Manila Standard - 2019 February 9 - Saturday

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Diokno accused of P40-b bribe try

By Maricel V. Cruz and Nat Mariano

BUDGET Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Friday did not appear at the hearing of the House committee on appropriations, asking for more time to produce the documents sought by the panel’s chairman, Camarines

Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. This developed as Andaya accused Diokno of attempting to bribe the House with P40 billion in an effort to stop the investigation into the alleged P75 billion in insertions in the proposed 2019 national budget— an accusation the Budget chief dismissed as “baseless.” Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 359 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Congress approves budget

APPROVED BUDGET. Senate panel chairperson Senator Loren Legarda and House panel chairman Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. show a copy of the approved national budget for 2019 during the Bicameral Conference Committee Meeting at the AFP Officers Club at Camp Aguinaldo. House panel member Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez is to Andaya’s left. Ver Noveno

‘Yes’ votes add Cotabato areas to Bangsamoro THE Bangsamoro won additional territory in Cotabato, with the “yes” vote winning in 63 out of 67 villages that petitioned to join the new region, Rappler.com reported on Friday.

This was based on the final unofficial results monitored by the United Bangsamoro Party or UBP of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, executive director Naguib Sinarimbo said on Friday.

The Commission on Elections was expected to start canvassing the votes in Manila on Friday to make the results official.

The affirmative vote won in all villages in Midsayap (13), Pigkawayan (12), Kabacan (7) and Carmen (7). It also won in 22 villages in Pikit and in two villages in Aleosan.

All these villages, as well as Cotabato City, will join the provinces of the current Next page

DOH outlay cut by P14b amid measles outbreak

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

AS IT scrambles to deal with an outbreak of measles, the Department of Health is expected to see P14 billion cut from its budget for 2019, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Friday.

In an interview on radio dzMM,

Duque said the Budget department had first sought a P31-billion cut because the DOH still had many pending projects, but this was lowered to P14 billion.

“We can’t blame DBM for making the budget cut because the condition Next page

Indonesia seeks bombers’ nationality

By Rey E. Requejo

INDONESIA will ask the Philippines to explain its claim that an Indonesian couple was behind the Jan. 27 bomb attack on a Catholic church in Jolo, Sulu, that killed 23 people, and why Jakarta was not notified before the announcement.

In a report on the Indonesian-language

news site BeritaSatu, Indonesian Ambassador Sinyo Harry Sarundajang revealed that his government intends to send a note verbale seeking clarification from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Earlier, Año said the incident was a case of suicide bombing involving an Next page

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

C

ONGRESS on Friday night ratified the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019.

The House of Representatives, in plenary session presided by Deputy Speaker and Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, unanimously ratified the bicameral conference committee report on this year’s national budget -- a few hours after senators and congressmen agreed on the conflicting provisions of the money measure.

About an hour later, the Senate likewise ratified the budget, voting 15-5.

Senator Panfilo Lacson delivered an hour-long speech slamming the alleged pork barrel insertions in the 2019 budget, while Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said these insertions do not involve funds under his province of Iloilo, while also thumbing down the bicam report.

The final version contain some P95 billion realignments for specific agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Health (DOH).

The two agencies got the biggest allocations at P46.35 billion and P17.57 billion, respectively, based on a summary of amendments sent out by the office of Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr., chairman of the House committee on appropriations.

Aside from the two agencies, the bicameral conference committee also made the following realignments: Senate, P1.77-billion; Office of the Vice President, P215-million; Office of the

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Bomb threat sets MRT tight security

Lorenzana tells China to respect PH sovereignty DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday urged the country’s giant neighbor China and other countries to respect the Philippines’ sovereignty over the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippine government is having construction projects.

Lorenzana’s statement followed reports China had deployed as many as 95 ships near the Spratly Islands after the construction projects on Pagasa Island began.

“The presence of militia on the Chinese

P3.75-t spending plan awaits Duterte’s signature, line veto

THE Metro Rail Transit Line 3 on Friday confirmed it received a bomb threat before the deadly explosions in Jolo in late January, saying this was the reason it tightened the security checks at its train stations.

“The bomb threat was sent via e-mail and received last January 3,” MRT 3 told reporters in a Viber group message.

“It was already coordinated with the authorities, PNP-CIDG [Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and

Detection Group] for them to track down the e-mail sender,” the company said.

MRT 3 also said some liquid items may be allowed inside its train stations amid the implementation of the ban on liquids as part of the heightened security there.

The bomb threat was among the reasons MRT 3 tightened its security, particularly the prohibition of several liquids inside the trains.

“That’s one reason why we tightened Next page

LISTEN, SIR. President Rodrigo Duterte lends an ear to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on the sidelines of the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Command Conference in Malacañang on Thursday. Malacañang Photo

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NUDE AND NAKED. The Alpha Phi Omega International Collegiate Service Fraternity (APO) in UP Diliman holds its annual Oblation Run event during the week of the founding anniversary of ETA, the AP chapter in UP’s flagship campus and originator of the naked protest run, which has spawned different versions by other APO chapters nationwide. Manny Palmero

UP frat bares all in ‘Oblation Run’ DEPARTING from tradition, around 30 masked yet naked members of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity on Friday ran around the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines for the 41st annual Oblation Run, their mouths taped over and carrying blank protest signs.

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PASSENGER SAFETY. NCRPO chief Guillermo Eleazar (not in photo) leads the inspection Friday at the Central Terminal Station in Ermita, Manila to ensure the safety of passengers. Norman Cruz

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News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House eyes cut on food wastes

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE House of Representatives led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has passed on final reading House Bill 8873 which aims to reduce food waste through food donations and food recycling.

and consumption stages, determined to be fit for consumption based on standards set by the National Nutrition Council and the Food and Drug Administration.

The establishments covered by the Act are 1) food manufacturers, despite any restriction imposed by any existing law and regulation on them. Any donation made by such manufacturers shall constitute an exception to the applicability of restrictions under existing laws and regulations; 2) food establishments (restaurants, cafes, diners, fast food chains or hotels); supermarkets with at least 500 square meters of selling space; and 4) culinary schools which offer culinary, baking and pastry courses with at least 50 students.

“The determination of food insecures shall be made by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the local government

units. Food insecures refer to people or groups of people who have no means and/or have difficulty producing or purchasing food.

Under the bill, the NNC, in close coordination with the DSWD, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, other concerned agencies and local government units shall undertake a National Food Surplus Campaign to raise awareness on the impact of food surplus and strategies to reduce wasted food starting at the household level. The campaign shall also promote the food surplus reduction hierarchy and recommend means of reducing individual food waste.

The proposed “Food Waste Reduction Act,” principally authored by Rep. Conrado Estrella III of the Abono party-list, was unanimously approved on third and final reading by 183 votes.

The bill says “The State recognizes each person has a right to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient, safe and nutritious food. The State upholds the policy to attain food security, end hunger and promote the efficient use of the country’s food resources.

“The considerable number of people going hungry daily is a breach of a hu-

man right that this Act intends to correct, and the massive amount of food wastage produced presents an opportunity for the State to address hunger and improve the quality of life of the underprivileged.

“The State shall adopt a system to promote, facilitate and ensure the reduction of food waste through redistribution and recycling. The State shall likewise implement measures to make it mandatory to donate edible food surplus for charitable purposes.”

The bill refers to edible food surplus as excess food or surplus food in the retail

DOH...

Japanese envoy Kono to visit PH this weekend

From A1

is to clean up all those pending projects before adding to the budget,” he said.

The department came under scrutiny last year after Duque found that only 270 of the 5,700 barangay health stations had been completed under the P8.1-billion Barangay Health Station project.

A DOH epidemiologist said Friday measles cases in Central Luzon spiked significantly as 96 percent of the affected children in the region were unvaccinated.

“More children suffered the disease because their parents refused to bring them to health centers to avail of free vaccines,” Dr. Jesse Fantone, head of DOH’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said.

Data from the DOH-RESU showed a total of 437 cases and six deaths reported in Central Luzon from January 1 to February 7 this year, compared to only 32 cases with no death during the same period last year.

Of the seven provinces in Central Luzon, Bulacan has the highest number of measles cases with 144, followed

by Pampanga with 136; Tarlac with 89; Bataan with 27; Zambales with 23; and Nueva Ecija with 18. The province of Aurora had no measles case.

Of the six deaths, three were from Pampanga and one each in Bulacan, Bataan, and Zambales.

Regional health officials declared a measles outbreak in Central Luzon on Thursday.

Fantone said the Dengvaxia scare is a minor reason parents have failed to participate in the immunization program.

With PNA

Diokno...

From A1

Diokno’s failure to attend the hearing prompted Andaya to ask the committee to cite Diokno for contempt, saying that the Budget secretary “was hiding behind technicalities” in skipping Friday’s committee hearing on the Budget Department’s 2017 and 2018 savings.

Andaya referred to Diokno’s letter to Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo asking that the hearing be reset because the subpoena issued to him should have been issued three days before under House rules.

In addition, Diokno said the DBM was not given enough time to prepare for the hearing.

“Diokno was making excuses. He has waived the three-day rule by complying with the subpoena duces tecum by submitting the documents on savings of DBM in 2017 (P209 billion) and 2018 (P97 billion),” Andaya said.

Addressing Diokno, Andaya said: “Whoever advised you to absent yourself led you astray. You’re still in contempt.”

Lorenzana...

From A1

man-made structures is no surprise to us as they have been there since 2012,” said the Defense chief.

But Lorenzana stressed: “We expect other countries to respect Philippine sovereignty, and to conduct themselves in a civilized manner befitting members of the global community.”

According to Lorenzana, improving all existing facilities in Kalayaan was the government’s constitutional mandate.

In his statement, Lorenzana said: “Improving the safety, welfare, livelihood, and personal security of Filipinos in the municipality of Kalayaan, a distinct and separate town under the province of Palawan, is the govern-

Sandigan: We will rule on Marcos suit ALMOST 33 years to the day after the Marcoses and their cronies were driven out the country, the Sandiganbayan ruled that it would render a decision on the P1.052-billion civil suit the Presidential Commission on Good Government filed against the Marcos family and their cronies over alleged ill-gotten wealth during the regime of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

The antigraft court’s Second Division, in a resolution promulgated on Jan. 31, denied the motion for reconsideration filed by respondents Bienvenido Tantoco Jr., Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., the estate of Gliceria Tantoco, and Dominador Santiago.

The court said they were not able to present new arguments to defer the promulgation.

The late Gliceria or Glecy is a close friend of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and was a member in good standing of the so-called Imelda’s “Blue Ladies.”

The court has yet to schedule the date for the release of its decision.

The Tantocos and Santiago told the Sandiganbayan that the decision on the case involving the P1.052 billion “would cause confusion” and so the court should not decide on it pending resolution on a separate civil case involving the same parties.

But the Sandiganbayan said that the two cases were unrelated, citing a Supreme Court ruling on the issue.

“Since the case has already been submitted for decision as early as April 14, 2010, and that the defendants filed their memorandum on June 7, 2010, while the plaintiff filed its memorandum on August 2, 2010, the court deems it proper to resolve the instant case,” the Sandiganbayan said.

The resolution was written by Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi, Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr., the division chairman, and Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna concurred.

Maricel V. Cruz

JAPANESE Foreign Minister Taro Kono will visit the Philippines starting today, Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Friday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. had invited Kono for an official visit to the country from Feb. 9 to 11.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Elmer Cato said Kono will meet with Locsin in Davao on Sunday for a bilateral discussion on the areas of mutual interest including political, economic and people-to-people engagement.

Cato said the two officials will also tackle Japan’s support for infrastructure development in Mindanao in the

wake of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. While in Davao, Kono will call on President Rodrigo Duterte and meet with Cabinet officials. He will also grace the inauguration of the Japanese Consulate General in Davao.

Japan played an active role in the construction of the recently-inaugurated Bohol-Panglao Airport and the Metro Manila Subway System project.

In Mindanao, Tokyo plans to modify its support for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro Transition Authority, a governing body that will

be in place during the transition period toward the Bangsamoro government’s creation in 2022.

In a statement, Cato said Kono’s trip to Davao was “a testament to the strengthened strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan, and an affirmation of our long-standing bilateral friendship.”

Kono had his international debut as Japan’s foreign minister at the 50th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila in August 2017.

During his first trip to the Philippines as a ranking ministry official, Kono called on Duterte at the Philippine International Convention Center. PNA

Congress...

lotments -- which according to Andaya would not come from the 2019 GAA but from Diokno’s department.

Andaya said the 2019 budget is totally pork-free as he earlier disclosed the P50 billion in “institutional amendments” made by Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Andaya earlier proposed the abandonment of the one year cash-based budgeting system as proposed in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Andaya, head of the House contingent for the bicameral conference committee meeting on the 2019 national budget, earlier said “there is actually no legal basis for it and from an implementing agency’s standpoint and view, it will actually cause more harm than good.”

Andaya earlier said the Commission on Audit (COA) pointed out in its official statement that cash-based budgeting will cause more problems and will effect a ballooning of accounts payable.

The House approved the budget bill on third and final reading last November.

The House ratified the money measure as

it goes on break to make way for the 90-day election campaign period starting Feb. 13 for the May 13 mid-term elections.

The approved budget will be sent to Malacanang for signing by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Following strong objections from Lacson, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon also voted no to the 2019 General Appropriations Act. Hs also challenged all lawmakers from both Houses of Congress to make all their budget amendments available to public scrutiny, “Let the people know. We all claim and boldly announce to all and sundry that all of our amendments are institutional and that we do not have pork insertions. Then let us put our money where the mouth is,” he said in a privilege speech.

Drilon likened the budget’s passage, without giving Congress sufficient time to scrutinize it, to signing a blank check.

“To give my vote to this budget is like signing a blank check. I simply cannot do that,” he said.

the founding anniversary of the APO chapter in the state university’s flagship campus.

“We stand behind every Filipino who wants to say their piece—be it for themselves, their own sector, or for all of society.We support everyone who seeks to chart their own path out of historical injustice and structural prejudice plaguing their communities. We open the Oblation Run to everyone who wants

to express themselves,” APO said in a statement.

“Ultimately, our exercise in free expression—running naked for a cause— will be done in deference to all sectors of society who want to be heard,” the fraternity added.

Running naked in the Oblation Run is homage to the UP Oblation statue, a spread-eagled male statue in the buff except for a leaf on its genital area.

and the lone village that petitioned for inclusion in Tulunan.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL was ratified after the Jan. 21 vote with a landslide victory in the ARMM provinces and a majority win in Cotabato City. The plebiscite was lost in Isabela City.

The ratification triggered the Feb. 6 vote to allow other areas to join BARMM. The vote was also held in Lanao del Norte for six towns that wanted to join

BARMM. The “yes” vote won in all six towns, but the majority of the voters in the rest of the province voted “no” to losing these towns. They will stay within the jurisdiction of Lanao del Norte, a victory of the ruling Dimaporo clan that aggressively campaigned for the “no” vote.

The members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority that will govern the new region until the next elections in 2022 are expected to be appointed this week.

security following the recent attacks in Mindanao,” MRT 3 said.

MRT 3 recently earned the ire of commuters after it banned bottled drinks, water and any liquid substance as these could be mixed with other substances to form a liquid bomb.

The additional security measure was recommended by the PNP after the deadly bomb attacks on the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo that killed at least 23 people last week.

Nevertheless, MRT 3 said the following liquids may be permitted on the trains upon validation and approval from security personnel: Baby formula / breast milk in bottles, if the passenger is travelling with a baby or small child; Drinking water to be used by the baby or small child; All prescription and over-the-counter medications; Liquids including water, juice or liquid nutrition or gels for passenger with a disability or life condition; Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs; Items used to augment the body and for medical and cosmetics reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetics breast, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medical-related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

Indonesia...

was quoted as saying.

In the BeritaSatu report, Sarundajang lamented that the Philippine government has repeatedly linked Indonesians to terrorist attacks, like the one in Lamitan City, Basilan, on July 31, 2018, and the New Year’s Eve blast in Cotabato City last year, without proof.

“However, the results of the investigation show that there was no involvement of Indonesian citizens in the two bombings, as stated by the officials and the media reports,” the report quoted the ambassador as saying.

Sarundajang also reportedly said that residents and families of the Jolo bombing victims refuse to believe that the attack was perpetrated by Indonesian suicide bombers.

Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi also said there is no evidence yet that the perpetrators of the bomb attack were Indonesians,

Sarundajang said.

“Until now, the investigation process is still ongoing, so it cannot be ascertained that the perpetrators are Indonesian citizens,” Indonesia’s top diplomat said.

The Department of National Defense, meanwhile, was quiet on a statement

by Año that Abu Sayyaf Group leader Hajan Sawadjaan, who allegedly masterminded the Jolo, Sulu bomb attack, is now the new Islamic State (ISIS) emir in the Philippines, saying the information needed to be verified.

“The DND and Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] have our own validation method independent of the PNP and other government agencies,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. “It would be inappropriate to issue further comments on this until we have received verification and confirmation from our own sources.” With PNA

From A1

Ombudsman, P1.8 billion; Department of Agriculture, P485.5 million; Department of Education, P2.5 billion; and state universities and colleges, P2.81 billion.

In total, the Senate proposed some P25.4 billion in adjustments while the House introduced P20.65 billion in realignments or a total of P46.35 billion under the DPWH where legislators can identify specific projects.

Andaya confirmed that each congressman will get P160 million in itemized projects.

The bicameral committee also adopted the P800 million proposal from the Senate’s “institutional amendments” intended for the celebration of World Teachers’ Day this October.

Similarly, senators and congressmen carried Andaya’s request the Department of Budget and Management to release some P2.3 billion in internal revenue al-

UP frat...

From A1

They did so to call for an end to the attacks on the media and press freedom, even as they urged the public to invoke their right to free expression.

Usually held around late November to early December, this year’s Oblation Run was moved to the same week as

‘Yes’ votes...

From A1

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to establish a new autonomous region with wider powers and control over resources. It will be called the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM. Sinarimbo said the plebiscite was lost in two villages in Aleosan, one in Pikit,

ment’s Constitutional mandate.

“Kalayaan has been part of the sovereignty of the Philippines since 1978, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1596 and international laws.”

He also emphasized that the DND had always been open and transparent in conveying and fulfilling the government’s desire to improve the living conditions of both the civilian and military citizens in the community of Barangay Pag-asa, the largest of the nine islands in the municipality comprising the Kalayaan Island Group.

“The presence of militia on the Chinese man-made structures is no surprise to us as they have been there since 2012. We expect other countries to respect Philippine sovereignty, and to conduct themselves in a civilized manner befitting members of the global community,” Lorenzana said. PNA

From A1

Indonesian couple, but said it would take time to identify them.

Año said the couple, who reportedly left behind a 10-year-old child in the Philippines, received assistance from the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

Sarundajang was also quoted in a separate report saying that the Indonesian embassy in Manila and the Indonesian consulate general in Davao contacted the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), which reportedly said it did not know the basis for Año’s claim.

“When contacted by the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, the NICA informally expressed its openness to conduct an investigation together with the Indonesian government,” Sarundajang

Bomb threat...

From A1

News IN BRIEF Sinaloa Cartel now in PH, Du30 warns THE Sinaloa Cartel has entered the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday, warning that he will kill Filipinos who will associate themselves with the infamous Mexico-based drug trafficking syndicate.

In his speech during the Peace and Order Summit for Barangay Officials in Legazpi City, Albay, the President said the international drug syndicate has entered the country, expressing frustration anew over the illegal drug trade.

“Shabu is the commodity for the poor. Cocaine, which is for rich people, also enters the scene. The Golden Triangle is here, the Sinaloa of Mexico is here. They are establishing ties worldwide,” Duterte said.

“I don’t really have a choice, except to declare war and kill them.

Don’t let your guard down when we see each other,” he added.

The President then warned possible Filipino associates of the drug cartel. Nat Mariano

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Probe delay in awarding land titles’

By Rio N. Araja

A

GRARIAN Reform Secretary John Castriciones on Friday vowed to investigate the delay in the awarding of certificates of land ownership award to farmer-beneficiaries in some parts of Luzon.

He ordered the creation of a task force to look into the reported irregularities in a regional office of the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Pyra Lucas, Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption regional head, accompanied the farmers from Tarlac and Pampanga, to bring up the issue of anomalies in the regional office over the delayed awarding of the farmers’ land titles for a number of years.

The landholdings in conflict were in

Tarlac’s barangay Malonzo in Bamban and Barangay Concepcion, and Pampanga’s Barangay Gutad in Florida and Clark in Cabcom.

Castriciones ordered the task group to come up with immediate resolutions into the matter.

“While we are investigating this case, we will re-survey the problematic lands, process your land titles and attend to your other concerns so that there will be no wasted time,” he promised.

Castriciones on Thursday met with the concerned farmers in a dialogue at the department’s central office in Quezon City.

Undersecretary for field operations Karlo Bello, Undersecretary for legal affairs Luis Pangulayan, regional director Homer Tobias and other agrarian reform officials took part in the dialogue.

