Manila Standard - 2019 February 11 - Monday

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WHO’S TO BLAME?

VOL. XXXII • NO. 361 • 7 SECTIONS 64 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Justice assures Health chief of fair handling

By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said his department will be fair in resolving the criminal charges filed against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, over the deaths linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine, despite a Palace pronouncement that the cases against him would not prosper.

Guevarra said the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and the Consumer Act against Duque would be resolved based on evidence at hand.

The Palace, he added, will not have a hand in the resolution of the charges against Duque and other respondents, including former Health secretary Janette Garin.

Nonetheless, Guevarra admitted that the President said during a Cabinet meeting on Feb. 6 that the complaints filed against Duque by the families of Dengvaxia victims would not prosper because they involve “a battle of medical experts.”

However, he clarified that the President only said that in response to Duque’s concern, and said there was no instruction to dismiss the criminal charges against the Health secretary.

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PAO chief Persida Acosta cites a COA study that shows there was underdistribution or under-supply of measles vaccines from 2014 to 2017 during the watch of then President Benigno Aquino III.

PAO chief: Vaccines lack led to measles outbreak

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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UBLIC Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on Sunday defended herself against criticism that her statements on the discredited Dengvaxia vaccine had scared parents away from having their children immunized against measles, leading to an outbreak of the disease.

Solons to partake of P75-b budget inserts—Andaya

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

OFFICIAL VISIT. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte welcomes Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono during a courtesy call on the President at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on February 9, 2019 . Kono is in the Philippines for a three-day official visit. Presidential Photo

HOUSE committee on appropriations chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. said Sunday that the P75 billion inserted into the 2019 national budget by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would be divided among senators and congressmen as a discretionary fund.

In an interview on Radio dzBB, Andaya said each congressman would receive P160 million to fund projects and programs for his or her district.

“That’s true because we agreed that nobody would get a zero allocation,” Andaya said in Filipino.

He also confirmed that the funds would be taken from the P75 billion insertion by the DBM. Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson warned that under the budget deal, there

Japan minister pledges support for Mindanao infra

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Saluyot Enrile’s ‘elixir to long life’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippines’oldest candidate for senator and the oldest among all candidates in the May elections says saluyot or jute, a popular vegetable in the Ilocos region, is the secret to his long life.

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By Nat Mariano JAPANESE Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Sunday met with President Rodrigo Duterte to extend Japan’s willingness to improve the infrastructure in Mindanao.

Malacañang said Kono, who is here for a three-day official visit, paid a courtesy call on Duterte at the Matina Enclaves Residences in Davao City.

“Foreign Minister Kono said Japan welcomes the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. He also mentioned that Japan would like to continue to support the development of Mindanao,” the Palace said in a statement.

With the BOL, the government hopes to address the people’s aspiration for genuine autonomy and end the decadesold conflict in the region through the establishment of a more powerful and self-governing Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Kono also said Japan will support capacity-building during the transition period of the BOL, vowing to give job and livelihood creation for former Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatants.

“Japan will support the Philippines’ efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region,” he said. “Japan is ready to expand our support as the peace process

Hip-hop royalty leads Grammys’ nominees LOS ANGELES—The music world will hit the red carpet on Sunday for the Grammys, with a wider selection of nominees—led by hip-hop royalty and a bevy of talented women—up for the top prizes.

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progress.”

Kono, along with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda and Davao Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa, has expressed Japan’s sympathy to the victims of the two fatal blasts that rocked Jolo last month.

His official visit is the first for Japan’s top minister. Kono’s visit also come months after Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi paid Duterte a visit in October last year.

A day after his courtesy call on Duterte, Kono held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Next page

In an interview on radio dzBB, Acosta said a Commission on Audit (COA) report showed that measles vaccines were under-distributed from 2014 to 2017, probably because of an under-supply.

She also said that if the P3.5 billion spent on purchasing Dengvaxia were used to buy “proven vaccines,” underdistribution would not have been a problem.

“It’s the fault of the Department of Health that there was an under-distribution of proven vaccines because they concentrated on Dengvaxia,” she said in Filipino.

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Rody seeks graft-proof coconut bill

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Palace on Sunday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s first use of his veto power, saying he wanted Congress to make the bill strengthening the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) less susceptible to corruption.

“The veto of the bill will give Congress more time and opportunity to improve the formulation of the PCA and the distribution of coco levy funds,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, saying that a new version of the bill should have more safeguards to protect taxpayers’ money and shield the coconut levy funds from irregular and unlawful use.

The Palace official said the P10 billion annual appropriation for the development of an industry that does not seek approval from the executive branch is “susceptible to corruption akin to creating pork barrel funds.”

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Andaya turns the heat on Diokno in-laws

By Rio N. Araja CAMARINES Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. on Sunday threatened to file a criminal case against Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and several others for giving undue advantage to Aremar Construction belonging to the family of his in-laws.

Andaya, head of the House committee on appropriations, said Diokno could face a criminal complaint instead of just contempt charge.

“That would concern the construction company of his child,” Andaya told dzBB radio.

“First of all, [there is a] conflict of interest. That is the case. Once a child of a [government official] benefited [from a government project], that is against [the law].”

Andaya said the committee on appropriations will turn over its investigation to the committee on public account led

by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, which will file the complaint against Diokno and others before a prosecutor’s office or before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“We are preparing [the documents].

These are already being retrieved from me. I will be transferring the documents to him [Suarez],” Andaya said.

He said Diokno allocated funds in the national budget to the Casiguran, Sorsogon projects bagged by Aremar Construction, which entered a joint venture with CT Leoncio Construction and Trading.

“In the next hearing, he [Diokno] would not attend again. He would just let us wait until the session ends. This is why we are no longer interested [in waiting for him],” Andaya said.

Earlier, Amdaya said his panel could possibly file plunder and tax-evasion complaints against the owners of Aremar Construction.

The committee on appropriations then took custody of over P50 million worth of alleged deposit slips to the firm by big-time or triple A construction companies as dummies.

Justice...

From A1

“The President merely expressed a personal opinion in reaction to Secretary Duque’s statement that PAO chief [Persida] Acosta had relentlessly filed cases against him in connection with the Dengvaxia controversy,” Guevarra said in a text message.

“In fairness to the President, he has never interfered in the discharge of the DOJ’s functions and responsibilities, including the resolution of the Dengvaxia cases,” he added.

The DOJ chief said he told the President the Dengvaxia cases before his department would be resolved by this month.

“I also don’t have any hand in the preliminary investigation. My office only steps in when there is petition for review filed before the DOJ challenging the resolution of the investigating prosecutors. That’s the process we follow in DOJ,” he said.

Earlier, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President had assured Duque that the cases against him would not prosper.

The Health secretary has said the complaints against him lack merit and were meant to distract him from his work of “looking after” children who received Dengvaxia shots.

He also said that Acosta’s “baseless claims and accusations” led to a decline in public confidence in vaccines and caused a rise in the cases of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Acosta, on to the other hand, said the Dengvaxia cases have nothing to do with the measles outbreak.

The Palace and the DOJ both defended Acosta, saying she is just doing her job of building cases against those liable for the Dengvaxia mess.

The allegation against Acosta came after the House Committees on Good Government and Public Accountability and Health recommended the filing of graft, technical malversation and civil charges against former President Benigno Aquino III, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad, Garin and several other officials over the dengue vaccination program.

The DOJ is expected to resolve this month the first batch of cases involving nine schoolchildren of the 32 cases filed so far in the DOJ--Aejay Bautista, Angelica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno and Alexander Jaime.

DOJ has also already completed the preliminary investigation on the second batch of cases involving eight victims-Clarissa Alcantara, Christine Mae De Guzman, Erico Leabres, Roshaine Cariño, Naomi Nimura, John Paul Rafael, Michael Tablate and Christine Joy Asuncion.

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Japan pork banned over ASF

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HE Agriculture department on Sunday banned pork and pork products from Japan due to the African Swine Fever.

“At 12 noon today, I have alerted the Bureau of Animal Industry through [Agriculture] Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo Serrano to immediately impose a ban on the entry of pork and pork products from Japan following reports of its spread in that country,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said

on his Facebook page.

He said a written directive will be issued shortly, which will be in effect while quarantine officials are validating the reports with the World Animal Health Organization.

“All quarantine officers in the ports of entry all over the country are directed to

implement this directive immediately,” Piñol said.

The quarantine officers were also advised to review their Quarantine Protocols, including the foot baths installed at the Ports of Entry and the monitoring of all meat products being brought into the country by tourists.

According to a report from The Japan News, the ASF virus gene was identified in four separate cases in Japan on Jan. 12 and 16, when it was found in carry-on baggage brought from China at Chubu

PAO...

59 months old.

Due to the continuously increasing number of measles-rubella cases, Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said there was a need to immunize all children regardless of whether they had already received the vaccine.

“We will include children ages 5 years old and above to ensure that everyone will be protected and [to] prevent the spread of measles to the population,” he said.

The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported that there were 560 measles-rubella cases with 14 confirmed deaths from Jan. 1, 2019 to Feb. 2, 2019. This was 409 percent higher than the same period last year.

Janairo said the mass immunization activity will include house-to-house visits, reading of advisories during church services, distribution of materials on measles vaccination and setting up of injection posts in churches, bus stations, food chains, schools and other public areas.

“Measles is a highly contagious virus and easily spread to others through coughing and sneezing. Persons infected

with measles can spread it to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears. The virus can live in the air for two hours”, he said.

Measles appear around seven to 14 days after exposure to a person infected with the virus.

Among its symptoms are fever, dry cough, runny nose, red watery eyes (conjunctivitis), tiny white spots inside the mouth and skin rashes.

“There is no cure for measles but it can be prevented through proper immunization of children aged 6 months to 59 months old,” Janairo said.

“A person can receive the vaccine more than twice after 28 days or after a month after receiving it,” he added.

The DOH official called on parents to have their children vaccinated against measles. It is their only protection against the virus and it is clinically safe and proven effective for many years, he said.

In Calabarzon, the province with the highest number of measles cases is Rizal with 226; followed by Laguna with 115; Batangas with 114; Cavite with 87; and Quezon with 18 cases.

questioning the veto message before the Supreme Court,” he said.

“It is Congress’ job to scrutinize the National Expenditure Program as part of its budget authorization function. Now that Congress has fulfilled its job in correcting the P75 billion gaffe, Secretary Diokno and Secretary Nograles are back at the drawing board to restore it in the 2019 General Appropriations Act via a veto message. This is clear mockery of the power of Congress to scrutinize the budget,” he said.

He challenged Diokno to stop dropping the name of President Rodrigo Duterte in saying the 2019 national budget was the Chief Executive’s national expenditure program when the President had nothing to do with the P75 billion insertion.

“I do not know where Secretary Diokno is getting the gall to call the 2019 NEP with Department of Budget and Management’s P75 billion insertion as the President’s budget. The President is not part

of the conspiracy between the DBM and the previous House leadership. It will be a great disservice and disloyalty for a few Cabinet members to drag the President into this mess,” Andaya said.

He also supported Lacson’s view that the P75 billion insertion was “a conspiracy between the DBM and the previous House leadership.”

“My unsolicited advice to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the new spokesperson of DBM Secretary Ben Diokno [is] be careful with the crafting of the veto message for it will just lead back to where it all started. The public never forgets that you were part of the previous House leadership as chairman of the appropriations committee,” he said.

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said “bullying” by the House pael during the bicameral conference committee resulted in the retention of “unconscionable” or “unreasonable” amounts of pork in the national budget.

15-member PCA Board that allows seven members from the private sector to join.

The Palace official said such move will permit private persons to influence the disbursement of public funds.

“The PCA is set up like the Road Board which is heavily criticized for allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds,” he said, maintaining that Duterte’s use of veto on the bill was done to promote good governance and public accountability.

On Friday, Duterte sent a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and members of the Senate explaining the need to veto the bill, believing that its enactment would be against the full utilization and distribution of coco levy funds to its beneficiaries.

The PCA bill is one of the priority bills

pushed by Duterte.

Under the proposed measure, the reconstituted and strengthened PCA will handle the P100 billion coco levy fund.

The reconstituted PCA gives greater representation to farmers with six seats (two each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) in the 11-member PCA Board.

Other members will be composed of a representative from the PCA, the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Budget and Management, and one coconut industry stakeholder.

Senators Cynthia Villar and Francis Pangilinan said the President’s veto would not discourage them from fighting for the rights of farmers to the coco levy fund, which rightfully belongs to them.

our cooperation to more mutually-beneficial outcomes.”

He said Japan had been helping Duterte achieve his transformative agenda for the Philippines in terms of infrastructure, social inclusion and securing peace and progress in the southernmost part of the country.

“We emerge from this morning’s meeting freshly confident about prospects for realizing Mindanao’s promise in the wake of positive, indeed striking developments, in bringing Bangsamoro to reality. The inauguration of the Japanese ConsulateGeneral later this evening demonstrates Japan’s enduring commitment to Mind-

anao, especially with the ratification of the BOL,” Locsin said.

“The two of us come from a productive meeting this morning with a single mind ― that our two countries must sustain the effort to keep and to grow the gains of our Strategic Partnership. Building on past achievements, and seizing opportunities offered by the future, this partnership will flourish and endure.”

Foreign Affairs has already said that Kono’s visit is a “testament to the strengthened strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan, and an affirmation of our long-standing bilateral friendship.”

From A1

Acosta also rejected a call by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros that she resign for contributing to the erosion of public trust in the government’s vaccination program.

“She shouldn’t crucify me because it wasn’t my responsibility to distribute vaccines in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017,” she said.

Meanwhile, party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said airport and civil aviation authorities nationwide must place all airports under the appropriate alert status to detect and contain the spread of measles, after a confirmed case of an infected child returning home to Australia.

These protocols would keep measles from spreading to other parts of the country and the rest of the world, she said.

The Department of Health in Calabarzon directed all provincial and city health offices to conduct a mass immunization against measles and polio for all children, with priority given to those six months to

Solons...

From A1

were discretionary funds or pork of P48 billion for the congressmen and P23 billion for the senators.

In a privilege speech Friday, Lacson said the pork insertions were the result of “connivance of the DBM and the old leadership of the House of Representatives.”

He urged the President to veto any line item in the budget that “looked and smelled like pork.”

Andaya said he would challenge befoe the Supreme Court any move by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno or Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles to restore the P75 billion in insertions in the 2019 budget.

“In case the two Cabinet members succeed in this evil scheme of vetoing the 2019 General Appropriations Bill to restore the P75-billion insertion, I will join Senators Lacson and [Franklin] Drilon in

Rody...

From A1

“The oversight functions over the PCA are placed only with Congress. Specifically, the strengthened PCA bill mentions an oversight to be exercised by the coconut farmers and the industry oversight committee to the exclusion of the executive branch,” Panelo said.

He also observed that the bill gave the reconstituted PCA functions over the sale, disposition or dissolution of coco levy assets, but did not giveit the power of checks and balances.

This would render the Department of Justice powerless over cases involving the coco levy fund, he added.

Furthermore, the vetoed bill called for

Japan...

From A1

held an exchange of notes in relation to the “Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao.”

Japan pledged to lend almost $200 million for the road network that “supports the foundation of people’s lives in Mindanao by improving access to schools and hospitals and by revitalizing economic activities in the region.”

In a joint press conference held Sunday, Locsin viewed the meeting as “an opportunity for stocktaking and for advancing

Hip-hop...

From A1

The televised bash in Los Angeles, which kicks off at 5:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday) at the Staples Center, is not without controversy, as the Recording Academy grapples with how to embrace diversity in its ranks.

For the second consecutive year, black hip-hop artists are leading the pack—but observers are still wondering if nominations success can translate into wins.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar—who won a Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.” but has yet to snare a Grammy for Album of the Year—earned eight nods while Canadian rapper Drake snagged seven.

Women artists scored nominations in all of the top categories, after being largely muted a year ago: rapper Cardi B, pop diva Lady Gaga, pop futurist Janelle Monae and folk rocker Brandi Carlile are among the frontrunners.

In the Best New Artist category, six of the eight nominees are women.

Grande backs out But controversy was threatening the gala before it even began, with a number of superstars declining to take part in the show’s glitzy concert portion.

Untouchable pop star Ariana Grande— who dropped her highly anticipated album “Thank U, Next” just before the Grammys—slammed producer Ken Ehrlich over her decision not to perform, suggested he was “lying” about her readiness. AFP

Saluyot...

From A1

“My secret in fighting aging is saluyot, said former senator and Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile who will turn 95 on Valentine’s Day. “I eat dinengdeng. That’s what I eat every Sunday,” Enrile told 92.3 News FM. Dinengdeng is a bagoong-based soup dish made from vegetables such as saluyot or jute leaves and topped with grilled or fried fish.

But Enrile, a four-term senator, says he follows no strict diet.

“I eat lechon, chicharon, adobo, pork chop and bagnet,” he said.

Airport in Aichi Prefecture and Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

The virus is believed to enter countries via international mail and foreign tourists’ carry-on baggage.

ASF is a viral disease that infects pigs and boars but does not infect humans. The virus survives in the bodies of animals for three to six months and spreads via feces and the raw and processed meat of infected animals. It also spreads through watering places and other mediums that have come into contact with infected animals. PNA

Get children immunized —Unicef A UNITED Nations agency has expressed alarm over the measles outbreak across the Philippines.

Unicef cited recent reports from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization that showed there were more than 20,000 measles cases in the country as of December 2018, a 500 per cent increase from last year.

From May 2017 to April 2018 globally, the Philippines ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest incidence of measles, along with Nigeria, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

An estimated 2.5 million Filipino children from under five were not vaccinated with the measles vaccine remain at risk of getting the disease.

Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. Population immunity can be achieved by 95 per cent or higher coverage and outbreaks prevented, Unicef said.

Unfortunately, coverage for routine immunizations in the Philippines is only 55 per cent. If not prevented, measles can cause serious complications including infection of the brain, severe diarrhea and dehydration, pneumonia and ear infections and even death. Measles survivors are often left with life-long disabilities, such as blindness, deafness and brain damage.

“Vaccinations to prevent measles is available free of cost in government health centres. The measles vaccine is safe and effective and had been successfully used in the Philippines for more than 40 years now. Measles in children is deadly and can cause long-term complications and disabilities which can seriously impede development and potential in our children,” UNICEF Philippines Deputy Representative Julia Rees says, “I urge parents and communities to take their children to the health center to be immunized.”

The Philippines, as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, is mandated to give children the best health care possible, including vaccination against childhood diseases. The Republic Act 10152 or the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act states that mandatory basic immunization shall be given for free at any government hospital or health center to infants and children up to five (5) years of age.

Falling short of utmost efforts to urgently increase vaccination coverage and identify populations with unacceptable levels of under, or unimmunized children, we risk losing decades of progress in protecting children and communities against this devastating but entirely preventable disease, according to the World Health Organization.

UNICEF said it is fully committed in supporting the Philippine government to fight measles by ensuring that vaccines are available. “We also provide technical assistance to improve coverage of routine immunization and supplemental immunization activities and improve public awareness on measles vaccination,” Rees said.

‘We call on parents and caregivers to bring their children to the nearest health center to have their children vaccinated and ensure that they receive at least 2 doses of measles containing vaccine. Children with severe symptoms should see a barangay health worker or midwife as soon as possible, however to prevent spreading the infection at the health facility, children without severe symptoms may be better taken care of at home,” Rees said.

“I only avoid food with uric acid. I am not diabetic, but I’m prone to build-ups of uric acid. Yet still I eat mongo with bitter gourd leaves with chicharon.”

Enrile says he controls the amount of rice he eats.

“When I ear rice during breakfast and lunch, I no longer eat rice at dinner. I eat not more than a cup [per meal].”

He sleeps for eight hours and maintains a regular exercise routine.

In response to questions on his longevity, Enrile posted on his Facebook page that he continues to drink alcohol but has quit smoking.

“I began smoking cigarettes when I was 10 years old. I stopped when I was sixty years old. I used to consume between two and three packs of cigarettes a day.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 2019

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Opinion

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Fallout from Jolo bombing THE bombing of a Catholic cathedral in Jolo has spawned fears of a religious strife in Mindanao.

This was given credence after what seemed to be a retaliatory blast on a mosque that claimed as many lives in the Catholic church. Now, the fear of bombings has reached Metro Manila where the Philippine National Police has tightened security at shopping malls. Collateral damage in shopping malls could be bigger if terrorist suicide bombers are able to slip through the security check.

The fear has reached Metro Manila.

The PNP claimed that a male bomb bomber and a female bomber from Indonesia were responsible for the Jolo cathedral attack. Suicide bombers are something new in the country’s history of blasts perpetrated by lawless elements. The Abu Sayyaf group of extortionists who passed themselves off as political rebels has not been known to commit suicide bombings. This is a method of mass murder that is new and difficult to stop.

How do you prevent a suicide bomber from detonating himself in a line of mall goers passing through security check?

In light of this new development, there is now a public clamor to restore the death penalty. And why not, considering that a bombing that results in mass murder is a heinous crime? The same

extreme measure should be accorded to those involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs. These evil criminals destroy young lives who in the full bloom of their lives could turn out to be useful and productive citizens. Killing them in the suspicious police scenario that they resisted arrest and fired at law enforcers has only earned condemnation and derision from local and international human rights groups.

So capture these drug traffickers and execute them after a fair and speedy trial. The public execution of Chinese drug pusher Lim Seng in the first days of Marcos martial law put the fear of God among other drug traffickers.

There is a global war being waged by terrorists. Governments world-wide should step up to the challenge of fighting these cold-blooded butchers. In other major capitals, the other weapon used by terrorists is running down pedestrians on a busy street with a stolen vehicle. London, Paris and other US cit cities have experienced these terrorist kill killing using vehicles as weapons of death.

Last week, there was the rumored death of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The President laughed off the fake news while Palace officials dismissed the false report as wishful thinking by his detractors. But the President drew criticism when he told his Cabinet of officials not to campaign for administra administration in the midterm elections on May 13. Cabinet members must have raised their eyebrows considering that President Duterte is openly campaigning for and endorsing Senate candidates Bong Go and Francis Tolentino. The President must lead by example on this issue.

These two senatorial bets have enough money to mount their campaign and win senate Seats without the President campaigning for them.

The women senatorial bets—Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe and Pia Cayetano --are leading the pack in the senatorial race, according to two polling companies. But how reliable are these pollsters when their survey is limited to a small area that does not reflect the nationwide preference? And who are paying for these surveys? Obviously, it’s

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

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To the steadfast

HE first issue of Manila Standard saw print exactly 32 years ago today. Over the years, the paper has reported on many events that in varying degrees helped shape the nation into its present state. It has seen the best and the worst of public officials, business leaders, and witnessed the impact of their decisions on ordinary people.

As a company, the Standard has seen several changes in ownership, and consequently comings and goings among its leaders. It has tried some approaches in focus, format and style.

What has remained over the years is its people's commitment and dedication to their jobs.

Many of Manila Standard's employees, across various levels in the organization, have been with the paper for years. They stay on amid the various threats faced by the media industry in general, and

the challenges to the organization in particular.

The age of fake news, the 24/7 news cycle and constantly evolving digital trends all pose various challenges to media, more so those that started as print. Likewise, heightened competition, conflicting interests and ethical dilemmas as well as practical gut issues and day-to-day housekeeping all serve to show that working for a broadsheet is not the first career choice for someone who seeks a job that offers moral clarity, financial rewards or stability.

But this is not just a job, and this is why many of the Standard's people remain despite the odds. Journalism is indeed a vocation, one that brings rewards that cannot be fully quantified.

Manila Standard has come as far as it has because of those who are willing to go to work on weekends, holidays and even during natural disasters, always on the lookout for developments even at odd hours. It is made stronger by the camaraderie of its people who set aside personality differences to come up with a product every day, no matter what, who uphold the standards of journalism despite being pulled in all directions, who build lasting friendships that go beyond newsroom duty, who try to see the good amid difficulties and who continue to hope that better times are ahead.

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Socialism sucks!

(Part 2) AGAIN, the evidence is in; it has been in for a long time and it’s undeniable to any objective person. Socialism is inferior to capitalism. Socialism is worse for the rich, the poor, and the middle class. Over the long haul, socialism doesn’t produce better outcomes for anyone other than well-connected government officials, bureaucrats, and their cronies who cheat the public via bribes and who go around the rules they put in for anyone else. Since many people don’t believe the incontrovertible evidence, maybe they’ll believe these quotes that help explain why capitalism is better than socialism.

1. “Capitalism is about the mutual creation of wealth rather than the pillaging of it.”—Ted Malloch 2. “I’m also a conscious capitalist--I believe economic freedom and entrepreneurship are the best ways to end poverty, increase prosperity, and evolve humanity upward. I believe that all forms of socialism have been proven over time to result in a loss of both economic and civil liberties, with increasing poverty.”—John Mackey 3. “Socialism proposes no adequate substitute for the motive of enlightened selfishness that today is at the basis of all human labor and effort, enterprise and new activity.”—William Howard Taft 4. “People say capitalism is selfishness.

No, socialism is selfishness. The idea that I have to pay for you to paint watercolors in your basement is a selfish philosophy.”—Ben Shapiro 5. “Well first of all, tell me: Is there some society you know that doesn’t run on greed? You think Russia doesn’t run on greed? You think China doesn’t run on greed? What is greed? Of course, none of us are greedy, it’s only the other fellow who’s greedy. The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn’t construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn’t revolutionize the automobile industry that way. In the only cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty you’re talking about, the only cases in recorded history, are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade.

If you want to know where the masses are worse off, worst off, it’s exactly in the

kinds of societies that depart from that.

So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear, that there is no alternative way so far discovered of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by the free-enterprise system.”—Milton Friedman 6. “What is socialism? The longest road from capitalism to capitalism.”—Soviet joke 7. “In practice, socialism didn’t work.

But socialism could never have worked because it is based on false premises about human psychology and society, and gross ignorance of human economy.

In the vast library of socialist theory (and in all of Marx’s compendious works), there is hardly a chapter devoted to the creation of wealth to what will cause human beings to work and to innovate, or to what will make their efforts efficient.

Socialism is a plan of morally sanctioned theft. It is about dividing up what others have created. Consequently, socialist economies don’t work; they create poverty instead of wealth. This is unarguable historical fact now...”—David Horowitz

Maybe these quotes will help drive home the point.

8. “A claim for equality of material position can be met only by a government with totalitarian powers.”—F.A. Hayek 9. “The champions of socialism call themselves progressives, but they recommend a system which is characterized by rigid observance of routine and by a resistance to every kind of improvement.

They call themselves liberals, but they are intent upon abolishing liberty. They call themselves democrats, but they yearn for dictatorship. They call themselves revolutionaries, but they want to make the government omnipotent. They promise the blessings of the Garden of Eden, but they plan to transform the world into a gigantic post office. Every man but one a subordinate clerk in a bureau. What an alluring utopia! What a noble cause to fight!” — Ludwig von Mises 10. “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”—Winston Churchill eric.jurado@gmail.com

The other guy blinked IN the fiercely competitive telecommunications business in the country, two key players have been persistently fighting it out for market supremacy—Smart Communications and Globe Telecoms.

It has been a toe-to-toe, eyeball-toeyeball situation ever since. The unwritten rule is this: The guy who blinks first loses the draw.

Currently, the showdown takes an interesting twist as Smart turns 25 years old. To make the occasion more dramatic, Smart unveiled a cornucopia of

This is another act that the competition would find difficult to follow.

giveaways to be distributed on a monthly basis, ranging from free load and data to smartphones. Topping the promo bonanza is a P25-million grand prize as the company’s gesture of giving back to valued

customers for their unequivocal support over the past 25 years.

For this purpose, Smart, the wireless arm of PLDT, is putting up a oneman show—and loving it. At the end of the day, the silver jubilee promo dubbed “Amazing 25” may prove to be another stroke of genius. This is another act that the competition would find difficult to follow.

It may be said that Smart’s archrival didn’t only blink on this one—it was caught sleeping on the job.

Looking back, Smart has indeed been giving the competition a run for its money.

Consider this: Industry analytics firm Ookla, reputedly the world leader in internet testing and Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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Opinion

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

No to reclamation, yes to decongestion WE have a national treasure in Manila Bay, but we have allowed it to rot through years and years of neglect and wanton disregard. Now we have a President who wants it cleaned up and restored to old glory.

That is not an easy task. In fact, if seriously pursued, it will take not just the remaining years of this administration; it will require maybe two or three more presidencies with the same political will and determination to sustain whatever gains the process of rehabilitation will require.

But just as the clean-up efforts (the easiest part of the massive rehabilitation required) have begun, we hear once more about several reclamation projects to be located in the bay. It’s not strictly reclamation, but the building of artificial islands in the bay itself, connected to the present shoreline.

One of the major causes of the degradation of our Manila Bay is over-population, and the corresponding inability of both national agencies and local governments to control the discharge of the collective effluents and detritus of residential, commercial, industrial and even informal settlers through decades.

If Boracay was despoiled by an excess of population, whether transient or permanent, far above its carrying capacity, Manila Bay is in worse state.

Boracay serves only the tourism industry. Manila Bay serves every economic aspect of our lives.

We have seen the degradation of Boracay’s waters only for a generation, starting from when tourists other than Ferdinand Marcos and his friends “discovered” it in the late eighties. The national government, under the leadership of FVR and Erap, began to take measures to control the coliform level in the waters facing the fabled white beach and around the 1,100 hectare island, but local government negligence laced with greed rendered these attempts useless.

Duterte took charge, and after six months of frenzied efforts and a total closure, Boracay’s waters have been restored, hopefully to be sustained.

Now Duterte wants to replicate the success in Boracay to a bay that is thousands of times dirtier and which involves not only most of Metro Manila but the

surrounding territories of Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan and Pampanga as well.

It is a legacy that will enshrine him in the hearts and minds of future generations, but only, repeat, only, if the efforts succeed and are sustained. Those are two different endeavors, and both are Herculean in scope and complexity.

Metro Manila, particularly the cities facing the bay, are all congested. It shows in the failure of public transport systems to service the ever-increasing number of passengers. It shows in the urban squalor and decay that characterize these cities. And it shows in the putrid environment of Manila Bay, over which one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world is a spectacle to cherish.

Renew the decongested urban landscape of our cities.

Senior citizens will remember when Roxas, then Dewey, Boulevard was a beautiful stretch from the US Embassy by the bay all the way to the coast of Las Pinas. Then Harry Stonehill reclaimed the bayfront from the Philippine Navy headquarters and the Manila Yacht Club in the boundary of Manila and Pasay up to EDSA. That was where Imelda Romualdez Marcos built the Cultural Center, later the Philippine International Convention Center – and thank her for the vision and the saving grace of these cultural treasures.

FVR later expanded the reclamation effort all the way to the Paranaque area, and that is where the Entertainment City and SM’s Mall of Asia now sit, both magnets of tourism and consumer spending.

Should these not be enough?

These two reclamation projects injected a stream of migrants from all over the country, first as brawn-power of construction, later to stay for good in the metropolis where jobs abound in contrast to the countryside from where they came.

Administrations, one after another, have always mouthed the need for decongesting the nation’s premiere metropolis and developing the countryside. But by and large, that has been more talk and less action. We convert our farmlands to house the middle class. And if we allow more

reclamation instead of decongesting the capital region, forget Manila Bay. First, we will rob the ordinary man of the fabled sunset, and make it a comeon for rich people, mostly foreigners, to enjoy the same from the balconies of their expensive condominium units.

The reclamation, actually the creation of large artificial islands, will obliterate views of the bay from Roxas Boulevard.

The construction work will, on the other hand, draw in thousands upon thousands of semi-skilled and unskilled workers from the provinces, leaving our farms without workers to grow our food.

And after the artificial islands are created, and the gleaming skyscrapers of steel and glass are completed, where do you suppose these legions of workers will stay? In the now inner cities, in its warrens of congestion and poverty, its slums.

And yet, just beyond the hills of Antipolo and Tanay, there are thousands of hectares of agriculturally unproductive land which can be used to relocate present informal settlers. Create townships complete with the basics of decent living, and connect them to the metropolis through efficient public transport. That is where taxpayer’s money should be devoted.

Bataan, Bulacan, even Pampanga beyond Clark and Subic, are quite near.

Imagine making Norzagaray and Reme Remedios Trinidad more accessible, with new townships equipped with schools, hospitals and parks.

But the first step ought to be a comprehensive program of transferring the national government and all its agencies elsewhere, Clark with its inherited and yetto-be-built additional infrastructure being the logical site.

Thus, we decongest Metro Manila, leaving it as the financial, commercial and even cultural center, enhancing it with parks and pockets of green to make Upon the other hand, reclamation projects will only attract the rich, mostly foreigners. We keep aping what we see in Hong Kong, or the Emirates like Dubai, creating more and more enclaves for the rich, and forgetting the rest of humanity now residing in our capital. But these are cities where habitable land is scarce and the demand for habitat quite high. Aside from which, they are centers of wealth.

The better models would be Putrajaya in Malaysia, Ankara in Turkey, Canberra in Australia, Ottawa in Canada, Brasilia in Brazil, even Washington D.C. in the US of A. Decongest Manila. Renew the decongested urban landscape of its cities.

And forbid any further reclamation in Manila Bay.

The most urgent personal concern THE recent and alarming declaration of a measles outbreak in Metro Manila and other regions has put a spotlight on health as a rising political issue. This has, after all, consistently been a top personal priority for most Filipinos.

DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau recorded 196 measles cases in the National Capital Region in the first 19 days of the year, a sharp jump from the 20 cases posted a year ago. During the same period, 58 fatalities were recorded at San Lazaro Hospital.

Four more regions were recently added to the list where an outbreak was detected—Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western and Eastern Visayas—all of which similarly posted sharp increases in cases and as many as 18 deaths just last month.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque said the declaration of an outbreak is to help increase public awareness on the matter.

“We are declaring an outbreak as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen surveillance for new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” he said.

Health has consistently been the most urgent personal concern for Filipinos, a trend that has not changed across many administrations. “Urgent Personal and National Concerns of Filipinos” surveys conducted by Pulse Asia over the years reveal as much. The most recent iteration, made in December of last year, said 68 percent of Filipinos identify staying healthy and avoiding illnesses as the “most urgent personal concern.”

This incomparable regard for staying healthy has remained the most steadfast personal concern since 2012, minor fluctuations notwithstanding. Trailing by around 20 percentage points are next on the list: finishing school or providing schooling for children, avoiding being a victim of any serious crime, and having a secure and well-paying job.

It is easy to understand why health is the top personal concern. For many Filipinos, from the most vulnerable to the rising middle class, an unwanted medical diagnosis or sudden injury can spell the difference between a passably comfortable life and utter financial ruin. Cancer

diagnosis, for instance, often entails not only untold emotional distress but, more critically, hundreds of thousands of pesos in hospital bills and medicines all the way toward after care, which, if not covered by insurance, can easily bankrupt a household.

The data on the matter reveal a disconcerting picture. According to the Philippine National Health Accounts released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the out-of-pocket health expenses incurred by Filipinos continued to rise in 2017, hiking by a troubling 8.8 percent year-on-year. In real terms, household out-of-pocket expenses amounted to P372.8-billion in 2017, which accounted for a little over half of Current Health Expenditures in the same year.

We are all at risk, so we must take all precautions to stay healthy.

The PSA includes in “out of pocket expenses” medicines, food supplements, other medical products, therapeutic appliances, outpatient medical care, dental care, diagnostic services, and private and public hospital care.

Out of the P372.8-billion, more than half, or P186.6-billion, went to pharmacies, while P97.5-billion, or 26.1 percent, went to private general hospitals, and P50.3-billion, or 13.5 percent, went to providers of ambulatory health care.

Meanwhile, Total Health Expenditure swelled by 8 percent to P712.3-billion, contributing some 4.5 percent to the Philippine GDP. This translates to a 6.3-percent increase in per capita health spending of Filipinos, or P6,090, in 2017.

Research by the government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies said Filipinos carried a so-called “triple burden of disease” that has historically led to losses of centuries of life and billions in public and out-of-pocket expenditures. For instance, for every million Filipinos, they found that around 580 years of life have been lost to heart disease and stroke and 95 and 75 years lost to tuberculosis and interpersonal vio-

lence, respectively.

This worrying trend, the PIDS researchers said, indicates the continuing need to improve the country’s healthcare system, including service delivery and health infrastructure. An effective health insurance program, they added, can be instrumental in guaranteeing that Filipinos get the healthcare they need, without the need to break the bank.

The Universal Health Care Bill, which has been approved by the bicameral conference committee, proposes a system in which all Filipinos are enrolled in a “National Health Insurance Program” and whose membership is classified into two: those who have the capacity to pay as direct contributors and those who are sponsored by the government, like indigents, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

“For us to have a universal health care na kompleto ang target natin by five to ten years in time,” Senate Committee on Health Chairman JV Ejercito said.

Funds for the measure, estimated at some P257-billion for its first year of implementation, will come from the incremental sin tax collections, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s charity fund, the Philippine Gaming Corporation, premium contributions, government sub subsidy to PhilHealth, and the DOH’s annual budget.

With elections coming up, however, and with the measles outbreak freshly shining a spotlight on health as a key concern, the subject will no doubt be politicized. Candidates know that there is political capital to be gained when dealing with things that resonate deeply with the people. The key is to discern when pro-health rhetoric is just being used to abet populist sentiments and when there is a real desire to make quality healthcare truly accessible.

Two landmark health legislations are now waiting to be signed into law by President Duterte: the National Cancer Control Act and the Universal Health Care Law. This will give the DOH a powerful legal mandate to expand access to adequate health care to all Filipinos.

When the new Congress convenes to tackle the 2020 budget, these laws must be given enough funding for effective implementation.

I pray that these outbreaks do not deteriorate to pandemic proportions. We are all at risk, so we must take all precautions to stay healthy.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Stand up and be counted CROSSROADS JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ TOMORROW, February 12, the 90-day official campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups will commence. It will also be the start of my taking leave from writing this thrice-a-week column.

Being the first nominee of ABAKADA Partylist (108 on the ballot) I am prohibited from engaging directly in any manner or form, say as columnist or program host, in any media outlet as that may be considered as having undue advantage over other parties in this election. Although it can be argued that it is not I personally but the party that is running, I have been advised by our lawyers to just recuse myself lest it is raised as an issue which can detract us from our efforts to enjoin the public in promoting our advocacies for a more progressive, educated and informed citizenry.

Our group, representing basically the education, training and human resources development sector, has been voted twice in Congress in the 14th and 16th Congresses - and I have been privileged to be its nominee on both terms. Without meaning to oversell ourselves, our record speaks for itself. We have been party to a number of initiatives meant to provide better and easier access to quality education and training.

We aware of their importance in the task of nation building and in the lifting the masses of our people from the bondage of ignorance, inequality and poverty. We have also been in the forefront of exposing corruption and abuse of power in government and the conspiracy of anti-people operations perpetuated by various interest groups and their cohorts in government.

To name all of these undertakings would take this entire editorial page so suffice it to say that in the course of our stint in Congress, I would say we have kept faith with our basic advocacies to serve with integrity for the betterment of the lives of the masses of our people. We somehow did our share in the greater task of nation building.

We have worked hard and earned our keep with honor and dignity. So, as we embark once again in earning the trust and confidence of our people for yet another stint in the House of Representatives we can only hope and pray that by God’s grace we will overcome. *** As in all midterm elections worldwide the voting public is faced with a basic concern: will they affirm the direction and the manner by which the current party in power has been governing. If the answer is yes, then they vote for the candidates endorsed by the governing party.

