agency had thoroughly investigated the involvement of the children found at the drug dens.

Joland Fernandez Sta. Maria, Geralyn Gulles Patalita, Nicanor Alarde Rosalijos, Emie Moreno, Daniel Bautista, Mary Ann Paraon, Cipriano Glico Moso, Arlene Cortes Salvamante, Loren Ambulo, Rowena Mendoza, Gregory Rojo, Norma Dalimit, Liza Montalban, Ronjing Montalban, Romulo Aguilar Mahinay, Rosebel Sarno Mendoza, Jeffrey Molina Baltazar, all from Navotas City, were also charged with violation of Presidential Decree 603.

The high-impact operation tagged as “Oplan Sagip Bata” was conducted last Jan. 16 in suspected drug dens at the fish port in Barangay North Boulevard that resulted in the arrest of two drug personalities and rescue of 12 minors aged four to 15 years.

CA confirms appointment of Madrigal as new AFP chief THE Commission on Appointments on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff.

Zamboanga Rep. Seth Jalosjos, chairman of the CA committee on national defense, recommended the approval of Madrigal’s appointment at

the plenary. There was no opposition to his appointment.

Madrigal was installed as AFP chief in December last year, replacing now Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Madrigal, the 51st AFP chief-of-staff, served notably as 4th Infantry Division commander, Southern Luzon Command

and Eastern Mindanao Command chief.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985, Madrigal was the most senior among the Board of Generals’ recommendees and also among the most competent in terms of distinct professionalism, leadership and character.

Madrigal held key positions in the

Philippine Army, which includes command of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro. He also served as assistant division commander and later acting head of the 10th Infantry Division in Compostela Valley before becoming Army chief.

Madrigal is set to retire on Sept. 28, 2019. PNA

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Defeating the purpose WHEN the Department of Education issued Order No. 5 defining the order of preference of the automatic deductions from the teachers’ payroll, we never doubted that it was for teachers’ benefit.

Unfortunately, DepEd Order No. 5, coupled with Section 48 of the General Appropriations Act of 2018, has appeared to cause more damage than good for their intended beneficiaries.

The twin regulations set up a hierarchy of preference in the Automatic Payroll Deduction System in the pay-

I have no doubt that the DepEd issued the order with the benefit of teachers in mind.

ment of individual employee contri contributions or obligations. The order is as follows: BIR, PhilHealth, GSIS and Home Development Mortgage Fund, non-stock savings and loan associations and mutual benefit associations, provident funds, GFIs, insurance companies and thrift banks and rural banks.

The GAA 2018 also provides that in no case shall the deductions reduce the employee’s monthly net take home pay to an amount lower than P5,000.

This order of preference applies to both old and new debts, meaning retroactively, which negates the earlier principle followed in collection—the First In, First Served System which in

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

the past ensured that older obligations were satisfied as soon as possible.

And this is where the problem arises. New loans from lenders higher up in the rank of preference are paid first before old loans from thrift and rural banks, which are at the bottom of the list, resulting an increase in the risk of default and, as a result, restricts the amount of financial credit available to teachers.

In past, when the First In, First Served system was in place, there was an orderly manner of granting and paying loans, such that rural and thrift banks were guaranteed timely payment and, consequently, DepEd employees were less likely to incur interest and finance charges.

The application of the order of preference and the First In, First Served system have always been subordinate to the NTHP threshold, ensuring that a certain amount is received by every DepEd employee every month. If the deductions have reached this NTHP threshold, the outstanding loan amortizations that did not make the cut get dislodged and transferred to the Un-Deducted Obligations portion of the payslip while still retaining their order of priority. Hence, when the next payslip comes, satisfaction of the Un-Deducted Obligations from the previous payslip gets deducted from the payroll first before the other obligations (or amortizations) which have a later effective date.

But with the conditions found in the GAA 2018 and the DepEd Orders, there now exist an unreasonably interference with PLIs’ ability to grant financial credit to teachers and impair DepEd employees’ access to reasonably regulated financial credit.

Though ensuring that teachers have an NTHP of P5,000.00, the DepEd Orders implement the order of preference provided in the GAA 2018 in such a way that the financial credit system

‘Let’s be frank’

A

T LEAST one cannot accuse the former chief of the Philippine National Police of being coy.

Senatorial candidate General Ronald dela Rosa does not even try to play down his excitement over the release of his biopic, with popular action star Robin Padilla playing his character.

“Let’s be frank about it,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino during the movie’s press conference held Monday. “This movie will be a big help in propping up my candidacy.”

Giddy that his life and times have been dramatized and would be commercially shown to the public, Dela Rosa even invoked the name of God in his personal saga. “Maybe the Lord has a plan for everyone,” he said.

Over the years we have seen other curious victors in the Senate halls. We are certain it is less God’s handiwork and

more a sorry consequence of the way we Filipinos choose our leaders.

Padilla says the movie will show the general’s human side.

Does he mean that we have only thus far seen Dela Rosa’s inhuman side? The general is best known as the first henchman to implement President Duterte’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs. That campaign has been roundly criticized as brutal, arbitrary, antipoor and dismissive of due process.

If the actor means, instead, that we have only seen Dela Rosa’s no-nonsense side, then he too would be mistaken.

From the beginning, the general has had no qualms showing his range of emotions, from bobbing his head up and down at an official function, to playing Santa Claus, to weeping in front of the cameras during a Senate probe. We have also not heard about any significant achievement during his brief stint at the Bureau of Corrections.

While the release of biop-

ics and other propaganda masquerading as culture is nothing new, the brazen attempt rankles anyway. This only validates our collective failure to distinguish between myth and reality—and politicians’ delight in exploiting it. The truth is, Filipinos are still looking for saviors. This has been largely responsible for our protracted discontent with government. But saviors do not exist; what we simply need are fundamentally good and qualified people who can do the job well.

Then again, perhaps Dela Rosa believes he has just truly lucked out. After all, other candidates are themselves working on their campaigns in varying degrees of subtlety. All of them are working around election rules, which the Commission on Elections is too feeble to implement.

Let’s be frank, indeed. For a law enforcer who wants to cross over into being a lawmaker, Dela Rosa certainly does a miserable job at respecting the spirit of the law.

Turn to A5

Manila Bay cleanup POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE FOLLOWING the more or less successful rehabilitation of Boracay is the massive cleanup done last weekend of parts of the Manila Bay, restoring to the area its sandy, beachy glory.

The before and after photos are remarkable. The formerly garbagestrewn shores are now pristine, full of tourists romping and building sand castles. “May buhangin pala dito!” a netizen commented on Twitter.

The cleanup was led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with similar efforts to be exerted in Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan in Region III, and Cavite in Region IV-A. To maintain cleanliness, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, through its Memorandum Circular 2019-09, requires 5,714 barangays along and near Manila Bay to perform followup cleaning on a weekly basis, complete with documentation.

A Supreme Court continuing mandamus from December, 2008 orders local governments and agencies to “reduce the amount of solid waste ending up in bodies of water and waterways which lead to the Manila Bay,” in a bid to “reduce the pollution levels in Manila Bay to an acceptable range,” according to Ralf Rivas in Rappler.

He added that “the mandamus will only be lifted once fecal bacteria content is brought down to less than 100 units per cubic meter,” the ‘swimmable’ level. Current bacteria levels are “as high as 1 billion units per cubic meter,” according to DENR. Manila Bay’s new look is the result of the efforts of 5,000 volunteers and government workers who took away 45.59 tons of trash in 11

garbage trucks last Sunday (Jan. 27), Day 1 of the rehabilitation program.

Why did Manila Bay’s condition deteriorate so badly over the years?

For one, previous government officials ignored the environmental impact of the 40,000 families living near the area. Their regular activities, said DENR, caused much of the pollution in the bay.

For another, establishments in the area that were draining polluted water into the bay were not compelled to desist. Several have now been shut down for violating the Clean Air and Water Act of 2004.

And for some reason, the local government and agencies responsible for the maintenance of cleanliness in the area were neglectful.

Instead of regularly cleaning up the shoreline, they allowed it to degenerate into an unsightly trash dump.

Considering that the mandamus was issued 10 years ago, why is it only now that we got results on this matter?

The administration’s iron hand in the Boracay rehab served as an example and inspiration to some, showing that such actions can be undertaken with the exertion of political will. Kudos are due to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, who wielded a strong arm in getting the Manila Bay cleanup accomplished.

Philippine Star’s Bobit Avila said in a recent column that in a meeting with government officials, Cimatu took a “no nonsense approach” and did not accept excuses. He “presented a comprehensive action plan” with short-, medium-, and long-term components, to cost P47 billion with P36 billion of that allocated to implement the transfer of and provide allowances and housing for informal settlers along waterways, including esteros around the city.

The plan sounds good. In fact, so does anything to do with cleaning up the environment in urban areas to mitigate risk during inclement weather and provide healthier surroundings.

Turn to A5

Abra: A forgotten province ONE of my greatest frustrations, at my age, is my failure to go back to Dolores town in Abra where I was born.

I remember the Abra of my youth.

I spent grade school there until I came back to Manila to join my brothers who were studying here. My eldest brother Desi was then taking up his AB at the old Ateneo de Manila on Padre Faura.

My other brother first attended Ateneo but transferred to San Beda College.

I want to be able to go back.

In Abra, we must have attended the schools in most of the towns including the capital Bangued. My father was district supervisor of schools; hence we moved around a lot.

Abra in the early 1920s, after the Spanish period, was a sub-province of Il-

ocos Sur until the late Don Quintin Paredes, the strongman of Abra who became a senator, made it a separate province.

My father taught me many things that young boys these days no longer experience. He taught me to ride horses and carabaos, and how to feed them.

My father was known in Ilocandia as having the best pacers. Horse aficionados used to visit him. Some ended up buying his best pacers.

In 1932, we bought our first car— a Ford Lizzie—for P1,500. It was a fortune at that time because my father had a small salary of P250 a month. My mother had to help him by selling garments and jewelry.

Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Possible steps on the budget the government’s livelihood program.

These are only some of the problems Filipinos encounter.

One of the difficulties we have these days is the refusal of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to attend THE Bicameral Conference Committee is currently deliberating and finalizing the Proposed 2019 National Budget. Congress is hopeful that the budget will finally be passed and enacted before the session break.

At this point, I would like to emphasize the problems faced by the government with regard to the budget. Every year we do this, and yet the problems of corruption and under-utilization of the budget do not seem to go away. We all know the consequences of this system: Medicine and equipment in hospitals, as well as facilities in schools, become inadequate. Roads and bridges are of poor quality, and the establishment of public buildings is slow. Many of our countrymen are not included in

How about performance incentives?

budget hearings. We also know that Mr. Diokno has to answer many questions from our lawmakers.

There is an observed practice that some officials ally with each other to defend each other’s performance.

To our mind, unity in the Executive family does not rule out the ability of

co-cabinet members to point out inefficiencies and possible malpractices in a civil and professional manner.

We hope that there would be an opportunity, even on private, for these conversations.

As a legislator, it is my duty to scrutinize budget allocations and assess the utilization of various government agencies, most especially the execu executive agencies which are in charge of program implementation and enforcement of laws. I have tirelessly repeated my call to government agencies to implement the Attrition Law, but to no avail. Perhaps, the next Congress would be able to address this by ex expanding the law and revisiting the in incentives and penalties it imposes.

We should study how beneficial it is to provide a performance incentive to various offices in the Cabinet especially those expected to provide timely public service. Of course we are all paid to do our jobs, but we should consider these incentives for better and more efficient governance.

Baguio summer activities IT IS not yet summer but February is usually the start of the summer activities in Baguio.

The now-famous Flower Festival or Panagbenga which is being celebrated the whole month of February will for this year be extended for one week. The float and the grand street parades will be on the first week of March.

The Chinese New Year on the 5th of February promises to be grander this year. Already, the Chinese-Filipino community of the city is busy making preparations to attract more visitors this year than the previous years.

The Philippine Military Academy annual Alumni Homecoming and graduation weeks are next. These two activities usually attract thousands of visitors, filling up all the hotel rooms available in the city. The school has been attracting quite a bit tourists in recent years, distracting the cadets.

Consequently, the Secretary of National Defense found it necessary to issue an order closing the facility to tourists during weekdays. Henceforth, the facility will only be open to tourists during weekends. How long this prohibition will last, we do not know but hopefully, some middle ground can be found so as not to disappoint so many people.

The Holy Week follows as summer sets in. In the old days, the city was the place to go for everyone. This was because there was no other place to visit. Since the establishment and development of various tourist facilities where people can go, the number of annual Holy Week visitors to the city has decreased. Since Filipinos have also become wealthier and can afford foreign travel, many go to Hong Kong and other places in the region or elsewhere to spend the most important religious event in the Roman Catholic world.

Still, Baguio remains one of the major tourist destinations in the

country principally because the temperature in the city remains comfortable and tolerable while the lowlands swelters and bakes during the hot summer months. Kennon Road which has been closed for several months is also scheduled to open for light vehicles to ease the heavy traffic along Marcos Highway. There are times when travel along the 40-kilometer road takes about two hours because of traffic congestion in the area where motorists enter the central business district. With Kennon road opens, the ascent to the city will be faster.

But apart from the temporary opening of Kennon Road which was spearheaded by city officials, there is no other discernable activities

Doing a Boracay here might be a tantalizing idea.

that can be seen to prepare the City for the influx of more tourists to the city. The effort seems to be more on the private establishments. Baguio Country Club, together with Camp John Hay, are preparing. For CJH, I understand that a qualified landscaper was recruited to improve the grounds of the facility. The forested area will be cleaned and the plant nursery enlarged to propagate plants to beautify the facility. It may no longer be like when the Americans used to run it, but it is the largest remaining open space open to the public where people can go and enjoy their stay in the city.

In the traditional tourist spots however, there are not much activity.

Burnham Park, for instance, which remains to be the principal city attraction, is not undergoing any sprucing up like cleaning and installing lights to make the park available for night strolling. At present, it is not advisable to stroll in the park in the evening.

One reason that drives tourists away is the worsening traffic in the

city. Unfortunately, however, this is one area where the city is failing miserably. Whatever the city government is doing, the traffic situation continues to worsen. Either no city official is qualified and competent enough to do the job or they absolutely have no idea what they are doing. There are some quarters advocating that the national government schedule the city to be the next Boracay. Whether this is even feasible is hard to say.

But it also depends on the objective.

There are certainly some activities that could be done like improving the waste disposal system and removing all those spaghetti electric wires that clutter the central business district.

The city should follow what Davao City did and pass an ordinance burying all power lines within the CBD. Removing all those houses built along river banks to stop the discharge of waste directly to the river could also be done. This will in turn improve the environment.

Another is the limited sewer system of the city which could be expanded and improved. But all those squatsurroundters that dot the mountains surround ing the city will probably remain as they are except perhaps to require the homeowners to paint their houses to make the houses more attractive.

Squatters have also invaded the mountain along Marcos Highway which is on the left going down. Very soon, the whole mountain slope will be full of shanties which will become another eyesore for the city. Land acquisition and ownership are two of the major causes of squatting in the city. The national government should look into this very serious problem.

Solve this and a lot of the problems will disappear.

In the last few years, the National Commission on Indigenous People has been issuing ancestral titles left and right that even the small Wright Park lagoon fronting the Mansion House have been titled to fake ancestral claimants. There are other cases.

Doing a Boracay in Baguio might be a tantalizing idea but if the national government will indeed attempt such an undertaking, a rehabilitation with limited objectives might be the better and more realistic option to take.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

With DA incompetence, more private involvement needed THE recently-released PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) report on the performance of the agricultural sector last year has confirmed a view that I have held for many years: The development of Philippine agriculture is too important an undertaking to be entrusted solely to the DA (Department of Agriculture). PSA reported last week that the agricultural sector grew by a miniscule 0.56 percent in the year just past, a sharp decline from 2017’s measly 4-percent growth.

Clearly DA—and this includes DAs prior to the Duterte administration—has been falling down on the job. Given an annual population growth rate of around 1.9 percent, an agricultural sector growth rate of 0.56 percent per annum is scandalously low. Even 4-percent annual growth is inadequate; Philippine agriculture should be growing at double-digit rates.

When criticized for DA’s repeatedly below-par performance, the Department’s leadership is even quick to offer excuses—climate change, inadequate funding, political interference, shortage of farm-to-market roads, civil disorder, etc. It is excuses galore. There is hardly ever any mention of inadequate effort, lack of resourcefulness, poor supervision (read: Corruption) and outright incompetence. For the DA folk, something else or someone else is always at fault.

This state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue. The growth of this country’s economy, the welfare of the rural communities and the nation’s food and fiber cannot continue being held to ransom by an entity called the Department of Agriculture.

The time has come for the private sector to give serious consideration to increasing the extent of its involvement in Philippine agriculture. More specifically, the time has come for the zaibatsus of the Philippine economy to make greater investments in this country’s agricultural industries. With the infusion of financial resources will come greater efficiency, better management and, most important, a superior operational mindset.

Among this country’s corporate giants, the ones that have cast their investment net more widely in recent times have been Ayala Corp., San Miguel Corp., Metro Pacific Investment Corp., and SM Foundation. Beyond real estate development and banking—its original

Manila...

From A4

From A4

I was also taugh to eat frogs, which we caught in the rice fields at dark. We also gathered snails from the river beds.

I cannot forget eating “abuus”—eggs of big red ants. My father’s favorite dish was kilawin. We also ate papaitan by squeezing the small intestines of the goat to give the dish flavor.

My father taught me many other lessons and I believed these made me strong and steadfast. I became resilient—and that’s what helped us make it through difficult times. For example, during the war when we had to evacuate Manila, we had to buy a ganta of rice using a bagful of Mickey Mouse money.