Castriciones gave the farmers and VACC the assurance that the Duterte administration would exhaust its resources to resolve all land problems, including those from the past administrations. (RIO) Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that President Rodrigo Duterte still has full trust in Castriciones even after the chief executive expressed his frustration over the delayed processing of land conversion

documents at the agency.

In several past speeches, the president had said that he may fire at least two DAR executives over the delay which he said was even attended by corruption.

“I believe DAR Secretary Castriciones still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President. In fact the President said something to that effect,” Nograles said.

On Thursday, Duterte walked out of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday when he learned that it takes 25 years for an application process to be fully accomplished at the National Economic Development Authority and two-processing of conversion cases at the DAR. The President then repeatedly threatened to fire and file charges against the officials allegedly involved in the delay.

MEET AND GREET.

Philippine Constitution Assoociation president and former 1st District of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (middle, standing) assisted by Tingog Party List 2nd Nominee Jude Acidre ( 2nd right standing) is warmly welcomed

by Vice Mayors of Leyte, Samar, Biliran and Sorsogon during their meet and greet and breakfast meeting at Holiday Inn in Makati City.

The members of LGU are in Manila for the Vice Mayor League of the Philippines First Quarter of 2019 Board Meeting.

Ver Noveno

PDEA, police arrest four drug dealers JOINT elements of the National Capital Region Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested four suspected drug dealers and seized P3.5 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Quezon City.

NCRPO director Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspects as Ruby Balani, Joshua Salazar, Mary Jane Duran and Mineya Amorine, who used the aliases of Belle, Kalbo, Beng and Aira in their drug dealing activity.

He said his men in close coordination with PDEA and Quezon City police operatives conducted the antidrug operation inside Super Savers Hotel along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Barangay Dona Imelda around 2:30 am. Joel E. Zurbano

US gov’t lauds BI on drive vs RSOs THE United States government has commended the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for preventing the entry of a large number of American registered sex offenders (RSOs) into the Philippines last year.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente disclosed that the BI was recently awarded a certificate of commendation by the US Embassy in Manila for registering the second highest number of excluded American RSOs throughout the world in 2018.

The highest number of intercepted RSOs was reportedly posted by Mexico, which is situated right below the US’ southwestern borders.

“I commend our officers deployed at our ports of entry for a job well done.

Because of your vigilance and alertness, you were able to turn away these sex offenders to protect fellow Filipinos from possible exploitation,” Morente said in a statement. Vito Barcelo

‘Avoid hazardous campaign materials’ BEWARE of hazardous campaign materials this May elections.

As the start of the official campaign period for the May 13 midterm polls draws near, environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition warned the people against election tarpaulins that may contain cadmium, a heavy metal with a high toxicity that is used as plastic colorant and/or stabilizer.

The group stated that cadmium is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) among the “ten chemicals of major public health concern” along with arsenic, asbestos, dioxins, lead, mercury and other highly hazardous substances. Joel E. Zurbano

2 Indian nationals die in plane crash TWO Indian nationals on board a Cessna plane were found dead Friday morning, four days after their two-seater training aircraft plane went missing following a touch and go landing at Subic Airport.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines media communications chief and spokesperson Eric Apolonio identifed the fatalities as Capt. Navern Nagaraja and his student pilot Kuldeep Singh.

“The joint task force assembled to locate the victims penetrated the crash site and found the two victims burned beyond recognition,” said Apolonio.

Apolonio said the victims’ cadavers have been airlifted by a Philippine Air Force helicopter and initially brought to the Command Center in Barangay Mabiga, Hermosa, Bataan before turning them over to Orani town. Joel E. Zurbano

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British envoy, embassy push campaign on press freedom ACT issues plea

By Othel V. Campos THE British Ambassador to the Philippines and the British Embassy took a stand on the ongoing persecution of media organizations calling on local media people to support the British Embassy’s global campaign on press freedom.

“In the coming months, you will see us in the Embassy very active on this issue.

We will be working with the government, business and civil society. You will see us

standing up for media freedom where we see it under threat. You will see us sharing our experience of how a free media is an essential element of any genuine democracy. Because the freedom of the media is under threat,” said the new British Ambassador Daniel Pruce during the Embassy’s annual media reception, Thursday night at the Ambassador’s residence.

The Embassy will be launching activities to foster improved media literacy, support professional journalism

and ecourage the exchange of views on media regulation.

Pruce noted that the previous year, 2018, “was the deadliest years ever for journalists.”

This year, 80 media people were killed worldwide, six were Filipino journalists, and about 348 were injured.

He said his country was cognizant of the fact that many media people were often harassed and persecuted through a lopsided due process.

KEEPING THE CODE.

The Comelec and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sign a memorandum of agreement on Friday, Feb. 8 to keep the source codes for the May elections in escrow at the BSP, in compliance with RA 9369 or the Automated Election Law. Norman Cruz

More schools want to increase tuition—DepEd

DEPARTMENT of Education has announced that 31 private elementary and secondary schools in Metro Manila are planning to implement a tuition fee increase.

The schools cited as reason for the planned increase is the second wave of the tax reform which prompted higher inflation and for the additional salaries of teachers.

“Alam naman natin na medyo tumataas iyong ano…inflation rate and

they need to operate within the certain norm and they see it that the most available is that is to have a tuition hike,” said DepEd NCR Dir. Wilfredo Cabral.

“Of the 31 that we have right now, of course they are applying for tuition fee increase for purposes of increasing the salary of their teachers, personnel and as well as improvement of their facilities,” he added.

The DepEd said that in petitioning for higher tuition, a school should prove that 70

percent of the said increase will go to teachers’ salaries, 20 percent for infrastructure development and 10 percent for profit.

The tuition increase must request must also undergo consultation with parents and will be subjected to the scrutiny of the education department.

Also, more than 200 out of 300 schools in Metro Manila requested for tuition hike last year and were given approval to proceed.

to CA on PNP ‘profiling’

By Rio N. Araja THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers on Friday appealed to the Court of Appeals to look more into “substance than technicality” of its petition to stop the Philippine National Police from profiling member-teachers.

“ACT will file a motion for reconsideration. With truth and reason on our side, so should justice be this time around,” ACT secretary general Raymond Basilio said.

In a four-page resolution penned by CA’s 11th Division, Associate Justice Nina Antonio-Valenzuela junked the Jan. 17 petition filed by ACT, two of its regional groups and the Manila Public School Teachers Association Inc. against the Philippine National Police’s order to compile an intelligence list of ACT teachers and affiliates in public schools.

“While ACT is yet to receive the official copy of the CA decision, we are saddened by the media reports that the honorable court has dismissed outright our petition for prohibition with urgent prayer for the issuance of temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction, following the profiling being carried out by the PNP against our members,” he said.

Since the leakage of the confidential profiling memorandum, teacher-unionists from 10 regions claimed continuing surveillance and aggravating harassment against their leaders and members.

According to Basilio, he was threatened by an unidentified person while on his way home.

“There is reasonable cause for alarm and distress among teachers, especially since state-perpetuated attacks persist despite exposés, legal cases, and local and international outrage,” he noted. With PNA

Negrense wins Feb. 7 lotto draw worth P18 million—PCSO chief “CONGRATULATIONS to the newest millionaire of Lotto 6/42 who matched all six winning number combination of 14,23, 18, 27, 07, 40 drawn on Thursday night, February 7. The winner got the P18,836,826 jackpot prize, the third millionaire for the said game and 12th millionaire for 2019,” Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General

Manager Alexander Balutan announced on Friday.

He said the winner bought the Lotto ticket in Negros Occidental.

Of the 12 millionaires, three came from Lotto 6/42, three from Mega Lotto 6/45, three from Super Lotto 6/49, one from Grand Lotto 6/55, and two from Ultra Lotto 6/58 who shared a total of

P554,177,598 for January and February.

“2019 is indeed a lucky year for our gaming public. Tamang-tama, kakatapos lang ng Chinese New Year. Eh ‘di ba Year of the Pig this year? Sabi nila, this is a year of fortune and luck! Sana nga,” said Balutan.

The chances of winning in the lotto draws are one in 5,245,786 for Lotto

6/42; one in 8,145,060 for Mega Lotto 6/45; one in 13,983,816 for Super Lotto 6/49; one in 28,989,675 for Grand Lotto 6/55; and one in 40,475,358 for Ultra Lotto 6/58.

For January, Balutan reported a P1,930,393,950 overall sales for Lotto and digit games, which is 30 percent lower compared to the same period last year.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The Manila Bay challenge AMID the euphoria that the massive cleanup of Manila Bay has generated among netizens, we are one again faced by the rude reality that the problem of cleaning up Manila Bay is not only gargantuan but is so complex that it requires more than a simple makeover. Removing tons of garbage and dredging the sludge in Manila Bay are not enough because the overwhelm-

May we not betray the trust reposed in us by future generations.

ing stench and pollution of the Bay is symptomatic of a much bigger metropolitan problem such as poverty, government neglect, commercialism, etc.

This notwithstanding, it is good that the government is once again putting some effort into solving the problem of pollution in Manila Bay which has been ordered by the Supreme Court ten years or so ago.

I welcome this effort, appreciate President Duterte prioritizing this as his predecessors did not, and trust in the leadership and integrity of the men who will be the field generals of this effort, former generals (pun intended)

and now Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Local Governments Secretary Eduardo Año.

One must recall that ten years ago, on Dec. 18, 2008, the Supreme Court promulgated a decision in Concerned Citizens vs MMDA, a case that was filed a decade earlier in January 29, 1999, when concerned residents of Manila Bay—UP Law students and colleagues of the great environmental lawyer and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Tony Oposa—filed a complaint before the Regional Trial Court in Imus, Cavite against several government agencies for the clean-up, rehabilitation and protection of the Manila Bay. The main allegation of the com complaint was that the water quality of Manila Bay was no longer within the allowable standards set by law through Presidential Decree No. 1152 or the Philippine Environment Code.

This fact was not denied and was in fact supported by testimony from the Department of Environment and Nat Natural Resources, officials of the Met Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the Philippine Ports Authority.

On ruling in favor of the concerned citizens, the Supreme Court, speaking through the visionary Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, was unequivocal: it issued for the first time a writ of continuing mandamus that ordered several government agencies and local government units to clean and rehabilitate Manila Bay. The mandamus was to continue until the goal of a clean and sustainable Manila Bay was achieved.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A worse affliction

A

MEASLES outbreak has been declared, first in Metro Manila and eventually in other parts of the country. As of Friday, 60 children have died of measles just at the San Lazaro Hospital alone. Across other regions, the number of those afflicted with the communicable disease climbs steadily.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said measles cases in Metro Manila had risen more than fivefold to 1,500 this year to only 250 last year. The exponential increase is attributed to the refusal of parents and other guardians to have their children vaccinated following the much publicized controversy over Dengvaxia.

In 2015, the Department of Health entered into a P3.5-billion contract with French pharmaceutical Sanofi Pasteur to distribute vaccines against dengue fever.

Later on, however, the company revealed the medicine could in fact cause a more serious strain of dengue if the recipient had not had the disease before.

The controversy resulted in congressional investigations, a graft case involving no less than former President Aquino, and significant

public scare whether or not it was founded.

In fact a study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said public confidence in vaccines plunged to 32 percent in 2018 from 93 percent in 2015.

The DOH meanwhile said that vaccine coverage rate sank to 40 percent in 2018 from 70 percent the previous year. In the first nine months of 2018, the number of unvaccinated children grew to over 960,000 from 850,000 the same period the previous year.

This week, the Philippine Pediatric Society and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines issued a statement reminding parents that vaccines available to prevent diseases are safe and highly effective, and that vaccination remains the main intervention in reducing morbidity

and mortality against infectious diseases.

The doctors’ groups also urged parents to have their babies vaccinated against measles earlier than the recommended age.

National agencies and local government units need to step up their efforts to educate parents that there is no harm in vaccinating their children against measles. In fact, not doing otherwise would be detrimental to their health, as we are seeing now.

Blaming the people who were driven to fear does not help; after all, they merely reacted to the combination of sensationalism, antics and denials that they have seen. Hampered by many factors ranging from lack of education to lack of resources, they were not able to exercise critical thinking to counter the input. Shall they be consigned to the dark indefinitely?

Measles is a deadly disease; it is a senseless snuffing out of lives of children. What rankles is that science has established it is preventable. Parents do decide on whether they should have their children vaccinated, but it is the job of the government to enable them to make the enlightened decision.

Turn to A5

The 105-day maternity leave ‘law’ THE advocacy for better maternity benefits started in the early or mid90s. I know because at that time, I was Chair of the Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center (LMLC) Women’s Committee. The women across labor centers, meaning the Left, Right, and Center, worked together for better maternity benefits for women workers.

It was a time when the different ideological groups started working together, albeit tactically. As far as the labor movement went, all centers, from the Trade Union Center of the Philippines (TUCP), to the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), LMLC, to Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) were together in the advocacy for specific workers’ issues. They even put up the then Labor Advisory Consultative Council.

Similarly, the women were actively advocating better maternity benefits including longer paid maternity leaves. I distinctly remember doing activities with the Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK) of KMU, and the women of FFW and TUCP. It was during this advocacy when I experienced my first television interview the host of which was now Senator Risa Hontiveros. Our battle cry then was “Pregnancy and Childbirth as Social Responsibility.”

The advocacy did not stop. For many Congresses, the bill has been repeatedly refiled but it is only this Congress that passed the “105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law”. I was part of the process in the House of Representatives and here, I should commend the Committee on Women and Gender Equality (CWGE) under the leadership of its Chair, Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy for the hard work the CWGE has been doing.

While I have been critical of a

number of bills passed by the HOR, I have to say that my experience in working with the CWGE has been quite productive. From the previous Chairs to Rep. BH as we call the present Chair, I am witness to how efficient, consultative, and progressive the Committee has been. It has approved a good number of important bills on and for women. Not many know this but we must give credit where credit is due.

Indeed, the 105-day maternity leave bill has undergone the scrutiny of the Bicameral Conference Committee and it has reconciled the disagreeing provisions of the bills passed by the HOR and Senate, HB No. 4113 and SB No. 1305. Both Houses have ratified the consolidated bill entitled, “Increasing the Maternity Leave Period to One Hundred Five (105) Days for Female Workers With an Option to Extend for an Ad-

This will truly benefit the Filipino working woman.

ditional Thirty (30) Days Without Pay, and Granting an Additional Fif Fifteen (15) Days for Solo Mothers, and for Other Purposes”.

This has been waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature since Jan. 21 and will lapse into law on February 21 if he does not sign or veto it. For the sake of the millions of Filipino working women, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the President does not veto this crucial legislation.

This almost-a-law-bill will benefit virtually all working women of reproductive age as it provides a mandatory 105 days of PAID maternity leave to those in the public and private sectors, as well as to women Turn to A5

Destined to be big?

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, a prestigious multinational professional services network based in London, United Kingdom, and which ranks as the secondlargest professional services firm in the world, has very good news for the Philippines—if the country and its people are willing to listen and abide by its prognosis.

In the multinational’s recent projections for the year 2050, it classed the Philippines

trillion economy; 24. Malaysia—$2.815 trillion; 22. Canada—$3.1-trillion; 21. Ita Italy—$3.115 trillion ; 20. Vietnam—$3.176 There is a projection trillion. The Philippines will be the 19th richest economy just ahead of Vietnam at that the Philippines 20th. By then the US won’t even be numwill be among the ber 2 but India, just behind China as the richest economy in the world.

20 richest nations in It is opportune at this time to reflect 2050. upon these projections as the country faces its challenges as seen today, the contentious politics that is delaying the national budget and, hence, all the development among the 20 richest nations on earth projects and slowing down growth. There just 31 years from now, or a generation are also ambiguities on the China Sea hence. By then our country is projected to dispute policies which otherwise pose no Turn to A5 be ahead of 25. Thailand, with a $2.782 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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Opinion Ghost deliveries at DepEd bared A DEEPLY concerned employee of the Department of Education sent me an e-mail, asking me to look into the “long overdue deliveries” of technical and vocational learning equipment for several schools in the provinces. The project is worth billions of pesos.

The email sender, who requested anonymity, said the learning equipment is meant for the repair and maintenance courses offered in the senior high school level. These cover television

The Manila...

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According to the Court: “The cleanup and/or restoration of the Manila Bay is only an aspect and the initial stage of the long-term solution.

The preservation of the water quality of the bay after the rehabilitation process is as important as the cleaning phase. It is imperative then that the wastes and contaminants found in the rivers, inland bays, and other bodies of water be stopped from reaching the Manila Bay. Otherwise, any cleanup effort would just be a futile, cosmetic exercise, for, in no time at all, the Manila Bay water quality would again deteriorate below the ideal minimum standards xxx” The Court also observed: “The high level of fecal coliform confirms the presence of a large amount of human waste in the dump sites and surrounding areas, which is presumably generated by households that lack alternatives to sanitation. To say that Manila Bay needs rehabilitation is an understatement.”

Finally, the Court concluded with strong words: “The importance of the Manila Bay as a sea resource, playground, and as a historical landmark cannot be overemphasized. It is not yet too late in the day to restore the Manila Bay to its former splendor and bring back the plants and sea life that once thrived in its blue waters. But the tasks ahead, daunting as they may be, could only be accomplished if those mandated, with the help and cooperation of all civic-minded individuals, would put their minds to these tasks and take responsibility. This means that the State, through petitioners, has to take the lead in the preservation and protection of the Manila Bay. The era of delays, procrastination, and ad hoc measures is over. Petitioners must transcend their limitations, real or imaginary, and buckle down to work before the problem at hand becomes unmanageable. Thus, we must reiterate that different government agencies and instrumentalities cannot

The 105-day...

From A4

workers in the informal economy.

Moreover, this “law” does not discriminate on the basis of civil status, which means that unmarried women are covered; on the basis of number of children, as there is no limit to the number of pregnancies covered; and on the basis of employment status.

The “law” makes available to the concerned women the option of an additional unpaid maternity leave of thirty (30) days for as long as they inform their superior in writing at least forty-five days before their leave ends.

Moreover, for solo mothers who qualify under Republic Act 8972 (Solo Parent Law), they are entitled to an additional fifteen (15) days of paid maternity leave.

Another important feature of this

Destined...

From A4

problem with unprecedented friendly relations with China, or the vestiges of the Cold War like the Mutual Defense Treaty that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has pointed out.

sets, refrigerators, airconditioners, and computers.

They were bid out by the Department of Education in 2017 but the equipment reportedly has yet to be delivered to various schools to this day.

According to my informant, the multi-billion peso projects are under the Technical, Vocational, and Livelihood (TVL) division of DepEd administered

by Director Mario Laroza.

I have been trying to get Laroza’s reaction through DepEd’s landline but he could not be reached for the past couple of days.

I’m sure the public, particularly the recipient schools of those learning materials, could not wait to hear from Director Laroza himself why there has

been a delay in delivery of these educational materials for almost two years now.

My informant over at DepEd claims that the delay had deprived the students who graduated last year, and possibly this year too, the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills of using the equipment. Thus, they may be lacking proper training. This is quite an alarming scenario.

It behooves Education Secretary Leonor Briones to look into this urgent matter immediately to make sure that those learning tools worth billions of pesos are delivered to the schools and not end up as ghost projects.

As for Laroza, I’m sure he is aware that the President hates red tape and corruption in the government.

shirk from their mandates; they must perform their basic functions in cleaning up and rehabilitating the Manila Bay.” Two years after this decision was issued, following the advice of the Manila Bay Advisory Committee (MBAC), there was a resolution supplementing the 2008 decision with specific guidance and orders to the relevant mandamus agencies on what they needed to do to achieve the clean-up. MBAC was chaired by Justice Velasco. I was a member, appointed by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, together with former Environment Secretary Bebet Gozun and Dr. Gil Jacinto of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

Ten years after the main decision and eight years after that resolution (I will summarize that in the next column), there has been no discernible improvement in the state of Manila Bay. In fact, as Tony Oposa has pointed out in a recent article, things are much worse now.

What happened? Well, it’s obvious.

The Mall of Asia and casino complex areas became bigger and more populated. Thousands more live, work, and visit the Bay area than ten years ago. Population density has increased in Manila, Pasay, Malabon, Navotas, indeed all of Metro Manila, and all of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, and Bataan which comprise the Bay region. Government efforts simply have not been able to catch up with the unsustainable development of the region.

Four things are clear if we are to succeed in the whole of country project of cleaning, rehabilitating, and sustainably developing Manila Bay: First, we will not be able to clean or rehabilitate Manila Bay if we there is no 100% sewerage coverage of Metro Manila. We must demand this of MWSS and the two water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water. Second, there must absolutely be no more reclamation projects in the Manila Bay area. Approving such projects is immoral, even criminal because it will threaten wetlands, biodiversity, the historic sites of Manila, and people. Third, there must be a jus

transition for informal settlers; they should not be targeted first and instead they should be assisted to be relocated within the city, near their jobs and schools. Fourth, decisions on Manila Bay must be based on a long-term vision and a masterplan that is based on current facts and projections of the future (including climate change considerations). That is why it is a serious error for the President to have transferred the authority to make reclamation decisions from the National Economic Development Authority to the Philippine Reclamation Authority.

