Manila Standard - 2019 February 8 - Friday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 358 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MEASLES OUTBREAK.

A day after health authorities declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and parts of the Visayas, the government’s San Lazaro Hospital in Santa Cruz, Manila, said Thursday 95 percent of patients at the Pediatric Ward were mostly victims of the outbreak. It did not mention figures where the percentage was derived. Lino Santos

PH-wide outbreak feared Vaccine scare hampers immunization drive

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

DAY after declaring a measles outbreak in Metro Manila, the Health department on Thursday expanded the scope of its alert to other regions of Luzon and Central and Eastern Visayas, as the disease claimed at least 24 lives last month.

Most of the dead are children and the toll is expected to rise as more cases are confirmed of the highly contagious disease, which has made a worldwide resurgence in recent years.

Health Secretary Franciso Duque III advised the public to bring their children to the nearest health facility for treatment at the first sign of fever. He also told them to go to health centers and get vaccinated.

On Wednesday, the DOH declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila following a 550-percent increase in patients contracting the virus from Jan. 1 to Feb. 6 this year, compared with the same period Next page last year.

More than a 1,000 percent increase in measles cases in NCR 3,646 cases in 2018

351 cases in 2017

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte would use his veto power to correct insertions in the proposed 2019 national budget if they violate the Supreme Court ruling on the so-called pork barrel, the Palace said Thursday.

“The President is a lawyer, he knows his law. If he thinks that is in violation of the doctrine enunciated by the Supreme Court then he will do what is Next page

2.4 M children have not received measles vaccination

55 deaths recorded in January—all children between 3 months and 4 years old

Abu Sayyaf subleader new ISIS emir, Año says

By Francisco Tuyay Abu Sayyaf Group, Interior Secretary Eduand Nat Mariano A RADICAL bandit blamed for the deadly bomb attack on a Jolo church has taken over as the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated

Palace sees veto of ‘pork’ insertions

ardo Año said Thursday, quoting US intelligence sources.

Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan has replaced the ISIS handpicked “emir Next page

108 local execs in hot water THE Interior department has issued show-cause orders against 108 local chief executives over their failure to craft a 10-year solid waste management plan as mandated by law.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday the order was part of the government’s efforts to enforce environmental laws similar to what it did in Boracay and what it was now doing in Manila Bay. “We don’t want another case of Manila Bay. These LGUs have, unfortunately, been accustomed to leniency,” Año said in a statement.

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95 China ships all over WPS —think tank HOUSING BENEFICIARIES. Former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visits Thursday the socialized housing beneficiaries at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The beneficiaries, some 8,000, were given temporary ownership of the properties for an initial period of 50 years. Arroyo announced that, with Rep. Rossano Rufino Biazon and former Housing Secretary Michael Defensor, she will call for an oversight meeting to extend the usufruct in NBP for the benefit of all the constituents. Also present were Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and Barangay Poblacion chairman Allen Ampaya.

Bangsamoro Razon sees silver lining in Hanjin people have spoken—govt SIX Lanao del Norte towns will remain part of the province after failing to get majority votes to join the new Bangsamoro autonomous region in Wednesday’s plebiscite, the provincial office of the Commission on Elections told CNN Philippines.

The Regional Plebiscite Board of Canvassers said the towns of Tagoloan, Balo-i, Pantar, Munai, Tangcal and Nunungan were unable to Next page

BILLIONAIRE Enrique Razon sees “some potential” in developing Hanjin’s facilities in Subic Bay as the Korean shipbuilder looks for possible “white knight” investors.

The 58-year-old Razon, chairman and CEO of the Manila-listed company International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), the Philippine port-handling giant, had previously been reported as being interested in Hanjin although no figure had been made.

O n Thursday, Razon, the third reported richest Filipino as of 2012, was quoted as saying Hanjin had

infrastructure in place for a possible industrial complex with container port facilities, a liquefied natural gas terminal, dry bulk handling facilities and an LNG power plant in the former drydock facility of the US Seventh Fleet.

A “white knight” refers to a friendly investor that acquires a corporation at a fair Next page

ENRIQUE RAZON

CHINA has deployed a large fleet of ships near the Spratly Islands in response to the Philippines’ construction of a new beaching ramp on Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, an American think tank said Wednesday.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the US Center for Strategic and International Studies said these included navy and coast guard ships and dozens of fishing vessels from 30 to 70 meters in length.

Satellite images from mid-December 2018 and late Next page

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News

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

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House subpoenas Budget chief

By Maricel V. Cruz

S

PEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed the subpoena against embattled Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to compel his presence in today’s continuation of the House committee on appropriations’ hearing in connection with alleged irregularities in the preparation of this year’s budget involving him.

“Failure to comply with this order is subject to penalty under the law,” says the subpoena signed by Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., who heads the panel.

Andaya on Thursday slammed Diokno for saying the unspent appropriations for 2017 had been returned to the Bureau of the Treasury.

Andaya on Tuesday claimed the unspent funds were “pork.”

Palace...

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right,” Presidential Spokesman Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

“What we recognize is the power of Congress to amend—to review and to amend to do whatever it feels is correct, necessary and right. We’ll leave it to them. Now, if the President feels that it’s wrong, then he can use his veto power to correct it,” he added.

On Tuesday, Senator Panfilo Lacson called on Duterte to use his line-item veto power to remove the alleged “pork” inserted by lawmakers on the proposed P3.757-trillion 2019 national budget.

The House of Representatives, in turn, then criticized the Senate for its amendments to the budget amounting to P190 billion, questioning the senators for their so-called “institutional amendments.”

The Senate and the House have been locked in a standoff following the alleged “pork” insertions in the proposed 2019 expenditure plan.

Since then, the government has been operating under a reenacted budget since Jan. 1, 2019, after Congress failed to pass the budget on time.

Lawmakers hope to ratify the bicameral report on Friday, Feb. 8 before Congress adjourns its session to give way for the 2019 campaign and elections.

Lacson on Thursday continued to chide his colleagues in the Sante, whose minds were closed when it comes to pork barrel and were ready to debate “until kingdom come” their insertions.

He conceded, however, that respecting the votes of the majority on the budget is democracy.

“Sadly, no matter how hard I argued last night (Wednesday night), I only have one vote although I have good reason to believe that some like-minded colleagues are supportive of deleting all pork insertions, particularly the excessive and unconscionable realignments made not only by our House counterpart, but by a number of our colleagues as well,” he said, without naming the senators. With PNA

108 local execs...

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“The Solid Waste Management Plan is a requirement of law yet for many years they ignored it. Hence, we have no recourse but to issue show-cause orders to them.”

Año said the local chief executives would be given 10 days from receipt of the orders to explain why they should not be charged over the failure of their LGUs to comply with the policy.

“If we are serious about protecting the environment, we really have to follow through with the implementation of these laws,” Año said.

The laws have long been enacted but they lack implementation, so we continue to have problems like what happened in Boracay and Manila Bay. The law is the law and we will implement it.” PNA

95 China ships...

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January 2019 showed the number of ships rising to 95 on Dec. 5 before dropping to 42 by Jan. 26, AMTI said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, denied an AMTI claim that the Philippines was undertaking land reclamation of its own on Pag-asa Island.

“As of now, only the beaching ramp is being undertaken. Next is the concreting of the runway [Rancudo Airfield] and the third phase involves the lengthening of the airfield,” he added.

Rancudo Airfield measures 1.4 km. and is capable of handling mediumsized aircraft like the Air Force’s Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” cargo planes.

Also on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is still studying

The P370 billion saved by the Duterte administration in 2017 should have been spent on projects and public services instead of being sent back to the Treasury, Andaya said.

Arroyo and Andaya also signed subpoenas for Diokno to bring the records of savings and utilization for 2017 and 2018.

The Andaya panel last Wednesday was prompted to approve the motion

to issue a subpoena against Diokno as raised by Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, a former Court of Appeals justice, after Diokno failed to attend Wednesday’s hearing for the fifth time.

This developed as Andaya welcomed what he described as Diokno’s confession on “what I have saying all along, that government has hundreds of billion of pesos in savings from unexpended appropriations in the past two years.”

But instead of explaining how those savings were being spent, Andaya said Diokno had resorted once again to general statements and technical gobbledygook.

“When he claimed that the P370 billion savings from 2017 reverted to the Treasury, does he mean that these unexpended appropriations are still un-

spent and remain stagnant to this day?

Of course not!” Andaya said “We do not keep public funds in the treasury for savings or time deposit. We spend them for programs and projects the following year. Appropriations have a minimum shelf life of two years.”

Andaya also asked how the 2017 savings were spent in 2018 remained unanswered.

“If there is no such thing as DBM pork, why can’t Secretary Diokno show the savings of 2017 and 2018?”

Andaya said.

“He has the guts to deny before the media that these savings are being disbursed by DBM, yet he cowers in fear at the thought of being asked about it in Congress. Five times we invited him to explain in Congress. Five times, he has chickened out.

no deaths in Soccsksargen (Region XII.) Measles killed 30 in the first eight months of last year, and five in all of 2017.

The Health department said 90 percent of those infected with measles had not been vaccinated.

Authorities said vaccination rates in the Philippines have been declining for years, but also pointed to the recent controversy over the safety of the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.

“The measles vaccination coverage has been in decline in the last five years,” Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo told a press conference Thursday.

“In the recent years, it was the issue of Dengvaxia vaccine that contributed,” he added, as the government pushed parents to get children vaccinated.

The scare started in late 2017, shortly after the government, then under President Benigno Aquino III, gave Dengvaxia to some 837,000 students as part of a public immunization campaign.

The vaccine’s maker, Sanofi, set off a panic when it said a new analysis showed Dengvaxia could lead to more severe symptoms for people who had not previously been infected with dengue.

The government halted the campaign and left hundreds of thousands of terrified parents wondering if their children were at risk.

The World Health Organization in November 2018 warned that measles cases globally had jumped more than 30 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year, in part because of children not being vaccinated.

Duque said outbreak areas should boost preventive measures against the disease.

“Supportive measures like building the nutritional status of the sick person and increasing oral rehydration are important measures to increase body resistance and replace lost body fluids caused by coughing, diarrhea, and perspiration,” Duque said.

Senators JV Ejercito and Nancy Binay urged parents to have their children vaccinated against infectious diseases in the wake of the measles outbreak.

Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography, stressed the importance of vaccines—administered free in barangay health centers—to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

“Children and pregnant women who remain unvaccinated are the most prone and are really at the highest risk of acquiring measles… this could result in long-term complications, and even worse, death,” Ejercito said.

Measles is an airborne disease that infects the respiratory tract, and its complications include severe diarrhea, pneumonia, blindness, and even death.

The Health department said the Philippines saw a four-fold jump in measles cases from 4,000 cases in 2017 to 21,000 cases last year.

An opinion poll in November 2018 showed a sharp drop in the trust in vaccines among Filipinos, with only 32 percent of 1,500 surveyed Filipinos trusting vaccines, down from 93 percent in 2015.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Health to launch a “vigorous” campaign to promote vaccination following the declaration of a measles outbreak. With Nat Mariano, Rey E. Requejo, AFP, PNA

Region in Muslim Mindanao to become a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

In a comment-in-intervention, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu urged the high court to uphold the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, citing the overwhelming vote for its ratification in the plebiscite.

Mangudadatu said the high court should dismiss the petitions of the Sulu provincial government led by Gov. Ab-

dusakur Tan II and the Philippine Constitutional Association seeking to nullify RA 11054, which expands the ARMM to become BAR, saying the Mindanao people had already spoken in favor of the new autonomous region in Mindanao.

While all six municipalities voted to be part of the new region that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the rest of Lanao del Norte said “no” to the proposal.

With Rey E. Requejo

consideration with the support from the corporation’s board of directors and management.

At the same time, Razon said there could be a “scale down” shipbuilding and repair facility in Subic but added he saw “some potential” for the facilities of Hanjin, which filed in January for rehabilitation before the Olongapo City Court, according to court records.

It was the biggest corporate bankruptcy to ever hit the Philippines, according to economic observers, noting that Hanjin is the biggest foreign investor in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Hanjin’s five creditor banks, among the Philippines’ biggest, are reported looking at collective action to settle the shipbuilder’s $412-million (P21.6billion) debt.

Should Hanjin fail to get a credit line before deadline, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Wilma Eisma said it might be left with only 300 from its 3,000 workers.

Abu Sayyaf...

yacht in September 2016.

He is also the main suspect in the bomb attack in Jolo. Five suspects have already surrendered to police but 14 others, including Sawadjaan, are still at large.

The US Indo-Pacific Command reported that ISIS Philippines remained active with 300 to 550 fighters in Mindanao, whose activities are limited to Sulu.

Police reported Añother Abu Sayyaf fighter was killed in a shootout with soldiers and police in Tawi-Tawi Tuesday.

In a belated report, the Western Mindanao Command identified the slain bandit as Shaifful Julaili who fired on troops manning a government checkpoint.

Julaili had been involved in kidnapping sorties in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Sabah, Malaysia, police said.

In the wake of the declaration that the Jolo attack has been solved, the Philippine National Police has lowered its status in Metro Manila from full alert to heightened alert.

“The difference between the two status levels is really minimal. There may be less checkpoint frequencies but the mobilization of our police personnel and resources in the Metropolis continues. Our intelligence plans, strategies and efforts to detect terrorist personalities continue,” said Metro Manila police chief Guillermo Eleazar.

He said the police would not relax their guard.

“From this sad experience, we have learned that terrorist threat is lurking over the country and can be triggered anytime, anywhere,” he said of the Jan. 27 Jolo bomb attack. With Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

GOODWILL ENVOYS.

UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander (center) formally announces the appointment of UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassadors Daphne Oseña Paez (left) and actress Anne Curtis during the media launching at Novotel in Cubao Araneta Center. Paez and Curtis are being recognized for their long years of work to promote and protect child rights, UNICEF says. Manny Palmero

PH-wide...

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Duque said a total of 861 suspected measles cases have been reported to the DOH as of Feb.2.

As of Jan. 26, 2019, Duque said the DOH epidemiology bureau reported that the number of measles cases in other regions, namely—Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol Region have shown an increasing trend as well.

“We are expanding the outbreak from Metro Manila to the other regions as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” Duque said.

In San Lazaro Hospital alone, at least 248 children and 21 adults are being treated for measles, according to its spokesperson. On Monday, seven deaths were recorded, while last week, nine children died within a single day.

Health department records showed there were 525 cases with nine deaths in Calabarzon (Region IV-A); 441 cases with four deaths in Metro Manila; 192 cases with four deaths in Central Luzon (Region III); 104 cases and three deaths in Western Visayas (Region VI); and 71 cases with one death in Central Visayas (Region VII).

The same report indicated 70 cases with no deaths in Mimaropa (Region IVB); 64 cases with two deaths in the Ilocos Region (Region I); 60 cases with no deaths in Northern Mindanao (Region X); 54 cases with one death in Western Visayas (Region VIII); and 43 cases with

Bangsamoro...

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get the double majority votes needed for them to break away from Lanao del Norte and be included in the soon-tobe-established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Meanwhile, an official has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions seeking to nullify the law expanding the Autonomous further steps to take, in view of the reported construction of a Chinese maritime rescue center in the West Philippine Sea, a ranking agency official said Thursday.

“We’re studying what steps might be taken or not,” DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo told reporters in an interview in Makati City. As recently stated by DFA chief Teodoro Locsin Jr., he noted that filing a protest is an “active consideration.”

Both the DFA and Malacañang have yet to issue an update regarding the reported construction in the area.

On Monday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to monitor the disputed waters, where China and other countries—including the Philippines—share contesting territorial claims. PNA

‘Duterte has power over narco-list’

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of Southeast Asia,” Isnilon Hapilon, following his death by a sniper fire during five-month Marawi City siege in 2017.

Año could not confirm that ISIS had picked Sawadjaan, however, but said he is now “the most recognized.”

Año said the ASG had four factions: Hatib Sawadjaan for Sulu; Furuji Indama for Basilan, Abu Dar for Lanao province and Abu Toraype for Central Mindanao.

Sawadjaan was blamed for the series of kidnappings of high-profile targets among them foreigners. He was behind the killing of Canadian nationals Robert Hall, who was executed, and John Ridsdel, who was beheaded, after they were seized from a

By Joel E. Zurbano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is the only one who can clear or remove politicians from the so-called “narco-list.”

This was the clarification by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino following reports that three politicians in Ilocos Region were already cleared from any involvement in the illegal drug activities.

Reports showed that the names of Pangasinan Rep. Jesus Celeste, Naguilian Mayor Reynaldo Flores and Bauang Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin De Guzman III, both in La Union province, were deleted in the President’s list of politicians involved in illegal drugs.

“The report is not true, and that was published also in the newspaper. But there is no truth to that,” said Aquino in an interview with RadyoMan anchored by Ely Saludar.

In related developments: • House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said approval of House Bill 8909 was recalled on third and final reading and would be reverted for second reading approval as soon as it had been cleansed of all death penalty references.

He said the House was expected to have approved the measure on third and final reading before Congress adjourns on Feb. 8.

Passed on final reading last Monday, HB 8909, which sought to amend Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, reimposed the death penalty, this time, providing for the capital punishment for persons found in possession of dangerous drugs during parties, social gatherings and meetings.

• Despite Congress’ withdrawal on the approval of a bill reviving death penalty on convicted drug offenders, the Commission on Human Rights on Thursday vowed to block any attempt to reintroduce it.

Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR lawyer-spokesperson, admitted the CHR saw the need to address the sale and use of illegal drugs due to its ill effects to individuals, families and “our communities at large.”

“Even before, the Commission had expressed its qualified support— mindful of our questions on its means—to the government’s drive to address illegal drugs with the vision of providing a better life to all as a human right,” she said. With Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

Razon...

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News Palace to certify urgent bill retiring military men at 60

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will certify as urgent a proposed law suggesting that pension payments for military and uniformed personnel may only start at age 60 instead of 56, the Palace said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the bill, which was proposed by the Department of National Defense, might be certified as urgent by the President following complaints from the military personnel about their pension.

“I think some of them are complaining about their pension, considering that the Armed Forces are involved in our fight against terrorism, communism, and rebellion. We have lost a lot of men already,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

According to Panelo, the President made the decision during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Under the Unified Military and Uniformed Services Personnel Separation, Retirement, and Pension Bill, there will be reforms in the retirement and pension system of the military and uniformed service personnel.

Active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines may only start to receive their pension payments at the age of 60, it said.

The proposed legislation also sets the new compulsory retirement age from 56 years old to 60, with at least 20 years of satisfactory active service.

The lump sum upon retirement or separation would only be at 18 months, the proposed law recommends, showing an immense disparity from the current 36 months of lump sum option.

Meanwhile, for those wounded or killed in action, the pension rate will be raised to 90 percent of base pay, including the longevity pay regardless of years of active service.

The proposal also said that surviving beneficiaries shall receive 75 percent of the pension, adding that the pension for a disability benefit shall “begin immediately.”

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

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It’s a go for nat’l ID system in Sept.

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By Nat Mariano

HE government will start the implementation of the Philippine National ID System in September this year, the Palace said on Thursday, hoping that it will benefit six-million Filipinos.

“The President was agreeable to the establishment of one. And I think it will start in Sept. 2019 with a target of sixmillion Filipinos for registration this year,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

According to Panelo, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said that having a national ID is “very critical” for the country’s security.

“He [Esperon] then suggested that the Department of Information and Communications Technology should take the lead on cybersecurity. And the security of data be taken cared by the Philippine Statistics Authority with the help of DICT,” he added.

“The President has ordered the best and safest system of the implementation of the National ID System,” he added.

Amid problems in security which caused the delay of its implementation, the Palace official assured the public that its implementation will be “on time” and will not be used against left-leaning personalities or enemies of the State.

“Our security agency is in-charge there. And Secretary Esperon said we can be sure that there will not be a snafu in security,” he said.

In August 2018, Duterte signed into law the Philippine Identification System Act, hoping to promote good governance, enhance governmental transactions, and create a more conducive environment for trade and commerce.

He believed the establishment of the so-called “Phil-ID” will curtail bureaucratic red tape, promotes the ease of do-

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will sign into law the rice tariffication bill for “the greater good,” Malacañang said on Thursday, adding that the Chief Executive will not heed the request of the rice industry stakeholders to veto the measure.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the country’s rice industry organizations paid a courtesy call with the President to address their concerns on Wednesday evening.