Would you believe we even ate beetles that fell off the small trees we used to shake? We cooked them as adobo— and they tasted great.

These memories make me want to

bring my family to Abra.

A few years ago, I asked my daughter to find out how we can do it. But she told me that based on her Internet research, the facilities were nil. I was sad and disappointed.

Lately, however, the Internet showed there are new places to visit. But most of what it seems to offer are for the young—which leaves me and my wife out of it. There goes my chance. *** I don’t know if President Duterte meant what he said about just shooting terrorists on sight. Was it out of anger and frustration? Or is it, again, hyperbole?

What bother me in this order to shoot and kill is that suspects may not really be terrorists.

With martial law in Mindanao, the President’s words must not be taken seriously. This is not the Wild, Wild West, my gulay!

Sure, terrorists must be hunted down.

But killing suspects on sight is too much. *** I don’t know if former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay is aware that the action of his allies in the city council can affect him negatively.

These allies are opposing worthy initiatives of Junjun’s sister, incumbent Mayor Abby. Among these are the benefits for senior citizens over 90.

Is Junjun still my friend? I hope so.

Perhaps this is the reason he is langging behind in the surveys. *** In almost every bicameral meeting, we know there is always horse trading especially when it comes to the budget.

Whether we like it or not, pork barrel still exists. Reelectionists want to show their constituents that they are able to fund projects for themThis is why despite the Supreme Court ruling that pork barrel is illegal, it is very much alive! www.emiljurado.weebly.com

core businesses—Ayala’s investment portfolio now includes holdings in health and education facilities. SMC is no newcomer to food production; it is heavily invested in meat production. Like Ayala, MPIC has moved determinedly in the direction of health facilities, and SM Foundation has been investing in educational facilities. All these new interests are, of course, in addition to their heavy investments in energy facilities and tollways and other infrastructure.

The major Philippine agricultural industries—rice, corn, sugarcane and coconuts—have been uncompetitive vis-à-vis the other East Asia countries because of low yields. The per-hectare yields of Philippine rice farms, for instance, are between one-third and one-half of those of Thai and Vietnamese rice farms. Those

Excuses galore.

yields can be raised sharply with the introduction of mechanization, greater irrigation availability, better management and, last but by no means least, a more professional attitude. With the regroupment of the tens of thousands of small, land-reform-created farms, mechanization will become possible. These additional production facilities will become available with the entry into the agricultural sector of this country’s successful, resource-rich corporate giants.

A historical footnote. During the martial-law period, President Ferdinand Marcos, upon the advice of his economic managers, issued an Executive Order mandating the large corporate establishments—those with at least a certain number of employees—to make arrangements for supplying their employees with rice. Many companies opted to produce their own rice.

I am making this proposal for the entry of this country’s corporate giants into agriculture in the belief that the DA cannot, now, and in the foreseeable future, be expected to, do a satisfactory job of providing the Philippine people with adequate food, fiber and exports.

Private sector to the rescue, please.

footing. Some claim that drainage constructions were not properly carried out.

Similarly, the proposed transfer of settlers from Manila Bay and other waterways causes concern for their livelihood and future.

In the Boracay and Manila Bay cleanups, swift decision led to quick action that gave positive results. But underneath, resentments are festering, just like the garbage that not too long ago was rotting on the shores of Manila Bay. Still, it is undeniable that much progress was made in bringing Manila Bay back to some semblance of its former beauty. Let’s hope this is not a ‘ningas-cogon’ effort and that Cimatu’s plan will eventually make the waters of the bay good for swimming again.

However, several sectors are asking for a suspension of the program.

Some progressive lawmakers said more studies need to be done regarding the impact of the cleanups on marginalized communities living in the area.

Urban poor group Kadamay (Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap) attributed a nefarious motive to the rehabilitation—that it could be a coverup for land reclamation projects. The group’s chairperson Gloria “Ka Bea” Arellano said Tuesday in the statement that behind it all is a plot to sell territory to large corporations “gaya sa China.”

Just as in Boracay, environmental cleanups come at a human cost.

In Boracay, jobs were lost, income *** My Manila is the Pearl of the was lost. In terms of economics the West Philippine Sea. FB and Twitprovince has not regained its former ter: @DrJennyO

Defeating...

From A4

Abra:...

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

and the existing agreements between teachers and lending institutions are interfered with. Specifically, the DepEd Orders’ implementation of the order of preference will effectively cause rural and thrift banks to be always overtaken by lenders which are higher in the order of preference even if they extended loans ahead of them.

The unreasonable interference increased the risk of default and, as a result, restricted the amount of financial credit available to teachers.

This is because PLIs must undergo more rigorous applications and must adjust business models to conform to additional rules while maintaining or reducing their exposure to risk.

Worse, due to the real and substantial risk that they will not be paid at all for the loans that they grant,

PLIs will no longer have any incentive to lend to DepEd employees, to their damage and prejudice.

The implementation of the DepEd Orders and the effective easing out of PLIs, especially rural and thrift banks, from the APDS will erase years of improvement in the industry in terms of access to credit. This fear is not unfounded. DepEd employees will be deprived of at least P107 billion in capital currently available to them from rural and thrift banks.

As a result, teachers will have less access to regulated credit and will have to resort to approaching informal, unregulated lenders, which can charge whatever interest rates and fees that they wish.

As stated above, I have no doubt the teachers’ interest was foremost in the DepEd’s agenda when it issued Department Order No. 5. Maybe there were some miscalculations.

They can still be remedied. And the first step is to review the order of preference.

News

A6

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

GSIS reaches out to SAF 44 widows THE Government Service Insurance System said Tuesday it reached out to the widows of Special Action Force 44 policemen by hiring them as personnel in GSIS Zamboanga operations.

GSIS Chairman Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said in a statement:“In 2018, the GSIS branch office in Zamboanga was in need of additional people after a considerable number of its personnel retired and requested transfer to other branches.

“Heeding President Duterte’s appeal to give priority to qualified SAF 44 widows in government employment, we hired the four SAF 44 widows in December 2018 as personnel after their applications were evaluated and they were found qualified for the job under standard operating procedures.”

According to the widows, they applied for work in GSIS because they had to look for additional source of income to sustain their family’s needs and at the same time, find a way to heal after they lost their husbands in a bloody encounter with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters on January 25, 2015.

One of the women, Lhea Tabdi, widow of Senior Police Senior Inspector, Gednat Tabdi, was a former health worker in the City Health Office of Lamitan City who had to resign after the tragedy to take care of her three-year -old son.

These days, she finds fulfilment attending to the transacting clients of GSIS Zamboanga.

The other widows hired by GSIS are Emeliza Danao, wife of Police Officer 2 Walner F. Danao; Margaret Manuel, common law wife of Police Officer 2 Joel B. Dulnuan; and Adelisa Bedua, wife of Police Officer 2 Glenn B. Bedua.

Bedua cried as she exclaimed how grateful she is for the opportunity, according to the GSIS statement. She is now assigned at the branch offices’s Loans and eServices Unit. Being conversant in Tausug and functions as an interpreter between GSIS staff and applicants from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.

POEA allows OFWs’ return GOOD news to interested Filipinos who would like to work again in Libya.

In an advisory, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Governing Board issued a resolution allowing the processing and deployment of Filipinos returning to their previous job in Libya.

In GB Resolution No. 1, series of 2019, the Board said the decision came after the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the concurrence of the National Security Council, lowered the Crisis Alert Level in Libya from Alert level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation Phase) to Level 2 (Restriction Phase).

The Overseas Filipino Workers Organization—Benghazi has previously appealed to the government to exclude professionals such as engineers, company workers, nurses and teachers from the travel ban to Libya.

POEA, however, clarified that the lifting of the deployment ban did not include newly hired workers and seafarers.

In November 2018, the POEA Board issued Board Resolution No. 8 imposing a total deployment ban on the processing and deployment of newly hired workers as well crew change and shore leave of Filipino seafarers to Libya but allowed the processing and deployment of returning workers under specified skill categories but subject to specific conditions.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, chairman of the POEA Governing Board, signed the new resolution with POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia and board members Estrella Hizon, Alexander Asuncion, and Felix Oca.

Senate Oks proposed Magna Carta of the Poor

ROBUST RECORD. Pag-IBIG Fund and HUDCC chairman Eduardo del Rosario presents his 2018 report which contains what he calls robust and record-breaking accomplishments to members and stakeholders during ceremonies at the PICC in Pasay City on Wednesday. Ey Acasio

Saudi welcomes GMA invitation to invest

By Maricel V. Cruz

S

AUDI Arabia officials have welcomed the invitation of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Saudi businessmen to invest in Mindanao now that the Bangsamoro Organic Law has been passed in a plebiscite.

This came during Arroyo’s meetings with Saudi Arabian officials with the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority headed by its governor engineer Ibrahim Al Omar; and with Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Sheik, her Saudi Arabian counterpart as President of the Majlis Al Shura of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s legislative body.

Arroyo was in Riyadh on the invitation of Dr. Al Sheik.

She considers it as an opportunity to lead an investment mission of six Mindanao lawmakers to look for investment opportunities for the Mindanao in the light of the passage of the Bangsamoro law.

Arroyo led the delegation composed of Represetatives Mauyag Papandayan of Lanao del Sur, Macmod Mending Jr. and

Amihilda Sangcopan of Anak Mindanao party-list, Bai Sandra Sema of Maguindanao, Ruby Sahali of Tawi-Tawi and Shernee Tan of Kusug Tausug party-list.

Al Omar said Arroyo’s initiative to lead an investment mission to Saudi Arabia was timely because they opened a lot of industries to foreigners and Saudi Arabian businessmen are actively looking for investment opportunities in and outside their Kingdom.

SAGIA is the office in charge of all investment-related activities in Saudi Arabia.

Al Omar said that with the vision of Saudi Arabia to be an investment powerhouse and the country that connects three continents by 2030, investing in other countries especially in areas most important to their growth was one of their priorities.

He pointed out Saudi Arabia was look-

BOC finds deadly chemicals

By Vito Barcelo

BUDGET CALL. Government workers troop to Department of Budget and Management office in Manila to call for a national minimum wage of P16,000 a month. Norman Cruz

PCSO revenue skyrockets to P63b, a 20% growth THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has boosted its income to P63 billion, marking 20-percent growth from its revenue in 2017.

The government agency posted P63,557,912,238.39 compared to last year’s P52,982,703,111.04.

Among all the games, the Lotto and Digit Games was the top gainer at nearly P32 billion, noting a 14-percent growth.

PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan credited the increase to the frenzied Ultra Lotto 6/58 jackpot which had peaked at P1.18 billion after being elusive for months.

The jackpot, won by two winners from Luzon and Visayas, was the highest prize recorded in Lotto’s history.

Small Town Lottery’s earnings also

ing for partnerships to address their key sectors, particularly the Halal food market which is a US$1.3 trillion industry.

Al Sheik for his part said the Philippines was very important to Saudi Arabia because of the valuable contributions of Filipinos working in the Kingdom.

He said that they were always looking for ways to improve bilateral relations and investment opportunities will always be a welcome development in that respect.

For her part, Arroyo said Saudi Arabia would always have special consideration in the Philippine setting not only because of the almost one-million Filipinos working in the Kingdom but also because of its support of the peace efforts in the Philippines.

“It is indeed true what you said about the strong bilateral relations between our two countries. Saudi Arabia is very important to the Philippines not only because you host almost a million Filipinos here but also because you are a very big supporter of our peace process in the Muslim Mindanao,” she during her official visit to the Majlis Al Shura in Riyadh.

accelerated to an exceptional 66 percent at over P26 billion.

Meanwhile, Traditional Sweepstakes plunged to a disappointing P4,867,500 from last year’s P22.5 million.

Keno Lotto Express also slipped to P4,397,969,030, down by 17.91 percent.

Balutan blamed Keno’s losses to higher ticket cost due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. The ticket price increased from P10 to P12.

In a press conference, Balutan said the agency would review the price structure to recover from its losses in 2018, especially that PCSO is one of the agencies expected to fund the Universal Health Care Bill which

was cited by President Duterte as a priority measure.

Aside from PCSO, other sources of funding are the Department of Health, PhilHealth, Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp.

PCSO’s flagship medical assistance program aided more patients in 2018, catering to 528,190 beneficiaries nationwide.

Its funding also climbed to over P8 billion, a 7-percent increase from 2017.

The agency also spent P626,249.20 in medical and dental missions, advancing to a 233-percent increase which supported 9,231 patients.

PCSO was also recognized as the sixth top paying government-owned and -controlled organization last year.

OPERATIVES of the Bureau of Customs raided a warehouse that clandestinely manufactures fake and toxic aerosol insecticides and discovered 50 drums filled with deadly chemicals in San Simon, Pampanga.

Customs Enforcement Group chief Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval said the warehouse, located in Global Aseana Business Park, San Simon was converted into a factory for aerosol insecticides.

The raid was led by BOC-ESS director Felimon Ruiz who said the machines and chemical used in the manufacture of aerosol insecticides were imported from China.

“The owner, a certain Andy Go, was not around during BOC’s enforcement action. Workers at the warehouse failed to present a Certificate of Payment for the imported machines and raw materials,” Ruiz said.

The BOC also said the warehouse had no business permit or permit to operate to produce insect repellents and other chemicals used to control pests and insects.

“Ten sets of machines were discovered by BOC operatives, forming two production lines for labeling the aerosol insecticide products with the brand name ‘Baolilai,’” he said.

Also found and seized were 50 drums filled with chemicals, particularly cypermethrin and polyaluminum chloride, various packaging materials and labels bearing the same brand name, and at least 2,000 boxes containing finished products.

The BOC also learned that the brand name ‘Baolilai’ is a household insecticide product that was banned by the Food and Drug Administration in the past years for containing cypermethrin.

THE Senate has approved on third and final reading the proposed Magna Carta of the Poor, said Senator Loren Legarda, principal author of the bill.

In a statement, Legarda said: “The Magna Carta of the Poor is a measure that promotes inclusive growth by ensuring that the poor are provided with basic services and support to allow them to be part of the country’s development.

“We also want to strengthen convergence between the government and its basic sectors to fully make its services accessible to the poor.”

Senate Bill 2121 seeks to provide the poor with full access to government services offered by its departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, maintain a system of free public education, and ensure equitable access to a system of good quality health care and protection, among others.

It will also protect the rights of the workers by ensuring compliance with core labor standards and prioritize the implementation of the socialized housing program.

“These basic services are already provided under various laws and funded through the General Appropriations Act. Our interventions in the national budget in the past years have made these services—such as free college education in state-run tertiary institutions, universal healthcare coverage, increased funding for social services, free irrigation for small farmers, and more livelihood opportunities—accessible to more Filpinos. However, there is a need to ensure that all poor Filipinos actually receive and benefit from these services,” said Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

She added: “The Magna Carta of the Poor will adopt an area-based, sectoral, and focused intervention to poverty alleviation.

“It will institutionalize long-term strategies and solutions that will give the poor dignity and a better way of life.

“Most importantly, the poor will be empowered to become productive members of society and key players in the country’s overall growth and development.”

SSS accepts application for loan THE state-run Social Security System has said more than P451 million was allocated for the loan assistance program for its members and pensioners affected by tropical depression “Usman.”

SSS president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Dooc said qualified members and pensioners could apply for the calamity assistance package starting on Jan. 29 at any SSS branch.

It is estimated that more than 41,000 paying members and 1,000 pensioners residing in affected areas will benefit from the CAP. “We hope that the SSS calamity assistance program would be able to help our members affected by tropical depression Usman address their immediate and short-term financial needs,” Dooc said.

Qualified members can avail themselves of calamity loan and direct house repair and improvement loan while pensioners can receive advance three-month pension.

Members and pensioners whose home address or property are in the calamity-stricken areas declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council may avail themselves of the CAP. Areas declared by NDRRMC under state of calamity due to Usman were Oriental Mindoro, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur with an estimated P368 million worth of damage in agriculture.

Under the CAP, affected members can apply for calamity loans of up to P16,000 if they are paying contributions based on the maximum monthly salary credit.

In addition, they should have at least 36 monthly contributions, six of which must be paid within the 12-month period preceding the date of application.

The calamity loan assistance is separate from the regular salary loan. Members with outstanding salary loans in SSS can still avail of the calamity loan.

Manila

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

Standard

TODAY REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR FULL RECOVERY OF APPROVED COSTS IN ERC CASE NO. 2011-030 RC THROUGH RE-COMPUTATION OF APPROVED RATE CATANDUANES GENERATION, INC. (CPGI),

POWER

and Regulations of Republic Act No. 91844, lease of governmentowned property as lessor for private use are not considered as procurement activities. [Emphasis ours.]

15. The DOE’s policy clarifications were issued upon the request of the NPC. Even so, the NPC did not heed the same and remained steadfast in not extending the lease. In a letter dated 02 October 2017, the NPC maintained that the extension of the lease agreement is not feasible given the “assurance of no curtailment of power”. A copy of the NPC’s letter is herewith attached as Annex “F” to form an integral part hereof; 16. In a letter to the NPC dated 16 October 2017, CPGI requested that the NPC re-evaluate its position due to adverse consequences if CPGI will cease operating the MDPP, including:

Petitioner, 16.1 The loss of the largest base load supplier in the Province causing a huge power deficiency will result in massive brownouts;

- versus FIRST CATANDUANES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (FICELCO) AND NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION (NPC), Respondents x------------------------x

ERC Case No._________

PETITION Petitioner,CATANDUANES POWER GENERATION, INC. (CPGI), by and through the undersigned Firm, unto this Honorable Commission, most respectfully avers: That – I. THE PARTIES 1. Petitioner CPGI is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with office address at Unit 1507, 15/F, 88 Corporate Center, Valera corner Sedeño Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City;

16.2 Immediately after lease expiration on 17 October 2017, the MDPP will be rendered useless and no other party can operate it since CPGI exclusively holds the Certificate of Compliance (COC) covering the plant; 16.3 The Honorable Commission already approved CPGI’s ESA bearing a low generation rate. A shift to a new power provider when there is no assurance that its generation cost will be as competitively priced as CPGI’s, unnecessarily exposes electricity consumers to higher power costs.