It will lead to even more unsustainable development.

I have said many times that it does not take rocket science to clean, rehabilitate, and sustainably develop Manila Bay. It requires good natural science which we have—accurate data and precise modeling for example.

But it also needs solid political science—not just political will but good economics, sociology, and social psychology—an understanding of what motivates people and how to move them together to a better place.

In 2008, the Supreme Court, quoting the earlier decision Oposa vs Factoran, stated that “the right to a balanced and healthful ecology need not even be written in the Constitution for it is assumed, like other civil and political rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, to exist from the inception of mankind and it is an issue of transcendental importance with intergenerational implications. According to the Court: “ Even assuming the absence of a categorical legal provision specifically prodding petitioners to clean up the bay, they and the men and women representing them cannot escape their obligation to future generations of Filipinos to keep the waters of the Manila Bay clean and clear as humanly as possible. Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust reposed in them.”

My hope is that we, not just government, do not betray this trust reposed in us by future generations.

“law” is that a woman may opt to allocate a maximum of seven (7) days of her 105 days to the father of the child. This is outside of the leaves provided under RA 8187 (Paternity Leave Act of 1996). This means that fathers may have more time with their babies for bonding. In cases of death, absence, or incapacity of the father, the mother may allot the seven days to a relative up to fourth degree of consanguinity, or to the woman’s present partner.

Even miscarriages and emergency pregnancy termination are covered under this “law” with a paid leave of sixty (60) days.

Another important provision of the “law” is in regards the assurance of security of tenure of the women workers. Availing of the new maternity leave “law” cannot be used as a basis to demote or terminate a wom-

an worker.

Women workers in the informal economy may be covered for as long as they are members of the SSS and have paid a minimum of three months of contributions. Coverage of those who are not SSS members shall be governed by PhilHealth Circular No. 022-2014, the “Social Health Insurance Coverage and Benefits for Women About to Give Birth”.

Lastly, the penalties against those who will be proven to have broken this “law” are quite stiff consisting of fine of not less than PhP20,000.00 nor more than PhP200,000.00, or imprisonment of not less than six years and one day, nor more than twelve years, or both.

This “law” will truly benefit the Filipino working woman. President Duterte should sign it or just let it lapse into law.

If the Philippines is to attain the status of being among the richest countries in the World, which would be a boon to its long impoverished people, it must focus on stabilizing its economy directed unerringly toward development and prosperity.

The partnership with the booming economies of Asia today, namely China, and the up-and-coming India, should

be top most in the agenda of the Philippines, while good relations with the US. is maintained. President Duterte’s scheduled visit to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, an essential program for global prosperity) Forum in April, in China is also a welcome development.

To ensure that the road toward 2050 is clear, enhancement of ASEAN’s Zone

Facebook Page: Professor Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs Email: tonylavs@gmail.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

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Open US hegemonism in Latin America Part I THE decision by the Trump administration to impose an economic embargo on Venezuela and recognizing a lackey, Juan Guiado, as president is unprecedented in the conduct of international relations. It does not only violate the United Nations Charter, international law, the Five Principles of Peace laid down in the Bandung Conference, but destroyed the very image of the US as the promoter of freedom and democracy. Ignoring that peace is an essential precondition to what it implants in Venezuela.

Some political analysts say the US is invoking the so-called “Monroe Doctrine,” a policy laid down by President James Monroe in 1823, and addressed to the European powers not to intervene in the politics of the Americas, otherwise it will be considered by the US as a hostile act against it. Notably, the threat of European intervention looms, for it was the height of colonialism. Today, there is no threat of any foreign power, except from the US that has unilaterally taken the cudgels as the protector of the countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Its role has become paradoxical for it readily exercises a free hand to invade, arm mercenaries, attack any country whose government and/or president refuses to kowtow to its policy. The situation in Venezuela is much worse than the Monroe Doctrine. The political turmoil there is one where President Nicolas Maduro is bracing his country against possible invasion by a country that has staunchly declared itself as the promoter of freedom and democracy.

Demagoguery prevails that Trump feels he has the license to openly intervene, if necessary to invade, any country that does not conform to its yardstick of freedom and democracy.

The US has an impeccable record of interference in Latin America often by invasion, assassination, kidnapping of leaders oppose to its policy, sabotage, destruction of infrastructures, farmlands, downing of civilian airlines, and hiring mercenaries to fight a proxy guerrilla war. It has opened an Army School of the America, Panama (SOA) in 1946 where graduates learned about counter-insurgency, weapons training, psychological warfare, interrogation techniques, and sabotage. Many Filipino soldiers have been trained there often ending up overthrowing their own government.

Since 1946, the US participated in numerous acts denigrating the sovereignty and independence of states. It overthrew the government of Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala in 1954 to protect United Fruit Company, a large US banana plantation firm which reason why politically unstable countries in Central America gained the moniker of being called “banana republics.” In 1959, US marines invaded Haiti to prop up Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier.

In 1960, the US engineered the ouster of the President Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra of Ecuador for refusing to cut off diplomatic ties with Cuba. He was replaced by Carlos Julio Arosemana, a paid employee of the CIA. In 1960, USexile mercenaries invaded Cuba known as the failed “Bay of Pigs invasion.” In 1962, it overthrew the government of João Goulart, a millionaire landowner.

He was promptly replaced by General Castelo Branco who created the first death squad in Latin America.

In 1965, the US invaded the Dominican Republic. The US had to dispatch 20,000 troops to quell the resistance, killing 59 Americans and wounding 174. Beginning 1966, the US waged a relentless war in Guatemala to contain the spread of communism. The US installed a colonel, Enrique Peralta Azurdia to replace an elected politician. Untold reign of terror and atrocities then swept the country. By the 70s, it was estimated that more the 30,000 Guatemalans were slaughtered in the name of freedom and democracy.

of Peace and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) and the SEANFZA (Southeast Asian Nuclear Free Zone Agreement, also known as the Bangkok Treaty) must be done particularly as the US withdraws from the INF (Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty) that may restart a new arms race.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s vigorous implementation of the Philippine Con-

In 1966, the US waged a war to hunt down leftist guerrillas that led to the capture of Ernesto “Che” Guevarra until the remaining insurgents were rooted out in Bolivia. The CIA, that same year, financed and assisted General José Alberto Medrano of El Salvador to organize the Orden paramilitary force. That resulted in an orgy of killings that made the country famous worldwide.

Turmoil continued in Bolivia that in 1971, the CIA backed a violent military coup to install General Hugo Banzer.

He ruled for seven years as dictator. The US finally eliminated the Tupamaros guerrillas in Uruguay in 1972 but only to institute a military government.

In 1983, the first democratically elected President of Chile, Salvador Allende was killed in a coup that brought to power General Augusto Pinochet, a ruthless dictator who carried out a bloody cleansing in Chile, characterized by torture, killings and disappearance of thousands. In 1979, the US furiously fought to stave off defeat of its long time puppet by the Marxist Sandinistas. The defeat of the Somoza government was promptly replaced by their creation of so-called Contas US to oust the victorious government of Carlos Ortega.

The Trump administration’s move is unprecedented.

The war against US hegemonism, imperialism and oppression continued to spread and was equally met with greater ferocity such that in 1980, the right-wing government of Roberto D’Aubuisson carried out a rampage of murder that did not even spare Archbishop Óscar Romero who was shot while celebrating mass. The combined forces of the CIA, US military advisers, and paramilitary units all in all slaughtered about 63,000 Salvadorians with the disoriented people ending up as notorious gangsters or joining in caravan to reach the US via Mexico.

In 1982, General Efraín Ríos Montt, after launching a coup d’ etat, declared a state of emergency and suspended the rule of law. Within the first six months, 2,600 Indians were massacred. US President Reagan called him a man “totally dedicated to democracy.” That same year, the US invaded Grenada.

The invading U.S. troops were declared “heroes of the republic,” after killing socialist leader Maurice Bishop.

In 1989, US invaded Panama in the guise of wanting to secure the Canal.

The US sent 10,000 troops to arrest President Manuel Noriega and indicted him for his alleged involvement in the drug cartel. He spends the rest of his life in US federal prison. The US finally got rid of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 claiming he was corrupt and withheld $500 million of humanitarian aid for Haiti. Some Haitians greeted the Americans with cheers of “Liberty!” while others marched past the U.S. embassy denouncing Yankee imperialism.

In 2008, Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled US ambassador Philip Goldberg, who was reassigned to the Philippines, accusing him of fomenting the civil unrest that “threatens the unity of the nation, the same reason that antagonized President Duterte.

Finally, in 2013, US Secretary of State John Kerry declared that “the era of the Monroe Doctrine is over.” But rightly after the exiting of the Obama administration, President Donald Trump pursued with much greater vigour the same jingoistic policy under the banner of “America first.” Trump revived hegemonism that requires the placing of US military outpost in every Latin American state to ensure that states remain in line to US economic interest which national security advisor John Bolton now admits is all about Venezuela oil, and not about democracy. rpkapunan@gmail.com

stitution’s independent foreign policy has come at the most opportune time.

The weight of global power is shifting to Asia and the Philippines is rising as one of the major players in ensuring global peace and prosperity and a gatekeeper of peace and security in what is turning out to be the most critical region of the 21st century.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace sets six special holidays

By Nat Mariano

M

ALACAÑANG declared six special nonworking holidays in diferent areas of the country this month to give the public the opportunity to celebrate important occasions in their respective areas.

According to Proclamation 661, February 11, Monday, is considered a special nonworking holiday in Talisay, Negros Occidental to allow the people to celebrate the city’s 21st Charter Anniversary.

People in Laoag, Ilocos Norte will also have an ample time to participate in the province’s Pamulinawen Festival as Proclamation 662 also declared Feb. 11 a special non-working holiday in the city.

The proclamation noted that the Office of the Mayor requested for the festival to be celebrated on the given date instead of Feb. 10, which falls on a Sunday.

The people of Iriga, Camarines Sur will also be treated with a special non-working holiday on Monday to celebrate the ancient Bicolano First-Harvest Offering occasion called the Tinagba Festival.

“It is but fitting and proper that

the people of the City of Iriga be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” Proclamation 663 read.

On the other hand, Proclamation 664 declared a special non-working holiday on Feb. 12, Tuesday, for the celebration of its 21st Founding Anniversary in Kidapawan City, Cotabato.

Feb. 13, Wednesday, is also declared a special non-working holiday in Parañaque City to make the celebration of its cityhood anniversary.

Meanwhile, Proclamation 666 has declared a special non-working holiday in Taytay, Rizal for the celebration of the Araw ng Pasasalamat: HAMAKA Festival.

By authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed the proclamations on Wednesday.

The Palace then released the six proclamations on Friday.

Pag-IBIG Fund grants 21,000 housing loans PAG-IBIG Fund released P8.36 billion for socialized housing in 2018, benefiting 21,389 borrowers who are minimum-wage and low-income earners.

Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said in a statement: “Pag-IBIG Fund released an all-time high of P 75.31 billion in home loans in 2018. P8.36 billion of this amount was for socialized housing.

In terms of units, 24 percent of the 90,375 homes financed by Pag-IBIG Fund in 2018 were for low-income borrowers.

“Pag-IBIG Fund continues to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to provide social benefits to more Filipinos and strengthened its position as a key mover in the BALAI [Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive] Filipino Communities Program of the government’s housing sector.”

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Acmad Rizaldy Moti explained that Pag-IBIG’s tax-exempt status enabled the agency to subsidize the low rates for socialized housing loans and improve its programs to cater to the needs of the underserved sector.

In 2017, Pag-IBIG Fund reduced the interest rate for socialized housing from 4.5 percent per annum to only 3 percent per annum for socialized housing units worth up to P450,000, which is the best rate in the socialized housing market.

And while the price of socialized housing ceiling was raised by the HUDCC to P580,000 for horizontal housing projects in 2018 to improve the quality of affordable homes, officials of Pag-IBIG Fund decided to keep the rate low.

Under its Affordable Housing Program which is exclusively for minimum-wage and low-income earners, Pag-IBIG still offers 3 percent per annum for loans up to P580,000.

This means that qualified borrowers of the Affordable Housing Program will only have to pay P2,445.30 a month for the first five years of a P580,000 loan with a term of 30 years.

Manila

StandardPCSO PERYAHAN NG BAYAN TODAY

CONTRACT HAS EXPIRED

On 02 April 2014, PCSO executed a Deed of Authority (DOA) in favor of Globaltech Mobile Online Corporation (Globaltech) to operate Peryahan ng Bayan on an experimental test run basis. However, the DOA was not renewed by PCSO and said contract expired on 31 March 2016.

In the decision by the Court of Appeals dated January 14, 2019, both petitions filed by PCSO and Globaltech were dismissed and both parties were directed to submit their issues before arbitration pursuant to the Arbitration Clause of the expired DOA. 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.

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)

10.

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.

The Peryahan ng Bayan involves the conduct of Peryahan games namely, “HulogHolen”, “Throw Coins”, and Gulong ng Swertres” by PCSO representatives. Prior to the expiration of the DOA, the Peryahan ng Bayan was conducted in Quezon City, Pangasinan, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Palawan, Rizal, Catanduanes, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato and Zambonga del Sur. More than two years after the expiration of the DOA, Globaltech continues to operate Peryahan ng Bayan without the knowledge, supervision and control of PCSO. It has not remitted any single centavo on its continued operation and has deprived the government and those seeking assistance from PCSO the funds to be used for medical, health-related and charity services.

PCSO will continue to obey and follow the directive of the President to initiate and assist law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute persons and entities engaged in illegal gambling activities pursuant to Executive Order No. 13, Series 2017 and Republic Act No. 9287 (An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and for Other Purposes).

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

Sports

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

A7

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Mighty Sports reaches semis

D

UBAI, United Arab Emirates―Juan Gomez de Liano finally played true to his potential as Mighty Sports-Philippines sustained its fine form against Al Nift Oil Sports Club-Iraq, 108-94, on Thursday night to clinch the last semifinal ticket in the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championships.

The fast-rising scoring guard from University of the Philippines dished out his finest offensive performance yet with 21 points, spiked by five of the team’s 16 triples, that more than made up for his game-worst eight errors as Mighty Sports stretched its winning streak to five games after sweeping the four-game group stage.

More importantly, the accessories and apparel team backed

by SMDC, HealthCube Medical Clinics, Go for Gold and Oriental Game completed the Final Four cast and earned the right to square off with powerhouse Al Riyadi, one of the perennial title contenders in Lebanon’s professional league.

“We’re gonna be in for a big test,” admitted Mighty Sports coach Charles Tiu of Al Riyadi, which humbled Al Wahda-Syria, 96-74, in their own semis encounter.

“They are like (Barangay) Ginebra or San Miguel (Beer) in Lebanon. They are one of the

respected clubs in the whole of Asia. Once you hear their name, everybody knows Al Riyadi. It’s gonna be a big challenge for us.

And I call us the underdogs even if we’re the top seed from our group. I hope we can make it past against them.”

They could if and when Mighty Sports dribblers can come up with another impressive performance that has thrilled throngs of Filipino supporters, including Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, as they been filling up the sizeable Shabab Al Ahli Club gymnasium here since the opener of the 10-team, nineday tournament.

Justin Brownlee shrugged off a bruised left knee with another scintillating showing of 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists even as Fil-Ams Jeremiah Gray and Roosevelt Adams combined for 39 points, 27 of them coming from beyond the arc, and big man Randolph Morris added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE (FM) EVENT REGULATED FM PASS THROUGH FOR SEVERE TROPICAL STORM URDUJA IN THE VISAYAS, TYPHOON VINTA IN MINDANAO, TROPICAL STORM BASYANG IN THE VISAYAS AND MINDANAO, AND FLASH FLOOD IN MINDANAO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, Applicant. x----------------------------------------------------------x

Mindanao P/kW-mo.

P/kWh

ERC CASE NO. 2018-117 RC

23. Further, the FM Pass-Through Amounts in this Application do not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhP0.0366/ kWh in accordance with the RTWR. A copy of the FMTA Computation is attached in the said Application.

24. Also, NGCP considered the NFAV of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the Subject Force Majeure Events given that NGCP would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by the Subject Force Majeure Events.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

In its Application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following:

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

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner B.I.R. Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire that operates and maintains the nationwide transmission system pursuant to Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (“EPlRA”).”

2

Under Republic Act No. 9511,2 NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines.

3.

Pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (“RTWR”), NGCP is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged as a result of a force majeure event (“FME”), as defined in Article I of RTWR.

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

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS

28. A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Manager, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the instant Application, is attached in the Application.

A. Severe Tropical Storm Urduja Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Urduja was inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the period 12 to 19 December 2017, with maximum winds of 95 kph and gustiness of 120 kph. It made landfall six times and traversed the Samar Provinces, Masbate, Sibuyan Island, Romblon, Aklan, Cuyo Island, and Palawan. As a result, NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities particularly in the Visayas were damaged. A copy of the Certification dated 23 January 2018, issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is attached in the said Application.

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

After the occurrence of STS Urduja and in compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission a Force Majeure Event Notice (FME Notice) regarding STS Urduja dated 3 January 2018. A copy of the FME Notice regarding STS Urduja dated 3 January 2018 is attached in the said Application.

B.

Typhoon Vinta

6.

Typhoon Vinta was inside the PAR during the period 20 to 24 December 2017, with maximum winds of 120 kph and gustiness of 145 kph. It made landfall in Cateel, Davao Oriental and traversed several provinces in Mindanao, causing damage to NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in therein. A copy of the Certification dated 12 February 2018 issued by the PAGASA is attached in the said Application.

7.

1.

DECLARE Severe Tropical Storm Urduja in the Visayas, Typhoon Vinta in Mindanao, Tropical Storm Basyang in the Visayas and Mindanao, and flash flood in Mindanao as Force Majeure Events (FME);

2.

Immediately GRANT PROVISIONAL APPROVAL to implement and bill the following FM Pass-Through Amounts to Visayas and Mindanao customers starting January 2019 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered; Visayas P/kWh Mindanao

After the occurrence of Typhoon Vinta and in compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission an FME Notice regarding Typhoon Vinta dated 6 February 2018. A copy of the FME Notice regarding Typhoon Vinta dated 6 February 2018 is attached in the said Application.

TRINITY University of Asia and Nyro Saints posted victories over semifinal foes in similar fashion to set up a final showdown for the premier Open Division title of the 2019 Quezon City Basketball League.

Trinity barged to the finals first following a 66-49 upset of Emilio Aguinaldo Generals in the first semifinal pairing of the tourney at its home gym, the NRMF Gym in Quezon City.

Nyro completed the finals’ cast with an easy 107-85 over the undermanned Quezon City Capitals.

Leading the Trinity dribblers were Levi Dela Cruz and Alvin Ortega, who finished with double figures of 17 and 10 points, respectively.

The Nyro Saints had an easy time with six players scoring no less than 10 points, topped by Nyro Pineda’s 19 markers.

Trinity and Nyro will battle tomorrow (Sunday) at the same venue for the maiden Open crown of the league’s maiden season supported by Wilson balls, Del Monte Fite N Rite, NRMF, Cashen Advertising, Kyzox and Smart Communication.

Meanwhile, Team Magic 7 and SSI Mental will contest the Cadet Division title, also set tomorrow at NRMF gym.

Magic nipped Elyong’s Los Saints, 94-89, while SSI defeated Team HI-Per, 99-94, in the semifinal pairings to set up their final clash.

In the Starter Division, it will be Regalado Vet and Nemesis Hobby Shop who will clash in the final. Regalado routed 70-59 EA’s Taste of Asia while Nemesis beat Insignia in the semifinals, 104-90.

Madis targets 3 PPS titles TENNIELLE Madis hopes to buck the odds as she shoots for a rare three title feat in the PPSPEPP Sultan Kudarat National age group tennis tournament which got under way yesterday (Friday) at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club.

The 12-year-old Madis seeks to get her bid going against the likes of Liana Lorenzo, Sanchena Francisco and Jeanne Raray in her age-group bracket with the rising Mlang, Cotabato star also installed as the player to beat in the 14- and 16-and-under divisions of the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop.

Sheloh Ripdos joins Lorenzo and Francisco in the hunt for the 14-U diadem while Kyle Rivera and Princess Haro loom as Madis’ toughest challengers in the 16-U class of the five-day event also serving as the second of a busy six-leg Mindanao swing of

the Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala circuit hosted by Gov. Pax Mangudadatu.

Jazzele Madis, meanwhile, guns for the crown in the premier 18-U play against Ripdos, Rivera and Trisha Diaz, hoping to complement with her younger sister’s projected romp in the event which will also feature a tennis clinic for the young enthusiasts, according to Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro.

Keen competition is also expected in the boys’ side with Jay Balaoing and Earl Bermudez leading the title chase with Bruce Hurtado and Kurt Haro also fancied to contend for the crown.