By Rio N. Araja

VILLAR ON BIKE. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar rides a bicycle as he leads the 5.849 partial opening

of the 6.6 kilometers and 3-meter wide bicycle lane along Laguna Lake Highway in Bicutan, Taguig City on yesterday, which is expected to serve as a safer and faster type of transportation for bikes. Norman Cruz

The President, however, defended the proposed measure, which was transmitted last month by Congress for his go signal, saying that the law will greatly benefit the public.

“Those he met last night were against it. But according to thePresident, the policy would be to the greater good, so he will do that. Despite the opposition, it seems he will push for it,” Panelo said.

“They want it vetoed but I don’t think the President will. That has been his position, to go ‘for the greater interest and

for the greater good’,” he added.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, meanwhile, said that Duterte even asked the rice stakeholders to jot down their concerns in order for the Cabinet to consider their worries as they draft the implementing rules and regulations on the ratified bill.

“The President believes in giving what is best for the greater number of Filipinos.

He believes in the principle of and benefits of having lesser government intervention and allowing the interplay between

market forces while providing the needed safety nets to affected sectors,” Lopez told GMA News Online.

Asked when does the President plan to sign the ratified rice tarrification bill, Panelo said: “He didn’t say so, but I think it’s forthcoming.”

The bill aims to lift the quantitative restrictions on rice imports, allowing private traders to import grain from countries of their choice.

Under the bill, the private sector will be permitted to import rice.

THE United Nations Children’s Fund on Thursday conferred the formal title of national goodwill ambassadors to actress-television host Anne Curtis and entrepreneur-TV host producer Daphne Oseña Paez.

“UNICEF goodwill ambassadors are well-known personalities who lend their influence for the well-being of children, who are willing to do their utmost to mobilize support for children. They are volunteers who demonstrate a high level of commitment to children and to the organization. We welcome Daphne and Anne into the UNICEF family as new UNICEF national goodwill ambassadors because of their strong dedication and drive for results for children throughout all these years,” UNICEF Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander said.

She lauded Paez’s advocacy for breastfeeding, maternal health, maternal mortality, universal primary education, nutrition and child protection.

On the other hand, Curtis was a major donor to UNICEF since 2009, and was appointed as a celebrity advocate in 2014, Sylwander said.

Curtis’ special projects with UNICEF included the Heroes for Children runs to support children’s First 1,000 Days, fundraising through international marathons and a children’s book to encourage reading and instilling confidence in one’s self.

Curtis, however, lamented that sanitation and proper hygiene in different communities is still a big problem.

“How sadly, there are still some families without access to clean water and toilet in our country,” she said.

DOLE pushes for passage of Security of Tenure Bill

Gov’t yet to give Mislatel the go-signal

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of labor and Employment (DOLE) renewed its push for the passage of the Security of Tenure Bill now pending approval at the Senate.

“This is among our priority legislative measures that has been certified as urgent by the President. We are optimistic that the Senate will pass it in due time,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

Bello also called on all concerned DOLE offices to provide

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippine government cannot give the go signal to Mislatel Consortium to start its infrastructure as the country’s third telco player despite compliance with post-qualification requirements during the Feb. 17 deadline, said DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio on Thursday.

In an interview, Rio cited the need for the final approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the approval on Mislatel’s procurement of the controlling shares of Mislatel company.

The Senate on Wednesday approved the House concurrent resolution which recognized that Mislatel Company was bought by Mislatel consortium composed of Idenna Corporation of Davao City-based business Dennis Uy, Chelsea Logistics and China Telecom of the Chinese government.

But this is not yet final because the concurrent resolution should be first reconciled due to the House provisions which are different from the Senate version.

The House version recognizes that the purchase of Mislatel company included the franchise given to it by Congress 1998 while this was not mentioned innthe concurrent resolution of the Senate on the franchise.

Meanwhile, with the Senate approval on the transfer of ownership of Mislatel to the consortium, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile stated his support for the operation of the third telecommunications player.

ing business, averts fraudulent transactions, and somehow reduce corrupt acts in government offices.

The Palace had already maintained that its establishment will enhance national security, prevent identity theft, and promote the delivery of goods and services from the government to the public.

Under the law, the Phil-ID will collect the demographic data of every Filipino such as full name, sex, date of birth, blood type, home address, and citizenship.

Marital status, phone numbers. Email addresses, however, will be optional.

Additional details will also be recorded such as the biometric information, front-facing photograph, full set of fingerprints, other identifiable features, and even iris scan.

Curtis, TV host Paez named UNICEF envoys

Du30 set to sign Rice Bill into law, for the ‘greater good’—Palace

By Nat Mariano and Maricel V. Cruz

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BARRIERS. Metro Manila Development Authority personnel put up orange barriers along the Manila Baywalk in Roxas Boulevard as part of its ongoing rehabilitation. Lino Santos

technical assistance as the Senate hammers out its version of the measure.

The Security of Tenure Bill, otherwise known as House Bill No. 6908 and Senate Committee Report No. 392, aims to amend the Labor Code on the prohibition of labor-only contracting and other provisions that allow contracting arrangements.

The amendment will also clearly define the nature of work and activities that may be contracted out.

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CA junks ACT petition vs PNP profiling

By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers seeking to stop the Philippine National Police from profiling their public and private school teacher members.

In a four-page resolution, the CA’s 11th Division junked outright the petition filed last month by ACT through national chairperson Joselyn Martirez and secretary-general Raymond Basilio on technicality.

The appellate court cited infirmities in the petition as ground for rejecting the petition, particularly the failure of petitioners to submit certified true copies of the assailed memoranda issued by the PNP’s intelligence units.

It held that the petition failed to meet the requirement under Rule 65, Section 2 in relation

to Rule 46, Section 3 of the Rules of Court.

Both rules require that “the petition shall likewise be accompanied by a certified true copy of the judgment, order or resolution subject thereof, copies of all pleadings and documents relevant and pertinent thereto.”

The appellate court also cited the failure of ACT to state material dates in their petition, specifically the dates when the petitioners received the various assailed PNP Memoranda.

It ruled that the petition likewise did not include the “current date of issuance of the IBP Membership Number of the petitioners’ counsel” and “the current date of issuance of the Professional Tax Number (“PTR”) of the petitioners’ counsel” in violation to Bar Matter Number 287 dated 26 September 2000 and Bar Matter Number 1132 dated 12 November 2002, respectively.

In our special report published in Manila Standard on February 6, 2019 we missed to indicate that Mr. Ocs Alvarez and Mr. Stanley Ong were the photographers of the main photo provided by IIDS, House of Representatives and used in the SGMA leading the Pack of Empowered Women report. For this, we humbly send out this erratum.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Aquinos’s accountability

IT HAS been four years since the Mamasapano massacre of the PNP Special Action Forces. Jan. 25 came and went with only a somber ceremony to mark the occasion at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame.

Many of the widows and relatives of the 44 members of the PNP/SAF commandos could not make it to Crame as they come from different places in the country. Some of the victims’ relatives who were interviewed by media lamented their loved ones have not been given justice. As next of kin, too, they have not been given compensation promised by the government.

Only one man—former Senator Juan Pone Enrile—dared speak up as he called for former President Benigno Aquino III’s accountability for the death of the PNP-SAF commandos.

Enrile said Noynoy Aquno should be held liable for the botched police operation because he put in charge suspended PNP Police Director General Alan Purisma in charge of the perilous mission to get terrorist and bomb maker Marwan in MILF territory.

Enrile is right. At that time, Purisima no longer had any authority to perform any official function, much less a dangerous mission that put law enforcers’ lives at risk.

I think Aquino’s most grievous crime here is dereliction of duty.

Under the Constitution and as commander in chief of the AFP and the PNP, he has a sworn duty to protect his men from harm. This, he did not do. In nearby Zamboanga where he

Adelle Chua, Editor

was ferried to receive Marwan dead or alive, Aquino told the AFP top brass with him to stand down and not send reinforcement to the beleaguered SAF commandos.

The result was that they were butchered by a combined force of MILF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Abu Sayyaf group, Sadly, the MILF is the beneficiary of an autonomous region in Mindanao under the recent plebiscite for the approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. This is why the people need a Ponce Enrile in the Senate. The man will speak up when others would not dare. ***

His most grievous crime is dereliction of duty.

Aquino is facing a slew of other charges. Together with former Budget Secretary Butch Abad and Health Secretary Janet Garin, he is facing liability for the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine that has taken more than 50 lives. Initial findings showed that the Aquino administration paid the French manufacturer of Dengvaxia millions of pesos even before delivery. This is a highly suspicious transaction considering that 2016 was an election year. The law prohibits any such undertaking. Critics claim Aquino’s Liberal Party needed the money to keep power under the presidential run of Mar Roxas.

To the victors belong the spoils; the losers take the raps.

T

No-swimming area

HE seaside promenade along Manila Bay is a must-see destination among tourists and the general public because of its spectacular sunset view.

But it must not be used as a staging ground for any swimming or recreation activity, until Manila Bay is completely rehabilitated and declared pollution-free.

Cleaning up Manila Bay, including the two-kilometer promenade area that stretches from the US Embassy near Rizal Park up to the Cultural Center of the Philippines just past the Manila Yacht Club, may take years before it can be declared safe for swimming.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is closing the Manila Baywalk for swimming activity at least for the next six months by installing a perimeter fence along the beachfront.

This stretch of coastline is un-

derstandably popular among slum dwellers and the poor in Metro Manila because of its proximity.

Piles of trash in the area and heavy pollution, however, have prevented the public from enjoying the seaside promenade and dipping into the water.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said while fecal coliform count in the swimming area of Manila Bay had improved to 7.5 million most probable number per 100 millimeters from 330 million mpn before the start of the cleanup drive, it was still far from being safe.

The standard coliform level for coastal waters safe for swimming and other similar recreational activities is at only 100 mpn/100ml.

The rehabilitation of Manila Bay will not be an easy task because it will require the cooperation of several local government units of Laguna, Cavite and Metro Manila in the south to the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan in the north.

Thousands of commercial establishments operating along Laguna de Bay, Pasig River and other estuaries that empty into Manila Bay will also have to be policed to assure the cleanup.

Manila Bay has become an ecological disaster after many establishments and informal settlers along Metro Manila's waterways dumped untreated water and waste into the tributaries that ended up in the bay.

The cleanup job is one environmental task that should receive a status of national significance, similar to vital energy projects defined by Executive Order No. 30.

The battle for Hmong heritage in Vietnam

By Jenny Vaughan and Tran Thi Minh Ha VUONG Duy Bao surveys his ancestral palace, a vestige of Vietnam's marginalized Hmong ethnic minority that he says was taken from his family by local officials.

The wooden structure is laden with historic markers: Opium flowers carved into pillars in a nod to the region's oncebooming trade, and an iron fence made with metal imported from former colonial ruler France.

Built in 1903 by Bao's warlord grandfather with his opium fortune, the retired civil servant claims local authorities took possession of the property in the northern Ha Giang province from his family and are now refusing to return it.

"Hmong people all over the world acknowledge this as [our] family home... so we can't lose it," he told AFP from the building, which authorities run as a museum.

Both sides agree it is an architectural treasure since the historically nomadic Hmong rarely stayed long enough in one place to build anything lasting.

Bao had been living in Hanoi, but on return to the family home, he discovered local authorities had taken ownership of the palace and rejected his claim to it because he could not provide deeds.

He branded the request "absurd" and said official documents did not exist when the property was built but his family's connection to it was set out in history books about the local area and even in pictures of it displayed in the museum.

Many Hmong fear the government is simply commandeering their culture to boost tourism dollars. For Bao, his battle for repossession goes beyond the personal.

He believes Hmong heritage belongs in the hands of Hmong people, a tightknit minority originally from China who proudly cling to customs wherever they settle, from California to Minne-

sota, Laos and Thailand.

'Community spirit' In Vietnam, they have been largely excluded from the economic growth of the past decade, and more than 60 percent of the country's one million Hmong live below the poverty line.

The ethnic group have long been at odds with the central government— stemming in part from the CIA recruitment of anti-communist Laotian Hmong during the Vietnam War— which for decades has imposed a series of resettlement, development and assimilation campaigns that have mostly failed.

"More than any other ethnic minority in Vietnam the Hmong have been marginalised by programs that purport to develop them," writes anthropologist Ngo Tam in her 2016 book "The New Way: Protestantism and the Hmong in Vietnam."

Ha Giang authorities are touting tourism as the best way to lift the Hmong out of gruelling poverty, and the province has said in its master plan it wants the area to be a "key attraction" for visitors by 2030.

Officials have opened a series of 'traditional cultural villages' where visitors can peek into old-school wooden houses or take photos of themselves carrying a bamboo basket, a common vessel for Hmong farmers ferrying flowers or grass from the field.

Local Hmong are encouraged to wear traditional hemp clothing and build traditional houses, and have been asked to shorten funeral and wedding ceremonies, days-long, booze-soaked affairs that are among the most sacred of Hmong rituals.

"Sometimes authorities try to impose their ideas on people forcibly, but we resist by refusing to follow," Vang My Sinh, a Hmong man in Ha Giang, told AFP. Turn to A5

Alluring Antique ANTIQUE province lies in the western section of Panay Island, and borders Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo to the east, and faces the Sulu Sea to the west. It has 18 municipalities and 590 barangays, and as of 2015, its population stood at 582,012. It has rich mineral deposits, with its mountains yielding copper, marble, silica, coal and clay, but poverty incidence in the province is around 26 percent. Two killer typhoons devastated Antique in recent years, Typhoon “Frank” in 2008 and Super Typhoon “Yolanda”

Once a politician, you’d be thinking of nothing else but to aspire for public office.

in 2013.

It comes as a surprise to many that Senator Loren Legarda traces her roots to the province and considers Antiqueños as kababayan. In fact,

she wants to represent the province in the Lower House after sitting for 18 years in the Senate.

It seems that once a politician, you’d be thinking of nothing else but to aspire for public office. In this sense, Legarda shares the same boat with her fellow senator, Chiz Escudero, who wants to run for governor of Sorsogon as his term also ends this year.

Legarda has always called Malabon City home, because that’s her mother’s hometown.

Even then, coming from national position is no assurance to win in a local election. Take, for instance, the late Blas Ople who held various key national positions but did not win a local position in Bulacan, his home province. Former Senator Lito Lapid lost the mayoralty race in 2016 in his hometown in Pampanga and now Turn to A5

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Opinion

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

License to drink and kill

How to rehabilitate Manila Bay

IN 1975, ENVIRONMENTAL planner Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox and colleagues from the Planning and Project Development Office of the Department of Public Works, Transportation, and Communication unveiled the Manila Bay Metropolitan Region Strategic Plan.

They emphasized the importance of not only focusing on the metropolitan area but targeting the provinces and cities beyond. This is why the MBMR comprises Manila and the provinces of Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales.

Back in 1975, planners had identified how economic development and social uplift must transpire simultaneously with environmental protection and cultural advancement. Until today, Manila Bay holds a primary role in the Philippines’ economic growth as the area.

The National Capital Region and Regions 3 and 4 contribute approximately 55 percent of the nation’s output of goods and services or GDP. The bulk of Philippine trade goes through the port of Manila.

Manila Bay, therefore, is the heart and economic lifeblood of the nation.

However, there are 250,000 squatter families or 1.25-million peoplealong the bay’s 190-km shoreline.

That scales up the cost of rehabilitation and eats up a substantial chunk of the P47-billion budgeted for cleanup.

Palafox laments that in spite of its economic and cultural endowment, Manila Bay’s environment has been deteriorating at an alarming rate.

It is severely polluted with marine, domestic, industrial, and commercial waste—threatening marine life and the livelihoods primarily dependent on theBay’s resources. Per recent water samples tested by the DENR, Manila Bay’s coliform level is 330 million MPN—exceptionally way beyond the acceptable level of less than 100 MPN! Palafox estimates rehab of Manila Bay could take at least five years, and the government agencies and LGUs tasked with rehabilitating Manila Bay need all the help they can get from the private and social sectors.

Palafox has some ideas on how to clean up Manila Bay. First, the formulation of a comprehensive master plan is immensely

By Anne Chaon

crucial. Rehabilitation must be cohesive, integrated into an overall framework.

Do not focus on the metropolitan region alone because this would not address the root causes of environmental degradation in adjacent areas. Second, stricter environmental regulations must also be implemented in Pasig River, Laguna Lake, San Juan River, Marikina River, and Pampanga River because a great number of violators can be foundhere, and waste disposed on these bodies of water flow into Manila Bay. Third, waterfronts. The waterfront is a major community resource, there must be urban waterfront developments that can enhance people’s quality of life in all aspects.

Esplanades, promenades, and linear parks are great waterfront public spaces that have an invigorating effect to a city’s image and sense of place. These structures should be walkable, bikable, and well-lit with minimal environmental impact, ultimately enhancing community health and development while interconnecting our fragmented metropolis.

Economic development and social uplift must transpire simultaneously with environmental protection and cultural advancement.

Fourth, the triple bottomline—people first, planet Earth, and then the economy.

Informal settlers near the waterfront of Manila Bay and other waterways should be relocated and provided with decent housing.

Fifth, easements. Once the waterfront is cleared, standard easements should be strictly applied: 50 meters for the coastline of Manila Bay, 10 meters for all rivers, and 3.5 meters for esteros or estuaries.

Sewage treatment plants and sewer interceptors can lower the coliform level, and establishments must be connected to sewer pipelines that will collect sewage before reaching the waterways. In terms of connectivity, the Manila Bay Metropolitan Region has high development.

Sixth, establish a more efficient water transportation system that can improve accessibility and linkage between regions.

Pasig River and Pampanga River can be redredged, so these can be more navigable.

Well-known major waterways that were dredged to improve navigation of commercial shipping are the Thames River, Dubai Creek, and the Suez Canal.

Palafox’s recommendations can help Manila Bay’s rehabilitation to become more sustainable well into the future for the present and coming generations to enjoy.

In its 2008 ruling mandating Manila Bay’s cleanup (G.R. Nos. 171947-48), the Supreme Court said: At the core of the case is the Manila Bay, a place with a proud historic past, once brimming with marine life and, for so many decades in the past, a spot for different contact recreation activities, but now a dirty and slowly dying expanse mainly because of the abject official indifference of people and institutions that could have otherwise made a difference.

The high court cited these laws and principles to assert its right in ordering the cleanup of Manila Bay: (1) Respondents constitutional right to life, health, and a balanced ecology; (2) The Environment Code (PD 1152); (3) The Pollution Control Law (PD 984); (4) The Water Code (PD 1067); (5) The Sanitation Code (PD 856); (6) The Illegal Disposal of Wastes Decree (PD 825); (7) The Marine Pollution Law (PD 979); (8) Executive Order No. 192; (9) The Toxic and Hazardous Wastes Law (Republic Act No. 6969); (10) Civil Code provisions on nuisance and human relations; (11)The Trust Doctrine and the Principle of Guardianship; and (12) International Law

“Remarkable public spaces are what make cities great,” notes Palafox. He cites the Central Park in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Las Ramblas in Barcelona, and Trafalgar Square in London.

Among the world’s best waterfronts are Amsterdam’s and Denmark’s picturesque waterways, Venice’s famous canals, Sydney Harbour, the Bay of Naples, Dubai’s waterfront developments, and the French Riviera’s famous beachfronts.

“We should follow best practices abroad where waterfronts, including inland waterways, are treated as prime locations and can be enjoyed by all—not as places for waste disposal,” insists Palafox. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Lack of doctors breeds deep resentment in rural France

THE small town of Montargis is only 100 kilometres south of Paris, but for many of its inhabitants it might as well be on the dark side of the moon when it comes to seeing a doctor or a dentist.

"Having to wait two years to see a heart specialist isn't acceptable. We'll be dead before then," Catherine Adrien-Camus said to wide applause as she and other residents took part in a debate on what ails France, and more specifically their community.

The evening event last week was part of the two months of debates President Emmanuel Macron has called as part of his response to the "yellow vest" protests, sparked by anger over high costs of living.