A copy of CPGI’s letter is herewith attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “G”; 17. Meanwhile, on 20 October 2017, FICELCO wrote CPGI that it will no longer dispatch power from CPGI in compliance with the NPC’s directive.

A copy of FICELCO’s letter is herewith attached as Annex “H” to form an integral part hereof;

A7

energy based on economic order of merit. This was upheld in the Honorable Commission’s Decision, allowing payment of standby capacity to be charged

by CPGI based on its approved Capacity Fee and Fixed O&M Fee, but in no case shall be in excess of the contracted energy (kWh); 36. Nonetheless, the NPC has unjustly refused to settle CPGI’s billings for standby capacity for several billing periods between 26 April 2011 until 25 October 2017, despite fully knowing that CPGI cannot recover from FICELCO beyond the SAGR. Further, when CPGI was required to be on standby to give way to FICELCO’s hydropower sources with a more economical rate, this resulted in savings for NPC, at the expense of CPGI. NPC’s undue refusal to pay recoverable charges to CPGI deprived the latter of the cost of its money, so much so that CPGI is also constrained to pray for the payment of legal interest, resulting in the amount of PhP8,021,557.75. A detailed computation thereof is herewith attached as “Annex M-2”; 37. These are just and equitable remedies, which CPGI is constrained to seek, pro hac vice.

V. COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 38. Under Rule 3, Section 4 of the EPIRA-IRR, an application or petition for rate adjustment or for any relief affecting the consumers must be accompanied with an acknowledgment of receipt of a copy thereof by the LGU Legislative Body of the locality where the application or petitioner principally operates together with the certification of the notice of publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the same locality; 39. Considering that herein Petition seeks as a remedy the recomputation of the generation rate to allow full recovery of the ERC-approved cost components in ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC, hence, may have an effect on electricity consumers, Petitioner CPGI hereby manifests its compliance with the EPIRA-IRR, to be established by the following: 39.1 Certification/Affidavit of Service to prove service on the Legislative Bodies of Makati City, Province of Catanduanes, and Municipality of Bato, Catanduanes of a copy of herein Petition with annexes, to be appended as Annexes “N”, “N-1”, and “N-2”, respectively;

2. Respondent First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office located at Marinawa, Bato, Catanduanes. It holds an exclusive franchise to operate an electric light and power service in the Province of Catanduanes, a National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG) area, particularly in the Municipalities of Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Caramoan, Gigmoto, Pandan, Panganiban, San Andres, San Miguel, Viga and Virac;

18. Thus, CPGI was constrained to stop operating the MDPP, while the MDPP remained in its possession. Nonetheless, CPGI did not relent in seeking an extension of the lease agreement and sent several letters to request the NPC’s reconsideration,more so, because in the months that FICELCO has not dispatched CPGI, the Province of Catanduanes has suffered longer power interruptions due to insufficient power supply, contrary to NPC’s assurance of no power shortage, and as CPGI has predicted would happen if it ceased operating the MDPP. Copies of CPGI’s letters of reconsideration to the NPC dated 08 December 2017 and 28 January 2018 are herewith attached as Annexes “I” and “J”, respectively;

3. Respondent National Power Corporation (NPC) is a government corporation created under Republic Act No. 6395, as amended, with office address at NPC Power Complex, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Under Section 70 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the NPC shall remain as the National Government-owned and -controlled corporation to perform the missionary electrification function through the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG);

19. Pending response from the NPC, on 25 May 2018, FICELCO demanded that CPGI vacate and turn-over the MDPP on even date. This was in clear violation of FICELCO’s obligation under the ESA to provide necessary assistance and reasonable support to CPGI in ensuring its compliance with its own obligations under the ESA. The NPC, then, took possession of the MDPP on the same day. A copy of FICELCO’s letter is herewith attached as Annex “K”;

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed for of this Honorable Commission that herein Petition for Full Recovery of Approved Costs be DULY GRANTED and that a Decision be rendered:

4. Copies of pleadings and motions filed, as well as orders and other issuances by the Honorable Commission may be served on Petitioner CPGI through the undersigned Firm at its address indicated below, and on Respondents FICELCO and NPC at their respective addresses as herein provided;

20. Finally, in a letter dated 14 June 2018, the NPC informed CPGI that it is maintaining the non-extension of the lease. A copy of NPC’s letter is herewith attached to form an integral part hereof as Annex “L”;

(b) For the PAYMENT by Respondents FICELCO and NPC of the amount of PhP32,752,808.00 representing the difference between the re-computed Capacity Fee of PhP0.7137/kWh and the approved PhP0.5471/kWh, thereby allowing CPGI the full recovery of ERC-approved costs in ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC; and

II. NATURE OF THE CASE 5. This Petition, which seeks to recover in full the costs approved by the Honorable Commission in its Decision in ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC, to which, CPGI is entitled but was prevented by herein Respondents FICELCO and NPC to recover, is being filed pursuant to Section 25 of the EPIRA providing that retail rates shall be subject to regulation by the Honorable Commission based on the principle of full recovery of prudent and reasonable economic costs incurred, among other relevant and applicable laws and rules; III. STATEMENT OF FACTS 6. CPGI and FICELCO have an existing 10-year Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA) approved by the Honorable Commission in its Decision dated 03 July 2012 in ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC. A copy of the Decision is herewith attached as Annex “A” to form an integral part hereof; 7. Under the ESA, CPGI shall implement Phase 1 of the project, which pertains to the delivery of power from NPC’s 3.6 MW Marinawa Diesel Power Plant (MDPP). NPC leased the MDPP to FICELCO, while the latter subleased the same to CPGI, consistent with DOE Circular No. 200401-001. Considering that the MDPP was then inoperable, the sublease agreement included CPGI’s completion, uprating, upgrading, periodic repair and overhaul of the MDPP to support full service operation, at CPGI’s own expense and risk, and at no cost to the NPC on a rehabilitate, operate and maintenance basis. A copy of the lease agreement between NPC and FICELCO is herewith attached as Annex “B”, while a copy of the lease agreement between FICELCO and CPGI is herewith attached as Annex “B1”, to form integral parts hereof; 8. Accordingly, in approving a reasonable Capacity Fee for the project, the Honorable Commission took into account CPGI’s expenses for the lease and rehabilitation of the MDPP. The Honorable Commission approved a Total Project Cost of PhP40,000,000.00 and a Cost of Equity of 16.44% in arriving at the Capacity Fee of PhP0.5471/kWh1; 9. The Honorable Commission also considered and approved an economic life of ten (10) years, which corresponds to the ESA’s 10-year term2; 10. While both the lease/sublease agreements and the ESA have a term of 10 years, the ESA commenced on the date of its approval by the Honorable Commission, or on 09 May 2011 upon the ERC’s grant of a provisional authority. On the other hand, the lease/sublease agreements became effective earlier on 18 October 2007 upon its signing. As such, the lease expired in October 2017, or four (4) years ahead of the ESA in May 2021; 11. Since the obligation of CPGI under the ESA, as well as its approval,was confined to the leased MDPP, it was necessary to seek extension of the lease to synchronize with the expiration of the ESA. The synchronization of the lease and the ESA is consistent with the government’s policy on private sector participation in SPUG areas. In a Memorandum dated 27 October 2016, copy is herewith attached as Annex “C”, the Department of Energy (DOE) stated that: “Consistent with the Private Sector Participation (PSP) Program on power generation in SPUG-serviced areas as prescribed in Department Circular No. 2004-01-001, the lease and sub-lease agreements with the certain ECs and NPPs in Catanduanes, Oriental Mindoro and Palawan must be amended and enhanced to synchronize with the cooperation period of the Energy Supply Agreement (ESA) or Power Supply Agreement (PSA). Those NPPs have been legitimized by undergoing a Competitive Selection Process that has been certified by the Department of Energy and their choice to lease SPUG’s assets is their business strategy to realize privatization of the generation function of SPUG.”[Emphasis supplied.]

12. Synchronizing the terms of the lease and the ESA has been the original intention of the parties since negotiations for the lease extension began in 2013. At that time, the only contention was finding the most feasible and efficient means by which synchronization may be implemented due to FICELCO’s concerns on taxes and other administrative matters being a party to both the lease and sub-lease agreements. Copies of communications among NPC, FICELCO and CPGI showing the foregoing are herewith attached as Annexes “D” to “D-5”; 13. While initially, the NPC had no objection to the lease extension, by December 2016, however, the NPC no longer wanted to extend the lease.

It first pointed to alleged reliability issues of the MDPP, and from there, raised varying reasons, including alleged necessity of a new Competitive Selection Process (CSP) due to another supplier’s interest to participate in the privatization of the said NPC asset, and concerns on alleged adverse audit observations from the Commission on Audit (COA);

21. Thereafter, CPGI learned that NPC allowed the extension of the lease of its assets in Oriental Mindoro. This clearly negates the existence of any valid ground for non-extension of the lease, such that the NPC’s refusal to extend the MDPP lease in Catanduanes, not only disregards the policy guidance of the DOE on the matter, but is a blatant act of bad faith towards CPGI; 22. In the end, due to FICELCO’s failure to ensure the extension of the lease and NPC’s unreasonable refusal in bad faith to extend the lease, CPGI has been prevented from operating the MDPP beginning 20 October 2017, with four more years remaining in the ESA;

PRAYER

(a) For the RE-COMPUTATION of the approved Capacity Fee to be PhP0.7137/kWh to recover the approved Total Project Cost and realize the approved Cost of Equity, within 6 years of actual ESA implementation;

(c) For the PAYMENT by Respondent NPC of legal interest for unjust withholding of standby capacity charges beyond the SAGR, for available energy that CPGI was constrained not to deliver due to priority dispatch accorded for hydropower, in the amount of PhP8,021,557.75.

Other reliefs, just and equitable under the premises are, likewise, most respectfully prayed for.

Respectfully Submitted.

Pasig City, Philippines. 18 January 2019.

DICCION LAW FIRM Unit 1708 Jollibee Plaza Building F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. Nos. (02) 633-5359; 683-0612 Email: diccionlawfirm@diccionlaw.com By: MARY ANN C. DICCION Roll No. 43713 IBP Lifetime No. 03244 / 01.02.03 / Quezon City PTR No. 5227006 / 01.03.19 / Pasig City MCLE Compliance No.V – 0006757

IV. DISCUSSION CPGI MUST BE ALLOWED TO FULLY RECOVER THE COSTS APPROVED BY THE HONORABLE COMMISSION FOR A SUPPOSED 10-YEAR ESA. ==========================

ANNA TRICIA P. EVANGELISTA Roll No. 58063 IBP No. 057806 / 12.27.18/ RSM Chapter PTR No. 5227005 / 01.03.19 / Pasig City MCLE Compliance No. V – 0011387

24. Capacity Fee (CF) is designed to recover the generator’s cost of investment over the economic life of the plant, together with a reasonable rate of return on capital based on the ERC-approved Cost of Equity; 25. In the ESA Application (ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC), CPGI has submitted and proven the costs it incurred in implementing several phases of rehabilitating the leased MDPP, which as reflected in its Audited Financial Statements, amounted to a total of PhP55.8 Million. Nonetheless, the Honorable Commission approved only CPGI’s initial allocation of PhP40 Million since its additional project cost of PhP15 Million, while subsequently incurred, did not form part CPGI’s proposed asset base and rate derivation5; 26. Using the Honorable Commission’s approved Cost of Equity at 16.44%, at the end of the 10-year term of the ESA, CPGI is also expected to have earned a reasonable return out of its investment in making the MDPP operational again,from the rundown condition it was in when CPGI took possession in 2007; 27. CPGI has been very resolute in seeking the extension of the lease,not only because its obligation to deliver power to FICELCO is confined to the operation of the MDPP, but because the Capacity Fee approved by the Honorable Commission pertained only to CPGI’s investments in the MDPP, to be recovered over the 10-year life of the ESA; 28. However, despite CPGI’s serious efforts to continue leasing the MDPP, the NPC’s unjust refusal to extend the lease while merely on the 6th year of ESA implementation, effectively prevented CPGI from recovering ERC-approved costs, not to mention other adverse financial consequences in relation to idle manpower and repayment of CPGI’s credit line with a local bank, among others; 29. It is only just and equitable that CPGI is allowed to fully recover the ERC-approved costs. CPGI most respectfully prays for a recomputation of the approved Capacity Fee to take into account six (6) years of actual ESA implementation, instead of the 10-year ESA term that was cut short, to be recovered from Respondent FICELCO to the extent of the Subsidized Approved Generation Rate (SAGR) and from Respondent NPC, as to the difference between the SAGR and True Cost Generation Rate (TCGR) in the form of missionary electrification subsidy pursuant to the parties’ Subsidy Agreement;

Copy furnished by registered mail: 1. First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) Marinawa, Bato, Catanduanes

R.R. No. _______ ___January 2019 Pasig City

2. National Power Corporation (NPC) NPC Power Complex, Quezon Ave. corner BIR Road Diliman, Quezon City

R.R. No. _______ ___January 2019 Pasig City

EXPLANATION (Pursuant to Rule 13, Section 11 of the Rules of Court) The foregoing Petition for Full Recovery of Approved Costs is being served through registered mail to the above parties due to time constraints and distance to effect personal service.

ATTY. ANNA TRICIA P. EVANGELISTA

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } ______PASIG CITY________ } S.S. VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, JOSELITO ABROGAR, President of Catanduanes Power Generation, Inc. (CPGI), of legal age, Filipino, after having been duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1. I am the duly authorized representative of Catanduanes Power Generation, Inc. (CPGI), Petitioner in the instant In the Matter of the Petition for Full Recovery of Approved Costs in ERC Case No. 2011030 RC; 2. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing Petition. I have read its contents and the allegations therein are true and correct, and of my personal knowledge and/or based on authentic records in possession of CPGI made available to me in the ordinary course of business; and

30. Accordingly, to recover the approved Total Project Cost of PhP40,000,000.00 and to realize the approved Cost of Equity of 16.44% within 6 years, the re-computed Capacity Fee is submitted to be PhP0.7137/ kWh. This translates to a difference of PhP0.1666/kWh as compared to the approved PhP0.5471/kWh for a 10-year ESA. Details of the re-computation is herewith attached to form an integral part hereof as Annex “M”;

3. I hereby certify that CPGI has not commenced any action or filed any claim involving the same issue(s) in any court, tribunal, or quasijudicial agency, and to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein. Should I thereafter learn that the same or a similar action or claim has been filed or is pending in any court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial agency, I shall report such fact to this Honorable Commission within five (5) days therefrom.

31. Applying the proposed re-computed Capacity Fee to CPGI’s energy from 2011 to 2017, CPGI prays that it be allowed to recover PhP32,752,808.00 to account for the difference between the re-computed rate of PhP0.7137/ kWh and the approved PhP0.5471/kWh. A detailed computation of the same is herewith attached as Annex “M-1”; 32. In determining a generation rate for the ESA, the Honorable Commission undertook a thorough evaluation of submitted cost components, ensuring a reasonable price of electricity for consumers, while allowing the generator the recovery of just and reasonable costs and a reasonable return to operate viably, as mandated under the EPIRA6;

(a) NPPs, having undergone the CSP, are qualified to lease or purchase NPC-SPUG assets during the cooperation period of the PSA based on DOE Circular 2004-01-0013, Section 4 (b) (iii). While NPC believes that it needs to conduct a separate bidding in divesting assets under COA Circulars 86-264 and 89-296, in the context of streamlining privatization of NPC SPUG assets, it may also be interpreted that the privatization of the generation function of the NPC includes inherently the option to lease or purchase said assets;

33. It must be pointed out that CPGI has made every effort to seek an extension of the lease agreement, but the NPC unjustly refused, even if it allowed the IPP in Oriental Mindoro to continue operating NPC-leased assets after its lease term. It did not help that FICELCO has stopped dispatching CPGI. CPGI now comes to the Honorable Commission to seek its aid in ensuring that its Decision,which it issued after careful scrutiny, validation and approval of the ESA and the TCGR indicated therein, is faithfully implemented;

(c) Based on Section 4.5 (c) of the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules

39.3 Complete newspaper issue where the Petition was published, to be appended herein as Annex “O-1”, and the relevant page thereof where the Petition appears, as Annex “O-2”.

23. The NPC now operates the MDPP, inarguably benefitting from the rehabilitation works undertaken by CPGI, but at the expense of the continued implementation of CPGI’s ESA with FICELCO. CPGI, on the other hand, is left unable to completely recover its expenses therefor, particularly the full amount of the approved Total Project Cost of PhP40 Million including a reasonable return thereon at 16.44% Cost of Equity as approved by the Honorable Commission. Due to the abrupt cessation of CPGI’s operations, it had to contend with financial challenges related to idle manpower. In addition, CPGI had to obtain interest-bearing advances from an affiliate to avoid default in the repayment of its credit line with a local bank, which was mainly used for fuel purchases and other operating expenses, among others.