Balaoing and Haro also head the 16-U cast along with Reyman Saldivar Jr. and Jose Balonga Jr. with Saldivar also bannering the 14-U side along with Yassan Al Anazi, Ben Flores and Al Rasheed Lucman.

2020 2.95

0.02

0.00587

0.00005

2019

P/kW-mo.

P/kWh

2020 0.06

0.003

0.00012

0.00001

Tropical Storm Basyang

3.

8.

Tropical Storm (TS) Basyang was in the PAR from 11 to 14 February 2018, with maximum winds of 65 kph and gustiness of 80 kph. It made landfall in Cortes, Surigao del Sur, traversed the Surigao Provinces, and again made landfall over Dumaguete City, causing damage to NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in the Visayas and Mindanao. A copy of the Certification dated 27 March 2018 issued by the PAGASA is attached in the said Application.

Approve the FME CAPEX/OPEX amounting to Sixty Three Million Eight Hundred Seventy Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-Six Pesos and 10/100 (PhP63,870,786.10) incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to Severe Tropical Storm Urduja in the Visayas, Typhoon Vinta in Mindanao, Tropical Storm Basyang in the Visayas and Mindanao, and flash flood in Mindanao;

4.

9.

After the occurrence of TS Basyang and in compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission an FME Notice regarding TS Basyang dated 7 March 2018. A copy of the FME Notice regarding TS Basyang dated 7 March 2018 is attached in the Application.

Approve, after due notice and hearing, the proposed FM Pass Through Amount to be collected from the Visayas and Mindanao customers starting January 2019 billing month to December 2020 billing month or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered, as follows: Visayas

FLASH FLOOD IN MINDANAO

P/kWh

FM PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT COMPUTATION

19. The total cost NGCP incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the Subject Force Majeure Events is Sixty-Three Million Eight Hundred Seventy Thousand Seven Hundred EightySix Pesos and 10/100 (PhP63,870,786.10). Further, the recoverable values of the assets destroyed (Net Fixed Asset Value or NFAV) is Two Million Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Five and 43/100 (PhP2,014,565.43). The breakdown of the expenses is shown in the table below: FME

CAPEX/OPEN

Tropical Storm Urduja Typhoon Vinta Tropical Storm Basyang Flash flood in Mindanao Total

NFAV

Total

40,936,343.46

260,182.36

41,196,525.82

399,610.27

883,711.95

1,283,322.22

22,402,140.29

657,676.72

23,059,817.01

132,692.08

212,994.40

345,686.48

63,870,786.10

2,014,565.43

65,885,351.53

0.06

0.003

0.00012

0.00001

5.

Approve and allow the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by Severe Tropical Storm Urduja in the Visayas, Typhoon Vinta in Mindanao, Tropical Storm Basyang in the Visayas and Mindanao, and flash flood in Mindanao, amounting to Two Million Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Five and 43/100 (PhP2,014,565.43) given that it would have been fully recovered by NGCP if these transmission assets and other related facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by the Subject Force Majeure Events; and

6.

Exclude the proposed Pass-Through Amounts from the side constraint calculation.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates:

15. Pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR, NGCP is allowed to recover the cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by STS Urduja in the Visayas, Typhoon Vinta in Mindanao, TS Basyang in the Visayas and Mindanao, and the flash flood in Mindanao, (the “Subject Force Majeure Events”) through an FM Pass-Through Amount.

18. NGCP has not recovered from its Industrial All-Risk (IAR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the years 2017 and 2018, the cost that it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the Subject Force Majeure Events.

The affected assets are located beyond a one (1) kilometer radius from the nearest substation (except for Babatngon Substation and Kananga-Tabango 230 kV line), and are therefore not covered by the IAR. With regard to the Babatngon Substation and KanangaTabango 230 kV line, the total cost of damage is below the One (1) Million US Dollars deductible amount. Thus, it is but proper for NGCP to file the instant FME Application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the Subject Force Majeure Events pursuant to the RTWR.

2020

NGCP prays for other relief deemed just and equitable under the premises.

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

17. Thereafter, within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of the Subject Force Majeure Events, NGCP hereby files the instant FME Application, in accordance with Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR.

0.00005

2019

P/kW-mo.

FME CLAIM

16. Pursuant to Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR, within three (3) months after the occurrence of the Subject Force Majeure Events, NGCP filed before the Commission the required FME Notices. The Commission acknowledged receipt of the FME Notices for STS Urduja, Typhoon Vinta, and TS Basyang, in its letters respectively dated 5 February, 21 February, and 5 April 2018, attached in the Application.

0.02

0.00587 Mindanao

12. After the occurrence of the flash flood and in compliance with Article X of the RTWR, NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission an FME Notice regarding the flash flood dated 30 April 2018. A copy of the FME Notice regarding the flash flood dated 30 April 2018 is attached in the Application

2020 2.95

P/kWh

11. The Certification dated 3 October 2018, issued by PAGASA attached in the Application, states that continuous rain and occasional thunderstorm were observed from 25 to 26 February 2018 at the Dipolog City Weather Station, the PAGASA observing station closest to Zamboanga del Norte.

13. Immediately after the devastation caused by the foregoing incidents, NGCP started the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related facilities in order to restore transmission service to its customers and the public. As a result, NGCP incurred additional costs for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the said damaged transmission assets and other related facilities.

2019

P/kW-mo.

10. On 25 February 2018, a flash flood occurred within the jurisdiction of Barangay Sianib, Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte, causing damage to NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in Mindanao.

A copy of the Certification dated 1 March 2018 issued by Barangay Chairman Marcelo C. Sumagang, Sr. is attached in the Application.

Trinity, Nyro arrange Open Division title QCBL clash

2019

P/kW-mo.

C.

D.

Trinity University of Asia’s Levi Dela Cruz drives against Renz Gonzales of EAC in their team’s semifinal game.

0.003 0.00001

22. The proposed FM Pass-Through Amounts can be recovered pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR, wherein NGCP is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of a force majeure event. A copy of the FM Pass-Through Amount Computation is attached in the Application.

Notice is hereby given that on 11 December 2018, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application dated 28 November 2018 seeking the approval of its Force Majeure (FM) event regulated FM pass through for severe tropical storm Urduja in the Visayas, typhoon Vinta in the Mindanao and flash flood in Mindanao in accordance with the Rules for the Setting the Transmission Wheeling Rates (RSTWR) , with prayer for provisional authority.

5.

0.06 0.00012

Note: P/kWh in this table are only the equivalent P/kWh of the FME Pass-Through amount

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

4.

2020

21. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts for the years 2019 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the expenditures incurred by NGCP relative to the Subject Force Majeure Events, pending the reset process for the Transmission Services.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

1.

2019

Date and Time

Venue

Hearing Coverage

21 February 2019 at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.)

ERC Hearing Room 15th Floor, Pacific Center Bldg. San Miguel Ave. Pasig City

Jurisdictional and Expository Presentation

28 February 2019 at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

ERC Visayas Field Office St. Mary’s Drive BaniIad, Cebu City

Expository Presentation Pre-trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

07 March 2019 at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

ERC Mindanao Field Office Mintrade Bldg.

Monteverde Ave. cor.

Sales St. Davao City

Expository Presentation Pre-trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3) A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments’, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson, AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN and CATHERINE P. MACEDA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 16th day of January 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

* Capital Expenditures/Operating Expenditures, exclusive of VAT (pursuant to the TRAIN law) and Permit Fee

20. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts, in P/kW-month, as additional network charges starting January 2019 until 2020 to Visayas and Mindanao, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, computed as shown in the tables below: Visayas P/kW-mo.

P/kWh

2019

2020

1

2.95

0.02

0.00587

0.00005

.

2.

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

Republic Act No. 9511 entitled “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the. Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for Other Purposes” (MS-FEB. 2 & 9, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

A8

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

Sports

Lightweight boxer Romero “Ruthless” Duno (left) and WBA Interim bantamweight champ Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo (third from left) are shown after their weigh-in Friday for their big fights against separate foes today at 5 p.m. at Midas Hotel and Casino. Duno clashes with India’s Kuldeep Dhanda (second from left), while in the main event, Gaballo takes on Japan’s Yuya Nakamura (fourth from left). Lino Santos

Perpetual teams crowned champs U

NIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta captured the men’s and juniors’ titles in the 94th NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

hali took turns in firing a match-high 19 points apiece as UPHSD, which seized the series opener, 23-25, 2519, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12, Friday, in the series-clinching triumph.

The 21-year-old Almodiel, the backto-back season Most Valuable Player, ended up with the Finals’ MVP plum as well to cap an amazing season.

“This is the product of the team’s hard work and sacrifice,” said UPHSD athletic director and men’s team coach Sammy Acaylar.

The Sandy Rieta-mentored Junior Altas were more impressive as they never conceded a single set to the Squires in their series after a commanding 25-15, 25-19, 25-19 win in Game 1.

The Las Pinas-based school is eyeing to become to third team win all three volleyball titles in a season next to former Ateneo, which did it once in 1984, and San Sebastian, which accomplished it six times in 984, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2002.

The Altas bucked a slow start and eked out a 23-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 victory over the College of St. Benilde Blazers in Game 2 to complete an 11-game sweep of the men’s division and snare their 12th title overall, two less the league-best 14 by Letran.

The Junior Altas, for their part, turned back the Letran Squires, 2519, 30-28, 25-17, to likewise sweep their way to a fifth straight title and 11th overall, four crowns behind San Sebastian College’s league-high 15 championships.

Joebert Almodiel and Ridzuan Mu-

Phoenix five stays spotless after 5 games

Tour de France veteran takes 1st stage

By Jeric Lopez PHOENIX is still unbeaten, but not without some serious challenge.

The Fuel Masters banked on a pivotal 9-0 run down the stretch to escape pesky NLEX, 83-82, and win their fifth straight game in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.

Phoenix’s triumvirate of Matthew Wright, forwards Calvin Abueva and Jason Perkins, who each had a doubledouble, once again got the job done for the Fuel Masters.

Wright had a complete outing, scoring a game-high 17 points with five rebounds and six assists, while Perkins and Abueva almost had identical numbers, with the former producing 14 markers and 11 boards and the latter with 13 and 11 across his name.

Trailing, 74-77, midway in the fourth, Phoenix shifted gears and unleashed a game-turning 9-0 run to take a key 83-77 spread with 2:47 remaining after Wright’s fadeaway jumper.

The Road Warriors fought back to make it interesting in the final minute as consecutive baskets from Bong Galanza and Philip Paniamogan inched them to within one, 82-83.

However, Poy Erram botched a potential game-tying lay-up and Galanza’s last-second heap from downtown didn’t find its mark, allowing Phoenix to escape with the hard-fought win.

Phoenix remained on top with an improved 5-0 slate, while NLEX had its two-game winning streak snapped, falling to 2-4, back to the lower echelon.

In its element early on, Phoenix raced to a 17-point advantage, 32-15, after a 22-7 blitz bridging the first two quarters.

Not bending right away, NLEX regrouped and finished the first half strongly, inching its way back instantly to cut its deficit to just a single point, 44-45, at the half, making it anyone’s game heading to the second half.

With momentum on its side, the Road Warriors continued their charge and uncorked a 12-0 blast to start the second half and open up their own double-digit lead, 56-45, at the 9-minute mark of the third frame.

The Fuel Masters kept the trend and countered, trimming their deficit to three, 67-70, going to the final 12 minutes of action to crawl themselves back into it and set up a wild finish in the fourth.

The Road Warriors drew a gamehigh 14 points from JR Quinahan.

By Peter Atencio ILOILO CITY—Tour de France veteran Francisco Mancebo kept an unnerving steady pace all throughout.

The 42-year-old Mancebo conquered the rough roads and an uphill turn inside Hamtic, Antique and was all by himself when he reached the Festive Walk Mall finish line in five hours, seven minutes and two seconds.

This earned the Spaniard the first stage honors of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019, a 197.6-km race which began at the Iloilo City Hall.

Mancebo, who had a seven-year stint in the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005, left everyone behind, including his closest pursuer, Terranganu rider Msrsl-Erdene Batmunkh, and two Filipino rivals Ronald Oranza and Dominic Perez on his return trip to Iloilo.

“I felt so good today, my plan at the start was to stay alone. It’s a good victory. It’s very difficult, I’m so tired, I spent all my power today,” said Mancebo as he endured the afternoon heat and towed Team Matrix of Japan to the top of the team standings.

Team 7-Eleven, behind Perez, and Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance, led by Oranza, were in second and third respectively, in the team classifications.

The no. 1,392 UCI-ranked Mancebo, who said he is not done yet, was three minutes and 52 seconds ahead of second placer Oranza and thirdranked Perez, who arrived at the finish line at the same time.

“No, I’m not done. I need to recover tomorrow,” added Mancebo, who started his career with a firstplace finish in the Trofeo Foral de Navarra.

Navyman Jan Paul Morales settled for fourth, 4:32 behind Mancebo, while Matrix rider Junya Sano was fifth.

At the start, Tarlac rider Merculio Ramos went in front in the first kilometer inside Iloilo City, before Mancebo and the 26-year-old Oranza took charge with a 10-man pack as they headed to Tigbauan.

The newly-married Oranza, who is defending his crown under the Navy banner, then caught up with Ramos and stayed with Mancebo in first 45-km mark at the Quiyanan bridge.

“Pagod, hindi namin expect na makapunta kami sa harap. Mahirap ang ruta,” said Oranza, who added that he gets his strength from his wife Maribel’s support.

The strong winds shifted and went against participants. It proved challenging as riders went up the turn in Anini-Iy road at Barangay Iba, and into a pathway that is under construction along a coastal area facing the scenic Panay Gulf.

It tested everyone’s resolve when they headed back to Iloilo. There was a point when Mancebo felt spent, but quickly recovered after getting rehydrated by his support group.

As he continued downhill, Mancebo just held his pace as he exited the province of Antique.

“Si Mancebo, malakas talaga.

Kasama namin sa ahon. Pagkalusong, biglang nawala,” added Oranza.

Gaballo, Duno banner ESPN5 card

By Kristoffer Ed Bellen KNOCKOUT specialist Reymart Gaballo and Romero “Ruthless” Duno banner another ESPN5 fight night at the Midas Hotel and Casino on Saturday.

Gaballo, the World Boxing Association Interim Bantamweight champion, battles Japanese Yuya Nakamura in the featured 10-round, non-title bout, while Duno collides with India’s Kuldeep Dhanda for the vacant WBA Asia Lightweight crown.

Unblemished with a 20-0 record highlighted by 17 knockouts, Gaballo will be shooting for a victory that would elevate his ranking in the bantamweight division after a firstround victory over African Julian Kisarawe in his previous fight.

On the other hand, the 23-year-old Duno, who has an 18-1 card with 14 knockouts, tries to earn a place at the WBA 135-pound world rankings in the match sponsored by SMART, 1-Pacman Partylist, and Midas Hotel and Casino.

“Being televised live by the help of ESPN5 is a big, big opportunity na ma-i-showcase nila ‘yung talent nila and hopefully tuluy-tuloy ‘yung pagdevelop ng boxers. Hopefully, they can showcase their world-class skills to everybody in the Philippines and around the world,” said Sanman Boxing Promotions’ JC Mananquil, manager and promoter of Gaballo and Duno during the weigh in and fight press conference at Midas Tent Friday.

“Reymart is still the interim the WBA world champion right now and the two WBA champions are still in the superseries events. We’re waiting the results ng tournament, but I hear rumors na baka ma-cancel ‘yung tournament, so if that happens, I know Reymart will still fight for the best,” added Manangquil, who is hopeful that a Sanman boxer will be a world titlist this year.

The 5 p.m. scheduled fight night will also feature Sanman’s Dave Apolinario, who will go up against Filipino compatriot Ramshane Sarguilla in an eight-round undercard match.

Gaballo, Duno, and Apolinario all met their limits after weighing 118.5, 134, and 111.5 pounds, respectively, at the pre-press conference weigh in supervised by the Games and Amusement Board.

This weekend’s event is the first of a two-week set of boxing matches copromoted by ESPN5.

“After next week, we’ll announce the next wave of boxing events. It’s not just local, it’s also international.

But we will have a continuous flow of boxing events that we’ll put in TV,” said ESPN5’s Lloyd Manaloto.

Loreno nails golden sweep

Francisco Mancebo

TAGUM CITY—John Carlo Loreno penned a fitting ending to his storied campaign as he grabbed his seventh gold medal to complete a sweep of the archery competition of the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg Friday at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex archery range here.

The 15-year-old marksman from Koronadal ruled the 13-15 boys’ Olympic round event, 6-5, to nail his seventh gold medal in this prestigious age-group tourney organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and Province of Davao del Norte.

Prior to that, he dominated the 30m, 40m, 80m, 60m, single fita and cadet mixed team event together with Precious Micah Basadre, who captured six gold and a silver medal, including the Olympic round where she ran away with a 6-2 victory.

It could have also been a golden sweep for Basadre, but she faded in the crucial stretch of the 13-15 girls’ 60m event Tuesday, leaving her with a consolation prize of a silver medal in this event that also has STI College-Tagum and Alfalink Total Solutions Corp. as major sponsors.

Responders, Cavaliers try to seal UNTV title clash

Jerry Boy Saracho hopes to re-produce his heroics in Game 1 in the hope of helping PNP beat defending champion Senate and carry the team into the finals of the UNTV Cup on Sunday.

ARMED Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police try to seal another title showdown as they go for series-clinching wins over their respective semis rivals on Sunday in the 7th UNTV Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center.

Unlike in a thrilling 78-76 win over the National Housing Authority Builders in the opener of their best-of-three semis series, the AFP Cavaliers target a hot start in their 3 p.m. duel in the hope of scoring a trouble-free win this time around.

That’s also the mission of the PNP Responders when they clash with the defending champions Senate Defenders in their 4:30 p.m. encounter in the event organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon for public servants.

Games Sunday (Pasig City Sports Center) 3 p.m. – NHA vs AFP 4:30 p.m. – Senate vs PNP

Led by former University of the East player Ollan Olivar Omiping and Jerry Boy Saracho, the Responders gained a head-start in their own semis series by eking out a scary 79-74 win.

PNP and two-time champion AFP met in the finals two years ago, with the Responders finally nailing their first championship after three failed tries, including against the Judiciary Magis three years back.

On their part, the Cavaliers managed to squeak past the Builders of coach Bennet Palad through the hero-

ics of Jerry Lumongsod.

Ex-Letran star Boyet Bautista topscored for the Cavaliers with 20 points, but it was Lumungsod who turned the game around in their favor with two quick steals that brought him to the stripe twice, splitting his four charities for the game-winning baskets.

For the Defenders of coach Mike Fermin to extend the series to a deciding Game 3, they have to find ways to limit production of Omiping, who sizzled for 27 points, including 11 in the payoff period.

The chosen charity of the champion team, according to Razon, will receive a tax-free P4 million prize while the runner-up’s own foundation gets P2 million.

IN BRIEF MB shuts down rural bank in Lanao del Sur

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, closed a financially-ailing rural bank based in Lanao del Sur, the first lender shut down this year.

In a resolution dated Jan. 24, 2019, the board closed and prohibited Bagong Bangko Rural ng Malabang (Lanao del Sur) Inc. from doing business in the Philippines.

State-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., as a receiver, was ordered to proceed with the takeover and liquidation of the bank.

The board last year closed 12 small banks because of their unsound financial condition. These are San Francisco Del Monte Rural Bank. Inc. in Quezon City, Lanao del Norte-based Rural Bank of Maigo, Pangasinan-based Malasiqui Progressive Savings and Loan Bank Inc., Rural Bank of Luna (Apayao) Inc., Rural Bank of Pagbilao Inc., Rural Bank of Sta. Elena (Camarines Norte) and Batangas-based Tiaong Rural Bank.

Also closed were Iloilo-based Bangko Buena Consolidated Inc., Batangasbased Women’s Rural Bank Inc., Rural Bank of Initao (Misamis Oriental) Inc., Empire Rural Bank Inc. in Lipa City, Batangas and Rural Bank of Loreto (Surigao del Norte) Inc. Julito G. Rada

Business

International reserves hit $82.13b in January

THE country’s gross international reserves rose to a 20-month high of $82.13 billion at the end of January from $79.19 billion in December on the back of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ income from investments abroad.

The end-January reserves were the highest since the $82.17 billion in May 2017.

The central bank said in a statement other reasons for the spike in reserves were the net foreign currency deposits by the national government, foreign exchange operations and revaluation gains of gold holdings resulting from the increase in the price of the precious metal in the world market.

Data showed the gold holdings in January 2019 increased to $8.407 billion from $8.153 billion.

The increase in reserves was partially tempered by payments made by the national government for servicing its foreign obligations.