If no, then they vote the opposition.

That happens if there is such a defined dichotomy as in countries such as the United States where the two-party system, Democrats and Republicans, remains in place and works just fine. In that just-concluded election, the American voters were split almost down the line.

It was almost a 50-50 split in the local fights, i.e., governors and state assemblies, a split which was carried over in the House and Senate races. The Democrats took back

The other...

From A4

analysis, has cited PLDT and Smart for being the country’s fixed and mobile service providers during the first and second quarters of the current year, respectively.

Smart executives said they are on track in fulfilling their commitment to cover 90 percent of the country’s cities and towns with 3G/4G services by yearend.

Another industry pollster, OpenSignal, which specializes in studying the performances of telecom carriers in Asia, reported that Smart garnered a video experience score of 42.2, well ahead of the competition in the Philippines and well above the national average. Smart’s performance, OpenSignal concluded, is at par with video experience on US carriers.

OpenSignal’s video experience metric measures exactly what consumers are experiencing online video watching, using the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for measuring video quality. It is derived from several underlying parameters based on real-time measurements of video streams from the world’s largest video content providers.

Meanwhile, to join the Amazing 25 promo, Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers must first complete the one-time registra-

Fallout...

From A4

the candidate who has money to spend with the questions rigged to suit the desired effect of the candidate.

Expect a few surprises in the final outcome of the May 13 elections.

Those who are not in the win column of 12 senatorial candidates might yet prove the pollsters wrong. Name recall, a good work track record plus a nationwide network of supporters could prove the survey polls inadequate.This scenario is possible in the national elections for senators. At the local level, congressmen, governors and mayors

the House while the Republicans maintained their hold in the Senate. This divided government does not bode well for President Trump and even the American people.

The toxicity of Washington politics has been such that for the first time, the Congress failed to deliver a budget thus ensuring the longest shutdown in history. Such toxicity engenders divided government and by experience a divided people and, of course, unwarranted gridlock.

With that situation and with the looming 2020 presidential polls on everybody’s radar, this can only mean that there will be no fresh initiatives whether on the domestic or foreign fronts can issue from the White House. The only thing for certain at this point is for both Republicans and Democrats trying to play out their “winning plans” to the detriment of responsible governance.

Building a nation is an arduous task.

Already, we are hearing “impeach Trump” as a major battle cry for the Democrats - an opprobium being countered with vigor by the Trumpers with blitzkriegs such as the fight for the border wall, stretching out the “trade war” with China, on-again,offagain withdrawals from Syria and the other US engaged regional wars, the unfriending of and assault on Venezuela and possibly Iran and, of late, the befriending of North Korea while unwinding the Vietnam phobia. Such happens in divided governments.

I am discussing the above to emphasize the point that a lot of things are at stake in our own midterm elections. While we do not have as yet such toxicity as there is in the US it is very possible that the same can ensue depending on the results in May. If President Duterte manages to get most of those whom he endorses to win, especially in Congress then we have every chance to proceed with all deliberate speed with his three-pronged agenda in the remaining years of his term: Build, Build, Build, a more realistic and responsible “war on drugs,” and a more vigorous anti-corruption and anti-bureaucratic/ incompetent governance drive.

If he fails to get at least a majority of those he endorses into positions of power, then we should expect a slowing down of the implementation and, necessarily the realization of the administration’s agenda for peace and development. Given such possibilities, it behooves our leaders and those running for elective office to engage our people and ensure a vigorous, factualand responsible discussion of the choices at hand.

Responsible engagements through all available platforms, especially social media, instead of the traditional song-and-dance gimmickry, should be the norm to ensure that our people get immersed in educated and informed choices. For them and all of us to stand up and be counted as we embark on, we repeat, that arduous task of building a nation we can all be proud of.

tion: Simply dial *121#, choose “AMAZING 25” on the menu, and follow the steps to confirm the sign-up. Once registered, subscribers can start earning and accumulating raffle entries for a shot at winning amazing prizes.

All prepaid subscribers can earn raffle entries with every registration to select prepaid promos via retailers or text registration. As a bonus, subscribers using *121# to register to prepaid promos can earn more entries.

The select prepaid promos include Giga Surf, Giga Surf Plus, All Out Surf, and Game Time for Smart; Surf Saya, Gaan Surf, Panalo Combo, Panalo Data, Giga Surf and All Out Surf for TNT; and Sulit Surf Plus, Big Time Data, Non-Stop Surf, Giga Surf and All Out Surf for Sun. On the other hand, all postpaid customers with active accounts that do not have outstanding balances can earn raffle entries by paying their bills in full and on time. Every P1,000 worth of payment is equivalent to 100 entries.

Postpaid customers who purchase select add-ons such as Giga Surf offers for Smart; and the Social Bundle 199, Chat Bundle 249, and Non-Stop 450 for Sun can also earn additional raffle entries.

All entries accumulated within the promo period are qualified for the grand draw of the P25 million cash prize.

would most probably prevail given their family dynasty control of constituents in their area.

This then is the reason why those expensive TV commercial ads are done by the senatorial candidates who have to campaign on a nationwide basis while local candidates like congressmen, governors and mayors confine their campaign to their district, province or city.

But given their perks and pork barrel, the local bets have just as much stake to win. So don’t wonder why the pork-laden P3.757-trillion national budget was approved by Congress despite the verbal skirmishes between Rep. Rolando Andaya and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

It’s only a joke, no?

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019 Standard A6 TODAY Manila

Republic of the Philippines CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval In addition to any downlink ELM transmissions, a level 2, 3 or 4 transponder shall be able to generate as long replies at least:

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO.: 34-18 TO

: ALL CONCERNED

FROM

: THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT : AMENDMENT TO PHILIPPINE CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS – AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES (CAR-ANS) PART 9 INCORPORATING AMENDMENT 90 TO ICAO ANNEX 10 VOL IV (SURVEILLANCE AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS)

16 of 50 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval 6 of 18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 4 of 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 2 of 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval Transponders used in conjunction with ACAS shall be able to generate as long replies at least: 60 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval 6 of 18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 4 of 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 2 of 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval

REFERENCE: 1. Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations-Air Navigation Services Part 9 Aeronautical Telecommunications Goveming Surveillance Radar Systems 2. ICAO Annex l0 Volume IV - Aeronautical Telecommuications Annex 10 Volume IV (Surveillance and Collision Avoidance Systems) 3. Regulations Amendment Procedures 4. Board Resolution No. 2012454 dated 28 September 2012 Pursuant to the powers vested in me under the Republic Act 9497, otherwise known as the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008 and in accordance with the Board Resolution No.: 2012-054 dated 28 September 2012, I hereby approve the incorporation of ICAO Annex l0 Volume IV Amendment No. 90 to the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations-Air Navigation Services (CAR-ANS) Part 9.

ORIGINAL REGULATIONS SUBJECT FOR REVIEW AND REVISION: CAR-ANS Part 9 ...

CHAPTER 9.I. DEFINITIONS Transponder occupancy. A state of unavailability of the transponder from the time it detects an incoming signal that appears to cause some action or from the time of a selfinitiated transmission, to the time that it is capable of replying to another interrogation. ...

Note.--Signals from various systems that contribute by transponder occupancy are described in the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual (Doc 9924), Appendix M. ...

CHAPTER 9.2 GENERAL 9.2.1 SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR (SSR) ...

9.2.1.7 Transponder occupancy Note. See Appendix M of the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual (Doc 9924) for guidance on consistent modelling of transponder occupancy.

CHAPTER 9.3 SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS 9.3.1 SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR (SSR) SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS 9.3.1.1 Systems having only Mode A and Mode C capabilities ...

9.3.1.1.6 REPLY TRANSMISSION CHARACTERISTICS (SIGNALS-IN-SPACE) 9.3.1.1.6.2. INFORMATION PULSES 9.3.1.1.6.2.1 Information pulses.Information pulses shall be spaced in increments of 1.45 microseconds from the first framing pulse. The designation and position of these information pulses shall be as follows: ...

Note.— The Standard relating to the use of these pulses is given in 9.2.1.4.1. However, the position of Information on the “X” pulse is not used in replies to Mode A or Mode C interrogations and is contained in the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual (Doc 9924) specified only as a technical standard to safeguard possible future expansion of the system. It has nevertheless been decided that such expansion should be achieved using Mode S. The presence of a pulse in the X pulse position is used in some States to invalidate replies. ...

9.3.1.1.6.2.2 The position of the X pulse shall not be used in replies to Mode A or Mode C interrogations if the safe operation of surveillance systems cannot be maintained.

9.3.1.2 Systems having Mode S capabilities ...

9.3.1.2.5 INTERMODE AND MODE S ALL-CALL TRANSACTIONS ...

9.3.1.2.5.2.1.4.3 Field content for a selectively addressed interrogation used by an interrogator without an assigned interrogator code. An interrogator that has not been assigned with a unique discrete interrogator code and is authorized to transmit shall use the II code 0 to perform the selective interrogations. In this case, selectively addressed interrogations used in connection with acquisition using lockout override shall have interrogation field contents restricted as follows: UF = 4, 5, 20 or 21 PC = 0 RR ≠ 16 if RRS = 0 DI = 7 IIS = 0 LOS = 0 except as specified in 9.3.1.2.5.2.1.5 TMS = 0 9.3.1.2.5.2.1.4.4 An interrogator that has not been assigned with a unique discrete interrogator code and is authorized to transmit using II code 0 shall not attempt to extract air-initiated Comm-B message announced by DR = 1 or 3.

Note.— These restrictions permit surveillance and GICB transactions, and Comm-B broadcast extraction, but prevent the interrogation from making any changes to transponder multisite lockout or communications protocol states. ...

9.3.1.2.6 ADDRESSED SURVEILLANCE AND STANDARD-LENGTH COMMUNICATION TRANSACTIONS ...

9.3.1.2.6.1.2 RR: Reply request. This 5-bit, (9-13) uplink field shall command the length and content of a requested reply. ...

Coding

In addition to downlink ELM transmissions, a level 5 transponder shall be able to generate as long replies at least: 24 of 50 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval 9 of 18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 6 of 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 2 of 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval In addition, a transponder within an ACAS installation shall be able to generate as ACAS coordination replies at least 3 of 50 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval. ...

9.3.1.2.11 ESSENTIAL SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROUND INTERROGATOR ...

9.3.1.2.11.1.1.2 Maximum number of Mode S all-call replies triggered by an interrogator.

For aircraft that are not locked out, a Mode S interrogator shall not trigger, on average, more than 6 Mode S all-call replies per period of 200 ms and no more than 26 Mode S all-call replies counted over a period of 18 seconds. ...

CHAPTER 9.4. AIRBORNE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ...

9.4.3 GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO ACAS II AND ACAS III ...

9.4.3.8 Signal formats ...

9.4.3.8.4.2.2.2 Subfields in MB for the data link capability report. When BDS1 = 1 and BDS2 = 0, the following bit patterns shall be provided to the transponder for its data link capability report: ...

Note 2.— The use of hybrid surveillance to limit ACAS active interrogations is described in 9.4.5.1. The ability only to support decoding of DF = 17 extended squitter messages is not sufficient to set bit 7269. ...

9.4.3.11 Requirements for a Mode S transponder used in conjunction with ACAS 9.4.3.11.1 Transponder capabilities. In addition to the minimum transponder capabilities defined in Chapter 9.3, 9.3.1, the Mode S transponder used in conjunction with ACAS shall have the following capabilities: ... b) ability to receive long Mode S interrogations (UF = 16) and generate long Mode S replies (DF = 16) at a continuous rate of 16.6 ms (60 per second) as per 9.3.1.2.10.3.7.3; ...

9.4.3.11.3 COMMUNICATION OF ACAS INFORMATION TO OTHER ACAS ...

9.4.3.11.3.2 Coordination reply. The ACAS Mode S transponder shall transmit a coordination reply upon receipt of a coordination interrogation from an equipped threat subject to the conditions of 9.4.3.11.3.2.1. The coordination reply shall use the long air-air surveillance reply format, DF = 16, with the VS field as specified in Chapter 9.3, 9.3.1.2.8.2, the RI field as specified in Chapter 9.3, 9.3.1.2.8.2 and in 9.4.3.8.4.1.2, the SL field as specified in 9.4.3.8.4.2.5 and the MV field as specified in 9.4.3.8.4.2.4.

Coordination replies shall be transmitted even if the minimum reply rate limits of the transponder (Chapter 9.3, 9.3.1.2.10.3.7.2) are exceeded. ...

9.4.5 ACAS USE OF EXTENDED SQUITTER 9.4.5.1 ACAS hybrid surveillance using extended squitter position data Note. —Hybrid surveillance is the technique used by ACAS to take advantage of passive position information available via extended squitter DF = 17. Using hybrid surveillance, ACAS validates the position provided by extended squitter through direct active range measurement. An initial validation is performed at track initiation. Revalidation is performed once every 60 seconds for targets that do not meet the conditions in altitude or range. Revalidation is performed once per 10 seconds if the intruder becomes a near threat in altitude or range. Finally, regular active surveillance is performed once per second on intruders that become a near threat in both altitude and range. In this manner, passive surveillance (once validated) is used for non-threatening intruders thus lowering the ACAS interrogation rate. Active surveillance is used whenever an intruder becomes a near threat in order to preserve ACAS independence as an independent safety monitor.Surveillance protocols defined in this section are for ACAS hybrid surveillance, and surveillance protocols for ACAS not equipped for hybrid surveillance are defined in 9.4.3.7.1.

9.4.5.1.1 DEFINITIONS ...

Extended hybrid surveillance.The process of using qualified ADS-B airborne position messages via 1 090 MHz extended squitter without validating 1 090 extended squitter data for the track by ACAS active interrogations.

Hybrid surveillance.The process of using a combination of active surveillance and passive surveillance with validated data to update an ACAS track to validate and monitor otheraircraft being tracked principally using passive surveillance in order to preserve ACAS independence.

Initial acquisition.The process of starting the formation of a new track upon receipt of a squitter from a Mode S aircraft for which there is no track by making an active interrogation.

Passive surveillance.The process of tracking another aircraft without interrogating it, by using the other aircraft’s extended squitters. ACAS uses the information contained obtained via 1 090 MHz extended squitter in passive tracks obtained to monitor the need for active surveillance, but not for any other purpose. Passive surveillance applies to both hybrid and extended hybrid surveillance.

RR = 0-15 shall be used to request a reply with surveillance format (DF = 4 or 5);

Validation.The process of verifying the relative position of an intruder using passive information via 1 090 MHz extended squitter by comparing it to the relative position obtained by ACAS active interrogation.

RR = 16-31 shall be used to request a reply with Comm-B format (DF = 20 or 21);

9.4.5.1.3 PASSIVE SURVEILLANCE

RR = 16 shall be used to request transmission of an air-initiated Comm-B message according to 9.3.1.2.6.11.3 or to request the extraction of a Comm-B broadcast message according to 9.3.1.2.6.11.4;

9.4.5.1.3.1 EXTENDED HYBRID SURVEILLANCE

RR = 17 shall be used to request a data link capability report according to 9.3.1.2.6.10.2.2; RR = 18 shall be used to request aircraft identification according to 9.3.1.2.9; 19-31 are not assigned in section 9.3.1.

Note.— Codes 19-31 are reserved for applications such as data link communications, airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS), etc ...

9.3.1.2.6.11 STANDARD LENGTH COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOLS ...

9.3.1.2.6.11.4 Comm-B broadcast ...

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1 Initiation A Comm-B broadcast cycle shall not be initiated when an airinitiated Comm-B is waiting to be transmitted. A Comm-B broadcast cycle shall begin with: 9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.1 A Comm-B broadcast cycle shall begin with: a) the insertion of DR code 4 or 5, (9.3.1.2.6.5.2) into replies with DF 4, 5, 20 or 21; and loading of the broadcast message into the Comm-B buffer; b) the starting of the B-timer-for the current Comm-B message; and Note.— If there is more than one Comm-B message waiting for transmission, the timer is only started once the message becomes the current Comm-B broadcast. c) the selection of DR code 4 or 5, (9.3.1.2.6.5.2) for insertion into future replies with DF 4, 5, 20 or 21 when ACAS information is not available, or DR code 6 or 7 when ACAS information is available.

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.2 The DR field shall be changed to the next value each time a new Comm-B broadcast message is initiated by the transponder.

Note.— The change of the DR value is used by the interrogator to detect that a new Comm-B broadcast message is announced and to extract the new Comm-B message.

9.4.5.1.3.1.1 Systems using extended hybrid surveillance mode shall establish a track in such a way that no interrogations are performed, i.e. acquiring the track through exclusive use of ADS-B extended squitter, when the following conditions are met: a) Own aircraft position data meets the following minimum level of quality: 1) own aircraft horizontal position uncertainty (95 per cent) is < 0.1 NM; and 2) own aircraft horizontal position integrity shall be such that the probability of an undetected position error, which is greater than 0.6 NM radius, is less than 1 x 10-7 b) The received signal strength is equal or less than -68 dBm +/-2 dB (extended hybrid surveillance minimum triggering level), or own aircraft is operating on the surface; and c) The intruder data quality meets the following minimum requirements: a)

the ADS-B version number ≥2;

b)

the reported NIC≥6 (<0.6 NM);

c)

the reported NACp≥7 (<0.1 NM);

d)

the reported SIL = 3;

e)

the reported SDA = 2 or 3; and

f)

the barometric altitude is valid.

9.4.5.1.3.1.2 The system shall not use ADS-rebroadcast (ADS-R) and TIS-B data to passively acquire an aircraft.

Note 1.— ADS-R is described in the Technical Provisions for Mode S Services and Extended Squitter (Doc 9871).

Note 2.— The signal level strength cannot be applied to ADS-R and TIS-B data.

9.4.5.1.3.1.3 A track maintained under extended hybrid surveillance mode shall transition to a track maintained under active surveillance mode if range and altitude of hybrid threat criteria are met.

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.3 A Comm-B broadcast cycle shall not be initiated when an air-initiated Comm-B message is waiting to be transmitted.

Note.— Information concerning range and altitude hybrid threat criteria can be found in RTCA DO-300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance.

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.4 A new Comm-B broadcast cycle shall not interrupt a current Comm-B broadcast cycle.

9.4.5.1.3.1.4 A track under extended hybrid surveillance mode shall transition to a track under hybrid surveillance mode if:

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.2 Extraction. To extract the broadcast message, an interrogator shall transmit RR equals 16 and DI not equal to 3 or 7 or RR equals 16 and DI equals 3 or 7 with RRS equals 0 in a subsequent interrogation. ...

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.6 Management of Comm-B messages waiting for transmission. If the content of a waiting Comm-B broadcast message is updated, only the most recent value for each downlink broadcast identifier shall be retained and broadcast once the current Comm-B broadcast is finished.

a) The signal indicates a high probability to be in close proximity, i.e. signal > Extended Hybrid Surveillance MTL, except when operating on the airport surface; or

Note.— Downlink broadcast identifiers are defined in the Manual on Technical Provisions for Mode S Services and Extended Squitter (Doc 9871). ...

9.3.1.2.10 ESSENTIAL SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SSRMODE S TRANSPONDER ...

9.3.1.2.10.1.1.5 Spurious response 9.3.1.2.10.1.1.5.2 For equipment transponder designs first certified on or after 1 January 2011, the spurious Mode A/C reply ratio generated by resulting from low level Mode S interrogations shall be no more than: a) an average of 1 per cent in the input interrogation signal range between –81 dBm and the Mode S MTL; and b) a maximum of 3 per cent at any given level in the input interrogation signal range between –81 dBm and the Mode S MTL. Note 1.— Failure to detect a low level Mode S interrogation can also result in the transponder decoding a three-pulse Mode A/C/S all-call interrogation. This would result in the transponder responding with a Mode S all-call (DF = 11) reply. The above requirement will also control these DF = 11 replies since it places a limit on the probability of failing to correctly detect the Mode S interrogation.

Note 2.— More information about issuing a type certificate for aircraft and separate design approval can be found in the Airworthiness Manual (Doc 9760). ...

9.3.1.2.10.3 SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS ...

9.3.1.2.10.3.7 Minimum reply rate capability, Modes A, C and S ...

9.3.1.2.10.3.7.3 Minimum reply rate capability, Mode S. A transponder capable of transmitting only short Mode S replies shall be able to generate replies at the following rates: 50 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval

b) Intruder data or own data quality does not meet minimum requirements.

9.4.5.1.3.12 Validation. To validate the position of an intruder reported by extended squitter and not meeting the criteria for extended hybrid surveillance mode, ACAS shall determine the relative range and relative bearing as computed from the position and geographical heading of own aircraft and the intruder’s position as reported in the extended squitter. This derived range and relative bearing and the altitude reported in the squitter shall be compared to the range, relative bearing and altitude determined by active ACAS interrogation of requiring a short reply from the aircraft. Differences between the derived and measured range and relative bearing and the squitter and reply altitude shall be computed and used in tests to determine whether the extended squitter data is valid. If these tests are satisfied the passive position shall be considered to be validated and the track shall be maintained on passive data unless it is a near threat as described in 9.4.5.1.4. If any of these validation tests fail, active surveillance shall be used to track the intruder.

Note.— Suitable tests for validating extended squitter data information for the purposes of ACAS hybrid surveillance can be found in RTCA/DO-300RTCA DO-300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance.

9.4.5.1.3.23 Supplementary active interrogations. In order to ensure that an intruder’s track is updated at least as frequently as required in the absence of extended squitter data (9.4.3.7.1.2.2), each time a track is updated using squitter information the time at which an active interrogation would next be required shall be calculated. An active interrogation shall be made at that time if a further squitter has not been received before the interrogation is due.

9.4.5.1.4 Near threat. An intruder shall be tracked under active surveillance if it is a near threat, as determined by separate tests on the range and altitude of the aircraft.

These tests shall be such that an intruder is considered a near threat before it becomes a potential threat, and thus triggers a traffic advisory as described in 4.3.3. These tests shall be performed once per second. All near threats, potential threats and threats shall be tracked using active surveillance.

Note.— Suitable tests for determining that an intruder is a near threat can be found in RTCA/DO-300 RTCA DO-300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance.

9.4.5.1.5 Revalidation and monitoring. If an aircraft is being tracked using passive surveillance and if criteria for extended hybrid surveillance mode are not met, periodic

active interrogations shall be performed to validate and monitor the extended squitter data as required in 9.4.5.1.3.12. The default rates of revalidation shall be between once per minute for a non-threat and once per 10 seconds for a near threat. The tests required in 9.4.5.1.3.12 shall be performed for each interrogation, and active surveillance shall be used to track the intruder if these revalidation tests fail.

Note.— More information about criteria of revalidation rate can be found in RTCA DO300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance. ...

9.4.5.1.6.2 A track under active surveillance shall transition to passive surveillance if it is neither a near, potential threat nor a threat. The tests used to determine it is no longer a near threat shall be similar to those used in 9.4.5.1.4 but with larger thresholds in order to have hysteresis which prevents the possibility of frequent transitions between active and passive surveillance.

Note. — Suitable tests for determining that an intruder is no longer a near threat can be found in RTCA/DO-300 RTCA DO-300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance. ...

CHAPTER 9.5. MODE S EXTENDED SQUITTER ...

9.5.1 MODE S EXTENDED SQUITTER TRANSMITTING SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS ...

9.5.1.3 ADS-B OUT requirements for surface vehicles 9.5.1.3.1 All surface vehicles supporting any versions of extended squitter ADS-B capability shall transmit extended squitter messages as per 9.5.1.1.2.

9.5.1.3.2 Extended squitter version 2 required system performance. The position source and equipment installed in surface vehicles to transmit extended squitter version 2 messages shall support the following performance characteristics: 9.5.1.3.2.1 The NACP for the navigation position data shall be greater than or equal to 9, a 95 per cent accuracy bound on horizontal position less than 30 metres.

Note.— NACP is calculated based on satellite performance.

9.5.1.3.2.2 The NACV for the navigation velocity data shall be greater than orequal to 2, a velocity error less than 3 metres per second.

9.5.1.3.2.3 The NACP and NACV minimum values shall be met at a minimum availability of 95 per cent.

9.5.1.3.2.4 The system design assurance parameter shall be equal to 1 or more, which defines the probability of a failure resulting in transmission of false or misleading information to be less than or equal to 1x10-3.

Note 1.— These minimum performance requirements for extended squitter version 2 transmitted position data from surface vehicles are necessary to support aircraft-based alerting applications.

Note 2.— Guidance material for implementation of surface vehicle ADS-B systems is contained in the Technical Provisions for Mode S Services and Extended Squitter (Doc 9871). ...

CHAPTER 9.6. MULTILATERATION SYSTEMS ...

Note 2.- Detailed technical guidance for MLAT and WAM can be found in the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual(Doc 9924), Appendix L. Material contained in EUROCAE ED117A – MOPS for Mode S Multilateration Systems for Use in A-SMGCS and ED-142 – Technical Specifications for Wide Area Multilateration System (WAM) provides a good basis information for planning, implementation and satisfactory operation of MLAT systems for most applications.

9.6.1 DEFINITIONS ...

Wide area multilateration (WAM) system. A multilateration system deployed to support en-route surveillance, terminal area surveillance and other applications such as height monitoring and precision runway monitoring (PRM).

— END — AMENDED REGULATIONS: CAR-ANS PART 9 CHAPTER 9.1. DEFINITIONS ...

Transponder occupancy.A state of unavailability of the transponder from the time it detects an incoming signal that appears to cause some action or from the time of a selfinitiated transmission, to the time that it is capable of replying to another interrogation.

Note.— Signals from various systems that contribute to transponder occupancy are described in the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual (Doc 9924), Appendix M. ...

CHAPTER 9.2 GENERAL 9.2.1 SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR (SSR) ...

9.2.1.7 Transponder occupancy Note.— See Appendix M of the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual (Doc 9924) for guidance on consistent modelling of transponder occupancy. ...

CHAPTER 9.3 SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS 9.3.1 SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR (SSR) SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS ...

9.3.1.1 Systems having only Mode A and Mode C capabilities ...

9.3.1.1.6 REPLY TRANSMISSION CHARACTERISTICS (SIGNALS-IN-SPACE) ...

9.3.1.1.6.2 INFORMATION PULSES 9.3.1.1.6.2.1 Information pulses shall be spaced in increments of 1.45 microseconds from the first framing pulse. The designation and position of these information pulses shall be as follows: ...

Note. — The Standard relating to the use of these pulses is given in 2.1.4.1. Information on the “X” pulse is contained in the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual (Doc 9924).

9.3.1.1.6.2.2 The position of the X pulse shall not be used in replies to Mode A or Mode C interrogations if the safe operation of surveillance systems cannot be maintained. ...

9.3.1.2 Systems having Mode S capabilities ...

9.3.1.2.5 INTERMODE AND MODE S ALL-CALL TRANSACTIONS ...

9.3.1.2.5.2.1.4.3 Field content for a selectively addressed interrogation used by an interrogator without an assigned interrogator code. An interrogator that has not been assigned with a unique discrete interrogator code and is authorized totransmit shall use the II code 0 to perform the selective interrogations. In this case, selectively addressed interrogations usedin connection with acquisition using lockout override shall have interrogation field contents restricted as follows: UF = 4, 5, 20 or 21 PC = 0 DI = 7 IIS = 0 LOS = 0 except as specified in 9.3.1.2.5.2.1.5 TMS = 0 9.3.1.2.5.2.1.4.4 An interrogator that has not been assigned with a unique discrete interrogator code and is authorized to transmit using II code 0 shall not attempt to extract air-initiated Comm-B message announced by DR = 1 or 3.

Note. — These restrictions permit surveillance transaction, GICB transaction and Comm-B broadcast extraction, but prevent the interrogation from making any changes to transponder multisite lockout or communications protocol states. ...

9.3.1.2.6 ADDRESSED SURVEILLANCE AND STANDARD-LENGTH COMMUNICATION TRANSACTIONS ...

9.3.1.2.6.1.2 RR: Reply request. This 5-bit, (9-13) uplink field shall command the length and content of a requested reply. ...

Coding RR = 0-15 shall be used to request a reply with surveillance format (DF = 4 or 5); RR = 16-31 shall be used to request a reply with Comm-B format (DF = 20 or 21); RR = 16 shall be used to request transmission of an air-initiated Comm-B message according to 9.3.1.2.6.11.3 or to request the extraction of a Comm-B broadcast message according to 9.3.1.2.6.11.4; RR = 17 shall be used to request a data link capability report according to 9.3.1.2.6.10.2.2; RR = 18 shall be used to request aircraft identification according to 9.3.1.2.9; 19-31 are not assigned in section 9.3.1.

Note.— Codes 19-31 are reserved for applications such as data link communications, airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS), etc. ...

9.3.1.2.6.11 STANDARD LENGTH COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOLS ...

9.3.1.2.6.11.4 Comm-B broadcast ...

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1 Initiation 9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.1 A Comm-B broadcast cycle shall begin with: a) the loading of the broadcast message into the Comm-B buffer; b) the starting of the B-timer for the current Comm-B message; and Note. — If there is more than one Comm-B message waiting for transmission, the timer is only started once the message becomes the current Comm-B broadcast. c) the selection of DR code 4 or 5 (see 9.3.1.2.6.5.2), for insertion into future replies with DF 4, 5, 20 or 21 when ACAS information is not available, or DR code 6 or 7 when ACAS information is available.

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.2 The DR field shall be changed to the next value each time a new Comm-B broadcast message is initiated by the transponder.

Note. — The change of the DR value is used by the interrogator to detect that a new Comm-B broadcast message is announced and to extract the new Comm-B message.

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.3 A Comm-B broadcast cycle shall not be initiated when an air-initiated Comm-B message is waiting to be transmitted.

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.1.4 A new Comm-B broadcast cycle shall not interrupt a current Comm-B broadcast cycle.

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.2 Extraction. To extract the broadcast message, an interrogator shall transmit RR equals 16 and DI not equal to 3 or 7 or RR equals 16 and DI equals 3 or 7 with RRS equals 0 in a subsequent interrogation. ...

9.3.1.2.6.11.4.6 Management of Comm-B messages waiting for transmission. If the content of a waiting Comm-B broadcast message is updated, only the most recent value for each downlink broadcast identifier shall be retained and broadcast once the current Comm-B broadcast is finished.

Note. — Downlink broadcast identifiers are defined in the Technical Provisions for Mode S Services and Extended Squitter (Doc 9871). ...

9.3.1.2.10 ESSENTIAL SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SSRMODE S TRANSPONDER ...

9.3.1.2.10.1.1.5 Spurious response

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

E2

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

Imee: Go after love scammers

By Rey E. Requejo SENATORIAL candidate and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Sunday urged authorities to crack down on dating sites being used as platforms for “love scams” victimizing gullible Filipinos, especially on Facebook.

“Paraphrasing our great poet Francisco Balagtas, ang pag-ibig pag dumapo sa puso ninuman, hahamakin ang lahat masunod ka lamang...ayun, na love scam, napahamak nga,” Marcos said, referring to the famous love quote from the author’s Florante at Laura.

“In October last year, an overseas Filipino worker lost P600,000 after falling in love with a woman using a fake FB account. That poor OFW is just one of thousands of Filipinos who fall victim to online predators who manipulate their feelings to extort money,” she added.

In the Philippines, at least 10 percent of internet fraud reported in 2017 fell under the love or romance scam category, the Philippine National Police-AntiCybercrime Group said.

According to the PNP-ACG, love scams are not easy to solve because the victims are often willing prey. Love scams are also, legally, estafa cases, and a victim must file a case for the PNPACG to start an investigation. In many cases, charges have not been filed as the victims are too ashamed to admit at being lovestruck and defrauded online.

Manila

Standard

News

A7

TODAY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace dares Joma: Let’s talk peace C

By Nat Mariano

OMMUNIST Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison should step down from his ivory tower and accept the government’s offer of reviving the peace talks instead, the Palace said on Sunday.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo slammed Sison for immediately rejecting the “softened stance” of President Rodrigo Duterte on resuming peace negotiations.

“Instead of welcoming the President’s softening of his hardline stance on no peace talks with the local communists unless it puts a stop to the extortion, he (Sison) considers it as an insult to

them,” Panelo said.

In a speech on Friday, Duterte said he would resume the peace talks with communist rebels if the NPA stopped its collection of revolutionary taxes, which he said was a form of extortion.

Sison, however, rebuffed the condition set by the President, saying the “people’s government... (needs) financial resources for administration and social programs.”

“Oh, they have a government? The armchair illusory rebel chieftain must be running berserk with his imagina-

tion. No wonder his ground forces no longer follow him. He has to wake up from his daydreaming lest he gets a nightmare that will cut short his bourgeoisie lifestyle in The Netherlands,” Panelo said.

“Sison must step down from his ivory tower and extend his hands for peace, for his own sake, for his followers, for the Filipino people, for his country he loves so well. To miss this golden opportunity will only reduce him to a historical footnote and thrown him into the dustbin of history,” he added.

E-cigarettes better in curbing smoking

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Mrs. Juanita Estudillo Laguesma, mother of former DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, peacefully joined her Creator on February 9, 2019. Her remains lie in state at Premiere 1 & 2 chapel of Loyola Commonwealth located along Commonwealth Ave, Quezon City.

Interment will be on Wednesday, Feb 13 at Himlayang Pilipino , Tandang Sora QC after the 9 am mass.

NOT QUITE THAT CLEAN YET. Promenaders flock to Manila’s baywalk to catch a glimpse of the ongoing massive rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Ey Acasio

…

9.3.1.2.10.1.1.5.2 For transponder designs first certified on or after 1 January 2011, the spurious Mode A/C reply ratio resulting from low level Mode S interrogations shall be no more than: a) an average of 1 per cent in the input interrogation signal range between –81 dBm and the Mode S MTL; and b) a maximum of 3 per cent at any given level in the input interrogation signal range between –81 dBm and the Mode S MTL. Note.1— Failure to detect a low level Mode S interrogation can also result in the transponder decoding a three-pulse Mode A/C/S all-call interrogation. This would result in the transponder responding with a Mode S all-call (DF = 11) reply. The above requirement will also control these DF = 11 replies since it places a limit on the probability of failing to correctly detect the Mode S interrogation.

Note 2.— More information about issuing a type certificate for aircraft and separate design approval can be found in the Airworthiness Manual (Doc 9760). ...

9.3.1.2.10.3 SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS ...

9.3.1.2.10.3.7 Minimum reply rate capability, Modes A, C and S ...

9.3.1.2.10.3.7.3 Minimum reply rate capability, Mode S. A transponder capable of transmitting only short Mode S replies shall be able to generate replies at the following rates: 50 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval 18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval In addition to any downlink ELM transmissions, a level 2, 3 or 4 transponder shall be able to generate as long replies at least: 16 of 50 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval 6 of 18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 4 of 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 2 of 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval Transponders used in conjunction with ACAS shall be able to generate as long replies at least: 60 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval 6 of 18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 4 of 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 2 of 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval In addition to downlink ELM transmissions, a level 5 transponder shall be able to generate as long replies at least: 24 of 50 Mode S replies in any 1-second interval 9 of 18 Mode S replies in a 100-millisecond interval 6 of 8 Mode S replies in a 25-millisecond interval 2 of 4 Mode S replies in a 1.6-millisecond interval 9.3.1.2.11 ESSENTIAL SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROUND INTERROGATOR ...

9.3.1.2.11.1.1.2 Maximum number of Mode S all-call replies triggered by an interrogator.

For aircraft that are not locked out, a Mode S interrogator shall not trigger, on average, more than 6 Mode S all-call replies per period of 200 ms and no more than 26 Mode S all-call replies counted over a period of 18 seconds. ...

CHAPTER 9.4 AIRBORNE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ...

9.4.3 GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO ACAS II AND ACAS III ...

9.4.3.8 Signal formats ...

9.4.3.8.4.2.2.2 Subfields in MB for the data link capability report. When BDS1 = 1 and BDS2 = 0, the following bit patterns shall be provided to the transponder for its data link capability report: ...

Note 2. — The use of hybrid surveillance to limit ACAS active interrogations is described in 4.5.1. The ability only to support decoding of DF = 17 extended squitter messages is not sufficient to set bit 69. ...

9.4.3.11 Requirements for a Mode S transponder used in conjunction with ACAS 9.4.3.11.1 Transponder capabilities. In addition to the minimum transponder capabilities defined in Chapter 9.3, 9.3.1, the Mode S transponder used in conjunction with ACAS shall have the following capabilities: ... b) ability to receive long Mode S interrogations (UF = 16) and generate replies as per 9.3.1.2.10.3.7.3; ...

9.4.3.11.3 COMMUNICATION OF ACAS INFORMATION TO OTHER ACAS ...

9.4.3.11.3.2 Coordination reply. The ACAS Mode S transponder shall transmit a coordination reply upon receipt of a coordination interrogation from an equipped threat subject to the conditions of 9.4.3.11.3.2.1. The coordination reply shall use the long air-air surveillance reply format, DF = 16, with the VS field as specified in Chapter 9.3, 9.3.1.2.8.2, the RI field as specified in Chapter 9.3, 9.3.1.2.8.2 and in 9.4.3.8.4.1.2, the SL field as specified in 9.4.3.8.4.2.5 and the MV field as specified in 9.4.3.8.4.2.4. ...

9.4.5 ACAS USE OF EXTENDED SQUITTER REPORTS 9.4.5.1 ACAS hybrid surveillance using extended squitter position data Note. — Surveillance protocols defined in this section are for ACAS hybrid surveillance, and surveillance protocols for ACAS not equipped for hybrid surveillance are defined in 9.4.3.7.1.

9.4.5.1.1 DEFINITIONS ...

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Extended hybrid surveillance.The process of using qualified ADS-B airborne position messages via 1 090 MHz extended squitter without validating 1 090 extended squitter data for the track by ACAS active interrogations.

Hybrid surveillance.The process of using a combination of active surveillance and passive surveillance with validated data to update an ACAS track in order to preserve ACAS independence.

Passive surveillance.The process of tracking another aircraft without interrogating it, by using the other aircraft’s extended squitters. ACAS uses the information obtained via 1 090 MHz extended squitter to monitor the need for active surveillance, but not for any other purpose. Passive surveillance applies to both hybrid and extended hybrid surveillance.

Validation.The process of verifying the relative position of an intruder using passive information via 1 090 MHz extended squitter by comparing it to the relative position obtained by ACAS active interrogation.

9.4.5.1.3 PASSIVE SURVEILLANCE 9.4.5.1.3.1 EXTENDED HYBRID SURVEILLANCE 9.4.5.1.3.1.1 Systems using extended hybrid surveillance mode shall establish a track in such a way that no interrogations are performed, i.e. acquiring the track through exclusive use of ADS-B extended squitter, when the following conditions are met: a) Own aircraft position data meets the following minimum level of quality: 1)

own aircraft horizontal position uncertainty (95 per cent) is < 0.1 NM; and

2)

own aircraft horizontal position integrity shall be such that the probability of an undetected position error, which is greater than 0.6 NM radius, is less than 1 × 10-7.

b) The received signal strength is equal or less than −68 dBm ±2 dB (extended hybrid surveillance minimum triggering level), or own aircraft is operating on the surface; and c) The intruder data quality meets the following minimum requirements:

E-CIGARETTES is twice as effective in helping smokers quit, an independent medical research funded by Britain’s National Institute for Health Research.