Local communities have been encouraged to hold town-hall meetings to discuss how things could be improved, and in this 15,000-strong town and many others, one of the hot topics is the lack of doctors.

Despite France's much vaunted national health service, which has ensured nearly free medical services since the end of the Second World War, not all patients get equal treatment.

France counts some 220,000 doctors, twice as many as in 1980, according to official figures. But many prefer to settle in larger cities rather than rural or smaller urban areas.

In Paris, for example, there are about 798 doctors for every 100,000 inhabitants, but in the Montargis area the number drops to 76 general practitioners for 100,000 people—the lowest ratio in the nation.

'Medical desertification' Some 9,000 small towns, accounting for 8 percent of the total population, lack

general practitioners in what has been termed a growing "medical desertification".

In Montargis, where the "yellow vest" movement is well supported, none of the GPs are currently taking on new patients, locals say.

The region, which extends south to the renowned castles of the Loire Valley, also has the lowest density of medical specialists in the country, according to the national medical association.

"Big towns have sucked everything away from rural territories," said JeanPierre Door, a local member of parliament and himself a heart specialist.

As doctors retire, they have trouble finding younger practitioners to replace them.

This is partly the result of a 40-year government policy which allows for nearly anyone to sign up for medical studies, but then strict grading culls 80 percent of the hopefuls by the end of the first year.

In the early 2000s, around 3,500 doctors graduated every year, but only 8 percent chose general medicine.

20-hour days?

"No one wants to live as doctors used to live, working 20 hours a day, seven days a week," Door added.

Macron recently announced a reform of medical studies to help lift doctor numbers, "but it takes 12 years to train a doctor," Door noted. In Montargis, there is only one hospital for 150,000 people living in the area that it is supposed to serve, and while 130 doctors work there, emergency services are still overwhelmed.

"Fifteen years ago, they looked after 15,000 patients a year, today it's 60,000,

and waiting times average five to six hours," Door said. Because of the lack of GPs, more than 60 percent of those attending emergency services are there on routine matters such as an ear infection or even to get a prescription renewed, he said.

Francois Camus, a young cancer specialist who set up shop a few months ago, confided his surprise at the lack of medical follow-up. "I have seen advanced cancers... Because of the lack of GPs, the diagnosis has been to late," he said.

Gynaecological services are also lacking. "Some women haven't been followed up for over 20 years and arrive with enormous tumours" Camus said.

Desperately seeking dentists Online forums also abound with similar complaints. "If you're looking for a dentist, good luck! I've been looking for one for the past five years," wrote a Montargis woman giving her name as Nelly.

"Doctors should be required to spend four to five years where they are needed after they have finished their studies," said Adrien-Camus, the woman speaking in last week's debate. But for Door, coercion isn't the answer. He thinks instead local authorities should be encouraged to offer rent-free offices to doctors who can form a practice, something that has been tested for the past two years.

And now, following examples from remote Quebec or northern Sweden, France is testing video consultations via the internet, something Montargis is pushing strongly.

"It's like being treated on board a space station, or on a boat taking part in a roundthe-world race," Door said. AFP

Alluring...

litical bases. The scuttlebutt is that she has her own party-list group, Luntiang Pilipinas, also running in May, apart from two other partylist groups that’s allied with her camp. If these party-list groups would really help in protecting the environment, why not?

Given all this, observers are wondering whether Legarda wants to become the next House Speaker, using Antique as her stepping stone. Or perhaps even Prime Minister if the shift to a federal-parliamentary system of government takes off?

Better times ahead for Okada Manila?

Our monitoring of the intra-corporate dispute involving casino mogul Kazuo Okada and his ownership of Okada Manila yielded this bit

of information: its parent company, Tiger Resort Asia Limited recently completed acquisition of the majority shares of Philippine Stock Exchange listed company, Asiabest Group International Inc. The Hong Kong-based TRAL, the parent company of Tiger Resort, Leisure, and Entertainment Inc. acquired 66.6 percent of ABG’s listed shares, paving the away for the eventual public listing of TRLEI which operates Okada Manila.

Following these developments, Okada Manila is likely to change its brand name to focus on streamlining its operations and starting anew on a clean slate. The brand name change is seen as a TRLEI move to make a clean break with

From A4 wants to return to the Senate.

Legarda is currently the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. But if Antique’s economic development leaves much to be desired compared to its neighbors, that means she has judiciously allocated taxpayers’ money without any favoritism, unlike a predecessor who held the position during the previous administration who made sure his province would get enough funds for vital socioeconomic projects.

Aside from running for a congressional seat, Legarda appears to be covering all her po-

A5

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JAMES Bond is unmistakably known for the dry martini—shaken, not stirred—and a variant, the Vesper.

But the fictional British Secret Service agent was no stranger to other drinks, including celebratory champagne and even the occasional beer.

In fact, in two dozen movies over the past six decades, Bond—James Bond—was seen sipping on alcohol precisely 109 times, according to a new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Public health experts at the University of Otago in New Zealand analyzed Bond films from 1962 to 2015 to better understand his patterns of alcohol use.

Their findings? Bond had a “severe” and “chronic” drinking problem—and he performed some pretty risky maneuvers while under the influence of alcohol.

“Chronic risks include frequently drinking prior to fights, driving vehicles (including chases), highstakes gambling, operating complex machinery or devices, contact with dangerous animals, extreme athletic performance, and sex with enemies, sometimes with guns or knives in the bed,” lead author Nick Wilson said in a statement.

The study, entitled “License to swill: James Bond’s drinking over six decades,” won joint first place in the Medical Journal of Australia’s Christmas competition.

Wilson, the lead author of the study, said in a press release that the Bond movies are “very good for studying trends in behaviors such as smoking and drinking.” He added that “it was also a fun study to do—and the ridiculousness of some of Bond’s actions after drinking helped give the work some scope for a laugh.”

The study found that the British spy met more than half of the criteria for alcohol use disorder as defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 classification system for mental disorders.

In one film, “Quantum of Solace,” Bond consumed at least six Vespers, his concoction consisting of gin, vodka, and a blend of wines called Kina Lillet. That amount of alcohol, according to the researchers, would have raised Bond’s blood alcohol level to an estimated 0.36 grams per deciliter—almost high enough to cause a coma, heart failure, or even death.

But that drinking incident, the researchers noted, doesn’t even compare with one instance in a Bond

The battle...

From A4

"We've always had strong community spirit, we build things together and preserve things together. Nothing can break us," he said.

That community spirit has proven powerful. Troops were sent to quell a massive Hmong protest in 2011, in which some called for independence.

More recently, Hmong in Vietnam have turned to organised religion and embraced Protestantism, which makes the communist government nervous.

'Die on the rock' In Ha Giang, some Hmong are happy to comply with government guidelines if it means improving their lot.

"It is good to preserve tradition, for ourselves, for our children, and even for tourists who come out of curiosity and bring us more money," said Va Thi May, who was selling grilled yams at a quiet roadside stop. former chairman Kazuo Okada who was ousted in 2017 from the TRLEI and UEC Group.

Okada Manila, the largest luxury integrated resort in the Philippines, is a fully owned subsidiary of Universal Entertainment Corp., a publicly listed company in the Tokyo bourse.

As we reported recently, the Tokyo District Court decision in Jan. 25 affirmed the validity of a 2017 trust agreement between Okada scions Tomohiro and Hiromi that caused the ouster of the elder Okada from the Hong Kong firm Okada Holdings Ltd. which owns 67.9 percent of UEC. The Tokyo court ruling is considered a turning point in the dispute between the 77-year-old Okada and the current management of the UEC

book, in which 007 consumed 50 units of alcohol in a single day—”a level of consumption which would kill nearly everyone,” according to Wilson, a public health professor at the University of Otago at Wellington.

It’s not the first time researchers have analyzed Bond’s bad habit. A 2013 study published in the British Medical Journal found that 007′s alcohol intake in the books put him “at high risk of multiple alcohol-related diseases and an early death” and noted that his ability to function “is inconsistent with the physical, mental, and, indeed, sexual functioning expected from someone drinking this much alcohol.”

And it seems that even Bond is not immune to the consequences of alcoholism. In 2002′s “Die Another Day,” a medical professional conducting a body scan on Bond alluded to an alcohol-induced health issue, saying: “Liver not too good.”

James Bond met more than half of the criteria for alcohol use disorder.

“It’s definitely him then,” someone replied. The New Zealand researchers wrote in the recent study that Bond should seek professional help.

But they also offered some suggestions to help minimize “his risks in the short term”: • Avoid alcohol on the job—especially when taking on “complex tasks, including aerial combat in helicopter gunships and deactivation of nuclear weapons,” which “are best done with a zero blood alcohol level.”

• Avoid drinking with sexual partners “who may want to disable, capture, or kill him.” • Find other interests, for example, “his nascent interests in lepidopterology (study of moths and butterflies) revealed when commenting expertly on M’s collection.”

They also had a suggestion for Bond’s boss.

“Bond’s workplace [MI6] should be a more responsible employer by referring him to work-funded counselling or psychiatric support services for managing his alcohol use disorder,” according to the study. “These services should also determine whether he has any post-traumatic stress after killing so many people and having been tortured so often.” eric.jurado@gmail.com

Ethnic minorities are not always the beneficiaries of Vietnam's booming tourism sector.

In northern Vietnam's visitor-saturated Sapa, locals complain hotel owners from the Kinh majority earn big while ethnic minority women and children hawk Chinese-made fabric and fake silver.

Regaining control of the Hmong palace could be a small step toward recovering their own history—and benefitting from local tourist spending.

For some, the loss of the palace is part of a broader issue.

"It's one of the many things that make Hmong feel marginalised and definitely adds to their disenfranchisement," said Sebastian Rumsby, a PhD candidate at University of Warwick whose research focuses on Christianity among the Hmong.

Bao hopes to push back against that by getting his palace back—so his Hmong clan can regain their spiritual homeland. AFP group.

One source said “the Tokyo ruling effectively confirms the legality of the removal of Mr. Okada and makes it almost impossible for him to regain control of OHL, UEC and its subsidiaries, including Okada Manila.”

In July 30 last year, Okada was nabbed in Hong Kong and subjected to a 10-hour intense interrogation over suspicion of multiple bribery by the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption. ICAC also ordered Okada to stay in Hong Kong once a month each year— or be hunted down like a fugitive from justice everywhere he goes. ernhil@yahoo.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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Parañaque squatters no longer

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HOUSANDS of residents of an urban poor community in Parañaque now own the land where they live through the intervention of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority on Wednesday conveyed the one-hectare property that Arroyo asked to be given to the occupants.

Arroyo visited the more than 400 families in Seaside (formerly Camp Claudio) in Tambo, Parañaque, bringing with her the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and National Housing Authority officials who will pave the way for the issuance of their long-delayed titles over their respective lots by the end of the year.

“Now we have reached the closure. We started this during my watch as president. I assure them that they will eventually own the land where their houses stand. But before the titling could be perfected the documents were lost, and only found during the present dispensation,” Arroyo said.

During the watch of President Rodrigo Duterte, they are assured that the titles will be theirs, added Arroyo.

Her announcement was met with jubilation by the residents who benefitted from her Executive Order 116 issued in August 2002 which declared portions of Camp Claudio as

socialized housing sites for disposition to qualified occupants.

Part of the declared sites belonged to BCDA. While the Certificate of Entitlement to Lot Allocation was issued to the residents, the processing for the release of individual titles was stalled when Malacañang in 2011 claimed the documents relating to the property were lost.

Upon the assumption of Duterte, residents again made followups.

In 2017, the lost documents were retrieved and the process resumed.

When Arroyo assumed the Speakership, she inquired on the status of her urban poor housing recipients.

It was then when she found out that a Deed of Conveyance from the BCDA to the NHA was necessary to finally process and release the titles to the beneficiaries.

Arroyo immediately coordinated with BCDA General Manager Vince Hizon for the release of the deed.

On Wednesday, the Deed of Conveyance was signed by Hizon and the NHA. Witnessing the event with Arroyo were Parañaque Rep. Eric Olivarez and Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Okada suffers setback in corporate battle

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

KAZUO Okada suffered a major loss and legal setback in his attempt to regain control of the corporate empire behind Okada Manila, the largest luxury integrated resort in the Philippines following a court decision.

The Tokyo District Court issued last Jan. 25 a decision that effectively brings to an end Okada’s bid to re-take control of Okada Holdings Limited.

OHL owns 67.9 percent of Universal Entertainment Corp.

UEC is a Japanese listed company that owns Tiger Resort Asia Limited which, in turn, owns Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. TRLEI is the Philippine company that owns and operates Okada Manila.

In its Jan. 25 decision, the Tokyo District Court confirmed the validity of the 30-year Trust Agreement which led to the ouster of Okada from control of OHL. A copy of the 26-page decision in Japanese, together with an English translation, was released to the media recently.

Okada’s legal setback in the Tokyo court is just the latest in a string of losses and legal setbacks both here and abroad. Last November 2018, the Parañaque Regional Trial Court dismissed the intra-corporate case filed

by Okada in the Philippines seeking to be reinstated in the TRLEI Board.

In 2017, Kazuo Okada was ousted from the management of OHL by his son, Tomohiro Okada, and daughter, Hiromi Okada.

Hiromi signed a 30-year Trust Agreement with her brother Tomohiro that gave the latter majority control of OHL.

6 cops face murder case

By Rio N. Araja

GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

Insurance System

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offer shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes will be on the date of bidding from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. only. Opening of Bids will immediately follow. Late bid envelopes will not be accepted

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

5.

PAYMENT DUE DATE Payable either in cash or Manager’s Checks within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of bidding EFI Shall submit the Letter of Guarantee (LOG) within forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of bidding 6.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a.

Date of Bidding b.

Name of the bidder c.

Exact address of property you are interested to bid d.

Transfer Certificate of Title No. e.

Mode of Payment f.

Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) g.

Signature of the bidder/representative

8.

10.

The following shall be inserted on the sealed bid envelope: a. the properly accomplished downloadable bid form b.

Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative d.

Pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable e.

Two (2) proofs of occupancy, if applicable e.1. Barangay certificate that Bidder is occupying or residing in the subject property e.2. (1) Valid Government Issued IDs, or (2) Latest Billing Address under Bidder’s Name f.

Pro-forma Certificate of due diligence (for occupied or unoccupied) The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope)

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he wants to buy, as long as, he posts the required 10% bid deposit of the total bid price for each property. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or through External Financing Institution.

MODE Cash

7.

9.

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and shall not be lower than the Minimum Acceptable Officer of the property. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service

11.

Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12.

The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1. Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13.

If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank prequalification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS).

The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of

Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount.

14.

The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: a. duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); b. photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); c.

Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; d.

Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; e. current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15.

A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/ winning bidder on the day of bidding.

16.

In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

17.

In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount.

18.

Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

19.

Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit.

20.

In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS.

21.

GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

22.

For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619.

SIX police officers from Pangasinan are facing murder charge before the Office of the Ombudsman for the death of a 17-year-old Dota player accused of being a member of an “akyat bahay” gang in 2018.

Christine Pascual, mother of the victim Joshua Laxamana, along with Maria Kristina Conti of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, also filed charges of obstruction of justice and planting of evidence against Chief Insp. John Corpuz, officer in charge of Pangasinan’s Rosales police; PO2s Arvin Abella, Roy Sarmiento and Ronald Casareno; SPO3 Oliver Vingua, and SPO1 Hilario Taquiqui Jr.

Accoring to Conti, even the police spot report had tagged Abella and Sarmiento as the perpetrators behind the killing of Laxamana, while Corpuz, Abella and Sarmiento were liable for planting of evidence.

Dr. Adan Arlie Guieb of the Rosales Infirmary Unit who autopsied the body of Laxamana was charged with obstruction of justice.

The complainant submitted an autopsy report by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun stating that the victim sustained a gunshot wound on the wrist, an indication that he tried to defend himself.

On Aug. 14, 2018, Pascual left her son at home in Tarlac City, Tarlac for work.

DPWH opens bike lane

By Vito Barcelo

THE Department of Public Works and Highways has opened a 5.58-kilometer bicycle lane facility along the stretch of Laguna Lake Highway in Taguig City.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said it was the government’s priority to build safe roads and bridges that would also cater to bikers and pedestrians, hence the inclusion of protected bike lanes and sidewalk spaces.

“The bike lane along Laguna Lake Highway is protected by a 2-meter planting strip to make cycling safe and comfortable for everyone,” Villar said.

Aimed to open up transportation, recreation, and health opportunities, the bike lane component was added to the 6.94-kilometer Laguna Lake Highway which was constructed to serve as an alternative route to EDSA and C-5.

DPWH has allocated P1.28 billion for the construction of Laguna Lake Highway, including the bicycle lane with provisions of street lights and road safety signages.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

KO artists beef up Midas tilt

WORLD-RANKED lightweight Romero Duno and interim world bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo headline a slambang show by ESPN 5 and 1Pacman Partylist tomorrow at the Midas Hotel and Casino.

Duno (18-1 with 14 KOs), who has a promotional contract with Oscar de La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), clashes with Indian Kuldeep Dhanda (7-1 with 1 KO).

Rep. Mikee Romero (1Pacman) expects a big crowd as Duno is out to make a strong statement.

“By helping stage this event, we hope to discover more talented Filipino boxers,” said Romero, who owns NorthPort in the PBA. “We also hope to encourage our young boxers to take boxing seriously because in this sport we have a chance of winning an Olympic gold.”

Pro boxing is the newest sport Romero has supported, being the godfather of the 2007 Philippine basketball team in the SEA Games and was the shooting head during the London Olympics.

“It’s part of my personal mission to help as many sports as I can,” added Romero.

In the other explosive pairing, Gaballo (20-0 with 17 KOs) collides with Yuya Nakamura (9-2-1 with seven KOs).

The other fights on tap will feature former world flyweight king Johnriel Casimero and fast-rising Dave Penalosa.

Duno, a protégé of JC Mananquil of Sanman Promotions, remains with GBP and is being groomed by De La Hoya as a future star in the US, where he has fought almost exclusively the last two years.

While the boxing event is free of admission, Mananquil said: “It will be a guaranteed night of action. It is worth watching. SanMan assures you of an all exciting fightcard.”

Davao del Norte teen bags games’ 1st athletics’ gold TAGUM CITY—Aaron Gumban woke up early to dominate the field, making him the first gold medalist in the athletics’ competition of the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg Thursday at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex here.

The 14-year-old Gumban displayed his deadly form when he ruled the 13-15 boys’ 5,0000-meter run in impressive fashion in this prestigious age-group event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and Province of Davao del Norte.

Carrying the banner of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, a small town onehour drive from this progressive city, Gumban clocked 17 minutes and 14 seconds to retain the gold medal that he also won last year in Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental.

But in the national finals, luck wasn’t on his side.

Gumban suffered an injury, denying him of a chance to test his mettle against other young runners from Luzon and the Visayas in the national finals in Baguio City.

“I competed in the national finals, but I didn’t finish the race. Now, I have another chance and I will do my best to win,” said Gumban, who woke up at 3 a.m. only to outrun Lordy Salpid of Gen. Santos City (19:05.07) and Rome Laviste Jr. of Davao del Sur (19:12.66) by wide margin.

In fact, Gumban was already cooling down and granting interview when Salpid and Laviste crossed the finish line to grab the silver and bronze medals, respectively, of this multi-sport event that also has STI College-Tagum and Alfalink Total Solutions Corp. as sponsors.

“I didn’t hold back. I gave everything I can,” he said, adding that he’s in good condition following a victorious stint in the Davao Regional Athletic Association last week.

Gumban, a Grade 8 student of Sto Tomas National High School, still has a chance to make it a triple crown when he competes in the steeplechase and 1,500-meter run in the next couple of days.

“From DAVRAA, I didn’t practice anymore. Anyway, I’m still in good condition. I just had some light workout to stay in shape. I know I can make it.”

Over at nearby throwing area, Mary Joy Mancera of Davao del Sur asserted her mastery when she ruled the 13-15 girls’ discus throw.

Durant lashes out at media

Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against the San Antonio Spurs at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Warriors thump Spurs; Harden stretches streak L

OS ANGELES—The Golden State Warriors eased to the top of the Western Conference on Wednesday, outclassing an under-strength San Antonio Spurs to score a comprehensive 141-102 win at the Oracle Arena.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich rested star players LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan citing “load management”, and could only watch as the powerful Warriors romped away with an emphatic win.