“The end-January 2019 level of GIR continues to serve as an ample external liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.2 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Julito G. Rada

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

B1

By Othel V. Campos

LANDBANK AWARDS. Three projects of Land Bank of the Philippines bag the prestigious Anvil Award at the 54th Anvil Awards: Gabi ng Parangal held at the Mariott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City. LandBank executive vice president Julio Climaco Jr. and first vice president for corporate affairs Catherine Rowena Villanueva receive the bank’s awards during the 54th Anvil Awards held at the Mariott Grand Ballroom. They are joined by unit heads and staff from the Corporate Affairs Department.

Meralco says monthly bill up by at least P114 C

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ONSUMERS of Manila Electric Co. will pay higher power rates of P0.5682 per kilowatt-hour this month, or equivalent to around P114 in the total monthly bill of a typical household consuming 200kWh.

Meralco said in a statement Friday after a reduction in the January bill, the overall electricity rates increased to P10.4067 per kWh this month from P9.8385 per kWh in January mainly due to the normalization of generation charges.

The company attributed the higher generation rates to the increase in charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity, and power supply agreements.

The generation charge for February

rose to P5.8939 per kWh, up P0.9820 per kWh from P4.9119 per kWh last month.

“After the reduction in PSA charges in January due to the early completion of annual capacity fee payments for the previous year, capacity fees this month returned to levels prescribed in the PSAs approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” Meralco said.

The return to normal levels of capacity fees, especially the power plants of Sual Unit 1, Ilijan, Pagbilao Unit 1 and Panay Energy Development Corp., was the main reason for the P1.9217 per kWh increase in PSA charges this month.

Meralco secures 37 percent of its power requirement from the PSAs. “If power plants do not use their outage allowance for the year, then by December they charge us lower or with no capacity fees. And that leads to the lower generation charge in January. Since we have a new calendar year starting January, then the capacity fees go back to normal and that will be reflected in the January generation charge,” Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said earlier.

Charges from the WESM rose P1.4141 per kWh due to tighter supply conditions in Luzon as several large power plants went on scheduled maintenance outage, it said.

“More than 3,300 MW of capacity went on outage, both forced outage and due to scheduled outages. We noticed that the spot market prices responded according, meaning it went up. That might also affect the generation charge in February,” Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, the cost of power from the independent power producers, or IPPs, was slightly lower by P0.0042 per kWh due to strengthening of the peso against the US dollar.

About 96 percent of IPP charges are dollar-denominated. Meralco obtains 18 percent and 45 percent of electricity supply from the WESM and IPPs, respectively.

Meanwhile, transmission charge of residential customers, taxes and other charges dropped P0.4138 per kWh this month.

Meralco’s distribution, supply and metering charges have remained unchanged for 43 months after registering decreases in July 2015.

Asian Terminals eyes expansion of port services ASIAN Terminals Inc. said it is looking at expanding its services beyond the international gateway ports in Manila and Batangas to further enhance logistics cycles for manufacturers, shippers and transporters in support of the country’s growing economy.

Within ATI’s scopes are off-dock container yards, empty container depots and other ancillary facilities, banking on its fundamental strength as a major Philippine port operator with proven trackrecord and expertise in moving cargoes within the supply chain.

“As a trade enabler, we are eyeing to develop more facilities that will leverage on our existing gateway ports in Manila and Batangas to better serve our valued customers,” said ATI executive vice president William Khoury.

“These projects will establish greater operational synergies to help the industry cope with current logistics challenges and also create growth opportunities in the long-term,” he added.

ATI expects to have additional capacity for empty containers by midyear.

Aside from Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal, the international gateway ports serving Metro Manila and Southern Luzon, respectively, ATI operates an inland clearance depot in Calamba, Laguna.

ATI’s ICD is a Customs-bonded facility, located beside the South Luzon Expressway in Barangay Mayapa, Calamba, a perfect supply chain partner for major manufacturers and industrial zones in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

PTAA bullish on local travel sector despite poor facilities

Toyota bares new RAV4 SUV model

TOYOTA Motor Philippines on Friday launched the all-new RAV4, a compact SUV model that is expected to boost the annual sales of the company in 2019.

“RAV4 serves a very niche market and a small share in the overall sales with roughly 30 units in monthly sales last year, but it has a very specific role as it helps out in the personality of the brand,” said Toyota senior vice president for marketing Jose Maria Atienza.

Toyota expects the fifth generation RAV4 to sell 80 to 100 units monthly, or double the annual sales of 411 units in 2018.

The rugged RAV4 has been attracting a lot of female buyers and within the market segment of 32 to 42 years old.

“RAV4 then plays a big role as a legacy SUV brand of Toyota,” Atienza said.

TMP president Satoru Suzuki said the new RAV4 embodied Toyota’s values— sporty design, powerful performance and outstanding safety features.

Othel V. Campos

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

Chamber of Thrift Banks trustees. The incoming 2019 board of trustees of Chamber of Thrift Banks, the umbrella

organization of the country’s thrift banks, pays a courtesy call on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., who is represented by BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier (seated, third from left). With Fonacier are BSP managing directors Mary Jane Chiong (standing, sixth from left) and Lyn Javier (standing, fifth from right). Seated (from left) are CTB trustee and University Savings Bank director Ma. Consorcia Tamayo; CTB and Sterling Bank of Asia president Cecilio San Pedro; CTB first vice president/convention chair and China Bank Savings president Alberto Emilio Ramos; CTB executive director Suzanne Felix; and CTB treasurer and Malayan Savings Bank second vice chair/CEO George Martirez.

Supply chain of some agri products needs streamlining

By Julito G. Rada THE Department of Finance said there is a need to further streamline the supply chain of some agricultural products to make sure the inflation rate will continue to slow down in the months ahead.

The DoF in an economic bulletin issued Friday cited the need for the activation of a trade platform that would facilitate seamless trade transactions.

“The BOC (Bureau of Customs) Commissioner should already sign CMO (Customs Memorandum Order) to activate TradeNet.ph to allow for further streamlining,” it said.

It also said that “productivity programs need to be implemented to reverse the price increases of fish, fruits and vegetables.”

The Philippine Statistics Authority said earlier higher food prices were one of the main reasons why inflation peaked at a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in October 2018.

This was exacerbated by the successive strong typhoons in August and September that hit northern Luzon provinces, whose main produce is rice and vegetables.

But after the immediate measures implemented by the government to curb inflation took effect, inflation eased to 6 percent in November and 5.1 percent in December.

The figures brought full-year inflation to an average of 5.2 percent, albeit over the target range of 2 to 4 percent for the year.

“Inflation is mainly supply-side driven. The inflation decline was due to the

streamlining of the supply chain, including for imported goods, upon the President’s signing of several administrative orders and memorandum circulars last Sept. 21,” the DoF said.

Inflation in January this year further slowed to a 10-month low of 4.4 percent from 5.1 percent a month ago, due mainly to the slower increases in the prices of non-alcoholic beverages and food products.

The January inflation was the slowest in 10 months since 4.3 percent in March last year but it was faster compared to 3.4 percent in January 2018.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the latest inflation outturn was in line with a target-consistent inflation path as inflation rate was projected to decelerate further in 2019 to 2020.

THE tourism industry is bullish this year, with more Filipinos expected to travel abroad and an increasing number of foreign tourists set to visit the country.

The country’s biggest group of tour operators and travel agencies noted that more Filipinos were touring the world as the middle-class continues to expand. International tourists, meanwhile, are also increasing in numbers.

“I gathered that the Tourism Department is very much on track with its projections. Based on the revised Tourism master plan, the agency will hit all targets by 2022,” said Philippine Travel Agencies Association president Ritchie Tuano.

Tourist arrivals in 2018 hit an alltime record high of 7.12 million, up 7.6 percent from 6.62 million in 2017.

The Philippine tourism growth was cited as higher than the average 6-percent expansion in Asia last year.

“We are more concerned with the challenges that the sector is facing.

The Boracay and Marawi issues were behind us now, but there is this need to ensure that things of the past will not happen anymore,” Tuano said.

The challenges include improving existing airports and creating more international gateways to decongest Metro Manila.

Most of the investments in the tourism sector so far are in the airline industry. They buy new planes for their re-fleeting programs but the facilities housing them are still way below international standards. Landing strips and the tarmac in airports are also inadequate.

Tuano added the challenge for travel and tour operators, meanwhile, was keeping fares and tour fees competitive. Ongoing airline promos help the segment keep prices at bay for a limited period of time.

The PTTA during the opening of the 4th International Travel Trade Expo Thursday said the group was making sure promos and offering would entice the public to travel more.

Vires Energy pushes LNG power project VIRES Energy Corp. is set to formalize its plan to put up a liquefied natural gas project in Batangas through the filing of a notice to proceed with the Department of Energy.

“Vires wrote that they will apply,” Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said. Vires earlier applied for a preapplication conference with the agency.

Marcos said the NTP application of First Gen Corp. and Excelerate Energy L.P., a US-based LNG company in The Woodlands, Texas, however, were still pending with DoE. Vires earlier expressed interest to develop an LNG costing $750 million in Batangas City.

Vires president Eduardo Mañalac earlier said the company was also in talks with possible partners. He declined to disclose details.

“There are many possible partners but I will announce later on,” Mañalac said.

Vires plans to put up a 500-megawatt LNG power plant and LNG receiving terminal in Barangay Simlong, Batangas City.

Vires has received approval to conduct a grid impact study on the proposed LNG power project.

The company contracted Waller Marine Inc. of Houston, Texas in 2016 to produce the front end engineering design for a 400-megawatt floating power plant.

Vires signed technology license agreements with Sevan Marine’s subsidiary, HiLoad LNG AS, for an LNG receiving and re-gasification terminal in the Philippines.

It also signed a separate engineering service contract with HiLoad LNG that will provide design and engineering work. Payment under the license agreement is subject to Vires constructing and operating the re-gasification terminal. Alena Mae S. Flores

B2

Business

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks decline; Vista Land climbs T HE stock market fell Friday following losses on Wall Street as fresh doubts emerged over the prospects for USChina trade talks and global growth outlook.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 29.41 points, or 0.4 percent, to 8,070.89 on a value turnover of P7.8 billion. Losers beat gainers, 119 to 98, with 34 issues unchanged.

The market ignored the decision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to keep interest rates unchanged and cut the inflation outlook for the year to 3.07 percent from from 3.18 percent and the 2020 forecast to 2.98 percent from 3.04 percent.

Petron Corp., the bigger of the two oil

refineries, declined 6 percent to P7.20 after the bourse removed it from the main index.

Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. lost 4.3 percent to P2.47, while PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, fell 3.4 percent to P1,240.

Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. of the Villar Group rose 5 percent to P6.50.

The rest of Asian stocks fell sharply Friday. Tokyo led the slump, while Hong Kong returned from the three-day Lunar New Year break also in the red as investors reacted to negative signals from the US ahead of next week’s crunch trade negotiations in Beijing.

US President Donald Trump told reporters he did not expect to meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before the March 1 deadline, when US duties on many Chinese goods are due to jump.

Top White House economist Larry Kudlow further doused expectations by saying Washington and Beijing are a

“sizeable distance” apart in talks, adding that no date for a US-China summit has been set.

Analysts say Trump meeting with Xi ahead of the cut-off would make a meaningful deal more likely, although the difficulty of matching schedules had been flagged in advance with the US president flying to Vietnam to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un later this month.

Economists say the imposition of the tariffs could weaken the global economy after a brief rally at the start of 2019.

“Share markets have had a great rebound from oversold conditions in December and are now up against technical resistance and getting overbought,” Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy at AMP Capital, told Bloomberg.

“Meanwhile a bunch of balls remain up in the air regarding the trade war, the US shutdown and slowing global growth. So there is a high risk of a pull

back from here.”

Tokyo closed down 2.0 percent, while Hong Kong shed 0.3 after paring heavier early losses.

Seoul lost 1.2 percent and Jakarta 0.4 percent. Shanghai and Taipei remain closed for the week.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia became the latest central bank to slash growth forecasts, citing the effects of a weaker housing market.

It said growth would reach 2.5 percent in the middle of this year, well down from the 3.25 percent it previously projected.

Sydney lost 0.3 percent in Friday trading, while the Australian dollar also fell.

Earlier, the European Commission slashed its eurozone growth forecast for this year on an unexpected slowdown in Germany, tensions over lackluster growth prospects in Italy, and French protests. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

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LOW

CLOSE

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

58.2 93 2.28 139.9 1.44 28.1 7.58 17.14 13.06 4.98 1.48 0.475 83.3 1.16 13.6 49.1 186.3 110.6 59.8 26.5 179.8 1,800 64.1 1.18

59.45 93 2.32 140 1.64 28.1 7.58 17.18 13.6 4.98 1.49 0.475 83.9 1.22 14.4 49.1 186.3 122 60 26.6 179.8 1,800 64.15 1.18

58.2 91.6 2.28 138 1.44 27.9 7.58 17.14 13.06 4.75 1.48 0.475 83 1.1 13.5 48.55 185 110.6 59.5 26.1 177 1,795 63.8 1.18

FINANCIALS 59.45 2,000 91.7 1,880,590 2.28 35,000 139.2 2,628,240 1.53 2,277,000 28 138,400 7.58 200 17.18 1,400 13.54 4,998,100 4.85 110,000 1.48 39,000 0.475 330,000 83.4 1,340,180 1.21 6,885,000 14.36 42,100 48.9 306,600 186.3 4,560 122 210 59.5 5,210 26.1 126,800 179 134,050 1,795 25 64 44,800 1.18 6,000

117,005.50 173,568,751.50 80,390 365,417,444 3,536,360 3,871,470 1,516 24,044 67,273,104 526,980 57,940 156,750 111,768,947 8,241,160 585,132 14,981,320 844,901 23,340 310,310 3,348,355 23,924,173 44,900 2,871,732.50 7,080

-6,539.50 -25,942,095 21,066,750 -108,985 15,454 -27,352,308 48,559,354 -11,900 1,785,900 770,740 -4,448,025 -391,919.50 -

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

38.1 16.6 1.04 1.38 0.255 91 2.57 15.88 139.8 30.45 16.9 41.5 60.05 77.95 1.75 6.84 11.9 16 8.39 7.75 20.7 73.5 3.18 9.42 13.38 1.72 324.8 49.25 4.33 3.24 11.4 27.4 12.82 18.66 370.8 0.208 6 1.4 3.7 7.69 6.54 9 1.35 11.18 48.55 6 4.8 2.13 3.02 1.41 13 96.9 6.4 0.131 0.97 147.1 2.55 1.77 1.42

38.2 16.6 1.07 1.4 0.255 97.8 2.57 16.44 139.8 30.45 16.9 41.5 88 90 1.83 6.97 11.9 16.38 8.4 7.75 20.95 73.5 3.25 9.75 13.7 1.81 324.8 49.25 4.33 3.24 16.32 27.4 12.9 18.68 371.2 0.239 6 1.55 3.7 7.7 6.65 9 1.35 11.3 48.6 6 4.83 2.2 3.02 1.42 13.04 96.9 6.4 0.137 1.02 149.7 2.59 1.78 1.44

37.7 16.38 1.03 1.38 0.246 91 2.44 15.88 126.1 29.9 16.5 41.5 60.05 76 1.75 6.59 11.72 16 8.3 7.45 20.5 72.9 3.11 9.2 12.88 1.72 314.6 49.2 4.33 3.23 11.4 26.75 12.66 18.32 367.2 0.205 6 1.4 3.7 7.18 6.19 8.84 1.31 10.82 47.3 6 4.8 2.12 3.02 1.39 12.92 94.5 6.4 0.13 0.97 145.8 2.55 1.74 1.4

INDUSTRIAL 37.75 752,400 16.5 582,900 1.05 4,124,000 1.39 1,048,000 0.255 860,000 97.7 410 2.47 46,902,000 16.44 1,610,900 126.1 530 30.3 37,600 16.5 3,700 41.5 5,000 71.1 21,420 88 10,640 1.83 1,027,000 6.74 179,100 11.78 2,470,400 16.1 397,600 8.35 222,500 7.73 207,000 20.75 1,242,400 73 129,610 3.21 25,636,000 9.51 2,668,300 12.88 2,423,100 1.78 826,000 316.2 397,410 49.2 700 4.33 2,000 3.23 22,000 16.32 876,800 27.35 808,900 12.68 232,500 18.44 3,507,500 367.2 222,890 0.22 25,500,000 6 1,700 1.51 34,813,000 3.7 15,000 7.2 17,755,900 6.2 973,800 8.99 2,700 1.32 27,710,000 11.18 1,644,800 47.85 1,076,800 6 15,000 4.8 2,324,000 2.19 728,000 3.02 4,000 1.4 217,000 13 589,500 95.55 364,130 6.4 200 0.13 1,440,000 1.01 196,000 146.2 471,850 2.59 21,000 1.75 2,826,000 1.4 1,845,000

28,414,405 9,626,188 ( 4,345,000 1,453,100 213,150 39,581 117,107,050(21 25,774,282 66,970 1,136,970 61,784 207,500 1,686,134 862,859.50 1,845,750 1,214,775 29,183,774 6,404,276 1,861,771 1,586,249 25,764,085 9,470,753.50 81,723,570 25,261,776 31,597,370 1,471,520 125,851,690 34,465 8,660 71,100 13,326,882 21,975,470 2,970,892 64,838,276 82,212,750 5,683,080 10,200 51,691,280 55,500 129,490,132 6,253,456 24,009 36,722,140 18,411,550 51,774,670 90,000 11,155,750 1,566,420 12,080 305,800 7,659,566 34,730,940.5 ( 1,280 188,430 195,910 69,401,812 53,590 4,969,680 2,600,140

-5,373,740 130,508.0003) -80,220 -333,800 ,122,770.0001) 3,367,236 -75,715 207,500 -312,780 21,310 -554,489 4,021,632 5,790,760 -990,602 774,708 4,782,070 847,958.50 -4,921,180 5,794,775 8,111,188 -55,800,326 -71,100 -70,982 -5,976,395 260,768 44,370,510 -9,164,784 113,290 -6,271,890 11,100 14,208,114 659 992,230 -25,630 -32,030,435 -90,000 -2,554,030 7,015,250 21,443,470.5) 15,890 -1,142,045 17,700 -39,950

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

0.85 63 13.8 0.85 6.5 27.35 1.43 1.45 932 7.35 12.6 13.1 4.8 0.249 1,090 6.38 65 5.51 5.97 0.69 5.2 15.5 0.59 4.94 0.04 1.17 2.77 163.1 1,000 1.39 440.2 279 0.26 0.38

0.9 64.05 13.86 0.85 6.58 27.35 1.44 1.45 932 7.5 12.68 13.2 4.8 0.25 1,108 6.38 65.6 5.51 5.97 0.69 5.39 15.62 0.59 4.96 0.041 1.18 2.79 166.4 1,010 1.42 441.2 280 0.27 0.38

0.84 62.5 13.62 0.85 6.5 25.8 1.41 1.43 921 7.32 12.4 12.8 4.8 0.238 1,090 6.19 64 5.51 4.99 0.61 5.2 15.46 0.57 4.91 0.039 1.17 2.71 162.9 985.5 1.39 440.2 273 0.255 0.33

HOLDING FIRMS 0.85 43,414,000 62.5 1,059,000 13.78 6,829,400 0.85 7,000 6.55 39,700 25.9 254,400 1.44 2,925,000 1.45 2,166,000 927 295,600 7.5 1,456,400 12.42 1,865,200 12.86 1,575,800 4.8 1,000 0.241 710,000 1,095 49,585 6.19 13,600 65.4 1,752,970 5.51 100 5.95 5,000 0.66 1,461,000 5.36 5,151,100 15.52 3,764,500 0.58 319,000 4.91 11,335,000 0.04 7,800,000 1.18 87,000 2.79 253,000 165.4 346,100 1,010 261,250 1.39 61,000 441.2 110 278.2 4,600 0.265 9,740,000 0.34 56,700,000

37,464,490 66,653,791 93,907,262 5,950 259,891 6,647,165 4,180,220 3,124,180 273,801,100 10,852,477 23,273,818 20,602,212 4,800 171,190 54,481,520 86,260 114,105,050.50 551 27,850 918,100 27,074,107 58,406,212 183,820 55,821,210 310,700 102,460 695,200 57,107,322 261,364,437.50 85,740 48,452 1,282,600 2,562,900 20,103,650

-240,760 2,484,804.50 -18,650,988 32,500 30,940 2,241,320 -14,261,040 5,822,156 -4,889,330 1,225,986 56,120 29,692,148 19,691,718 2,510,524 -2,856,910 7,534,461 94,265,045 -154,190 12,750 347,700

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

10.08 0.82 11.1 1.79 0.92 45.2 2.6 4.08 6.32 0.485 0.86 0.89 0.247 0.41 10.26 23.2 0.5 0.131 1.58 1.23 5.28 0.45 0.465 2.27

10.44 0.84 11.1 1.86 0.92 45.25 2.6 4.1 6.4 0.485 0.86 0.91 0.248 0.42 10.26 24.4 0.51 0.131 1.58 1.26 5.34 0.455 0.465 2.27