14. Meanwhile, to explain the government’s policy relevant to NPC’s concerns, the DOE made the following clarifications in another Memorandum dated 27 April 2017, a copy is herewith attached as Annex “E”:

(b) A direct negotiation with an NPP, as provided in item V.2.b. of COA Circular 89-296 states that a “negotiation may be conducted singly on a one-on-one basis with a view of ensuring that the government gets the best price.”This will not only provide a convenient means to reduce the subsidy allocated to NPC-SPUG but will also help address the observed gaps between unsynchronized lease agreements among NPC, DU and NPP that may have adverse effect on the continuity of power supply if not properly dealt with;

39.2 Notarized Affidavit of Publication to prove that herein Petition was published in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality where Petitioner principally operates, to be appended herein as Annex “O”; and

34. In the interest of justice, CPGI petitions the Honorable Commission to allow its full recovery of ERC-approved costs through a re-computation of the Capacity Fee, or through any other alternative remedy as the Honorable Commission may deem appropriate under the circumstances for the faithful implementation of its Decision in ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC; 35. On another note, CPGI has also not yet fully recovered allowable charges for standby capacity or for available energy that CPGI was constrained not to deliver due to priority dispatch accorded by FICELCO for hydropower, which enjoys must-dispatch status under existing laws.

Under the PSA, FICELCO agreed to give priority dispatch to renewable

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Verification and Certification of Non-Forum-Shopping on January 30, 2019 at Pasig City, Philippines.

JOSELITO ABROGAR Affiant Republic of the Philippines } _______PASIG CITY___ } S.S. SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this __JAN. 30, 2019_ at ______PASIG CITY__________, affiant exhibited to me his Passport No. P3551621A issued on July 03, 2017 as proof of his identification.

Doc. No. 21; Page No. 6; Book No. VI; Series of 2019.

1

. Pages 23-27, Decision in ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC dated 03 July 2012 . Ibid., Pages 23-26, 29 . Prescribing the Rules and Procedures for Private Sector Participation in Existing NPC-SPUG Areas Pursuant to Rule 13 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the EPIRA 4 . Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA); 5 . Page 24, Decision in ERC Case No. 2011-030 RC (Annex “A” hereof) 6 . Section 43 (f) 2 3

(MS-JAN. 31, 2019)

Sports

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

A8

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

Bolts recover from 21 points, stun KaTropa

By Jeric Lopez MERALCO overcame an early 21-point deficit before turning it on to hack out an impressive 8877 come-from-behind victory over TNT KaTropa in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City yesterday.

The backcourt of the Bolts took care of business as Chris Newsome unloaded a complete game of 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Baser Amer added 17 points.

For good measure, Jared Dillinger produced 16 more markers for Meralco.

After shaking off a rough start, the Bolts had an astounding second-half surge to completely stun the Tropang Texters and turn the complexion of the contest.

Meralco outscored TNT, 33-19, in the third to finally get in the driver’s seat and carry a 63-58 edge into the last period.

With momentum on their side, the Bolts continued to pounce in the payoff frame, establishing an insurmountable 79-60 cushion with 6:12 remaining after a Newsome triple sealed another 16-2 storm.

That run proved to be the dagger as the dejected TNT side was unable to recover.

The victory got Meralco back on track as it improved to 2-2.

In the process, the Bolts snapped the Tropang Texters’ two-game winning streak, sending the latter to a 2-3 card.

It wasn’t the best of starts for Meralco as it fell behind 0-13 after the game’s first six minutes and 9-30 early in the second period.

In fact, the Bolts only managed nine points in the first 12 minutes of play.

However, the Bolts woke up just in time, gaining steam to end the first half on a 21-9 blitz to cut their deficit to nine, 30-39, at the break and get themselves back in the game.

3 Perpetual teams shoot for history UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta will try to write history as it seeks to sweep the women’s, men’s and juniors’ titles in the 94th NCAA volleyball tournament.

The Lady Altas eked out a thrilling, come-from-behind 25-17, 27-29, 19-25, 26-24, 16-14 victory over the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers Tuesday night at the Filoil Flying V Centre to join the Altas and Junior Altas to the finals.

There, UPHSD will have a chance to sweep all the titles in the three divisions in one season and become the third school to achieve such feat.

Ateneo de Manila, a former league member which is now in the UAAP, did it once in 1976 while San Sebastian accomplished it five times in 1984, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2002.

UPHSD tackles defending champion Arellano University in the women’s section, faces CSB in the men’s side and clashes with Letran in the juniors’ class in a best-of-three series starting Friday.

Game 2 is on Feb. 8, while a deciding Game 3, if necessary, is on Feb. 12.

“We just want to preserve the tradition in excelling in NCAA volleyball and make our Perpetual Help officials and supporters proud,” said UPHSD athletic director Sammy Acaylar, who also coaches t h e m e n’s squad.

TNT’s RR Pogoy shoots a floater against Meralco’s Ranidel De Ocampo and Cliff Hodge in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Bolts, 88-77.

Patafa’s twin tourney lures huge foreign cast E

XPECT a deluge of foreign athletes from the Southeast Asian region when the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association holds the 14th Southeast Youth Athletics Championships and the 2019 Philippine National Open Athletics Championships this March in Ilagan, Isabela.

This was announced by Patafa chief Philip Ella Juico during the launching of the twin tournaments at the Elm’s Kapihan and Bar in Pasig City yesterday.

The 14th SEA Youth trackfest is slated on March 2 and 3, while the Philippine National Open takes place from March 6 to 8 “Thailand is sending a total of 50 athletes to the SEA Youth, which is bigger than our youth team and the national open.

Vietnam will send also their best athletes in both events as well as other countries that have their youth teams,” said Juico.

With the Asian Youth Championships to be held a week later from March 15 to 17 in Hong Kong, many countries will be sending big delegations to Isabela to pre-

pare and get their athletes in shape.

“The timing of both the SEA Youth and the National Open is rather perfect because the Asian Youth in Hong Kong is on March 12 to 15. Many countries are preparing and have athletes who are going there (HK) before going home,” added Juico.

The twin meets will also be an opportunity for the Philippines to get ready for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which it hosts later this year as it seeks to find local medalists who can be part of the national pool and eventually the national team.

With Juico during the launching were Jaime Villegas of Ayala Corporation and former Ilagan City Mayor Jay Diaz, a newly-elected member of the Patafa

Board of Trustees supporting the event with current Mayor Edna Diaz.

The weeklong trackfest will be held with the support of Ayala Corporation, Milo, Soleus and the City of Ilagan.

Aside from Thailand and Vietnam, also sending participants to the Patafa meets are Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Laos.

Host Philippines is forming the best national youth squad that possible.

“We never had a youth team in the country before and we are trying to form one now. There are many challenges,” said Juico, citing that they need the nod of the schools to do so.

Over the last two years, the City of Ilagan, which has one of only two internationally-accredited tracks in the country, will host the National Open for a third straight year and is looking forward to hosting the 14th Southeast Asian Youth Championships for the second time since 2017.

Athletics’ chief Philip Ella Juico (left) is joined by Patafa Trustee and Area Vice President Josemarie “Jay” L. Diaz, L Time Studio and Soleus’ Judith Staples and Ayala Corporation’s Jaime Villegas.

Mighty Sports wants to slay ghost of 2017 WITH an improved confidence, Mighty Sports leaves today for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates determined to figure prominently in the tough 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Sbabab Al Ahli Club.

The 10-club tournament opens the following day (Friday), with coach Chris Tiu and team owner Alex Wongchuking hoping the additions of former LA Laker Lamar Odom and Chinese league veteran Randolph Morris and the presence of exciting Fil-Am players like Jason Brickman and Roosevelt Adam will help the team get off to a winning start.

Game Tomorrow (Shabab Al Ahli Club, Dubai) 11 p.m. – America Univ. vs Mighty Sports

And perhaps, help them put the ugly memory of the team’s initial foray two years ago behind.

“Though our team is still a work in progress, we will go to Dubai with a mission of slaying the ghost of 2017,” said Wongchuking.

“It’s a tough mission, but I am confident they will do their best to give honor to our country.”

The team, backstopped then by 7’3” Hasheem Thabeet and Justin Brownlee

could only produce one win in seven games after bungling three winning opportunities that ruined its title bid.

Having experienced the kind of play in the annual tournament considered as one of region’s prestigious events, Brownlee is hoping his second tour of duty will yield good results.

“We’ll do our best to win the championship,” said the charismatic import of Ginebra in the PBA. Though Odom is still struggling to get his rhythm back, Tiu remained hopeful the 6’10” NBA veteran can still help the team— backed by SMDC, Go For Gold, Healthcube and Oriental group—in so many ways.

Last-hole birdie ties Thai with Hwang; Superal lurks

LAUREL, Batangas—Chonlada Chayanun birdied the last hole to card a threeunder 69 and catch Hwang Min-jeong at the helm even as Princess Superal charged back at the finish to fire a 68 and pull within one after two rounds of the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Classic here yesterday.

Chayanun, out re-assert the Thais’ domination on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour after placing fourth in last week’s Beverly Chonlada Chayanun rallies to seal a final round Place Classic, bucked a bogey start with a shootout with Hwang Min-jeong with Princess cluster of birdies, hitting five in a nine-hole Superal making it a three-way fight with a 68. stretch from No. 2 then holing out with

another birdie from 10 feet on the 18th to cushion the impact of a bogey-bogey mishap from No. 12.

But her 33-36 card in windy condition proved enough to overhaul a threestroke deficit for a shared view of the top at four-under 140 as Hwang struggled with a two-birdie, two-bogey effort for a 72 after a near-impeccable 68 Tuesday that netted her a huge lead in the early going of the P750,000 tournament serving as the fourth leg of the 2018-19 season of the circuit put up by ICTSI. Looming large at 141, however, is Su-

peral, who broke a run of pars with solid iron play that saw her birdie the frontside par-3s on Nos. 6 and 8. She then came out of a birdie-bogey game from No. 11 with a birdie on No. 15 before drilling in a 20-foot putt on the closing hole for a pair of 34s.

The reigning Order of Merit champion actually rued her day-long battle with a balky driver but relied on her 5-wood for fairway shots and steady putting to put her back in the thick of the fight for the top P150,000 purse in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Government agencies told to support SEAG hosting

By Peter Atencio THE Philippine Sports Commission is all set to closely coordinate with the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee in the preparation and organization of the coming SEA Games this November.

As the lead government sports agency, the PSC is expected to take care of the financial aspects of the Games after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Memorandum Circular no. 56, enjoining all government agencies, governmentcontrolled corporations and local government units, to extend their support to the country’s hosting of the Games. The memo, dated Jan. 25, 2019, was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The agencies are encouraged to help in the preparation, organization and holding of the biennial late this year.

Sources said the memo gives the PHISGOC less responsibilities in its efforts to run and manage the Games, what with the number of government agencies expected to step in to help.

The document also instructed concerned sports associations such as the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee to “coordinate and support each other for the effective preparation and successful participation” of the country’s delegates for the SEA Games.

The PSC is also processing the requests for the equipment of many national sports associations, which are preparing for the Games.

So far, the PSC has submitted the documents which detail all the expenses of the Games to the Senate.

They are now waiting for the approval of the P7.5 billion budget for hosting the SEA Games.

NO Pelicans shock Rockets, 121-116 LOS ANGELES—The New Orleans Pelicans shrugged off multiple injuries and uncertainty surrounding star Anthony Davis on Tuesday, rallying for a 121-116 NBA victory over the Houston Rockets.

One day after Davis requested a trade, and with five of the team’s top six scorers —Anthony included—absent because of injury, the Pelicans withstood a 37-point performance from Rockets star James Harden to triumph.

Jahlil Okafor scored 27 points for New Orleans. Jrue Holiday added 19 and Ian Clark chipped in 15 off the bench for a New Orleans team that used its 20th different starting lineup of the season thanks to injuries to Davis, Nikola Mirotic, Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton.

New Orleans took the lead for the first time in the game with 2:06 left in the third quarter on Kenrich Williams’ basket— and they never trailed again.

Holiday played a key role with six blocked shots, helping slow scoring juggernaut Harden just enough to get the job done.

Harden notched his 24th straight game of at least 30 points, but his 17 in the fourth quarter weren’t enough to turn the tide. AFP

IN BRIEF

PNOC EC’s profit rises 24% to P1.37b

STATE-RUN PNOC Exploration Corp. said Wednesday net income increased 23.6 percent in 2018 to P1.371 billion from P1.109 billion in 2017.

The company said while expenses last year rose to P2.861 billion from P2.364 billion in 2017, gross income rose to P5.373 billion from P4.38 billion. Income before tax reached P2.556 billion in 2018, also up from P2 billion in 2017.

PNOC EC derives the bulk of its income from the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan, where it has a 10-percent stake.

PNOC EC invited interested suppliers, both local and foreign, for accreditation in the supply of Philippine Standard Euro-4 50 parts per million gas oil or diesel fuel.

The company has been tasked by the Department of Energy to stockpile cheaper priced oil for the country.

PNOC EC said complete documents from suppliers should be submitted on or before Feb. 15, 2019.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Natural gas output expected to drop 7%

DOMESTIC production of natural gas is expected to drop 7 percent this year to 141,255 million standard cubic feet from 151,949 mmscf in 2018 because of the five-day maintenance schedule of the Malampaya platform in October.

A report from Department of Energy showed that the maintenance schedule would affect the operation of all natural gas power plants and the Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.’s 110,000-barrel-perday refinery in Batangas.

“Maintenance activity for all natural gas fired power plants including the refinery are expected to be implemented during 2019. This will also impact on the nomination on the volume of natural gas from the Malampaya gas field,” the report said.

Demand for natural gas for 2019 is seen to reach 135,771 mmscf against the 2018 level of 146,344 mmscf or a drop of 7.8 percent.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Business Lower retirement age to cut fund life of GSIS by 12 years

By Julito G. Rada

S

TATE-RUN pension fund Government Service Insurance System warned Wednesday that a proposal in Congress to cut the retirement age of government workers from the current 60 years old to 56 could exacerbate unemployment rate and reduce the fund’s life by 12 years.

“The only viable option we see is to do this for new entrants [new members] so that the old pensioners will not suffer,” GSIS president and general manager Jesus Clint Aranas said in a news briefing at the agency’s head office in Pasay City.

“Studies have already shown that it will reduce the fund’s life and reduce job security,” he said.

The House of Representatives committee on government enterprises and privatization earlier approved a bill seeking to lower the optional retirement age among government workers to 56.

The House panel decided to pass the substitute bill, a consolidation of nine measures, proposing amendments to Republic Act No. 8291 or the Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997. The counterpart proposal is also being tackled in the Senate.

Aranas said if the proposal was passed into law, an additional P176.3 billion would be needed to sustain the fund’s life. He said there should also be an increase in contribution rate and decrease in benefits to GSIS members.

Proponents of the bill said the lower retirement age would help the bureaucracy “as it hastens the turnover of government positions to younger professionals, making way for the fusion of

fresh blood in public service.”

Aranas said the proposal’s passage into law would result in the “death of GSIS.” Meanwhile, Aranas said GSIS was considering investing in dollar-denominated bonds after its board had rejected a previous plan to invest $800 million overseas in a multi-asset strategy to raise more funds.

“That is the plan B… to invest in dollars,” Aranas said.

GSIS announced last year a plan to invest $800 million abroad in bid to diversify its investments and not just focus on domestic markets.

“The board declined the proposal and they are not inclined to agree with our recommendation. They feel it is not a good practice to bring some funds overseas,” Aranas said.

GSIS released a total of P12.95 billion in GSIS Financial Assistance Loan since the program started in May 2018, benefitting 36,692 personnel of the Department of Education.

Nissan sees sales rising 10% in 2019

NISSAN Philippines Inc. expects sales to match the expected industry-wide sales growth of 10 percent in 2019, after posting a 40-percent increase in 2018.

Nissan Philippines sold 34,952 vehicles last year, becoming the third largest automotive seller and manufacturer in the country.

“But we’re really hoping to grow faster than the industry. In the last two years, we’ve averaged 58 percent when industry growth was only 20 percent.

Last year, our growth was 40 percent compared to industry’s -16 percent.

We’ve managed to grow almost thrice that of the automotive sector,” Nissan Philippines president and managing director Ramesh Narasimhan said in a briefing Wednesday night.

He said Nissan would be able to sustain sales and post incremental growths by following the so-called four pillars of products, service, customer experience and people.

He said Nissa would continue to rely on the strength of core models Almerra, Navarra, Terra and Urvan.

Othel V. Campos

Regulatory issues delay Meralco’s prepaid services

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co.’s prepaid retail electricity service hit a snag amid the delay in the issuance of the advance integrated metering rules, an executive said.

Meralco so far installed 105,000 to 108,000 smart meters, but was hoping to roll out three million smart meters by 2023.

“We intend to finish up the 40,000 this year, but the filings we’ve given the last three years have not been decided on, totaling to about a million meters,” said Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communication Al Panlilio.

Panlilio said the first step should be the issuance of the AMI business rules and approval of Meralco’s pending filings on the smart meters with the Energy Regulatory Commission.

“We are waiting for that. Those are AMI rules, not only for prepaid but also postpaid smart meters,” he said.

He said Meralco also uses the same smart meters for postpaid customers who want to shift to prepaid.

He said postpaid customers often receive “bill shock”, thus they have the option to shift to prepaid once the rules are approved.

“With smart meters, you will see your daily consumption and we are also developing an app,” Panlilio said.

He said the company received approval to roll out only 140,000 smart meters.

“We have 6.5 million customers…

By 2023 we will have three million under the plan we submitted to ERC,” he said.