The reigning NBA champions started with five NBA All-Stars in their lineup—Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry—and had opened up a 66-52 lead at half-time.

An explosive third quarter saw the Warriors outscore their opponents by 49-31 to make the fourth quarter a formality.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr was satisfied at the ruthless streak shown by his side against their depleted opponents.

“Reality kind of set in in terms of the talent disparity with their guys being out,” Kerr said. “We kind of wore them

down. It’s important on a night like tonight, when you know that the other team’s best two players aren’t out there, that you stay focused.

“I was happy that our guys were able to do that.”

Thompson led the scoring with 26 points for the Warriors, with Durant posting 23 points and Curry 19.

Cousins also had 15 points while Kevon Looney and Andre Iguodala had 11 off the bench.

The Warriors now lead the West with 38 wins and 15 losses, pulling 1.5 games clear of second-placed Denver, who suffered a 135-130 defeat to Brooklyn.

D’Angelo Russell once again led the scoring for the Nets with 27 points on a night when seven players cracked double digits for Brooklyn.

The defeat left Denver second in the West with a record of 37-17.

Harden extends hot streak Elsewhere Wednesday, James Harden extended his red-hot scoring streak as the Houston Rockets overwhelmed the Sacramento Kings on the road.

Harden scored 36 points in a 127101 win for the Rockets, the reigning MVP’s 28th straight game where he has scored 30 points or more.

Gerald Green added 25 from the bench while starters Eric Gordon (20) and Chris Paul (15) backed Harden with useful contributions.

The win saw Houston improve to 32-22, leaving them in fifth spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

In the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo underscored his potential MVP credentials with a scintillating 43-point display as the Milwaukee Bucks bagged their 40th win of the season with a 148-129 rout of the Washington Wizards.

Antetokounmpo led a dominant offensive display by the Bucks, who now own the best record in the NBA and lead the Eastern Conference Standings with 40 wins against 13 defeats. AFP

NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue is joined by 20 NBA 2K players from Australia, China, New Zealand and the Philippines at the first-ever NBA 2K League APAC Invitational in Hong Kong. The two-day event took place Feb. 2 and 3 and will identify several elite players from the Asia-Pacific region who will become eligible for the 2019 NBA 2K League Draft.

OAKLAND—Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant lashed out at the media on Wednesday following reports linking him to a move to the New York Knicks.

Speculation over Durant’s future has intensified during the free agency window after the Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis and other players to the Dallas Mavericks on February 1.

Durant, who has not spoken to the media since the Porzingis trade, broke his silence on Wednesday following Golden State’s rout of San Antonio.

The two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP has been repeatedly linked to a move to the Knicks when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

However the 30-year-old insisted on Wednesday he was not thinking about his future, and attacked reporters for “twisting” his comments.

“I don’t think about that type of stuff, that’s your job,” Durant said.

“You all piling on me because I don’t want to talk to y’all about that.

I have nothing to do with the Knicks, I don’t know who traded Porzingis, it ain’t got nothing to do with me. I’m trying to play basketball.”

When pressed further, he told reporters: “Y’all come here every day, ask me about free agency, talk to my team-mates, talk to my coaches, rile up the fans about it.

“Now when I don’t want to talk to you all, it’s a problem with me?

Come on man. Grow up.”

Asked why he was reluctant to speak to the press, Durant added: “I just don’t trust any y’all. Every time I say something, it gets twisted up and thrown out in so many publications. Trying to tear me down with my words. And then when I don’t say nothing, it’s a problem.

PBA’s 2019 D-League lures top cage talents THE 2019 PBA D-League is expected to showcase young and talented players who could someday become the next basketball heroes in the country.

“The road to the PBA starts here (D-League), so we expect to see some of the leading basketball talents in the country,” said PBA Operations Head Eric Castro in his appearance in the “Usapang Sports” presented by the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila.

Castro said all 20 teams seeing action in the PBA D-League starting Feb. 14 are fielding outstanding players 17 years old and above, who can be the next June Mar Fajardo, Mark Caguiao and Terrence Romeo in the PBA. “This year’s PBA D-League teams, which include four commercial teams and champion teams from the UAAP, NCAA, NAASCU and UCBL, have assembled competitive lineups capable of winning the title,” added De Castro during the weekly sports forum supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the National Press Club and shown live on Facebook via Glitter Livestream.

De Castro, who represented PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, said the tournament will kick off on Valentine’s Day, with a doubleheader pitting CignalAteneo against Go for Gold-St. Benilde and Marinerong Pilipno against Valencia City-San Sebastian College at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

United Tennis Philippines to hold 104 tournaments this year GAINING momentum from a successful campaign last year, the Unified Tennis Philippines announced its plan to stage 70 Junior, 14 Senior, 7 Professional Open, 1 Trainers Open and 12 UTP Tennis Challenge Series for a total of 104 tennis tournaments this season as part of its mission to produce world-class Filipino players and popularize the sport at all levels.

“Getting these Filipino athletes out there to compete with other world-class tennis players has been our lifelong dream. I’m glad that we have gained traction since we rolled out UTP’s programs two years ago. And so we will continue to fulfill our mission to discover fresh talents and improve the quality of our tennis players from the professional level down to the grassroots’ level by providing them with proper training and international exposure,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and founder of UTP. The UTP is backed by Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop, Babolat, HEAD, Chris’ Sports, Dunlop, Toby’s Sports, Wilson, Decathlon, Mr. Freeze, and Madison Galleries.

Recently, the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis and Palawan Pawnshop Age Group Tennis held their kick-off tournaments at the Meralco Tennis Club in Pasig and at the Actifit Sports Center in Valenzuela, respectively. Both tournaments attracted more than 250 local junior, professional, and senior players, spearheaded by current top players John David Velez, Sebastien Lhuillier, Joewyn Pascua, Macie Carlos, Bliss Bayking, and Anna De Myer.

UTP will soon announce the cut-off period for selection of the 2019 UTP National Juniors Tennis through social media.

Last year, UTP formed several teams that played in Malaysia and Indonesia and were successful in producing winners in the Asian Tennis Federation and International Tennis Federation tournaments, with the Eala siblings Alex and Miko reaching the finals.

New initiatives and programs are also underway, including the introduction of an online tournament registration in the second quarter of the year and the staging of more level-based tournaments for club players such as the UTP

Unified Tennis Philippines Founding Members are shown here, namely (from left) Gerardo Maronilla, Julito Villanueva, Jackie Tomacruz, Jean Henri Lhuillier, Bobby Castro and Randy Villanueva.

Tennis Challenge series.

Just like in the past two years, the organization backed by Cebuana Lhuillier plans to send its players to this year’s

WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Future Stars event in China which aims to showcase top young talents from the Asia-Pacific region.

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Phoenix shoots for 5-0 record

By Jeric Lopez

Cindy Imbo (2) of Perpetual Lady Altas denied the attack of Arellano University’s Alyanna Marie San Gregorio in Game 1 of their teams’ Best-of-Three NCAA Finals. The Lady Altas of Coach Micheal Cariño won, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20, eager to grab the plum today on Game 2. Dennis Abrina

Local riders watch out for world-class Ronda rivals

By Peter Atencio ILOILO —Local riders will be facing a huge challenge from two world-ranked teams and a Russian national champion in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019, which opens today at the City Health Office here.

Team Terranganu of Malaysia will lean on the showing of 33-year-old Russian Artem Ovechkin, who is expected to be a force to reckon with in the bikefest after winning the general classification championship of the Tour de Langkawi and emerging as a national titleholder of his country’s top road race.

Ovechkin is the highest UCI-ranked participant in the Ronda with 597 points, with Team Terranganu ranked no. 35 in the world.

Also expected to dominate is world’s no. 112 Team Matrix Powertag of Japan, which is bannered by Spanish riders Jose Vicente Toribio Alcolea and Francisco Mancebo-Perez.

Last June, Ovechkin moved up in the world rankings after winning the men’s elite title in the 2018 National Road Championships’ Individual Time Trial General classification in Russia.

Ovechkin, who joined 17 races last year, also won the 2018 Tour of Almaty.

With the the strong presence of the foreign contingent, Standard Insurance-Navymen El Joshua Carino and Ronald Oranza will need all the help from their teammates in their bid to make an impression.

“Ang lamang namin sa mga foreign team and riders, ay two weeks na kami dito at natingnan na namin ang ruta. Ang mga Pinoy naman ay dapat magtulungan dahil taga-rito kami,” said Oranza.

Stage 1 of this bikefest, which has drawn participation from 15 teams, including seven local squads, is a 197.6-kilometer journey, which ends at the Megaworld Festive Walk Mall finish line.

The 80-km mark of Stage 1 will offer difficulties since it is an uphill, bumpy and rolling terrain, with the scorching morning heat and strong winds giving the riders a push when they head west along the coastal roads of San Joaquin, Lawig and Anini.

Perpetual Help seeks volley triple-kill today U

NIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta is on the cusp of volleyball immortality as it guns for a rare volleyball triple-kill in the women’s, men’s and juniors’ divisions today in the 94th NCAA tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Lady Altas brought down the Arellano University Lady Chiefs, the reigning women’s champions, with a shock 21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 victory in Game 1 of their best-of-three series last week and could complete the massive upset with another win in their 4 p.m. showdown.

The Altas, for their part, turned back the stubborn College of St. Benilde Blazers, 23-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12, while the Junior Altas

waylaid the Letran Squires, 25-15, 25-19, 25-19, to move on the verge of a title sweep in their respective divisions.

If UPHSD wraps it all up today, it will be the eighth time in the league that a school swept all three divisions.

Ateneo, a former league member, was the first to accomplish the feat once in 1984, while San Sebastian College did the trick six times in 1984, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2002.

UPHSD is eyeing a fourth women’s crown, 12th men’s title and 11th juniors’ championship.

“We’re close to achieving something special and we’re going for it,” said Sammy Acaylar, UPHSD’s athletic director and men’s volley coach.

While UPHSD’s men’s and juniors’ teams are fancied to sweep their foes, its women’s team could expect rough sailing against an AU team expected to bounce back from a stinging Game 1 defeat and send the series into a decider on Tuesday.

The Obet Javier-mentored Lady Chiefs are expected to rely on their championship experience having won three titles in the last four seasons.

Makati Crunch climb to MPBL’s no. 2 spot

COURTESY CALL. Davao Occidental Cocolife Tigers’ team owner Claudine Bautista (left) and deputy team manager Ray Alao paid a visit to Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League top brass Senator Manny Pacquiao in his Senate Office recently. The South division MPBL Datu Cup frontrunning Tigers are backed by Cocolife President Elmo Nobleza, FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan.

SLOWLY but surely, Makati has climbed to the No. 2 spot of the northern division of the MPBL Datu Cup after the Super Crunch brought down Navotas, 96-87, late Wednesday night at the Navotas Sports Complex.

Six players ended up in double figures for the Super Crunch, who shot a steady 51-percent from the field (41-of-81) in beating the Clutch right at their own turf.

Jeckster Apinan, a former player of the NLEX Road Warriors, finished with a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.

But Apinan, an undersized forward, also got plenty of help from his teammates.

Ex-pro Joseph Sedurifa contributed 15 markers, the same output produced by Cedric Ablaza, while John Rey Villanueva added 13, Rudy Lingganay chipped in 11 and Mark Isip had 10 in a display of firepower by Makati, which now moved up to second spot at 18-4 card.

Following its latest win, Makati and Manila sport the same win-loss record, but by virtue of the win over the other rule, the Super Crunch will move up to second spot in the tough northern division put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Defense has always been the calling card of Makati, which held Navotas to just 38-percent shooting from the field (30-of-79). The Super Crunch grounded the Clutch’s big guns, most notably, Jai Reyes, who was held down to just seven markers.

World no. 2 Park inks rich deal with Solaire

SOUTH Korean world No. 2 Sung Hyun Park firmed up her claim as the next global golfing star as she agreed to sign a record-breaking main sponsorship deal with Solaire Resort & Casino ahead of her third-year campaign on the LPGA Tour.

The sponsorship contract is said to be the richest ever in Korean women’s golf history.

With Solaire as chief backer, the 25-yearold Park, a two-time Major winner, will be playing with Solaire in her cap for the next two years on the LPGA Tour as she bids to claim the world’s No. 1 ranking.

Solaire, presenter of the country’s premier championship, the Philippine Open, the last few seasons, including last year’s Centennial staging, is run by Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc., a subsidiary of

Sureste Properties Inc. Park, Sung Hwan Lee, CEO of Park’s management agency SEMA Sports Marketing, and Cyrus Sherafat, executive vice president for Casino Marketing, Solaire Resort and Casino, will sign the contract in formal rites in South Korea next week.

Park will also banner the elite cast in the inaugural The Country Club Ladies Invitational set March 6-8 at the TCC layout in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Meanwhile, tickets to the TCC event, also serving as a leg of the Taiwan LPGA, are pegged at P3,000 for the first two days and P7,000 for the final round or P12,000 for all three days. For details and reservations, email lpgtinvitational@gmail.com or contact Jocelyn Duque at 09157974751.

THE top two teams continue their quest for more success as frontrunners Phoenix and Rain or Shine plunge back to action against separate rivals.

The unbeaten Fuel Masters (4-0) want a firmer grip on the top spot when they go for a fifth straight win against fellow streaking team NLEX (2-3) at 4:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena today.

The second-running Elasto Painters (4-1) will then try to keep in pace when they shoot for a third straight win when they face NorthPort (2-1) at 7 p.m. in the nightcap.

The last time out, Phoenix further showed its strength by scuttling Blackwater, 114-95, for its fourth straight win last week.

Fuel Masters’ top gunner Matthew Wright is glad to see his team’s hot start and development this early in the season.

“Honestly, it’s a great feeling.

Seeing everything develop for us feels really good,” said Wright. “I’m very happy with how we’re playing right now.”

The Road Warriors, though, are expected to be a tough customer for Phoenix.

After starting at the bottom with a 0-3 slate, NLEX has picked it up, racking up two straight wins, the last one against Meralco, 87-83, to get back into the thick of things.

However, the Road Warriors once again lost a key cog in Kevin Alas, who tore his ACL again on his right knee a year after the first tear. He is already out for the season.

Staying steady in second place, the Elasto Painters aim on flying higher as a win can possibly put them up top, depending on the result of Phoenix and NLEX’s tussle.

Rain or Shine has been consistent with its fresh attack, victimizing Alaska, 85-72, last Sunday to keep the ball rolling.

It expects a tough challenge ahead from NorthPort, which will play its first game in almost two weeks.

NBL 2nd season opens March 9 at Sta. Rosa gym THE second season of the National Basketball League will open on March 9 at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

NBL chairman Celso ‘Soy’ Mercado said the opening matches will feature a rematch of last season’s finals between the Parañaque Aces and the Dasmariñas Ballers, and a tiff between the home squad Laguna Pistons and the Taguig Generals.

Mercado said the league is eyeing 12 to 14 teams this season, with founding teams Quezon City and Cam Sur among the teams that have confirmed participation.

Mercado also said the Women’s NBL (WNBL) and NBL Youth will also open shop in the second season of the league.

“We are planning to have an NBL Youth 17-under and 12-under divisions aside from the women’s tournament which will also be played before the NBL men’s this coming March 9,” said Mercado during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Tapa King Cubao Farmers Market recently.

Mercado also bared the Parañaque Aces, as incentive for winning last season’s crown, will be going to Vietnam to play in the Vietnam Basketball Association preseason games.

Mercado said the league also has big plans for the league including a 30-above commercial league and an NBL selection that will be playing in the PBA D-League.

Park won the US Women’s Open in July 2017 and four months later became the world No. 1. The latest among a slew of Koreans who has dominated women’s world golf, Park topped the LPGA of Korea Tour in 2016. She then took her act to the LPGA Tour the following year and became only the second player after legend Nancy Lopez to win the Rookie and Player of the Year honors.

Park also won the Women’s PGA Championship in Illinois last year. After holding the world’s top ranking for only one week, Park regained the No. 1 spot after topping the Indy Women in Tech Championship in Aug. 2018. She ended the season third on the LPGA money list and second in the world to Sung Hyun Park will be doubly inspired as she shoots for Thai Ariya Jutanugarn. world No. 1

IN BRIEF Cebu Landmasters to expand leasing unit CEBU Landmasters Inc., the leading local developer in the Visayas and Mindanao, expects the leasing business to contribute 10 percent to total revenues by 2023.

CLI president and chief executive Jose Soberano III said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the company aimed to increase recurring revenues by 2023, with leasing portfolio seen to exceed 200,000 square meters.

Soberano said the company was expecting the expansion of recurring income streams within the next four years while completing ongoing commercial leasing projects.

These projects include the Base Line HQ, Latitude Corporate Center, The Plaza at 38 Park Avenue, Astra Centre Lifestyle Mall, Astra Corporate Center, The Paragon Davao Lifestyle Mall and The Paragon Convention Center and Phase 1 of the Davao Global Township.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

U-Bix expects 15% growth in revenues THE U-Bix Group’s local company said it expects a 15-percent growth in revenues to P2.64 billion this year from P2.3 billion in 2018, amid strong demand for excellent copying systems despite the push to a paperless economy.

U-Bix group director May Ann Bravo-Civil said the incremental growth in revenue would come from the company’s core businesses in photocopying systems and from the professional management business.

“Despite the increasing reach and influence of digital technology, I believe the company still remains relevant. A testament to this is the continuing increase of our annual revenues. This means that our products and services are still relevant,” she said in a news briefing Thursday.

U-Bix Corp., one of the two core businesses of the group, generated P1.2 billion in revenues in 2018 while sister company Facilities Managers Inc. announced revenues of P1.1 billion, a 29-percent increase from 2017.

Othel V. Campos

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

B1

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PEPSI-COLA’S AWARDS. The Zamboanga plant of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. receives three major awards during the 2nd Industry Tripartite Councils Summit. The plant is awarded 2018 Most Outstanding Company with Zero Accident, 2018 Most Outstanding Company for Regularly Submitting Occupational Safety and Healt Reports and 2018 Most Outstanding Unionized Company for Sustainable Livelihood Program. Receiving the awards are operations manager Dan Israel Orina (fourth from left) and EHS officer Magielindo Navarette (center) from Labor Department Region 9 director IX Ofelia Domingo.

Bangko Sentral decides to keep rates unchanged

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, kept the benchmark interest rates steady Thursday on the back of a stabilizing inflation environment.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a news briefing after the Monetary Board meeting the overnight borrowing rate was kept unchanged at 4.75 percent. The interest rates on overnight lending and deposit facilities were also maintained.

“The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment of a more manageable inflation environment. Latest baseline forecasts show inflation set-

tling within the target band of 2 to 4 percent for 2019 to 2020, as price pressures continue to recede due to the decline in international crude oil prices and the normalization of supply conditions for key food items,” Guinigundo said, while reading the statement of Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., the board chairman, who was on an extended medical leave.

Inflation in January 2019 slowed to a 10-month low of 4.4 percent from 5.1 percent in December.

Guinigundo said inflation expectations also declined further and were now aligned to the inflation target for 2019 to 2020.

“At the same time, domestic demand conditions have remained firm, supported by a projected recovery in household spending and the sustained implementation of the government’s infrastructure projects,” he said.

Guinigundo said that as a result, the board reduced the inflation forecasts for 2019 and 2020. For 2019, inflation fore-

cast was reduced to 3.07 percent from the 3.18-percent estimate made during the Dec. 13, 2018 meeting.

The 2020 forecast was also cut to 2.98 percent from the Dec. 13 assumption of 3.04 percent.

“Meanwhile, the risks to the inflation outlook are seen to remain evenly balanced for 2019 while leaning toward the downside for 2020 given a more uncertain global economic environment, which in turn could temper potential upward pressures from commodity prices in the coming months,” he said.

He said the board deemed the prevailing monetary policy settings to be appropriate, as previous monetary responses continued to work their way through the economy.

Guinigundo said the BSP remained vigilant against developments that could affect the outlook for inflation and prepared to take appropriate policy action as needed to safeguard its price and financial stability objectives.