10.08 0.81 10.58 1.79 0.87 44.85 2.54 3.9 6.1 0.47 0.82 0.89 0.247 0.405 9.86 22.95 0.495 0.129 1.55 1.23 5.17 0.435 0.455 2.23

16,341,764 1,390,550 20,946 1,085,480 1,001,010 463,286,315 4,608,120 8,547,100 803,052 5,461,450 53,440 3,580 811,800 630,500 10,210,331 28,719,550 415,810 59,820 31,166,800 679,990 150,405,525 13,145,650 110,650 5,547,740

826,448 8,200 116,822,725 751,800 -5,640,600 666,868 33,350 3,280 4,100 99,868 6,511,700 -7,138,730 15,666,450 -504,100 -147,140

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

0.455 3.18 48 22.35 2 3.11 38.65 1.45 6.04 6.19

0.47 3.2 48 22.55 2.03 3.13 38.8 1.45 6.2 6.5

0.455 3.09 43.15 21.6 1.95 3.1 38.55 1.39 5.95 6.18

0.465 3.09 48 21.6 2.02 3.13 38.65 1.39 6.17 6.5

1,350,000 1,142,000 70 3,177,800 103,000 157,000 7,210,300 2,728,000 529,200 123,520,900

619,700 3,583,930 3,311.50 69,589,975 207,970 488,850 278,712,300 3,824,790 3,213,771 802,411,295

46,500 -64,890 -23,004,025 -11,873,570 1,335,594

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

13.98 24.15 1.36 0.465 3.27 11.56 0.065 90.5 7.68 6.75 7.3 15 896 2,010 5.8 360 11.6 2.87 1.91 110.1 11.1 7.1 0.134 6.55 15.5 3.45 0.8 20 0.36 4.86 2.77 2.13 2.08 3.23 9.3 12.8 3.6 130.1 3.29 1,277 1 1.36 48.6 87.6 8.18 2.4 0.81 0.46 5.52 0.75 14.68

13.98 24.25 1.36 0.49 3.27 12.48 0.07 91.2 7.69 6.78 7.7 17.82 896 2,034 5.85 360 11.64 2.9 1.94 114.2 11.3 7.19 0.135 6.7 16 3.45 0.8 20 0.36 4.86 2.8 2.13 2.1 3.37 9.34 12.96 3.6 133 3.3 1,277 1.02 1.37 48.6 89.4 8.3 2.42 0.81 0.46 5.57 0.77 14.7

13.4 23.75 1.31 0.46 3.16 11.28 0.065 90 7.68 6.65 7.3 14.92 896 2,002 5.79 346.4 11 2.85 1.91 110 11 7.1 0.127 6.34 15.4 3.32 0.8 19.5 0.36 4.86 2.72 2.06 2.08 3.23 9.3 12.6 3.56 130.1 3.09 1,230 0.99 1.24 47.75 87.6 8.18 2.38 0.78 0.44 5.52 0.74 14.56

SERVICES 13.4 24.1 1.34 0.465 3.22 12.06 0.066 90.95 7.69 6.66 7.6 15.6 896 2,030 5.81 352 11 2.85 1.94 114 11.3 7.19 0.134 6.5 15.76 3.35 0.8 19.5 0.36 4.86 2.75 2.11 2.1 3.3 9.33 12.7 3.6 132.1 3.14 1,240 1 1.26 48.25 87.8 8.18 2.39 0.79 0.445 5.56 0.76 14.62

74,500 319,200 49,000 19,140,000 398,000 39,681,500 287,960,000 98,170 2,500 1,096,600 161,100 1,518,200 60 25,755 475,500 1,450 4,500 676,000 62,000 5,269,130 46,600 13,100 9,390,000 10,533,700 1,104,300 252,000 1,000 2,434,900 100,000 3,000 1,660,000 251,000 36,000 2,827,000 30,300 117,700 3,000 7,650 5,889,000 127,535 7,695,000 110,448,000 1,615,900 602,830 8,300 9,252,000 7,647,000 18,550,000 502,700 2,766,000 3,932,100

1,019,022 7,654,585 65,150 9,150,150 1,278,380 481,435,820 19,447,430 8,881,001.50 19,209 7,332,645 1,197,685 25,161,612 53,760 51,914,930 2,763,450 509,860 52,004 1,940,550 119,080 592,288,142 514,846 93,224 1,233,700 68,268,005 17,023,672 847,900 800 48,058,738 36,000 14,580 4,568,800 521,370 75,070 9,378,020 282,484 1,493,738 10,760 1,005,586 18,906,070 159,589,620 7,726,400 142,017,300 77,878,330 53,022,846.50 67,906 22,151,760 6,058,710 8,303,000 2,788,312 2,081,980 57,577,996

-34,750 4,800 -83,200 2,726,958 42,200 3,892,177.50 765,322 171,452 3,154,130 25,860 1,267,573 -13,204 1,819,397 -21,820 -5,574,594 3,257,870 -155,650 3,640 582,439 -4,525,360 -3,512,005 924,480 439,670 42,650,255 31,116,092 7,885,010 -712,200 79,400 -405,168 7,490,778

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A 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 1.57 2.97 13 1.48 2.15 0.3 8.65 1.48 0.33 0.13 0.136 0.0083 1.1 2.87 1.17 0.72 1 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.65 4.23 14.18 23.9 0.0085

0.0023 1.57 3.1 13.48 1.48 2.15 0.3 8.65 1.54 0.345 0.13 0.136 0.0086 1.17 2.97 1.17 0.76 1.04 0.013 0.013 0.013 3.66 4.4 14.22 24 0.0088

0.0021 1.52 2.97 13 1.48 2.11 0.3 8.1 1.48 0.315 0.127 0.136 0.0083 1.09 2.86 1.12 0.68 1 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.65 4.19 13.86 23.6 0.0078

MINING & OIL 0.0023 1,390,000,000 1.52 2,991,000 3 1,095,000 13.46 2,900 1.48 1,000 2.12 253,000 0.3 30,000 8.5 17,400 1.53 4,286,000 0.32 14,590,000 0.127 1,720,000 0.136 80,000 0.0086 88,000,000 1.15 3,093,000 2.88 10,540,000 1.12 558,000 0.76 3,730,000 1.01 480,000 0.013 13,700,000 0.013 100,300,000 0.013 161,600,000 3.65 539,000 4.39 4,168,000 14.06 3,247,200 23.7 687,900 0.0078 101,000,000

3,048,600 4,603,220 3,304,960 38,856 1,480 536,380 9,000 143,490 6,483,360 4,813,950 221,050 10,880 746,200 3,527,790 30,650,750 632,070 2,756,050 491,850 176,400 1,303,900 1,939,600 1,967,450 18,002,940 45,432,518 16,326,265 834,900

23,000 -1,532,030 -1,147,280 -35,680 2,500 5,888,370 10,100 -11,700 -149,740 -971,452 -1,869,980 80,000

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

20.75 472 492 98.1 5.78 910 900 95.8 1 101.3 990 100.4 990 75.45 76.4 73.95 73.5 73.3

20.75 472 492 98.4 5.85 910 900 95.8 1 101.3 990 101 990 75.45 76.4 73.95 73.5 73.5

20.5 452 490 96.1 5.78 900 900 95.6 0.99 101.3 990 100.4 990 75.05 76 73.5 73.5 73

PREFERRED 20.6 135,900 452 9,400 490 790 98.4 3,970 5.83 270,500 900 100 900 110 95.6 3,550 1 5,000 101.3 340 990 10 101 2,760 990 220 75.05 24,580 76.1 29,210 73.5 420 73.5 1,830 73 78,580

2,797,280 4,361,364 387,440 386,980 1,571,509 90,250 99,000 339,590 4,990 34,442 9,900 277,984 217,800 1,844,741 2,221,401 30,924 134,505 5,763,958

63,700 209,076 14,650

LR WARRANT

2

2

1.95

WARRANTS 1.96 69,000

135,240

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.73 1.66

4.73 1.83

4.55 1.63

4.55 1.78

FIRST METRO ETF

120.9

120.9

119.4

MS

PROPERTY 10.28 0.81 11.08 1.84 0.89 45 2.54 4.1 6.4 0.48 0.82 0.91 0.248 0.41 10.1 23.9 0.51 0.131 1.56 1.24 5.29 0.435 0.465 2.24

1,585,600 1,695,000 1,900 594,000 1,136,000 10,289,800 1,801,000 2,152,000 126,200 11,530,000 64,000 4,000 3,280,000 1,520,000 1,012,500 1,208,300 834,000 460,000 19,965,000 547,000 28,551,500 29,660,000 240,000 2,470,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

USD TECH B2

0.95

TRADING SUMMARY

0.95

SHARES

FINANCIAL

22,165,515

INDUSTRIAL

220,625,417

HOLDING FIRMS

164,909,186

PROPERTY

262,708,205

SERVICES

557,401,213

MINING & OIL

1,907,669,715

GRAND TOTAL

3,164,705,652

0.91

SME

396,000 28,814,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.8 12,840 0.91

DDS

10,000

1,828,700 50,585,150

50,870 -8,615,510

1,536,753

119,458

9,304

-

VALUE 1,847.39 (down) 10.43 881,215,344.80 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,678.17 (down) 116.15 1,240,720,825.35 HOLDING FIRMS 8,033.00 (up) 17.69 1,501,167,432.75 PROPERTY 3,997.85 (down) 10.57 1,619.34 (down) 0.56 1,998,288,445.29 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,739.62 (down) 0.15 1,983,955,894.30 PSEI 8,070.89 (down) 29.41 148,051,606.5496 All Shares Index 4,896.32 (down) 10.25 7,807,361,138.67 Gainers: 98; Losers: 119; Unchanged: 34; Total: 251

PSE includes Bloomberry in main index; Petron out

By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE Stock Exchange Inc. added Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the listed gaming company of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., to the main index while removing Petron Corp. following a routine review.

PSE said in a statement the recomposition of the 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index would take effect February 18, 2019.

The change is part of a biannual recomposition of the benchmark PSEi being conducted by the local bourse.

To qualify for inclusion in the PSEi, a listed firm should be among the top companies in terms of liquidity and market capitalization. A listed company should also have a free float level of at least 15 percent of its outstanding shares. The PSE considers relevant financial criteria in the review.

“The regular review of indices reflects the dynamic changes in company performance vis-à-vis the standards set by the exchange. In turn, these indices represent the investment opportunities in the Philippine stock market,” said PSE president and chief executive officer Ramon Monzon.

Except for the mining and oil index, all other sectoral indices will see changes in their composition.

The financials index will lose Asia United Bank Corp., while the industrial index will see the addition of Alliance Select Foods International Inc. and the exclusion of PetroEnergy Resources Corp., Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. and SFA Semicon Philippines Corp.

No new company will be added to the holding firms Index but Solid Group Inc. will be removed.

Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. will become a new member of the property index while Philippine Estates Corp. will be dropped from the same index.

Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. and Transpacific Broadband Group International Inc. will become the newest members of the services index, while Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp. will be taken out.

Cemex Holdings posted net loss of P930m in 2018 CEMEX Holdings Philippines Inc. posted a net loss of P930 million in 2018, a sharp reversal from a profit of P659 million in 2017, on higher income tax expenses and lower operating and higher foreign exchange losses.

Cemex said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net sales increased six percent to P23.4 billion in 2018 from P21.78 billion recorded in 2017 as cement volume rose seven percent, driven by healthy demand from both the private and public sectors.

The company’s financial performance was adversely affected during the fourth quarter following a landslide in the Naga City, Cebu province on September 20, 2018.

The accident prompted the cement firm to secure raw materials from farther sources that led to an increase in the cost of sales to 66 percent in the last quarter from 58 percent year-onyear.

As a result, the company’s operating EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) margin fell during the fourth quarter to seven percent from 12 percent, and to 12 percent from 15 percent for the full of 2018.

“The past quarter was a very challenging one following the landslide in Naga City. It tested the strength and resolve of all who were affected. The perseverance of the community was very inspiring even as we worked on restoring our operations to normality,” Cemex president and chief executive Ignacio Mijares said.

In October, one of CHP’s main subsidiaries, Solid Cement, signed a procurement, construction and installation agreement with CBMI Construction Co. Ltd of China for the company’s new cement production line scheduled to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The company is evaluating different options to fund the expansion project, which is expected to cost $235 million.

Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Young Nigerians skeptical of change

IN BRIEF Thousands of cows feared dead in floods

TOWNSVILLE, Australia―Hundreds of thousands of cattle weakened from a severe drought are feared to have died in recordbreaking floods in northeastern Australia, authorities said Friday, as they stepped up efforts to feed surviving livestock.

Incessant rains over an almost two-week period have flooded swathes of Queensland state, with the full scale of the devastation on drought-hit cattle stations becoming clearer as floodwaters recede.

“We are expecting hundreds of thousands in terms of stock losses,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Sydney.

“This will be heartbreaking to these communities that have been experiencing years of drought, only to see that turn into a torrential inundation which threatens now their very livelihoods in the complete other direction.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Friday spoke of seeing a “sea of dead cattle” when she toured one region on Thursday.

“To see the cattle spread across these yards, not moving, it made you feel sick in the stomach,” she told national broadcaster ABC. Bales of hay and fuel have been transported into towns near the disaster zones and are being distributed to farmers so they can carry out airdrops to their stock.

Farmer Rachael Anderson and her husband, who manage Eddington cattle station near Julia Creek township, said 800 of their 1500 cattle were still unaccounted for. AFP

Drug bust exposes cartel ties

SYDNEY―Australian and US authorities on Friday announced they had seized around a billion dollars worth of methylamphetamine—or “ice”—in a bust that revealed new ties between Mexican cartels and Aussie biker gangs.

The Australian Federal Police said that a joint investigation led the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to uncover 1.7 tonnes of drugs in California last month.

US authorities said the illicit cargo -with a street value of AUS$1.29 billion, or US$900 million -- was hidden in two shipping containers carrying audio equipment bound for Australia.

After a series of raids this month, two US nationals and four Australians were arrested this week in the Melbourne and Sydney areas.

They face various charges, including attempting to import illegal drugs, and face maximum sentences of life in prison in Australia if convicted.

The investigation appeared to reveal cooperation between Mexican cartels and Australian biker gangs, developing what authorities say is a worrying new vector for drugs to arrive to Australia.

“This is a serious warning, we now believe the Mexican cartels are actively targeting Australia,” said Assistant Commissioner Bruce Hill of the Australian Federal Police.

“They have been sending smaller amounts over the years, this is now flagging their intent. Australia is now being targeted,” he said.

“The cartel is one of the most powerful and violent drug trafficking syndicates in the world,” he said, without naming the cartel involved.

Hill pointed to high Australian street prices and prevalent drug use as a “draw card” for organised crime. AFP

Iran celebrates 40th anniversary of Revolution TEHRAN―Iran celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution’s victory on Monday at a time of heightened tensions with the United States and a sharp economic downturn.

For February 11, the state organized a march to Tehran’s Azadi [freedom] Square to mark the day the monarchy was officially toppled 10 days after the triumphant return from exile of the revolution’s leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

It will be a who’s who of Iranian politicians and public figures, with President Hassan Rouhani expected to deliver a speech at a rally.

Iran has played up this year’s anniversary as 40 is symbolic of maturity in the Islamic tradition and the age at which Prophet Mohammed received revelations from God. Despite 10 days of annual celebrations launched on February 1, today’s Islamic Republic faces acute economic challenges as it struggles with a mix of domestic hardships and US sanctions.

The rial has sharply devalued against the dollar, driving up prices, while the reimposition of sanctions has blocked foreign investment and limited Iran’s oil sales.

In response Iranian authorities have warned against “infiltrators” who would threaten the country from within and called for “national unity”.

Iran is also grappling with an environmental crisis, brought on by a mix of air pollution, soil erosion, drought and desertification.

The country has “progressed in many areas in 40 years”, its environmental organisation head Isa Kalantari has said, singling out the sectors of health, industry, services and education. AFP

BEST NEW ARTIST PARTY. Dua Lipa performs onstage during Spotify ‘Best New Artist 2019’ party at Hammer Museum on February 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Princess announces plan to run for prime minister B ANGKOK―A Thai princess will run for prime minister in March elections, in an unprecedented entry by a royal into frontline politics that pits her against the chief of the ruling junta, throwing into disarray his bid to stay in power.

Princess Ubolratana, 67, the older sister of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was announced as a candidate for the Thai Raksa Chart party steered by the divisive Shinawatra political clan.

The Thai monarchy, a revered institution shielded from criticism by a tough defamation law, has traditionally been seen as above the political fray, although royals have intervened in moments of political crisis.

Ubolratana’s nomination has electrified the buildup to a March 24 election which had seemed poised to return the junta and its proxies to power in some form.

It dramatically redraws the kingdom’s political landscape by giving a royal sheen to Thaksin Shinawatra’s political machine, which has won every election since 2001.

Her support also potentially builds a bridge between Thaksin’s “Red” shirted supporters and the “Yellow” shirts -who are arch royalists. Deadly violence and disruption linked to the two groups has defined Thailand’s turbulent last decade.

“The board agrees that the name of Princess Ubolratana, an educated and skilled person, is the most suitable choice,” Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechapol Pongpanich told reporters.

The party falls under the tutelage of Thaksin, a billionaire self-exiled former premier, who stands at the heart of Thailand’s bitter political schism—loathed by the army and Bangkok elite yet adored by the rural poor.

The announcement thrusts him back to the centre stage of Thailand’s political drama just as it appeared the military were set to succeed in sidelining him.

He was toppled in a 2006 coup, and his sister Yingluck was booted from power in a 2014 military takeover and forced into exile to avoid a jail term.

The princess’ move deals a heavy blow to the political aspirations of Prayut Chan-O-Cha, the junta head, who has spent nearly five years trying to recast the political system to limit the power of elected governments and prepare his own return as a civilian leader.

In a day of high political drama, Prayut declared his candidacy for premier, running for the Phalang Pracharat army

party, moments after the princess’s announcement.

“I want to reassure that I do not intend to hang on to power. It is not easy for me to make my decision... it is a crucial moment for the country.”

The military under Prayut has cast itself as the protector of the monarchy.

But Ubolratana’s shock entrance into politics, aligned with the junta’s nemesis—the Shinawatra family—undercuts those claims.

Ubolratana, a colourful, public-facing royal in contrast to her more restrained brother King Maha Vajiralongkorn, relinquished her royal titles after marrying the American Peter Jensen in 1972.

But the couple divorced and she moved back to Thailand where she is still considered part of the royal family.

Thailand has not had a royal as premier since becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

It was not immediately clear if Ubolratana would be covered by the kingdom’s widely interpreted royal defamation law—which carries up to 15 years in jail per charge—or how that could affect debate and criticism in the run-up to elections.

“It is unprecedented if she becomes prime minister,” said Puangthong Pawakapan, professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University.

“Can people treat her like a commoner? Who would dare criticise a royal prime minister?” AFP

PREMIERE.

Actress Rita Moreno attends the premiere of Netflix’s ‘One Day At A Time’ Season 3 at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 on February 07, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

LAGOS―They are Nigeria’s tomorrow, yet many feel they have little say in its future.

They are the under-25s who make up 60 percent of Africa’s most-populous country while an ageing elite dominates its politics.

The winner of the February 16 presidential election will almost certainly be one of two political veterans -- the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari, 76, or Atiku Abubakar, 72.

Their advanced age has not escaped the millions of young people, called out to vote in Nigeria’s sixth election since civilian rule was restored almost two decades ago.

“It’s always the same lies, the same corruption. Nothing has changed for us,” said Femi Edu, a 19-year-old street vendor in the commercial capital, Lagos.

Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest economies, but jobs for young people are scarce. Edu sees little reason to support the country’s leaders -- or even vote.

“All we want is jobs but they are not even able to provide it to us,” he said.

Young people between 18 and 35 make up more than half of the electorate with 43 million registered, making them a target for aspiring presidents, governors and lawmakers.

But many like Edu simply do not believe that either of Nigeria’s two main parties can address the endemic corruption that has hobbled the oil-rich country of 190 million people.

Celeste Ojatula is a 24-year-old singer who participated in Voice2rep, a civil society initiative to encourage young Nigerians to vote.

She has few illusions about whether young people are being heard.

“Youth believe that politics is dirty.

They feel like their votes do not count,” she said.

Along with a dozen other artists, she participated in three free concerts of rap and Afrobeat music open to anyone who presented their voter ID card.

“Most of them are more interested in leaving the country to study in Canada and find better lives,” said 30-year-old singer Chioma Ogbonna, who also performed at the shows.

“That’s the reason why the youths are registering,” she said.

“If people get their voter card, it’s to be able to get a visa, to open a bank account, not necessarily to vote.”

Disillusionment is shared even among educated young people living in cities, said political commentator Tabia Princewill.

“Those who vote are the poorest, who are really at the bottom of society.

Their stomachs are empty, so in exchange for a sack of rice, they’ll give you their voice,” she said. AFP

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

DARING DIP. The climate at Stanford Suites 3 reminds one of Tagaytay’s cool, all-year-round weather. Young residents can brace themselves for a dip at the “aquatrium”, with a soon-to-be-built commercial area at the ground floor.