P300-M UCPB LOAN. United Coconut Planters Bank signs a P300-million, seven-year term loan agreement with Pueblo De Oro Development Corp. to finance various real estate projects in Batangas, Pampanga, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. Signing the agreement are (from left) Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines chief executive William Valtos Jr., PDO vice president and treasurer Rhodora Lao, PDO senior vice president and general manager Leonardo Dayao Jr., PDO president Rhoel Alberto Nolido, UCPB first vice president and corporate and investment banking group head Carina Uy , UCPB assistant vice president and CCBG team head Milagros Cruz, UCPB assistant vice president and relationship manager Marie Angela Ng and ICCP managing director Felicisimo Falcon Jr.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

B1

Malaysian company signs deal to construct 15,000 cell sites

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Information and Communications Technology signed an agreement with RT Telecom Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia to construct at least 15,000 cell sites in the Philippines for more than five years.

Subhash Devan, chief operating officer of RT Telecom told reporters the company would be spending $800 million to $1 billion to roll out 15,000 cell sites nationwide.

“We see a lot of growth in the Philippine market and we are very familiar with the rollout in the Philippines,” he said.

RT Telecom is under the umbrella of Rohas Tecnic Berhad, a global infrastructure company in power, telecommunication, water and steel fabrication industries.

The company built over 3,000 sites with various companies in Southeast Asia and other regions.

RT Telecom has implemented similar “full turnkey” rollout for Ericsson Telecommunications Inc., Globe Telecom, Digital Mobile Philippines Inc. and Smart Telecom and constructed more than 1,000 cell sites spanning throughout the Philippines.

RT Telecom is the sixth common tower provider that signed memorandum of understanding with DICT. “The more tower providers we have, the better,” DICT acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said.

The department earlier signed separate memoranda of understanding with Nigeria’s IHS Towers and Malaysia’s Edotco Group China Energy Engineering Group, ISOC Infrastructures Inc. and Singapore’s ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd. Under the MOUs with these companies, the DICT would support them in facilitating permits, right of way and providing other government support for infrastructure once they secured a contract with any of the telco operators.

The Philippines currently has 17,000 cellular towers nationwide, servicing 7,000 subscribers per tower.

Indonesian firm BSP says growth target of at least 7% doable this year interested in $1-b BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the government’s economic growth target range of 7 percent to 8 percent for 2019 is doable on the back of higher public spending and household expenditures.

Guinigundo said in an interview if the economy managed to grow 6.2 percent in 2018 in the middle of domestic and external headwinds, the economy could grow faster this year, especially as inflation was expected to decelerate in the coming months.

“If we are able to grow by the average of 6.2 percent in 2018 when we faced so many challenges, including a 5.2-percent inflation driven by high oil prices and issues about supply and logistics of key commodities and services, I think 2019 will be a better year,” Guinigundo said.

“Inflation is expected at 3.2 percent

for 2019 and 3 percent for 2020. If that’s the case, we expect consumption expenditure to improve better than in 2018,” he said.

Guinigundo said a slower inflation rate would result in more significant improvements in consumption expenditure.

He said with slower inflation, investments would be better in terms of its contribution to total economic growth.

“To be able to maximize the demographic dividends, cash transfers and free tuition fee should be sustained.

That means more public spending, and more public spending can translate to higher growth,” he said.

Guinigundo said he was expecting exports to recover even with the less optimistic global growth.

“I would rather stick to the government’s target of 7 to 8 percent GDP

growth this year,” he said.

The economy grew 6.2 percent in 2018, slower than 6.7 percent in 2017, pulled down by high inflation rate and sluggish turnout in agricultural output.

The GDP growth last year missed the official target range of 6.5 percent to 6.9 percent, which was announced by the interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee in November 2018.

The DBCC kept the previous forecast of 7 percent to 8 percent GDP growth, as election spending is expected to boost the economy while slower inflation is seen to result in domestic consumption.

British bank Standard Chartered said it expected the Philippine economy to grow 6.4 percent this year, slightly faster than 6.2 percent in 2018, driven by domestic consumption.

Julito G. Rada

INDONESIAN INVESTMENT. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (second from right) reveals that PT Pertamina, the secondlargest crude oil producer in Indonesia, is interested in taking part in the development of liquefied natural gas in the Philippines through a regasification hub project worth $1 billion. Shown during a meeting with Lopez are Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs director for Southeast Asia Hastin Dumati, PT Pertamina LNG Global Venture manager Imam Mul Akhyar, senior vice president for gas and LNG management Tanudji Darmasakti, Trade Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Assistant Secretary Angelo Taningco, Board of Investments International Investments Promotion Service chief Lanie Dormiendo, director Nestor Arcansalin and Indonesian Embassy Manila first secretary Arief Adnan.

LNG hub project

By Othel V. Campos PT PERTAMINA, the second-largest crude oil producer in Indonesia, expressed interest to take part in the development of liquefied natural gas in the Philippines through a regasification hub project worth $1 billion.

“More investors, in different industries like PT Pertamina, have expressed their confidence in the country’s economic stability and business environment. They wish to partner with us in creating a more comfortable life for every Filipino through various opportunities,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

PT Pertamina corporate marketing director Basuki Trikora Putra said the company was ready to offer its integrated LNG solutions by investing in floating storage regasification unit or land-based LNG regasification and provide competitive LNG supply.

Lopez, in a meeting Tuesday with the company’s executives, shared the growing energy landscape in the Philippines and the government’s position on renewable energy sources.

“The Philippines is very much open for LNG investors. We will assist and work with them in looking for trusted partners until they begin their operations,” he said.

PT Pertamina is a state-owned national energy company of Indonesia, owning six refineries in their country with combined production capacity of 1 million barrels of oil a day.

“Having a long experience as one of the world leading LNG global players, we would like to share the same experience in the Philippines.

We are really keen to invest in the Philippines,” Putra said.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks down again; Jollibee falls T HE stock market extended its slump Wednesday after a drop in Wall Street overnight, with share prices capping their losses in late buying.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 70.87 points, or 0.9 percent, to 7,979.95 on a value turnover of P9.6 billion. Losers beat gainers, 117 to 84, with 47 issues unchanged.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, declined 5.4 percent to P1,305, while Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan retreated 3.3 percent to P13.62.

Jollibee Foods Cop., the largest fastfood chain, lost 2.5 percent to P314, but ISM Communications Corp., a member

of the consortium declared by the government as the country’s third major telecom company, surged 9.6 percent to P6.29.

London stocks, meanwhile, rose and the pound rebounded slightly Wednesday in early trading after suffering heavy losses on worries about a possible no-deal Brexit, while Asian equities were mixed ahead of crunch trade talks between China and the United States.

MPs on Tuesday returned to Westminster to vote on a series of proposals dealing with Britain’s exit from the European Union after roundly rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May’s controversial deal two weeks ago.

In a closely watched series of votes, they rejected a plan to put back the date of leaving the EU if no new agreement is agreed by the end of next month.

They then backed a proposal asking May to replace her deal’s so-called

backstop provision preventing a hard border with Ireland—a proposal immediately rejected by an EU spokesman.

While observers still expect lawmakers to pass a bill that will avoid a no-deal Brexit—which economists warn could be catastrophic—the latest developments raised the prospect of it happening.

“The pound fell because (the) vote leaves a no-deal Brexit on the table, but it has not collapsed into oblivion because at present there is no alternative to May’s deal and we are not yet at the no-deal do-or-die moment,” said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com.

“Could she really get it through at the last? It would be a remarkable coup.”

But Minori Uchida, Tokyo head of global markets research at MUFG Bank, sounded a note of caution.

“Players are still thinking that a hard

Brexit will be avoided in the end, but the optimism is groundless,” he told AFP. “Hard Brexit risks are still here.”

Hong Kong closed up 0.4 percent, Shanghai ended down 0.7 percent and Tokyo lost 0.5 percent.

Wellington, Singapore and Mumbai were all lower but Sydney edged up 0.2 percent and Seoul jumped one percent.

The pound sank around one percent against the dollar and the euro after the votes but it managed to edge back slightly on Wednesday.

Equity markets swung as dealers look ahead to the end of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting later in the day, with hopes for some guidance on its plans for interest rates this year.

Wednesday also sees the start of high-level US-China trade talks, with Beijing’s top trade negotiator due to meet Donald Trump during the two-day gathering. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 91.55 2.12 138.4 1.44 28.8 16.62 12.48 4.93 1.39 0.455 84.3 1.1 13.48 44.6 185.8 120 58.3 26.8 176.8 64.55 1.14

59.05 92.2 2.15 139.2 1.45 29 16.82 12.58 4.93 1.39 0.475 84.3 1.14 13.9 44.7 185.8 120 59.9 27 178.4 64.55 1.14

59 90.25 2.12 134.7 1.36 28.55 16.62 12.28 4.7 1.39 0.45 82.15 1.08 13.46 43.6 182.1 120 58.3 26.8 175.3 64.4 1.14

FINANCIALS 59 14,500 91 1,736,130 2.15 12,000 136 5,169,730 1.45 1,142,000 28.55 115,000 16.82 208,600 12.5 346,900 4.86 171,000 1.39 9,000 0.47 970,000 82.9 1,125,680 1.13 1,024,000 13.7 430,600 43.6 83,900 182.5 120 120 130 59.9 9,270 26.95 69,100 176 325,050 64.55 30,020 1.14 14,000

855,750 158,292,810.50 25,770 705,162,207 1,617,330 3,299,400 3,490,646 4,290,720 811,660 12,510 447,850 93,219,776.50 1,148,220 5,894,182 3,705,150 21,934 15,600 543,270 1,856,575 57,578,431 1,936,361 15,960

855,750 22,033,242.50 54,441,823 -1,161,730 -1,031,450 42,688,577.50 -2,277,590 644,250 878,015 13,539,175 -1,198,119 -

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN 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 LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL 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 VIVANT VULCAN INDL

38.1 16.3 1.03 1.37 0.249 90 2.56 15.6 134 30.3 17.94 40.7 64.55 1.79 6.39 6.4 11.72 15.8 8.06 7.62 1.69 20.4 74 27.45 2.23 8.21 11.98 1.63 322 54 4.3 3.24 10.2 27.1 12.2 18.26 375.8 0.175 6 1.38 3.63 7.74 5.99 8.81 1.28 10.7 47.45 5.85 4.8 1.85 2.99 1.39 11.9 95 6.41 0.126 0.91 146 1.82 16.06 1.47

38.5 16.3 1.03 1.37 0.255 93.95 2.65 15.94 140 30.95 17.94 41 64.55 1.79 6.4 6.65 11.72 15.84 8.09 7.65 1.74 20.4 75 27.45 2.25 8.45 12.2 1.69 322 54 4.3 3.24 10.2 27.5 12.2 18.36 375.8 0.177 6 1.38 3.64 7.77 6.27 8.9 1.29 10.78 48.05 6.01 4.8 1.9 3.02 1.4 12.2 95 6.41 0.129 0.95 147.8 1.87 16.06 1.49

37.5 15.2 1.01 1.33 0.245 90 2.5 15.6 130 30.3 17.2 40.7 64.55 1.79 6.39 6.4 11.44 15.64 8 7.49 1.57 19.82 73 27.1 2.17 8.05 11.86 1.57 307.6 53.5 4.29 3.19 10 26.75 11.86 17.94 363 0.169 6 1.33 3.62 7.6 5.92 8.81 1.26 10.64 47.2 5.85 4.8 1.85 2.99 1.34 11.8 93.25 6.35 0.121 0.9 143.5 1.74 16 1.42

INDUSTRIAL 38.2 1,062,500 15.96 1,722,000 1.02 3,070,000 1.33 940,000 0.25 8,330,000 93 370 2.57 35,418,000 15.9 2,218,900 140 4,060 30.95 54,600 17.2 21,800 41 40,600 64.55 50 1.79 22,000 6.4 2,000 6.6 48,700 11.6 3,676,200 15.8 708,900 8.04 115,100 7.57 57,500 1.58 59,000 20 3,877,200 74 128,590 27.3 3,400 2.24 5,382,000 8.19 10,517,200 12 722,500 1.67 1,219,000 314 991,120 53.8 2,680 4.3 115,000 3.24 6,000 10.2 1,900 27.5 283,600 11.96 907,100 18.28 2,474,600 371 323,590 0.177 890,000 6 29,800 1.36 6,552,000 3.62 210,000 7.6 5,807,900 6.17 656,600 8.9 400 1.27 22,550,000 10.7 41,300 47.7 1,045,300 6 539,500 4.8 1,464,000 1.87 551,000 3.02 59,000 1.4 360,000 12 47,200 94 378,020 6.4 53,100 0.121 6,220,000 0.93 217,000 145.8 1,360,950 1.86 12,825,000 16 4,400 1.47 7,347,000

40,554,675 27,364,056 3,131,290 1,256,420 2,080,450 33,789.50 91,214,580 35,275,710 538,021 1,672,200 377,642 1,664,570 3,227.50 39,380 12,790 320,826 42,785,522 11,201,602 924,814 434,341 99,040 77,802,594 9,458,259 92,755 11,977,140 86,369,002 8,720,314 1,984,860 311,788,736 144,218 494,000 19,300 19,280 7,773,335 10,855,976 45,277,010 119,594,276 151,870 178,800 8,824,710 760,840 44,452,936 4,007,192 3,551 28,702,940 441,668 49,856,175 3,237,157 7,027,200 1,033,190 177,590 487,870 567,814 35,617,147.50 338,900 759,080 197,080 198,148,268 23,194,460 70,500 10,671,210

23,929,555 -2,255,986 -38,360 -1,518,000 -10,651,850 922,040 -182,605 -20,500 35,800 9,016 -5,933,432 -1,158,166 11,226 187,480 -1,700 24,794,293 690,809.50 -971,620 32,257,204 159,250 -70,390,170 2,092,050 -1,976,556 19,215,518 23,844,594 536,520 3,479,106 -1,714,200 -33,080 -11,173,205 -5 9,600 46,750 10,960,150.50 -31,805 64,250 59,686,883 -309,530 1,074,790

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 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV MJC INVESTMENTS PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.61 64.15 14.06 0.76 6.31 27.6 1.43 1.45 923 7.5 12.5 12.48 0.217 1,040 5.77 65 5.7 0.62 5.1 15.88 0.6 4.95 2.81 0.038 1.17 2.47 164 972 0.78 1.33 444 270 0.255 0.226

0.64 65.7 14.08 0.79 6.5 28.8 1.46 1.47 923 7.5 12.6 12.48 0.217 1,058 5.77 65.9 5.7 0.63 5.24 15.9 0.6 4.95 2.81 0.04 1.17 2.47 166 976 0.78 1.36 464 278.8 0.26 0.227

0.59 63.05 13.5 0.76 6.31 26.25 1.41 1.41 904 7.43 12.32 12.26 0.216 1,020 5.77 63.7 5.7 0.59 5.1 15.26 0.57 4.85 2.81 0.038 1.17 2.44 163 954.5 0.78 1.33 441 270 0.248 0.225

HOLDING FIRMS 0.63 41,410,000 64 1,042,290 13.62 8,805,900 0.79 21,000 6.5 42,600 28.7 269,800 1.45 8,167,000 1.47 807,000 918 592,270 7.45 1,530,900 12.6 4,398,700 12.28 102,100 0.216 100,000 1,030 120,520 5.77 7,400 64.95 1,561,550 5.7 400 0.62 324,000 5.11 12,479,900 15.26 2,292,500 0.58 337,000 4.93 18,184,000 2.81 6,000 0.038 26,800,000 1.17 22,000 2.45 179,000 163 833,360 975 296,090 0.78 27,000 1.33 105,000 464 420 278.8 860 0.255 2,280,000 0.227 170,000

25,728,110 66,944,626 120,475,430 15,990 273,142 7,417,795 11,697,430 1,165,070 541,151,345 11,405,334 55,297,184 1,257,556 21,650 124,658,940 42,698 101,177,149.50 2,280 192,550 64,303,588 35,582,540 196,620 88,896,170 16,860 1,048,600 25,740 439,410 136,918,361 285,347,065 21,060 139,680 186,430 234,208 576,890 38,430

558,450 37,599,463 2,981,490 229,603 -40,440 -33,082,100 7,332,920 -951,066 126,490 12,554,265 38,549,543 -2,760,777 -12,263,538 27,390,670 23,300 -3,642,659 53,263,515 -1,360 -9,280 -62,640 -

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

9.05 0.84 10.58 1.66 0.9 43.1 2.46 4.25 6.02 0.48 0.8 0.9 0.245 0.39 8.85 20.75 0.495 1.5 1.16 5.29 0.435 0.46

9.7 0.84 10.58 1.73 0.91 44.2 2.46 4.3 6.2 0.49 0.81 0.9 0.245 0.39 9.2 20.75 0.5 1.52 1.18 5.3 0.445 0.47

9.05 0.81 10.58 1.65 0.85 43.1 2.4 4.19 6.02 0.47 0.8 0.9 0.236 0.38 8.85 20.35 0.49 1.46 1.15 5.05 0.43 0.455

22,594,800 1,695,570 12,696 277,080 2,513,920 762,477,300 3,171,180 995,980 58,097 8,835,300 174,710 900 2,206,450 46,700 24,751,770 18,074,985 38,050 45,314,320 726,780 143,451,426 15,355,150 335,550

332,035.00 217,200 160,990 310,544,840 512,220 -193,500 -7,800 -34,990 7,763,565 -3,393,940 71,025,759 491,700 -

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

2.29 0.44 3.18 22.95 1.99 3.12 39.65 1.38 6 0.7 5.83

2.3 0.465 3.27 23 1.99 3.12 39.65 1.38 6 0.7 5.84

2.2 0.43 3.12 22.35 1.99 3.12 38.35 1.34 5.89 0.69 5.73

2.22 0.45 3.27 22.6 1.99 3.12 39.1 1.36 5.96 0.69 5.84

12,677,000 3,690,000 502,000 1,790,400 42,000 27,000 12,153,700 271,000 323,400 85,000 6,020,300