BEST CORPORATE BOND. International

Container Terminal Services Inc. wins The Asset’s Triple A Country Awards 2018 Best Corporate Bond – Philippines for the company’s $400 million fixed-for-life perpetual securities issued in January 2018. ICTSI is the first Asean issuer to offer equity-accounted fixed-for-life senior perpetual securities in the international debt capital market. Accepting the award is ICTSI vice president and treasurer Gigi Miguel (center) during The Asset Triple A Country Awards 2018 dinner held on Jan. 24 at the Grand Ballroom of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.

Cebu expressway builder obtains P19-b bank loan CEBU Cordova Link Expressway Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., said Thursday it signed a P19-billion syndicated loan facility to finance the construction of the CebuCordova Link Expressway project.

CCLEC signed the 15-year omnibus loan and security agreement with Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Development Bank of the Philippines, Robinsons Bank Corp., Union Bank of the Philippines, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Security Bank Corp.

Under a concession with the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova, CCLEC will construct, own and operate the 8.5-kilometer toll bridge project with a total cost of about P30 billion.

The remaining funding requirements will be shouldered by the project company. Actual construction started on July 5, 2018.

All 21 piles of the main bridge’s Tower 2 were completed while 17 of 21 piles at Tower 1 were erected.

These form part of the bridge’s main foundation. Piling works for the other project components such as the Cebu South Coastal Road on-ramp and viaduct are underway.

Once completed by 2021, CCLEX is expected to serve 50,000 vehicles daily, reducing traffic congestion at the existing two bridges connecting Mactan and mainland Cebu.

It is also expected to beef up Cebu’s road network, spur economic growth and boost investments not just in Cebu City and Cordova town, but also in the entire Cebu province and the Visayas region.Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Okada camp vows to regain control of holding firm

Study: BDO emerges most reputable bank BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender controlled by the Sy family, emerged as the most reputable bank in the country, moving up two notches from third place in 2008, according to Kantar TNS, one of the world’s largest research agencies with experts in over 90 countries.

Kantar recently launched the 2018 Corporate Reputation Study, a quantitative program about the operations of the different banks in the Philippines.

The study is a follow-up to the same survey conducted in 2008.

Kantar research showed that BDO overtook Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. and the Bank of the Philippine Islands and came out as the most reputable bank in total ranking this year.

“BDO ranked no. 1 in total ranking, and in GMA. On the other hand, albeit with softening reputation, Metrobank manages to maintain its lead in Metro Cebu, while BPI and BPI Family placed second in both GMA and Metro Cebu,” Kantar said. Julito G. Rada

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

Foreign traders push for 3 bills to ease investment restrictions FOREIGN business groups supported the call of the government’s economic managers for Congress to swiftly approve three bills that aim to lift or ease restrictions on the entry of foreign investments.

The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines said in a statement these measures would help create more jobs and bring in new technologies to improve the global competitiveness of the Philippines.

The group, which counts the biggest organizations of foreign businesses, said the bills aimed to amend the Foreign Investment Act, the Retail Liberalization Act of 2000 and the Public Service Act. Lowering the employment threshold for foreigners investing at least $100,000 in small and medium enterprises here is among the key amendments being sought under the Foreign Investments Act. Amendments to the Retail Liberal-

ization law seeks to reduce the minimum paid-up capital required for foreign investments in retail trade, while revisions to the Public Service Act seek to redefine public utilities and thereby lift ownership restrictions on certain sectors such as telecommunications.

The letter was signed by James Wilkins, president of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc.; Daniel Alexander, president of Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines; Julian Payne, president of Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc.; Nabil Francis, president of European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines; Naoto Tago, president of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc.; Ho Ik Lee, president of Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines; and Evelyn Ng, president of Philippine Association

of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc. The joint statement issued last month by the Departments of Finance and Budget and Management along with the National Economic and Development Authority on the performance of the economy in the fourth quarter and the whole of 2018 called on Congress to approve these investment-friendly bills, which they described as “needed and urgent” to “help attract foreign investments in manufacturing.”

This sector, the economic managers said, remained an “area of concern,” given its lackluster performance during that year.

The JFC said it was in “strong agreement” with this call, considering that such reforms “will attract large amounts of new foreign investment, provide more jobs and transfer important technology for the betterment of the Philippine economy.” Julito G. Rada

THE group of Japanese casino magnate Kazuo Okada vowed to regain control of his holding company after a Tokyo court ruled that the 2017 sibling trust agreement that led to Okada’s ouster is binding.

Lawyers representing Okada said in a statement the Tokyo decision regarding the agreement between his two children was not yet final and that Okada’s daughter Hiromi planned to appeal the decision in the complaint filed against her by brother Tomohiro.

“Until the decision becomes final, the fight is not yet over and Kazuo Okada remains in control of Universal Entertainment Corp. as the 99-percent owner of Okada Holdings Limited,” the lawyers said.

Hiromi testified in Tokyo that Tomohiro took advantage of her weak emotional state to trick her into signing two share trust agreements dated March 2 and May 23, 2017 that led to the alleged illegal ouster of their father from OHL. Hiromi also claimed Tomohiro did not explain to him the contents of the documents that she signed, contrary to the claim of his brother.

“On that day [March 2, 2017], I was going overseas again the following day, so I was really tired. There was no explanation. In a few minutes, I signed them and it was over,” said Hiromi, who reconciled with her father in August 2017.

Lawyers of Okada also promised to continue their fight for control of Universal Entertainment Corp. and Philippine subsidiary Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. which operates the $2.4 billion integrated resort and casino Okada Manila.

Okada Holdings Limited owns 68 percent of UEC, the parent company of TRLEI. “As the rightful owner of Okada Holdings, how can they not consult him on matters regarding his company and his property,” the lawyers said, adding that the casino mogul remained opposed to the backdoor listing of TRLEI under Asiabest Group International Inc.

Aboitiz’s subsidiary signs deal to build new telecom towers

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABOITIZ InfraCapital, the infrastructure unit of the Aboitiz Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to build, operate and maintain a network of towers throughout the Philippines.

Under the MoA, part of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s responsibilities is to secure a binding contract with telecom operators in the country. Once this is secured, the company will discuss a memorandum of agreement with DICT. Aboitiz InfraCapital chief operating officer Cosette Canilao said the signed document underscored the need to build a robust, modern and efficient telecommunication infrastructure which is crucial to the economic development of the Philippines.

She said that with the reputable and strong track record of the Aboitiz Group, the company was offering its services to provide a solution to such a pressing need.

“The Aboitiz group possesses extensive experience in building and operating utility networks, for example, through its distribution utilities Visayan Electric Co. Inc. and Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. Moreover, the Aboitiz group has established a strong track record on the management and execution of complex projects,” Canilao said.

Aboitiz InfraCapital, through sister company AboitizPower, would provide the expertise to find efficient solutions for the power requirements of the cellular towers, she said.

She said a strong nationwide presence, coupled with proven project development, execution and asset management capabilities, would enable the Aboitiz Group to implement its initiatives efficiently and maximize its full potential.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market rises; PNB advances T HE stock market rose Thursday on expectations the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will keep interest rates in a policy meeting late in the day.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 41.85 points, or 0.5 percent, to 8,100.30 on a value turnover of P7.4 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 115 to 96, with 47 issues unchanged.

The inflation rate in January fell to a 10-month low of 4.4 percent from 5.1 percent in December, giving the central bank time to pause from recent interest rate hikes.

Premiere Horizon Alliance Corp. advanced 8.7 percent to P1.37. The company last month obtained a

€250-million (P15 billion) fund facility from Sama Global Investment, a global investment fund with headquarters in Doha, Qatar, which it could use to finance its foray into real estate, tourism hospitality, tourism and infrastructure construction, power generation, financial services and other allied projects.

Philippine National Bank, the fifth largest lender in terms of assets, climbed 4.8 percent to P49, while SM Investments Corp. of the SM Group added 2 percent to P1,000.

ISM Communications Corp., a member of the consortium declared by the government as the country’s third major telecommunications firm, fell 2.8 percent to P6.55.

The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Thursday as regional investors began to return from their Lunar New Year break, though Tokyo edged lower after a

negative lead from Wall Street.

Most trading floors have re-opened but business remains light, with Hong Kong and Shanghai still closed, while focus turns on the resumption next week of China-US trade talks in Beijing.

The two sides will try to hammer out a deal to resolve their long-running tariffs row, with markets broadly hopeful just three weeks before a deadline that will see the US more than double levies on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods.

Donald Trump has said he plans to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before the end of the month to put the finishing touches to any deal, which would be in both countries’ interest as the global economy begins to wobble.

Sydney climbed more than one percent and Wellington put on 0.7 percent with investors cheered by the prospect of an

extended period of low interest rates.

Seoul edged up 0.1 percent and Singapore put on 0.8 percent while Jakarta was also well up.

However, Tokyo fell 0.6 percent despite a near 18 percent surge in SoftBank, its biggest rise in a decade, fueled by news of a $5.5-billion share buyback using cash from last month’s listing of its mobile phone unit.

On currency markets the New Zealand dollar tanked more than one percent on the back of weak jobs data, while the Australian dollar extended Wednesday’s sell-off that was fueled by comments from the country’s top central banker hinting interest rates would not rise any time soon.

Analysts pointed to their correlation to China’s economy, which is stuttering at the moment, uncertainty on Wall Street and nervousness ahead of the trade talks.

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.45 500 93 4,332,550 2.29 15,000 140.2 2,304,270 1.43 32,000 28 172,500 7.58 200 17.16 267,100 13.06 1,411,700 4.8 2,655,000 0.66 2,000 1.4 14,000 0.475 910,000 83.2 2,022,070 1.16 1,929,000 13.6 13,400 22.95 4,000 49 3,002,300 186 500 122 210 59.4 4,760 26.3 136,700 179.8 83,420 1,795 210 63.8 9,080 1.17 133,000

29,725 402,926,184 33,970 323,627,311 45,770 4,835,840 1,516 4,543,644 18,676,108 13,128,140 1,320 20,160 433,000 168,198,035.50 2,266,240 182,280 91,840 146,047,715 93,020 23,240 283,121 3,602,585 15,009,758 377,600 580,958 155,590

-29,725 -21,878,943 76,396,777 -4,238,795 1,010,902 -6,222,892 -25,250 60,983,413.50 -292,500 (21,,467,855.0004) 2,486,025 -4,102,459 -280,220 -

37.65 16.36 1.03 1.36 0.245 2.58 15.8 130 29.9 16.12 41.5 1.75 6.07 6.81 11.72 16.12 8.36 7.55 20.45 72.9 26.8 2.97 9.3 13.28 1.67 319.2 49.1 3.28 10 27.25 12.82 18.4 368 0.187 5.95 1.38 3.69 7.65 6.3 8.82 1.34 10.88 48.4 6 4.8 2.07 2.98 1.38 13 95 6.33 0.131 0.97 147 1.73 1.4

INDUSTRIAL 37.7 667,800 16.58 447,000 1.04 2,084,000 1.39 11,000 0.255 5,680,000 2.58 15,978,000 15.88 1,806,800 139.8 1,750 30 71,900 17.5 20,000 41.5 500 1.75 164,000 6.39 90,300 6.81 154,300 11.9 4,319,600 16.12 182,900 8.38 1,717,900 7.72 834,400 20.6 1,365,400 73 359,080 27.9 5,000 3.15 32,046,000 9.42 1,859,300 13.38 1,236,400 1.72 386,000 323 538,370 49.15 300 3.3 54,000 10.88 5,191,500 27.4 1,345,100 12.82 641,700 18.62 4,371,500 371 61,070 0.209 12,270,000 6.15 3,600 1.4 6,236,000 3.72 36,000 7.66 4,668,900 6.45 504,900 8.95 9,700 1.35 21,809,000 11.18 56,600 48.55 529,600 6 146,900 4.82 284,000 2.17 1,686,000 3.02 20,000 1.41 304,000 13 203,400 97 279,370 6.33 38,300 0.135 1,520,000 0.97 400,000 147.1 1,624,850 1.77 1,836,000 1.43 2,357,000

25,278,405 7,368,940 2,169,750 15,230 1,407,540 41,869,290 28,678,692 228,592 2,163,910 344,836 20,750 288,850 550,978 1,051,998 51,248,544 2,952,580 14,391,745 6,437,344 28,128,565 26,253,562 135,150 98,851,060 17,713,192 16,507,060 662,460 172,687,304 14,740 177,320 52,069,096 36,875,815 8,267,432 81,451,376 22,618,104 2,412,650 21,460 8,731,520 133,360 36,188,407 3,224,891 85,703 29,563,950 622,732 25,724,995 884,430 1,365,440 3,650,610 59,960 426,230 2,645,254 27,033,914 242,644 203,880 395,380 242,461,046 3,215,790 3,346,120

7,470,185 1,096,154 166,690 -9,970,090 1,345,732 -296,360 12,450 17,780 373,848 10,927,080 1,807,822 -3,035,336 -610,416 12,785,010 -6,163,812.50 -5,222,360 2,583,102 8,963,792 49,264,416 50,266,000 -15,491,670 -1,158,766 27,782,152 9,929,550 57,360 -887,330.00 7,266,115 -127,200 -20,417 -8,866,520 -13,888,815 149,649 -308,670 -21,000 11,200 2,126,794 -1,499,670.50 21,150 -127,440 7,027,222 17,500 46,580

0.86 63.6 13.88 0.84 6.5 29.45 1.44 1.45 944.5 7.44 12.72 13.2 0.27 1,129 6.38 65.75 5.51 0.69 5.3 15.6 0.6 4.98 0.041 1.16 2.79 2.64 165.9 2.28 1,005 1.39 466 279.8 0.275 0.4

0.82 61.9 13.78 0.8 6.5 26.45 1.4 1.42 926 7.33 12.58 13 0.24 1,100 6.02 64 5.51 0.64 5.18 15.32 0.57 4.93 0.038 1.16 2.69 2.55 162.8 2.27 984 1.37 465 278 0.255 0.325

HOLDING FIRMS 0.85 48,050,000 63.2 456,300 13.86 1,715,700 0.82 139,000 6.5 100 27.3 279,600 1.43 1,968,000 1.44 413,000 933 302,920 7.35 904,200 12.6 2,076,000 13.1 129,000 0.241 2,590,000 1,100 131,070 6.38 10,100 65 964,670 5.51 200 0.67 428,000 5.18 2,353,700 15.36 3,462,000 0.59 329,000 4.94 10,161,000 0.041 19,700,000 1.16 132,000 2.74 792,000 2.64 25,000 163.1 478,310 2.27 9,000 1,000 150,460 1.37 51,000 465 70 278 1,170 0.255 12,640,000 0.38 174,190,000

40,448,400 28,829,541 23,756,864 112,530 650 7,610,115 2,803,590 590,740 283,513,515 6,667,387 26,183,016 1,696,268 633,020 146,447,990 61,117 62,655,210 1,102 283,160 12,369,663 53,237,414 191,790 50,321,180 779,000 153,120 2,160,580 64,350 78,314,783 20,460 150,235,275 69,950 32,580 325,408 3,313,650 65,394,200

1,375,930 67,725.50 -3,987,812 650 114,845 337,680 -106,692,290 3,374,393 8,387,004 31,344 28,994,750 29,608,091.50 6,727,950 -11,754,918 -8,114,720 -11,160 -9,319,459 58,633,590 -57,540 88,980 2,902,450

10.4 0.84 11.1 1.89 0.92 45.25 2.65 4.1 6.32 0.49 0.86 0.91 0.265 0.42 10.34 23.7 0.52 0.143 1.61 1.26 5.34 0.46 0.475 2.28 0.46 3.25 50 22.9

9.98 0.81 10.58 1.76 0.86 44.85 2.55 3.94 6.26 0.48 0.85 0.88 0.247 0.4 10 22.7 0.51 0.129 1.57 1.23 5.26 0.43 0.455 2.21 0.45 3.13 50 22.3

13,154,922 1,505,490 250,486 563,100 2,328,020 550,090,700 3,843,000 11,621,010 553,596 3,993,400 11,910 202,990 14,918,890 813,400 18,997,230 36,868,090 141,340 73,960 23,080,800 2,698,860 111,743,245 13,462,300 1,157,150 19,546,860 580,050 1,193,570 1,000 53,039,755

1,379,858 -164,280 257,669,605 -734,200 -10,490,540 540,992 -38,700 5,400 -6,395,840 8,288,460.00 12,984,305 -84,660 -6,937,920 93,000 -27,950,210 -134,950 473,290 211,100 -154,840 -25,539,930

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.45 93 2.23 140 1.44 28 7.58 17.16 13.3 4.9 0.66 1.48 0.485 83 1.14 14 21.5 47 186.5 110.1 59.8 26.7 180.4 1,800 64.25 1.16

59.45 93.4 2.29 141.8 1.44 28.5 7.58 17.16 13.34 5.15 0.66 1.48 0.485 83.35 1.19 14 23.95 49.9 186.5 122 59.8 26.7 181.4 1,800 64.25 1.17

59.45 92.6 2.23 139.7 1.43 27.95 7.58 16.9 13.06 4.73 0.66 1.4 0.47 82.6 1.14 13.6 21.5 47 186 110.1 59.4 26.3 179 1,795 63.75 1.16

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR 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 VULCAN INDL

37.7 16.5 1.07 1.36 0.255 2.59 15.96 131.1 30.2 18.5 41.5 1.77 6.15 6.82 11.76 16.4 8.36 7.59 20.5 73.4 26.8 3 9.8 13.6 1.7 322 49.1 3.28 10 27.5 12.9 18.56 369 0.207 5.95 1.39 3.7 7.75 6.3 8.82 1.37 11 48.5 6.05 4.86 2.17 2.98 1.38 13.14 97.4 6.41 0.138 1.02 151 1.75 1.44

38.55 16.58 1.07 1.39 0.26 2.7 15.96 139.8 30.5 18.6 41.5 1.79 6.39 6.83 12 16.4 8.38 7.75 20.7 74.4 27.9 3.16 9.8 13.68 1.78 323 49.15 3.3 11.7 27.5 13 18.76 371.2 0.209 6.15 1.42 3.73 7.87 6.5 9 1.37 11.18 48.8 6.05 4.86 2.22 3.02 1.41 13.14 97.45 6.41 0.138 1.03 151 1.77 1.44

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 PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.85 61.9 13.82 0.8 6.5 28 1.41 1.42 935 7.44 12.66 13.2 0.25 1,129 6.02 64.95 5.51 0.69 5.3 15.6 0.6 4.96 0.04 1.16 2.75 2.57 165 2.28 985 1.38 466 279.8 0.27 0.35

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

10.4 0.84 10.94 1.89 0.88 45 2.65 4.07 6.26 0.485 0.85 0.91 0.255 0.42 10.1 23.15 0.52 0.143 1.61 1.25 5.33 0.435 0.47 2.22 0.455 3.24 50 22.9

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

2.02 3.12 38.7 1.48 6 0.72 6.26

2.02 3.12 39 1.48 6.05 0.76 6.27

2 3.11 38.7 1.4 5.9 0.7 6.08

2 3.12 38.7 1.45 6.03 0.76 6.19

6,000 63,000 5,054,700 1,565,000 481,600 659,000 129,602,900

12,100 196,270 196,668,830 2,214,370 2,887,703 474,860 802,221,576

78,232,860 -17,760 -22,340,932

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

13.8 23.9 1.32 0.465 0.043 3.15 11.52 0.066 91.2 7.98 7.18 7.3 2.1 15.2 896 2,022 5.78 337.4 11.6 2.94 1.98 111.6 11.58 7.2 0.138 7.35 3.11 14.8 3.5 0.82 21 0.36 4.74 2.63 2.1 2.08 15.36 3.15 9.79 13 3.52 130.5 3.04 1,290 1.01 1.3 48.6 88.4 8.18 2.44 0.81 0.45 5.51 0.75 14.7

14.08 24.25 1.38 0.465 0.044 3.29 11.6 0.066 91.2 8 7.2 7.3 2.1 15.2 896 2,050 5.81 360 11.62 2.94 1.98 111.6 11.58 7.2 0.138 7.4 3.11 15.1 3.5 0.83 21 0.36 4.89 2.78 2.16 2.27 16 3.26 9.79 13 3.6 131 3.19 1,294 1.03 1.41 48.9 89 8.45 2.46 0.82 0.47 5.55 0.77 14.7