Idyllic redoubt rises in South Forbes Golf City

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ATHAY Land, the first developer to launch a residential condominium project in the Metro Sta. RosaSilang-Tagaytay area, recently launched the final project in its Stanford series within South Forbes Golf City.

South Forbes Golf City is a sprawling 500-hectare township with communities inspired by modern interpretations of classic architectural themes handpicked from all over the globe. These include modern Asian homes at Bali mansions and Nirwana Bali, Thai abodes at Phuket mansions, serene homes at Tokyo mansions, modern castles at Chateaux de Paris, and classic white beach residences at Miami.

MODERN SIMPLICITY The residential condominiums, meanwhile, offer the modern simplicity of Scandinavian design at Scandia Suites. At Golf View Terraces, residents wake up to views of the township’s award-winning, 18-hole South Forbes Golf Club.

Real estate leaders tackle industry challenges “Our residents for Stanford 1 and 2 now enjoy a relaxed lifestyle at South Forbes Golf City,” said Cathay Land Inc. President Jeffrey Ng. “Our investors have noted their property’s value appreciation over the past few years. Thus, now is the perfect time to launch Stanford Suites Tower 3.”

Stanford Suites 3 targets young families, retirees and investors given its prime location near Westborough Town Centre, now hosting a Marketplace supermarket and a Coffee Bean shop.

GOOD LOCATION Stanford Suites 3 is ideal for parents who have kids studying in nearby St. Scholastica’s College or Learning Links

Academy. It is also near St. Benedict Parish. More commercial locators are expected soon in this project.

The plans for Stanford Suites 3 involve buildings that will only rise six storeys (housing 331 studio and onebedroom units), with pocket gardens ensuring constant wind flow throughout the building.

“Our introductory price starting at only P1.5 million for a studio unit, with a monthly amortization of about P23,000 for the first year, make Stanford Suites 3 a smart choice for parents and those looking forward to retirement in a relaxing environment offered in South Forbes,” Ng said.

GETTING A JUMP ON THE COMPETITION. The 32-storey

Parkway Corporate Center recently opened its doors to investors who want to give their businesses a distinct edge by occupying a corporate space in an intelligent, green-oriented building at Filinvest City in Alabang. With its central business district location in the Metro South, and state-of-the-art design features and amenities, Filinvest’s latest project is an ideal office space as it allows one to move up when moving in. Ownership offers long-term financial advantages and investment potentials, including tax savings and better cash flow management.

Parkway Corporate Center’s building features and amenities include high-speed elevators, 24-hour security with CCTV cameras, back-up power and an advanced fiber optic backbone.

Open house for Aspire Corporate Plaza NEW player Golden Bay Fresh Landholdings, Inc. will hold a 2-day open house for its premier project, Aspire Corporate Plaza today until Sunday at the Golden Bay Restaurant along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

Aspire Corporate Plaza is the first property in the Macapagal Bay area to sell office spaces. The open house will feature property guru Carl Dy of Spectrum Properties (Shown here) who will speak about opportunities in the growing Bay Area. “Now is the best time to consider the immense potential of Metro-Manila’s next prime office location, the Macapagal Bay Area.

FLIP SIDE. Panelists waded into a minefield of real estate topics such as government support for property developers, how urbanization could change the Philippines’ property landscape and affect countryside development. They agreed that moving toward provinces would benefit the country as Philippine infrastructure ramps up.

It is a sound investment worth considering,” said Jardin Wong, chief operating officer of Golden Bay. The weekend open house will have four time slots on each day: 9:30am, 11:00am, 3:00pm and 5:00pm. Aspire Corporate Plaza is a 10-story building development that will be constructed on a lot area of 3,500 square meters along Macapagal Boulevard.

The project, expected to be completed by 2020, is being built by Megawide Construction Corporation, Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corporation, and Meinhardt Philippines Inc.

FINDING A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH Tips in buying pre-owned homes

A PROPERTY seeker is always hesitant when it comes to buying second-hand homes. This is because these properties could eventually cost you a fortune in renovations if you are not cautious.

PSBank, through its “Good to Know” campaign, help you spot a gem among wide choices of pre-owned houses with these tips: KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. The best places to find pre-owned real estate properties for sale are banks and local government institutions such as the Home Development Mutual Fund, or PAG-IBIG. Check out their website and you’ll find the best property deals. There are also property auctions that these institutions organize. Some properties not normally listed in their websites are being auctioned here.

SCHEDULE A VISIT OR INSPECTION. Determine the real condition of the house yourself by asking a professional inspector for help. Check if the basic structure, floor plan and infrastructure remain sturdy and durable. Ensure that there’s electrical and plumbing system installed, rooms are well-proportioned and there are no bad cracks or serious leaks. A great buy would be one with no major fixes and you’ll be able to move in to your new home soon.

CONSIDER THE LOCATION. The location is just as important as the house itself. If it is located within a good school system, a nearby transportation, market or grocery, then finding a home priced to accommodate the necessary updates could be a good deal.

VERIFY DOCUMENTS. Check the title and latest property tax receipt. The title will not only tell you how old the property is but it will also let you know if the property had a chain of previous owners.

CHECK THE MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY. To ensure that you will not be paying more than you should, go through the current price trends and get an estimate or seek an expert to help you evaluate the second hand property against similar properties in the area.

Buying a pre-owned property or a second-hand home entails lots of patience and due diligence. But getting it for a bargain price should be more than enough motivation and be able to convince you that what you purchased is more than what you paid for.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Lamudi’s recent Outlook media roundtable series offered a glimpse of the trends that defined Philippine real estate in the past year, and what the future might hold for the sector.

The event, moderated by Lamudi’s chief executive officer, Bhavna Suresh, highlighted issues such as the role that internet plays in the real estate sector to what’s in store for the commercial and residential property developers targeting the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) market.

The roundtable’s panelists were Mr. Christophe Vicic, country head of JLL Philippines; Mr. Janlo De Los Reyes, JLL Philippines’ head of research and consulting; Mr. Steve Chien, regional controlling principal of Keller Williams; and Ms. Elizabeth Ventura, president, and executive director of Anchor Land Holdings, Inc. TECHNOLOGY’S PIVOTAL ROLE As the internet continues to evolve, members of the panel opined that trends in digital marketing will continue to help them communicate their products and services to their clients.

Anchor Land’s Ventura noted that not only are they able to educate their clients better about their property offerings, but the projects that the company ventures into have become more viable because of the information that they get about their prospective clients and the feedback that they receive from them.

“When you’re very clear with the needs of the clients, you can properly plan your projects,” Ms. Ventura said.

She added that online real estate property platforms such as Lamudi will continue to play a more critical role in strengthening the relationship between property developers like Anchor Land Holdings and property seekers who use the online platform in their search of properties to buy and invest it. “We need more info about the clients so we could advance and improve our offerings,” she explained.

INTEREST SURGE Suresh revealed that Lamudi, has seen an average growth rate of 40 percent week on week in terms of search activity in January 2019 alone. “We’ve never seen numbers like these,” she said. “That’s what we’re very excited about.

We’ve seen so much traffic coming in from the Middle East and from the US.” Keller Williams’ Chien likewise credited the property portal for playing a pivotal role in the real estate industry and in helping generate interest among individuals who wanted to become potential real estate agents.

“It’s a movement,” Chien said, adding that Keller Williams, which is one of the largest property broker in the United States, even had to accommodate more than a thousand individuals in one of their training workshops for prospective real estate agents. Because of advances in communication and in internet technology, “we’ve seen more people participate in the real estate industry,” he said..

HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY “We want to harness the technology so we can do a better job,” said JLL Philippines technology head De Los Reyes. JLL country head Vicic added that technology has impacted everyone in the property development sector. “We want to change its focus on how it conducts business in the real estate sector by transforming itself into a technology company that operates in the property development market,” he averred.

URBANIZATION AS A DRIVER Asked whether the real estate industry is lagging in terms of keeping up with the demands outside of the metro and trends like condormitels, Vicic said that urbanization is the one calling the shots.

“The real estate readiness is linked to what the country’s development requires,” he explained. “When we have landlords asking us where to build next, the question should be: where is the next urbanization development taking place?”

De Los Reyes shared this sentiment, adding that the demand has always been there, maybe just not as emphasized as what you see. As in the case of “condormitels”, he noted that areas near popular university campuses like Katipunan, UP, and U-belt, have long offered this type of accommodation to students. And as a response to the evolution of the working population, they are now in the fringes of central business districts like BGC, Ortigas, and Makati.

“There’s a lot of moving parts to it. There’s urbanization. There’s technology.

All of these play a role in terms of shaping the readiness of the market,” he pointed out.

THE RISE OF POGO SEGMENT: BOON OR BANE? Recent estimates have pegged the current number of POGO employees who are Chinese nationals in the country to as high as 450,000, with this figure increasing to about 2 million over the next five years. This has led to an increase in property prices in Bay City, where most POGO offices are located and where many of the Chinese nationals connected with those firms reside.

“Prices are at around P300,000 per square meter, and that’s comparable to Makati and Bonifacio Global City,” said De Los Reyes. “What’s happening is the Bay Area is pushing the domestic market away from that community, not only in terms of the sale but also in terms of the rents.”

Chien agreed, noting that the main reason why rents are going up fast in Bay City can be traced to the growing demand for residential abodes of POGO workers, which property developers need to keep pace with. But he also pointed out thatgaming operators aren’t synonymous to the entirety of the anticipated Chinese investment that will enter the country.

Vicic said property developers who want to venture into the growing POGO market should learn to invest in the POGO workers. “We do a reference check on Chinese POGO workers (when we talk to building operators).” He also recommended that landlords should keep a balanced mix of tenants in their properties.

“If I were a landlord I would not rely on POGO for a long-term strategy only because it’s highly visible and politically-charged because of the nature of the industry,” he said.

Life

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

YOUNG LIFE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

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Not your ordinary Valentine’s Day gifts R

OSES are red, violets are blue. Flowers and chocolates are great but can you think of something new?

Gifts are a great way to express your love to a significant other, to a friend, to a family member, or basically to anyone special in your life—because we believe Valentine’s Day is not only reserved for romantic part-

Pretty bouquet

You love her all made up and you love her when she goes out the house without putting anything on her face. Show how much you support her quest to always put her best face forward by giving her personalized makeup bouquets.

L’Oreal Paris offers limited edition personalized makeup bouquets, which come with its bestselling lipsticks and thoughtfully boxed blooms and chocolates. These special makeup bouquets will be available in select L’Oreal Paris makeup counters on Feb. 13-14.

Prices start at P1,500.

Several online stores are also selling a variety of makeup bouquets. Know the products and brands she love, and get them.

ners. But we digress.

It could be something fancy like a weekend trip or three pairs of Air Jordan; or it could be something thoughtful yet affordable like sending a special love note via, say,

LED screens at a mall. Possibilities are endless. Because Manila Standard LIFE loves you, we present a few gift suggestions that are way more original than a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates

Quality time means love

Give something that will remind your special someone that you always have time for them—no better way to do that than with a watch, right?

The MoonSun Nato Collection from TechnoMarine is a hip line made for younger watch patrons. It features a quartz movement and a smooth 40mm stainless steel case with a f lame fusion crystal.

Designed to be a classic, the MoonSun Nato Collection has a vintage look that comes in yellow gold, silver, or rose gold tone dial and case, plus a range of preppy nylon straps for a casual but chic touch.

Score this timepiece at TechnoMarine stores in Greenbelt 3, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza, SM City Cebu, SM Lanang Premier Davao, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, TriNoma, and Uptown Mall.

L’Oreal Paris makeup bouquet

Preppy MoonSun Nato timepieces

Music is in the air

Valentine Concert at Bonifacio High Street

Take your date to a free concert at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater on Feb. 16, and feel the love while listening to contemporary OPM hits. Concert starts at 6:00 p.m. Acts include the Elements Music Camp artists Ben & Ben, Leanne & Naara, Reese Lansangan, Kat Agarrado, and more.

There will be 100 VIP front seats with meet and greet passes to be given away in exchange for single or accumulated purchase receipts worth P2,500 obtained from Feb. 1 to 16 at any Bonifacio High Street, One Parkade, and Two Parkade, Central Square (Marketplace by Rustan’s is not included), and One Bonifacio High Street establishment.

No date? No problem! Who knows, you meet someone there.

Love on LED

Surprise a loved one with a digital love note.

Say your long overdue I l ove you’s to your loved ones by sending sweet digital love notes, and get a chance to win SM gift certificates.

Simply write a love note and upload your photos through the #CelebrateLoveAtSM: Digital Love Notes booth in select SM malls or online via www. smsuper malls.com/CelebrateLoveAtSM. Selected love notes will be featured on LED screens in SM malls nationwide and at the SM Mall of Asia Globe.

Now that’s how you send a love note.

The love notes will be featured on LED screens until Feb. 14. Digital love notes will be posted online until Feb. 28.

Latest Kwentong Jollibee series restores faith in love THIS love season, beloved fast food chain and producer of heartwarming videos Jollibee return with a set of heartwarming Kwentong Jollibee episodes that remind viewers to keep their faith in love as it always prevails despite of heartbreaks, rejections, and challenges.

“We’re very excited to be back again this Valentine’s Day with new Kwentong Jollibee episodes. Our stories have always been inspired by true events and I think it’s most evident with this series,” said Francis Flores, Jollibee global brand chief marketing officer and PH marketing head.

“The reality is that love is not always easy, but what matters most is having faith in love no matter how tough things may get and this lesson is what I hope people will take home after watching,” he added.

Last year, Jollibee took Valentine’s Day by storm and inspired millions of

Filipinos to believe in the power of love with the 2018 Kwentong Jollibee Valentine’s Day episodes: “Homecoming,” “Signs,” and “Status” which pooled in 167 million in reach on Facebook, and over 63 million views on both Facebook and YouTube.

Following last year’s success, the 2019 Kwentong Jollibee Valentine’s Series narrates wonderful stories of individuals who have found the courage to love again and those who have persevered for the sake of love.

“Choice” revolves around the story of Ann, a young woman who is torn between two men in her life. Sharing intimate moments with her long-time best friend Paul, she also begins to find comfort in a new companion—Jay, a co-worker who inspires her to discover a different side of herself. The episode directed by Ianco dela Cruz concludes with Ann making a defining choice,

looking to the past with gratitude and embracing the hope for love.

A tale of love lost and found again, “Proposal” follows the story of Hans, a young man ready to spend forever with the love of his life. In an unexpected turn of events, his fairytale is shattered and he faces the challenge of rebuilding himself. Little by little, he picks himself back up with help from unexpected places. Directed by Joel Ruiz, the episode is all about starting over and choosing to love once again.

Director Pepe Diokno narrates a battle fought for love with “Anniversary.”

Jason’s pursuit of a successful career spells trouble for his long-term relationship with Claire. Devoting his energy and passion to his work, he starts to take Claire for granted.

Go to Jollibee’s Youtube and Facebook pages to watch these episodes.

The cast of 2019 Kwentong Jollibee Valentine’s Series with Jollibee global brand chief marketing officer Francis Flores (leftmost), ‘Proposal’ director Joel Ruiz (fifth from left), assistant vice president Arline Adeva (second from right) and Jollibee Philippines president JJ Alano (rightmost)

Life

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

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ORK-life balance is an elusive concept for many young professionals. But one business process outsourcing company makes sure its employees seek new knowledge and pursue their passions.

Telus International Philippines actively champions its team members’ careers by providing an avenue to fuel their thirst for knowledge and pursuit of passions through the Telus International University.

TIP has instituted various programs and initiatives to continuously train and educate team members while allowing them to discover themselves within the company. These include degree courses, linguistic programs (including Japanese, French, and Mandarin, among others), and short courses on a variety of interests such as fashion design, performing arts, information technology, and culinary arts.

Apart from providing professional development training necessary for team members to move up the career ladder, TIU provides learning experiences that can be beneficial for their careers both inside and outside TIP. Moreover, TIU gives team members the opportunity to complete their education through subsidized tuition and onsite classes. It also serves as a platform for team members to pursue their own interests through partnerships with various learning institutions. Supplementing these are other services that ensure completion of courses, including special discounts and flexible payment terms, shuttle services for select campus classes, guidance counseling, and exclusive access to TIP libraries.

TIP has also opened up TIU short courses to team members’ families and friends.

BPO firm urges employees to pursue what they love

Telus International University, in partnership with Center for Culinary Arts Manila, offers coffee barista course to its team members.

“We put a premium value on worklife integration at Telus International Philippines. The caring culture that we foster and cultivate helps us become better in what we do, and an important part of that is creating a work environment that is conducive to continuous learning,” said TIP manager for learning and development Frederick Estacio.

He continued, “We always look for various and equal opportunities for our

team members to maximize their potential both personally and professionally.”

One of the most popular short courses TIU offers is the coffee barista course, in partnership with the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila.

“Coffee has become an important element to jumpstart our day, or for most of us working in the BPO industry, our nights too,” said Estacio. “Knowing the craft behind brewing good coffee not just elevates the coffee drinking expe-

rience for our team members, but even presents a possible livelihood opportunity for team members who are looking for entrepreneurial pursuits.”

Aside from the coffee barista course, TIU and CCA offer other culinary courses to TIP team members including basic and advanced cooking and baking tracks, as well as baking and pastry arts. At the moment, all of these short courses are held at CCA Kitchen in Farmers Market, Cubao.

“Our partnership with Telus International Philippines has had a very successful run, and we are looking forward to expanding the offerings we provide their employees in other facets of culinary arts,” said Veritas Luna, Ph.D., Chancellor for Education at CCA, Manila.

Go to telusinternational.com to know more about TIP’s employee driven initiatives and programs.

Workshop participants learn how to properly grind coffee beans, how to make latte and other coffee variants, and how to create latte art.

5 ways to handle couples’ money problems STRONG and healthy relationships are built on love and mutual respect, but sometimes even the strongest ones can get rocky, especially when faced with rifts about money. But there’s nothing two responsible adults in a relationship can’t go through as long as they work on it together.

Establish accountability

ACSLV68 scholars with (middle row, seated, from left) Cherry and Aisya Salazar, Ging Naguita, Tessa Tayag, Sylvia Singson, Kathy Romero-Salas, and guests.

Birds in Paradise fundraising event

now on 7th year

ASSUMPTION Convent San Lorenzo Village High School Class ‘68 on Feb. 14-16 is staging Birds in Paradise, a fundraising event that helps finance its scholarship program for economically disadvantaged college students.

Now on its 7th year, the pop-up Birds in Paradise has become a much-anticipated annual event in Makati. Exciting, unique, and exquisite items sourced from countries in Europe and Asia are available for sale. Sales from the threeday event will be used for ACSLV68’s education assistance program.

To date, 22 ACSLV68 scholars students have successfully completed their college degrees in various fields such as chemistry, civil and electronics engineering, accountancy, physics, education, political science, and journalism.

Some of the scholars have graduated with honors, while two others are working to complete their post-graduate degrees in molecular medicine and law.

The group currently supports 13 scholars enrolled in medicine, architecture, management, customs administration, accountancy, development communication, civil engineering and others, at UP (Manila and Los Baños), Polytechnic University of the Philip-

Agree on who will be responsible for what. This especially applies to couples living together. Establish who will cover monthly bills and day-to-day expenses, and who will handle long-term savings.

It is important that the system you come up with works for and has been agreed by both of you.

Know your priorities

Think about the future and identify what matters to you most. For married couples with children, the kids’ needs must be given priority. For new couples, identify assets that you both want to have someday. Invest a part of your savings so you have funds to spend for these priorities. Asset Master, from insurance company Axa, is a single-pay, investment-linked insurance plan that allows individuals to

Address financial problems by openly talking about them with your partner.

build a diversified investment portfo- recklessly might cause a strain on your relationship especially when you have set a lio of local and global investments. financial goal, like making an investment or buying a house and lot or a car. Be open Live within your means Whatever financial management strat- with each other about income and finances. egy you follow, living within your means Protect your assets should guide your decisions. Spending Insure what you worked hard for such as your home or your car to lessen your financial worries. Prepare to deal with damages and losses caused by road and vehicular accidents with Axa Auto Security. Safeguard your home from natural and unexpected disasters like fire, flood, earthquake, storms, and volcanic eruptions with Axa Property Insurance.

Set aside a ‘fun fund’

Items sourced from Europe and Asia are on sale at Birds in Paradise pop-up store.

pines, Batangas State University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Jose Rizal University, and Don Honorio Ventura State University.

Birds in Paradise pop-up is at Makati Garden Club, Recoletos St. cor.

Ayala Ave., Makati City. It’s open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

There’s no financial problem two responsible adults in a relationship can’t go through as long as they work on it together.

Couples who have fun together become closer and stronger. When creating a budget, make provisions for things that will give you joy as a couple—like traveling together. Feel more secure and safe when you travel with Axa Smart Traveller, which comes with a wide range of benefits including 24-hour medical assistance, personal accident coverage, liability and personal safety coverage, as well as refunds for travel inconveniences.