Joey Dulay, president of the Philippine ECigarette Industry Association (PECIA), said the result of the research corrects the misconception on electronic cigarettes.

“No longer can anyone say that there is no reliable research on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in curbing smoking,” Dulay said.

PECIA is the country’s biggest vaping industry group composed of e-liquid manufacturers, hardware manufacturers, importers and exporters as well as vape shop owners.

Dulay urged to the government to reconsider a proposed administrative order being pushed by the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration which seeks to ban all flavors and all advertising materials on e-cigarettes. The draft AO also requires e-cigarettes and e-liquids to go through an arduous registration process which the group believes will result in a de-facto ban on the category.

“We appeal to the government and regulators to assess carefully the benefits of e-cigarettes because it will provide an effective alternative to smoking just as what this study has proven,” Dulay said.

9.4.5.1.5 Revalidation and monitoring. If an aircraft is being tracked using passive surveillance and if criteria for extended hybrid surveillance mode are not met, periodic active interrogations shall be performed to validate and monitor the extended squitter data as required in 9.4.5.1.3.2. The rates of revalidation shall be between once per minute and once per 10 seconds. The tests required in 9.4.5.1.3.2 shall be performed for each interrogation, and active surveillance shall be used to track the intruder if these revalidation tests fail.

Note. — More information about criteria of revalidation rate can be found in RTCA DO300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance. ...

9.4.5.1.6.2 A track under active surveillance shall transition to passive surveillance if it is neither a near, potential threat nor a threat. The tests used to determine it is no longer a near threat shall be similar to those used in 9.4.5.1.4 but with larger thresholds in order to have hysteresis which prevents the possibility of frequent transitions between active and passive surveillance.

Note. — Suitable tests for determining that an intruder is no longer a near threat can be found in RTCA DO-300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance. ...

CHAPTER 9.5 MODE S EXTENDED SQUITTER ...

9.5.1 MODES EXTENDED SQUITTER TRANSMITTING SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS ...

9.5.1.3 ADS-B OUT requirements for surface vehicles 9.5.1.3.1 All surface vehicles supporting any versions of extended squitter ADS-B capability shall transmit extended squitter messages as per 9.5.1.1.2.

9.5.1.3.2 Extended squitter version 2 required system performance. The position source and equipment installed in surface vehicles to transmit extended squitter version 2 messages shall support the following performance characteristics:

a)

the ADS-B version number ≥2;

b)

the reported NIC≥6 (<0.6 NM);

c)

the reported NACp≥7 (<0.1 NM);

Note. — NACP is calculated based on satellite performance.

d)

the reported SIL = 3;

e)

the reported SDA = 2 or 3; and

9.5.1.3.2.2 The NACV for the navigation velocity data shall be greater than or equal to 2, a velocity error less than 3 metres per second.

f) the barometric altitude is valid.

9.4.5.1.3.1.2 The system shall not use ADS-rebroadcast (ADS-R) and TIS-B data to passively acquire an aircraft.

Note 1.— ADS-R is described in the Technical Provisions for Mode S Services and Extended Squitter (Doc 9871).

Note 2.— The signal level strength cannot be applied to ADS-R and TIS-B data.

9.4.5.1.3.1.3 A track maintained under extended hybrid surveillance mode shall transition to a track maintained under active surveillance mode if range and altitude of hybrid threat criteria are met.

Note. — Information concerning range and altitude hybrid threat criteria can be found in RTCA DO-300A Change1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance.

9.4.5.1.3.1.4 A track under extended hybrid surveillance mode shall transition to a track under hybrid surveillance mode, if: a) the signal indicates a high probability to be in close proximity, i.e. signal > extended hybrid surveillance MTL, except when operating on the airport surface; or b) intruder data or own data quality does not meet minimum requirements.

9.4.5.1.3.2 Validation. To validate the position of an intruder reported by extended squitter and not meeting the criteria for extended hybrid surveillance mode, ACAS shall determine the relative range and relative bearing as computed from the position and geographical heading of own aircraft and the intruder’s position as reported in the extended squitter. This derived range and relative bearing and the altitude reported in the squitter shall be compared to the range, relative bearing and altitude determined by active ACAS interrogation requiring a short reply from the aircraft. Differences between the derived and measured range and relative bearing and the squitter and reply altitude shall be computed and used in tests to determine whether the extended squitter data is valid. If these tests are satisfied the passive position shall be considered to be validated and the track shall be maintained on passive data unless it is a near threat as described in 9.4.5.1.4. If any of these validation tests fail, active surveillance shall be used to track the intruder.

Note. — Suitable tests for validating extended squitter data information for the purposes of ACAS hybrid surveillance can be found in RTCA DO-300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance.

9.4.5.1.3.3 Supplementary active interrogations. In order to ensure that an intruder’s track is updated at least as frequently as required in the absence of extended squitter data (9.4.3.7.1.2.2), each time a track is updated using squitter information the time at which an active interrogation would next be required shall be calculated. An active interrogation shall be made at that time if a further squitter has not been received before the interrogation is due.

9.4.5.1.4 Near threat. An intruder shall be tracked under active surveillance if it is a near threat, as determined by separate tests on the range and altitude of the aircraft. These tests shall be such that an intruder is considered a near threat before it becomes a potential threat, and thus triggers a traffic advisory as described in 9.4.3.3. These tests shall be performed once per second. All near threats, potential threats and threats shall be tracked using active surveillance.

Note. — Suitable tests for determining that an intruder is a near threat can be found in RTCA DO-300A Change 1/EUROCAE ED-221A – Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Hybrid Surveillance.

9.5.1.3.2.1 The NACP for the navigation position data shall be greater than or equal to 9, a 95 per cent accuracy bound on horizontal position less than 30 metres.

9.5.1.3.2.3 The NACP and NACV minimum values shall be met at a minimum availability of 95 per cent.

9.5.1.3.2.4 The system design assurance parameter shall be equal to 1 or more, which defines the probability of a failure resulting in transmission of false or misleading information to be less than or equal to 1 × 10−3.

Note 1.— These minimum performance requirements for extended squitter version 2 transmitted position data from surface vehicles are necessary to support aircraft-based alerting applications.

Note 2.— Guidance material for implementation of surface vehicle ADS-B systems is contained in the Technical Provisions for Mode S Services and Extended Squitter (Doc 9871). ...

CHAPTER 9.6. MULTILATERATION SYSTEMS ...

Note 2.— Detailed technical guidance for MLAT and WAM can be found in the Aeronautical Surveillance Manual (Doc 9924), Appendix L. Material contained in EUROCAE ED-117A – MOPS for Mode S Multilateration Systems for Use inA-SMGCS and ED-142 – Technical Specifications for Wide Area Multilateration System (WAM) provides information for planning, implementation and satisfactory operation of MLAT systems for most applications.

9.6.1 DEFINITIONS ...

Wide area multilateration (WAM) system. A multilateration system deployed to support en-route surveillance, terminal area surveillance and other applications such as height monitoring and precision runway monitoring (PRM).

— END — i.

Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Memorandum Circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other part or parts thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

ii.

Repealing Clause. - All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby repealed, superseded or modified accordingly.

iii. Determination of changes. – To highlight the amendments and/or revisions in the Memorandum Circular, the deleted text shall be shown with strikethrough and the new inserted text shall be highlighted with grey shading, as illustrated below: 1.

2.

3. iv.

Text deleted: Text to be deleted is shown with a line through it.

New text inserted: New text is highlighted with grey shading.

New text replacing existing text: Text to be deleted is shown with a line through it followed by the replacement text which is highlighted with grey shading.

Effectivity Clause. - This Memorandum Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a requisite single newspaper of general circulation or the Official Gazette and a copy filed with the U.P. Law Center - Office of the National Administrative Register.

So Ordered. Signed this 27th day of December 2018, at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, MIA Road, Pasay City, Metro Manila, 1301.

CAPTAIN JIM C. SYDIONGCO Director General

A8

News

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Teachers’group vows massive protest Feb. 15 EDUCATION workers on Sunday threatened to stage a massive protest action on Feb. 15 to demand a “substantial” salary increase and “full” respect of democratic rights.

Joselyn Martinez, Alliance of Concerned Teachers national president, said ACT would join unions belonging to the Alliance of Health Workers, and Confederation for Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees to urge the government to improve labor conditions in the public sector by effecting decent pay, providing benefits and ending contractualization.

She said they also demanded an end to state-propagated attacks against their unions.

Congress on Friday ratified the 2019 General Appropriations Act, following a standoff over billion-peso pork insertions for lawmakers and even some Cabinet secretaries.

Martinez lamented that their call for a substantial wage increase was not reflected in the ratified budget, nor were other immediate and just economic demands.

“We are on the last tranche of the disproportionate salary adjustment under Aquino’s Executive Order 201, series of 2016, where most teachers as well as the rest of the rank-andfile employees in the government received paltry increases vis-à-vis officials who received as much as a doubled compensation,” she said.

Rio Araja

‘Yolanda’ families get new houses T

By Ronald O. Reyes

ACLOBAN CITY—The Catholic Church and other donors turned over new housing units to the 263 families displaced by the 2013 Supertyphoon Yolanda in Tacloban City on February 10.

“We’re proud of these housing units because we also helped during construction. From planning to the buying of housing materials and building the houses, we were part of it,” said housing recipient Yolanda Sembrero.

“These houses are not only durable but also standard in terms of size,” she added.

The 566 housing units at Pope Francis Village have an up and down floor area of 40 square meters with at least three housing models.

Each unit costs P300,000, totaling

P169.8 million.

Philip Lumbre, president of the Pope Francis Village Home Owners’ Association, thanked the local, national, and international donors of the housing units.

“Compared to other relocation sites which are very far, the Pope Francis Village is just within the distance from our source of livelihood. We will only spend roughly P18.00 for our fare if we go fishing,” he said.

In other relocation sites, storm survivors need to spend around P54.00 in order to fish and return to their families.

Joli Torella of Urban Poor Associates said that they are proud of their accomplishment at the Pope Francis Village, calling the housing project as the “’model” for Yolanda survivors.

“We followed the participatorydriven approach in its planning and construction. The community-driven approach is quite a challenge, but important in doing rehabilitation works,” Torella said.

The Development and Peace/Caritas Canada had launched a 47-minute documentary entitled “After the Storm: Building the Pope Francis Village” which chronicled the empowered Yolanda survivors in building their new community.

Canadian delegation headed by Bishop Noel Simard along with church and government officials graced the turnover activity.

SEA Games exec charged with P6.7-m qualified theft

By Rey E. Requejo

Taho-throwing Chinese stude irks Robredo

VICE President Leni Robredo on Sunday denounced the disrespect shown by a Chinese student, who threw “taho” at a police officer who was conducting inspection at an MRT station.

Robredo said in a press statement that the Chinese woman’s act was an “insult” not just towards the police, but to the country and all Filipinos.

Noting how Filipino hospitality extends to the Chinese and other foreign nationals in the country, Robredo said foreigners should in turn respect the Philippines and its people.

She also underscored concerns that have been raised over the “special treatment” given to the Chinese—including jobs going to them instead of to Filipino workers—in line with the “friendship” that the Philippine government has with China.

The Vice President noted that this may have given way to the disrespect being shown by some Chinese nationals here. “[W]ake-up call iyon sa ating lahat.

Ano ba talaga? Maraming reklamo na iyong mga trabahong dapat sana sa Pilipino, nabibigay pa sa Instik. Tapos ito pa, parang kinakalinga natin sila tapos binabastos nila tayo,” she said.

Also joining the ceremony were Evelyne Beaudoin, president of the Development and Peace National Council; Sister Georgette Gregory of the Sisters of Saint Joseph; Kelly Di Domenico, communications director of Development and Peace; Jess Agustin, Development and Peace Philippines programme officer Jess Agustin; Arthur Neame and Lylah Puerto, the Development and Peace in-country support staff; Ghislain Josef Morin, member of the Development and Peace National Council; Danny Carranza, lead person for advocacy ad campaign of Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP); Palo Archbishop John Du; Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin; and former Department of Social Welfare and Development Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, among other guests.

ROSY TEDDY. Promenaders take souvenir photos with a teddy bear adorned with roses at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, several days ahead of Valentine’s Day. Norman Cruz

AN official of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee has been charged before the Department of Justice for allegedly pocketing over P6.7 million in corporate funds of the Philippine Superliga Inc. that he used to head.

In an 11-page complaint filed before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office, copy of which furnished the DOJ, PHILSGOC executive director Ramon “Tats” Suzara has been accused of qualified theft by PSL, which runs the country’s first semiprofessional corporate club volleyball league, before the Taguig City prosecutor’s office.

Besides Suzara, former president of the corporation, the PSL also included its former corporate treasurer and finance director Donaldo Jose “Don” Caringal in the charge sheet and sought their indictment for violation of Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code.

Suzara is president and CEO of SportsCore Event Management and Consultancy Inc. and known organizer of local and international tournaments.

A former administrator of the Philippine Sports Commission complex, he is also currently the marketing and development committee chairman of the FIVB and Asian Volleyball Confederation.

The complainant alleged that Suzara and Caringal made unauthorized disbursements of its funds totaling P6,762,946 in several instances in 2015 and 2016.

Through its new president and authorized representative Dr. Adrian Paolo “Ian” Laurel, the PSL alleged that the respondents issued a total of 11 checks payable to their names or to cash from its corporate account in several dates from Dec. 2015 to Oct. 2016.

99 Hanjin workers land jobs at caravan A total of 186 jobseekers, 99 of them former workers of bankrupt Korean shipbuilder Hanjin , found themselves employed during the “Build Build Build” Jobs Caravan at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.

Most of those hired-on-the-spot jobseekers were for the position of welders, electricians, mason, fitter, engineers, drivers, painters, scaffolders, riggers, administrative assistants/clerks, and sales/marketing staff.

Participated by 103 employers which brought over 25,000 jobs, the caravan was originally meant for workers of Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines who lost their jobs and those about to be laid off.

The one-day fair drew a total of 4,051 applicants of which 2,464 were Hanjin workers.

“This kind of job-matching and placement under the Build Build Build Program of President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte answers the needs of our jobseekers. We prefer that they be employed here because we need their skills in construction, shipbuilding, welding, structural fabrication, plumbing,

rigging, carpentry, and plant services,” said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III as he emphasized the need to retain the country’s skilled workers.

One former Hanjin employee who was hired-on-the-spot was Marino Alquino, a skilled welder, was unemployed for a few months after working for more than four years at Hanjin.

After finding out about the job fair through social media, the 25-year-old, who hails from Castillejos, Zambales, decided to visit the caravan.

Considering his skills and work experience as welder, Alquino was immediately hired by New Masinloc Construction and Supply.

Another jobseeker who found employment was Alvin Dumaplin, who was hired as driver by E.R. Dela Cruz Construction and Supply.

The 44-year-old Zambaleño has just returned to his hometown after working as a company driver in Manila.

He was elated to be back to work after being hired by the first employer that he visited during the job fair.

MEDICAL MISSION. More than 500 patients from poor commumities of Brgy Pag-Asa Botong Francisco, Mahabang Parang Angono Rizal availed themselves of free dental and medical check up during the Medical Mission sponsored by Tingog party list 1st nominee and Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez. Volunteer doctors and nurses from Project Outreach Philippines led by Dr. Ma. Salud Enrissa Talag, doctors from AFP Medical Center,Angono Hospital and Rizal Provincial Hospital supervised the medical mission. Ver Noveno

Ayala unit to begin work on Australian solar project

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC ENERGY Inc., the power unit of Ayala Corp., and joint venture partner UPC Renewables expect to start the construction of a 700-megawatt solar project in Australia by the middle of the year, a top executive said over the weekend.

“In Australia, we hope to be shovelready middle of this year, second quarter to be a little more on the hopeful side.

We’re doing a 700-MW solar [project] in New South Wales that hopefully will be shovel-ready in middle of the year. We might do it in phases. That’s going to require a significant investment as well,” AC Energy president Eric Francia said.

AC Energy announced last year it would invest $30 million for a 50-percent ownership of UPC Renewables’ Australian business and provide a $200-million facility to fund the project’s equity.

AC Energy said the joint venture investment would allow the company to participate in the Australian renewable energy sector.

UPC Renewables Australia is developing the 1,000-MW Robbins Island and Jims Plain projects in North West Tasmania and the 600-MW to 800-MW New England Solar Farm near Uralla in New South Wales.

UPC Renewables Australia also has a development portfolio of another 3,000 MW in NSW, Tasmania and Victoria.

“AC Energy is very excited to invest in UPC Renewables Australia as it complements AC Energy’s goal to exceed 5,000 MW by 2025. The UPC Renewables Australia platform is focused on large-scale projects and is managed by a high-quality management team” Francia said earlier.

“The Robbins Island project itself is a very large site and together with Jim’s Plains have some of the best-proven wind resources in the world, and the New England Solar project has an excellent solar resource within close proximity to transmission,” Francia said.

Business

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

B1

Dennis Uy investing $1b in 2 resort-casino projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria

P

H RESORTS Group Holdings Inc., the leisure and gaming unit of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, plans to spend $1 billion or more than P52 billion to fund the construction of two casino projects.

PH Resorts said in a registration statement it filed related to its planned P18.48-billion share sale it budgeted $665 million for the completion of The Emerald, an integrated resort and casino on a 13.5-hectare site in Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, Cebu.

The construction of The Emerald began in December 2017 and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2020.

The first phase is expected to have 7,585 square meters of aggregate gaming floor area, with 1,186 electronic gaming machines, 146 gaming tables, a five-star hotel with 838 rooms including five villas, a retail complex covering 8,000 square meters, a convention center and 18 restaurants.

The second phase is expected to have around 9,400 square meters of aggregate gaming floor area, a five-star hotel with 1,300 rooms and F&B and retail areas covering 5,700 square meters and 7,600 square meters, respectively.

IN BRIEF PAL, ANA to seal deal in March PAL Holdings Inc. said it expects to complete the entry of Japan’s ANA Holdings Inc. in Philippine Airlines by March 15 this year.

PAL Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the company and ANA were expecting to close the transaction between Feb. 28 and March 15, subject to the completion of their respective internal procedures.

“For this purpose, the parties have engaged PNB Securities to apply for a special block sale with the PSE. As soon as the transaction shall have been crossed with the exchange, the parties shall file the necessary reports to the PSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission,” PAL Holdings said.

ANA HD, the Japanese parent company of All Nippon Airways, is investing $95 million for a 9.5-percent stake in PAL Holdings.

ANA HD would acquire the shares from Trustmark Holdings Corp. which is owned by the family of billionaire Lucio Tan and is the largest shareholder of PAL Holdings. This will increase foreign ownership in the company from 8.77 percent to 18.27 percent. Darwin G. Amojelar

BSP seen to cut bank reserve ratio THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to reduce the reserve requirement ratio of banks by at least 2 percentage points this year instead of weaking the policy rate to address the liquidity tightness in the financial system, Bank of the Philippine Islands said in a report.

BPI said in a market report that with the 6.5 percent to 7 percent growth momentum still intact and with demand remaining strong, the BSP might have a little reason to adjust its policy rate throughout 2019.

“After just hiking its policy rate by nearly 200 bps [in 2018], BSP will likely pick low hanging fruits before considering an RRP cut,” BPI said.

“To alleviate the liquidity challenges faced by the financial system, the BSP will likely prioritize cutting the reserve requirement ratio by 2 percentage points or more in 2019 over a policy rate cut,” the bank said.

The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of BSP, opted to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged in its first policy meeting for the year on Feb. 7. Latest baseline forecasts showed that inflation would be settling within the target band of 2 to 4 percent for 2019 and 2020. Julito G. Rada

Suyen to venture into real estate SUYEN Corp., a retail conglomerate owned by Bench founder Ben Chan, is venturing into the real estate business through an investment in Clark Global City of businessman Dennis Uy. Suyen and Global Gateway Development Corp. of Udenna Group signed a memorandum of agreement for the sublease of 2,886 square meters at the latter’s 177-hectare leasehold within the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

“We thank Suyen for choosing to invest in Clark Global City and for sharing our vision for a central business district that will create more opportunities for Filipinos beyond the country’s major cities that have become highly congested,” GGDC chairman Dennis Uy said.

Under the plan, Suyen will build an office tower for lease in Clark Global City which has been attracting the biggest demand for office spaces outside Metro Manila.

“We’re bullish on the Philippine economy and seeing how it’s slowly but surely extending to key cities outside of Metro Manila,” Suyen chairman and chief excutive Ben Chan said. Jenniffer B. Austria

World-class hotel to rise near Mayon A GROUP of businessmen based in Clark Freeport expressed an interest to put up a world-class hotel and resort in a property located several kilometers from Mayon Volcano in Legazpi City.

Dr. Irineo ‘Bong’ Alvaro, one of the founders of Medal Consortium based in Clark, said he found Legazpi City an ideal place and site for their planned hotel and resort development project because of the panoramic view of the Mayon Volcano and the fast-growing tourism industry in Bicol Region.

“Legazpi is a major economic hub in Bicol Region. The city also has a fast-growing tourism industry with a focus on adventure tourism and the city government is promoting Legazpi as an ideal location for ICT-BPO businesses. The group will invest its egg into the nest, so vibrant and viable,” said Alvaro.

Alvaro, who led Medal Consortium during the project site inspection, said he was inspired by the groups’ ongoing project—Mirej Resort which is being built in Clark Freeport with nature as its centerpiece.

Medal Consortium is composed of hoteliers Bong Alavaro, Marc and Ric Mercado, Edwin Lim and Jeff del Mundo.

“The properties for hotel and resort project are situated in a place where one can experience breathtaking view, overlooking the world’s famous cone-shaped volcano, Mt. Mayon,” Alvaro told Manila Standard. Jess Malabanan

PH Resorts is also spending $276.6 million for the development of Clark Resort, an integrated gaming and tourism resort in Clark Freeport Zone. The Construction of Clark Resort is expected to start in the first quarter this year and to be completed by 2022.

Clark Resort, once completed, would have around 600 electronic gaming machines, 100 gaming tables, several hotels with 400 rooms and a retail and restaurant complex.

The company also budgeted $40.9 million for the acquisition of Donatela Hotel in Bohol and expansion of the hotel’s current operations.

PH Resorts said the casino projects and hotel expansion would be partially funded by the proceeds from the planned share sale next month.

The company plans to sell P18.48 billion worth of shares in March or April, a top executive of Udenna Corp., the parent company of PH Resorts, said earlier.

Udenna vice president for finance Ignacia Braga IV said the company was hoping to proceed with the planned share sale in March or April, once the company received approval from the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The PSE will hold a board meeting on Feb. 13 where the application for the planned share sale of PH Resorts could be taken up.

PH Resorts obtained the green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission in January to raise roughly P18.48 billion from the sale of up to 1.78 billion common shares, with an oversubscription option for another 267.94 million shares at P9 apiece.

The company tapped CLSA Ltd. and UBS as the international underwriters and China Banking Corp. as the domestic lead underwriter for the offering.

PH Resorts will have a public float of 30 percent, once it successfully sold the shares and exercised the over-allotment option.

The company said it also planned to borrow P36.14 billion. PH Resorts said it secured $103 million in committed loan facilities and is in the advanced stages of negotiating two additional loans worth $455 million and $175 million. A part of the proceeds will be used to refinance the company’s existing committed loan facilities.

BIR eyes $7.3-m Korean grant for invoice system

By Julito G. Rada THE government plans to tap a $7.3-million grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency to implement the first phase of the electronic invoicing system mandated under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act. The Bureau of Internal Revenue is currently in the process of preparing a feasibility study in cooperation with the Korean agency for the implementation of the e-invoicing project.

BIR deputy commissioner Arnel Guballa said a team from Koica visited the agency and the Finance Department last year to gather data in preparation for the feasibility study on the proposed Electronic Receipt, Invoice and Sales Reporting System.

B2

Business

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks likely to move sideways

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week as the lack of near-term catalysts will keep the market from gaining ground.

BDO Unibank Inc chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the market’s failure to hit 8,300 points last week highlighted its vulnerability to sell-offs.

“Look for another attempt of the 8,300 levels, as the market printed a new yearto-date and intra-week high at 8,213.72.

Failure for the market to stay above the 8,000 levels could signal more profit-taking activities back to 7,500/7,800 levels,” Ravelas said.

Papa Securities trader Gabriel Jose Perez said investors may look overseas for guidance given the lack of catalysts on the domestic front.

Meanwhile, with some corporate earnings scheduled to be released over the next couple of weeks, analysts said investors would be looking for guidance on how companies would perform for 2019.

Globe Telecom Inc. is scheduled to release its 2018 financial report on Feb. 12, followed by Ayala Land on Feb. 15 and DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc. on Feb. 18.

After five consecutive weeks of weekly increases, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week closed slipped 0.9 percent at 8,070.89, while the broader All Shares

Index declined 0.3 percent to 4,896.32 on lack of local and foreign catalysts.

Except for the mining and oil and services, all other sub-indices fell, led by industrial (-1.23 percent), holding firms (-0.89 percent), financial (-0.37 percent) and property (-0.20 percent).

Overseas investors continue to invest in the local stocks as the market registered a net foreign buying of P2.89 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Nickel Asia Corp., which surged 15.2 percent to P2.86; Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., which rose 9.1 percent to P6.50; and Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which advanced 8.6 percent to P12.06.

Weekly top price losers were PLDT Inc., which declined 5.56 percent to P1,240; Petron Corp., which dropped 3.8 percent to P7.20; and Aboitiz Power Corp., which lost 3.7 percent to P37.75.

Meanwhile, global stocks mostly fell Friday amid worries over slowing global growth and continued uncertainty on US-

China trade talks.

Key European stock markets were all lower at the close, with Frankfurt again the weakest performer and Paris and London also retreating.

US stocks also were under pressure, spending most of the day in the red before recovering and ending nearly unchanged.

“After the rebound in January, we go back to fundamentals,” said Maris Ogg, analyst and portfolio manager at Tower Bridge Advisors, who said commentary from companies during earnings season had emphasized sluggishness in Europe and China.

“If the deceleration continues in Europe and China, it will be very difficult for the US alone to buck against these trends,” Ogg said. “The logical approach is to take some risk off the table.”

Analysts cited the latest signals on USChina trade talks, which were not especially upbeat. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

FEBRUARY 4-9, 2019 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

59.45 139.20 91.70 2.28 1.53 28 7.58 17.18 13.54 4.85 0.66 1.48 800.00 0.475 83.4 1.21 14.36 22.95 48.90 59.5 122 186.3 26.1 179 1795.00 64.00 1.18

49,470 8,475,470 9,780,190 206,000 2,429,000 741,700 600 380,200 13,428,400 3,047,000 36,000 65,000 510 9,750,000 7,866,910 14,009,000 409,500 4,000 4,719,300 24,100 430 12,730 563,600 1,108,250 570 706,250 162,000

FINANCIAL 2,929,216.00 1,186,563,971.00 906,532,628.50 454,880.00 3,751,970.00 20,888,695.00 4,441.00 6,479,158.00 177,782,450.00 15,022,400.00 23,760.00 95,440.00 401,650.00 4,774,850.00 656,317,882.00 16,519,730.00 5,773,566.00 91,840.00 226,059,825.00 1,427,308.00 47,800.00 2,362,213.00 14,835,140.00 197,621,285.00 1,027,850.00 45,747,865.00 189,580.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation PH Resorts Group Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

37.75 16.5 1.05 1.39 0.255 97.7 16.50 2.47 16.44 126.1 30.3 71.1 88 41.5 1.83 6.39 6.74 11.780 16.1 8.35 7.73 1.57 20.75 73 27.90 3.2100 9.51 12.88 1.780 316.20 49.20 4.33 3.23 16.32 27.35 12.68 18.44 0.220 367.20 6.00 1.51 3.70 7.20 6.20 8.99 1.32 11.18 47.85 6 4.80 2.19 3.02 1.4 13 95.55 6.4 0.130 1.01 146.2 2.59 1.75 16.00 1.40

2,992,500 2,518,500 19,761,000 1,714,000 29,180,000 710 76,600 102,054,000 6,525,400 3,930 261,100 21,420 11,510 6,900 1,246,000 114,600 523,000 12,909,400 3,172,300 4,750,800 1,433,100 8,000 4,953,600 649,250 7,500 123,068,000 16,199,600 5,990,000 1,561,000 2,335,100 2,010 135,000 86,000 19,907,000 3,311,200 2,058,300 24,580,600 92,610,000 577,350 28,300 51,834,000 235,000 28,680,800 2,229,400 22,500 101,620,000 2,181,400 2,492,300 280,100 6,117,000 8,165,000 78,000 1,235,000 1,035,800 1,422,810 221,300 24,380,000 3,361,000 4,209,680 224,000 13,933,000 600 10,360,000

INDUSTRIAL 113,802,080.00 41,457,038.00 20,898,670.00 2,359,060.00 7,464,320.00 66,731.00 1,329,356.00 261,961,840.00 103,998,706.00 512,663.00 7,860,900.00 1,686,134.00 926,413.00 285,460.00 2,232,880.00 699,917.00 3,556,184.00 151,808,160.00 51,417,550.00 39,559,116.00 11,017,320.00 12,560.00 102,045,945.00 47,588,345.50 204,830.00 378,661,980.00 159,170,728.00 79,431,614.00 2,726,670.00 746,372,082.00 103,963.00 593,290.00 280,800.00 198,025,454.00 90,561,195.00 26,492,788.00 455,427,818.00 20,051,390.00 213,318,818.00 167,512.00 75,458,800.00 871,210.00 213,166,274.00 14,093,392.00 199,143.00 137,017,100.00 24,298,480.00 120,317,050.00 1,670,080.00 29,364,800.00 16,898,490.00 222,920.00 1,720,570.00 13,474,444.00 138,270,384.00 1,401,676.00 3,334,480.00 3,344,040.00 630,025,987.00 563,250.00 24,608,450.00 9,600.00 14,983,510.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.850 62.50 13.78 0.85 6.55 25.9 1.440 1.450 927 7.5 12.42 4.8 5 12.86 0.241 1095 6.19 65.40 5.51 5.95 0.66 5.36 15.52 0.580 4.91 2.81 0.0400 1.180 2.790 2.64 165.40 2.27 1010.00 1.39 0.77 278.200 441.20 0.2650 0.340

493,902,000 3,353,850 17,743,400 769,000 41,100 2,558,300 22,052,000 6,632,000 1,131,030 3,206,800 10,783,000 9,700 100 3,003,200 32,630,000 315,570 187,900 5,405,940 300 6,000 11,555,000 14,082,400 11,381,900 4,161,000 47,395,000 22,000 53,600,000 615,000 10,189,000 25,000 1,648,300 13,000 907,600 476,000 20,000 23,530 710 97,060,000 382,053,400

HOLDING FIRMS 411,240,400.00 210,638,766.50 245,348,730.00 629,000.00 269,055.00 75,831,020.00 31,366,940.00 9,519,180.00 1,058,377,150.00 23,810,512.00 136,701,634.00 48,298.00 500.00 38,713,398.00 9,174,980.00 351,907,080.00 1,169,104.00 354,459,943.50 1,653.00 32,750.00 7,831,280.00 74,756,874.00 176,318,200.00 2,358,620.00 233,743,730.00 66,200.00 2,094,300.00 712,580.00 28,154,270.00 64,350.00 272,538,316.00 29,580.00 906,652,842.50 654,670.00 15,400.00 6,547,382.00 320,338.00 26,366,200.00 255,631,300.00

5,879,400 5,738,000 54,900 1,904,000 6,307,000 35,559,100 12,377,000 10,037,000 480,700 43,650,000 178,000 486,000 79,980,000 32,370,000 7,156,900 7,076,700 2,607,000 8,200,000 79,135,000 6,187,000 72,324,100 81,990,000 18,802,000 8,150,000 11,080,000

PROPERTY 60,662,570.00 4,714,350.00 587,644.00 3,410,030.00 5,575,210.00 1,601,465,230.00 31,967,150.00 40,306,330.00 3,044,236.00 21,073,700.00 147,360.00 431,110.00 20,304,740.00 14,005,900.00 71,223,505.00 162,328,570.00 1,320,030.00 1,152,900.00 125,576,580.00 7,618,040.00 381,648,719.00 36,348,450.00 42,225,030.00 3,862,800.00 5,083,850.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’

10.280 0.81 11.08 1.840 0.890 45.000 2.54 4.1 6.4 0.480 0.82 0.910 0.248 0.410 10.100 23.9 0.510 0.131 1.56 1.24 5.29 0.435 2.2400 0.4650 0.465

JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 1, 2019 Close Volume Value 59.5 140.00 92.00 2.17 1.41 28.3

97,230 20,741,790 11,763,190 344,000 1,688,000 1,263,700

5,750,647.00 2,858,460,862.00 1,078,065,021.00 743,090.00 2,398,830.00 36,034,870.00

17.04 12.72 4.78 0.66 1.42 784.00 0.465 84.15 1.13 14.18 23.00 45.35 59 122 183 26 179.1 1796.00 65.00 1.17

973,000 9,449,500 662,000 67,000 218,000 980 2,390,000 11,125,330 15,698,000 1,577,000 6,000 544,200 48,240 780 2,120 816,500 2,981,490 650 393,490 110,000

16,290,350.00 118,901,070.00 3,177,480.00 44,000.00 304,430.00 768,710.00 1,092,100.00 930,605,779.00 17,745,270.00 21,530,650.00 127,485.00 24,415,100.00 2,856,488.50 92,380.00 390,776.00 21,407,885.00 534,084,795.00 1,172,865.00 25,395,200.00 125,770.00

39.2 16.4 1.04 1.37 0.255 90.8 16.66 2.72 15.8 145 30.7 64.55

6,389,800 3,378,600 23,253,000 1,619,000 25,490,000 930 192,800 244,684,000 8,018,500 7,410 353,700 70

245,633,150.00 54,325,812.00 23,744,930.00 2,173,330.00 6,351,710.00 84,525.00 3,368,638.00 629,649,540.00 125,755,716.00 1,005,859.00 10,770,745.00 4,474.00

40.05 1.78 6.1 6.68 11.700 16.1 8.20 7.60 1.57 20.65 73.8 28.00 2.9600 9.35 13 1.760 320.00 53.80 4.28 3.26 10.50 27.15 12.68 18.26 0.171 370.60 6.25 1.4 3.72 7.49 6.08 8.80 1.36 10.78 48 6 4.81 1.88 2.96 1.39 13 96.5 6.36 0.122 0.94 150 2.7 1.8 16.98 1.47

892,200 275,000 54,800 85,400 17,058,900 5,617,700 3,542,200 4,194,100 82,000 10,156,500 327,190 1,152,400 365,989,000 36,709,200 4,927,900 4,140,000 4,051,630 2,680 335,000 70,000 11,500 1,452,900 12,421,200 17,211,000 2,110,000 1,582,060 191,000 27,078,000 377,000 16,986,800 5,875,700 16,000 196,509,000 650,500 3,982,000 946,300 5,633,000 2,016,000 73,000 1,005,000 2,505,500 2,228,490 351,300 7,120,000 1,599,000 5,874,000 2,163,000 111,423,000 4,760 32,763,000

36,578,180.00 487,760.00 335,501.00 562,083.00 197,764,768.00 89,613,736.00 28,715,462.00 31,621,466.00 135,190.00 206,360,704.00 24,133,572.50 31,532,735.00 1,091,323,310.00 297,966,309.00 61,159,848.00 6,768,450.00 1,293,107,276.00 144,218.00 1,437,800.00 225,410.00 117,684.00 39,818,370.00 153,083,064.00 315,481,032.00 365,600.00 587,072,450.00 1,146,217.00 36,956,850.00 1,371,420.00 129,716,654.00 37,246,394.00 144,162.00 258,766,850.00 7,122,334.00 190,097,710.00 5,677,600.00 27,046,180.00 3,324,710.00 218,400.00 1,372,380.00 31,474,856.00 211,461,260.50 2,249,812.00 870,050.00 1,487,150.00 867,985,628.00 5,418,220.00 201,447,260.00 85,736.00 47,599,930.00

0.660 64.00 13.90 0.76 6.53 28.7 1.450 1.480 940 7.42 12.76

115,097,410 7,255,310 41,587,900 238,000 144,600 1,492,700 38,606,000 6,535,000 2,544,140 6,274,600 20,391,600

98,702,600.00 467,386,683.00 577,055,106.00 183,150.00 936,225.00 41,941,990.00 55,214,680.00 9,393,650.00 2,349,147,575.00 46,533,985.00 254,895,594.00

13.00 0.227 1119 5.91 65.65 5.7 4.82 0.62 5.38 15.48 0.570 4.86 2.81 0.0380 1.150 2.610 2.67 166.50 2.28 1015.00 1.36 0.77 280.000 440.20 0.2550 0.345

3,128,500 120,000 601,005 145,500 8,859,560 1,400 3,000 3,132,070 28,600,200 11,467,400 2,481,000 125,221,000 6,000 96,000,000 553,000 2,793,000 99,000 2,920,950 5,000 1,689,360 1,135,000 484,000 115,840 600 18,700,000 47,090,000

39,493,268.00 26,300.00 634,827,800.00 903,767.00 575,079,776.50 7,980.00 14,460.00 145,929,880.50 149,287,083.00 179,871,448.00 1,434,070.00 616,969,030.00 16,860.00 3,714,900.00 638,360.00 7,048,270.00 254,590.00 482,200,753.00 11,400.00 1,662,846,590.00 1,526,240.00 389,100.00 32,254,222.00 267,912.00 4,773,780.00 13,984,400.00

10.000 0.81 11.10 1.730 0.880 44.950 2.52 4.16 6.3 0.495 0.80 0.910 0.255 0.395 9.480 21.5 0.500 0.125 1.55 1.20 5.27 0.445 2.2900 0.4650 0.435

14,751,800 4,600,000 5,100 846,000 18,145,000 101,215,500 5,910,000 1,445,000 139,600 120,890,000 685,000 311,000 58,920,000 2,680,000 11,030,800 6,404,700 1,187,000 620,000 82,356,000 4,173,000 93,409,600 100,250,000 61,983,000 31,240,000 15,950,000

136,812,524.00 3,739,220.00 54,170.00 1,411,170.00 16,437,740.00 4,467,827,630.00 14,558,450.00 6,082,310.00 872,012.00 58,744,850.00 541,610.00 272,980.00 14,587,890.00 1,034,100.00 99,445,988.00 133,455,835.00 586,975.00 75,950.00 124,223,030.00 4,903,910.00 488,258,831.00 43,682,050.00 144,576,860.00 15,118,000.00 7,064,900.00

STOCKS

FEBRUARY 4-9, 2019 Close Volume

JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 1, 2019 Close Volume Value

Value

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

48.00 3.09 21.60 2.02 3.13 38.65 1.39 6.17 0.760 6.500

1,920 5,846,000 8,100,300 672,000 313,000 22,646,500 7,693,000 1,539,900 1,041,000 263,616,600

93,998.50 19,268,340.00 180,460,245.00 1,327,160.00 974,980.00 878,835,285.00 10,982,260.00 9,267,977.00 757,060.00 1,669,320,208.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

13.4 24.1 1.34 0.465 0.043 14.2 3.22 12.06 0.0660 90.95 7.69 6.66 7.60 2.02 15.60 896 2030 5.81 352.00 11.00 2.85 114 1.94 11.3 7.19 0.134 6.5000 3.11 15.76 3.35 0.80 19.50 16.00 0.360 4.86 2.75 2.11 2.10 3.300 9.33 12.70 3.6 132.10 3.14 1240.00 1.260 1.000 48.25 87.80 8.18 2.39 0.790 0.445 5.56 0.760 14.620