13.7 23.9 1.31 0.46 0.042 3.04 11.46 0.063 90.45 7.68 6.71 7.29 2.02 14.9 896 2,004 5.78 337.4 11.6 2.85 1.98 110.2 11.18 7.18 0.125 6.52 3.11 14.8 3.36 0.81 20.1 0.35 4.73 2.63 2.06 2.05 15.36 3.06 9.35 12.66 3.5 130.1 3.01 1,276 1 1.27 48.2 87.5 8.17 2.4 0.79 0.445 5.5 0.75 14.56

SERVICES 13.9 24.1 1.38 0.46 0.043 3.24 11.56 0.066 90.5 8 6.73 7.3 2.02 15 896 2,016 5.8 358 11.62 2.86 1.98 111.1 11.42 7.2 0.134 6.55 3.11 15.1 3.42 0.83 20.3 0.35 4.89 2.75 2.08 2.15 16 3.23 9.74 12.8 3.6 131 3.19 1,283 1 1.37 48.65 88.5 8.3 2.4 0.8 0.455 5.54 0.75 14.62

116,800 248,900 662,000 1,800,000 19,300,000 1,848,000 2,405,300 41,770,000 191,650 54,900 4,331,400 25,900 45,000 148,800 20 37,480 129,000 1,570 1,200 1,148,000 8,000 3,154,020 4,000 4,300 16,210,000 63,782,900 2,000 51,800 521,000 26,000 1,312,300 240,000 79,000 2,618,000 320,000 56,000 1,000 11,039,000 2,700 168,600 3,000 3,900 5,403,000 80,360 10,901,000 169,698,000 3,389,400 607,220 48,900 14,305,000 9,602,000 38,140,000 195,600 5,698,000 6,548,200

1,619,856 6,001,525 871,000 829,550 819,400 5,845,150 27,776,432 2,693,130 17,359,263.50 438,990 30,259,147 189,058 93,490 2,235,040 17,920 75,706,740 748,230 559,182 13,932 3,297,310 15,840 350,643,662 45,144 30,934 2,127,230 445,541,261 6,220 777,798 1,777,670 21,280 26,833,075 85,000 374,130 7,173,900 673,470 119,970 15,936 34,785,250 26,349 2,155,402 10,620 509,015 16,856,180 103,062,710 10,998,000 231,428,680 164,815,105 53,713,260 404,912 34,674,300 7,701,710 17,519,150 1,083,434 4,309,710 95,729,358

13,760 11,790 46,000 16,070 22,051,396 -2,303,482.50 1,139,019 71,322 8,960 -7,659,620 57,440 -76,739,207 -1,142 -33,250 -5,786,122 -189,420 758,690 1,362,625 520,800 -2,352,180 38,160 505,100 -7,353,440 17,223,410 1,007,330 -4,446,480 57,989,615 27,450,600 -107,800.00 -4,240,820 -298,720 49,400 -531,376.00 50,089,616

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

0.0022 1.56 3 13 1.24 2.11 0.305 8.3 1.51 0.31 0.132 0.137 0.008 1.12 2.76 1.14 0.69 1.03 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.74 4.19 14.36 24.3 0.008

0.0023 1.58 3.06 13.46 1.24 2.11 0.315 8.8 1.51 0.355 0.132 0.137 0.0084 1.12 2.88 1.19 0.71 1.03 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.74 4.23 14.36 24.4 0.0092

0.0021 1.55 2.92 13 1.24 2.1 0.3 7.88 1.48 0.285 0.128 0.136 0.008 1.05 2.76 1.13 0.69 1 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.62 4.16 14.18 23.5 0.0076

MINING & OIL 0.0022 1,424,000,000 1.58 1,403,000 2.96 81,000 13.46 400 1.24 1,000 2.1 637,000 0.315 330,000 8.65 55,300 1.48 2,770,000 0.335 29,150,000 0.132 9,390,000 0.136 1,590,000 0.0081 25,000,000 1.09 617,000 2.86 9,520,000 1.16 644,000 0.71 280,000 1 680,000 0.013 21,400,000 0.013 101,500,000 0.012 173,300,000 3.62 169,000 4.23 644,000 14.18 1,401,900 23.9 1,183,500 0.0085 398,000,000

3,143,100 2,198,870 240,560 5,246 1,240 1,338,050 100,600 463,913 4,126,560 9,378,750 1,224,660 217,760 204,200 674,210 27,016,360 741,140 197,600 684,250 265,700 1,318,100 2,079,600 617,950 2,701,200 19,944,994 28,254,440 3,434,400

242,000 -46,500 -1,240 14,700 650,300 8,369,730.00 16,000 -10,800 -40,860 -540,084 -10,265,410 297,500.00

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

20.6 479.8 495 98.45 103.5 496.8 5.77 900 95.55 1.01 100.4 106.5 2.1 992 75.4 76.55 73.5 74.9 73 73.5

20.6 479.8 495 98.45 103.8 496.8 5.77 900 96 1.01 100.4 106.5 2.1 992 75.5 76.55 73.95 75 73 73.5

20.55 479 495 98.45 103.5 480 5.77 900 95.55 0.99 100.4 106.5 2.1 992 75.15 75.1 73.5 74.9 73 73.5

PREFERRED 20.55 572,000 479 650 495 20 98.45 40,410 103.8 5,680 490 2,020 5.77 112,600 900 110 96 1,300 0.99 58,000 100.4 1,500 106.5 200 2.1 1,000 992 40 75.5 45,340 75.1 85,160 73.95 16,200 75 7,700 73 21,000 73.5 1,000

11,774,445 311,390 9,900 3,978,364.50 589,509 970,588 649,702 99,000 124,620 57,520 150,600 21,300 2,100 39,680 3,407,804.50 6,477,308.50 1,192,050 576,770 1,533,000 73,500

-8,788,770 522,762 301,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.03

2.03

1.97

WARRANTS 2 112,000

222,770

-

5,909,520 5,720 30,052,960

57,700 686,330

374,962

24,180

1,000

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 10.06 0.82 11.1 1.76 0.9 45.25 2.59 4 6.32 0.485 0.86 0.88 0.247 0.41 10.28 23.2 0.51 0.131 1.57 1.23 5.29 0.45 0.455 2.27 0.46 3.19 50 22.4

1,292,000 1,825,000 23,100 313,000 2,582,000 12,189,700 1,477,000 2,906,000 87,600 8,260,000 14,000 226,000 58,740,000 1,990,000 1,853,600 1,576,900 275,000 540,000 14,495,000 2,185,000 21,108,700 30,130,000 2,520,000 8,756,000 1,270,000 378,000 20 2,368,800

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

4.99 2.86 1.71

4.99 2.86 1.71

4.74 2.86 1.6

FIRST METRO ETF

121.1

121.1

120

USD TECH B2

1

1

1

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

19,958,151

INDUSTRIAL

140,537,346

HOLDING FIRMS

287,083,944

PROPERTY

317,660,162

SERVICES

441,442,537

MINING & OIL

2,205,637,663

GRAND TOTAL

3,431,853,331

4.75 2.86 1.66

SME

1,224,000 2,000 18,300,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121 3,100 1

DDS

1,000

VALUE 1,857.82 (up) 4.64 1,151,785,002.38 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,794.32 (down) 5.06 1,142,446,889.21 HOLDING FIRMS 8,015.31 (up) 84.21 1,167,672,906.99 PROPERTY 4,008.42 (up) 6.87 1,619.90 (down) 0.61 1,924,855,695.69 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,739.77 (up) 0.47 1,884,624,351.205 PSEI 8,100.30 (up) 41.85 110,627,155.563 All Shares Index 4,906.57 (up) 13.09 7,418,367,453.57 Gainers: 96; Losers: 115; Unchanged: 47; Total: 258

SMC Global raising P60b from sale of peso bonds

By Jenniffer B. Austria SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., plans to raise up to P60 billion from the issuance of fixed rate peso bonds.

SMC Global Power said Thursday its board approved the bond issue for filing with the Securities and Exchange under a shelf registration program and listing under Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The power generation company will initially raise up to P25 billion with an oversubscription of P5 billion. The bonds will have tenors of three, five and seven years.

The company tapped five investment banks—BDO Capital and Investments Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital, PNB Capital and SB Capital— to as joint issue managers, underwriters and book-runners of the offering.

SMC Global Power plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to partially refinance existing loan obligations, re-denominate US dollar loans and invest in power related assets.

SMC Global Power said it incurred the loans mainly for the $1.9-billion acquisition of Zambales-based Masinloc power plant.

SMC Global Power tapped the local bond market last in August when its raised P15 billion from issuance of five-year fixed rate retail bond at 6.75 percent per annum.

It used the entire proceeds for refinancing outstanding shareholder advances and partially refunding existing loan obligations or redenomination of US dollar denominated obligations.

SMC Global Power is one of the largest power companies in the Philippines, with 4,197 megawatts of combined capacity as of September 30, 2018.

The company said its combined installed capacity comprised approximately 19 percent of the national grid, 25 percent of the Luzon grid and 9 percent of the Mindanao grid as of September 30, 2018.

The company said earlier it planned to put up 10,000 MW of renewable energy facilities, including large hydropower projects.

SMC Global Power’s expansion projects under construction include Unit 4 (150 MW) of the Limay Greenfield Power Plant and Unit 3 (335 MW) of the Masinloc Power Plant.

Marcventures says major infra projects completed in 2018 MARCVENTURES Mining and Development Corp. completed major infrastructure projects in 2018, all aimed at improving community road safety to enable mine site accessibility.

The completed projects include the widening of the 1.8-kilometer Panikian haul road on the active mine areas, and the bridges of Cabangahan, Alamio, and Banban where major river systems run through several Surigao del Sur towns.

MMDC general manager Rodrigo Cal said the Panikian road widening primarily aimed to establish a dedicated mine road that does not traverse with the existing provincial highway.

In so doing, Cal said safety was assured among company personnel and community members, while improving travel time for the company’s hauling equipment.

“Our primary concern here is safety and convenience for community residents, while resulting in transport efficiency for the company’s operations,” Cal said.

The three bridges, meanwhile, assure full access to its active mine areas.

Cal said the three bridges could be used by the community for its own use even after the end of MMDC’s mine life.

All infrastructure projects were completed earlier than the target dates.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

B3

World

TODAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COLLAPSE.

Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed sixstory building in Kartal district of Istanbul, Turkey, on February 7, 2019. At least two people were killed and several remained missing under the rubble after the collapse of the building.

AFP

IN BRIEF Canadian diplomats sue Ottawa OTTAWA―Canadian diplomats who suffered from mysterious health complaints while they were posted to Cuba in 2017 are suing Ottawa for taking too long to evacuate them and provide them treatment, reports said Wednesday.

Fourteen people, including current and former diplomats and their families, are seeking Can$28 million ($21 million) in damages from the federal government.

All of them have been back in Canada for a year but still suffer from what has become known as “Havana syndrome,” a mystery illness with symptoms including strong migraines as well as visual and auditory disorders.

According to CBC, which interviewed five of those affected, the first symptoms appeared in the spring of 2017—but they say that Ottawa waited more than a year before helping everyone.

Questioned on the subject on Wednesday while she was in Washington, foreign minister Chrystia Freeland said the safety of diplomats remained a top priority.

“I am not going to comment on the specifics, but I do want to reiterate that I have met with some of these diplomats and, as I said to them, their health and safety needs to be our priority and they have my true sympathy and concern,” she said. AFP

US House tackles climate change WASHINGTON―The US House of Representatives on Wednesday saw its first committee hearings on climate change and gun control in eight years following Democrats’ victory over Republicans in last year’s Congressional elections.

“No more climate denialism. No more evasions. @HouseDemocrats are in charge,” tweeted the House Natural Resources Committee.

A hearing on gun violence was held at the same time, also a first in eight years, in a sign of changing times on Capitol Hill.

Democrats retook control of the lower House in January after eight years of Republican majority. The Senate however remained in Republican hands.

But the new elected officials took office at first paralyzed by the longest federal government shutdown in American history.

Now that a (temporary) deal has been reached, the Democrats are keen to show that they have taken over the House and its powerful committees.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said he was disappointed that Republican President Donald Trump did not mention guns in his big State of the Union speech on Tuesday. AFP

Competition watchdog set to rule on Facebook F RANKFURT― Germany’s competition watchdog is set to rule Thursday on whether Facebook abused its dominant position in social media to collect excessive data and could even ban the site’s “Like” buttons from other web pages.

Officials have been looking into Facebook since mid-2016, charging that the Silicon Valley giant uses other networks― like subsidiaries Instagram and Whatsapp, as well as Twitter and other websites―to collect masses of information about users without their knowledge.

That data then provides the foundation for Facebook’s advertising profits.

Federal Cartel Office (FCO) chief Andreas Mundt will announce his findings in a press conference at 10:00 am (0900 GMT) in Bonn.

There is no danger Facebook will suffer swingeing fines like those imposed by Brussels on rival Google over competition misdeeds.

But the social network could be ordered to update its terms of use in

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, or even see some of its functions banned.

Media have reported that the “Like” buttons strewn around web pages― used to collect browsing data even when people are not using the Facebook website―could be forbidden.

With almost 30 million users in Germany―23 million of them logging in daily―Facebook is a dominant player, the cartel authority said in preliminary findings published in December 2017.

The firm “is abusing this dominant position by making the use of its social network conditional on its being allowed to limitlessly amass every kind of data generated by using third-party websites and merge it with the user’s Facebook account,” it said in a statement.

Such “third-party” sources include Whatsapp and Instagram’s chat features, as well as internet sites and mobile apps that collect data about users’ activities.

“This even happens when, for example, a user does not press a ‘Like button’ but has called up a site into which such a button is embedded,” Mundt said.

“Users are unaware of this.”

The FCO says users are obliged to accept Facebook’s terms of use as a whole, losing control over the use of their personal data.

That constitutes a breach of European data protection rules, the preliminary

BERLIN―Europe’s first major film festival of the year, the Berlinale, kicks off Thursday making a statement against entertainment industry sexism by welcoming an unprecedented lineup of female directors.

The 11-day event prides itself on being the most politically engaged of the A-list cinema showcases, presenting 400 movies from around the world, most on hard-hitting topical themes including rising extremism and economic exploitation.

But its red carpet promises a steady stream of glamour too with Christian Bale, Diane Kruger, Tilda Swinton, Catherine Deneuve, Jonah Hill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck and Juliette Binoche, this year’s jury president, all awaited in the frosty German capital.

Binoche, 54, will lead a six-member panel choosing the winner of the prestigious Golden and Silver Bear prizes, to be awarded at a gala ceremony on February 16.

Last year, with the #MeToo movement roiling the industry, the innovative docudrama “Touch Me Not” about sexual intimacy by Romania’s Adina Pintilie clinched top honours.

For the first time this year, seven out of the 17 contenders will be women—a more than 40-percent share that eclipses rivals such as Cannes and Venice, which have come under fire as chummy men’s clubs.

The top festivals have long faced pressure to boost their female representation as they serve as gatekeepers to international distribution, awards and box office cash.

Binoche welcomed the more diverse selection, saying it was long overdue and sent a message beyond the world of cinema.

“I think a lot of men don’t get how women for generations have had to take a backseat,” she told this week’s Der Spiegel magazine.

“But [Berlinale chief] Dieter Kosslick assured me that he made his choices because they’re good films, not just because women directed them.”

Denmark’s Lone Scherfig, who made the Oscar-nominated coming-ofage tale “An Education” in 2009, will start the festival with the premiere of her film “The Kindness of Strangers”.

The bittersweet drama stars Zoe Kazan (“The Big Sick”) as a mother of two who has to rely on her fellow New Yorkers for help, in a cast including Andrea Riseborough (“The Death Of Stalin”) and Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”). AFP

Republic of the Philippines

National Irrigation Administration (Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig) Regional Office No. III

Office Address: Telephone Nos.: Website :

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-2467 / 766-4839 / 816-6806 www.region3nia.gov.ph

Email Address: niar03@yahoo.com Telefax No. (044) 766-2467 TIN No. 000-979-570-000

Invitation to Bid Improvement of Various Irrigation Facilities of AMRIS ITB No. NIAR3-2019-BUL-AMRIS-11

FASHION WEEK. Model Kris

Grikaite is shown backstage at the Tom Ford FW 2019 during New York Fashion Week in New York City. AFP

Dogs have their day at revived New York museum NEW YORK―Dogs play cameo roles in some of the West’s most iconic paintings, yet man’s best friend has arguably gotten short shrift in the global museum hierarchy.

But a museum addition in Manhattan restores the animals to what canine aficionados will no doubt view as their rightful place at the center of the picture.

The American Kennel Club’s Museum of the Dog, which opens Friday in midtown Manhattan, contains a smorgasbord of works of varying aesthetic ambition, along with interactive displays.

The museum’s opening has been timed to coincide with the start of Westminster Week, an annual midwinter canine fest that attracts dogs and dog-lovers from around the world and culminates with the Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday night

finding stated.

At the time, Facebook told AFP that the initial report “paints an inaccurate picture” of the firm, stressing that Facebook was not a dominant company and that it complied with European data protection laws.

Since then Facebook has suffered a nightmarish 2018, battered by a torrent of outcries and scandals.

It was accused of offering a platform for manipulating voters and failing to protect user data.

As it celebrated its 15th birthday, the social network had to contend with the global Cambridge Analytica scandal of March 2018.

In that case, data belonging to tens of millions of Facebook users was harvested by the British company through an online personality quiz.

The same consultancy worked on both the Leave campaign in the UK’s Brexit referendum of 2016 and on Donald Trump’s election campaign in the same year.

The EU introduced its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May last year, intensifying regulators’ focus on Facebook.

In January, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg defended his company in the international media, saying its advertising-based business model required collecting personal data. AFP

Red carpet rolled out for women trailblazers

and the selection of “Best in Show” at Madison Square Garden.

The collection comprises more than 2,000 paintings, photos, sculptures and artifacts and includes a healthy supply of works that document what the ancestors of today’s pets looked like in the 19th century and earlier. These include the skeleton of “Belgrade Joe,” a Fox Terrier that died in 1888 and is seen as a seminal figure in that breed’s evolution.

Some works are photographlike depictions of breeds that will appeal to dog-showing professionals.

“They look at the painting as they would a show dog and they critique it that way—by the anatomy, the way it’s built and so forth. There’s nothing about how it was rendered or anything like that,” said Alan Fausel, the museum’s executive director, who

specialized in canine art with private auction houses before being hired to lead the museum in 2018.

“The average person will be interested in things that have some action, some activity, some narrative content,” added Fausel, who wants the museum to satisfy both the show dog industry professional and the everyday visitor.

Paintings of dogs evolved from pre-Victorian depictions that emphasized carnal aggression, to 19th century portraiture to 20th century works that anthropomorphize the creatures once photography largely obviated more naturalistic works, according to Fausel.

The museum itself dates to 1982 when it was first established in New York before relocating in 1987 to St. Louis, where it stayed for 37 years in the sleepy outskirts of the midwestern city. AFP

1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, hereby invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered contractors to bid for the project, through the General Appropriations Act of CY 2019, intends to apply the sum of Thirty Three Million Three Hundred One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Pesos and 28/100 (P 33,301,720.28) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the contract for NIAR3-2019-BUL-AMRIS-11.

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

2.

Bidders must secure Site Inspection Certificate from IMO Office as a technical requirement for Eligibility and Technical Document (Envelop A). Non compliance will be a ground for disqualification.

3.

Only those who submitted Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS including updated company profile by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

4.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 now invites bids for Improvement of Various Irrigation Facilities of AMRIS located in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Completion of the Works is required within Three Hundred (300) calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

5.

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

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

6.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on February 1, 2019 to February 20, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, and February 21, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Thirty Three Thousand Pesos (P 33,000.00).

Notice of Dissolution Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of Incorporation of CLIPSAL PHILIPPINES, INC. (the “Corporation”) shortening the corporate term of its existence and thereby dissolving the Corporation as of 2 November 2019 was approved by the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Corporation on 13 December 2018. All parties having claims against the Corporation are requested to present the same at its office at 24F Fort Legend Tower, Block 7 Lot 3, 3rd Avenue, cor. 31st Street, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

This announcement serves as notice to all parties concerned with the legal dissolution of the Corporation.