Entertainment

T

HE Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), in partnership with the Game Development Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and SM, recently held the Animahenasyon 12: 2018 Philippine Animation Festival at the Samsung Hall at SM Aura Premier.

ALL FOR ANIMATION. (From left) Alvin Juban, Game Developers Association of

the Philippines (GDAP) President; Monchito Ibrahim, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary for Regional Operations and Countryside and ICT Industry Development; and Juan Miguel del Rosario, Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI) President.

ANG Misyon believes that social change is sparked through the learning of orchestral music. The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth consists of young music scholars, majority of which come from less privileged families and were handpicked based on talent, passion and need.

Ang Misyon wrapped the year 2018 with international performances including Qatar National Library, Katara Opera House and local events at Robinsons Galleria, Power Plant Mall and at the Qatar National Day in Makati Shangri-La. The mission continues as the OFY kicks off 2019 on a high note with its first concert of the year at Sun Life Amphitheater today. The concert is free admission.

Joining the OFY will be the Apprentice Orchestra, another promising group of young musicians in the music program of Ang Misyon.

Animahenasyon Festival at SM Aura Premier for Many, Best Game Art, and Best Narrative/Story; while Periculum got the Best Music and Sound Design.

In addition, Jank Fu by De La Salle University won the Best Innovation. Mutual by FEU Institute of Technology received both Best Gameplay and Best Mobile/Handheld Game. Moreover, Furtive by iAcademy got the Public’s Choice Award.

The Animahenasyon 2018 Festival and ICT Awards Night is one of the many exciting creative events at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier.

Josie Trinidad of Walt Disney Animation Studios is the Head of Story of the feature film ’Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2.’

DZMM helps Filipinos make informed decision via ‘IKAW NA BA’ Willie Ong, and Sergio Osmeña III also participated, as well as Juan Ponce Enrile, Atty. Harry Roque, Manuel Roxas III, Lady Ann Sahidula, Atty. Erin Tañada, Francis Tolentino, Samira Gutoc, and Antonio Butch Valdez.

Halalan 2019 Ikaw Na Ba: The DZMM Senatorial Candidates’ Interview, is part of ABS-CBN News’ “Halalan 2019” coverage that aims to help Filipinos make well-educated choices in the coming polls through accurate news and informative election features and specials.

DZMM brings citizens into the conversation with the help of DZMM Radyo Patrol Reporters and ABS-CBN Regional reporters who go on-ground to hear the concerns of Filipinos in different areas.

Audiences can also send in their questions on DZMM’s social media platforms, which the aspiring senators answer on Facebook exclusives featuring DZMM anchor Tina Marasigan. DZMM’s daily afternoon news broadcast “On the Spot” will also feature highlights of the interviews from Monday to Friday at 4:00 p.m..

On Jan. 22, the program went on a break for a special edition featuring representatives from organizations and NGOs related to the elections like the Philippine National Police, Teachers Dignity Coalition, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Kontra Daya,

WHICH candidates are the most deserving of a seat in the Philippine Senate as the 2019 midterm national elections approaches and how do we make a well-informed vote?

DZMM continues to help Filipinos answer this question with its election special Halalan 2019 Ikaw Na Ba: The DZMM Senatorial Candidates’ Interview on DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and watched on DZMM TeleRadyo and the DZMM TeleRadyo Facebook.

Since it began in November 2018, the interview series has featured 28 of the country’s senatorial hopefuls, who faced questions on their credentials, platforms, and various issues from anchors Peter Musñgi and Pat-P Daza of Pasada Sais Trenta and Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja of Dos Por Dos. The potential candidates are grilled on different topics like federalism, inflation and the economy, the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), housing and traffic problems, and more.

The interview series has featured Abner Afuang, Rep. Gary Alejano, Rafael Alunan III, Sen. Bam Aquino, Atty. Ernesto Arellano, Atty. Glenn Chong, Neri Colmenares, Atty. Chel Diokno, Sen. JV Ejercito, and Atty. Larry Gadon. Senate aspirants Conrado Generoso, Atty. Florin Hilbay, RJ Javellana, Atty.

Romulo Macalintal, Jiggy Manicad, Gov. Imee Marcos, Atty. Sonny Matula, Atty. Allan Montaño, Dr.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, February 9, 2019

sion 66 Open to debate 67 Talk-show name 68 1492 ship 69 Night fliers 70 Not quiet 71 Gin-fizz flavor DOWN 1 At the stern 2 Ibsen woman 3 Stalactite starter 4 Barking 5 Recurring 6 Word of greeting 7 Dot in the Seine 8 Lobster pincer 9 Phone button 10 Leisure time 11 Fox’s prey 12 Tsar name 13 New York baseballers 21 Parting word 23 Mo. with no holidays 25 Wild duck 27 Self-images 28 Racetrack tipsters 29 Erie neighbor 31 Nobelist — Alvarez 32 Fish-eating

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘Musika at Misyon’ at Sun Life Amphitreater

Animahenasyon, which is a combination of the words “animation” and “imagination” in Filipino, is an annual Animation Festival that aims to promote the country’s animation industry by showcasing works of both aspiring and professional animators locally and internationally.

This year’s awards showcased the inspiring talents of Filipino animators with Love Bites by Carl Papa and Sober by DiKami Productions leading the way as Grand Prize winners in the professional and student categories, respectively.

In the professional division, Love Bites by Carl Papa also received the Best in Storytelling, Best Technical, and Best Production Design awards. Princess by Simon Givenchy Loredo bagged the Best Regional Entry and Audience Choice Award; while the Best Non-Narrative Animation Award was given to John Paul Bonoan for his film Old vs. New. Meanwhile, in the student division, Sober by DiKami Productions also received the Best in Storytelling and Best Production Design awards. Area C by Jan McLloyd Sumagpang won the Jury’s Special Citation in Best Treatment of Subject Matter.

Tiny Gale by Jeremy Sulit won the Best Technical Award, while Dare by Camille Louise Balete got The John Martin Award and the Best NonNarrative Animation Award.

The Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), on the other hand, recognized young game animators. The Game of the Year was awarded to De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde for The Yellow Boat. It was a shining moment for the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde with its entry Tulak winning the Best Game

ACROSS 1 Mayberry sheriff 5 Spanish girl 10 Caprice 14 Town meetings 15 Cheers 16 Icicle site 17 Stumble 18 Turf grabber 19 Latin I verb 20 Horrify 22 Dilutes 24 Common phrase 26 Paris street 27 Cultural 30 Straightened 34 Overcharge 35 Extra 36 Remnant 38 Not their 39 Different 42 Prefix for classic 43 Put away gear 45 Sorrowful cry 46 What place 48 Fish or turtle 50 Picks on 51 Mekong native 52 Cabinet parts 54 Turntable part 58 Team list 61 Language of Pakistan 62 Demand 64 On any occa-

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

birds 33 Farm implement pioneer 35 Dim 37 Departs 40 Josephine’s spouse 41 Jugs 44 Crunchy snacks 47 Expedites 49 Landing spot 50 Like some smiles 53 Ocean predators

54 Sapporo sport 55 Wave cutter 56 Rock star, maybe 57 World’s fair 59 Like Lex Luthor 60 Nevada town 63 Uris hero 65 “Norma —”

and National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) to discuss other issues surrounding the elections, as part of DZMM’s thrust to educate voters.

Halalan 2019 Ikaw Na Ba series airs every Tuesday and Thursday with at 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on DZMM TeleRadyo and DZMM Radyo Patrol 630. Watch the interviews and online exclusives online via iwant.phiwant.ph or skyondemand.com.phskyondemand.com.ph, dzmm. com.phdzmm.com.ph, and DZMM fs social media pages @DZMMTeleradyo on Facebook and Twitter.

'Pasada Sais Trenta' anchors Pat-P Daza and Peter Musngi

Conducted by Joshua Dos Santos, OFY’s Music Director, expect a wonderful pre-Valentine treat with a repertoire of classical music including pieces from Tchaikovsky and Wagner plus a timeless Filipino favoriteNational Artist Ryan Cayabyab.

Musika at Misyon aims to bring to life what Ang Misyon continues to nurture in the scholars through its programs. It looks forward to another eventful year with its young musicians and remains steadfast in its mission to uplift the lives of the youth.

Ang Misyon was founded in 2012 by First Philippines Holdings Chairman Federico R. Lopez, ABS CBN Chairman Emeritus Eugenio Lopez III, and concert pianist Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz.

For more information about Ang Misyon, Inc. and the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, visit www. angmisyon.org.

Simply...

From C4

Kate Valdez in ‘i-Bilib’ Onanay kontrabida Kate Valdez visits Chris Tiu, James and Roadfill when they construct an ingenious kind of Rubik’s cube using paper and a convex glass.

Also, two pairs of Kapuso teen couples celebrate Valentine’s Day via the “Bilibabols Pasok sa Puso” blow the ball in the heart shape challenge.

Two mysteries are solved in “Street Genius” when the team finds out which metal dropped in a swimming pool is the most explosive and what is the fastest way to create a sinkhole in a box full of sand.

Finally, in “Huling Hirit,” Chris demonstrates how our brains and eyes deceive us by way of lateral inhibition as he displays a high-contrast illustration.

All these on your favorite science show every Sunday morning on GMA. *** Paradizoo and free agri-education Zoomanity Group Parks presents Power of Three: a floral, a vegetable and agri-livestock festival until March, with seminars every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Paradizoo is an eco-farm destination open to families, students, farmers, to both public and private sectors to share the benefits of and best practices in growing agricultural products.

Paradizoo seminars conducted by well-known agriculture educators cover cattle reproduction management and breeding, sale and auction of livestock, farm produce exhibits.

It’s free and participants are provided with free seeds, too. And free training on Banik’s, Jam and Juice Making is also provided.

Paradizoo seeks to establish an Agriculture Learning Institute to expand opportunities to youths for proper education on farming and agriculture business soon.

A 12-hectare theme park in Mendez, Cavite, Paradizoo is a combination paradise and zoo. A uniquely relaxing and entertaining weekend destination for families, children can roam in an open space dotted with flowering plants and pet some farm animals.

Other agricultural activities are vermiculture, bokashi soil, hydrophonics plant growing, and putting up compost pits. A balanced ecosystem is maintained to keep a natural habitat for the animals and plants, which are both organically grown and nurtured.

A favorite attraction here is the Farm Frenzy, to cuddle and purchase animals like rabbits, hamsters and lovebirds, Dorper sheep, Boer, Kalahari and Saanen dairy goats, Rusa. Turkeys from Australia are also on sale.

In the Plant Me Home area, guests may select and pick vegetables and flowers from garden plots to take home. Enjoy the huge space given to flowering plants in the orchidarium and eclectic garden.

The kids may also enjoy the Camel ride and Zing Ride, a unique air ride that is a combination of zip line and a swing.

Call Camille Custodio at 63 936 2418 942 or dial 847-0413, 8999824 or 09275899696 or visit www. zoomanity.com.ph for further inquiries or registration. *** Visit www.isah.red for more stories.

Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred) and Instagram (@isahvred). ΙR

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

GMA continues winning streak in nationwide TV ratings

Seasoned actress Sylvia Sanchez

Sylvia Sanchez doesn’t mind if she’s not first choice for any role ISAH V. RED

ASKED whether she minds being just the second or third choice by a director or producer, actress Sylvia Sanchez answered the questioned pointedly, “No!” And in Filipino she explained, “What’s important is I got the role and I am playing it according to what the director wants it played.”

Mincing no words, she later said, “When they offered me the role, I didn’t know that they offered it to several other actresses. What I knew then was that the producers and the directors wanted to talk to me about a movie and if I could play in it. They showed me the script, I read it and I liked it. In short, I said ‘yes’ to the offer.”

The role was offered initially to Nora Aunor, but due to some misunderstanding between the actress and the director, the production team decided to look for a replacement, and Sylvia Sanchez was it.

For sure, you’ve read somewhere about the exchange of communication between Aunor and Ronald Carballo (he wrote the screenplay and directed the film, titled Jesusa) that led to Sanchez’s replacing the superstar for the role.

Jesusa has been in Carballo’s dream of a movie and he’d do it only if the superstar agree to play the lead role.

Initially, she already did, but along the way, something got in the way and seemed it could be the reason the film would either not be done at all or be delayed. But Carballo was itching to shoot it, and he did sans Aunor.

The film is about a woman (Jesusa) and how she sinks into the mire. It is set in a rundown community where she leads a normal life until circumstances drag her to be swallowed by the low lives of her neighbor.

Sylvia is joined in the film by Allen Dizon, Empress Shuck, Ynez Veneracion, Vince Tañada, Beverly Salviejo, among others.

Two former dancers are executive producing the film, siblings Jean Hidalgo and Junelle Rayos.

Carballo said that Sanchez fits the role perfectly and she made sure that his vision of the film is what exactly the audience will see onscreen when it’s finally released in theaters.

Some quarters were saying that the film has used Nora Aunor for its publicity, but I am certain she wouldn’t be if some writers didn’t ask questions about the initial casting of the film. But, that’s how the movie business goes in the Philippines.

Continued on C3

FOLLOWING its ratings success in 2018, broadcast company GMA Network continued to be the viewers’ top choice according to the latest data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For the first month of 2019 (with Jan. 27 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 37.8 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), beating ABS-CBN’s 35.9 percent.

The Network registered 34.8 percent people audience share in the morning block, as against competition’s 30.9 percent.

GMA similarly won in the afternoon block with 40.1 percent people audience share surpassing the 34.2 percent of its rival network.

The Kapuso Network was consistently at the forefront of the ratings game in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 60 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 41.9 percent in Urban Luzon, which was way ahead of ABS-CBN’s 30.1 percent.

In Mega Manila, based on official data from Jan. 1 to 26, the Network tallied an even bigger margin with an average total day people audience share of 43.7 percent, versus competition’s 26.8 percent.

Kapuso shows likewise ruled in Nielsen’s NUTAM list of top-rating programs for January with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) reigning supreme in the highly-coveted number one spot.

KMJS was followed by Pepito Manaloto, 24 Oras, Daddy’s Gurl, Magpakailanman, Onanay, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, and Studio 7.

Included in the list of ratings drivers for the month were Cain at Abel, Amazing Earth, 24 Oras Weekend,Wowowin, Imbestigador, My Golden Life, Eat Bulaga, and Tadhana.

GMA likewise took the lion’s share in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila lists, taking 8 and 9 spots out of the top 10 programs, respectively.

Meanwhile, GMA’s free TV airing of Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Adrien Broner last January 20 clearly dominated competition. GMA garnered a whopping 69.8 percent people audience share in NUTAM while its counterpart programs in ABS-CBN only got 13.2 percent. TV-5, which also aired the Pacquiao fight, only managed to get 10.7 percent.

Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.

Nielsen TV Audience Measurement’s client pool covers a total of 32 clients/subscribers consisting of 6 local TV networks including ABSCBN, TV5, Aksyon TV and CNN Philippines, among others; 3 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; and 21 agencies (17 media agencies, 3 consulting agencies, and 1 digital agency).

’Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’ remains the most-watched program nationwide according to AGB Nielsen.

Seen in over 37 countries, 172 cities and 16 languages, the world's most popular musical, 'The Phantom of the Opera,' makes a longawaited return to Manila.

After a sensational debut,

‘Phantom of the Opera’ back in Manila W ITH 130 cast, crew, and VERY orchestra players, The WANG Phantom of the Opera, NICKIE the longest-running show on WANG Broadway, is back in Manila. The world’s most popular musical makes its long-awaited return starting Feb. 20 at The Theatre at Solaire in Parañaque City.

“The show has not aged. The show does not feel dated. It does not feel dated in the writing and staging. It does not feel dated in its stagecraft. I think that’s why primarily people still want to see this production,” Arthur Masella, the new touring production’s associate director, told the press during a recent rehearsal visit.

“I think every show would eventually take the opportunity to recreate the production.

There has been another production of The Phantom of the Opera in recent years and it’s doing well on tour and liked by many audiences. What I feel to be like happening in the last year or two is that once again there’s a demand for the original production of Phantom. People have been wanting to see it again,” he added.

True enough, tickets to the show’s original run are already sold out. Originally set to run from Feb. 20 to March 17, the Manila restaging of the musical is now extended to March 31.

“The Phantom of the Opera put Filipino theatre fans on a spell in its Philippine debut almost seven years ago, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring back the legendary musical for more Filipinos to enjoy,” said Oscar Enrico A. Reyes, Jr., Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Market Development for PLDT and Smart, which presents “the world’s most popular musical’s” long-awaited return to Manila.

“This is one of the ways PLDT and Smart go beyond simply delivering world-class digital services and provide epic entertainment

experiences for our beloved subscribers,” he added.

Based on the French novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera opened in London’s West End in 1986, featuring music

by Andrew Lloyd Weber, lyrics by Charles Hart, and script by Lloyd Weber co-written with Richard Stilgoe.

The 1988 Broadway production bagged a number of Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor, Best Performance by a Featured Actress, Best Direction, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Lighting Design.

The Phantom of the Opera is presented in Manila by Concertus Manila and produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions. The musical adds to a string of world-class musicals that PLDT and Smart helped bring to Filipino audiences, including Cats, Chicago, Wicked, and Les Miserables. *** Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off True to its commitment to delivering the most credible coverage of the upcoming May polls, GMA News and Public Affairs mounts Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off airing tonight.

This senatorial debate will be moderated by GMA News pillar Vicky Morales and senior news anchor Pia Arcangel. Esteemed GMA News pillars Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio, Howie Severino, and Mel Tiangco join the debate as panel members.

The debate will give voters a chance to get to

know the candidates running for 12 coveted seats in the Philippine Senate. Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off will tackle various topics ranging from the candidate’s track record to his/ her stand on various national and international issues. Questions to test each candidate’s credibility and competence are also included.

Senatorial hopefuls will undergo two major rounds of debate to give them a chance to interact with and ask questions to fellow candidates.

The first round will see senatorial bets under the scrutiny of the country’s most respected broadcast journalists. In this round, each candidate must answer a main question from their pre-selected interrogator. Soho, Clavio, Severino, and Tiangco will ask the main questions, while other candidates have the opportunity to ask their fellow candidate a follow-up question.

In the second round, candidates with opposing views shall debate on key national issues. In this round, senatorial hopefuls will argue for or against a particular issue and will be paired with another candidate who has an opposing view. Should the Philippines legalize divorce? Should term limits be removed?

These are just some of the questions that are up for debate.

Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial FaceOff aims to help citizens make an informed choice in the upcoming elections. And tonight, voters will get the opportunity to know the senatorial aspirants better and find out where each candidate stands on the most pressing issues.

Catch Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off later at 9:50 p.m. on GMA.

GMA senatorial debate is moderated by GMA News' Vicky Morales, Pia Arcangel, Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio, Howie Severino, and Mel Tiangco.

Liam Neeson denies racism after admitting hunt for black men HOLLYWOOD star Liam Neeson insisted on Tuesday he was “not racist” after confessing that he once set out to attack a random black man after a friend of his told him she had been raped.

“I’m not a racist,” Neeson said on ABC News, while admitting he had felt a “primal urge to lash out” about 40 years ago after hearing from his close friend that she had been attacked by a black man.

The 66-year-old star of Schindler’s List triggered an international backlash by sharing his story in an interview with British newspaper The Independent this week.

In damage limitation mode on ABC’s Good Morning America, the Northern Irish actor expanded on the incident, which he said left him shocked at himself.

“I went out deliberately into black areas in the city, looking to be set upon so that I could unleash physical violence,” Neeson recalled. “I did it four, maybe four or five, times until I

TOO HONEST. Liam Neeson apologized during an appearance on 'Good Morning America' for recent racially charged comments.

caught myself and it really shocked me, this primal urge.”

While he says no violence ultimately occurred, Neeson said he sought help from a Catholic priest, spoke to friends, and walked for hours to rid himself of the episode. But he also insisted race was not the driving factor behind his actions.

“If she had said an Irish or a Scot or a Brit or a Lithuanian, I know it would have had the same effect,” he told ABC. “I was trying to show honor and stand up for my dear

friend in this terrible medieval fashion.”

By way of explanation, he pointed to his experience growing up in Northern Ireland, at the time locked in a deadly cycle of sectarian violence pitting Catholics against Protestants.

Neeson first revealed the incident to The Independent in an interview to promote his new thriller Cold Pursuit, about a father seeking revenge after his son is murdered by a drug gang.

In the bombshell interview, he spoke of “hoping some black bastard would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could... kill him.”

Neeson’s acting career has spanned five decades, and included a star turn in the 2008 hit Taken -- about a former CIA agent trying to track down his kidnapped daughter.

With his own revelations now threatening to derail his career, Neeson pleaded for his story to be taken as part of a broader, honest debate on race relations.

“We all pretend we’re all politically correct,” he said. “Sometimes you scratch the surface and discover this racism and bigotry, and it’s there.” AFP