28,322,650 1,673,900 1,597,770 40,322,470 83,580 84,240 473,730,795 365,920 1,916,276 59,140 34,999,833

1,939,020 82,620 5,999,885 74,550,390 -118,600 -11,066,620

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A 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

13.5 23.45 1.33 0.445 0.041 2.84 10.52 0.058 88.05 7.99 6.22 7.29 15.24 959.5 2,110 5.87 343 2.9 106.5 11.16 7.27 0.125 5.6 3.17 14.8 3.27 0.79 18.28 4.85 2.56 2.22 3.57 9.37 15 3.67 121.5 3.05 1,365 0.9 1.72 45.75 83.65 8.43 2.41 0.8 0.495 5.5 0.7 13.64

13.5 23.45 1.33 0.455 0.041 2.86 10.64 0.06 88.1 7.99 6.72 7.29 15.98 960 2,148 5.89 350 2.92 107.9 11.16 7.27 0.125 6.48 3.25 14.88 3.32 0.79 19.2 4.99 2.62 2.22 3.58 9.37 15.78 3.67 121.5 3.07 1,366 0.92 1.77 46 86.45 8.5 2.44 0.87 0.52 5.51 0.71 13.76

13.24 22.6 1.31 0.445 0.04 2.63 10.48 0.058 85.7 7.99 6.06 7 14.9 950 2,070 5.71 343 2.82 106.1 11.16 7.1 0.122 5.51 3.17 14.32 3.22 0.79 18.26 4.79 2.56 2.07 3.42 9.25 14.06 3.55 121.5 2.96 1,300 0.88 1.58 44.7 83.65 8.25 2.37 0.78 0.465 5.46 0.69 13.48

SERVICES 13.38 22.75 1.31 0.445 0.04 2.82 10.6 0.058 88 7.99 6.49 7 15.56 950 2,086 5.78 349.8 2.87 106.3 11.16 7.1 0.124 6.29 3.25 14.88 3.23 0.79 18.82 4.99 2.57 2.15 3.43 9.25 14.14 3.6 121.5 3.05 1,305 0.9 1.59 45 86.1 8.28 2.42 0.84 0.465 5.5 0.7 13.6

132,800 243,800 428,000 2,330,000 17,000,000 2,985,000 4,270,900 12,240,000 320,910 200 3,325,800 8,200 348,100 160 42,660 178,200 3,530 1,999,000 1,695,310 100 10,800 3,990,000 33,773,200 25,000 2,700 722,000 53,000 6,937,100 324,000 2,349,000 530,000 3,012,000 21,100 3,670,900 20,000 1,270 1,751,000 113,875 11,839,000 398,843,000 2,336,600 659,110 261,200 7,023,000 70,701,000 146,010,000 499,300 1,505,000 1,165,300

1,769,506 5,580,995 561,400 1,040,850 684,700 8,239,140 45,056,988 723,020 28,176,399 1,598 21,363,551 58,439 5,370,102 153,495 89,430,740 1,028,798 1,232,972 5,725,200 182,016,306 1,116 77,555 490,420 207,498,012 81,090 40,098 2,360,370 41,870 129,128,776 1,559,350 6,079,370 1,112,640 10,419,690 195,349 54,715,598 71,170 154,305 5,277,680 149,343,160 10,717,110 669,179,770 105,442,545 56,805,279.50 2,186,999 16,918,110 59,288,040 72,088,100 2,745,670 1,045,800 15,899,430

42,820 44,500 191,670 9,842,648 -42,340 10,561,274 -115,820 125,466 -31,140 139,420 16,375,847 6,200 -3,264,662 819,460 7,939,704 1,164,380 -641,780 172,704 150,660 -2,419,270.00 -44,206,180 944,400 5,450,960 -3,857,275 -5,635,418.50 -76,713 3,059,870 -4,909,080 -621,550 -1,095,424 8,912,792.00

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

0.0021 1.6 2.93 13.4 1.3 2.03 0.29 1.45 0.218 0.13 0.13 0.0073 1.12 2.44 1.05 0.67 0.95 0.012 0.012 3.66 4.12 14.82 23.6 0.0072

0.0022 1.6 2.95 13.4 1.32 2.03 0.3 1.48 0.221 0.138 0.138 0.0079 1.13 2.48 1.1 0.7 0.97 0.013 0.013 3.68 4.3 14.84 23.6 0.0076

0.002 1.57 2.84 13 1.3 2.01 0.29 1.43 0.214 0.129 0.13 0.0072 1.08 2.41 1.03 0.65 0.94 0.012 0.012 3.66 4.11 14.36 23 0.0072

MINING & OIL 0.0021 669,000,000 1.6 1,545,000 2.84 184,000 13 26,800 1.32 10,000 2.03 499,000 0.3 40,000 1.45 2,162,000 0.22 1,120,000 0.131 27,570,000 0.135 5,430,000 0.0079 11,000,000 1.12 302,000 2.48 1,709,000 1.09 345,000 0.68 268,000 0.97 531,000 0.013 12,300,000 0.013 312,500,000 3.66 62,000 4.21 5,048,000 14.4 3,112,800 23.2 1,352,500 0.0074 13,000,000

1,395,400 2,452,850 532,540 351,982 13,040 1,008,070 11,700 3,129,700 241,860 3,643,360 725,870 83,600 332,870 4,172,380 365,210 180,290 503,760 153,700 3,953,500 226,940 21,322,870 45,303,834 31,462,305 96,500

21,000 -244,620 -8,800 -42,050 -222,390 67,000 221,470 -23,872 -7,587,870 -

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

20 473 101 98.5 5.58 900 96 1 101.5 100.2 989 75.2 76.5 72.5 72.05 74.5 73 74 73

20.35 480 101 98.5 5.58 900 96 1 102 100.2 989 75.2 76.5 72.5 72.05 74.55 73 74 73.9

19.68 472.2 100.9 98.1 5.5 900 96 0.98 101.5 100.2 989 75.15 75 72.5 72 74.5 73 73 73

PREFERRED 20.2 119,900 472.2 2,210 101 9,000 98.5 19,960 5.5 171,300 900 650 96 2,470 0.98 761,000 102 5,200 100.2 2,000 989 10 75.15 480 75 10,270 72.5 10,000 72 6,000 74.55 8,200 73 10,000 73 150 73.1 3,290

2,398,115 1,057,522 908,800 1,966,040 948,828 585,000 237,120 757,520 528,095 200,400 9,890 36,076 771,484 725,000 432,010 611,050 730,000 10,980 240,537

-273,291 -750,898 -

LR WARRANT

1.93

1.93

1.91

WARRANTS 1.93 122,000

233,950

-

MS

PROPERTY 9.65 0.81 10.58 1.73 0.89 43.75 2.44 4.19 6.2 0.48 0.81 0.9 0.238 0.38 9.1 20.5 0.49 1.46 1.16 5.17 0.445 0.47

2,412,600 2,081,000 1,200 164,000 2,903,000 17,467,400 1,303,000 234,000 9,500 18,380,000 218,000 1,000 9,210,000 120,000 2,751,500 882,100 77,000 30,787,000 628,000 27,829,400 34,930,000 730,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.66 1.39

4.66 1.57

4.55 1.39

FIRST METRO ETF

119.3

119.3

118

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.4 10.2

TRADING SUMMARY

10.4 10.2

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,612,063

INDUSTRIAL

154,600,472

HOLDING FIRMS

158,898,538

PROPERTY

195,314,865

SERVICES

755,079,862

MINING & OIL

1,070,210,282

GRAND TOTAL

2,378,403,933

10.1 10.2

4.55 1.54

SME

458,000 30,213,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118 6,050 10.1 10.2

DDS

4,410 15,770

2,099,950 45,253,520

-45,920 -2,243,470

715,560

118,000

45,561 160,854

-

VALUE 1,823.08 (DOWN) 21.33 1,099,502,200.42 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,636.93 (DOWN) 101.98 1,423,047,722.944 HOLDING FIRMS 7,893.07 (DOWN) 18.05 1,861,028,906.09 PROPERTY 3,944.25 (DOWN) 9.28 SERVICES 1,577.12 (DOWN) 34.72 1,828,078,010.02 MINING & OIL 8,469.24 (DOWN) 32.00 3,239,780,969.935 PSEI 7,979.95 (DOWN) 70.87 121,703,576.724 All Shares Index 4,824.53 (DOWN) 32.19 9,621,250,941.25 Gainers: 84; Losers: 117; Unchanged: 47; Total: 248

Aboitiz Equity and Century set to sell peso bonds this year

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and Century Properties Group plan to issue fixed-rate peso bonds this year.

AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved approved the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of up to P30 billion in bond shelf registration.

The bonds, which will be issued one or more tranches depending on market conditions, will be listed with Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

“AEV will use the proceeds of the bonds to finance planned acquisitions, future investments and other general corporate requirements,” the conglomerate said.

The final terms of the bonds, including the price, tenors and other conditions will be set by the management of the company.

AEV chief finance officer Manuel Lozano earlier said the conglomerate planned to spend between P50 billion and P60 billion for 2019.

The conglomerate plans to use the bulk of the capital expenditures for expansion of the power business, and the requirements of the water and real estate units.

CPG, meanwhile, disclosed plans to issue up to P3 billion worth of unsecured fixed-rate peso denominated retail bonds to fund several property projects.

CPG said its board of directors approved the public offering of retail bonds to be filed with the SEC. The property firm in December opened the P1.6-billion green office building Asian Century Cente in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The group is currently constructing two more office buildings that will further boost the company’s leasing portfolio.

CPG last month teamed up with Dennis Uy-led Global Gateway Development Corp. to develop a portion of its 177-hectare property in Clark into a mixed-use development.

CPG and GGDC will build a mix of residential and office buildings with support retail establishments within a 2.6-hectare lot in Clark Global City.

The bond listing with PDEx hit an all time high of P256.4 billion in 2018, boosted by retail bond offerings of banks, conglomerates and property companies.

Xurpas taps Primeiro, bares new president XURPAS Inc. has engaged Primeiro Partners as its financial advisor to provide strategic services for the company.

This developed as Xurpas announced the resignation of president and chief executive Raymond Racaza from his position effective the end of January. Racaza will remain a principal shareholder with a 20 percent ownership stake in the company.

Alexander Corpuz, who has served as the company’s chief finance officer since 2015, will assume the role of interim president.

Xurpas said a new CEO would be announced in due course.

“I would like to thank Raymond for his almost two decades of service to the company: first as a co-founder to Fernando Jude “Andy” Garcia and myself, then as COO, and most recently, as our president and CEO. His dedication and contribution to the firm, are immeasurable,” said Xurpas chairman Nico Jose Nolledo in a statement to the stock exchange.

“I will work closely with Mr. Corpuz and the rest of our management team during this period of transition,” he added.

Primeiro Partners is a leading regional advisory company, with deep expertise in identifying strategic options for clients.

“We are excited to be working with them to chart the next phase in our company’s story,” Nolledo said.

Xurpas posted revenues of P869 million in the first nine months 2018, down 48 percent from the previous year. It also recorded net loss of P190 million, down 236 percent from the previous nine months of 2017.

The group’s decline in revenues mostly came from its mobile consumer segment, although it was buoyed by a 21-percent year-on-year increase from the enterprise segment.

Jenniffer B. Austria

extrastory2000@gmail.com CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

EXODUS. In this photo taken on January 29, 2019, people wait outside the Beijing railway station before taking trains ahead of the Lunar New Year. Millions of Chinese have begun the annual exodus, the world’s largest annual human migration, leaving major cities to return to their hometowns for the holiday. The most important holiday in the Chinese calendar places great emphasis on family reunions, and travelers must get home

by February 4 to usher in the Year of the Pig the following day. AFP

US sends back asylum seekers to Mexico to await court dates

T

IJUANA—The United States began sending migrants who have applied for asylum back to Mexico on Tuesday to await their court dates under a controversial new policy from President Donald Trump.

Carlos Gomez of Honduras, who arrived at the border in a caravan of thousands of Central American migrants last year, was the first to be sent back, Mexican authorities said.

Mexican immigration officials ushered Gomez, 55, who was carrying a blue backpack, into a waiting van and

took him to an undisclosed migrant shelter in Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, California.

The US embassy in Mexico City confirmed in a statement that Washington had begun implementing the new policy, Trump’s latest bid to curb illegal immigration. Critics say the policy is xenophobic and could put vulnerable refugees at risk.

“The United States has begun implementing the Migrant Protection Protocols,” the embassy said, using the US Department of Homeland Security’s name for the plan -- which the administration initially called the “Remain in Mexico” policy.

“This action is a response to the illegal migration crisis the United States is facing on its southern border.”

It said asylum claims in the US had

increased by 2,000 percent in the past five years, “since many migrants know that applying for asylum gives them an opportunity to remain in the United States, even if they do not have a valid asylum claim.”

The policy will not apply to Mexicans seeking asylum, the US says. Under international law, asylum applicants cannot be sent back to the country they are fleeing.

Announced last year, the policy aims to curb what Trump calls “catch and release”—allowing migrants who cross the border without papers and claim asylum to remain in the United States while their cases are processed.

The Homeland Security Department says the change is needed because of a “humanitarian and security crisis” on

the US southern border, caused by a broken immigration system “exploited by smugglers, traffickers, and those who have no legal right to remain in the United States.”

The US says 90 percent of asylum claims are ultimately rejected as invalid by a judge. Most come from migrants fleeing poverty and gang violence in Central America’s “Northern Triangle”: Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Many asylum applicants never show up for their court hearings, officials say.

The system is badly backlogged, with 800,000 asylum requests currently pending. The process can take months or even years.

But the new policy has been sharply criticized by opponents on both sides of the border. AFP

IN BRIEF Chinese begin holiday exodus BEIJING―Millions of Chinese have begun the annual exodus for the Lunar New Year, the world’s largest annual human migration, leaving major cities to return to their hometowns for the holiday.

The most important holiday in the Chinese calendar places great emphasis on family reunions, and travelers must get home by Monday to usher in the Year of the Pig the following day.

At Beijing Railway Station early on Wednesday, thousands were milling around in the cold, wrapped up in thick coats and wheeling their luggage.

They included a group of children with brightly colored bags emblazoned with cartoon characters, a stark contrast to the dark, wintry morning.

Readying for a 32-hour journey from Beijing to Huaihua in Hunan province, central China, passengers kept themselves entertained on mobile phones while sipping tea from flasks.

Many who bought standing-only tickets were perched on their luggage along the aisle, or on tiny foldable stools sold on the Beijing platform. Others dozed in their cramped seats.

In the sleeper cabins there was a buzz in the air, with families chatting and sharing food and children playing along the corridors. AFP

Schools shut as smog shrouds Bangkok

BANGKOK―Toxic smog forced Bangkok authorities to issue an unprecedented order to shut nearly 450 schools on Wednesday, as authorities struggle to manage a pollution crisis that has stirred widespread concern.

The Thai capital has been shrouded in murky haze for weeks, forcing residents to don masks and sparking social media criticism of the uneven response by the government.

The reasons given for the lingering pall include exhaust from traffic, unfettered construction, the burning of crop stubble, and pollution from factories getting trapped in the city.

Authorities have seeded clouds to provoke rain, sprayed overpasses with water to catch micro-pollutants and even asked people not to burn incense sticks and paper during Chinese New Year celebrations.

The measures so far have provoked derision from many Bangkok residents, while stocks of pollution masks have run out in many shops.

But on Wednesday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration stepped up its health warnings, ordering all 437 citycontrolled public schools to close from lunchtime through Friday, while designating 1,500 square kilometers of the city a “control area”. AFP

B3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Irish jihadist tells of the dying days of IS ‘caliphate’ HASAKEH, Syria―From detention in northern Syria, alleged Irish jihadist Alexandr Bekmirzaev describes hunger and fear as missiles pounded down on the last shreds of the Islamic State group’s “caliphate”.

“I thought we were going to die from the starvation,” the Muslim convert, 46 this year, told AFP in English, captured after fleeing the extremist group’s crumbling last pocket in eastern Syria.

Bekmirzaev said he fled into territory held by Kurdish-led forces, who detained him along with four other alleged foreign jihadists late last month.

Backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have since September been whittling down the last IS holdout near the Iraqi border.

Brought in for an interview by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) who are still interrogating him, the detainee described watching the IS stronghold collapse around him.

The hundreds of suspected jihadists captured by the SDF are usually keen to be sent home.

The Kurdish administration in northeastern Syria also wants to send the prisoners back for trial, but governments in their countries of origin are often reluctant.

France said Tuesday for the first time that French jihadists held by Kurdish forces in Syria could be allowed to return home.

“We are examining all options to avoid the escape and scattering of these potentially dangerous individuals,” the French foreign ministry said.

Bekmirzaev was detained by SDF forces on suspicion of being a fighter trying to blend in with fleeing civilians, with the aim of escaping and then setting up IS sleeper cells to carry out further attacks.

He insisted he had never carried a weapon for Islamic State -- but his claim could not be verified by AFP. Since summer, there had been “bombing, bombing, bombing” on a near-daily basis, said Bekmirzaev, who was born to an Uzbek father NOTICE OF and Belarusian EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE mother. is hereby given that With the Notice the intestate of the Late Robert Francis Edward E. so-called Ha- Jabson, who died intestate without any Will or jin pocket en- and Testament and without any outstanding in favor circled by the of any persondebts or entity has SDF, there been settled by way of Self-adjudication by heirs was no flour Francisco B. Jabson and May B. Jabson, of in the market, Judith legal age, as per Doc. No. 111, Page No. 24, Book No. and meat was 6, series of 2018, before Public at Taguig City. prohibitively Notary (Sgd) Atty. Katrina C. Muli. expensive, he said.