382,700 1,409,400 862,000 29,450,000 66,900,000 4,900 11,064,000 64,046,800 528,300,000 691,630 57,400 7,762,500 343,000 65,000 1,986,500 130 138,290 1,379,700 6,170 5,700 4,346,000 10,714,520 93,000 137,200 36,700 108,540,000 113,511,600 77,000 1,161,100 3,102,000 109,000 9,341,400 2,300 540,000 382,000 8,971,000 1,254,000 128,000 19,088,000 50,100 1,125,400 29,000 24,620 15,268,000 378,690 708,283,000 71,719,000 9,190,300 2,942,940 144,600 36,932,000 39,897,000 108,580,000 1,269,000 21,593,000 26,565,200

SERVICES 5,217,318.00 33,410,555.00 1,141,130.00 13,838,500.00 2,807,500.00 69,818.00 36,163,270.00 759,976,466.00 34,870,830.00 62,303,849.00 458,199.00 53,165,788.00 2,513,369.00 135,460.00 32,226,420.00 116,500.00 280,614,020.00 7,991,925.00 2,219,692.00 65,936.00 12,499,340.00 1,195,486,644.00 178,320.00 1,592,840.00 263,368.00 14,686,260.00 773,819,235.00 244,760.00 17,875,590.00 10,557,010.00 88,620.00 190,060,669.00 35,838.00 191,250.00 1,819,840.00 23,998,810.00 2,625,850.00 269,260.00 61,106,270.00 475,172.00 14,594,220.00 102,730.00 3,187,496.00 47,741,880.00 485,784,515.00 964,898,290.00 71,915,250.00 441,725,325.00 262,238,466.50 1,191,883.00 89,972,530.00 32,058,400.00 48,861,300.00 7,023,779.00 16,030,020.00 382,244,264.00

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

United Paragon

0.0023 1.52 3.00 13.46 1.4800 1.2400 2.12 0.300 8.50 1.530 0.320 0.127 0.136 0.009 0.0079 1.15 2.88 1.12 0.7600 1.0100 0.0130 0.0130 4.39 14.06 0.0130 3.6500 23.70 0.0078

MINING & OIL 2,681,390,000 8,829,300.00 10,230,000 15,906,770.00 2,274,000 6,787,640.00 5,500 73,628.00 1,000 1,480.00 1,000 1,240.00 2,070,000 4,340,860.00 3,620,000 1,137,950.00 591,800 4,966,802.00 10,623,000 16,063,170.00 162,880,000 54,132,040.00 28,730,000 3,700,610.00 6,360,000 826,620.00 139,000,000 1,155,700.00 3,000,000 24,200.00 5,699,000 6,354,270.00 34,099,000 95,023,050.00 17,013,000 21,018,180.00 4,814,000 3,499,010.00 6,606,000 6,756,280.00 371,500,000 2,303,700.00 2,186,100,000 19,515,700.00 14,064,000 60,300,940.00 7,285,800 103,205,532.00 422,600,000 5,071,600.00 1,103,000 4,072,920.00 4,759,700 113,572,285.00 572,000,000 4,832,600.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

20.6 101.5 452 490 98.4 103.8 490 5.83 900 900 95.6 1 101.3 990 1000 101 106.5 990 75.05 76.1 73.85 73.5 75 73 73.5 73 2.1

2,379,800 2,020 10,640 17,700 46,740 7,370 2,220 607,600 220 890 14,990 474,000 2,340 90 1,100 5,560 500 280 77,360 145,060 1,890 16,720 59,300 100,800 14,030 82,650 18,000

LR Warrant

1.960

762,000

PREFERRED 45,959,835.00 205,045.00 4,951,724.00 8,690,460.00 4,597,554.50 764,404.00 1,069,948.00 3,511,226.00 198,550.00 802,500.00 1,434,898.50 472,080.00 237,571.00 87,025.00 1,100,000.00 558,704.00 53,250.00 277,320.00 5,811,720.50 11,046,653.00 139,569.50 1,230,369.00 4,442,960.00 7,358,400.00 1,029,825.00 6,063,103.00 32,900.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,523,700.00 SME 17,200.00 16,096,360.00 190,908,610.00

46.05 3.2 22.35 1.96 3.11 39.20 1.42 5.9 0.700 5.960

15,930 1,741,000 10,081,700 308,000 260,000 55,904,400 5,736,000 1,485,300 229,000 25,663,800

823,794.50 5,563,280.00 227,321,365.00 608,100.00 806,960.00 2,192,629,130.00 7,844,660.00 8,768,969.00 160,040.00 150,421,291.00

13.2 23.3 1.31 0.450 0.041 15 3.12 11.10 0.0620 88.9 7.99 6.57 7.10 2.1 15.10 900 2070 5.79 350.00 10.36 2.87 108.5 2.00 11.92 7.24 0.125 6.4700 3.27 14.22 3.28 0.79 19.90

396,800 1,463,600 1,596,000 14,040,000 62,300,000 1,382,000 14,520,000 55,909,900 292,180,000 1,339,950 10,500 14,613,600 81,700 8,000 1,379,600 910 251,415 798,900 18,420 1,500 10,635,000 12,644,820 102,000 201,900 31,100 28,550,000 152,796,800 183,000 16,300 4,696,000 889,000 16,187,100

5,333,648.00 34,429,355.00 2,099,630.00 6,289,150.00 2,514,400.00 20,734,606.00 42,148,250.00 610,362,312.00 17,492,060.00 118,196,789.00 83,678.00 95,318,809.00 577,325.00 16,740.00 21,107,582.00 826,475.00 524,268,410.00 4,629,152.00 6,380,168.00 15,848.00 30,655,720.00 1,369,418,041.00 192,010.00 2,603,268.00 223,781.00 3,557,260.00 994,901,340.00 584,000.00 240,008.00 15,388,540.00 713,350.00 304,514,292.00

0.340 4.95 2.56 2.12 2.32 3.350 9.46 13.00 3.55 124.00 3.03 1313.00 1.620 0.970 46.70 89.70 8.30 2.43 0.800 0.45 5.52 0.700 13.800

520,000 909,700 11,364,000 3,497,000 75,000 18,819,000 256,100 13,345,900 36,000 21,000 6,473,000 616,815 2,038,281,000 79,865,000 12,050,100 4,376,140 2,295,400 37,912,000 180,064,000 249,272,320 4,584,700 7,942,000 12,770,400

178,500.00 4,416,486.00 29,486,120.00 7,343,610.00 169,500.00 63,640,720.00 2,392,130.00 188,922,870.00 128,160.00 2,566,428.00 19,586,340.00 605,530,495.00 2,970,423,820.00 74,555,260.00 551,651,685.00 385,224,589.00 18,979,582.00 92,942,140.00 147,350,560.00 119,455,700.00 25,201,826.00 5,568,650.00 175,065,740.00

0.0021 1.55 2.86 13.78 1.5000 1.2500 2.06 0.290 7.60 1.550 0.218 0.136 0.136 0.007 0.0073 1.08 2.5 1.04 0.6900 0.9800 0.0130 0.0130 4.17 14.60 0.0120 3.9000 23.50 0.0074

2,067,000,000 11,278,000 1,146,000 110,300 223,000 10,000 3,108,000 290,000 22,600 22,881,000 1,640,000 72,420,000 11,540,000 75,000,000 13,000,000 11,115,000 8,441,000 2,520,000 666,000 2,963,000 55,900,000 1,148,600,000 11,531,000 6,637,400 512,900,000 732,000 5,900,100 376,000,000

4,326,900.00 17,756,300.00 3,312,060.00 1,484,052.00 303,350.00 12,500.00 6,337,910.00 84,200.00 174,254.00 33,957,270.00 355,500.00 9,441,140.00 1,537,300.00 563,100.00 94,900.00 11,636,800.00 20,877,490.00 2,681,200.00 446,440.00 2,838,580.00 708,500.00 14,235,100.00 47,951,130.00 97,090,968.00 6,374,900.00 2,785,970.00 138,986,950.00 2,922,700.00

20.85 101.5 472 490 98.5 103.5

1,622,600 9,630 10,010 6,400 35,690 650

33,448,246.00 972,745.00 4,740,320.00 3,145,640.00 3,515,172.00 66,525.00

5.74 930 900 96 1 101.6 989 1040 100 107 990 75.15 76.4 73.8 73.95 75.05 73 72.6 73.5

676,400 150 12,490 5,080 1,578,000 126,210 40 275 8,200 1,520 14,450 18,910 101,200 522,860 51,380 41,420 38,470 19,740 575,420

3,801,697.00 139,450.00 11,307,500.00 485,905.50 1,569,530.00 12,822,679.00 38,780.00 286,200.00 820,000.00 158,890.00 14,173,400.00 1,419,437.50 7,623,445.50 37,907,585.00 3,778,541.00 3,098,003.00 2,808,360.00 1,432,145.00 42,104,832.00

1.990

1,119,000

2,195,940.00

4.4 1.66

3,684,000 105,692,000

16,770,690.00 158,107,690.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

2.86 4.55 1.78

6,000 3,344,000 109,813,000

First Metro ETF

119.8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 36,620 4,408,629.00

120.9

56,450

6,750,437.00

10.2 0.91

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 5,680 57,936.00 24,360 12,304.00

10 1

15,970 28,580

162,854.00 28,598.80

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Oriental Pet. `B’ PremiereHorizon United Paragon Boulevard Holdings Abacus Cons. `A’ Philodrill Corp. `A’ Zeus Holdings Oriental Pet. `A’ Vista Land & Lifescapes

VOLUME 2,681,390,000 2,186,100,000 708,283,000 572,000,000 528,300,000 493,902,000 422,600,000 382,053,400 371,500,000 263,616,600

STOCKS Vista Land & Lifescapes Ayala Land `B’ I.C.T.S.I. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ PremiereHorizon SM Investments Inc. Bank of PI SM Prime Holdings ISM Communications

VALUE 1,669,320,208.00 1,601,465,230.00 1,195,486,644.00 1,186,563,971.00 1,058,377,150.00 964,898,290.00 906,652,842.50 906,532,628.50 878,835,285.00 773,819,235.00

Phoenix upbeat, eyes expansion in Asian marts

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. plans to expand in regional markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Australia, a corporate filings showed over the weekend.

Phoenix, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, said it might also take a 40-percent stake in Tanglawan Philippine LNG Inc., which just received from the the Department of Energy a notice to proceed with the construction of a liquefied natural gas integrated hub in the country.

Phoenix is seeking stockholders’ approval on a proposed joint venture with China National Offshore Oil Corp. The partnership will establish a new company to manage and invest P250 million in the joint venture.

The company’s subsidiary also plans to acquire a 60-percent share in the property holding company for the LNG hub, Liwanag Philippine Property Management Inc. Phoenix will acquire a share when the joint venture establishes an LNG-powered power plant.

Phoenix is seeking approval from shareholders for the formation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary in Singapore, PNX Energy International Holdings Pte. Ltd., to manage the company’s foreign investments, including expansion of related business activities and operation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Phoenix, which will hold annual stockholders’ meeting on March 15, is seeking ratification of the company’s initial investment of $10,000 intended for PEIH’s initial operations.

It will use the initial investment to establish PEIH and shoulder the initial administrative and operational expenses of the company.

“The company expands regionally, it requires an appropriate corporate structure to ensure tax efficiency, a stable and fair legal environment, world-class infrastructure and access to high quality international skills, thus the need to establish PEIH,” Phoenix said.

The company established the company in Singapore because of the country’s excellent financial and IT infrastructure and pro-business environment, major international air and sea hubs and a flexible tax regime.

“Other than holding shares in other foreign subsidiaries and generating passive investment income, PEIH may also carry out commercial activities such as conducting supply chain activities,” it said.

Cebu Pacific set to add more flights to Japan

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific plans to increase flight frequencies between Manila and Japan amid rising tourists between the two countries.

Cebu Pacific country manager to Japan Tomohiko Matsumoto said the airline would raise flight frequencies between the Philippines and Japan, but noted the slots at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were “very tight.”

“So we are doing aircraft upgrade. The recent one is we have been operating an A320 but now we are trying to change it to A321 which is about 50 seats more,” he added Matsumoto said Filipino visitors to Japan had been rapidly growing in the last five years.

“Every year the number of Filipino visitors are increasing by almost 70,000 to 80,000 and last year there are half a million visitors from Philippines,” he said.

Matsumoto said Japanese visitors to the Philippines were also increasing.

“It was not as rapid as Filipinos coming to Japan but the number is increasing about 40,000 to 50,000 people every year in the last three to four years,” he said.

Matsumoto estimated the number of Japanese visited the Philippines reached 600,000 last year.

“Our Philippine Tourism Department is perhaps targeting 700,000 (Japanese tourists) this year. I think it’s doable with our capacity increase and other carriers also are increasing capacity because they see the market growing and growing vice versa,” he said.

“We also like to have more Filipino tourist and business visitors coming to Japan,” Matsumoto added.

The airline has a share capacity of more than 10 percent for the PhilippineJapan market.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World/Business

TODAY

B3

South Korea ready to raise its payments for US troops S EOUL―Seoul said Sunday it agreed to hike its payment for maintaining American troops on its soil, settling a dispute with its longtime ally ahead of a second summit between the US and North Korea.

The two countries have been in a security alliance since the 1950-53 Korean war, which ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty―with more than 28,000 US troops stationed in the South to guard against threats from Pyongyang.

But US President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about the expense of keeping American forces on the peninsula, with Washington reportedly asking Seoul to double its contribution toward costs.

The negotiations ended with South Korea’s foreign ministry saying Seoul will pay about 1.04 trillion won (US$924 million) in 2019, 8.2 percent more than what it offered under a previous five-year pact which expired at the end of last year.

The ministry said that although the US had demanded a “huge increase” in payment, they were able to reach an agreement that reflects “the security situation of the Korean peninsula”.

“The two countries reaffirmed...the importance of a strong South Korea-US alliance and the need for a stable stationing of the US troops,” it said in a statement issued after a signing ceremony.

The row had raised concern that Trump may use it as an excuse for US withdrawal.

The US president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are expected to discuss an official declaration to end the decades-old war —a prelude to a peace treaty—at their second summit in Hanoi later this month.

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON AUDIT Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

At their first meeting in Singapore last year, the notoriously unpredictable US president had made a shock decision to suspend US-South Korea military drills.

But Trump told US broadcaster CBS last week that he had “no plans” to remove US troops from South Korea as part of a deal at the upcoming summit, although he admitted “maybe someday” he would withdraw them, adding: “It’s very expensive to keep troops there.”

Since the deal is only valid for one year, the two sides may soon have to return to the negotiating table.

Seoul contributed around 960 billion won last year—more than 40 percent of the total bill—financing the construction of American military facilities and paying South Korean civilians working on US bases.

The deal will officially go into effect after it receives parliamentary approval in South Korea, which is expected to take place in April, according to Yonhap news agency.

AFP

CIRCULAR

JOY ANNE EVARISTO

GREEN LIGHT WITH more than 7 billion people around the world, what are the chances of you finding the “right one?” When you know in your heart that you already got “the one,” will you not do whatever you can to make the “right one” stay?

If not forever, at least a while longer?

Making the right one stay and believing in forever is not just a personal issue, it is also an organizational issue. In the organizational context, employee turnover is the rate of people joining and leaving the organization, while employee retention is concerned with how do we keep the right ones. So can management studies help us find ways on how to make the “right one” stay?

In a report by LinkedIn in 2017, the average global turnover rate is 12.8 percent and these rates are expected to increase over the next several years. The top global reasons for employees leaving are a lack of opportunity to advance (45 per cent), dissatisfaction with senior management (41 per cent) and the work environment or culture (36 per cent). These issues coupled with easier access to more work options due to increased globalization and advancements in technology post even a greater challenge for human resource managers in retaining their talented employees.

Many human resource management practices have been explored to improve employee retention. However,widely adopted HR practices such as remuneration, training and development might not really provide a competitive advantage for organizations to retain “the right employees.” Workers look beyond compensa-

: 2019 - 001 : January 30, 2019

TO

:

All City/Municipal Mayors and Punong Barangays; City/ Municipal Accountants; Members of the Sangguniang Barangay; Barangay Treasurers; COA Directors/Assistant Directors; Supervising Auditors, Audit Team Leaders; Heads of the Authorized Government Depository Banks; and All Others Concerned

SUBJECT

:

Providing Control Mechanism to Enforce Submission of Barangay Financial Transactions and Discontinuance of the Use of the COA Auditor’s Advice prescribed under COA Circular No. 2012-005 dated December 7, 2012

1.0 RATIONALE 1.1. It is the declared policy of the State that all resources of the government shall be managed, expended or utilized in accordance with law and regulations, and safeguarded against loss or wastage through illegal and improper disposition, with a view to ensuring efficiency, economy and effectiveness in the operations of government. The responsibility to ensure that such policy is faithfully adhered to rests directly with the chief or head of the government agency concerned.

1.2. It is also a fundamental principle that claims against government funds shall be supported with complete documentation.

1.3. COA Circular No. 2012-005 dated December 7, 2012 provides that failure of the barangay to submit the original copy of the Disbursement Vouchers (DVs) signed by the payee, together with its corresponding supporting documents and duplicate copies of the checks and Punong Barangay Certification (PBC) shall cause the issuance of the COA Auditor’s Advice (CAA) to the authorized government depository bank (AGDB), which shall withhold further payments of checks issued by the concerned barangay.

1.4. The foregoing control, however, causes the delay/stoppage in the delivery of services of the barangay.

1.5. In consonance with the function of the Commission to promulgate auditing and accounting rules and regulations to prevent irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant and unconscionable expenditures or uses of government funds or property, this Circular is prescribed to discontinue the use of the CAA and provide control mechanism to enforce submission of the barangay transaction documents.

2.0 SCOPE This Circular shall cover all financial transactions of the barangay.

3.0 GENERAL GUIDELINES 3.1. Fiscal responsibility shall rest with the Punong Barangay (PB). The PB shall also be responsible for the proper discharge of duties and responsibilities of the barangay officials.

US seeking UN draft resolution urging elections in Venezuela UNITED NATIONS—The United States has presented a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling for international aid deliveries and a presidential vote in Venezuela, triggering a Russian counter-proposal.

While no date has yet been set for a vote on the American draft, and negotiations are ongoing, Russia is likely to use its veto power to block it as part of its support of Nicolas Maduro’s regime, diplomats said.

The text, a copy of which was obtained

by AFP on Saturday, expresses “full support for the National Assembly as the only democratically elected institution in Venezuela.”

The legislative body’s chairman, Juan Guaido, has declared himself interim president of Venezuela, challenging Maduro’s rule.

The draft resolution stresses “deep concern with the violence and excessive use of force by Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, peaceful protesters.”

It also “calls for the immediate start of a political process leading to free, fair and credible presidential elections, with international electoral observation, in line with Venezuela’s constitution.”

The text also requests that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres “utilize his good offices” to obtain such elections.

It also “stresses the need to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Venezuela and to facilitate access and delivery of assistance to all in need in the entirety of the territory of Venezuela.”

On Friday, Moscow proposed an alternative resolution to the American one, diplomats said.

It expresses “concern over the threats to use force against the territorial integrity and political independence of... Venezuela,” according to a draft seen by AFP. AFP

No. Date

3.2. All payments of the barangay shall be made by check.

3.3. No cash advance shall be given unless for a legally authorized specific purpose. A cash advance shall be reported on and liquidated as soon as the purpose for which it was given has been served. No additional cash advance shall be allowed to any official or employee unless the previous cash advance given to him is first settled or a proper accounting thereof is made.

3.4. The DV shall originate from the Barangay Treasurer (BT) and the BT shall forward the same to the Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, who shall certify as to the existence of appropriations, after which, the BT shall certify as to availability of cash.

3.5. The PB shall certify the DV as to the legality, propriety and validity of the transaction and approve the disbursement after he has duly examined and been satisfied that the DVs are duly certified by the proper barangay officials, the expenditure is proper and valid, and the supporting documents are complete.

3.6. The PB shall issue the PBC (Annex A) to the depository bank for checks issued by the barangay.

3.7. Barangay financial transaction documents consisting of the Report of Collections and Deposits (RCDs) with the duplicate copies of the official receipts (ORs) and deposit slips, bank statements, original copies of the DVs with its supporting documents (SDs), duplicate copies of the checks and PBCs shall be submitted to the City/Municipal (C/M) Accountant within 10 days after the end of the month for recording in the barangay books of accounts and financial reporting.

3.8. If the barangay financial transaction documents are not submitted within the deadline, the Supervising Auditor (SA)/Audit Team Leader (ATL) shall no longer issue the CAA, but shall follow the herein procedures/mechanism to enforce submission thereof.

4.0

SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 4.1. Within 10 days after the end of the month, the BT shall prepare the transmittal letter (Annex B) and submit the financial transaction documents to the C/M Accountant.

4.2. Within three working days from submission of the transmittal letter and financial transaction documents to the C/M Accountant, the BT shall submit a duly receipted copy of the transmittal letter, together with copies of the PBCs, to the SA/ATL.

WINTER IN HONG KONG. A Star Ferry (top) crosses Victoria Harbor as a woman takes a selfie of her family in Hong Kong on February 10, 2019. AFP

4.3. The C/M Accountant shall submit to the SA/ATL, the barangay financial transaction documents, within 10 working days from receipt of the transmittal letter.

Rich, poor Venezuelans flocking to Madrid MADRID―Fleeing the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in their country, Venezuelans have arrived in Spain in their thousands, some of them penniless, others so rich they are buying sumptuous flats.

Fran Leal, 36, came to Spain from Maracay in northern Venezuela two months ago with his wife and two children.

“Do you have a small suitcase? I’m going to Toledo, I’ve found a job,” he asks as he enters the Casa Venezuela, an association that helps struggling Venezuelans in Madrid.

An electrician, he is going to the city south of Madrid to work illegally for six months.

“I don’t have a choice as I don’t yet have ID papers and I have no more savings,” he says, as the crisis in Venezuela deepens with opposition leader Juan Guaido’s self-proclamation as interim president.

Unlike Leal, Juan Leonardo Lopez has not found a job since he arrived three months ago.

4.4. If the BT fails to submit the financial transaction documents after five days from the deadline, the C/M Accountant shall inform the PB, in a letter, of the barangay’s failure to submit the documents, and shall require the PB to enforce the immediate submission thereof, within three working days from receipt of the letter, copy furnished the SA/ATL of the duly received letter.

“Before the crisis, I wasn’t a millionaire but I lived fine, I had a great car and everything I needed,” he says at a Venezuelan opposition protest in Madrid.

He says he saw children die of dehydration in the hospital in Maracay where he worked.

Spain’s statistics agency says some 255,000 Venezuelans have settled in the country.

But that figure is likely to be closer to 300,000 if illegal immigrants are taken into account, according to Tomas Paez, head of the Venezuelan Diaspora Observatory.

Venezuelan asylum requests have nearly doubled in Spain over the year, with close to 20,000 in 2018, according to the interior ministry.

But only 29 were successful last year, the ministry says, as it is hard for those who migrate for economic reasons to get asylum.

As a result, Madrid has started giving some Venezuelans humanitarian visas. AFP

4.5. The C/M Accountant shall inform in writing the SA/ATL of the barangay’s failure to submit the financial transaction documents if after five days from receipt of the C/M Accountant’s letter by the PB there is still no submission made.

4.6. Upon receipt of the C/M Accountant’s letter, the SA/ATL shall issue within two working days a demand letter (Annex C) to the PB requiring the BT to submit the financial transaction documents for the specific period within three days from receipt thereof.

4.7. Upon submission, the SA/ATL shall verify check issuances in the BT cashbook, validate bank statements for negotiated checks and review the submitted financial transaction documents, issue the appropriate audit action/ decision, if warranted, and furnish the C/M Accountant with photocopies of the submitted financial transaction documents for recording in the barangay books of accounts.

4.8. If the barangay still fail to submit the accounts, three working days after the demand, the SA/ATL shall issue a Notice of Disallowance (ND) for the unsubmitted transactions on the ground that the disbursements were made without valid and legal purpose. Likewise, the SA/ATL shall execute an affidavit (Annex D) on the non-submission of the accounts after due demand and submit the same together with the supporting documents to the COA Regional Director for evaluation and filing of appropriate case with the Office of the Ombudsman, if warranted.

4.9. For transactions with outstanding CAAs, the SA/ATL shall: 4.9.1. Issue to the PB a demand letter (Annex C) to submit within five days the barangay financial transaction documents, in two copies, for the period covered by the CAA.

How can we make the right ones stay? tion in deciding whether or not to stay.

Making the right ones stay in the organization requires looking beyond traditional HRM practices. A study on employee retention conducted among BPOs in the Philippines by Presbiterio, Roxas and Chadee in 2016 sought to discover how an organization can leverage its HR practices to enhance employee retention rates.

Interestingly, the answer boils down to how fit the organization values are to that of its employees. This is actually a form of compatibility, but is known in the field of human resource management as person-to-organization fit or as employee-organization values fit.

According to them, HRM practices such as remuneration, training and development, career development and work life balance can lead to improvement in employee retention when it is anchored on basic values that employees and the organization share.

When the personal values of employees are compatible with the values and norms of the organization, they tend to become more productive and effective employees. They also tend to experience less burn-out and will more likely to develop a sense of affirmative feelings about the workplace.

Because employees experience organizational identification or a deeper sense of belongingness in the organization, employees with higher values similarities between the organization and their superiors are more likely to stay.

It was suggested that HR managers should

consider this compatibility as integral element in the design and implementation of HRM policies in addressing employee retention. The study also suggested that global BPO companies should undergo some degree of cultural adaptation in HRM practices to fit local values to be successful in retention planning.

The right one will stay, if we have compatible values with them and compatibility is something two individuals can work out.

Traditional HR practices alone are not enough in an organization setting. In love, typical efforts are also not enough. This may not be the first time you came across this. But yes, fancy gifts, expensive dinners, big surprises may not be enough to make your “right one” stay.

There must be the willingness between two individuals to know each other better, and to find ways to adapt to each other’s differences so as to complement each other. It is these consistent efforts that matter to your significant.

Going out of your way to show that what he or she values is also valuable to you is what really matters.

Joy Anne Evaristo is a Doctor of Business Administration student of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University (DLSU). She is also a faculty member at Holy Angel University. She welcomes comments at joy_evaristo@dlsu. edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

4.9.2 Verify check issuances in the cashbook, validate the bank statements for negotiated checks and review the submitted financial transaction documents, if any, issue the appropriate audit decision, and furnish the C/M Accountant with photocopies of the submitted financial transaction documents for recording in the barangay books of accounts.

4.9.3 In case of failure to submit the required documents after the lapse of the prescribed period, issue ND to disallow the transactions covered by the CAA and execute an affidavit on the non-submission of the accounts and submit the same together with the supporting documents to the Office of the Regional Director for evaluation and filing of appropriate case with the Office of the Ombudsman, if warranted.

4.9.4 Thereafter, issue the Notice to Lift the COA Auditor’s Advice (Annex E) to the depositary bank of the barangay.

5.0

REPORTING

The SA/ATL shall prepare a Semestral Report on all disbursements of the barangays within his/her audit jurisdiction indicating the actions taken thereon, and submit the Report on/before January 15 and July 15 of each year to the concerned Regional Director. (Annex F) The concerned Regional Director shall review the Semestral Reports, and prepare a Consolidated Semestral Report for submission to the Sector Head, Local Government Sector, this Commission on/before January 31 and July 31 of each year for monitoring purposes. (Annex G) 6.0

PENALTY CLAUSE

Failure or neglect of the officials and employees concerned to discharge their respective duties and responsibilities provided herein shall be a basis for appropriate administrative/criminal sanction/s under Presidential Decree No. 1445, the Civil Service rules and regulations, the Revised Penal Code, and such other pertinent penal statutes.

7.0

EFFECTIVITY

This Circular shall take effect after 15 days following its publication in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation.

MICHAEL G. AGUINALDO Chairperson JOSE A. FABIA Commissioner

Note:

ROLAND C. PONDOC Commissioner

Annexes A to G of the Circular may be accessed in the COA Website @ www. coa.gov.ph (MS-FEB.11, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

B4

MONDDAY, FEBRUARY11, 2019

Pliskova, Halep open with wins at Fed Cup

Phoenix Fuel Masters forward Calvin Abueva (8) takes it strong to the hoop against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters defenders, from left: Norbert Torres, James Yap and Maverick Ahanmisi. PBA Media

Ancajas leads PSA awardees

TWO current world champions, a rising gymnast, and the gold medal winners in the 2018 Asian Para Games lead the list of Major Awardees to be honored during the SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards Night on Feb. 26 at the Manila Hotel.

Reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, World Boxing Organization (WBO) counterpart Donnie Nietes, World Artistic Gymnastics Championships bronze medalist Carlos Yulo, and the Philippine Para Chess Team along with fellow Asian Para Games winners make up part of the 23 major awardees who will be recognized by the country’s sports writing fraternity during the special event presented

by MILO, Cignal TV, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Ancajas successfully defended his IBF 115-lb title three times last year, Nietes won the WBO belt just before the turn of 2019 in Japan, Yulo became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian male gymnast to win a medal in the world meet, while the Philippine Para Team finally broke through in the Asian Para Games by bagging a total of 10 golds in Indonesia.

ROS Elasto Painters snap Phoenix string of victories I

By Jeric Lopez

T was bound to happen sooner or later.

The Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters finally experienced defeat in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup when they bowed to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 98-94, in overtime, Sunday, October 10 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Elasto Painters improved to a league-leading 6-win, one loss card as they extended their win streak to four games and sealed a place in the playoffs.

Phoenix (5-1) dropped to second. The other teams include Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (3-2), TNT KaTropa (3-3), the San Miguel Beermen (3-3), the NorthPort Batang Pier (2-2), the Alaska Aces and the Meralco Bolts (2-3).

Bringing up the rear are the NLEX Road Warriors (2-4), the Columbian Dyip (2-4), the Blackwater Elite (1-5) and the

Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (0-1).

Rey Nambatac broke a 92-all deadlock in overtime but it was Mark Borboran, who drove past Calvin Abueva to bank the ball off the glass and into the net, who sealed the victory.

Kris Rosales played his best game with Rain or Shine and scored 16 points. Big man Beau Belga added 16 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

“It was another good win for us. We had a good lead but Phoenix didn’t stop. They

came back. That’s probably why they were on top. They never gave up and they fought their hearts out,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

“We just hit the big shots in the end. The nice thing about our win today is that it’s just the way we want it. We want different players stepping up to help us win.”

Rain or Shine could have won it outright in regular time but James Yap missed a potential game-winning triple at the end of regulation.

Phoenix suffered its first loss in six games. It spoiled Jason Perkins’ careerhigh 27-points. Calvin Abueva added 16 points and 12 rebounds. Matthew Wright also had 16 markers.

Rain or Shine detonated a 14-0 bomb to grab a 70-56 lead. It was the biggest lead in the game. Phoenix Pulse came storming back. The Fuel Masters’ rally culminated with a layup by Perkins in the last 13.1 seconds which tied the game at 87-all.

Simona Halep

Morales rules Ronda Stage 3 to Roxas City

Mighty Sports books 3rd spot in Dubai hoops DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Team Mighty Sports-Philippines salvaged some measure of pride by repeating over reigning Lebanon league titlist Homenetmen, 91-76, on Saturday night to finish third overall in the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championships at the Shabab Al Ahli Club gymnasium here.

Former Ginebra stalwart Jett Manuel saved his best for last with a team-high 19 points, making all of his seven attempts inside as Mighty Sports bounced back from a painful 89-84 loss to fancied Al Riyadi-Lebanon in the knockout semifinal round the other night.

More importantly, the accessories and apparel team backed by SMDC, HealthCube, Go for Gold and Oriental Game closed out its campaign in the prestigious nine-day, 10-team invitational tournament on a strong note, a marked improvement from its woeful one-win showing on its tourney debut in 2017.

“Overall, I think the stint was a successful campaign,” said Mighty Sports coach Charles Tiu, still sounding satisfied after his wards completed a four-game sweep of the group stage, dominated Oil Sports Club-Iraq in the quarterfinals and made a spirited fightback that only came up short against Al Riyadi in the Final Four round.

Big man Randolph Morris finished with 11 points while top gun Justin Brownlee and Roosevelt Adams added 10 points each, but it was former Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom who put on the finishing touches alongside Mighty Sports’ locals in a relatively easy windup.

PARIS, France—Former world number ones Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova won their opening rubbers as the Fed Cup clash between defending champions Czech Republic and Romania ended 1-1 on Saturday’s opening day.

Pliskova, her country’s top player in the absence of world number two Petra Kvitova, swept past Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1, 6-4 before Halep disposed of Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-0 to bring Romania level.

The wins set up a mouthwatering clash between Pliskova, ranked five in the world, and number three Halep on the indoor hard courts of Ostrava on Sunday.

“I’m excited but I can’t afford to get over-excited,” said Australian Open semi-finalist Pliskova, who is hoping to inspire the Czechs to an 11th successive appearance in the last four of the Fed Cup. Her caution is understandable as she trails Halep 6-2 in career meetings.

However, Pliskova won their last clash on clay in Madrid in 2018 as well as coming out on top in a 2016 Fed Cup World Group clash over three sets.

French Open champion Halep has already vowed to win a first Fed Cup for Romania before she retires, describing it as “the first thing on her bucket list now” having ticked off a maiden Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros last year.

In Liege, two-time champions France dominated Belgium for a 2-0 lead.

Top 20 player Caroline Garcia, returning to the French squad for the first time in two years after a bitter fall-out with teammates following the 2016 final, earned the opening point with a 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-2 w i n over Alis o n Van Uytvanck.

AFP

By Peter Atencio

Oklahoma City Thunrder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots the basketball even as Houston Rockets defenders look on at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP

OKC Thunder shoots down Houston Rockets

LOS ANGELES, United States – Russell Westbrook matched the NBA record with a ninth straight tripledouble and Paul George scored 15 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter Saturday as the Oklahoma City Thunder roared back from a 26-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets, 117-112.

Westbrook had 21 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds.

His ninth straight triple-double – reaching double figures

in three key statistical categories – matched the record set

by Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.

Westbrook connected on just eight of 21 shots from the field. But his effort was enough to help the Thunder to the win despite a 42-point performance from Rockets star James Harden.

“My game is not predicated on me making shots,” Westbrook said. “I do other things to impact the game, I do it every single night.”

Elsewhere, there was a big comeback in Boston as well as the new-look Los Angeles Clippers erased a 28-point second-quarter deficit to stun the Celtics 123-112.

Montrezl Harrell forced two turnovers and Patrick Beverley hit two three-pointers in the final two minutes as the Clippers completed the biggest regular-season comeback in club history.

Boston players left the court to boos from their

home fans. To make matters even worse, Celtics star guard Kyrie Irving departed less than three minutes before halftime with what the Celtics said was a sprained right knee.

The Celtics were up by 20 at the time. Irving didn’t return, and the Clippers, playing with four new players acquired at the trade deadline, overcame a 20-point deficit for a victory for the third time in their last five games.

ROXAS City—Navyman Jan Paul Morales overcame his awe of the famed Salleh brothers and went on to win a duel with one of them to take Stage 3 of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019 here.

The presence of three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Mohd Harif Salleh did not intimidate Morales who overtook him in the last 10 kilometers and towed a big 20-man group when he reached the finish line at the back of the Immaculate Conception College in Legazpi Street.

Morales expressed his admiration for Salleh, a known sprinter, after topping the 179.2 kilometer run from Iloilo City to Roxas City in Capiz. in four hours, 35 minutes and 18 seconds.

“Idol ko kasi iyung Salleh, kaya nakipag-rematehan ako sa Salleh brothers,” said Morales, on Terangganu’s bid to get their sprinters at the front of the peloton.

After chasing down reigning Tour de Langkawi champion Artem Ovechkin and overall leader Francisco Mancebo Perez in the last 10 kilometers, the 34-year-old Morales engaged Salem in a sprint duel to earn his first ever stage win in a UCI-sanctioned race.

“Hinabol namin ang Matrix. Tapos nagtulungan at lumaban ang Terangganu dahil may sprinter sila. Masaya, first time kong nag lap sa UCI race,” said Morales.

With his first ever stage win in a UCI-sanctioned event, Morales moved to fourth place in the overall individual classification rankings.

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

C1

It’s a date!

Where to take your loved one for V-Day dinner L

OVE is patient, love is kind, love fills your tummy with decadent treats made with love.

Still looking for a special place that serves special treats that you can enjoy with your special someone? Here’s a list of premier restaurants around the metro that know how to make Valentine’s Day dinner date special.

Smoked Grim Beef Tenderloin with coffee, salsify, and hazelnut

Nobu’s seasonal selection of Nobu sushi

Nobu Manila Nobu presents a five-course Valentine’s Weekend Omakase with Sake Cocktail Pairing from Feb. 14 to 16 at P10,000 nett for two persons or P5,000 nett for one (optional).

The Valentine’s Nobu Omakase dinner starts with Zensai, a chef’s selection of appetizers paired with Sake Rosé and Kumomo, followed by Nobu Sashimi Platter and seasonal selection of Nobu sushi which includes toro, Nobu Tamagoyaki, lapu-lapu, and salmon.

Brick Oven Roasted Slipper Lobster Tail with Lobster Miso Cappucino and Sweet Corn Kakiage, and Sous Vide Australian Tenderloin with Nobu Bonito and Uni Egg Sauce, Crab, and Umami Vegetables precede dessert consisting of Strawberry Adzuki Bean Entremet with Kinako Cookie and homemade strawberry ice cream.

Nobu Manila is at City of Dreams Manila, Parañaque City.

Heart-shaped Stuffed Breaded Prawns Cake on Mixed Salad with Swan Dumpling filled with Black Pepper Duck Meat

The Tasting Room Treat your date to a Michelin-star dinner.

From Feb. 13 to 15, the Tasting Room serves a five-course Valentine’s dinner menu priced at P6,600++ per person.

The meal begins with lentils hummus with hazelnut oil, gray shrimp, tiger prawns and served with Socca; and crackers served with eggplant, apple, and mint; followed by Grilled Foie Gras Terrine with artichoke and Port wine; cod served with pineapple, coriander and sesame seed; Smoked Grim Beef Tenderloin with coffee, salsify and ha-

Cravings

Your love deserves the best, and Cravings understands that that’s why from Feb. 14 to 16 it is serving a special four-course dinner featuring the best of mains, steak, and salmon.

Start with the savory flavors of Truffle Mushroom Soup and fresh Mixed Greens Salad with Dried Fruits and Candied Walnuts. After that, couples are invited to indulge in a fine, tender slab of U.S. Roasted Prime Rib, served with Yorkshire Pudding; and Fillet of Atlantic Salmon served with Lemon, Caper Sauce with Grilled Tiger Prawns.

Completing the dining experience is a delightful slice of Special Edition Lava Cake.

This dinner for couples is priced at P2,400.

Cravings is at 287 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

Crystal Dragon Craving Chinese? Crystal Dragon, known for its award-winning Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties, is featuring a Romantic Dinner Set Menu from Feb. 13 to 15.

The five-course Valentine set menu, priced at P3,880++ per person, consists of a romantic heart-shaped Stuffed Breaded Prawns Cake on Mixed Salad with Swan Dumpling filled with Black Pepper Duck Meat; Braised Sea Treasures

zelnut; and concluded with an indulgent dessert of Chocolate Ginger Tart with Exotic Fruits and Pomegranate.