Ferdinand M. Hidalgo Corporate Secretary (MS-FEB. 8,15 & 22, 2019)

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

8.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 11, 2019, 10:00 a.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy.

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open to all interested parties.

9.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:30 a.m. (PST) of February 21, 2019 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 10:00 a.m. (PST) of February 21, 2019 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

10. All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR. 11.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

12

For further information, please refer to:

BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608 (SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC – Chairman

Noted by: (SGD) JOSEPHINE B. SALAZAR Regional Manager

(M S-F E B . 8 , 2 019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Salceda: P36-b UCT for 10m poor families THE government’s unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program, a financial assistance scheme for poor Filipinos will get an additional P12 billion in the 2019 national budget that will cushion the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) on low-income families.

The amount will directly benefit 10 million poor households, said Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, UCT’s original proponent and principal author of the TRAIN measure in the House of Representatives.

The additional amount brings to P36 billion the UCT outlay from 2019, Salceda said. Its beneficiary families, which constitute the lower half of the poorest Filipinos, will receive an additional P300 monthly, higher than the P200 they got in 2018 under the program.

The UCT outlay was first proposed

by Salceda in House Bill 4688, the first TRAIN bill, as an income transfer to the poor from the high-income families. It is designed to result in a positive income increase for the lower half of the lowest income Filipino families.

The Albay lawmaker said the additional UCT would more than offset the tax impacts under TRAIN, resulting in a +6.7 percent income hike for the lowest 10 percent of the population after considering the estimated TRAIN impact on the poor’s consumption.

This will be funded from the proceeds of the increased tax on oil, 54% of which is consumed by the top 20% of Filipinos, and other taxes borne mainly by the top income classes, said Salceda, also a noted economist.

“The UCT is a legislative breakthrough as it is a precursor to a universal basic income regime where lowincome segments of society are assured of financial means by the state to access their basic needs without restricting their choices or their consumption preferences,” he said.

“Conceived as a safety net policy reform, the UCT, however, can very well be a major instrument of the state for social justice, given the coincidence of inequality and growth under a globalized market-based private sectordriven economies,” he added.

TRAIN is the first package under the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, which among others, slashes personal income tax (PIT) rates for those earning below P2 million and provides for simplified and lowered rates for donor and estate taxes.

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay hands a brand new pair of rubber shoes, dubbed ‘Air Binay 2.0’, to Fatima Borela, a student of Francisco Benitez Elementary School (Main), on Wednesday during the kick-off ceremony for the citywide distribution of the shoes.

Makati children get ‘Air Binay 2.0’ shoes

By Joel E. Zurbano

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HE Makati City government has started the citywide distribution of “Air Binay 2.0” rubber shoes to public school students from Kinder to Senior High School and Special Education classes in the city.

Mayor Abigail Binay on Wednesday kicked off the distribution at the Francisco Benitez Elementary School and four other schools for some 6,000 students from Kinder to Grade 6 and SPED classes, who received their new pair of rubber shoes provided for free by the city government.

Binay said that true to her promise, a newer, better version of the shoes― dubbed ‘Air Binay’ by netizens on itslaunch a year ago―is now available to around 90,000 students from Kinder to Senior High School and SPED classes in the city’s public schools.

The other recipients of Air Binay 2.0 rubber shoes on Wednesday were students of Francisco Benitez Elementary School Main, Maximo Estrella ES, Jose

Magsaysay ES, Nicanor Garcia ES, Makati ES. “The welfare of our youth will always be a priority of my administration. We will continue to expand the programs on education that my father started several years ago. Our goal is to promote a worry-free environment where students can concentrate on their studies, and acquire the knowledge and skills they need to become globally competitive individuals,” said Binay.

The city chief executive revealed that in the coming school year, the city government will also be distributing new school socks for free to the students.

“For as long as we have the financial means, we are willing to pull out all the

stops to ensure that our students have everything they need, so that all they have to do is study and learn and become the best that they can be,” she vowed.

The new pair of rubber shoes is among the items added by the current administration to Makati’s Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education) that provides free school supplies and uniforms to public schoolchildren.

Other items recently added include new raincoats and rain boots, anti-dengue kits, and dental and hygiene kits.

Some students who were interviewed by the city information office during the distribution expressed a mixture of delight, excitement and gratitude.

Angel Domingo of Francisco Benitez Elementary School thanked Mayor Binay for all the items provided by the city to students for free, which she said were a big help with their education.

Frances Therese Santiago of Maximo Estrella Elementary School was also delighted with the design and thanked the mayor for providing the free school items to students.

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FCF literacy tack gets DepEd Hall of Fame award

By Ben Moses Ebreo QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—The Department of Education has conferred its Hall of Fame award to FCF Minerals Corp. for its outstanding implementation of its literacy program in this town.

Ian Moller, the mine firm’s country manager and acting general manager for operations, said their literacy program started in 2007 and became their flagship program for the villagers of Barangay Runruno during their exploration period.

“Our first project was the introduction of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to provide learnings to the marginalized sector, which took recognition in the regional and national levels of the DepEd’s Literacy Program,” he said.

Moller said their literacy program was awarded as consistent First Place winner in the regional search for the years 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, for best literacy program implementer.

Recently, the DepEd through its regional office finally conferred to FCF the “Hall of Fame” award to the FCF’s Literacy Program called “Handog Aral sa Ikauunlad ng Buhay,” he added.

The awarding program was held at Meynard’s Resort in Tuguegarao City on Dec. 27 last year. The award was received in behalf of the FCF by Agnes Rosales, Community Relations Manager, and some members of her team.

Joy: ‘Sustainable’ solutions needed for fires in QC

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday batted for more “sustainable” solutions to prevent a series of fires destroying properties and endangering lives, especially in depressed areas.

“Most of the causes is because of electrical wiring, such as faulty wiring, that is prone to overloading,” she said.

Citing the data from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Belmonte said 785 out of the 1,034 cases of fire in 2018 were due to electrical connections.

She said the Office of the Vice Mayor has partnered with the disaster risk reduction and management office, Manila Electric Co., Philippine Red Cross, and Bureau of Fire Protection to roll out a fire prevention education program this month.

The program shall teach people in the informal communities on how to prevent fire, how to prevent overloading and how to ensure that activities at home, such as cooking, would not lead to destructive fires.

The city government and Meralco would hold a caravan to educate residents on the installation of individual meters in each home under an electrification program for underprivileged communities.

The fire bureau said majority of the fire incidents occur in informal settlements.

Of the 161 locations in Quezon City that were affected by fire last year, 115 were in informal settlements, four were in high-rise residential areas, and 42 are in low- to medium-rise residential areas.

4 minors among 9 killed in Pasay Maricaban blaze NINE persons, four of them minors, died when a fire of still unknown origin gutted a house in Pasay City early Thursday morning.

Southern Police District spokesperson Jenny Tecson identified the fatalities as Julius Wablas, 39; Rhea Wablas, 40; Julie Wablas, 46; Michael Calma, 44, and Mark Joseph Calma, 23.

The four other fatalities who are minors were John Clark Calma, 17; Andrew James Calma, 11; Nichole Wablas, 9, and the three-year-old Jurick Andrea Wablas.

All the victims died on the spot, the police said.

Pasay City-Bureau of Fire Protection officials said the fire broke out at House No. 336 Almazor Street in Barangay 185 Maricaban around 2 am and was declared fire out at 3:14 am.

They said the two families (Wablas and Calma) who occupy the house owned by Julius Wablas, one of the fatalities, were trapped when the fire broke out.

Responding firemen said they had difficulty entering the area as the streets in the barangay were narrow.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire but there were reports that an unattended and unplugged computer gadget may have cause the blaze.

Bureau of Fire Protection officials said most of the fires happened due to faulty electrical lines, unattended gas lamps and cooking stoves and overheating appliances.

The government urged the community, schools, and business establishments to practice fire safety precautions to avoid the detrimental effects of fire accidents. Joel E. Zurbano

FRANCHISE EXPO. Senator Cynthia A. Villar (center, in red) leads other government and business officials in the ribbon-cutting

ceremony during the opening of the 17th Filipino Franchise and Business Expo on Thursday at the World Trade in Pasay City. Lino Santos

Searca school, gardens reach UN sustainable goals

By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture has shared during the recently held 18th Science Council of Asia Conference in Tokyo, Japan how its school-plus-home gardens project helped achieved the United Nations sustainable development goals in areas where the project ws piloted.

Leah Lyn Domingo, Searca public relations specialist, said the school-plushome gardens project is co-implemented with the Department of Education-Laguna and University of the Philippines Los Baños, aimed to improve the nutritional condition and dietary habits of schoolaged children by increasing production of locally adapted vegetables and contribute to the community’s food and nutrition security.

She said Searca presented during the conference specific strategies to contribute to achieving targets of sustainable development goals through its school-plushome gardens project.

The council which is the official body of all science academies in Asia aims to highlight research, innovations, and programs that addresses the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development goals across Asia.

During the conference, a paper titled “Addressing and Localizing SDGs through Grassroots-Based School-PlusHome Gardens in the Philippines” was presented by Dr. Blesilda Calub, project leader and Searca adjunct fellow, to elaborate on how the school-plus-home gardens project contributed to achieving at least four sustainable development goals.

Calub said that in the Zero Hunger or sustainable development goals 2,

the school-plus-home gardens project showed that year-round production of diverse nutritious indigenous and common vegetables is possible by following a planting calendar.

For Good Health and Well-being or sustainable development goals 3, she said the promotion of organic agriculture in the garden project showed an alternative food production system that respects natural ecological processes and avoids using harmful synthetic farm chemicals that endangers the health of farmers, consumers, and the environment.

Another is sustainable development goals 4 or Quality Education. Calub said local government units were mobilized to allocate funds for school gardening plus feeding programs to improve academic performance of school children and reduce absenteeism and early dropping-out from school.

MOTION FILED. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu leads the filing of a motion asking the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition filed by Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan II and the Philippine Constitution Association that seeks to void the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Norman Cruz

Life

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

CULTURE AND MEDIA

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

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PERSON can look at this and relate to it as representative of a period in his or her life," Rodolfo Gan said while pointing at one of his latest paintings.

Gan is currently mounting his 11 paintings that explore cubism and geometrism in his latest solo exhibition, entitled "Prism II," at the Upstairs Gallery of Finale Art File.

With airbrush as his medium, he created square abstract paintings which feature geometric lines and forms.

Geometric abstraction is an art style that uses shapes based on simple geometry. These shapes include straight lines, circles, squares, and rectangles.

This style often makes use of bold colors but Gan’s works are unique in that he uses earth tones.

“Geometric abstractions were consi­ dered avant­garde in the 1970s but now, they are well appreciated by art lovers,” said Gan. The artist describes his works as “timeless and dynamic, critical and introspective, but always forward looking,” reflecting on the traditions of Modernism.

He added, "My paintings hope to challenge the person looking at it to look at them the way he or she chooses to.”

Gan, who graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a

Composition 127 - Synchronous 2018 (Triptych)

Lillian Gan with daughter Aileen Gan and family friend Niña Corpuz with daughter Emily.

degree in Fine Arts, said his inspiration includes the works of the local masters like Fernando Zobel, Lee Aguinaldo, and Roberto Chabet—the latter is considered the father of Philippine conceptual art.

He said Chabet was the one who encouraged and inspired Gan to be an artist while the latter was a teacher at UST. As a young artist in the 1970s, Gan won a number of local and national art competitions. He also exhibited his works at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and had his first solo exhibit at the Luz Gallery in 1972, during which he was named one of the CCP Thirteen Artists.

Throughout the '70s, Gan was an active artist who took part in exhibitions here and abroad, most notable of which was representing the Philippines at the 7th Paris Biennale and the ASEAN collection exhibitions in Israel, Jakarta, and Hong Kong.

Prism II is on display until Feb. 11 at Finale Art File in Warehouse 17, La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

Rodolfo Gan

Composition 126 - Togetherness

Composition 122 - Meditation

Composition 125 - Sanctuary

Composition 124 - Ancient Riddles

Composition 123 - Winds of Fortune

MADE 2019 to unleash the 'artist within' THE Metrobank Foundation, Inc. is now accepting entries for this year’s Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE).

With the theme “Unleash,” MADE’s overarching goal is to unleash the “artist within.” The last 35 years saw MADE setting the platform to empower and showcase the ingenuity of the Filipino creative.

The MADE Painting Recognition Program is open to all Filipino painters aged 18­35 years old who have not held a solo exhibition. The MADE Sculpture Recognition Program, on the other hand, is open to all professional Filipino sculptors who have staged at least one solo exhibition.

Deadline for entries is on May 10.

Since its establishment in 1984, MADE has continued to be a platform for discovery for the most passionate and persistent creative visionaries in the country. To date, more than 400 visual artists and design professionals have been recognized, majority of them are now carving names in the local and international art and design scenes.

To make the celebration of MADE’s 35th year more meaningful and relevant, MBFI once again stages the annual “Art MADE Public.” The event aims to spread awareness on Philippine art and heritage through a series of exhibits, lectures, and workshops facilitated by renowned Filipino artists as well as architecture and heritage practitioners, in select venues nationwide.

The launching of the 2019 Metrobank Art & Design Excellence was led by MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing communications Millie Dizon, 1992 Metrobank Annual Painting Competition second prize winner Elmer Borlongan, The Podium mall manager Nona Go Castañes, and United Architect of the Philippines national president Arch. Benjamin Panganiban, Jr.

Mark Justiniani's black and white portrait mounted beside his winning MADE artwork.

Elmer Borlongan poses with his artwork.

The Art MADE Public kick­off at The Podium featured the lectures “Overview of Arts in the Regions” by Manny Garibay, “Junk Not Creative: Social Entrepreneurship in Design” by interior designer Wilhelmina Garcia, and “Sustainable Tropical Architecture” by Arch. Gelo Mañosa.

Meanwhile, the exhibit is divided into three sections: "MADE through the Years," "Icons and Masterpieces," and an exhibit featuring National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa.

The “MADE through the Years” walks visitors through a timeline of MADE’s 35 years of implementation, giving them

a glimpse into how the program was conceived in 1984, including its milestones and evolutions through the years.

The “Icons and Masterpieces” photo exhibit showcases both national icons and up­and­coming icons in the Philippine art and design community who were past MADE awardees. Alongside their black and white portraits are their MADE winning artworks and designs. Featured

artists include Mark Justiniani, Elmer Borlongan, Manny Garibay, Raffy Napay, Mark Andy Garcia, Jan Leeroy New, Yeo Kaa, Arch. Gelo Mañosa, Arch. Jonathan V. Dangue, Arch. Gerard Thomas Joson, and interior designer Wilhelmina Garcia.

The Art MADE Public in ongoing until March 28 in cultural institutions and various commercial spaces at SM Supermalls.

EXHIBIT ANNOUNCEMENT iD!D 2019 features works of UPD industrial design students THE University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts on Feb. 12 will open the second consolidated exhibition "iD!D 2019 Industrial Design Diliman," which showcases the works of industrial design students from all year levels.

Through the exhibition of drawings, studies, models, and

prototypes, the exhibit aims to highlight the program's approach in mentoring students to become innovative, exceptional, and responsible industrial designers of the future. iD!D is at Gallery 3 of Art and Design West Hall at UP College of Fine Arts.

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Entertainment

Marian and Zia’s beautiful bond Who will be the ‘World’s Best Models’?

Marian Rivera and daughter Zia Dantes

By Nickie Wang

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CTRESS Marian Rivera and daughter Zia Dantes were an image of a beautiful bond, literally and figuratively, unfolding before our very eyes when they were introduced as celebrity ambassadors of a popular milk brand.

Arriving in matching yellow checkered dress, everyone in the room just gushed, “So beautiful, the mother and her mini me.”

And we couldn’t take our eyes off Marian who’s looking radiant and very pregnant and her daughter who simply impressed everyone for being adorable and smart for her age.

The event wasn’t just about the mother-daughter tandem looking so beautiful and smiling before the cameras though. The actress talked about parenting styles and children nutrition, while the three-year-old Zia led the unveiling of a TVC for the brand.

The event also highlighted how parents wanting the best for their children remain constant in a world where parenting styles evolve with the changing times.

“No matter what kind of parenting a mom or dad espouses, no one can question that at the heart of it all is putting their child’s well-being first, especially during their crucial growing-up years,” a speaker during the event shared.

HOLLYWOOD

Painting the Walk of Fame Pink

Recording artist Pink poses with her husband Carey and two children on her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star at a ceremony in Hollywood, California.

The same can be said about Marian who has confidently embraced three-year old daughter Zia’s entry into toddlerhood thanks to her chosen partner for age-appropriate nutrition, Nido Advanced Protectus 3+.

The toddler years are fundamental in shaping the young lives of children, and it is during this stage of their development when going on adventures, exploring the outdoors, and meeting new people become vital. While it is normal for parents to say “no” to their kids out of concern for their health and safety, it must be considered that it is by saying “yes” to these activities that important strides in their cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical development are met.

“It is during this stage that they start to learn things on their own, develop relationships outside the family unit, and discover for themselves who they are as their own person, so they need their parent’s full support now more than ever,” said Dr. Josephine Yuson Sunga, Pediatrician and Medical Director of NESTLÉ Infant Nutrition Philippines.

For Marian, it’s not easy for her to let Zia do things on her own, but she believes that it’s better for her child to learn at an early age.

“Mas marami siyang matututunan, not just about the world around her but also about herself. That’s the reason why I looked for a pre-school milk that could match Zia’s energy and curiosity. Ngayon, mas kampante na ako na hayaan siyanglumabas at makipaglaro sa ibang mga bata dahil alam kong she is protected while getting the other important nutrients she needs for her age,” she revealed.

POP singer Pink was honored on Tuesday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, telling fans gathered for the event that it was “surreal” to receive the award.

“I feel like I’m dreaming and if anyone pinches me, I’m gonna punch them in the left eyebrow,” the Grammy-nominated singer said at the ceremony, surrounded by her husband and two children.

“I feel like a lot of people probably only thought I would make it to the walk of shame, but here I am,” the 39-year-old singersongwriter added.

Pink, whose real name is Alecia Moore, reflected on her beginnings in the music industry, paying tribute to her father who, she said, encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

“Today for me is a celebration of something that my dad taught me and that is—to thine own self be true. There is a power in believing in yourself, there is a power in not giving up on life and not giving up on yourself,” she said.

Pink has received 20 Grammy nominations and three wins over her career. On Sunday, she will be vying for another Grammy for best pop vocal album for Beautiful Trauma. Since her debut in 2000, she has released seven studio albums and has sold more than 50 million records.

Pink got her start in the music business as a member of the girl group Choice and her career took off after that. She released her first solo album Can’t Take Me Home in 2000, with the record certified double-platinum in the United States.

She received her first Grammy in 2002 for “Lady Marmalade,” which was the soundtrack for the film Moulin Rouge. Her two other Grammys were for best female rock vocal performance for “Trouble” in 2004 and in 2011 she shared the award for best pop collaboration with vocals for the song “Imagine.” AFP

TOMORROW, some 30 male and female models across the archipelago will walk the runway for the judges to see if they’re fit to be named “World’s Best Models” from the Philippines .

“World’s Best Models Philippines” intends to produce top image, print, fashion, runway and commercial models.

Leading to the finals night, a series of activities were held: workshops on Basic and Advanced Modeling, Fashion/Ramp Code of Ethics, Photographic Modeling, Runway, Health and Wellness, and Grooming/Hair and Make-Up; swimwear competition in Punta Riviera, Bolinao, Pangasinan; and photo shoots at several locations.

The grand finals will be held at p. m. at Green Sun Hotel, Makati City, tomorrow, Saturday, with a spectacular show under Robby Carmona as Consulting Director, with Jas Baldoza, Marki de los Santos and Concon Seniel as Co-Directors.

Spearheading this unique modeling competition is Prowess Supremacy Production, Incorporated (PSPI), composed of talented individuals with diverse work experiences in the fields of events management, public relations, corporate communications, beauty pageants, and the fashion industry.