LEGAL NOTICE Bekmirzaev is hereby given to the said he, his wife Notice public that an Extra-Judicial and five-year- Settlement has been executed the heirs of the late William C. old son were by Velhagen, namely: Consuelo A. Velhagen, A. Velhagen, forced to eat Michael A.Richard Velhagen, Robert bread made with Gabriel A. Velhagen, Ramon Antonio A. Velhagen, Edmond wheat husks, Paul A. Velhagen, and William Velhagen, Jr., all of legal what little the A. age, over personal and real properties, per deed executed neighbours gave on 22 January 2019 before them, and some- Notary Public Felipe I. Iledan Jr., per Doc. No.212; Page No. times grass.

44; Book No.XV; Series of 2019.

AFP (MS-JAN. 24,31 & FEB. 7, 2019)

RYAN BINGHAM LISTENING PARTY. Ryan Bingham performs at the Ryan Bingham Listening Party For ‘American Love Song’ at Rita House on January 29, 2019, in West Hollywood, California. AFP

(MS-JAN. 24,31 & FEB. 7, 2019)

Arctic chill sweeps over US Midwest CHICAGO―Tens of millions of people in the United States are bracing for a potentially life-threatening deep arctic chill forecast to hit swaths of the country on Wednesday.

Companies have told their workers to stay home, schools are closed and hundreds of flights have been canceled.

The US Postal Service―known for its commitment to bringing the mail whatever the weather―has even reportedly suspended deliveries in Iowa due to the severe cold.

Temperatures in almost a dozen states stretching more than 1,930 kilometers from the Dakotas to Ohio were forecast to be the coldest in a generation, if not on record.

“One of the coldest arctic air mass intrusions in recent memory is surging south into the Upper Midwest before spreading across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country,” the National Weather Service said.

“Expect frigid temperatures, bitterly cold and life-threatening wind chills, likely leading to widespread record lows and low maximum temperatures from the Upper Midwest to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.”

The cause is a swirl of arctic air that broke away from the polar vortex that usually encircles the North Pole.

The National Weather Service forecast temperatures between -10 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -40 Celsius) by Wednesday across the Midwest, with wind chills making it seem as cold as -65 degrees Fahrenheit in one area

of Minnesota.

Chicago, America’s third largest city, was expected to be colder than parts of Antarctica.

Authorities in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin put emergency measures in place to handle the frigid weather.

“We need everyone to do your part and make sure you and your families are prepared,” said NOTICE OF Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. EXTRAJUDICIAL OFif ESTATE Americans were asked toSETTLEMENT stay home posNotice is hereby are given exthat sible Wednesday, when temperatures the intestate of the Late pected to be at their coldest.Robert Francis Edward E. Jabson, who died intestate Scores of schools, businesses andanygovernand without Will or Testament and without any ment agencies announced closures multiple outstanding in debts in favor of any person or entity has states. been settled by way of Self-adjudication by susheirs “People exposed to extreme cold are Francisco B. Jabson and Judith May Jabson, of ceptible to frostbite in a matter of B.minutes,” legal age, as per Doc. No. warned the NWS. 111, Page No. 24, Book No. series of 2018, before Lawrence Gottlieb of the6, University of ChiNotary Public at Taguig City.

(Sgd) Atty. Katrina C. Muli. cago Medical Center said the threat was significant “when temps fall below zero, especially when there is a strong wind.” LEGAL NOTICE Some 160 warming centers opened in Noticewere is hereby given to the public that an Extra-Judicial Chicago, where temperatures could potentially Settlement has been executed heirs of the William C. equal or exceed the all-timeby the record oflate-27 deVelhagen, namely: Consuelo A. grees Fahrenheit. With the wind would Velhagen,chill, Richard it A. Velhagen, feel like -40 or -50, officialsMichael said.A. Velhagen, Robert Gabriel A. Velhagen, Ramon Antonioconditions A. Velhagen, Edmond “They are life-threatening and Paul A. Velhagen, and William temperatures,” Chicago Mayor RahmJr.,Emanuel A. Velhagen, all of legal over personal and real told a news conference. age, properties, per deed executed 22 January residents 2019 before In Minneapolis, officialsonallowed Notary Public Felipe I. Iledan to stay on public buses and Jr., trains for warmth. per Doc. No.212; Page No. No.XV; Series of 2019.

In the northeastern and44; Book southern United States, snow was falling. AFP (MS-JAN. 24,31 & FEB. 7, 2019)

(MS-JAN. 24,31 & FEB. 7, 2019)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bohol MUNICIPALITY OF SEVILLA INVITATION TO BID 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

The Municipality of Sevilla, Bohol through its Bids and Awards Committee, (BAC), invites Bidders to apply for Eligibility and to Bid for: Name of Project : SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS AND BRIDGES Project Description : The project is for the procurement of construction materials for the construction and improvement of roads and bridges to be delivered on site at various barangays within the Municipality of Sevilla as determined by the Office of the Municipal Engineer Location : Sevilla, Bohol Contract Duration : 180 Calendar Days Approved Budget for the Contract : Php2,134,500.00 Fund Source : 20% Development Fund for 2018 Bid Documents Fee : Php 5,000.00 Price quotations shall be inclusive of freight and handling costs, VAT and other related charges. The goods must be delivered at site as specified by the Office of the Municipal Engineer. Add-ons, if any, shall be for the account of the bidder/supplier. Contract duration shall be One Hundred Eighty (180) calendar days reckoned from the date of receipt of Notice to Proceed and Purchase Order.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedure using non-discretionary pass/fail criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9184 known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Only bids from Bidders who pass the eligibility check will be opened.

The Municipal Government of Sevilla, through its Bids and Awards Committee, will hold a Pre-Bid Conference open to all interested bidders on February 8, 2019 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the Municipal Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Municipal Building, Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol.

A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by any interested bidder or his duly authorized representative upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00), Philippine currency. Bidding Documents will be available during office hours from January 31, 2019 to February 19, 2019 at the BAC Secretariat, Office of the Municipal Accountant, Ground Floor, Municipal Hall, Sevilla, Bohol.

Deadline for submission of bids will be on February 20, 2019 at 12:00 noon. Bidders may submit their sealed bids on or before the said time and date to the BAC Secretariat, Office of the Municipal Accountant, Ground Floor, Municipal Hall, Sevilla, Bohol. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the form indicated in the Bid Documents. LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

7.

Bid Opening shall be at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon on the 20th of February 2019 at the Municipal Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Municipal Building, Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol.

8.

Bidders should have completed, within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single largest contract similar to the project to be bid with a value of at least 50% of the Approved Budget for the Contract, and must meet the other minimum eligibility requirements stated in the eligibility documents.

9.

All particulars relative to the Eligibility Requirements and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation as Revised.

10.

The Municipal Government of Sevilla, Bohol reserves the right to accept or reject any bid or to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award. Likewise, the LGU assumes no responsibility or liability for any and all costs associated with the Bidder’s Participation in the bidding process regardless of its result.

Bids and Awards Committee.

(SGD.) JOCELYN M. DANO BAC Chairman (MS-JAN. 31, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

T f

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

QC dads, health office squabble over 2019 fund

By Rio N. Araja THE 37-member Quezon City council is at odds with the city government’s health officer over alleged fake news that the fund allocation for medicines and hazard pay for health personnel was removed in the 2019 budget.

In light of the May 13 elections, Majority Floor Leader and District 3 Councilor Franz Pumaren said the council was not disregarding the basic service of medicines for the city residents.

He blamed Dr. Verdades Linga, health department head, as “the one who started sharing the false information” that over P110 million was removed from the city health’s 2019 budget to “malign the procedure of the budget deliberation and the city council.”

“I wish we would say the truth. It is a sole discretion of the city council. It was mandated by the law that we have every right to dissect every department, every budget—whether we increase, decrease or realign the budget. It just pains me to hear that. All of us can testify that we did not remove a big chunk of the city health department’s budget. That’s a big lie,” Pumaren said in a statement.

“As claimed by the health department, this was not a personal matter.

The city council has consistently addressed the concerns of the city health department. The office head was asked regarding the distribution of medicines.

However, she cannot clearly justify such,” he added.

The councilor said Linga even failed to take part in the budget deliberation.

“I was invited [on] Jan. 28 by Councilor Pumaren to listen to his privilege speech. Tomorrow [Thursday], I will be at the Blue Ribbon committee hearing to shed light on this [issue],” Linga told the Standard in a text message.

District 4 Councilor Marvin Rillo, meanwhile, proposed that the council refer this matter to the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Oca brings aid to Caloocan fire victims

SCARECROW DANCE. The 23rd Bambanti Festival of Isabela Province recently set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of scarecrow dancers performing in one venue. Picture shows some of the 2,495 participants dressed in scarecrow costumes as they danced nonstop for more than two hours to set the record last Friday. Teddy Pelaez

Party-list blasts PH ‘glaring health gaps’

By Ronald O. Reyes

T

ACLOBAN CITY—A health advocacy partylist group has pointed out the “glaring gaps and problems” in the country’s healthcare system, prompting them to push for a “comprehensive solution” through legislation.

“The Philippines is now suffering from a health crisis. The cost of medicines and access to medical services are becoming more and more prohibitive, yet this problem has been largely left out of the political discourse,” said Mike Defensor, the nominee of Anakalusugan (Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan) partylist, here on Wednesday.

Defensor, a veteran legislator, said the medical inflation rate in the Philippines is expected to be the highest in Asia based on the prevailing ratio of one public doctor for every 33,000 persons instead of the “ideal” ratio of 1 to 1,000.

“One in three Filipino children aged five years old and below suffer from malnutrition and stunting, and at least 60 percent of Filipinos who died in 2016 were not medically attended,” added Ower Andal, another party nominee.

Andal said they are “committed” to ease the health issues of the Filipinos with the launching of their mobile clinic dubbed as “Klinika Ng Bayan” in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

According to Andal, their clinic gives free basic medicines and diagnostic tests not only to residents of Sto. Tomas but also to its neighboring towns.

The party-list group said they hoped to replicate the mobile clinic in 200 pilot towns across the country, which includes some areas in Eastern Visayas.

“Early detection is cheaper. Our advocacy is more on prevention,” Andal said.

“You need a blood test or diagnostic exam to get a proper prescription and accurately identify your illness, but in rural areas, the nearest hospital or clinic may be several towns away,” he said.

Meanwhile, Defensor said that to solve

BACOLOD CITY—A new growth area is seen to rise in the southern part of Bacolod with the proposed developments on an 8.8-hectare property donated by the Yanson family to the city government.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Tuesday afternoon that he has signed the two contracts of donation for the parcels of land that will be the future site of the city’s southbound terminal, as well as a coliseum and a museum.

“I have already signed the documents and these have been submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for ratification,” he added.

The City Council, which last week granted authority to the mayor to sign the deeds of donation, is expected to ratify the contracts during the regular session on Wednesday.

“In this deal, we earned a big-time property. This is really advantageous to Bacolod. There is no doubt about it,” the mayor said, adding that the city has scored a “grand slam” in obtaining the donated land.

The Yanson Reality Development Corp. and the Vallacar Transit Inc. are identified as the donors of the adjacent properties worth at least P440 million located in Barangay Alijis.

Of the total 8.8 hectares, the larger portion of 7.3 hectares will be used for the coliseum and museum while the 1.5 hectares will be utilized for the south terminal.

“At this age and time, to get eight hectares is hard to comprehend. We should be thankful. We should be happy,” the mayor said.

Leonardia pointed out that the rise of the Bacolod City Government Center, also on a donated property in the eastern part of the city, has set an example of the economic growth that happened in what used to be an undeveloped part of Bacolod.

“It was difficult for us to sell the idea in the past because they have not seen yet what happened to the Government Center. I assure you what happened here in the Government Center will also happen, or even faster or better, (in the Yanson property). The area is larger and the investment will be bigger,” the mayor said.

Leonardia enjoined Bacolodnons to be excited in looking forward to the future of the city.

“We have to sustain the growth and development of Bacolod. This program will definitely accelerate things for us in Bacolod,” the mayor added. PNA

Malungon sows new trees on vital riverbank

By Jun David CALOOCAN Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan immediately brought help to more than 25 families who were rendered homeless during a fire incident in Barangay 151 in Bagong Barrio.

Malapitan personally visited the victims and handed-over financial assistance and relief packs to them.

The Caloocan City Social Welfare Department said the house owners received P5,000 each while others were given P2,000 each.

The CCSWD said they immediately dispatched pre-packed relief goods to fire victims in the barangay per the mayor’s instruction.

Malapitan reminded the residents to be alert and vigilant to prevent a repeat of such incident.

the “health crisis” in the country, they will push for the removal of the 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on vitamins and all maintenance medicines and procedures.

Among their legislative agenda, Defensor said they will strengthen the mandate of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care to promote alternative medicines, and allocate a fixed portion of the Internal Revenue Allotment of not lower than 5 percent for health and nutrition services.

“We will ensure that all persons with disabilities are registered so they can fully enjoy their benefits such as their 20 percent discount and VAT exemption,” he added.

“We will pass a law that would ensure that health insurance premiums remain VAT-free. Also, we will set a fixed allowance for Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars who serve as force multipliers of the Department of Health (DOH), especially in areas where there are no public doctors,” the group said in a statement.

Defensor also called on the DOH to enhance its health education, noting the spike in teenage pregnancy and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the country.

New Bacolod growth hub seen on donated land

VEGGIE PRODUCTION. Senator Cynthia A. Villar (kneeling, 2nd from left), chairman of the Senate agriculture and food committee, leads the launching of agricultural crops and vegetables production program. Villar says these activities, a partnership between Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) and East West Seed Foundation, will run for 12 weeks every Wednesday.

THE municipality of Malungon, Sarangani recently held a massive planting of bamboo seedlings along the watersides of Barangay. Upper Lumabat River to help rehabilitate the critical riverbanks which have become a source of flash flood in the town’s lowlands in recent years.

Some 5,000 bamboo seedlings were planted at a 4.2-km stretch, which was participated in by municipal officials and employees, local police, civil society groups, people’s organizations and local townsfolk.

The Malungon municipal government also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Barangay. Upper Lumabat barangay council for the bamboo growing project, which will also be a potential income-generating project.

According to Mayor Maria Theresa Constantino, who led the activity, the undertaking is part of the municipality’s

environmental protection program for sustainable development.

A landlocked town in northeastern Sarangani, it was awarded last year for being the Best Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council during the Gawad Kalasag Awards of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The bamboo reforestation is part of the 11th Slang Festival, which showcases the way of life of the Blaan and Tagakaulo indigenous people through dance, music and sporting events.

A first-class municipality, Malungon is a touristic town known for the ecotourism and cultural sites such as the Lamlifew Cultural Village and School of Living Traditions, the Kalon Barak Skyline Ridge, and a couple of agri and farm tourism sites.

Chinese New Year RAT

= 1948 , 1960 , 1972 , 1984 , 1996 , 2008 , 2020 – Social life is doing good but finance is average.

Beware of swindler. Married ones should be faithful. Beware of fire outbreak.

OX = 1937 , 1949 , 1961 , 1973 ,

1985 , 1997 , 2009 , 2021 – Be cautious with everything. Be wise with investment to avoid being fooled.

Beware of accident.

TIGER = 1938 , 1950 , 1962 ,

1974 , 1986 , 1998 , 2010 , 2022 – Limit your night outing , take care of your health. Beware of accident and pray.

RABBIT = 1939 , 1951 , 1963 ,

1975 , 1987 , 1999 , 2011 , 2023 – A lot of blessings will come in your way but intrigue also abounds. Avoid distant travel , spend more time with family.

2

DRAGON

19

= 1940 , 1952 , 1964 , 1976 , 1988 , 2000 , 2012 , 2024 – Success and finances will be average.

Your health will not be very good so take care. Threat of robbery.

SNAKE = 1941 , 1953 , 1965 , 1977 , 1989

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

MONKEY = 1944 , 1956 , 1968 , 1980 , 1992 , 2004 , 2016 , 2028 – Avoid getting involved in fight/s.

Take care of health. Beware of accident this year.

ROOSTER

, 2001 , 2013 , 2025 – Unlucky year, be careful in business or investment to avoid being fooled.

Pay attention or be wise with your monetary management. Misfortune is possible as you will lose money. Avoid visiting funerals and hospitals.

Beware of robbery.

= 1945 , 1957 , 1969 , 1981 , 1993 , 2005 , 2017 , 2029 – There is opportunity to go abroad , finance is average. Pay attention to health. Beware of robbery and fire outbreak.

HORSE

DOG = 1946 , 1958 , 1970 , 1982

= 1942 , 1954 , 1966 , 1978 , 1990 , 2002 , 2014 , 2026 - Your fortune will be better than last year. Be careful in your relationship. Be careful with your career as intrigue could negatively affect you and cause trouble for you .

GOAT = 1943 , 1955 , 1967 , 1979 ,

1991 , 2003 , 2015 , 2027 – You will have a good year this time. Always plan and make a feasible study before finalizing to ensure success. Good health for this year.

, 1994 , 2006 , 2018 , 2030 – You will have a good year this time. Always plan and make a feasible study before finalizing to ensure success.

Good health for this year.

PIG

= 1947 , 1959 , 1971 , 1983 , 1995 , 2007 , 2019 , 2031 – Unlucky year, be careful in every aspect of your life because you’re the most incompatible with your Chinese zodiac sign.

C1

C2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

Chinese New Year 2

MASTER WILLIE ANG

Feng Shui expert on his rise and advice to client/friends in Year of Pig

Master Ang with his zodiac app, shown during his interview with Manila Standard in Fairview.