The set menu comes with an option for wine pairing at P3,100++. For added enchantment, the dinner comes with a complimentary welcome glass of Henriot Brut Champagne, a door gift of Mexican hot chocolate cube and lemon cake, and a long-stemmed red rose for the lady.

The Tasting Room is on the ground floor of NÜWA at City of Dreams Manila.

and Scallop Dumpling served with Black Truffle in Lobster Bisque; Braised Pork Ribs with Red Wine Vinegar and Wolf berry Reduction; Wok-fried Egg Noodles with Seafood, Sliced Abalone, and Vegetable Sauce; and Earl Grey Vanuari Milk Chocolate Crème Cake with Rose Water Strawberry Gel. Crystal Dragon is at NÜWA Tower 1, City of Dreams Manila.

Cravings’ special four-course menu consisting of Truffle Mushroom Soup, Mixed Greens Salad, Fillet of Atlantic Salmon, and U.S. Roasted Prime Rib.

Beef with Red Chai-infused red wine sauce (left) and choux pastries.

TWG Tea Salon and Boutique Indulge in an exquisite tea-infused Valentine’s Day menu priced at P2,650 for two.

The intimate evening for two begins with an enticing beef pastrami accompanied by marinated tomatoes and feta cheese infused with Lover’s Tea. The romantic gastronomic journey continues with the luscious duck confit with Billet Doux Tea-infused Mexican mole sauce served with sautéed mushrooms and baby potatoes, and a delectable beef with Red Chai-infused red wine sauce ac-

companied by a spinach and purple yam croquette.

A beautiful accompaniment to this main course is the aromatic Mon Amour Tea. For an unforgettable celebration, declare your love with choux pastries delicately centered with Geisha Blossom Tea-infused raspberry cream on a shortcrust pastry.

TWG Tea has branches at Shangri-La Plaza, Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Power Plant Mall, Central Square, and Alabang Town Center.

Yurakuen’s assorted sashimi (left) and Corniche’s Valentine’s Day buffet with a side of romantic music.

Diamond Hotel The in-house restaurants of five-star hotel Diamond Hotel let lovers express their love with decadent dishes from Feb. 13 to 15.

For a truly filling date, Corniche serves Valentine buffet for P3,380 nett per person. Yurakuen, on the other hand, offers a lunch and dinner set menu with a glass of Piper Heidsick for P2,880 nett per person.

Lobby Lounge serves a four-course set menu with

a glass of Cava and a slice of complimentary cake for P3,300 nett. While Poolside offers a romantic date under a beautiful night sky complemented by a fivecourse dinner for P2,800 nett per person.

All ladies dining on Valentine’s Day will receive a special memento.

Diamond Hotel is located at Roxas Boulevard cor. Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila.

Turn to C2

Life

C2

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Love in Tagaytay

Portobello Mushroom Soup Anya Resort’s fine dining restaurant Samira serves a delectable array of dishes prepared by Chef Jonathan Bouthiaux.

C

Chocolate Crumble with Cherry and Pistachio Ice Cream and Strawberry Macaron

OOL breeze, fresh pine smell, breathtaking landscapes. Tagaytay is easily one of the best places for lovers this Valentine’s Day.

The first “Small Luxury Hotel” awarded getaway in Tagaytay, Anya Resort takes advantage of this with its special dining treats for couples.

Anya’s fine dining restaurant Samira serves a delectable array of dishes prepared by French Chef Jonathan Bouthiaux, who previously worked in five-star luxury hotels and Michelinstar restaurants in Dubai and Australia.

Through local food sourcing, dishes are created with Tagaytay’s best and freshest produce such as the starter dish of green asparagus with smoked salmon foam and chives, main dish of lamb chops with potato gnocchi, and the finale Love Anya Signature Cherry Souffle.

The Amra Deli Bar and Anila Poolside Restaurant are also available as other options for dining.

Sweet Valentine’s Day treats LOVE is in the air and majority are on sugar rush from all the decadent desserts available this month of love.

Popular bakeshop M Bakery releases a selection of Valentine’s Day-inspired versions of its classic offerings which anyone with a sweet tooth won’t be able to resist.

Australian Lamb Rack

com or call (02) 657-1640 for inquiries and more information.

It’s a date...

From C1

Cafe 1228 serves a romantic Valentine’s Day buffet spread.

Valentine’s Day Cupcakes

Valentine’s Day Cake

Make someone’s heart melt with a 6-inch or 9-inch classic vanilla or chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream icing, made even dreamier with cute piped hearts design. Add a sweet dedication on top to make it more personal.

Trying to be even more r o m a nt ic?

Couples can also chill under the stars at Anya’s Tala Garden, where they can lounge and cozy up under blankets as they sip from a glass of bubbly while nibbling on delicious creations by Chef Jonathan.

These special epicurean treats are part of the Anya Valentine Escape package which is available for the whole month of February. Go to www.anyaresorts.

Sweep a loved one off their feet with a box of M Bakery’s cupcakes in vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet flavors, with three cupcakes decorated with lovely rose piping and the other three with special edible image messages.

Valentine’s Day Cupcakes

Café 1228

Say “I love you” with a candlelit dinner at Café 1228 in New World Hotel Makati. Couples can indulge in buffet highlights such as chateaubriand steak, seafood specialties, and chocolate-dipped strawberries for P2,999 per person.

Dining ladies will receive a special Valentine’s Day present.

Café 1228 is at New World Makati.

Valentine’s Day Cake

BITES Pop your heart out Cadbury Dairy Milk inspires people to express their feelings with the new limited edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Pop Heart.

This one-of-a-kind bar contains a chocolate heart which consumers can literally pop out and give to their special someone.

It’s available at leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide for P150.

Red Velvet White Out Cupcakes

Red Velvet White Out Cupcakes

Another specially made cupcake is this topped with whipped vanilla icing and red velvet cake crumbs

Valentine’s Day Confetti Cookies

Valentine’s Day Confetti Cookies

Indulge a cookie lover with this classic sugar cookie mixed with Valentine’s Day confetti.

Viva Amore!

Valentine’s Day Dinner

Richmonde Café

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Individual Icebox Cakes

Individual Icebox Cakes

Cadbury Pop Heart

Get a personal portion of M Bakery’s handmade chocolate wafers, layered with strawberry puree whipped cream cheese. It is sprinkled with red and pink hearts.

Share a piece of this whoopie goodness made with vanilla buttercream that’s sandwiched between two handmade mini red velvet cakes.

M Bakery is at lower ground, Unit #23 5th Avenue corner 28th Street, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, Bonifacio Global City.

Make February 14 a special day with hefty servings of delectable Italian-inspired cuisine at Richmonde Café.

The buffet spread, dubbed Viva Amore! Valentine’s Day Dinner, features tasty starters of seafood and cold cuts at the antipasto tavolo (appetizer table), the assorted insalata (salads), pane (bread), and zuppa (soup) are sure to whet the appetite for the plated entrée which is a choice of either grilled rib eye with mushroom sauce or pan-seared salmon with lemon cream sauce.

Divine dolci della pasticceria (cakes from the bakery) overflow at the dessert counter to give a perfect ending to a sensuous feast.

The buffet dinner is priced at P1,498 nett per person.

Richmonde Café is at Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Pasig City.

Entertainment

CHILD HAUS

Giving hope and changing lives for 15 years

By Karylle Abigail Mance

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.H.I.L.D.Haus or the Center for Health Improvement and Life Development Haus has now grown from its humble beginnings in its very first center located on Quezon Institute Compound.

Its center, which is the first and only temporary home for children with cancer is now a seven-story multipurpose complex located on Agoncillo Street in Paco, Manila.

SM Holdings Inc. President, Hans Sy with the children of CHILD Haus

Hans Sy and Ricky Reyes share a day with the children patients who found shelter in the CHILD Haus complex in Paco, Manila.

Through the initiative of the Ricky Reyes Foundation, CHILD Haus was created to provide respite for cancerstricken children from the provinces who are in need of financial support for their treatments and home to stay.

It was through the efforts of philanthropist, Ricky Reyes that CHILD Haus was able to extend a helping and healing hand to children with cancer from allover the Philippines. Mother Ricky credits the continued success

of CHILD Haus to the never-ending kindness and generosity of their various donors and benefactors, most especially to SM Holdings Inc. President,Hans Sy. CHILD Haus has found a home in Paco, Manila all thanks to Hans Sy or “Kuya Hans ng CHILD Haus.” It was on Mr. Sy’s 60th birthday in 2015 that he decided to build a bigger and better home for the children of CHILD Haus.

Instead of opting to buy material things for himself on his birthday, he wanted to

do something to help other people in need.

The construction of the CHILD Haus complex is the result of Kuya Hans’ love, understanding, and support for these sick children. It is also a tribute of his love and respect to his father, Henry Sy, Sr. For over 15 years now, CHILD Haus has provided a home for children diagnosed with cancer. Nineteen-year-old Ronalyn R. Bataller from Alban, Bicol is one of the many residents of CHILD Haus. She was orphaned at just four years old and was left to take care of her two younger siblings.

Their home was lost in 2015 because of the damage brought by Bagyong Reming.

To be able to provide for her siblings, Ronalyn started joining barangay pageants and doing housework for her relatives. At just sixteen years ord, she was operated on and had her right ovary and appendix removed. She was also diagnosed with having mixed germ cell tumor and given only six months left to live.

Refusing to give up, Ronalyn then traveled to Manila to seek another doctor’s opinion on her illness. It was through her Manila doctor’s referral CHILD Haus that Ronalyn was able to undergo treatment.

She has now returned ta her home in Albay to complete her road to recovery and reunite with her siblings.

Baby Richard Moreno, also a CHILD Haus resident from Bicol, was only three months old when he was diagnosed with having liver cancer. His mother sought out help for his treatment from one hospital to another until they came to Philippine Children’s Medical Center or PCMC. They were referred to CHILD Haus for shelter and treatment for Baby Richard.

After several months at CHILD Haus, Baby Richard’s surgery will now push through thanks to the numerous kindhearted donors especially Mayor Sandy Javier of Javier Town of Leyte.

Baby Richard is currently confined at Max Super Specialty Hospital in New Delhi, India awaiting his liver transplant.

The stories of recovery of Ronalyn and Baby Richard are just a few of hundreds of children that CHILD Haus has helped in their road to healing. In 2018 alone, the CHILD Hays complex was able to accommodate as many as 800 residents.

Their mission to provide a temporary home for these sick children has gone beyond giving a roof over their heads and beds to sleep in while they undergo treatment here in Manila. CHILD Haus has also given these children and their families hope and a chance at continuing their lives free of cancer.

TNT Boys moving to the next round of ‘The World’s Best’ THE TNT Boys continues to astonish the world with their talent after they moved on to the next round of the international talent competition The World’s Best, and recently got featured in the world-renowned news organization BBC. The trio of Mackie Empuerto, Keifer Sanchez, and Francis Concepcion wowed the The World’s Best American judges Faith Hill, RuPaul, and Drew Barrymore for their hair-raising rendition of the hit song “Listen” in the program’s pilot episode that aired after the Super Bowl on CBS. Their performance scored a staggering 99 points—more than the minimum of 75 points required to get through to the next round of the competition—from the combined scores of the American judges and the “wall of the world,” which is composed of 50 of the world’s most accomplished experts from every field of entertainment.

“You have some serious attitude,” said Grammy-winner Faith. “You’re so precious and so sweet but when you were

singing, you were in that song, you were like, bam!”

Hollywood A-lister Drew was also all praises for the boys. She said, “I was a kid performer, but I have kids now. This is a whole other thing. You possess a gift, you’re just that good.”RuPaul, meanwhile, uttered his famous line for the trio. “Boys I have one thing to say: Shantay, you stay.”

Because of the bigshot trio’s trending performance, they have a chance at winning $1 million and being named “The World’s Best.”

Recently, the trio was also featured on the website of one of the world’s biggest news organizations, BBC, which published a video feature about the TNT Boys’ success and some behind-the-scenes footage from their concert last November, which made them the youngest artists to headline a sold-out concert, not only at the Araneta Coliseum but in the whole country.

BBC also dubbed the TNT Boys “the teen tribute act captivating the Philippines” and showed a clip of Jessie J, who said

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, February 11, 2019

ACROSS 1 Dull, as a color 5 Proton’s place 9 Ebony 14 Opera by Verdi 15 Feng — 16 Eagle’s nest 17 Very hot days 19 Espresso with milk 20 That girl’s 21 — Angeles 22 Make rough 24 Umpire 27 Lodging place 28 “Norma —” 29 Baby soother 31 Fr. holy woman 34 Boat crane 37 Called, as an owl 39 Dismounted 40 Expressed amazement 41 Former Italian money 42 Speakers’ remunerations 44 Geisha’s place 45 “Malcolm X” director 46 Nefertiti’s god 47 — de plume 48 Outstanding 49 Sorted 53 Brash songster 57 “— a deal!”

33 Utopia 34 Wonka’s creator 35 Herbal balm 36 Wall climber 37 Irritated 38 Vise relative 40 Tom Mix movie 43 Most risque 44 Tilting match 47 Inform 48 More skillful 50 Ceremonies 51 Lightweight DOWN quilt 1 Run 100 meters 52 Stargaze 2 Kitchen tool 3 Honor greatly 4 Type of cookie 5 On the beach 6 The ones here 7 Not just mine 8 Catchall gp.

9 Scales 10 Pick up 11 Sculpture and dance 12 Quote 13 Razor-sharp 18 Turf grabber 23 Fixed a squeak 25 Certain corn chip 26 Writing on glass 30 Type of rug 31 Luxury liner 32 Prefix for “trillion” 58 S&L offering 60 As — — (usually) 61 Knacks 64 Golf and bridge 65 Coral habitat 66 Lowest high tide 67 Commence 68 No problem 69 Tentacles

53 Bouts of overindulgence 54 What Hamlet smelled (2 wds.)

55 Arizona city 56 Press one’s luck 59 Sacred snakes of Egypt 62 Pod content 63 One, in Oaxaca

The TNT Boys on the 'The World's Best' stage performing a rendition of Beyonce's 'Listen."

“They actually did it better than us,” pertaining to the viral performance of Mackie, Keifer, and Francis of the hit song “Bang Bang.”

The TNT Boys is only one of the Filipino artists who broke into the international scene as ABS-CBN continues to champion Filipino talent on the world stage.

Before becoming a group, Mackie, Keifer, and Francis first impressed viewers as grand finalists in “Tawag ng

Tanghalan Kids” on ABS-CBN. They were officially launched as a trio in 2017, and have since sung for international audiences in Little Big Shots US, UK, and Australia and have performed for several head of states, including Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, Singaporean president Halimah Yacob, and Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O’ Neill. They were also hailed as the grand champion of Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Simply...

From C4

Joseph Marco as Bong Go in MMK Bong Go’s life story was featured in ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) last Saturday with young actor Joseph Marco as the former Special Assistant to the President and Philip Salvador as President Duterte. If you missed last Saturday’s episode, you still can watch it on iWant,ph (just log on and hit MMK Feb. 9 episode).

Also, Anvil Business Club’s young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs invited Go on Feb. 1 to be the special guest of their outreach program in Caloocan City.

With him was actor/friend Cesar Montano. Go with the young businessmen distributed some 10,000 tikoy to families in barangay Camarin and Barracks.

The Anvil officers that joined Bong Go were Chairman Wilson Lee Flores, President Patrick Cua, Honorary Chairman Reynold Siy, Honorary Chairman Marcelo Co and Project Head Joeben Tai. Bong Go also made sure the recipients would have free eggs and cooking oil for cooking the tikoy.

Anvil’s civic project of sharing 10,000 tikoy is the young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs’ way of wishing the whole Philippines a prosperous new year. Anvil has many economic and civic projects, like free college scholarships, disaster relief donations and the annual Sept. 28 Teachers Day honoring all Philippine teachers on this birthdate of great teacher Confucius.

Also present at Anvil’s tikoysharing project were Caloocan Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan, Presidential Commission on Urban Poor chairman Alvin Feliciano, Councilor Dean Asistio, Councilor Enteng Malapitan, Councilor Lanz Almeda, Councilor Carmelo Africa, among others. *** Grand homecoming for Catriona Gray A homecoming fit for a queen is what awaits Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray when she returns to the Philippines. Gray, who is based in New York City during her reign, has been fulfilling her duties as Miss Universe and is set to fly back to the country on Feb. 20. Alongside her Binibining Pilipinas family, Gray will hold activities with select media and VIP guests, and participate in charitable activities with the BPCI Chair, Stella Marquez Araneta.

Gray’s philanthropic work and passion to give back remains a priority this year as Miss Universe.

Her return to the Philippines will provide an opportunity to visit and support organizations close to her heart such as LoveYourself, an organization focused on advocating for HIV/Aids education and testing; and Smile Train, an international charity that supports 100 percent-free cleft repair surgery and care for children in underprivileged communities. Additionally, Gray is expected to visit Tondo, Manila where she has been supporting Young Focus Philippines, a group that helps provide access to education for children living in the area.

A highlight of Gray’s return to the Philippines will be the Grand Homecoming Parade that will provide fans and all Filipinos the opportunity to see Miss Universe.

The Grand Parade will take the reigning Miss Universe to the streets of Manila and Makati on Feb. 21. Catriona will again be welcomed with a homecoming parade in Araneta Center on Feb. 23.

Gray will return to the Smart Araneta Coliseum where her journey to the Miss Universe crown began when she won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title.

A fan appreciation event will be held. Additionally, people can expect a celebration as grand as the one given to Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who ended a fourdecade hiatus for the Philippines in the international beauty pageant.

While Pia rode a float that resembled her blue crown during her homecoming parade in 2016, Filipinos and fans everywhere are already anticipating what Catriona’s float will look like.

With her crown-clinching performance on the Miss Universe stage, her now world-famous “lava walk,” and slow-mo turn, Ibong Adarna and Mt. Mayon inspired gowns, as well as a memorable final word that encouraged seeing the silver lining in every situation, Catriona has captured not just the crown, but the hearts of millions of people worldwide.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

All the feels this Valentine season with online series ‘FindHer’

OPM icons Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera share the stage once again for an evening of romantic music on Feb. 14 at PICC Plenary Hall.

Young dramatic stars Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar

Power of music binds a family in ‘Inagaw na Bituin’ GMA Network brings to light a oneof-a-kind and extraordinary masterpiece that will touch the lives and tug at viewers’ heartstrings with the afternoon soap Inagaw na Bituin.

Beginning today, a compelling musical-drama series unfolds featuring the country’s most respected and highly-talented artists.

Two of the network’s sought-after actresses Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar play the important roles of Anna Sevilla/Elsa Dela Cruz and Ariela Lopez, respectively.

Anna is the only daughter of a popular showbiz couple. She grows up to be a kind and respectful girl but fiercely protects the people she loves. An unfortunate incident changed her life when she was taken away from her parents. Due to the effects of trauma, Anna forgets her memories and lives a new identity as Elsa with the people she calls family. Ariela, on the other hand, is used to getting her way just like her mother whom she aspires to be like.

Playing equally significant roles is the powerhouse ensemble composed of seasoned actors and actresses: Sunshine Dizon as Belinda Sevilla, the biological mother of Anna/Elsa and a famous singer and actress; Angelika Dela Cruz as Lucy Lopez, Ariela’s mother who was a one-hit wonder; Gabby Eigenmann as George Del Mundo, a record and concert producer with a mysterious past; Angelu De Leon as Aurora Dela Cruz, Anna/ Elsa’s adoptive mother; and Marvin Agustin as Eduard Sevilla, a composer and a loving father to Anna/Elsa.

Completing the cast are Renz Valerio, Manolo Pedrosa, Patricia Tumulak, Alyanna Asistio, Melbeline Caluag and Jackie Lou Blanco.

Inagaw na Bituin, which is under the held of acclaimed director Mark A. Reyes V also premieres today on GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

Let Lani and Martin

serenade you on Valentine’s Day

T

IMELESS Classics is VERY nothing but a fitting title WANG for the Valentine concert NICKIE of Martin Nievera and Lani WANG Misalucha who, for so many years, have been staple faces on the concert circuit during the love month.

The concert is going to be a showcase of songs the two OPM icons have originated and popularized through the years. And yes, they are doing this concert simply because of a demand from concertgoers who anticipate their V-Day with songs from these seasoned performers who have shared the stage together for a couple of shows already.

Directed by Louie Ocampo, the concert promises an unforgettable romantic night come Feb. 14 at the PICC Plenary Hall.

“We are going to do songs that are timeless, give you our renditions, all timeless classics and I always put things around Lani and it will be a good night. We won’t be putting in too much songs you would get tired. There will be Motown, feel-good type of songs.

Lani will also sing a new song called ‘Timeless.’ It’s a great song,” Martin shared.

In turn, Lani replied, “Martin and I always do something different even if I don’t rehearse because he doesn’t just perform, he makes sure it comes out well, he has always been hands on.”

“He is OC, a control freak, but he wants that. He and I want people to have a good time. He is an appetizer for that Valentine’s night, he sets the mood.

The songs will be beautiful, it won’t be the songs we did in the past, better bigger song numbers,” she added.

Martin and Lani’s first major concert together entitled Masquerade premiered in the United States in October 2016 and was produced in Manila in February the following year. The two-night show in one of Manila’s prestigious ballrooms was such a huge success that it saw a repeat the following month.

This year, Masquerade was nominated as Concert of The Year at the 9th PMPC Star Awards for Music, while Martin and Lani were nominated

for Male Concert Performer of the Year and Female Concert Performer of the Year, respectively.

At the recently concluded awards night, Lani bagged “Female Concert Performer of the Year” for her performance in Masquerade.

Timeless Classics is produced by Star Media Entertainment in association with Global Police Community Relations.

Part of Timeless Classic’s proceeds will go to the charitable projects of the Rotary Clubs of Makati East, Cubao Central and Parañaque East.

Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets or call 891-9999. ***

MCAD February film screenings

In line with the national celebration of February as the Arts Month, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La SalleCollege Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)

presents a selection of films on several artists’ lives and their corresponding works.

Discover the secret behind the universality and timelessness of Norwegian painter and symbolist Edvard Munch’s creations in the film entitled Let the Scream be Heard, which screened over the weekend. The documentary is an attempt to understand that obtaining 15 minutes of fame—or even say 15 seconds—is deeply sought after.

Five short films entitled Glimpses of Edvard Munch’s Life, 1863-1944, Faces, A Self Portrait, and Post Mortem, are slated for Feb. 15 and 16. These are brief clips about the revered expressionist’s prolific career which spanned for over 62 years and produced more than 40,000 astounding works of art.

Learn about the phenomenal success of Margaret Keane’s painting in Big Eyes, on February 22 and 23. The story also narrates her association with her husband, Walter Keane, one of the most successful painters of the 1950s and the early 1960s, who was hurled to international fame while taking credit for his wife’s pieces.

The screenings are free and open to the public. Showing dates are on Fridays and Saturdays, from 12:00 nn to 3:00 p.m. at The Loop, 112th floor, DLS-CSB School of Design and Arts Campus.

For inquiries and reservation, call 2305100 local 3897 or e-mail at mcad@ benilde.edu.ph.

A scene from the film 'Big Eyes'

Anne Curtis now UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador UN CHILDREN’S agency UNICEF confers the formal title of UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador to actress, model, television host, recording artist, and entrepreneur Anne Curtis.

ISAH V. RED Curtis is the new addition to a long list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors around the world that actively support and promote children’s rights, such as Gary Valenciano, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Millie Bobby Brown, Jackie Chan, Priyanka Chopra, Ricky Martin, Leo Messi, Liam Neeson, Shakira, and Lilly Singh.

“UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors are well-known personalities who are willing to do their utmost to mobilize support for children. They are volunteers who demonstrate a high level of commitment to children and to the organization.

Anne’s dedication to UNICEF and the rights of children has shone through her many projects and initiatives that promote awareness and raise funds,” Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Philippines Representative says.

Anne’s relationship with UNICEF started when she became a major donor in 2009. Her closer involvement with UNICEF led her to being appointed as a celebrity advocate in 2014. Anne’s special projects with UNICEF include the Heroes for Children runs to support children’s First 1,000 Days, fundraising through her international marathons, and a children’s book that encourages reading and instilling confidence in one’s self.

“I am honored and committed to raising awareness on the issues and rights of children. Children should be our priority and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they have a bright future ahead of them. There is still much more to be done but I believe we all can play our part to bring smiles to children’s faces,” she says.

During her stint as a celebrity advocate, she visited Leyte province in 2015 in

the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan, and Samar province in 2017. She has also kept herself updated on UNICEF’s various programs through briefings with program experts in the areas of Education and Health & Nutrition.

Anne will continue her support to UNICEF’s various advocacies, including education, Violence Against Children, and adolescent health and development, among others. Continued on C3

Actress and UNICEF ambassador Anne Curtis

Vance Larena and Dionne Monsanto, lead stars of the digital series, 'Find Her'

SMART is giving everyone all the feels this Valentine season as it debuts FindHer, its first online series that premiered on YouTube on Feb. 9.

Produced by Smart in partnership with Epicmedia and Bent & Buzz, the sevenpart romantic-comedy online series revolves around three individuals who contend with the complexities of love in a time of smartphones and dating apps.

Smart dropped the FindHer teaser last week, sending netizens abuzz over the quintessential dilemma of modernday dating: Is love online? The first five episodes were made available on Feb.9, while the final two episodes will break on Valentine’s Day. “ The online series is both a creative and strategic move for us as we continue to expand our portfolio to meet the growing appetite of Filipinos for meaningful and entertaining digital content,” said Andrew L. Santos, PLDT-Smart FVP and Consumer Marketing.

“Over the years, Smart has worked with amazing creative teams to produce heartwarming stories for our ads and other online content. FindHer marks a milestone for us as we push our storytelling further in a series format with a theme that is relevant to today’s generation,” said Carlo S. Endaya, PLDT-Smart Department Head and VP for Prepaid Business.

FindHer is helmed by criticallyacclaimed director Victor Villanueva, while award-winning writer Carl Chavez and best-selling author Rod Marmol teamed up for story, which reflects the realities of modern dating and relationships.

The series features actors Barbara Ruaro as Lia, Dionne Monsanto as Aika, and Vance Larena as Gabe.

Ruaro recently starred in Dog Days, a feature film at the 2018 QCinema International Film Festival, while exPinoy Big Brother housemate Monsanto is known for her breakthrough role in the 2016 daytime series Tubig at Langis’ and recently, the digital filmGlorious.

On the other hand, Larena was last seen in Bakwit Boys, one of the finalists at the 2018 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

Smart, Sun and TNT customers can watch FindHer with Video Every Day, which offers up to one hour of free video streaming on YouTube, iflix, NBA League Pass, iWanTV and Cignal Play.

Video Every Day comes with any active subscription to Giga Surf promos. To register to Giga Surf, simply dial *121#.

Catch FindHer on Smart’s official YouTube channel and Facebook account, and follow the official hashtags #IsLoveOnline, #FindHerSeries and #SmartVideoEveryDay for updates.

32nd Anniversary

Corporate Philanthropy CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

32nd Anniversary

Corporate Philanthropy CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

EDUCATION/YOUTH

Change the world with education

B

ENJAMIN Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Take it from one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, who valued his learning more than anything. A testament to this was his accomplishments as a profound polymath, inventor, scientist, printer, politician, Freemason, and diplomat.

Indeed, education is the great equalizer, but sometimes opportunities don’t come knocking for the less privileged but most deserving in students.

That’s why companies, believing in the power of education, have leveled the playing field for those armed only with potential and perseverance to pursue their dreams through education.

Through the years, CSR in the Philippines has created a long-term, sustainable change to help provide and enrich the quality of education in the country.

From the public to the private sector, companies and agencies have been actively involved in the growth and development of education in the Philippines.

This is by ensuring to provide programs and support for scholars leading to the

TEACH THEM WELL. An investment in

education ripples into mmore opportunities for everyone

betterment of society, in turn, bringing a larger impact and imperative change in the society.

But CSR intervention does not stop in providing scholarships for higher studies, it also focuses on providing vocational skills and livelihood enhancement. These interventions help the students to be equipped with necessary skills for a growing economy and a need for a skilled workforce, here and abroad.

The main purpose of CSR is to create an avenue which will come full circle, and an investment in education ripples into more opportunities for everyone.

Because as the late great Nelson Mandela put it, “education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Peter Paul Duran

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Escape Poverty through SM Scholarships

By Carmela Martinez

E

DUCATION has always been a means to alleviate poverty. This is especially true when it comes to countries with citizens who are economically challenged like the Philippines. That is why government and non-government organizations are working together to promote it.

In recent years, the Philippine government made improvements to the educational system of the country. They added two more years to the otherwise 10 years of required schooling. The K-12 program was designed to enable future generations to compete with other countries with more or less the same format in their education. The division is similar to the old curriculum; from the kinder to Grades 1-6, then junior high school that’s four years. The only difference is the two years for senior high school. Their subjects were also revised and updated to suit the current generation. In senior high, students can choose what kind of track they’ll take according to their interest or skills.

More than 500 hopeful youth gathered together for the first SM Foundation Technical-Vocational Scholarship General Assembly on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Complex. This year, SM Foundation gave 1,000 technical-vocational scholarship grants nationwide which is a big jump from its previous average of 100 a year.

There are four main tracks for senior high students. The first one is the academic track, next is the technical-vocationallivelihood (TVL) track, the sports track, then the arts and design track. After senior high school, the students can choose to continue their studies to college or to be part of the current workforce especially those under the TVL track. They are

capable of taking TESDA tests that would enable them to apply for work right after senior high school.

The whole K-12 program may seem like a paradise escape from the hard life, but with this addition to the country, it left a dent in their pockets. New school buildings need to be built, new teachers had to be hired, new school books needed to be supplied, to go with new school supplies and many more. The truth is not every Filipino can afford to send their child to

Mom, what is a better future?

A better betterfuture futureis... is... ...one where where the the young young can can bask bask in in the the fruits fruits ...one of our our investments investments today. today. of With With our our significant significant infrastructure infrastructure assets assets in in power, power, water, water, healthcare, healthcare, toll toll roads, roads, railways, railways, and and logistics, logistics, we we at at Metro Metro Pacific Pacific Investments Investments Corporation Corporation strive strive to to create create that that ideal ideal future future for for the the youth youth –– aa future future that that will will bring bring hope hope for for generations generations to to come. come.

school.

That is where non-government organizations (NGOs) come in with scholarships that allow these economically challenged students to thrive despite adversity.

Scholarships from companies as a form of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a way for them to give back what they earned to the world. It is financial aid for the students who need it--much like how the SM Group helps students through their college.

SM Scholarships first started in 1993 by the couple, Henry Sy, Sr. and Felicidad T. Sy, when they accepted scholars. At first, the number of the scholars were few, but as years went by, the scholars boomed to more than 3,000. The late Henry Sy, Sr. believed that if one person or student from a poor family got to graduate college, they would soon lift their family from poverty like a chain reaction.

There are two kinds of scholarships in Turn to D2

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Corporate Philanthropy

32nd Anniversary

CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

The Aldub Library Project

Fame and fortune for a good cause

By Kyle Gabrielle Ureta

N

owadays it’s easier to be famous, what with the various social media sites rampant on the internet. The term ‘Five Minutes of Fame’ became common slang for someone who’s gone viral over the media. As the term implies, the fame doesn’t last very long before the public’s attention moved on.

Some people end up famous longer than others, as they even extended their fame towards getting something more.

Then, there are those who use their fame to bring attention to important issues, or to further help the community.

In the year 2015, fans all over the country bore witness to the birth of one of the biggest showbiz phenomena in Philippine history.

blocks, obstacles and subplots.

What did the TV couple do with all this fame and attention? They used it to give back.

The concert raised a total of P14 million from ticket sales alone.

One hundred percent of the proceeds were used for the Aldub Library Project. Fans who could not attend the concert, were also given the opportunity to donate to the project

The ‘chance meeting’ of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (then called “Yaya Dub”) sparked the “Aldub Nation” and subsequently the world record for most number of tweets in 24 hours for their hashtag #ALDubEBTamangPanahon which reached over 41 million tweets.

The record got them into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The love team’s popularity rose, and with it their influence and reach. The pair inspired an entire soap opera parody (called “Kalyeserye”), three films and a benefit concert, amongst various other interviews, guest appearances and commercials.

The concert, entitled “Ang Tamang Panahon” was meant to be the final episode of the parody, where Alden and Yaya Dub finally met face to face after two years of various road-

The Aldub Library Project funded the creation of fully functioning libraries in 10 schools all over the country. The first library was built in Lumban Central Elementary School, located in Lumban, Laguna.

Other libraries were constructed in schools in Samar, Camarines Sur, Davao City, Palawan, Zambales, Capiz, Pangasinan, Lanao Del Norte and Cebu. Until today these libraries are still in use.

The libraries are fully equipped with two computer systems, a television and speaker set, various tables and chairs, and of course shelves upon shelves of educational books.

It’s been a long while since the Aldub Nation had taken the spotlight, but what they did with the fame and fortune their popularity granted them, will remain in the hearts of those whose lives they touched.

Escape...

From D1

SM: The SM College Scholarship and the SM Technical-Vocational Scholarship.

The SM College Scholarship has certain qualifications, such as the students need to be senior high graduates with a general weighted average of 88% and a household income amounting to P150,000 annually.

The college covers most of the universities or colleges from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The Scholars-to-be do not need to go through the hassle of applying for it is done online.

The courses they offer are BS in Computer Science, BS in Information Technology, BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering / BS in Electronics Engineering, BS in Computer Engineering, BS in Civil Engineering, BS in Electrical Engineering, BS in Elementary Education, BS in Secondary Education major in Biology, Chemistry, General Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, English; BS in Accountancy, BS in Accounting Technology, BS in Accounting Information Systems, BS in Internal Auditing, BS in Financial Management, BS in Management Accounting, and BS in Civil Engineering.

These college scholars benefit from full tuition fee paid in the college, a monthly allow-

ance, the choice of specialization, part-time jobs during semestral or holiday breaks and exclusive job offers when they graduate.

The SM Technical-Vocational Scholarship has fewer qualifications as they need to be high school graduates and must have passed the requirements in their Technical-Vocational school.

These scholars can choose to specialize in Food and Beverages, Automobile Mechanic, Fitter Machinist, Electro-Mechanical Technician, Refrigeration and Air conditioning, Small Arc Welding and Electronics.

Like the college scholars, they also enjoy full tuition, but they have on the job internship, referral to SM industry partners after they graduate and many more.

SM Foundation doesn’t only just help in terms of scholarships, but also provide buildings for schools, complete with the essentials of a typical school building.

Aside from this, it also helps in times of need like disasters, they plant trees to help the environment and many more.

Education is a means to escape poverty, though the decisions to actually prosper are with the person themselves.

It’s because being educated is like giving wings to people in order for them to soar.

Corporate Philanthropy

32nd Anniversary

CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

Bringing the Focus on Tondo’s Youth

By Carmela Martinez

I

N the 2018 Miss Universe, Catriona Gray said that working in the slums of Tondo encouraged her to find the beauty in the faces of children despite the fact that living there is poor and sad. What she was referring to was the voluntary work that she does in Tondo with the organization Young Focus. They help children there with their education from pre-school to college.

Young Focus believes that education is the key to have a better life thus, ending poverty.

Young Focus International started in the Netherlands by a Dutch/English couple Paul and Ann Wijgerden, who expanded the project to the Philippines in 2008. It is based in Tondo near the Smokey Mountains where there are thousands of families in need and who are scavenging for

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food or money.

Young Focus sees a future with the improved mental, physical and social wellbeing of the youth in poor communities via education, health care and personal support.

Young Focus gives these children a chance to be more, with programs like the Child Care Plus, School Sponsorship from elementary to college, Love2Learn

Miss Universe Catriona Gray with her Tondo inspirations.

(a special program for school drop-outs), YoUNgLI (Young Unlimited) and Alternative Learning System.

It also has Combat Malnutrition in Tondo and provides Family Care and Social Support to those who need it.

Child Care Plus or Early Childhood Education is for children aged 3-5. Here, the group provides quality education to help the development of their social or emotional, physical and cognitive wellbeing.

Almost 300 children ages 3 to 4 attend preschool and 125 are 5-year-olds enrolled at the local school. Uniforms, school books and school supplies are provided for 5 years old.

School sponsorship for elementary, high school and college are for 6-yearolds to 20+ young adults. Young Focus also provides school fees, uniforms, books and school materials.

It also tutors these sponsored students at its student’s center that has a library, a computer room and recreational areas.

Aside from tutoring, it has a writing class, arts and music lessons and dance groups catering to children’s interests.

Once the students graduate from college, Young Focus also helps them get a job via a network of companies and contacts that support the organization.

Love2Learn is part of Catch-UP: A

special program for school drop-outs. It helps children who were dropped out of school because of personal, financial or family reasons, teaching the lessons they missed for one year before enrolling them back to their proper year.

It also works out the problems of the family so they can go back to school with

that enables them to enrol to senior high school or any vocational course.

ALS is also a program of the government for ‘study acceleration’.

The Young Focus’ Combat Malnutrition provides healthy food by means of feeding programs. Children from the Catch-UP programs receive health food

ease. Children on this program are aged 8-15 YoUNgLI or Young Unlimited is also part of the Catch-UP programs that cater to school dropouts, but this is for 15+-year-olds who never received education and more often than not are addicted to solvents.

Some live alone and/or supporting children of their own. The program aims to recapture their love for education and receive training in hygiene, education, personal coaching and life skills. They are assisted in finding job training programs or in enrolling to school again.

Alternative Learning System (ALS) is another part of the Catch-UP programs that allow students that have been out of school for too long to be in a one year course to catch-up on the things they missed. After the year is done, they receive a four-year high school certificate

when they are at school.

In addition to that, they also teach children and their parents all about nutrition, health and hygiene.

Mothers are also taught how to cook healthy meals with a budget of P200+ for a family of 4.

Family Care and Social Support are for parents where they teach the value of education as well as training on health, hygiene, nutrition, parenting, family planning, spiritual and mental health including the rights of children.

Young Focus also tries to pinpoint the cause of the drop-outs and guide them.

What started in the Netherlands that expanded in the Philippines now has 1,085 students in its program, 185 school dropouts in its Catch-UP programs, 750 in its regular programs and 150 who enrolled in their preschool. Maybe in the future, they will help millions more.

Corporate Philanthropy

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World Vision:

Keeping dreams alive

By MJ Blancaflor

W

HAT is the best way to teach students the value of education? High school teacher Celine Calado found a unique and noble way to make her students appreciate learning even more.

Her students in Muntinlupa Science High School sent six children to school as part of their class project, which they fulfilled through World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization.

When Teacher Celine, 39, had first introduced her “adopt a scholar” project, she knew it was a daunting task. But the seemingly impossible idea of “children helping children” kindled waves of excitement among her students.

To raise funds, her class looked for creative means such as math tutorials and cleaning services. The project ran for almost a decade.

Through the project, her students learned to value education—and perhaps more importantly, compassion and shared responsibility.

“Sending a poor kid to school is our biggest achievement,” shares Jamie Macasinag, one of the many students who took part in the project.

It all began when Teacher Celine discovered World Vision in a book titled “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do for the Country.” Among the 12 acts mentioned in the book, one stood out: “Adopt a poor child or adopt a scholar.”