The Board of Directors is composed of indie film producer and travel executive, Jose Stephen Santos – Chairman; ace fashion designer Edwin Uy – President; banker and former model, Alelyn G. Baldoza – Vice President for Finance; and Fashion Model, Jas Baldoza – Creative Director.

The young aspirants will strut it out for the crowns as they have a chance to shine in segments: streetwear, swimwear, evening gown and contemporary indigenous inspired-designs.

The competition will help the tillers of our land and the weavers by providing them income because of the exposure their end products will get from the event. It also serves as a great milestone for the 30 young competitors of the contest, who, through their exposure, will be given bigger work opportunities in the fashion world, a big help for them to realize their dreams for themselves and their families.

Part of the evening’s net proceeds will be allocated to a group of farmers by the agency responsible for protecting the rights of indigenous peoples that we are working closely with.

“After the event on Feb. 9, we intend to have pocket events throughout the year for an awareness campaign and fund-raising to help our farmers and weavers. We will organize talks in the fashion industry to encourage designers and models to promote our indigenous materials,” said Santos.

Part of Prowess Supremacy’s vision is to strengthen cultural integrity in the fashion world. A visit to NCIP director Rogelio Francisco Bantayan, Jr. was made to seek guidance on how the company can ensure that they are headed towards the right direction. *** Duty Free Philippines welcomes the Year of the Pig Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) hosted its 18th annual Chinese New Year celebration at the Duty Free Luxe in Pasay City.

DFPC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vicente Pelagio A. Angala, and wife Maria Salome Angala, along withTourism Attaché to Beijing, China Tomasito Umali, and author and journalist Jullie Yap Daza led the traditional Chinese Eye Dotting ceremony, or “The Awakening of The Dragons”.

Feng shui expert Princess Lim Fernandez from the Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony guided the guests to Chinese traditions and best practices to achieve happiness and prosperity.

According to COO Angala, this year’s celebration is very significant for DFPC as more Chinese consumers are visiting the country.

“Chinese tourists love to shop and we have expanded our offering specifically at the Duty Free Luxe to appeal to the Chinese market,” said Angala.

China recorded 1,255,258 arrivals, the most improved market at an impressive 29.62 percent growth rate, according to data released by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Meanwhile, brighter prospects are seen for the DFPC this year, with the opening of its provincial stores, renovation of the Fiestamall, new product leads, and other plans and programs that are yet to be announced. *** Visit www.isah.red for more stories.

Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred) and Instagram (@ isahvred). ΙR

Female contestants at World’s Best Models Philippines 2019

Celebrities, talented bakers in country’s biggest ‘Bakery Fair‘

Award-winning cake designer James Anton Uy

HELD only every two years, the country’s biggest and most exciting “Bakery Fair” will be a fitting post-Valentine event at the World Trade Center this year in Pasay City from Feb. 15 to 17, with one of its many highlights being the Cakes Competition boasting of 63 talented bakers as participants.

“Bakery Fair 2019” will be ushered in by the ceremonial cutting of giant seven-feet high special cake celebrating the theme this year – Chinese New Year in the Year of the Pig. The organizer of the event is the Filipino Chinese Bakery Association, Inc. (FCBAI) who believes that this theme is a fitting celebration of good luck and good life as the Chinese New Year officially starts on Feb. 5.

The cake was created meticulously by award-winning cake designer James Anton Uy of Cubcakes Bakery. Uy is a respected baking and cake decorating instructor and the 2013 Winner of Bakery Fair Cake Display competition where he bested even some of the more established names in the local baking industry. He is a contributor for the internationally known

Satin Ice (Satinice.com) for Cake Design Inspirations; as well as in various local magazines like Wedding Essentials, Wedding Digest and Real Brides Magazine.

The three-day Bakery Fair is a brainchild of FCBAI and features exhibitors, seminars and demonstrations by local and international experts. All kinds of modern baking supply and equipment will be showcased and the public is invited to participate.

No wonder the Bakery Fair 2019 has become the destination for every baking enthusiast in the Philippines. It will not be far-fetched to see celebrities who are also baking enthusiasts like Marian Rivera, Sharon Cuneta, Judy Ann Santos, Bea Alonzo, Maricar Reyes-Poon, Bettina Carlos or Ara Mina joining the excitement come opening day.

FCBAI president Peter Fung said, “Started in 2001, the Bakery Fair is a biennial event which aim to foster awareness on the importance of updating our industry on the latest trends in baking technology and ideas, new equipment and ingredients, latest packaging concepts and

materials. We at FCBAI hope the Bakery Fair can promote, strengthen and also elevate standards of the Philippine bakery industry not only as part of the country’s dietary, lifestyle and culinary culture, but also to help boost economic development through expansion of small and mediumscale enterprises or SMEs.” The 52-year-old FCBAI is a nonstock, non-profit organization of mostly SMEs in the bakery industry. Among its objectives include promoting better baking standards and service, also educational and socio-civic projects. Although ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs have been in the Philippine baking industry for centuries, the FCBAI was organized in September 1966 in Manila by a group of entrepreneurs led by its founding president Mariano Sioco. The FCBAI is also part of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FFCCCII).

For details, check out FCBAI Facebook account at fb.com/fcbai.ph or their websites www.fcbai.com.ph and www.bakeryfair.com.ph

Motoring

Rock-solid Strada rolls out

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Hyundai presents subcompact sedan DAILY complexities and expenses in everyday life can push us to make sacrifices in comfort and mobility for practicality’s sake. You may know what’s right for you, but you end up settling with what’s available instead.

That compromise ends now, as Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. the official distributor of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles introduces the right one to help you rule your journey: the all-new Hyundai Reina.

With the Reina, you can celebrate your new beginnings as a motorist with style, as this subcompact stunner is fashioned with Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design DNA that gives it urban elegance reminiscent of the Hyundai Modern Premium pedigree. Reina is a sedan that opens up to a space that comfortably fits up to five (5) occupants, and has ample wheelbase measuring 2,570mm that gives you and your passengers just the right room for comfort. Add to this the Reina’s generous trunk space that can store up to 475 liters of cargo and you’re set for road trips with room to spare for passengers and gear alike.

Under the hood of the Hyundai Reina is a 1.4L gasoline engine with dynamic power of 95ps for quicker maneuverability in and around the city. It’s mated to either a 5- speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission, offering a more versatile and convenient driving experience for first-time and city drivers alike.

Though it’s your practical, everyday car, the Hyundai Reina is ready with the more important safety features that you don’t usually find in most subcompact cars. It’s equipped with dual airbags that provide significant occupant protection for both driver and front passenger, and an Anti-lock Braking System that lets you have better control of your driving maneuvers during slippery road conditions.

Indeed, the Reina has put together the right elements of design, convenience, space, performance, and safety to bring excitement to your daily travels.

Starting at P598,000, rule your road and your journey today by making Hyundai Reina your right choice.

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FTER its global premiere in Bangkok, Thailand late last year, the new Mitsubishi Strada finally hits Philippine roads.

Considered as one of the most important models of Mitsubishi Motors the New Strada which is produced in Laem Chabang Plant in Thailand will eventually be sold around the globe in 150 countries. In the Philippines, the New Strada will be available in 6 variants, all variants fitted with 6-speed transmission.

Engineered Beyond Tough With 40 years of pick-up truck heritage, the New Strada is engineered to go beyond toughness by exceeding customers’ expectations. Knowing that this vehicle is used both for private and commercial purpose and as a reliable workhorse the New Strada is designed to be more durable, more reliable and more capable and adding even more comfortable ride. With the introduction of the New Strada and all the refinements applied in this pick-up, MMPC is optimistic that the New Strada will be one of the most preferred vehicles in its segment. MMPC said it is looking forward to once again dominate the pick-up truck segment.

Exterior and Interior Under the design concept “Rock Solid” which embodies a strengthened inside and out, the New Strada flaunts the new-generation “Dynamic Shield”.

The refreshed design communicates a powerful and reassuring sense of protection. The high hood and functional LED lamps layout communicate an even studier look. LED projector type head lamps are harmonized with grille design and projector lamps (GT 4x4 and GLS 4x4) to express a wider and more stable image. The newly sculpted body curves with contrasting sharp lines expresses a modern and toughness of Mitsubishi Motors’ pick-up. The front-to-back character line expresses a sense of space and the thickness of the overall body.

Complementing its stunning design, the New Strada is available in seven exterior colors: White Diamond, Graphite Gray Metallic, Sterling Silver Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Red Solid Clear, Grayish Brown Metallic and Impulse Blue Metallic.

An enhanced robustness and functionality is what you will feel once you stepped inside the New Strada. Inside the New Strada is a functional and modernized center panel and console. All variants feature 2-DIN Touch Screen monitor, tuner, MP3 player, USB, iPod-ready Auxiliary-in, Bluetooth with Mirror Link feature Multi-media system. All variants are also equipped with GPS Navigation System. For passenger convenience front smartphone tray is available which includes USB terminals. Rear smartphone tray is also available and is located at the in rear of the center console including a USB power socket. The New Strada also boasts a roomy interior which can comfortably seat 5 adults. Thanks to the unique J-Line design that offers a class-leading legroom for an enhanced comfort.

Engine and Performance With 4 decades of pick-up truck expertise the New Strada is refined to deliver an unmatched performance and off-road capability. The New Strada is powered by 2.4L 4 In-line 16 Valve DOHC Clean Diesel with Variable Geometry Turbo and MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control System) 4N15 which gives a maximum output of 181 Ps/ 3,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 430 N-m/ 2,500 rpm. Improvements developed to deliver an extremely durable and reliable truck are evident with the comfortable ride and handling. Ride is improved with the use of larger rear dampers which contain more damping oil. Braking performance were also improved with the use of larger front discs and caliper pistons (GT 4x4, GLS 4x4 and GLS 4x2).

The GT 4WD A/T is equipped with Super Select 4-Wheel Drive and the GLS 4WD MT is fitted with Easy Select 4WD which delivers optimum traction and handling characteristics on any given road condition.

Safety ffeatures Safety will never be compromised as the New Strada hosts an array of passive and advanced active safety features. It carries the proprietary Mitsubishi Motors’ RISE body (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) which absorbs the impact of collision. It retains the current model high durability, high reliability ladder-type frame and high-impact safety cabin structure. Active Stability Traction Control (ASTC), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) are now standard on all variants. The top of the line variant (GT 4x4) of the New Strada is equipped with Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM) which can detect vehicles and pedestrian ahead preventing or reducing impact of collision. It also has the Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS) which prevents accidents resulting from improper use of accelerator when moving off or reversing. Blind Spot Warning (BSW) is also standard on the the GT 4x4 variant. With the BSW, sideswiping is prevented when changing lanes by detecting vehicles behind or at the rear quarter and alerting the driver thru an audible alert and flashing light.

New engine oils for a worry-free drive FILIPINO motorists and drivers now have a whole new reason to enjoy driving, whether it be in the city or off road in the countryside. Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc., has released its new line of advanced engine oils specially formulated for maximizing engine life while maintaining high power and performance even under the most severe conditions.

The new heavy-duty engine oil Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 and the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 pack advanced technology formula to enhance the driving lifestyle of young and seasoned Filipino drivers. Gasoline and diesel vehicle owners will get the benefits of maximized engine life, full driving power and performance, wide temperature protection, and reduced emissions and oil consumption, which all translate to optimized fuel economy for more adventurous rides in and out of the city.

Formulated with ISOSYN Advanced Technology, the Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 is a super-premium quality “low SAPS” (sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur) synthetic diesel engine oil that provides ultimate protection for sport utility and sport activity recreational vehicles, high-performance pickups and 4x4 type vehicles, including those with the latest low emission diesel engines.

Off-roaders and SUVs endure rocky, muddy or low-traction surfaces along trails or forest roads to get to the best spots for sightseeing, camping or picnicking. These vehicles need large amounts of power to conquer rough terrain while carrying heavy loads. Delo ensures owners that their engine is protected while continuously producing high torque and power at low speeds.

This means the whole family or barkada will get to see more sights, collect more memories, safely return home, and do it again, with Delo protecting their vehicle’s engines.

“When I started using Delo Sports, there was noticeably less engine noise and vibration, and I experienced improved acceleration. Over the past year, it feels like my car is back to its brand-new condition and I can definitely take on whatever road and terrain I encounter with relative ease,” shares Sander Pera, SUV enthusiast. “I am convinced that Delo Sports is a premium quality engine oil that allows me to test the limits of my ride and

makes me experience its maximum performance.”

For gasoline engines, the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 has what it takes to keep young drivers going. A resource-conserving, multigrade gasoline engine oil, it is specially engineered with Deposit Shield Technology, an advanced detergent formula unique to Havoline products that prevents deposit buildup and caters to passenger cars and light commercial vehicles requiring low viscosity. The viscosity grade 10W-30 is designed for fuel efficiency and a popular grade recommended for Japan and American car models.

This Havoline formulation helps maintain engine power, improves oil stability and increases engine durability. With the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30, car engines reduce fuel and oil consumption, making the engine oil budget-friendly. It likewise delivers on deposit control and wear protection, ensuring durable protection throughout an oil change interval.

With more cars with lower engine displacements rolling off showrooms each year and more females and young drivers joining the new vehicle owner population, Havoline provides a significant investment for first-time car owners and a perfect protection for hard-earned money. The Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 is easy on the pocket but big on benefits: The stop-and-go city driving on the way to work or the highway cruise to the next destination on the bucket list are now worry-free trips with Havoline under the emission system and turbocharger protection.

“Being a native of the Ilocos region, it is not uncommon for me to drive more than 1000km nonstop every month. On top of that, I drive myself to work every day. I need the right products for my vehicle to ensure that I never have to worry about my car later on in its life while keeping a strict budget. With Caltex Havoline, I am able to confidently drive hard, endure the challenges of my daily driving and rest well knowing my engine is in good hands,” shares Theya Castillo, sedan owner. “Caltex Havoline is the perfect alternative to my car manufacturer’s engine oils. Not only that, using this product taught me so much about maintaining my own vehicle.”

“We at Caltex never stop creating innovations that meet the needs of riders. We want to give all kinds of riders the drive, the empowerment, the maximized protection, and the fuel economy benefit to keep going,” shares Hafiz Nasar, area business manager of Chevron Lubricants for Philippines.

The new engine oil additions have both passed performance standards required in HDMOs. The Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 meets the API-C series required standards while the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 qualifies for the API performance standards of ILSC GF-5 & SN-RC (resource conserving), ensuring safe driving.

“By protecting your vehicle, we are also protecting your investment. For more than a century, motorists have relied on Caltex’s full line of lubricants, transmission fluids and coolants to meet the intense demands of their vehicles. We never fail when it comes to fuel economy, performance and reliability,” shares Manuel Valerio, technical manager of Chevron Philippines Inc.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Motoring

Toyota upgrades Kia unboxed motorsport program

By Lester Dizon

L

ONG-TIME Philippine motorsports advocate Toyota Motor Philippines is elevating its homegrown motorsports program this year with the launch of the Vios Racing Festival 2019.

AFTER more than two decades of being distributed in the Philippines by the Columbian Motor Group, the Kia brand was re-launched last January 30 during a grand “unboxing” event at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation (AC).

Kia Philippines is the sixth brand acquired by the Ayala Group in line with its strategic thrust to strengthen the presence in the local car market of its vehicle distribution and dealership unit, AC Automotive.

The Korean car brand was established in 1944 and is the oldest and second largest automobile seller in South Korea, selling 2.81 million vehicles in 2018 in 185 countries through 24 sales offices and over 6,000 dealers.

Unboxing the Kia Line-up

Kicking off in April, the Vios Racing Festival will “continue the trailblazing legacy of the Vios Cup,” TMP President Satoru Suzuki said, referring to the longrunning program that has brought motorsports closer to Filipino racing fans for five years now.

For this year, TMP aims to deliver the action and excitement of motorsports to an even wider audience - bringing the thrill of racing not just to car enthusiasts but to anyone who wants to experience the heart-pumping excitement of driving.

“Through the Vios Racing Festival 2019, Toyota makes the waku doki experience more personal by intensifying the overall experience,” said Suzuki.

Waku doki is a Japanese term that describes that surge of emotion and joyful anticipation that one feels especially in thrilling and intense moments. It’s the Waku doki principle that defines Toyota’s racing programs all over the world.

Vios Racing Festival 2019 will include the Vios Circuit Championship that will have racers competing at the Clark International Speedway.

The Philippines’ Vios Racing Festival will have two major elements - the Vios Circuit Championship and the Vios Autocross Challenge.

The Vios Circuit Championship will have racers tackling the tracks of Clark Speedway in Pampanga using the AllNew Vios. Participants from different areas in the country and of different

backgrounds will be classified under three classes - promotional, sporting, and celebrity.

The Vios Circuit Championship will have three legs with three races per leg, happening in June, September, and November.

The Vios Autocross Challenge meanwhile will have racers in a timed competition within a specially designed obstacle course where participants can share the tracks with celebrities, media, and car club racers. It will be held in Metro Manila, with the goal of making the races more accessible to the public, whether as participants or spectators.

Mini autocross challenges will also be held at the end of each leg of the Vios Circuit Championship.

Side events outside the racetrack will also be put up to cater to those who are interested in other automobile-related activities like Toyota test drives.

Through these activities, TMP wishes to not only promote the sport, but also to instill among Filipinos the importance of improving driving skills and prioritizing safety.

“To boost and encourage the Filipino interest in motorsports, we will also bring back the greatly-missed Toyota Racing School,” said Suzuki. Through its official motorsports partner Tuason Racing School, TMP will be helping participants enjoy optimal racing experience. JESS MALABANAN

After the opening remarks from ACI President Art Tan, four familiar Kia models were unveiled onstage – the Picanto sub-compact hatchback, the Sportage mini sport utility vehicle (SUV), the Sorento mid-size SUV, and the Grand Carnival multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The Rio hatchback, the Soul crossover, and the K2500 utility vehicle were conspicuously absent on stage but we were told that these models will still be marketed in the country.

There are four available variants of the Kia Picanto with prices ranging from P590,000 to P745,000 and with color choices of Clear White, Titanium Silver, Alice Blue, Pop Orange, Honey Bee, and Lime Light.

The Kia Sportage 2.0 Diesel LX will retail for P1.545 million while the 2.0 Diesel EX is at P1.820 million, with Clear White, Sparkling Silver, Cherry Black, Mercury Blue, and Fiery Red as the available colors. ]The Kia Sorento 2.2 Diesel EX 4×2 will be priced at P1.895 million while the 4×4 variant is offered at P2.195 million and will come in Snow Pearl White, Silky Silver, Iron Gray, or Aurora Black Pearl colors.

The three variants of the Kia Grand Carnival will be priced from P1.995 million to P2.295 million and will come in Clear White (LX only), Snow Pearl White (EX only), Silky Silver, Panthera Metal, Aurora Black Pearl, and Titanium Brown (EX 7-seater only).

The highlight of the event was the launch of the new Kia Soluto subcompact sedan. AC President Fernando Zobel de Ayala drove the Soluto onto the center stage. After unveiling the car, Ayala said, “We are excited to introduce Kia’s wide range of model lineup as well as a new brand of sales and service experience for Filipinos.

We are delighted to partner with Kia Motors Corporation in this endeavor and we look forward to many years of working together as we reestablish the Kia brand in the Philippines.”

The Kia Soluto is powered by a 1.4-liter Dual-CVVT gasoline engine that produces 95 PS and 132 Nm of torque. The spacious interior is enhanced with a standard 7-inch Touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, 6-speaker system, rearview camera, and steering wheel controls.

There are four Soluto variants with prices ranging from P625,000 to P735,000 and with Clear White, Titanium Silver, Aurora Black Pearl, Blue Stream, and Marcato Red colors as available colors.

Kia Motors Asia-Pacific President Ted Lee, Kia Philippines President Manny Aligada, ACI President Art Tan, and Korean officers of Kia Motors Corporation joined Mr. Ayala on stage to offer a toast for the new venture and for the continued success of the Kia brand.

The 2019 Kia Soluto and other Kia models will be on public display from January 31 to February 3 at the following venues: Activity Center of Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; Level 4 Cinema Lobby of Trinoma in Quezon City, and; Activity Center of Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City. Kia vehicles have comprehensive warranty coverage up to five years or 160,000 kilometers.