Peter Paul Duran

Nag-quiapo pa ako noon alam niyo ba? (laughs) Kinalaban ko pa ang lahat ng manghuhula du’n. Ganoon katindi pinagdaanan ko

By Peter Paul Duran and Rhosedel Grace Gabac THE final page of 2018 has turned and we welcome 2019 with much enthusiasm and hope for another year ahead.

As part of Manila Standard’s special report on the coming Chinese New Year 2019, we sat down with a Feng Shui expert and got to know this remarkable individuals we seek advice from to rake in all the luck for the coming Year

19

temporaries and clients, has been a Feng Shui expert for two decades now and recalls how he started the craft.

“Taun-taon kapag nakakapaanood ako ng mga Feng Shui expert sa TV noon, nahumaling ako du’n sa galing nila. Siguro nadala ko sa paglaki ko,” he said.

The 48-year-old father of two is pure Chinese by ancestry, but he says he’s full-bloodied Filipino.

Brought up in the neighborhoods of Valenzuela, Master Ang said that even at a young age, he knew that Feng Shui would be part of his life.

“Ako lang sa family namin ang into Feng Shui.

Honestly, wala sila alam talaga sa Feng Shui, so ang inspiration ko lang ay ‘yung mga napapanood ko,” he said. “Nagsimula ako sa lola ko, binabasa ko ‘yung palad lola ko, then sa mga kaibigan ng lola ko, tapos umabot na sa mga kapitbahay. Du’n ko nalaman na may gift ako. At du’n din ako nagsimula mag discover more about Feng Shui.”

But that dream did not come without hurdles.

“Ayaw ng father ko talaga, hate nila ang ginagawa ko. To be honest, ikinahiya nila ‘yung mga may nanghuhula, ‘yung mga ganu’ng tipo ba (tulad ng Feng Shui),” Master Ang explained.

“Pero bago naman nawala ang father ko, okay naman natanggap niya naman ang profession ko pati ang mother ko. Pero noong una hindi talaga maiiwasan na isipin nila na ‘hindi naman career ang Feng Shui,’ ‘walang future diyan,’ ‘yan ang tingin nila.

Pero in the end, nakita naman nila ang kagandahan nito,” he added.

The amiable Feng Shui Master also noted that he sees some interest from his two kids, a girl and boy aged 15 and 11, in Feng Shui.

How it Started A Business Administration Major in Management graduate from San Sebastian College, Master Ang pursued his dream of becoming a Feng Shui master right after securing his bachelor’s degree.

In 1996, he went to Malaysia to study Feng Shui for two years in a tedious program he thought would hone his skills in Feng Shui.

Even after completing the course and returning to the Philippines in 1998, he still needed some experience, even if he came back a certified Feng Shui master.

“Nagtrabaho muna ako for two years sa company, actually never ko nilagay sa resume ko na expert ako.

Baka kase mate-take advantage ‘yung kakayahan ko,” he said.

“Pero in 2000, doon naman ako nagsimula talaga mag-focus na sa Feng Shui, pero mind you, never naging madali talaga sa simula,” Master Ang said.

“Hindi kasi pinaniniwalaan nu’ng panahon ko ‘yung mga batang experts. Ang pinaniniwalaan kasi ng tao ay ‘yung mga may edad na, ‘yung may experience nang matagal, kahit magaling ka, pero bagito ka pa lang, mahirap talaga,” he said.

Recalling his shaky start in the industry, Master Ang recalled his struggles as a budding Feng Shui expert, especially the stereotypes that came along with the profession.

“Alam mo naman, ang mga manghuhula, pinagtatawanan. Tapos kapag narinig ng mga kaibigan ko na nagbibigay ako ng libreng hula, hinahanapan ako ng crystal ball (laughs),” he said in jest.

“Pero ito naman ang pinag-aralan ko ng two years

“Nag-quiapo pa ako noon alam niyo ba? (laughs) Kinalaban ko pa ang lahat ng manghuhula du’n. Ganoon katindi pinagdaanan ko,” he said remembering his adventurous foray of sorts among the shabby lines of sears and oracles beside Quiapo church in 2008.

“Marami din nagalit sa akin du’n kase nagbibigay ako ng libreng hula. Siyempre nu’ng una takot ako, pero kelangan ko talaga gawin. Gusto ko du’n ko simulan sa Quiapo,” he said.

There were times, he said that his rival “manghuhulas” tried to kick him out by calling the police on him, even the local government unit stepped in at a point.

“Ang technique ko lang naman du’n ay huhulaan ko din ang pulis, ang siste papakawalan ako ng pulis, hindi na rin nila ako kokotongan. Kinailangan ko pa kaibiganin yu’ng mga pulis para hindi lang mahuli,” Master Ang said.

“Ganito lang ‘yan, kung gusto mo umangat, paghirapan mo. Nag-quiapo ako kase nandu’n lahat ng manghuhula, para makita nila ang kaibahan ko sa iba,” he added.

Then one day he got a call from GMA News TV, asking him to come on air. This would become the start of many opportunities.

Apart from celebrity clients such as Mark Abaya and TV News Reporter and Radio Anchor Jing Castañeda, Master Ang now has given advice to countless business owners, millionaires and big-time personalities.

How is Master Ang different from other experts?

“First of all, hindi ko kino-consider na clients ko ang mga lumalapit sa akin, they are my friends. I keep a close relationship with them, ganoon ako as a Feng Shui expert,” he said.

“Mahirap sabihin kase hindi ko naman kino-compare ang sarili ko sa iba. Pero may mga clients ako na nauna nang dumaan sa iba, pero ayoko na sabihin kasi lamang naman ako sa sinasabi ng mga client ko (laughs),” he shared.

“At may mga clients din naman ako na nadi-disappoint saken,” he added.

Maybe it’s because of his at times crass but straight to the point approach of giving advice, but Master Ang reveals that some potential clients tend to scoff at him for not selling lucky charms or giving tips on how to hit the jackpot in gambling.

“I’m a Feng Shui expert, bakit kita ilalagay sa negative? Ayaw ko malulong ang tao diyan sa pagkaCasino kase wala naman nanalo diyan, bakit kailangan mo pa ng lucky charm for you to only lose ang napanalunan mo kapag natalo ka ulit?” he said.

That’s when Master Ang turned to a more serious tone in his talk, a glimpse of how he is personally and how he is as a Feng Shui expert--frank, bold, but has genuine care for the well-being of his clients, or should we say, his dear friends.

“Kaya hindi tumagal (sa larangan na ito) ang iba, kasi dahil sa pera. Pero hindi alam ng ibang Feng Shui expert na kung mataas ang lipad mo mas masakit kapag bumagsak ka,” he said.

“Kaya dapat wag puro pera ang nasa isip mo, sa kahit ano pang bagay ‘yan,” he added while stressing the importance of honesty and integrity in his craft.

“Alam niyo sinisiraan din naman ako, paano ba naman kasi, talagang magagalit sa akin ang ibang Feng Shui expert kase nagbibigay ako ng free consultation at libreng hula. At ako, hindi ako naniniwala na every year dapat magpalit ng lucky charm, sa akin kapag napatid ang lucky charm, balik niyo saken aayusin ko, walang bayad. Kaya din siguro feeling ng iba nasasagasaan ang hanapbuhay nila,” he said.

He said he really believes in karma, that’s why in all of the things he does as an expert, he gives 100%, without cutting corners.

“To be honest ha, nagkakamali din ang Feng Shui expert. Tulad din kung paano nagkakamali ang mga lawyer, ang mga doktor, wala naman kasing perpekto,” he said.

“Pero naniniwala ako sa sipag natin, sa pananampalataya natin sa Diyos. Alisin natin ang inggit.

‘Yan ang kalaban ng success,” Master Ang said as his advice to his fellow Feng Shui masters, a number of whom succumbed to the clutches of vices and greed.

“Kapag galing sa hirap ang pera, hindi madaling mawala. Ang pinaka importante, kapag may lumapit na tao sa’yo para humingi ng tulong, ibigay ang tama, kasi ‘yan ang tunay na service natin as Feng Shui expert,” Master Ang said.

To know more about Master Ang and have your free consultation and free palm reading, visit him in his kiosk at Fairview Terraces in Fairview, Quezon City.

Master Ang's kiosk in Fairview Terraces.

of the Pig. “Bata pa lang ako mahilig na talaga ako sa Feng Shui. Naalala ko pa nga maliit na bata pa lang ako may knowledge na ako sa pag-predict,” said Willie Ang during a lenghty interview in a mall in Quezon City, where one of the two Lucky Charms kiosks he closely manages is located.

Master Ang, as he is referred to by his con-

sa ibang bansa, sabi ko din naman sa sarili ko na pagbalik ko dapat hindi lang ako marunong, dapat magaling din ako, kahit gaano pa kahirap,” he said.

Steady rise “Siguro nu’ng pumasok ang 2009, du’n ko masasabi okay na, tuluy-tuloy na,” said Master Ang- referring to the time which only a year prior was when his “experiment” in the streets of Manila shot his name up the Feng Shui circle.

Awards: • *Top Choice Award For Asian Achiever Award Outstanding Asian Feng Shui Professional • *World Class Achiever Award Outstanding Asian Feng Shui Professional • *Golden Globe Annual Awards For Business Excellence • *National Customers’ Choice Annual Award

Chinese New Year 2

Boost your luck this year of the Pig with these

W

E are all just merely days away from the Chinese Lunar New Year (Year of the Pig) and no symbol could better signify abundance and wealth than the plump and pink hog with a snout.

But with the nascent negative vibe in the world today, how can you ensure a positive flow of energy this year? With these tried and tested Feng Shui lucky charms, you will be able to attract positive energy and turn it into money, wealth, financial opportunities and even help you improve your health as well as protect you from bad luck. These lucky charms were designed and have been blessed by the Feng Shui expert himself, Master Willie Ang, to make sure that you would not run out of luck all

C3

Feng Shui Mantra red string bracelet

lucky charms

By Rhosedel Grace Gabac

19

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

year long! Master Ang’s Wealth Ingot Blue String Cord Bracelet is a sure way to attract good luck, while the Feng Shui Infinity Red String Cord Bracelet can also help you channel prosperity to yourself this year. The Feng Shui Buddha with Mantra Red String Cord Bracelet, on the other hand, will not only bring good luck, but also wealth and happiness. The Feng Shui Wulou Gourd Red String Cord Bracelet will protect you against illness and accidents, while the Feng Shui Ball Red String Bracelet will help you attract good health. Meanwhile, the Feng Shui Prayer Stone Brown String Bracelet will protect you against bad luck, even as the Feng Shui Dzi Nine Eyed Brown String Bracelet will attract good fortune and good luck. And the Feng Shui Real Jade Buddha Head Red String Bracelet and Feng Shui Real Jade Buddha Head Black String Bracelet will bring you good luck and good health. Since red is a festive color, wearing red ornaments, such as belt, ribbon, socks, scarf, gloves, hat, underwear, red rope bracelet, and red lucky charms like Feng Shui Mantra Red String Bracelet, Feng Shui Red String Bracelet can inspire you, help you counter the negative energy and become prosperous. Each zodiac sign should wear any Buddha lucky charms like Feng Shui Buddha Black String Bracelet, Feng Shui Buddha Red String Bracelet because according to Master Ang, Buddha is a lucky charm that will bring good luck, good fortune, improve health, study, wealth, fame, and can drive away bad luck and trouble this Year 2019. All lucky charms can bring good fortune and bring the odds in your favor if you know which of

Made by Master Ang

them works with you. Each one is different and varies between different people. But luck simply won’t cut it. It should be accompanied by hard work and perseverance for it to be effective instead of just relying on it. Luck, working hand in hand with actions and a little prayer would go a long way. “Lahat naman ng lucky charms ay masuwerte as long as alam niyo kung ano ang bagay sa inyo. Ang lucky charm ay parang gamot, may binabagayang sakit ‘yan.

Pero tandaan niyo na ang lucky charm ay para sa mga masisipag na tao, para sa mga taong may gusto

sa buhay, hindi ‘yan para sa mga taong tamad na inaasa na lang sa pampasuwerte. Kasi hindi kikilos ‘yung lucky charm natin kung hindi tayo kumikilos.

Kasi ang mentality ng tao ay “bibili ako ng lucky charm, isusuot ko para magkaron ako ng trabaho” pero hindi naman nag-aapply. At kapag masipag ang tao, tutulungan siya ng lucky charm but still, prayer pa rin ang pinakaimportante. Nasa tao pa rin ang suwerte. Kasi ang suwerte, tao ang gumagawa,” advised Master Ang to boost your success as we anticipate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

7 things to remember for a lucky Chinese New Year

By Julianne Edon Gabis CHINESE New Year 2019, also known as the Spring Festival, falls on a Tuesday, on the 5th day of February, marking the beginning of the year of the Earth Pig. Before Chinese New Year, people have grown to have a custom they follow. So we asked around the Filipino-Chinese Community how to properly prepare and boost your luck as we welcome the year of the Pig. 1. Time to declutter Out with the old and in with the new. Include your home in your pursuit of a new start. You don’t need to have Marie Kondo visit your place for you to finally have a reason to throw away stuff that don’t “spark joy” in you anymore. It’s time to throw out those gadgets that don’t work any longer so they stop taking up space and accumulating dust.

Every corner of the house, even the walls and floors, need to be scrubbed to ward off bad luck. However, do the general cleaning a week before Chinese New Year and not on the actual New Year’s Day. Store the cleaning materials such as brooms out of sight to welcome in the positive spirits. Do not clean on the actual day for the reason that you

might “sweep off the good luck.”

2. New Year, New you Chinese people believe that purchasing brand new items symbolizes welcoming a new start. Treat yourself with a good retail therapy session and buy a new pair of shoes and clothes for the New Year, preferably brightly colored ones.

Starting anew obviously calls for a new haircut as well whether just a trim or a total chop-off. However, you can’t snip it off again until a month later, or you’ll be cutting away your prosperity with it.

also a great honor to give one to your relatives. Make sure though that the money is an even number as odd ones are considered to give off misfortune. But whatever you do, do not give any amount with a 4 in it. That’s just wishing them bad luck.

5. Spend time with your family Just like Noche Buena in the Philippines, Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner is considered to be one of the most important meals of the year, according to Chinese traditions.

Hang out with your family and give thanks to the finished year for the blessings it gave 3. Decorate the house you by having a sumptuous reunion meal Red and gold displays will not only give together. your home that festive look, it is said that it will also attract good fortune into your lives. 6. Eat lucky food While you’re decorating, also check the New Year’s Day isn’t the time for your Feng Shui of your home and make sure it’s diet schemes so consider this time a maall aligned to divert money through your jor cheat day. Get your fill of food that door by rearranging the your furniture. “Our are considered lucky this 2019. Prepare family would decorate doors with red paper apples, mandarin oranges, bananas, wadiamonds with the “Fu” Character written termelon, papaya, pineapples, and pomelo on it which means fortune,” said Jerome Ng, for your celebration as they symbolize a Filipino-Chinese. You can buy this printed prosperity. You must also gorge on delicaon paper from your local Chinese merchan- cies such as dumplings, tikoy, uncut noodiser. dles, and different kinds of sweets. Food like fish, especially carp or catfish are the 4. Give out ang pao lucky meals you should eat in New Year’s Did you know that giving ang pao or lai Eve for they are believed to increase your see (red packets with money) gives good prosperity in the coming days. luck to both the giver and the receiver? It is “We prepare 12 kinds of fruits on our

table each year, each one symbolizing a kind of fortune for the 12 months of the year.”

7. Let off some firecrackers Scare away all the bad spirits and negative energy around you by loud merrymaking through firecrackers, or by simply playing loud mu- sic if firecrackers are not

allowed in your area. Most probably, there’s a local Chinatown near you so go watch a lion dance or a fireworks display.

No matter what your religion is, take a little bit of your time to give thanks for the blessings and lessons you have received in the past year. Another tip for a lucky year is to have fun at the start of it to attract all the positivity and luck you need for this year.

Chinese New Year 2 C4

19

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

THE YEAR OF THE PIG AT SM ACCESSORIES KIDS AND TOY KINGDOM

T

HE kindly child born in the Year of the Pig is the heart and soul of any gathering or family unit. Self-reliant, easygoing, sociable and steady, this little goodwill ambassador is the kid every child and adult can agree to adore.

Fluffy and huggable pig pillow for a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep. Available at Toy Kingdom.

Be cheerful and optimistic this year just like this cute pig plushy. Grab yours at Toy Kingdom.

The lovable Peppa Pig welcomes Chinese New Year in the traditional spring festival costume. Available this February at Toy Kingdom.

He works as hard as he plays, and has many friends. Dependable, dedicated, and determined, he perseveres where others would admit defeat. And should he experience defeat, he shakes it off with without discouragement.

A generous dispenser of hugs, kisses, and bottomless faith, your little Pig is an absolute treasure. He possesses the biggest heart around- unselďŹ sh, boundlessly sympathetic, generous, trusting, faithful, honest, sincere, and gallant: he will be your biggest fan and staunchest supporter.

SM Accessories Kids and Toy This Peppa Pig backpack from SM Kingdom celebrate the Year of Accessories Kids is a great school and travel companion.

Little princesses will love this this royal Peppa Pig with crown.

Available at Toy Kingdom.

Your best buddy! Peppa Pig with Teddy plush toy from SM Accessories Kids.

the Pig with a collection of cute, lovable, and huggable pig plush toys and novelty items that will bring out the pig child in kids of all ages and zodiac signs. Led by the adorable Peppa Pig herself, these will not only make playtime lots of fun, but also bring lots of love and luck for Chinese New Year and beyond.

These are available at the SM Accessories Kids department of The SM Stores and at Toy Kingdom.

Have a fun playdate with this lovely Princess Peppa available at Toy Kingdom.