The child sponsorship program of World Vision allowed her students to be linked directly to the children from a small village in Palawan whom they supported.

For only P750 a month, their sponsored children attended school and received healthcare.

As soon as they signed up for World Vision’s program, the young sponsors were

32nd Anniversary

CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

given pictures and basic information of their sponsored children.

World Vision is a child-focused organization advocating children’s holistic development. It believes that the best way to help a child overcome poverty is to help communities become better places to grow up in.

Like in other countries, World Vision works with communities in the Philippines. To select the children who will become scholars, the organization partners with local staff and families.

By pooling together all sponsorship donations, selected children and their communities acquire access to education.

World Vision believes that the child sponsorship program facilitates overall growth and development in the community, and secures a better future for them through empowerment, education, and self-sufficiency.

To ensure that the sponsor’s contribution

reaches the child, World Vision gives the opportunity for both of them to have correspondences. The sponsor receives a photo of the child upon the grant of the first donation. Annual progress reports of the child are also sent through mail. It contains the child’s latest photo, average grade, community updates, and message from the child.

The sponsorship may last several years depending on the sponsor. The sponsorship may end for various reasons, but the newfound friendship between the sponsor and the beneficiary will last for a lifetime. In case the sponsor misses his pledge, World Vision starts looking for another sponsor.

The organization was founded in 1950

by Rev. Robert Pierce, an American Baptist minister and relief worker, as a service group to meet the emergency needs of Christian missionaries. In 1975, development work was added to World Vision’s objectives.

For more information, visit https://www. worldvision.org.ph.

Metrobank Foundation: Securing better tomorrows

By MJ Blancaflor

pine University in Iloilo. This was made possible in partnership with other companies and organizations.

Furthermore, MBFI has teamed up with Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct the prestigious Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge (MMC).

MMC provides a venue for Filipino students to hone their mathematical skills in an atmosphere of friendly competition. For several years, it has produced national winners who get to compete in international tilts.

As of writing, MMC is the longest running math competition in the country with more than half a million students participating in the nationwide elimination rounds yearly, attracting students from both private and public schools.

Other flagship programs include the National Teachers’ Month celebration; Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos which recognizes 10 Filipino exemplars composed of four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers; Metrobank Art & Design Excellence; and the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair Lectures.

Metrobank has acquired respect for its commitment in social responsibility.

It has garnered various awards both in the local and international scene for its various programs. To date, MBFI has bagged 57 Philippine Quill Awards, nine of which were won last year.

Because of Metrobank’s efforts in supporting education, it has successfully branded itself as one of the giants in corporate philanthropy.

It has actively taken part in nationbuilding and securing better tomorrows for the younger generation. It also sets a good example for other companies to emulate.

SEVERAL companies are paying attention to their social responsibilities, but a few have risen above the rest.

Among the frontrunners in the CSR world is Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group. Established in 1979 by Dr. George S.K. Ty, MBFI runs stellar programs that have an enduring impact on society.

It has emerged as one of the country’s most active corporate philanthropic organizations over the years for its various programs in visual arts and health—significantly on education, since it is one of the major thrusts of Metrobank Foundation.

MBFI’s flagship projects include the Metrobank Scholarship Program (MSP) established in 1995, aimed at providing educational opportunities to academically gifted but financially challenged students.

Consequently, MBFI provides a four-year scholarship to 611 students enrolled in accountancy, business management, and education courses; two-year scholarship grants to 141 students majoring in English, Science or Math; a special education assistance package to 159 qualified graduating students in selected Level II- or III- accredited schools all over the country.

The Foundation also established the Share-A-Gift-Education (SAGE) Program, which supported elementary and high school Filipino-Chinese students enrolled in 95 schools accredited by the Association of Filipino-Chinese Schools.

Metrobank has also granted scholarships to deserving students from Adamson University, Don Bosco Technical College-Mandaluyong, Technological University of the Philippines-Manila, University of the East-Manila, University of Santo For more information, data are Tomas, University of the Philip- available on www.mbfoundation. pines-Diliman, and Central Philip- org.ph.

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TODAY

Education as a tool to progress

Education is often seen as their ticket out of poverty. However, for those living in poverty, access to education is easier said than done. With limited resources, many of them go to school on an empty stomach, with incomplete school supplies. Some even skip going to school altogether on days when they have absolutely no money for their commute and meal.

However, for top-performing students from Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) partner schools, they get a little help to make their dreams of finishing their education come true.

Through EDC’s College Admission, Review, and Readiness (CAREERS) program, these students attend review sessions to prepare them for the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT), which will help them enter one of the top state universities in the country.

Moreover, under the program, they receive financial assistance upon entry to UP or other partner local state universities and colleges.

Since 2010, the program has admitted a total of 85 students in 8 UP campuses nationwide and a total of 88 students in different local state colleges and universities. We have since produced 43 UP graduates, with one graduating magna cum laude in 2017 and another graduating cum laude in 2018 from UP Visayas.

Now, the CAREERS graduates are gainfully employed and are able for to give back to their families.

Efren Temario BS Fisheries, 2017 University of the Philippines Visayas (Miagao) Kidapawan City, North Cotabato

Jemwel Autor BS Computer Science, 2018 University of the Philippines Visayas (Miagao) Valencia, Negros Oriental Jemwel Autor is the son of a carpenter and a housekeeper, and he was determined to bring his family out of poverty ever since he was young.

After successfully passing the UPCAT and becoming a CAREERS scholar, Jemwel decided to take up BS Computer Science to help him secure a stable and lucrative career in the future.

Thea Faye Culaba BS Management - Magna cum laude, 2017 University of the Philippines Visayas (Iloilo City) Valencia, Negros Oriental “I wanted to be better.”

“I had a very difficult time when I was in high school. I often went to school wearing worn out slippers without any money. I even joined dance contests, so I can pay for my meals and school projects. I even became a working student when my family faced even more financial difficulties,” Efren shares.

“Growing up helping my parents graze our cow in Valencia, I used to see our town border as a hindrance to my dreams,” Thea shared. “But if I were born in a different town, EDC would not have found me.”

Clarence Gamez BS Fisheries, 2016 University of the Philippines Visayas (Miagao) Bago City, Negros Occidental Prior to graduating from high school, all Clarence Gamez wanted to do after graduation is to move to Manila to work as a house help. With her father was employed as an irregular truck driver and her mother as a housewife, Clarence wanted to help ease the family’s financial burden.

She thought that going to university would just add to her family’s burdens.

However, this changed when she was accepted into UP Visayas Miagao’s BS Fisheries program after participating in the CAREERS summer review.

After entering UP, Clarence’s dream of simply going to Manila to become a house help has changed. She wanted to use what she has learned in school to help her family. Just like Efren, Clarence is now a Registered Fisheries Technologist after passing the 2017 Fisheries Technologist Board Exam. She is employed at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region VI as an Coastal Extension Officer, allowing her to help make her family’s life more comfortable.

JEMWEL AUTOR

According to him, he was able to overcome these challenges through the support of his family, his professors, his peers, and his CAREERS family. Jemwel graduated in 2018 and is now employed in Metro Manila.

A daughter of a company driver and a homemaker, Thea often told herself these words while growing up in Valencia, Negros Oriental. She wanted to give her family a more comfortable life. Thea was an EDC scholar in high school. She has always excelled in school, graduating from Valencia National High School as its valedictorian.

Since graduating from UP Visayas, Efren is now a Registered Fisheries Technologies, proudly ranking 7th in the 2017 Fisheries Technologist Board Exam. He is now working as a Science Research Assistant I in UP Visayas Miagao’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.

Efren Temario

While in university, however, he found it ironic how a Computer Science major did not have his own laptop. Despite receiving financial assistance through the stipends he receives from his CAREERS scholarship, he found that this amount can cover his living expenses and school projects with some to spare. However, he struggled to complete his school requirements without a laptop. But a professor has lent him his old laptop, allowing him to fulfill these requirements.

Efren Temario is a member of the Manobo Indigenous Peoples (IP) in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. At an early age, he was already aware of how disadvantaged he was compared to his peers due to poverty. He often missed first days of the school year because his family did not have money to buy him the pencils and notebooks needed for school.

Despite helping with his family’s finances while attending school, Efren was still able to finish as one of the top students in his graduating batch.

After attending the CAREERS summer review, he was able to pass the UPCAT and was accepted into the BS Fisheries program at UP Visayas Miagao. Furthermore, through the CAREERS program, he successfully qualified for a DOST scholarship. The DOST scholarship provided Efren with further financial assistance during his stay in university on top of the stipend that he receives from EDC.

Glecerio Magbanua

After passing the UPCAT, she shared that EDC has become like her second family, giving her unwavering support throughout her stay in UP. Through the financial support that she has received through CAREERS, she was able to fully focus on her education, allowing her to graduate from UP Visayas Iloilo City’s BS Management program, magna cum laude.

Now, Thea is part of EDC’s Southern Negros Geothermal Project (SNGP). She is thankful for the opportunities that have opened for her through the CAREERS program.

Glecerio Magbanua BS Management - Cum laude, 2018 University of the Philippines Visayas (Iloilo City) Bago City, Negros Occidental Born to a father who is a farmer and a mother who is a housewife, Glecerio Magbanua - or Rio to his friends - grew up with the challenges posed by poverty. Growing up, he often skipped meals, going to school on an empty stomach. To save what he could have spent on transportation, he would walk across rice fields and sugar cane plantations just to get to school. He had experienced eating rice with just patis or cooking oil, just to avoid going to school on an empty stomach.

Clarence Gamez

Thea Faye Culaba

“I wanted to give up so many times, to stop studying and just surrender.

But my parents told me that finishing my education is the most important,” Rio stated in his speech in the 2018 CAREERS graduation.

“When I became an EDC scholar in high school, I no longer had to worry about my uniforms, and, slowly, I no longer worried about going to school. EDC motivated me to study well and to dream bigger.”

Rio used to think he was so disadvantaged compared to other people because he was poor, so he had to work harder than everyone else. It is this poverty that motivated him to succeed, allowing him to graduate cum laude with a BS Management degree from UP Visayas Iloilo City this 2018.

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RBank creates value

Robinsons Bank’s 3-Year CSR Roadmap

R

OBINSONS Bank (RBank) catalyzes positive impact in the community that it serves through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs.

Anchored in its mission statement of “Aiming to be better every day,” RBank created a program entitled, “RBank Creates Value” to institutionalize its CSR endeavors in their community engagement.

The 3-year CSR Roadmap, which began in 2017, was designed to teach financial literacy to the whole family by “adopting” a school, selecting a number of pupils to be the beneficiaries, involving their mothers and engaging their fathers.

On the first year of “RBank Creates Value”, RBankers conducted a storytelling using the Fable, “The Ant and the Grasshopper.” The pupils were given a coin bank that symbolized the beginning of their saving attitude. A total of 948 pupils benefitted from the program and 263 RBankers taught the kids, shared their time, and extended their blessings to them.

Adhering to JG Summit’s aim to “Make Life Better,” the Bank continued to serve and uphold its commitment of fulfilling the community’s changing needs. In 2018, RBankers returned to the same pupils to teach basic financial management by identifying the difference between needs and wants that was reinforced by cartoon videos.

The importance of financial education was also imparted to the pupils’ mothers with the help of the Bank’s Bancassurance Team. Additionally, a livelihood skills training program was conducted for them with the help of the Bank’s Microfinance clients whom, aside from sharing their skills, also shared how they have built their dream business with the financial assistance from Robinsons Bank.

17 CSR Teams composed of volunteer RBankers from different units and regions nationwide were formed. A total of 290 RBank volunteers visited 17 schools nationwide (8 in Metro Manila, 5 in Lu-

zon, and 4 in Visayas and Mindanao) with a total of 1,288 beneficiaries in 2018.

The initiative sparked an interest in parents to open a Savings account for their kids. Some of the parents approached RBankers at the end of the activity and inquired about the nearest RBank Branch where they can open an account to start saving for their children’s future.

At present, with the guidance of their parents, pupils from Pura Kalaw Elementary School were able to open their first savings account and deposited the Christmas aguinaldos that they have recently

received. Also, encouraged by their classmates who already have savings accounts at a young age, more pupils opened savings accounts thereafter.

This 2019, RBankers will be returning to their “adopted” schools to hold the third leg of RBank Creates Value’s 3-year Roadmap. Moving forward, Robinsons Bank is determined in initiating more sustainable efforts towards imparting financial education among different communities.

Robinsons Bank rallies on the vision of being the Bank of Choice and carries on initiatives of creating opportunities for more people to experience the rewards of having a bank that takes care of their needs. Through its dedication to provide the best experience, winning culture, outstanding returns, and as a responsive organization, the Bank embraces and extends more than just being a financial arm but builds relationships beyond banking.

Ayala Community for Social Impact Deepening a culture of social engagement and collaboration Business can play an important role in creating social good. While its capacity to generate economic value is significant, it can also serve as an agent of social transformation.

Because business does not exist in a vacuum, business needs to create value that can be shared with the markets it serves and the communities in which it operates. As business improves, lives should also improve; what’s good for the community should be good for business, and vice versa.

Ayala Corporation believes in business’s potential to make an impact in the lives of people and communities. “At the Ayala group, we have always believed that in a developing economy like ours, businesses play an indispensable role in addressing some of the most pressing development challenges,” said Ayala Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. “To remain relevant, to continue building trust with communities, businesses must contribute to society as a whole, and ensure the progressive development of the markets they serve.”

Business and social responsibility Over 185 years, Ayala has made significant headway in integrating social and environmental needs into its corporate strategies. It has pioneered sustainability reporting in the country, making sure that it tracks its impact in the economic, social, and environmental spheres, while also contributing to the improvement of each. Its commitment to transparency and accountability is also apparent in its governance and its overall approach to conducting business.

Ayala is also a leader in corporate social responsibility. Through Ayala Foundation, the group’s social development arm, it has helped improved the lives of people and communities, through programs in education, community leadership, suitable and sustainable livelihood, and arts and culture. To realize its vision of “communities where people are productive, creative, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino,” it has worked closely with partners from within the conglomerate, with various communities, and with stakeholders that span the country.

Each of Ayala’s business units also actively contributes to various social and environmental causes, whether through its day-to-day business operations or through partnerships with various like-minded individuals and organizations, in the public and private sectors.

Ayala is also a 50,000-plus-strong organization. Its human resources also contribute to positive change in their respective spheres of influence, representing a great force for community transformation.

Community for Social Impact While each of the above brings about improvements in various areas, the Ayala group also believes in consolidating its diverse strengths and initiatives for greater impact. This is why Ayala citizens are now coming together to harness its wide-ranging strengths, resources, capabilities and talents to form a community that celebrates unique capabilities and programs while joining hands to create social impact. Serving communities is best done together, so to speak.

In a simple yet meaningful ceremony held at the Ayala Museum in November 2018, the Ayala Community for Social Impact (Ayala CSI) unveiled its vision to work for “a better and more sustainable world by creating shared value through partnerships with communities and families we serve.” The group also committed to the mission that they will “harness Ayala’s diverse strengths, resources, capabilities, and talents in engaging businesses and communities for opportunities to solve problems and help make better and sustainable world.”

Brigadang Ayala - Every year, the Ayala group comes together to support the DepEd’s Brigadang Eskwela initiative. In 2018, Brigadang Ayala mobilized more than 5,000 volunteers and served 130 schools.

Calauan Farmers for a Day Ayala Foundation and its partners work with displaced families living in a resettlement site in Calauan, Laguna, and trained them to become farmers. The participants in the program have experienced improved income. The program also presents a volunteering opportunity for Ayala citizens, so they may become familiar with the needs, daily struggles, and successes of the farmers.

Ayala CSI launch Stakeholders from across the Ayala group formed the Ayala Community for Social Good, which harnesses “Ayala’s diverse strengths, resources, capabilities, and talents in engaging businesses and communities for opportunities to solve problems and help make better and sustainable world.”

Ayala CSI identified four focus areas—Education and Scholarships, Environment, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, and Health. They also identified the following key enablers to bring about relevant social impact: Technology, Communication and Branding, Volunteerism, Capacity-Building and Development, Measurement and Evaluation/ Data Analytics. Serving as champions for Ayala CSI are Ayala Foundation and AC Synergy, while working closely with the different business units within the Ayala group.

“We are not only community movers, but community lovers who truly desire to help bridge the needs gap in communities that we serve,” said Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan, as he described the organizational framework of Ayala CSI. For his part, Ayala Corporation Chief Human Resources Officer, Managing Director and Head of the Corporate Resources Group, JP Orbeta said, “We are also community shakers as we try to disrupt the status quo to be able to create social impact in our focus areas.”

Said JAZA: “Through Ayala CSI, we can strengthen partnerships and collaboration across our various social development programs in the group. By working together, we can scale up our efforts faster and ensure they produce measurable results. I’m excited to see this initiative come to fruition and deepen our culture of social engagement and collaboration among our people.”

Ayala Foundation’s CENTEX program allows bright students from poor communities in Manila and Batangas to have access to high-quality education.

We work with communities by making sure we trying to understand their needs. One of the communities we work with is Carles, Iloilo, in partnership with Ayala Land.

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Development Bank of the PH boosts CSR initiatives with RISE S TATE-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) remains at the forefront of implementing relevant and meaningful social responsibility programs through a new flagship CSR initiative -- the DBP Resources for Inclusive and Sustainable Education (RISE) initiative.

DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia C. Borromeo said that this new scholarship program, which targets underprivileged high school graduates across the archipelago, will support the education of more than 2,500 scholars in the next five years. The DBP RISE is financed by a P500million seed fund.

“As one of government’s financial institutions, DBP has been tasked to do more so that the administration’s poverty alleviation efforts can be felt by more Filipinos,” Borromeo said. “The DBP RISE was conceptualized to directly impact on an area that is broadly acknowledged to be a development driver – education. As a mechanism for providing educational opportunities, the DBP RISE can make a significant difference in the lives of promising youth from low income families. The DBP RISE gives underprivileged Filipino youth a shot at a brighter future.”

Borromeo said that with the DBP RISE, the bank will support students enrolled in courses such as accountancy, engineering, education, and information technology adding that “DBP will shoulder tuition fees, board and lodging expenses, living allowance, cost of apprenticeship, residency training, and expenses during review for Board exams.”

DBP has tapped 14 partner-schools for this initiative, comprised of eight state universities and colleges and six private educational institutions. These schools are the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Bulacan State

University, Emilio Aguinaldo College - Cavite, Mindanao State University, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Misamis University, Our Lady of Triumph Institute of Technology, Palawan State University, Philippine Normal University, University of Cebu, Lyceum of the Philippines University - Cavite, West Bay College, and West Visayas State University.

For the first year of implementation, covering school year 2018-2019, the DBP RISE is already supporting more than 350 scholars

from indigent families.

Borromeo added that the DBP RISE is the offshoot of another DBP flagship CSR initiative -- the DBP Endowment for Education Program (DEEP) -- which is nearing completion after a decade of empowering intelligent but underprivileged youth by giving them access to higher education.

Just like the DBP RISE, DEEP is a scholarship program for brilliant students belonging to families with annual incomes that do not exceed P150,000. Most scholars are children

of farmers, laborers, drivers, teachers, housewives, electricians, mechanics, vendors, retired policemen, and soldiers. DEEP scholars receive the whole range of support for student requirements, including books, cost of living, and allowances.

Borromeo reported that the DEEP scholarship program has already produced more than 3,200 graduates of a diverse number of college courses including maritime, agriculture, forestry, education, nursing, and hotel and restaurant management. DEEP has also produced gradu-

ates of short-term technical-vocational courses such as information technology, computer programming, graphics animation, and automotive/welding.

More than 85% of DEEP’s graduates are already gainfully employed. Out of that number, 47% hail from Mindanao, 34% are from Luzon, while the remaining 19% came from the Visayas.

Borromeo said that with the DBP RISE, the bank will provide continuing access to education for the socio-economic upliftment of the best and brightest but disadvantaged Filipino youths and their families. The program will also help ensure an adequate supply of qualified professionals and skilled workers for the country’s requirements, as well as respond to the growing demand for Filipino professionals in the global markets.

For more information about this topic, please contact Vice President Zandro Carlos P. Sison / Head, Corporate Affairs Department at telephone numbers 893-6743 and 818-9511 local 3709, or email info@dbp.ph.

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia C. Borromeo (seated right) and Mindanao State University (MSU) President Dr. Habib W. Macaayong sign the memorandum of agreement for MSU to be a partner-school of the DBP Resources for Inclusive and Sustainable Education (RISE) initiative. Also in photo are (standing, from left): Pamela B. Macaayong; DBP Senior Manager Merly Nonoy; DBP Executive Vice President Susan Prado; MSU Presidential Assistant Atty. Renato S. Pacaldo, Ph.D.; and DBP Executive Vice Presidents Anthony Robles and Benel Lagua.

A 2-STOREY SCHOOL BUILDING IS DONATED

BY SM PRIME THROUGH SM FOUNDATION

By Charles Arvin Dantes More than 200 pupils will be enjoying their new classrooms as SM Foundation Trustee, Ramon Gil “Chito” Macapagal, Linda Atayde, Executive Director for Education & Abraham Malicdem, Mall Manager of SM Center Dagupan turned over the symbolic key of the newly-built, two-storey building to the Dagupan East Integrated School representedby the school’s principal, Dr. Reynaldo Barrozo and the local government unit led by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez.

“We are very thankful to receive this kind of help from SM. As you can see, we are in need of classrooms. This building will go a long way in providing the students their needs said Barrozo in an interview.

The building of the classrooms was never easy as SM Foundation’s School Building Program head Juris UmaliSoliman shared how difficult it was to erect the building after Dagupan was struck by Typhoon Ompong, declaring the City in a State of Calamity. “Construction had to stop for two months ; the area was waist-deep in water and we resumed construction only when water subsided,” said Soliman in a interview with Manila Standard. “Engineers decided to elevate the area to prevent water from flooding the 1st floor of the building.”

The finished Dagupan East Integrated School is an elevated two-storey building with four disability-friendly classrooms, toilets, and ramp that can withstand storms and flood. The first floor will be occupied by kindergarten students in which innovative, geometrically-shaped and colored desks and tables were made for them to enjoy. Grade Three students will be taking classes on the second floor; each classroom has 50 chairs, with five left-handed chairs per classroom. In addition to the chairs, SMFI provided concave blackboards, teacher’s desks, tables, wall fansand a toilet per classroom.

PWDs (persons with disability) of the Association of the These-Abled, an association SM Foundation supports,made the armchairs and school furniture.

Emergency LED lights at landings of both staircases, fire extinguisher, fire alarm bells and emergency exits were also placed for emergency purposes.

A special toilet for PWDs is located at the Ground floor.

For 2019, SMFI plans to donate seven more new school buildings in Olongapo, Benguet, Bataan, Caloocan, Daet, Butuan and Zamboanga. SM Foundation aims to finish and begin turnover of these new buildings this coming August.

Linda Atayde, Education Head of SM Foundation, Inc., briefed the press about SMFI’s advocacy.

“Just like our Tatang (Mr. Henry Sy Sr.), we have a strong belief in education and that is why Mr.Sy decided to start SM Scholarship Grant in 1993 to help students reach their dreams. In 2002, we started giving buildings to schools in addition to our scholarship programs,” said Atayde.

“We are also looking forward to the breach the 100th mark of schools donated all around the country,” she added.

Last 2018, SM Foundation, Inc. opened new two-storey school buildings in four different areas in Luzon. First on the list was at the Carig Elementary School in Tuguegarao withinternational company UBS as partner. The second was at the Balatong Elementary School in Pulilan, followed by Bitano Elementary School in Legazpi City and the Telebastagan Elementary School in Pampanga, in partnership with Bata Children’s Program. East Central Integrated School was initially supposed to be ready last 2018, but due to the State of Calamity enforced in Dagupan, the turnover was delayed for two months. SM Foundation maintains all the schoolbuildings that it builds; doing main repairs in major damages of the structures.

Other than education, SM Foundation also renovates & builds community health Centers, military health facilities, medical missions and conducts Farmer’s Training Program nationwide.

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Building a legacy:

PLDT Gabay Guro soars higher

By MJ Blancaflor

C

ORPORATE Social Responsibility (CSR) is an integral part of the business landscape. It generates positive impact toward society and boosts company profile.

Because of the positivity and optimism that CSR brings to the corporate table, some companies have genuinely embraced it.

Among them is the PLDT-Smart Foundation. With full vigor, it launched its flagship project under the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Manny Pangilinan.

Believing that behind every great Filipino is a great teacher, PLDT-Smart Foundation established Gabay Guro in 2007 to recognize and honor our country's educators for their role in nation-building.

PLDT Gabay Guro supports and honors teachers through its seven (7) pillars of learning; namely, scholarship grants, teachers’ training, livelihood projects, teachers’ tribute, housing, and of course, broadbanding and computerization, and the newly launched innovations pillar where the goal is to equip teachers, school leaders, school staff, and other stakeholders with an empowering innovation mindset.

To aid deserving but financially challenged students, PLDT Gabay Guro has more than 1,300 scholars from 57 state colleges and universities nationwide. Five hundred of them have already passed the Licensure Examination for

Ms. June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla, Smart CFO and PLDT SVP & Group Controller, poses with PLDT and Smart Communications CEO Manny V. Pangilinan for a photo.

Teachers. Impressively, 234 of their scholars graduated with honors.

Over the years, more than 50,000 educators have benefited from PLDT Gabay Guro’s regular training programs, which include personality development, emotional intelligence, English proficiency, information technology, leadership, creativity in teaching, environment and climate change awareness among others.

It has also donated numerous computers and broadband internet connections to over 47 partner schools as part of its seven pillars.

PLDT Gabay Guro has also built and donated over 40 classrooms nationwide, particularly in typhoon-hit areas.

To promote an innovative mindset for teachers, school leaders, and staff, PLDT Gabay Guro also links partner schools to communities and industries through a culture of innovation. This is to have an endless possibility in learning, teaching, community building, and education stakeholder development opportunities like workshops, interactive seminars, senseshops and talkshops.

The advocacy has truly built a legacy by empowering our educators.

PLDT G a b a y Guro has also teamed up with various organizations, including

Ronalyn Quinio, a teacher of Placido Escudero Elementary School, together with her husband, receiving her seven-seater Foton Gratour Mini Van.

companies within the PLDT Group, to improve the quality of life of teachers and their families by launching livelihood programs for them.

For several years now, PLDT Gabay Guro culminates its activities for the year by organizing the “Grand Gathering,” which two years ago marked its 10th year anniversary. The gathering was attended by more than 20,000 teachers from various schools nationwide.

The organization has also partnered with local government units to bring the “Grand Gathering” experience to the provinces through the “Teacherfest” celebration, which were held in the past years in Bataan, Agusan del Norte, Bulacan, Davao, Bohol (after the earthquake), Capiz and Leyte (after Yolanda). They also brought the “Teacherfest” in Hongkong, Japan and Malaysia for our OFW teachers. Soon, it will be staged in Laguna, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Bicol, and Cebu, to name a few.

In 2018, PLDT Gabay Guro organized its 12th Grand Gathering to pay tribute to teachers. It was a star-studded event held at the Mall of Asia last Sept. 23 where several teachers brought home prizes including a brand new house and lot, a Foton Gratour Van, Tricycle, Motorcycles, home appliances, livelihood packages, smartphones and gadgets, cash prizes and gift certificates from other generous partners.

These grand celebrations and gatherings uplift the morale of the loco parentis because they are reminded that their hard work and efforts inside and beyond the four corners of classrooms are appreciated and recognized.

Because of its significant contribution to the education sector, PLDT Gabay Guro’s efforts have been acknowledged by various award-giving bodies such as Gawad Tanglaw, Anvil Awards, Philippine Quill Awards, ALIW Awards, and the Philippine Association of National Advertisers Awards.

These accolades serve as a testament that the joint project of PLDT and Smart is one of the leaders in fostering the country’s education system. With the best technology and innovation, PLDT Gabay Guro has truly touched lives and rebuilt communities across the country.

‘Answered prayer’ In a tête-à-tête with Ms. June Cheryl CabalRevilla, Smart CFO and PLDT SVP & Group Controller, she shared the secret to their enduring advocacy. “It has been continuing for a long time not just because of our team’s competence, but because of what the project stands for,” the humble chairperson of Gabay Guro said.

For her, Gabay Guro is a vessel of God’s grace to many. In her words: like an answered prayer.

True enough, for more than a decade, Gabay Guro has been touching the hearts and changing the lives of countless people—not just of the teachers who received help, but also the volunteers in this advocacy. This also rings true to artists and celebrities like Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Jaya, and Gabby Concepcion, who, like the PLDT-Smart Foundation employees, spend time and talents for free.

“Lahat kami sa trabaho, pagdating sa advocacy, pantay-pantay. Walang boss, walang subordinate,” Ma’am Chaye said.

Service knows no social status, indeed.

The kindness of the people behind Gabay Guro permeated as gifts to thousands of teachers. One of those was a kindergarten teacher from San Pablo, Laguna.

Unexpected blessing Teacher Ronalyn Quinio of Placido Escudero Elementary School nearly jumped out of her skin, when, during Gabay Guro’s Grand Gathering last year, she was declared winner of a seven-seater Foton Gratour Mini Van. There were thousands of teachers at the Mall of Asia Arena, but her name was drawn and she took home a brand new Foton mini van.

“Masaya na akong makapanood ng mga artista, hindi ko na inaasahang ako ang mananalo. Sobrang saya talaga,” the 32-year-old teacher said.

For more information about the various projects of PLDT Gabay Guro, visit gabayguro. com and for real-time updates like and follow its Facebook page: facebook.com/gabayguro.

Save the Children:

Protecting youngsters’ rights

By MJ Blancaflor

E

ight in 10 young people across the archipelago have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. It may be in the form of physical and psychological violence, sexual violence, and bullying. Research further revealed that violence usually begins at home.

These are just few of the findings of the pioneering nationwide study on violence against children in the country.

Launched in 2016, the study also unveiled that the most common case of violence at home is corporal punishment. This is a clear violation of children’s rights—an unacceptable situation—which must be remedied urgently, no matter what the costs are.

Save the Children, an independent children’s organization, opposes all forms of violence against children.

In the country, the organization works with government, NGOs, and its corporate partners to protect children from

Long record of service Save the Children started its first program in 1982 on Guimaras Island in Western Visayas, reaching out to impoverished children and families with health, education, and livelihood projects that benefited over 3,000 children.

Later on, it expanded to new areas like Ilocos Norte and Metro Manila in partnership with government agencies and organizations like UNICEF to support children growing up in the poorest and most challenging circumstances.

From this initial start nearly 40 years ago, Save the Children has supported children throughout the Philippines—from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, to Bohol earthquake, and the many tropical storms and typhoons such as Ondoy and Yolanda.

In 2012, it reached over 1.9 million Filipino children, and directly impacted the lives of 560,000 children.

Save the Children also empowers indigenous children by publishing, translating, and distributing ageappropriate and culturally-sensitive books for children in various Filipino languages.

It has also documented indigenous songs, stories and games.

It envisions a world where every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. However, none of these efforts will endure without support from the public.

Hopefully, these efforts will bring us closer to achieving a future that is free from violence.

To help, visit www.savethechildren.org. ph

violence and conflict. Through influencing laws and state policies, Save the Children ensures that children are free from harm. It also urges the Philippine Congress to pass a law that would protect children from physical and humiliating punishment.

It also encourages parents, caregivers, and teachers to use a positive and non-violent approach in disciplining children. In effect, the organization conducts Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP) and Positive Discipline in Everyday Teaching (PDET) trainings all over the country. Save the Children also improves the knowledge, skills and attitudes of service providers, schools, and NGOs to enable them to protect children in emergency and non-emergency contexts.

Save the Children also delivers programs for Filipino children which gives them better access to quality education and healthcare services. It is also on the forefront of supporting children during emergencies while also educating communities on disaster preparedness.

With its several years in humanitarian response, Save the Children has established itself as an expert in providing life-saving assistance to children and families affected by disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, disease outbreaks, and conflict. Save the Children is especially concerned with how conflict impacts children’s mental and emotional well-being. Children exposed to such violence need care and support.

During Marawi siege in 2017, Save the Children was among many organizations which provided education, protection, hygiene, and psychosocial support for Marawi’s children. In fact, the organization distributed 3,000 back-to-school kits to displaced children and teacher learning kits to facilitate learning. To accommodate the surge of enrolled displaced children, it has set up 25 Temporary Learning Spaces in 14 host schools, which can accommodate about 45 children each. Each space is equipped with learning kits and teaching aids.

Moreover, the organization distributed 3,000 hygiene kits for school-age children.

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Reducing poverty through sustainable livelihood

C

ORPORATE Social Responsibility has many facets, one of which is the thrust to maintain programs for the local communities directly affected by the point of impacts of corporations.

Through these programs, companies provide the communities access to one of the basic needs of life while at the same time, give avenues for better livelihood to combat poverty.

These programs allow the affected communities to have the fundamental human right to fulfilling dignified work and livelihood, including equal access to land and productive resources and to basic labor protections.

According to the World Bank, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has led in the provision of opportunities for income-generating activities and livelihood development through the implementation of the Sustainable Livelihood Program since 2011.

“This policy note describes the program and reflects on opportunities the program has for improving and complementing other social protect i o n

CSR-related programs in livelihood and entrepreneurship are geared towards the attainment of sustainable growth. tesda.gov.ph

programs,” the report said.

Furthermore, the objective of the Sustainable Livelihood Program is to reduce poverty and inequality by generating employment among poor households and by moving highly vulnerable households into sustainable livelihoods toward economic stability.

Indeed, livelihood programs have benefitted numerous individuals in touchpoints, where companies are situated and many more in different parts of the country.

Over the years, CSR-related programs in livelihood and entrepreneurship are geared towards the attainment of sustainable growth, which demonstrates how various stakeholders, both public and private, take care of the communities near their businesses.

Read on to see how these businesses provide e c o n o m i c opportunities for the people.

Peter Paul Duran

April Aguilar (sixth from left), representing Mayor Imelda ‘Mel’ Aguilar receives the key from Asst. Director Jesus Anunciacion (fifth from left) of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau of the Department of Energy during the ceremonial turnover of the 100 E-trikes to Las Piñas City. Present were (from left) Engineer Simon Leonor, Senior Supervising Science Research Specialist DOE; Takahiro Yamasaki, Business Development Manager BEMAC; Engr. Arnel Matthew Garcia, Supervising Science Research Specialist DOE; City Administrator Reynaldo Balagulan; Councilor Mark Anthony Santos; TRU Chief Ruben Ramos; Councilors Rubymar Ramos, Renan Riguera, Gerry Sangga, Buboy Dela Cruz, Steve Miranda and (at the back) Councilors Mark Anthony Santos and Pewee Aguilar.

Local governments provide livelihood opportunities to citizens

By Angelica Villanueva and Charles Dantes

A

RECENT survey revealed that fewer Filipinos have experienced hunger during the last fourth quarter and Christmas of the past year.

Yet, despite the decline, there are still a large number of Filipinos suffering from involuntary hunger.

This has urged local government units, in partnership with nongovernmental organizations and the national government, to establish programs that open opportunities for every family, in order for them to sustain small businesses, which they can use as a source of income.

Las Piñas In November of 2018, over 100 electronic tricycles (e-trike) were distributed by the city of Las Piñas to select tricycle drivers and operators.

Aside from the benefit of reducing pollution within the city, the e-bikes also served as a source of income for the beneficiaries. The city government has also provided free charging stations along the routes.

Aside from the e-bikes, another livelihood program pushed by the city government was the manufacture of “coconet” -- nets made from coconuts.

With the city government providing the weaving equipment, some residents have joined the livelihood program of turning coconut shells and buko husks into a “coconet,” which the city used as a foundation of plants growing in riverbanks.

Malabon City Usually paired with hot coffee or hot choco, pandesal is not just a breakfast staple prepared by moms and Titas in Malabon City as it has also become their source of income.

The Malabon City government has turned pandesal into a business venture

for women, solo parents and persons with disability and called it ‘Pan de Ladies.’

Aside from pandesal, other breads loved by Filipinos, such as the pan de coco and the Spanish bread, are made by inmates with baking experiences from Malabon’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

This kind of livelihood has helped the lives of Malabon women in providing for the needs of their family.

“It is truly a blessing to become one of the Pan De Ladies of Malabon! We are proud that even with this small livelihood endeavor, we have helped our family in so many ways,” said one “Pan de Lady.”

Each Pan de Lady is able to get P1,000 cash as a capital, plus other materials such as trolley, large styro-box and uniform for baking, and then selling freshly-baked pandesal within their areas.

Women in bright pink clothing prepare to use their plastic gloves to get the freshly-baked pandesal from their boxes (inset) as part of the ‘Pan de Ladies’ effort of the Malabon city government to give livelihood to 150 women and single parents.

Navotas City Last year, the City Government of Navotas, through its Navotas Hanapuhay Center, started its NavoNegoSerye to empower Navoteños in terms of starting their own businesses as part of its Tulong Puhunan and Tulong Negosyo programs.

NavoNegoSerye is a series of training and programs of livelihood skills expected to encourage the residents of the city to start up a business.

“We want Navoteños, especially those from low-income families, to learn how to start and sustain a business,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.

Another program led by the city mayor, in partnership with Techni-

Social Action Center of Pampanga Inc. gives financial assistance for the rehabilitation of crops farmers and the establishment of communitybased livelihood programs for women.

cal Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), is the Navotas Training and Assessment Institute that offers technical-vocational skills, such as bread and pastry making, dressmaking, welding, automotive servicing, and others.

As a result, there are already a large number of Navoteños, who have gained certification from the institute and passed TESDA’s assessment exam.

Quezon City During the last quarter of the year, the Quezon City government proudly presented 321 residents, who graduated from the city’s Manpower Barangay

Based Skills Training Program.

Each of the graduate acquired a threemonth training on housekeeping, hilot and wellness, food and beverages services, bread and pastry production, dressmaking, electrical installation and maintenance, cosmetology, home care provider, and productivity skills and capacity building.

Spearheaded by the Social Services Development Department (SSDD)Vocational Development Division, the program aimed to help QC residents expand their knowledge and open doors of opportunities that will help them sustain a business.

Earlier in June, Quezon City provided

skills training for bystanders or in local parlance, ‘tambay.’

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte encouraged the city’s bystanders to enroll in livelihood training offered by the Quezon City Skills and Livelihood Foundation Inc. The Vice Mayor believes that these bystanders deserve a second shot as she envisions their worth as a productive citizens of the society.

San Juan The city government of San Juan opened the new year with a bang when it conducted the Muslim Traders Entrepreneurship Forum at FilOil Flying V Arena.

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VILLAR Sipag Foundation:

Saving Filipinos from poverty

By Angelica Villanueva

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ONNING the tagline “One more Filipino saved from poverty,” the Villar SIPAG Foundation aims to deliver Filipinos away from hunger and lack of support.

Senator Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, leads the distribution of fishing boats, tri-bikes and kitchen utensils for the livelihood of Baseco Residents. Lino Santos

The VILLAR Sipag Foundation was established in 1992 by Sen. Cynthia Villar.

Established in 1992 by Senator Cynthia Villar, the foundation supports Filipino families in their businesses, with a mission to develop and nurture the minds of aspiring entrepreneurs, who will make a difference in society.

Villar SIPAG Foundation has helped

providing skills and technical education for entrepreneurs, while hoping that the beneficiaries of the program will inspire other potential entrepreneurs to learn from their success stories.

What matters most for the foundation is that the participants will absorb the

values of “sipag at tiyaga,” self-discipline, and reliance that will help them conquer business-related challenges in the future.

Back in 2007, the Nacionalista Party partnered with the foundation, Sipag at Turn to E4

Two Decades of Life-Changing Journey with PRO-FRIENDS By: Lorelee Antonette Yap Mr. Michael Asinas, Head of Landscape Department at Lancaster New City.

Ilonggo kids were all smiles during the book reading activity and book donation conducted by PRO-FRIENDS employees.

A child demonstrates proper brushing of teeth during PRO-FRIENDS’ wellness campaign in Brgy. San Rafael in Mexico, Pampanga.

Homeowners in Lancaster New City do their share in planting a medium-sized Molave tree in one of the tree planting activities within the community.

Creating Communities, Transforming Lives A vision and tagline turned advocacy. This is what lies in the heart of Property Company of Friends, Inc. (PROFRIENDS) as they embark in their dream of creating good quality and affordable houses that can cater from low up to middle income families.

What started as a dream from Guillermo Choa and a group of friends in 1999 became the foundation of what PRO-FRIENDS has reached today. They began as a small development provider in Cavite and then later expanded to building mid-rise condominiums, estates available to different kinds of markets up to constructing larger communities.

For almost 20 years, PRO-FRIENDS already completed 17 projects while nine more are still in progress. To date, PRO-FRIENDS has already delivered over 46,000 housing units.

PRO-FRIENDS’ Communities As their expansion continues, they have built communities in strategic locations that at the same time, ensure one’s privacy, safety, comfort and convenience with the touch of innovation to fit the lifestyle and needs of the family even in the future.

PRO-FRIENDS makes sure that the homeowners have all they need within reach: school, church, community centers, and work place. This is most evident in their flagship project, Lancaster New City (LNC). It is a 1,600 hectare flagship project of PRO-FRIENDS that straddles in the areas of Kawit, Imus, and General Trias in Cavite.

LNC is accessible when you’re from Cavitex and soon, from CaLaEx. It includes the St. Edward Integrated School, where the children of the residents can go to school with just a few steps or blocks away and learn, Suntech i-Park, the first IT park in Cavite that gives an optional workplace to those who want to work close to their homes, the Parish of the Holy Family, and The Square, a commercial center where families can enjoy their favorite meal and enjoy themed activities.

The Heart of PRO-FRIENDS But the goal of transforming lives doesn’t end with creating communities.

According to PRO-FRIENDS Corporate Communications Head, Joy De Joya, since the early years when they were established, it has been a norm for the company to “extend life transformation to the under served sector through efforts aimed toward housing, environment, education, wellness, the elderly and children.”

Over the years, they have conduct activities where their projects are located and expanded to other areas, aimed at select beneficiaries with pressing needs.

These include visiting a pediatric home in Malate, Manila called Bahay Aruga, a temporary shelter for cancerstricken children seeking treatment at the Philippine General Hospital; JADE HOME, a nursing home for children with disabilities from Virlaine Foundation; White Cross Children’s Home in San Juan, Manila; SOS Children’s Village in Iloilo; Kanlungan ni Maria in Antipolo City;and Asilo de Molo in Iloilo, a care center for the elderly. Enabling activities include a fun run with proceeds directed toward SOS Children’s Village Iloilo, Friends of Cancer Kids Iloilo Foundation, Inc., and Asilo de Molo as well as a Fun and Run activity among residents and friends of Lancaster New City for the children of Gawad Kalinga in Lambunao. PRO-FRIENDS

Trees line up in the stretch of Lancaster New City`s spine road which is the Advincula Road

also reached out to 3,600 families whose houses were destroyed by Yolanda, by partnering with Gawad Kalinga for their resettlement, housing and community development. Last year, employees also sent help to victims of typhoon Ompong through the archdiocese of Baguio.

Hopeful to reach their objective for the life transformation they want give to the underprivileged, PROFRIENDS also wishes to achieve the same thing for their employees who volunteer: “We hope to instill the spirits of teamwork and sense of family among our employees through these activities,” said De Joya. More activities in greater frequency are being lined up to provide PRO-FRIENDS professionals access to becoming a blessing to others Environmental Cause One of the main features of PRO-FRIENDS’ properties especially the LNC in Cavite is the eye-catching, refreshing and captivating variety of trees, flowers and plants that make up its landscape.

Behind this impressive scenery is PRO-FRIENDS’ Head of Landscape Department, Michael Asinas. Since 2013, they initiated an annual tree planting activity where residents and employees volunteer as they recognize the importance of this cause to the residents and for the environment.

“For the last five years, PRO-FRIENDS has already planted around 31,599 trees. We plan to continue this advocacy and add at least 7,000 each year within our projects providing a home to 3,000 types of native tree species like the Copper pods, Molave, Nedras, Jasmine, Balitbitan, Kamagong, Banaba, Tecoma, and Bani,” Asinas told Manila Standard. He expressed that trees provide many benefits not just for our surroundings but also for us. He pointed out several factors we can get from it like how “it beautifies the area.” Aside from cleaning the air, it can also help reduce the heat and “air-conditioning requirement by 30 percent” as well serves as a shade to protect everyone from the direct heat of the sun and strong winds.

Some trees can also provide food and absorbs sound pollution, “There are even studies that prove that trees can also help decrease depression and stress to the people surrounded by it,” added Asinas.

For Asinas, nurturing a tree has great importance than just planting one because it is useless to plant thousands of trees if none will grow and survive. On top of that, it is advisable to plant a tree during the onset of rainy season rather than the beginning of summer to reduce the efforts and cost of taking care of it and to ensure the survival of the plants.

With this cause, PRO-FRIENDS promotes combined efforts between the residents and employees which resulted in a group for environmentally-driven advocates called the LNC Ecology Club in its flagship project.

Since its creation, the LNC Ecology Club has introduced urban gardening and eco-bricking to residents.

For over two decades of dedication in providing good quality and affordable homes, helping the underprivileged, and serving as a model for taking care of the environment, PRO-FRIENDS further commits to making a greater impact in society.

In its 20 years of existence, PRO-FRIENDS has proven that it has a heart that cares – to build homes for Filipino families and homes for goodness to grow in the hearts and minds of people whose lives it has touched.

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The 4Ps is a program created by the national government under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, focusing on health, nutrition, and education of children with ages ranging from 0 to 18 years old to assist the families who are in dire need of help to solve the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Officialgazette.gov.ph

PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM

A way out of poverty

By Lorelee Antonette Yap

F

OR generations, poverty takes an incredible toll on Filipinos and has been a problem ever since. Many people suffer, starting from their kids to adults trying to survive each day without guarantee of what might happen tomorrow. Most of them can’t afford a meal three times a day, an education, and even health check-ups.

This is the reason why Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was born.

It is a program created by the national government under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, focusing on health, nutrition, and education of children with ages ranging from 0 to 18 years old to assist the families who are in dire need of help to solve the intergenerational cycle of poverty – the state of the parents’ lives being passed on to their children and generations to come.

4Ps was patterned from the conditional cash transfer scheme of countries like Latin America and Africa to battle poverty and other problems, where families will receive cash grants if they follow the given conditions by the government.

In 2007, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo first tested this program to 4,589 families from the six of the poorest cities and municipalities under the supervision of Former DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral. The following year, 4Ps was officially launched, serving 320,000 households in 160 municipalities of 27 provinces in six regions.

President Benigno Aquino III continued and widened the scope of 4Ps in 2010 to run in all 17 regions of the country catering up to 79 provinces, 143 cities, and 1,484 municipalities. It reached 4.4 million beneficiaries last 2016.

More so, 4Ps contains another program called Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) that serves Families in Need of Special Protection, which includes families living on the streets, indigenous families with no permanent home, families with a person with disability (PWD), families affected by natural and man-made disasters, child laborers, children in problem with the law, families that have a member with an incurable disease or victim of human trafficking to break any barrier that these families need in order to be a part this project.

The beneficiaries of 4Ps are decided through a system called “Listahan”

made by the DSWD that uses a National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) to identify the poorest of the poor families that have children ranging from 0 to 18 years old and/or has a pregnant member of a household when the evaluation was made.

In order for a family to qualify in this program, they must meet the following criteria: (1) they must be a resident of the poorest municipalities that was based on the National Statistical Coordination Board’s 2003 Small Area Estimates (SAE); (2) families who have economic condition equal to or below the provincial poverty threshold – minimum income that is needed to meet the basic necessities of a family like food, clothing, education, etc.; (3) families with children that have ages from 0 to18 years and/ or a pregnant woman when the assessment was made; (4) families who agreed to follow the set conditions in the program.

When the evaluation is done, DSWD

workers will post a list of qualified households in every community for them to see and will set a community assembly so the chosen families can be validated and recorded as beneficiaries. However, they must first sign a contract agreeing that they will comply with the conditions given to them before they receive the cash grants from the government.

4Ps only covers up to three children per family. The parents can choose which of their children can be the beneficiary of this program.

With a goal that someday these beneficiaries will become “independent and self-reliant” as per President Rodrigo Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2016, conditions were imposed on 4Ps to prevent the beneficiaries being dependent on the program. These are as follows: (1) Children from three to 18 years old must be enrolled in a school and needs to have an attendance no lower than 85% of classes every month; (2) Children covered

by 4Ps need to have regular health check-ups where those who ages from zero to five years old must be vaccinated, and those who ages from six to 14 years old should be dewormed twice a year. The weight of the children will also be monitored and if there is pregnant member of the family, she needs to have a pre and post natal care and have their baby be delivered by a doctor; (3) Any of the parents needs to attend the monthly family development sessions organized by the DSWD where they will be taught on how to be responsible parents, learn on how to take care of their children’s health and nutrition, and even become active citizens.

Families who complied with these conditions shall be given cash grants every month. Each household will receive P500.00 for their health grant and P300.00 for their pre-school and elementary children while P500.00 is for their high school children for their education. These cash grants can be withdrawn through

Land Bank of the Philippines, Globe G-Cash remittance, and rural bank transactions.

Education grants shall be given only in 10 school months per school year.

In addition, President Rodrigo Duterte stated in his first SONA that the 4Ps beneficiaries will also receive rice subsidies every month.

A family can be a 4Ps beneficiary until the last of their three children finishes high school or turns 18, whichever comes first.

In more than a decade, 4Ps already helped a lot of families in our country.

It created a lot of opportunities where a family will no longer shoulder the expenses of their children’s education and health expenses. But the government’s assistance will be for nothing if a family will be dependent on what they are given. They should also make an effort and help the government achieve the goals of this program.

For more information about 4Ps, visit this website: pantawid.dswd. gov.ph

Speaker of the House Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

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LANDBANK launches GABAY Program for Marawi siege survivors L

ANDBANK launched its Gawad Angat Bayan (GABAY) Program, a CSR project that aims to support the psycho-social needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the Marawi siege, especially the children.

The launch was held on Jan. 17, 2019 in Marawi City, led by LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino Geron, and officials from partner organizations led by HUDCC Secretary and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairman Eduardo del Rosario, Mayor Atty. Majul Usman Gandamra, and Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. President Charlito Manlupig.

Also present during the launch were officials and representatives from the LANDBANK Corporate Affairs Department, Marawi Branch, and Cagayan de Oro Lending Center.

Also part of the launch was a visit to Barangay Bito Buadi Itowa Transitional Shelter where psycho-social support (PSS) activities were piloted for the children. Dubbed as “Bahay Pag-asa”, the transitional shelter houses children- beneficiaries as young as 6 years old.

As part of the PSS activities for children, books that promote children’s rights were also distributed onsite.

Funded by the Department of Finance under the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau-Interest Differential Fund (KfW-IDF), the GABAY Program is implemented in partnership

LANDBANK launched its GABAY Program that aims to provide psycho-social support to survivors of the Marawi siege. The launch was led by LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino Geron and First Vice President Catherine Rowena Villanueva, First Vice President Khurshid Kalabud, HUDCC Secretary and Task Force Bangon Marawi Chairman Eduardo del Rosario, Mayor Atty. Majul Usman Gandamra and Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. President Charlito Z. Manlupig. They are joined by other representatives from the LANDBANK and The Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.

with the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), an internationallyrecognized non-government organization from Cagayan de Oro City that specializes in disaster response and preparedness initiatives. The program aims to provide PSS for affected individuals, and to develop community leaders especially among the youth and women.

At least 2,000 IDPs from the identified evacuation sites and 11 other ba-

rangays are expected to benefit from this program. The main components of the program include a trainors’ training for community leaders, conduct of PSS activities, eco-therapy through organic farming, post-activities support communication, and other interventions needed by the participants, including possible livelihood opportunities.

The GABAY Program is implemented in close coordination with the

TFBM, and the Islamic City of Marawi LGU officials.

“Having programs like GABAY complement the government’s massive rehabilitation efforts for Marawi is very important. This will help us make sure we are addressing all the needs of the affected individuals. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng bumuo ng programang ito, kasama ang LANDBANK at Balay Mindanaw,” said HUDCC Secretary and TFBM Chairman del Rosa-

rio. Mayor Gandamra also expressed appreciation and gratitude for the program, on behalf of the people of Marawi.

“This program is just the beginning, as it would take true commitment and cooperation from various sectors to help our brothers and sisters in Marawi rebuild with renewed hope, and come out of this stronger and better,” said LANDBANK Executive Vice President Geron.

Globe myBusiness leads awareness campaign on Marine Biodiversity Conservation in Siargao Island Following its recent rehabilitation efforts in Boracay, Globe Telecom led an awareness campaign on Marine Biodoversity Conservation in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte which is dubbed as the surfing mecca of the Philippines.

This was done through Globe myBusiness which caters to the business needs of micro, small, and medium enterprises, in partnership with Save Philippine Seas (SPS), an independent nongovernment, non-profit organization that aims to protect the country’s rich marine resources.

Several stakeholders including 30 business owners and a representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) attended the 1.5 day marine biodiversity workshop to discuss best practices on sustainability and biodiversity.

“This program of Globe about Marine Biodiversity and Sustainable Business Practices is a big help to the municipality of General Luna. The program serves as a tool to give proper education and awareness to every household and every barangay in order to solve our solid waste management problem. I would like to appeal to the local community and all business establishments here in General Luna that we help each other and work together for the success of our environment conservation efforts; for the prosperity and progress of our own municipality,” said Jose Wilbert L. Gorgonio, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, General Luna.

While the island is very progressive and has become a booming tourist destination, Siargao is not yet too commercialized, thus, an early intervention is ideal to avoid the pitfalls that Boracay had encountered.

Siargao has several establishments in the capital of General Luna which are working together to create a better sustainable development, making it one of the best places to start the awareness campaign.

Siargao business owners attend the Globe myBusiness awareness campaign on marine biodiversityconservation in General Luna, Siargao Island

to inform and influence business stakeholders that this advocacy on marine conservation and the problem on plastic litter is everyone’s responsibility. They have a big role in this endeavor and that together, they can create huge positive social impact,” said Derrick Heng, Senior Adviser for Globe myBusiness.

During the workshop, Globe myBusiness and SPS shared tips on how to integrate sustainable best practices into day-to-day operations of businesses.

These include the use of ecobags, reusable utensils, refillable containers and the reuse of printed tarps and signage. The business owners were also requested The Philippines is considered as one of the 25 not to use sand, seashells, corals, and sea stars as biodiversity hotspots in the world but it is also the 3rd decorations as well as avoid balloons and lantern largest polluter of plastic into the ocean, according to releases.

Earth Day Network, prompting Globe myBusiness to help address the situation.

At the same time, Globe myBusiness, being a trusted business partner of MSMEs, gave participants a sneak “We want to help combat this growing concern on peek into its Lakbay sesssion by providing them with marine litter. Through the workshop, we were able useful information on how they can utilize technology to Harana Surf Resort, for instance, gave a commitment through its General Manager Veda Alcos that while the establishment is not yet fully plastic-free, “we are aiming to be one very soon.”

run their business more efficiently in order to provide the best experience to their customers.

“We have prepared a portfolio of business solutions to give them the competitive advantage to improve efficiency and productivity, reduce cost, and further grow their business so that they can focus on what matters most - the customers,” said Mitch Peralta, Head, Marketing for Tourism of Globe myBusiness.

Among the solutions being offered by Globe myBusiness are WiFi connectivity, digital advertising, website creation, auto SMS blast, digitized forms, and a personalized loyalty program.

Globe Telecom has committed to contribute to 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals which include (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Production and Consumption, and (14) Life Below Water.

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San Miguel Corporation:

Making its vision of a better PH, a reality

Marawi is on its way back to recovery, thanks in part to the P1.5 billion donation of San Miguel Corporation to Marawi-related efforts such as building new homes for families displaced by the conflict.

By Rhosedel Grace Gabac

S

AN Miguel Corporation, through its corporate social responsibility arm— San Miguel Foundation Incorporated, is dedicated to proactively reach out to Filipinos to bring forth change that will enable communities to live better lives, committed to inspire them how each one of them can make the vision of a better Philippines, a reality.

Post Marawi Conflict SMC’s way of giving honor to the lives of 166 soldiers who died defending Marawi is by giving a P2 million business start-up package to all 166 families affected.

The grant for the fallen soldiers makes up but a portion of the SMC’s total 1.5 billion donation to Marawi-related efforts such as building new homes for families displaced by the conflict.

Dakula Ya Tadeng: Enriching Young Minds Through Literacy Project SMC has been generous through the years by giving scholarship programs with opportunities to work in their business in the

future, and other educational initiatives such as the building of classrooms to help improve students’ literacy, supplemental feeding, and book donation.

Last April 2018, San Miguel Foundation, together with San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation, and Department of Education Division of Davao Occidental were present at the launching and turnover ceremony of this pilot project in literacy called Dakula Ya Tadeng: Enriching Young Minds Through Literacy Project that aims to support the learners in five schools in Malita, Davao Occidental who have difficulty in reading through the donation of speech laboratories, computer laboratories, and the improvement of reading centers.

Trees Brew Life Program Over the last nine years, SMC, through San Miguel Brewery Incorporated’s Tree Brew Life Program, continues to do its part in protecting the environment by planting trees. Over 600,000 seedlings nationwide has been planted.

Last 2018, volunteers of the aforementioned program planted trees in the hearts of Pampanga, Quezon City, Makati, Laguna, Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Davao del Sur, and more are in the pipeline.

This program is part of the flagship environmental project of San Miguel Brewery, Inc. called “Buhayin Ang Kalikasan” that aims to provide water in communities, protect forest covers, and regenerate mangrove areas.

Typhoon Sendong Last 2012, typhoon Sendong destroyed tens of thousands of lives, causing billions in economic damage in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Negros Oriental.

Without a doubt, the single-largest corporate social responsibility in the country was made by SMC through helping more than 75,000 families affected by calamities, spending 550 million towards constructing 5,000 new homes, giving relief goods and soup kitchens.

Through decades of quality and integrity, SMC, up to this day, continues to invest on important social causes that are closely tied to the Philippines’ betterment and development such as education, health and nutrition, environmental preservation, community-building, and disaster management.

Villar...

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Tiyaga Foundation and Vista Land as part of its 100th founding anniversary to establish the “Pondo Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga” Awards to recognize and honor outstanding micro-entrepreneurs across the country.

“The awardees exemplify the collective spirit of the Filipinos in overcoming their limitations, handicaps, and personal tragedies. In the process of transforming themselves, they create positive ripple effects on their local communities, quietly and mostly without fanfare,” said former Senator Manny Villar.

The move aims to inspire and influence other entrepreneurs, especially micro-entrepreneurs, to follow in the steps of the successful one before them.

Reciprocating the heroism of OFWs Almost two million Filipino laborers leave the country yearly to work overseas. However, due to illegal recruiters, the fate of many OFWs is uncertain when they go abroad. Some who have tried their luck overseas are led into unfortunate situations, while some are maltreated by their employees and then a few get involved in involuntary criminal operations.

As a result, non-government organizations take action in repatriating OFWs to secure their safety and even lives.

Villar SIPAG Foundation then comes into the picture to aid these distressed OFWs as it believes in the inherent courage, heroism and hard work that they possess--traits which should be reciprocated with protection, security, and service.

Villar SIPAG has provided livelihood assistance to these workers, help which they can use as they begin to start a new life here in the Philippines.

Through its partnership with other NGOs, the foundation has opened doors of opportunities for OFWs. An example of this partnership is with the Ople Center, where returning OFWs are engaged in a series of skills training which they can use in applying for local jobs or somehow, start their own businesses.

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KABALIKAT SA KABUHAYAN

SM Foundation is one with farmers

By Charles Dantes

S

M Foundation Inc. has been serving different communities since 1983, focusing on social inclusion by nurturing and caring for those in need.

The foundation serves as the core belief of SM Group of Companies’ corporate social responsibility, established by Henry Sy Sr. and Felicidad T. Sy, while anchoring on the principle “People Helping People”.

The foundation is committed to giving back to the community by

It’s harvest time! SM Foundation

Framers show their crops. talavera.gov.ph

supporting and empowering host communities through education, healthcare, shelter, disaster response, farmers’ training, environmental programs and care for persons with special needs.

One of the well-known projects under the SM Foundation Inc. is the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farmer’s Training Program.

Launched in 2007, the KSK Farmer’s Training program has helped more than 200 batches of farmers around the country with the help from different local and private unit.

During the program, farmers are taught how to properly prepare the

land by showing them the right mix and care for the soil. It imparts the knowledge to the participants on how to maximize space and effective techniques for farming, thereby helping improve the quality and quantity of their crops as well as provide organic food for their families.

Then, the farmers are taught, stepby-step, how to take care of the crops with timely follow-up visits. After a 12-week training, SM Foundation and the farmers celebrate the bountiful harvest and invites possible buyers to try their high-value crops.

After the harvest, farmers are given the opportunity to observe operations

and product presentation of fruits and vegetables at SM, while SM works with farmers to link them to markets or to SM Markets suppliers.

Farmer graduates are encouraged to continue and replicate their teachings by forming cooperative groups.

Through these training, more families will have nutritious food on the table for their children and also have the chance to have additional income.

As both rural and urban farming revolve around the program, SM Foundation aims to keep the KSK Farmer’s Training in order to continuously empower the farmers and focus on the agricultural prowess of the country.

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A seminar on Financial Literacy was recently conducted by DTI Pampanga under the SME Roving Academy program in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Multi-level entrepreneurs get DTI’s backing

By Peter Paul Duran

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry has spearheaded programs to benefit multi-level entrepreneurs. With their numerous projects underway, the department has given a platform for all Filipinos, regardless of class, privilege, or ability, to support and develop their businesses.

These programs include the SME Roving Academy (SMERA), a continuous learning program for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become competitive in the domestic and international markets.

Its main strategies contain the integration of business development services for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the national and local levels, while establishing the Provincial, Regional, and National Entrepreneurship Development Networks. Finally, it aims to manage an inclusive promotion program for SMEs. The DTI-Bagwis Program, on the other hand, gives due recognition to establishments that uphold the rights of consumers while practicing responsible business where consumers get the best value for money.

The program also encourages the setting up of Consumer Welfare

Desks or an equivalent customer relations office inside the mall that will provide information to consumers and serve as a mechanism for the speedy resolution of consumer complaints.

DTI says retail establishments like Supermarkets, Department Stores and Specialty Stores, Appliance Centers, Hardware Stores, as well as DTI Accredited Service and Repair Shops, are welcome to join the program.

Furthermore, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Plan was developed,in consultation with national, regional, and provincial stakeholders.

The MSMED Plan has four major outcome or result portfolios, namely Business Environment (BE), Access to Finance (A2F), Access to Markets (A2M), and Productivity and Efficiency (P&E). It will also take into consideration global themes and cross-cutting issues related to gender,

The DTI-Bagwis Program gives due recognition to establishments that uphold the rights of consumers while practicing responsible business where consumers get the best value for money.

DTI trainings in Central Luzon

climate change, corporate social responsibility, and migration.

A participatory approach was adopted involving a series of stakeholder consultation, validation, and recalibration workshops participated in by representatives from the private sector, local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), the academe, and civil society.

One unique program of the Department is its Go Lokal campaign, dubbed “A Filipino Concept Store for MSMES” which promises to present products as cool, modern, and 100% Filipino.

Innovative, high-quality Philippine products crafted, designed, and produced by the country’s MSMEs are

at the forefront of this idea, with an opportunity to go mainstream via the free marketing platform provided by DTI’s retail partners that enable suppliers to gain access to the local market, and ultimately, the global market.

DTI’s inspiration for this is challenging entrepreneurs to build their products to global standards while discovering suppliers and products with high market potential. The department says it also wants to uplift communities by sharing part of store sales to community-based projects Moreover, through this program, product specialists from the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) collaborate with MSMEs to develop one-of-a-kind and modern designs,

dynamic packaging, assured quality, value for money, and consistent supply of the products.

In addition to all of these, the government agency also has programs for the differently-abled.

Their Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Program is in support of the government’s thrust to achieve inclusive growth. The DTI formulated the Department’s PWD Economic Empowerment Program to help facilitate integration of PWDs into the mainstream of society.

The program provides interventions in terms of enterprise-level assistance, enabling environment, and policy advocacy for our PWD brothers and sisters.

Corporate Philanthropy

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Empowering women entrepreneurs

By Angelica Villanueva

P

OPULAR for its exceptional taglines and campaigns such as “Open Happiness,” “It’s the Real Thing,” and “Taste the Feeling,” the Coca-Cola Company has been providing happiness in a bottle for Filipinos for over a hundred years.

While Coca-Cola has been brought into the country since 1927 when it was bottled for distribution by San Miguel Corporation, it was only in 1981 when the company was founded as Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc., before it was renamed as CocaCola FEMSA Philippines Inc. But while Coca-Cola is a multibillion dollar corporation known all over the world, it also supports an array of advocacies, one of which is to empower the women when it comes to entrepreneurship.

Empowering Women through 5by20 Coca-Cola always believes in the power and strength of women in sustaining a business. In 2010, with the initiative of the Coca-Cola Company, this belief and principle have turned into a foundation helping women venture into their own businesses.

The initiative offers women to undergo business skills training courses, providing financial support and a network of mentors, while building confidence within themselves.

Coca-Cola’s 5by20 has now become a program that reaches poten-

tial entrepreneurs—from fruit farmers and recyclers to retailers and artisans— in 200 countries across the world, with the help of bottling partners.

By 2020, Coca-Cola envisions to empower five million women entrepreneurs across the globe.

And from this number is the vision of empowering 200,000 Filipina entrepreneurs.

In the Philippines, Coca-Cola has helped Pinay retailers, who are having a hard time implementing their own business ventures.

Carmelita Aspiras, who started her own sari-sari store in 2012, has faced economic and business challenges that led her neck-deep in debts. But when she joined the program, after undergoing training on business professionalism, planning, and management,

she has learned how to conquer and manage these financial barriers.

“When I joined the Coke 5by20, I didn’t expect the positive effect it would have in my life. We really enjoyed our training because we learned a lot and experienced so many new things that we didn’t expect we would ever go through in our lives,” she said.

Coca-Cola’s 5by20 Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources, also know as the Star Program, has helped over 130,000 women micro-entrepreneurs since 2011.

As a successful result of the Star Program, more and more empowered women move forward with confidence in facing business-related challenges, applying what they have learned and are now ready to take big steps for their businesses.

The Star Program has already been executed nationwide among 54 locations, with nearly 500 accredited facilitators. This implementation and commitment aim to help 200,000 women across the country to reach financial success.

Repatriating Overseas Filipina Workers From among 2.2 million+ Filipino workers working abroad are about 54% Filipinas, who have gone overseas to find a better source of income in order to provide for their families here in the Philippines.

The women who eventually return to the country feel troubled how they can still provide for their families.

Coca-Cola Philippines has also reached these distressed OFWs by en-

couraging them to join the Star Program so that they can start their own businesses.

In partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment, CocaCola has come up with the Women Entrepreneurs Reintegrated and Economically Active at Home or Women Reach Program to provide livelihood training.

Participants are given access to have step-by-step entrepreneurial training, business counseling, and self-assessment, helping them identify the ideal and appropriate business model scale based on their resources and skills.

Among the business plans suggested by the participants include backyard hog and poultry raising, carinderia, sari-sari store, computer rental shop and online ready-to-wear shop.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

By MJ Blancaflor and Dexter Tilo

No one gets left behind: BPI bolsters financial inclusion

Filipinos deserve a comfortable and financially-stable life for themselves and their families.

There is no doubt that financial inclusion—a state of having accessible financial products and services—is a prerequisite in nation-building. It allows families from various segments of society, particularly the unserved and underserved, to attain financial security.

The latest data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revealed that 22.6% of Filipino adults (15.8 million) have bank accounts. This is a modest improvement from 22% based on the maiden survey in 2015.

Unfortunately, half of adults in class ABC have an account which is twice higher than class D, and almost four times higher than class E. The survey also showed that adults who finished college are more than twice likely to have an account than high school graduates, and more than thrice likely to own an account than elementary graduates.

Out of 52.8 million adults who do not have an account, 60% cited not having enough money as the primary reason.

Obviously, the private sector can help the government in ensuring accessible financial services for everyone.

As a trusted financial institution, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) helps families and individuals gain enough knowledge and skills to prepare them for their financial needs throughout their lifetime.

Via digital banking In line with its vision to be the country’s most inclusive bank, BPI also supports the growing number of digitally-savvy clients by utilizing digital banking to further promote financial inclusion.

While at the forefront of banking innovation, the Bank initiated a long-term digital transformation journey which includes enhancements to its mobile and online banking platforms that will meet the growing demand for efficient and convenient automated banking channels, which complement the Bank’s traditional branches.

“We are moving into a more digital, cash-lite society. There is growing demand for cashless transactions and banks are increasingly becoming more capable to offer these digital services to more Filipinos. This will be a good thing for the country as barriers to opening bank accounts are broken down, and frictionless transactions encourage more inclusion for the unbanked and underserved,” said BPI Chief Operating Officer Ramon Jocson.

Through digital banking, the pioneer bank in Southeast Asia hopes to reach out to more of the unbanked and underserved sectors of the society. By doing so, the Bank also provides its clients with the highest level of security. As of writing, BPI’s digital channels include the new BPI Online and BPI Mobile app, as well as over 3,000 ATMs and cash accept machines, or CAMs. The new BPI Online and Mobile app feature an intuitive design and additional functionalities for enhanced security. Clients can now use the new “transfer via QR code” function, which makes transferring funds more convenient and efficient.

Other enhancements of the app include improved security features such as biometric log-in capabilities and the One-Time PIN (OTP) function for financial transactions such as bills payment, fund transfers, and prepaid reloading done online or through the mobile app. The 24/7 nature of its digital channels is a key driver in helping people bank from the comfort of their homes, offices, or cars.

All this involves a transformation in the frontend and backend infrastructure and processes of BPI. Via literacy BPI helps its clients achieve financial security by providing access to basic financial products and services, especially for low-income individuals and households. According to BPI, the first step towards financial security is financial management. A major aspect of this is financial education, which is the ability to make informed decisions with one’s money and assets. This is why BPI launched tailor-made programs for schools, barangays and farming communities, which allow the unbanked to learn the basics of finance.

BPI Foundation’s Manny and Me program provides a platform for elementary school-aged children to learn the basics of financial management, and guidance to teachers and parents in supporting their learning and development towards financial wellness. From 12,000 students and 300 teachers trained in 2016, the number of beneficiaries jumped to nearly 75,000 students and over 600 teachers from 2017 to 2018.

“We are moving into a more digital, cash-lite society. There is growing demand for cashless transactions and banks are increasingly becoming more capable to offer these digital services to more Filipinos.

This will be a good thing for the country as barriers to opening bank accounts are broken down, and frictionless transactions encourage more inclusion for the unbanked and underserved, ” said BPI Chief Operating Officer Ramon Jocson.

Supporting the implemenetation of the K-12 program, BPI also launched the BPI Senior High Acceleration Program for Employment and Entrepreneurship (SHAPE), one with the DepEd’s tagline “Trabaho. Kolehiyo. Negosyo. Sa K to 12, possible!” The project aims to boost the competencies of Senior High School Students to take on employment, start a business or go to college. BPI provided modular programs on values-driven skills development, entrepreneurship and financial management skills for Senior High School students.

Adults, particularly overseas Filipinos, can also benefit from BPI’s financial inclusion efforts. In spite of decades of working abroad, 70% of OFs are still unable to save for their long-term goals. BPI helps address this by conducting trainings for OFs on financial education and basic entrepreneurship under the BPI Sulong program, which includes back-to-back training for the participants’ family members so that they are able to better manage the monthly remittances that they receive.

Another sector that needs attention is the self-employed microentrepreneurs (SEMEs), which form a bigger chunk of what keeps the country humming with entrepreneurial activity. Like the OFs, they are limited by their knowledge of financial services that can help them grow their businesses.

Most SEMEs have no bank accounts, and they resort to informal lenders, who charge exorbitant rates, just to gain access to financing. BPI educates and reaches out to SEMEs through BPI Direct BanKo, its microfinance arm. Its financial advisors, called BanKoMare and BanKoPare, go out to wet markets and small business owners who need financing and personally talk to them.

The rates are more attractive and the requirements are easier to obtain.

Apart from these programs catering to students and communities, BPI also holds basic trainings on investing. For one, BPI Securities developed an educational program called the Invest-In-You Trading Academy (I-TRAC) which offers a wide range of courses that help provide expert advice in making sound investment decisions. BPI Securities also works closely with the Philippine Stock Exchange’s Market Education team, various Human Resources groups of local companies, schools, and other organizations to promote the concept of investing as a lifestyle among Filipinos.

As BPI continues its programs and efforts towards digitalization and financial education, financial inclusion is slowly becoming a reality for Filipinos in various sectors in Philippine society. No one gets left behind. That is the goal. And BPI is certainly one of the catalysts of that vision.

BPI Chief Operating Officer Ramon Jocson

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CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

Develop your skills with TESDA

By Lyka Navarrosa

C

OLEEN de Leon earns a livelihood as a dressmaker. It has become a primary source of income for her as as she is able to accept dress repairs from her neighbors from time to time.

Today, with the use of the modern technology, TESDA offers online programs for those who are interested in their courses. tesda. gov.ph

Coleen is just one of thousands of graduates of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also known as TESDA. Established through the enactment by President Fidel V. Ramos of Republic Act No. 7796 on Aug. 25, 1994, also known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994,” TESDA aims to encourage the full participation of and mobilize the industry, labor, local government units and technical-vocational institutions in the skills development of the country’s human resources.

What gave birth to TESDA was the merging of the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with the Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Apprenticeship Program of the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) of the DOLE. TESDA is not only limited to offering trainings that will develop vocational and technical skills of the enrollees. It is also mandated to promote middle-level manpower.

Since it also has the power to approve skills standards and tests, the agency is also required to develop an accreditation system for the development of institutions involving middle-level manpower.

The agency stands to be the transformational leader in technical education and development of skills of Filipino workforce. Trainers, workers and employees are guided with the values of demonstrated competence, institutional integrity, personal commitment, culture of innovativeness and with deep sense of nationalism.

TESDA graduate insights Coleen de Leon finished three short courses in a training center of TESDA in Guiguinto, Bulacan. She reflects that it is good to undergo training for a skill you didn’t know before, wherein in a short span of time, you can acquire a new skill, which later on you can use as a livelihood.

She has now certificates from dressmaking, Basic Nihongo and Basic English Training short courses. Among the three, her learnings from her dressmaking course has become her source of income now.

What she likes the most about her TESDA stint is that she learns quickly because they were backed up with actual trainings right away.

Before, she had no idea about dressmaking. Her trainings with TESDA helped her not only to discover her skills, but to improve and later monetize her new-found skills.

Opportunities that come with TESDA trainings and certificates Graduates like Coleen learn to enjoy the trainings because opportunities come after graduation and certification from TESDA. Having partner companies locally and internationally, TESDA can help graduates find job opportunities inside the country and abroad.

That’s why some people, who don’t have the chance to graduate with a college degree, but are aching to find a job abroad, considers the agency and enroll themselves in short courses to have a TESDA certificate.

For this reason, TESDA has become known to be an alternative to college education that can make an undergraduate competent in jobs.

Know more about TESDA online program Today, with the use of the modern technology, TESDA offers online programs for those who are interested in their courses.

According to its website, the TESDA Online Program (TOP) provides an effective and efficient way to deliver technical education and skills development services to a broader audience/wide range of users/ all learners at a lesser cost as the online program requires no tuition fee.

It is a program for everyone who loves to learn TESDA courses without the pressure, at their most convenient time.

Visit the TESDA website, www.tesda.gov.ph to know how to enroll in the program.

Skills are important to everyone in finding what job you are interested on. Developing those skills plays important role to properly enhance it and be proficient. And TESDA offers quality programs and trainings without so much expenses.

Having said that, are you willing to develop your skills with TESDA?

The event, led by San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez and graced by Senator JV Ejercito, taught Muslim traders in the metro on how to further expand their businesses.

Meanwhile, last Jan. 14, the Department of Science and Technology turned over a new welding area with shielded metal arc welding training equipment as part of the city’s livelihood programs.

And just like any other city, San Juan also offers TESDA courses and skills training such as caregiving, hairdressing, baking, and electronics for its residents.

PAMPANGA One of the most notable livelihood programs in Pampanga is the financial assistance provided by the Social Action Center of Pampanga Inc. (SACOP), which gives financial assistance for the rehabilitation of crops farmers and the establishment of community-based livelihood projects for women.

With the graduation of the assisted community organizations, the program extended micro-finance assistance to

A total of 25 lucky recipients received livelihood assistance, intended to uplift the town’s poor residents, and were sourced from the labor agency’s DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program otherwise known as “DILEEP.” CAGAYAN More than 1,300 individuals working in informal sectors region-wide also benefitted from DOLE’s DILEEP. The program seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce the vulnerability to risks of the working poor, marginalized workers either through emergency employment, and promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprise.

At least P26.2 million funds have been earmarked for the implementation of DILEEP and to enhance the existing livelihood programs of some local entrepreneurs in the region. Of the P26.2 million, P7.86 million will be allocated for the province of Cagayan, P10.48 million for Isabela and P2.62 million each for the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Batanes.

Families are shown during the Awarding of the Transfer of Certificate of Titles for the SACOP-Assisted Resettlement and Housing Communities.

Photo courtesy of sacop.ph

enterprising individuals and groups through the provision of working capital for business expansion, purchase of equipment and supplies and support in the expansion of business reach. They also conduct training and workshops for the enhancement of management and financial capabilities.

Adding to SACOP’s programs, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also led the distribution of livelihood assistance through the Lourdes Tuason De Arroyo Foundation to the indigent residents of the second district of Pampanga.

Arroyo’s Sustainable Livelihood Program includes all towns in the district—Guagua, Lubao, Porac, Floridablanca, Sasmuan, and Sta. Rita.

The Department of Labor and Employment regional office in San Fernando, Pampanga introduced a program to give help to pedicab drivers through its “Padyak Project”.

LAGUNA The town of Calamba in Laguna has a close of partnership with government agencies and community partners. Calamba aims to strengthen the culture of entrepreneurship through its Calamba Cooperatives and Livelihood Development Department. Calambeños have access to a different kinds of assistance in terms of education, training, and cooperatives.

Another booming municipality in Laguna is the city of Santa Rosa, which has the Self-Employment Assistance Program, under the City Social Welfare and Development Office. With this program, qualified Rosenians are provided with financial assistance to start a small business.

Family-based Actions for Children and their Environs in the Slums or SDG-FACES is a national program adopted by the City to address issues

Department of Labor and Employment regional office in San Fernando Pampanga introduced pedicab drivers to its “Padyak Project” for sustainable income.

such as poverty. The program provides beneficiaries/mothers the opportunity to take the lead in achieving several goals, combating economic, social and environmental challenges within the community. This is through pieces of train-

ing, seminars and livelihood projects that can help improve the quality of their life and secure their children’s future.

As the economy continues to face challenges, local government units are doing their share to cushion its impact

by providing our countrymen the assistance they need.

As an old Chinese proverb says: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

50 X 2025 BY 2025, WE COMMIT TO REDUCE OUR USE OF WATER IN ALL PROCESSES ACROSS THE SAN MIGUEL GROUP BY 50%.

While our water management efficiency level is among the highest in the Philippines, and while water conservation and protection has always been a key component of our operations,

WE’RE CHALLENGING OURSELVES TO DO MORE.

ELIMINATE WASTAGE OF WATER ACROSS OUR OPERATIONS.

We will adopt new and stricter measures to improve the efficiency of our water use, as well as utilize water-saving technologies and implement conservation programs.

REUSE AND RECYCLE MORE WATER.

We will optimize all our wastewater treatment facilities to further lessen our water footprint. We commit to make greater use of treated greywater for non-essential purposes.

REDUCE OUR USE OF GROUND AND SURFACE WATER AND PROTECT VITAL WATER SOURCES. HARVEST RAINWATER.

We will continue to lessen our use of ground and surface water, protect these water sources, and empower our communities to do the same.

We will harvest rainwater and runoff water from creeks and rivers – collecting, filtering, and storing it for irrigation and for various other purposes in our facilities. We hope that others will follow our example.

WE ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING WATER-CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES NOT JUST WITH ACCESS TO SAFE, POTABLE WATER, BUT ALSO THE ABILITY TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING WHEN IT COMES TO WATER MANAGEMENT.

WHY DO WE CARE?

Because it’s everyone’s water.

www.sanmiguel.com.ph/ www.facebook.com/smcbetterworld

32nd Anniversary

Corporate Philanthropy CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

E N V I R O N M E N T

A balance between economy, ecosystems

T

HROUGH the years, companies have been rallying for environmental sustainability through activities that promote growth without compromising the environment.

From shifts in manufacturing practices, handling wastes properly, to promoting green energy, corporations have realized the importance of taking care of the environment from which they gather most, if not all of their valuable natural resources essential in their business.

With the constant industrialization that comes with progress, there’s no denying that environmental sustainability is particularly challenging.

But many companies are at the forefront of keeping the environment intact, hand-inhand, certainly embodying the mantra of growing their business beyond profit.

That’s why there is a particular focus on Corporate Social Responsibility programs directly involving the environment.

These days, businesses and industries reach out to the community that surrounds them, believing that social responsibility is an ethical framework, a duty to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the ecosystems.

We may not be aware of it, but CSR pertains not only to businesses, but also individuals whose any action impacts the people of the community and the environment.

As CSR Champions, Manila Standard likewise strives to pursue programs for the environment. In fact, our yearly Adopt-A-Tree

program is one such example.

Manila Standard, sees it fit, that as a company involved in the print industry, giving back to mother nature should be a primordial duty. Read on to know more about institutions, companies, or groups much like Manila Standard that care so much for the environment. Peter Paul Duran

SM BY THE BAY CLEANUP DRIVE. Aimed at engaging the community to save the environment, this cleanup drive was held in partnership with the DENR, Pasay City Environment Office, ICC-PH, Maynilad, Philippine National Red Cross, and Philippine Coast Guard.

Cleanup

By MJ Blancaflor

W

HILE coastal cleanups are considered band-aid solutions in reviving bodies of water, these are still deemed as prerequisites in raising awareness on the importance of restoring our rivers and bays.

initiatives for Pasig River and Manila Bay That is why private firms and government agencies have launched various cleanup drives for major bodies of water, especially in the country’s capital.

One such example is Pasig River, which used to be an important transportation route and water source in Metro Manila.

Let’s take a look at some of the activities which aim to help in Pasig River rehabilitation: ● Sagip Estero, Balik Sigla Project.

Launched by Maynilad Water Services Inc., it seeks to improve the water quality in tributaries leading to Pasig River.

The esteros involved are Estero dela Reina, Estero de Sunog Apog, Estero de Magdalena, and Estero de Concordia.

Maynilad has partnered with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), the local government of Manila, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for this project. ● Lakbayan Water Trails. Headed

by Manila Water, it is a free half-day educational tour which gives the participants an insider’s look of Manila Water treatment facilities, where raw water is treated to become potable and safe for drinking. There is also an actual sewerage treatment plant where used water is treated before returning it to the rivers.

Over the years, Lakbayan has accommodated participants from NGOs, government agencies, LGUs, and private companies. ● Estero Blitz. It is the annual flood mitigation activity of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) aimed at de-clogging and cleaning up the waterways such as creeks and esteros. ● #Salikalikasan. Hosted by the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), it is cleanup drive in cooperation with government and private organizations which help revive Pasig River. ● Estero dela Reina Cleanup. To celebrate last year’s World Water Day, an inter-agency cleanup drive headed

by PRRC was carried out at Estero dela Reina, one of the major tributaries of Pasig River. ● Bayaning Kalikasan: GDPESPRRC Cleanup Drive and Environmental Advocacy Campaign. It is a joint effort of the PRRC, Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar Elementary School (GDPES), PCGA, Maynilad, American Association of the Philippines (AAP), and City

of Manila. The cleanup drive was also joined by 200 volunteers comprised of students, faculty members, as well as partners in the government, NGOs, and private sector last Nov. 30. ● Blockchain technology. The PRRC and cryptocurrency startup Cypher Odin have joined hands to save the Pasig River using Internet-of-Things (IoT) and blockchain technology by linking their networks to share and exchange data vital to the restoration of the 25-kilometer river.

Equally besieged by environmental degradation is Manila Bay. Here are some of the initiatives directed to restore its pristine waters: ● SM By the Bay Cleanup Drive. Aimed at engaging the community to save the environment, this cleanup drive was held in partnership with the DENR, Pasay City Environment Office, ICC-PH, Maynilad, Philippine National Red Cross, and Philippine Coast Guard. ● The Manila Bay SUNSET. It is Landbank’s flagship corporate social responsibility program for the environment.

Since 2003, Landbank has been organizing annual cleanup activities, dubbed as “Linis Lakad para sa Manila Bay Campaign” during its anniversary celebrations in August. Each year, more employees volunteer to help clean the Manila Bay together with other project partners. ● Coop’s Walk for Manila Bay Cleanup. The Cooperative Union of Taguig and Pateros in coordination with Cooperative Development Authorizty– Manila Extension Office (CDA-MEO) spearheaded Manila Bay Cleanup, a kick-off activity in the observance of Coop Month Celebration held last October. ● Student-participated cleanup drive. Thousands of college students last August trooped to Roxas Boulevard to join the two-hour cleanup drive of Manila Bay. Organized by Global Peace Foundation Philippines, the activity was joined by students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Technological University of the Philippines, Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Technology, San Beda University, National University, San Sebastian College, and University of Makati. ● Manila Bay Cleanup Drive. It is part of the MMDA’s 43rd anniversary celebration last November, where 200 street sweepers cleaned the bay.

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F1

Mindful Mining

By Kyle Gabrielle Ureta

M

INING has always been a business full of risks. A mine may not yield enough resources to maintain a business, malpractice and carelessness can lead to mines collapsing or causing landslides and accidents. And one of the biggest impacts the mining industry has had on the country is on the environment.

For the longest of times, indigenous and environmental groups have pushed strongly for change in the way mining corporations run their business. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until around 2016 that real changes have started happening both from the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stance on the issue and from the mining companies themselves, and early 2018 saw

the mining industry making promises to adhere to more responsible and environmentally safe mining.

This is important not just to the environment but to the economy. The Philippines is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest supplier of nickel ore, copper and gold.

Safe and responsible mining will not only ensure the survival of nature but Philex Mining photos

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Samsung Electronics to replace plastic packaging with sustainable materials S

AMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd. announced that the company will start taking steps this year to replace plastic packaging materials with paper and other environmentally sustainable elements.

From the first half of 2019, the packaging used currently for Samsung’s products and accessories – ranging from mobile phones and tablets to home appliances – will be substituted with environmentally sustainable materials like recycled/bio-based plastics and paper.

To revamp product packaging, Samsung Electronics has formed a task force involving design and development, purchasing, marketing and quality control for innovative packaging ideas.

For mobile phone, tablet and wearable products, Samsung will replace the plastic used for holder trays with pulp molds, and bags wrapping accessories with ecofriendly materials. Samsung will also alter the phone charger design, swapping the glossy exterior with a matte finish and eliminating plastic protection films, reducing the use of plastics.

The plastic bags used to protect the surface of home appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines as well as other kitchen appliances will also be replaced with bags containing recycled materials and bioplastics, which are respectively made from plastic wastes and non-fossil fuel materials like starch or sugar cane.

Regarding paper, Samsung will only use fiber materials certified by global environmental organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative for packaging and manuals by 2020.

“Samsung Electronics is stepping up in addressing society’s environmental issues such as resource depletion and plastic wastes,” said Gyeong-bin Jeon, head of Samsung’s Global Customer Satisfaction Center. “We are committed to recycling resources and minimizing pollution coming from our products.

We will adopt more environmentally sustainable materials even if it means an increase in cost.”

Under the company’s circular economy policy, Samsung Electronics has set a mid-term implementation plan to only use paper packaging materials certified by forestry initiatives by next year. By 2030, Samsung aims to use 500 thousand tons of recycled plastics and collect 7.5 million tons of discarded products (both cumulative from 2009).

Under the company’s sustainability policy, Samsung plans to minimize and replace packaging with environmentally sustainable materials

of the business itself. For irresponsible and destructive mining will only lead to self-sabotage.

Responsible mining benefits everyone in the long run.

During the 65th Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) late November of 2018, PMSEA president Walter Brown expressed the Association’s goals to increase efforts in creating a better and more environmental mining industry.

Various mining companies have CSR programs focusing on preserving and protecting the environment.

Companies like Apex Mining Co., Inc. and the Philex Mining Corporation take care of the surrounding environment where they operate. In addition to fully complying with the government’s environmental rules and regulations, mining companies also partake in Tree Planting and Reforestation Projects.

These mining companies also conducts regular monitoring and maintenance on its tailings embankment facility in accordance with the government’s standards and to ensure that it has no adverse effects on nearby communities or any local body of water. Philex Mining also regularly monitors the air and water quality of areas they operate in to ensure that they are doing the least amount of harm possible to the environment.

The Philex Mining Corporation in particular have reforested more than 2,800 hectares of the Padcal Mine with some eight million trees with a

survival rate of 90%. They also have the Bulawan Project, where they were able to reforest 26.42 hectares with total dispersal of 23,811 Mangium seedlings. They aim to minimize their company’s adverse environmental impact, to comply with the appropriate legislations and requirements, and to promote environmental awareness.

Furthermore, Filminera Resources Corp. and Phil Gold Processing & Refining Corp are both part of the Masbate Gold Project (MGP), which helped the town of Aroroy, Masbate grow into a socio-economically successful town. The MGP created over 1,600 jobs and embarked on a mangrove reforestation project in eight coastal barangays of Aroroy town with the help of the locals.

Nickel Asia Corporation, the Philippines’ largest producer of lateritic nickel ore and one of the largest mining corporations in the world, have an Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) for every mining site they own and use.

The EPEPs goals include reforestation and rehabilitation of mine disturbed areas, construction and/or maintenance of environmental facilities, solid and hazardous waste management, air and water quality monitoring and preservation of downstream water quality.

Plenty of other mining companies have similar projects, helping build communities and rebuild natural sectors in and around where they operate. Responsible mining might as well be the hottest trend in the mining industry, and is looking to continue to be the standard throughout the country.

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Cebu Pacific, Siargao stakeholders join forces for sustainable tourism

Juan Effect advocates Kyle “Kulas” Jennerman, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Erwan Heussaff join Cebu Pacific in engaging locals to practice proper waste management in Siargao.

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S more Filipinos travel around the country, it opens up cultural and leisure opportunities that were not accessible and available to previous generations. Tourism has also provided employment and business opportunities to rural communities which lack a diversified economy.

But there is another side to tourism expansion. Natural habitats and ecosystems are affected by the development of roads, hotels, restaurants, and other establishments. Leisure activities such as trekking, climbing and scuba diving also have negative impacts such as littering and damage to coral reefs, flora and even fauna.

Leading Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific ramps up its “Juan Effect” sustainable tourism program, particularly in its pilot area of Siargao Island. A partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), “Juan Effect” aims to mitigate the impact of tourist arrivals on the environment.

“Juan Effect” engages travelers and local stakeholders, raising awareness among Filipinos about their responsibilities as tourists and encourages them to make a difference by changing one daily habit. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Interior and Local Government are also involved in the roll-out of “Juan Effect.”

Cebu Pacific has been mounting flights in and out of Siargao for the past ten years—the very first airline to do so. Since then, the island has become a popular tourist destination, on top of maintaining its status as a world-class surfing area.

“Since we launched ‘Juan Effect’ in August 2018, we have been working with the local government units in Siargao and the province of Surigao Del Norte to spur concerted action to properly manage the ever-increasing visitor numbers, ease the negative impact of tourism on the island, and balance the social and environmental concerns with its economic benefits,” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Distribution of Cebu Pacific.

Cebu Pacific flies once daily between Manila and Siargao and up to four times a day between Siargao and Cebu using its fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft, which has the lowest fuel consumption and the lowest environmental footprint in its category. The ATR 72-600 produces 40% less carbon dioxide emissions than other turboprops. And as with all other Cebu Pacific and Cebgo flights, all non-recyclable plastic spoons, forks, stirrers and cups used for inflight meals have been replaced with sustainable alternatives.

So far, the implementation of the “Juan Effect” program has resulted in the passage of ordinances in some municipalities in Siargao that pertain to waste reduction and the usage of single-use plastic. To help educate tourists and local residents, colorful murals and signs made of used surfboards have also been put up prior to the peak surfing season that began in September 2018.

The airline also commissioned the design and fabrication of receptacles that tourists can use to properly dispose of plastic bottles, which can then be collected to be made into eco bricks or recycled.

Designed to withstand strong waves and winds, these plastic bottle receptacles will be deployed at key points in Siargao as well as outlying islands to encourage proper waste disposal.

Cebu Pacific will also work with local stakeholders to introduce practices to minimize waste in the ground and in the ocean. Engagement activities will be led by “Juan Effect” advocates Erwan Heussaff, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Kyle “Kulas” Jennerman. To drum up even more public awareness and support, a colorful mural of the underwater designed by fast-rising visual artist and muralist, Anina Rubio, will be painted on the perimeter wall of the Dapa Elementary School to bring life to the community and inspire everyJuan to contribute towards improving the environment.

Join Cebu Pacific in keeping the Philippine islands clean and beautiful by making a pledge at www.juaneffect.com.

Cebu Pacific Director for Passenger Sales Arlene Tena and DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat are joined by (from left) DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Unit Concerns Benny Antiporda, Surigao del Norte 1st District Congressman Bingo Matugas II, Surigao del Norte Vice-Governor Hon. Arturo Carlos Egay, and DOT Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications Howard Lance Uyking in donating plastic bottle trash bins to Siargao communities to encourage proper waste segregation practices among locals and tourists.

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As a licensed forester and president of the DENR- Association of Career Executives (ACE), DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs puts to heart all efforts to reforest the country’s denuded areas as he leads fellow executives in the department in planting some 1,000 native tree species in a 10-hectares area within the Angat watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan province. Held October 6, 2018, the tree planting event was one of three community-focused activities of DENR-ACE in celebration of its 45th founding anniversary of the Career Executive Service Board on November 10, with theme: “Serbisyong CESO, Kalibre 45: Community Passion Projects.”

The other two activities include a massive mangrove planting rehabilitation in Nasugbu, Batangas and coastal clean-up in the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area on October 13 and 20, respectively.

DENR rehabs over 125k hectares of forests

By MJ Blancaflor

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VER 125,000 hectares of forest lands were rehabilitated last year, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR reported that 116.5 million tree seedlings have been planted on 125,214 hectares of forests covered by the government’s Expanded National Greening Program (E-NGP) as of November 2018.

Moreover, the agency raised some 144.8 million native and fast-growing tree species as planting materials, from January to November 2018.

About 3.3 million bamboo culms or cuttings and 1.72 million mangrove propagules and beach forest tree seedlings have been produced, exceeding the 2018 targets of 3.1 million and 1.6 million, respectively.

E-NGP is the government’s flagship reforestation project.

In 2018, the E-NGP generated a total of 334,317 jobs which resulted in the hiring of 52,872 people in plantation site development, plantation maintenance and protection, and establishment and operation of

The seedlings used by Manila Standard’s annual Adopt a Tree Project are courtesy of the DENR.

seedling nurseries.

The reforestation program also serves a national strategy to ensure food security, poverty reduction, environmental stability and biodiversity conservation.

It started as a six-year forest rehabilitation program that aimed to cover 1.5 million hectares of open forest lands with trees by the end of 2016.

In a bid to rehabilitate additional 7.1 million hectares of forests, the program was extended until 2028 through an executive order.

Meanwhile, the DENR also made progress in its forest protection and anti-illegal logging efforts.

The agency reported that some 108,000 kilometers of forest line have been patrolled by 1,175 forest protection officers who were hired

and trained under the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System developed by the DENR and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

As of November 2018, a total of 3.1 million board feet of undocumented timber products were seized, 332 cases were filed, and 25 individuals were convicted for violating the Revised Philippine Forestry Code.

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Eat Bulaga promotes recycling in barangays

By MJ Blancaflor

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HE noontime show Eat Bulaga! has become part of our lives since 1979. It continuously serves the hottest mix of games and contests that bring laughter to its Pinoy audience. But more than just a variety show, Eat Bulaga! promotes recycling plastic bottles in communities.

Lyceum of the Philippines Laguna students join Eat Bulaga’s Plastic ni Juan Project. Photo from Lyceum of the PH Laguna

Barangay residents are required to bring plastic bottles to have a chance to win cash prizes in the segment Juan for All, All for Juan: Bayanihan of d’ Pipol. Schools, organizations, and companies are also free to join the project and donate their own collection of plastic bottles.

Instead of ending up in sewers and landfills, these plastic bottles are turned into school armchairs which would be given to selected schools in the country. Mostly from remote areas, schools in need of new or better desk chairs benefit from it.

This initiative has been dubbed as Plastic ni Juan Project.

Launched in 2010, the project has garnered about 20 million plastics. Consequently, more than 7,000 chairs have been donated to hundreds of public schools around the country.

To further expand the campaign of reducing plastic waste, Eat Bulaga! has recently launched the Istraw ni Juan project.

The noontime show also provides washable and reusable metal straws and a cleaning brush in exchange for plastic bottles.

During the launch of Istraw ni Juan last August 2018, the hosts demonstrated how to use and clean the metal straws. In effect, communities are encouraged to use reusable metal straws to lessen plastic waste. Due to its influence in all social classes, Eat Bulaga! has successfully increased awareness on the importance of recycling.

The noontime show earned praise in the social media realm and was recognized for presenting a feasible solution to our trash problem.

These initiatives are significantly helpful in

combating the unfortunate reality that the Philippines is the world’s third largest contributor to ocean plastic, next to China and Indonesia, according to a 2015 study in the journal Science. Our country generated about 40,087 tons of garbage daily in 2012, according to the National Solid Waste Management Commission.

Globally, plastic pollution has received worldwide attention as increasing research reveals the danger it poses to life forms across the food web.

Unfortunately, the World Bank estimated that solid waste produced by Philippine cities will go up by 165 percent in 2025.

Unless our trash problem is addressed,

generated wastes will lead to water contamination, flooding, and pollution.

Because of the threats caused by plastic waste, environmental initiatives from the private sector and the media are very much welcomed. And Eat Bulaga! has brought something feasible on the table.

If other barangays and organizations will cooperate in the initiative of the longest noontime variety show on Philippine television, we are reducing wastes that will likely end up in our sewers and landfills.

And alas, more durable arm chairs will be made and distributed to other public schools nationwide.

Let’s hit two birds with one stone.

Primer Group of Companies: A culture of care fortified by four core pillars These days, the impact that private companies build on society as they adhere to their corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become more profound. They’ve created a new source of hope for the impoverished as reality shows that government services leave much to be desired.

No doubt, CSR has become a more integral component of private companies’ culture. The Primer Group of Companies, through the years, have lived and breathed this concept by way of its socio-civic programs and outreach activities.

The Primer Group’s employees — aptly called KaPrimers — have built a culture that champions activities that are both inclusive and sustainable.

The company has been recognized several times for its commitment to the CSR initiative. Among the awards that the Primer Group has received are the 2010 Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Award, the 2013 Quill Merit Award for Employee Engagement and for the Nature Class Program at the Philippine Quill Awards, a citation from the 2015 Asia Sports Industry Awards for Best Corporate Social Responsibility, and the 2018 Asia CEO’s Circle of Excellence Award under CSR Company of the Year category.

As KaPrimers advance the company’s CSR goals, partnerships with several other local organizations along with members of the community are also formed. Non-government organizations (NGOs) who already have existing foci in different communities are given a hand in advancing their plans. Residents of the barangays are conveyed ownership of projects, building more meaningful collaborations.

At the conclusion of the activities, the beneficiaries not only enjoy a better quality of life but they also move forward with a more genuine appreciation of the solution and process. Seeds of humanitarian service are planted and the aftermath is encouraging.

Job Creations

The Primer Group’s care towards the community does not end as soon as the beneficiaries receive the help or assistance. In fact, it only marks the beginning of Primer’s mission to create a lasting impact on society.

A perfect embodiment of this is the Sustainable Tourism Entrepreneurship Program (STEP) or Tubong Lokal. In the said program, Barangay Alas-As in San Nicolas, Batangas was given a tourism boost that also resulted in new livelihood opportunities for the residents.

Tubong Lokal involves immersion into the community, identifying its needs while learning more about its potential especially in the tourism aspect. With Barangay Alas-As situated near the world-famous Taal Volcano, the area is already an instant spot for sightseeing and nature trips.

A couple of places also stand out in the barangay, namely the bird sanctuary, Lava Walk, and Pansipit river.

The Primer Group provided assistance to tourist guides of the hiking trail in the form of outdoor gears and signages. A number of activities are included in the tour package, highlighted by an up close look of Taal Volcano and Vulcan Point Island. The trail is then capped off by a lava walk — tourists will be taken to a lava formation that is more than half-a century old — and some bird watching With an empowered community, more residents are better prepared to take on the influx of opportunities in tourism. They know their product. They understand how to take care of it. And of course, every profit that comes from this endeavor goes straight to the residents.

Environmental Conservation The outdoors hold a special place within the culture of the Primer Group of Companies. Being an exclusive distributor for some of the top and premium international outdoor brands, it is only fitting that the company embeds an environmental focus in most of its activities. In fact, some of the Primer Group’s clients have their own

environment-friendly activities which the company also supports.

Internally, awareness is constantly being promoted and employees participate in nature-focused projects. A coastal cleanup was organized together with the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat Ecotourism Area. Furthermore, tree planting and nature class sessions that tackled flora and fauna as well as biodiversity were also conducted.

The Primer Group also does its part in promoting a cleaner mode of transportation through its bike sharing program. One doesn’t have to be an environmental expert to realize that Metro Manila is not the least polluted place in the country. But by becoming a part of the solution, the company hopes to inspire others in the use of bicycles whenever feasible.

Partnerships with different local government units and NGOs are also being forged. The company supports science expeditions by NGOs. As mentioned above, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and the Primer Group have had a number of collaborations in the past. The same can be said with the Centre for Sustainability Philippines and the list goes on.

With the preservation of the environment, opportunities also come along, particularly in tourism. Tubong Lokal is a prime example of that as it involved communities with great potential in this aspect and as a result, the locals enjoy a boom in their livelihood through tourism.

Philanthropy It is undeniable that the private sector has, on numerous occasions, stepped up to the plate and provided service to communities in ways that the government could not. The Primer Group plays its part in these philanthropic ways through several activities that cater to specific needs of Filipinos.

Through Heroes on Wheels, bicycles were donated to several organizations across the country. In Palo, Leyte, artist-

teachers from the Palo Culture and the Arts Organization received bikes that enabled them to easily access far-flung areas as they continue to uplift the morale of residents who were devastated by super typhoon Haiyan years ago. Pasali Philippines Foundation, Inc. also experienced the same. The organization immerses itself within communities in Mindanao, enlightening the locals with new methods in harnessing their agricultural riches on their way to becoming selfreliant.

In Davao City, Tuburan Institute, Inc. and Cycle for Life also became beneficiaries of the Heroes on Wheels program. The former promotes a deeper understanding of the environment among children, while the latter champions the use of bicycles around the city.

The Primer Group also sponsors athletes who brave the elements and go beyond their physical limitation to achieve something special. Mench Dizon was a picture of perseverance as she ran the Boston and Big Sur Marathons. Cara Durano went against the forces of nature in her quest to climb Mt. Everest Base Camp. Carina Dayondon is a mountain climber who had history on her eyes as she embarked on a seven-mountain ascent — the first Filipina to work on such feat. Mark ‘Aga’ Joseph Casidsid provided inspiration, especially to the visually impaired, as the “Blind Runner” who, along with Edgardo ‘Gado’ Pelingo Jr., form the Primer Group’s “Team Posible.”

In cooperation with Freewaters, residents of Barangay Bucana in Palawan and an indigenous group in Aurora Province were granted a water system, addressing their dire need for clean water in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal # 6, which is Clean Water and Sanitation, while also providing livelihood opportunities to the residents.

KaPrimers have also taken part in and initiated disaster-relief efforts whenever

calamity strikes. The list goes on for the Primer Group and its CSR initiatives for the community.

Employee Volunteerism Employee engagement has always been very high when it comes to the Primer Group’s CSR activities. The company promotes an inclusive culture among its employees. It starts from the top and it trickles down to everyone within the company. Employees share whatever resources they’re able to allocate, whether finances, manpower, or networking — everybody chips in.

Among the noteworthy examples of this is the fundraising activity conducted as part of the water system set up in Barangay Bucana in El Nido, Palawan. A donation drive among Primer employees was set up with the total funds collected reaching a sixfigure amount. The company even held a raffle to signify its gratitude towards those employees who donated.

Employee volunteers are encouraged to come up with outreach activities — from conceptualization to implementation — and they’re given the chance to do so on multiple occasions throughout the year. A diverse set of beneficiaries, those who are considered as underserved, is targeted that includes both the young and old. There’s no limit to helping and this is something that is being driven among the Primer Group’s employees.

While employees are empowered to coordinate CSR activities on their own, the company remains on top of things.

The Primer Group has always been aware of the talents and capabilities of volunteers. These are being utilized by allowing them to participate in activities where their expertise can be harnessed.

The Primer Group’s employees have always been dedicated to serving the less fortunate, devoting personal time and resources to their outreach activities. It’s a beautiful thing that hopefully inspires others to join them in their advocacies.

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Globe says NO to plastic, launches ‘Wag Sa Single Use Plastic’ campaign GLOBE Telecom has joined several organizations that have taken a stance against the proliferation of plastics by instituting a ban on single use plastics within its headquarters at The Globe Tower.

The company also embarked on an employee education campaign entitled WASSUP (‘Wag Sa Single Use Plastic) tackling the impacts of plastics to the environment. The campaign was launched in time for the celebration of Zero-Waste Month, a government advocacy that “promotes the managing of products and processes to avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste materials.” “Globe is committed to having sustainable programs that will benefit our country and every Filipino. We are definitely looking at innovative ways to

address our country’s plastic problem, starting with ourselves, our employees and partners, and in future, with the help of our customers and other stakeholders.

Unfortunately, not all types of plastics are recyclable. We need to improve our recycling infrastructure and reduce or altogether stop the use of non-recyclable plastics. It is a grave environmental concern and the solution requires changes on how we use and produce plastic,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications. Globe is a strong advocate of environment protection and conservation and supports 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Programs. Given its wide business footprint, Globe recognizes the environmental impact of its operations,

prompting the company to institute measures to lessen carbon emissions, reduce paper consumption, restore primary rainforests, and recycle e-waste, among other environmental initiatives.

For instance, Globe was able to save 58 tons of paper in 2017 from customers who enrolled in paperless billing while its Project 1 Phone was able to recycle over 500,000 kilograms of electronic waste since its launch in 2013. Likewise, in partnership with Save Philippine Seas (SPS), an independent nongovernment, non-profit organization that aims to protect the country’s rich marine resources through citizen-led initiatives, Globe rolled out marine biodiversity programs in Boracay and Siargao to equip the community and business stakeholders

with modules on best practices on sustainability and biodiversity. Meanwhile, the Philippines ranks third in terms of total contribution to ocean plastic pollution based on a report released by the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment. This dire situation caught the people’s attention last year when massive piles of garbage crashed into the Manila Bay breakwater during heavy rains. A recent audit conducted by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives and Mother Earth Foundation in select areas, likewise, showed that about 79 percent of branded plastic residual wastes come from food packaging, followed by household products with 12 percent, and personal care products with eight percent.

Parkland

commits to environmental sustainability, creates bags from bottles EVERY minute, a million plastic bottles are bought around the world, and this figure is bound to jump by 20% in 2021, according to a report from online news site The Guardian.

To help reduce the negative impact of plastic water bottles on the environment, Parkland, the Vancouver-based design-driven bag and accessory company, commits to using polyester made from 100% recycled plastic bottles for the exterior fabric of all its products beginning Spring 2018.

By using recycled polyester, Parkland will consume less production energy and circulate less waste on the planet as it creates products that are more sustainable but still of best quality.

While using recycled polyester fabric is not a solution to the problem of plastic water bottles in and of itself, the company believes it is a step in the right direction and is an important first step as Parkland strives to lead the way in sustainability.

From design to production of their products, the bag and accessory company constantly refines their business and explores ways to innovate, including implementing more sustainable fabrics.

For example, recycled materials comprise the cardboard boxes they use for shipping and the bags for packaging. They have also begun printing all seasonal catalogs on recycled paper.

Parkland has also implemented a comprehensive recycling program within their office and since 2015 has maintained a product donation partnership with Imagine 1 Day - an organization dedicated to building schools and education infrastructure in Ethiopia.

Parkland’s sustainable backpacks, and accessories are available at selected Brat-

pack, GRIND, The Travel Club, and The SM Stores nationwide.

For more information, visit www. parklandmfg.com and follow www. facebook.com/ ParklandPhilippines and www.instagram.com/parklandmfg.

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Laguna wastewater and sanitation program lauded in 54th Anvil Awards

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AGUNA Water’s advocacy program, Tamang Sanitasyon Equals Kalusugan, Kalinisan, at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (TSEK ng Bayan), received a Gold Anvil Award for successfully bringing the importance of proper sanitation to more than half a million people in the Province of Laguna during the recently concluded 54th Anvil Gabi ng Parangal held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Pasay City

The TSEK ng Bayan program aims to bridge the gap between the knowledge and practice of proper sanitation in the Province of Laguna, through awareness programs and activities about used water management and the dangers posed by untreated used water to health, environment, and economy.

In 2018, the advocacy has reached more than 500,000 people through its barangay caravans, flyers, and social media campaigns, among others. Various local government units and agencies namely: municipalities of Pangil and Lumban, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Provincial Health Office of Laguna, have joined the TSEK ng Bayan movement for proper sanitation. Further, the TSEK ng Bayan program has been influential to the success of the implementation of Laguna Water’s desludging services.

“The simple practice of desludging makes a big impact to our society, particularly to the sustainability of our environment. If we want to provide a better life to the future generations, we should start now and start at home,” said Laguna Water’s General Manager Shoebe Hazel Caong.

In compliance with the Philippine Clean Water Act and the Supreme Court continuing mandamus to clean up Manila Bay, Laguna Water’s TSEK ng Bayan encourages households in Laguna to practice regular desludging of septic tanks to ensure treatment of untreated used water, which is one of the largest polluter of water bodies.

The Anvil Awards, organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, is dubbed as the Oscars of Philippine public relations, recognizing the best and brightest public relations tools and programs in the country.

Proponents the TSEK ng Bayan program are shown here. They are (from left) Laguna Water Stakeholder Relations Manager Ana Martir, Laguna Water General Manger and COO Shoebe Hazel Caong, Laguna Water Business Operations Head Camille Orbeso, Laguna Water New Business Head Francisco Loresco, Manila Water Corporate Strategic Affairs Group Head Jeric Sevilla, Laguna Water Technical Services Head Rodel Del Rosario, Laguna Water Customer Service Manager Rachelle Andal, Provincial Administrator of Laguna Dulce Rebanal, Laguna Water Regulatory and External Affairs Head Sol Dimayuga, and Manila Water Communication Planning and Tactical Development Manager Faye Marcelino.

32nd Anniversary Rolando Estabillo Publisher Ramon Tomeldan Managing Editor Anita Grefal OIC-Operations Riera Mallari Supplement Editor Baldwin Felipe Advertising Solutions Head Paula Reynoso Ad Supplements Head Writers: Peter Paul Duran MJ Blancaflor, Dexter Tilo, Nat Mariano Angelica Villanueva, Charles Dantes Lorelee Yap, Kyle Ureta, Lyka Navarossa, Rhosedel Gabac, Julianne Gabis, Ram Agustin, Paul Gelario Advertising Support Group: Sheila Suarez Joan Velasco Eric Jutic Edelyn Elamparo Sales Team: Merce Pascual Ron Tamayo Belinda Good Bessie Good Albert Legaspi Design: Romel “Ismit” Mendez Linda Apalisok

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BORACAY REHABILITATION Restoring Paradise

By Lyka Navarrosa, Kyle Ureta and Lorelee Yap

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HE Philippines is a country abundant in natural resources, boasting of famous tourist spots known the world over.

But as tourism grew, so did the demands and stress on the tourist spots, many of which couldn't handle the weight of the pressure, leading it into ruin instead of prosperity. One such place is the famous Boracay Island.

Boracay’s popularity attracted not only tourists, but bad business practices, as well. The island’s natural beauty suffered, forcing the government and President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene. On April 26 of 2018, the island of Boracay was closed upon orders of the President as part of a six-month plan to jumpstart the environmental rehabilitation of the island.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), a further and more comprehensive rehabilitation plan for Boracay is comprised of four parts; enforcing laws and regulation, controlling and preventing pollution, rehabilitating and recovering lost and damaged ecosystem, and sustaining island activities without going against the previous three parts.

The first step after closing the island was to issue ‘show cause’ orders to 900 establishments present in the island done by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Major problems that were seen based on a survey conducted were the damaged tourist spots like Puka beach and its caves, as well as the mistreatment of forests and wetlands.

Another problem was the massive amount of garbage from both tourists and locals, plus the abysmal state of the island’s drainage system and sewer lines.

To achieve the goal of rehabilitating the island for six months, the DENR worked with

other government agencies like Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). All were responsible not just for the rehabilitation of the island's environment, but of the concerns of the workers and the residents, as well.

They are also looking towards garnering support from the private sector, with over 200 projects to be launched over the course of several years.

As Boracay reopened on Oct. 26, 2018, the Philippine government has limited the number of tourists who can stay at Boracay to only 19,000 daily, while 6,405 people can enter the island each day, assuming that visitors will remain there for three days and two nights.

DENR Usec. Sherwin Rigor explained that the island paradise only has a 55,000 capacity, which would require the workers on Boracay to not surpass the 15,000 people per day.

The plan to sustain the restoration of Boracay needs serious amount of money (P25.27 billion).

Sixty four percent of the funds coming from the private sector will be put into infrastructure.

There’s still a long way to go before Boracay is fully restored to its former glory and many more actions must be taken to make sure it stays that way. But with enough effort and cooperation from all parties involved, there is a chance to achieve this.

Estero Blitz (above) is the annual flood mitigation activity of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) aimed at de-clogging and cleaning up the waterways such as creeks and esteros. At right, Landbank, since 2003, has been organizing annual cleanup activities, dubbed as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Linis Lakad para sa Manila Bay Campaignâ&#x20AC;? during its anniversary celebrations in August (right).

Landbank photo

Tingog pushes industrialization of Eastern Visayas

TINGOG ALLIANCE. Hugpong ng Pagbabago Chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (3rd right) endorses 1st District of Leyte Candidate Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (2nd right) and the Tingog Partyist led by First Nominee and Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (5th left), 2nd nominee Jude Acidre (right), 3rd nominee Boy Go (2nd left), 4th Nominee Alexis Yu (3rd left), 5th nominee Jennifer Padual (4th left) and Tingog Party List Chairman Mark Gimenez (left) during the signing alliance agreement for Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Lakas-CMD Party and Tingog Party List held at Tacloban City Convention Center on November 7, 2018.

Rep. Romualdez lauds fellow Tingog nominees T

INGOG PARTY LIST First Nominee and incumbent Leyte First District Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez has lauded her fellow nominees, citing their integrity, competence, and dedication in public service.

“I have always been part of Tingog. In the three years that I had the opportunity of representing the First District of Leyte in the House of Representatives, Tingog has always been one of our strongest, if not our foremost, partners and allies, in serving not only the First District which I represented, and also the rest of the region,” said Romualdez.

Romualdez assured that Tingog is composed of “very competent team of nominees” who are all from Eastern Visayas.

“We know the people and their concerns. We are more than willing to be their voice in Congress,” said Romualdez who is also a registered nurse.

Last October 12, 2018, the Party Lead-

ership Plenum selected the following nominees: Philip Jude Acidre, one of the promising young leaders in Eastern Visayas, as the Second Nominee. A former youth leader, community volunteer and political consultant, Acidre hailed from Barugo, Leyte.

Jaime “Boy” Go, entrepreneur and community volunteer from Javier, Leyte, as Third Nominee. Go became one of the key movers during the relief operations after the 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Alexis Yu, pharmacist and community leader from Basey, Samar, as Fourth Nominee.

Leyte First District Representative Yedda Marie K. Romualdez

Jenifer Padual, community leader and human resource management professional from Guiuan, Eastern Samar, as Fifth Nominee.

“Fruitful term in Congress” Meanwhile, Romualdez expressed confidence of her three-year stint in the 17th Congress.

“We had a fruitful term in Congress, with the bills we passed, with the projects implemented and the leadership role that was given to us. Despite being a first termer, we were able to deliver strong results, positively impacting the quality of life in our district, of course with the help of our partners, including Tingog,” she said.

“A lot has been accomplished, yet so much remains to be done. When the opportunity to serve comes your way, I believe we need to embrace with a deep sense of duty. That is why when Tingog nominated me to its first seat - I readily accepted the challenge, knowing that if we work together as hard as we did in

the last three years - we can do so much more, not only for the First District of Leyte but for the rest of the region,” the lady solon added.

In a nutshell, Romualdez maintained that Tingog party list is running for the Congress “because our people deserve our fair share - so that they will have an equal opportunity to get out of poverty into a better and brighter future.”

“This is what we hope to accomplish: Leyte and Samar comprise 4% of the country’s population. But in the last ten years, we have been receiving a little than 1% share of the national budget - funding that could have made more schools and hospitals, or build the needed infrastructure, or start up sustainable livelihood.

“Tingog could make that happen - a louder and clear voice for the people of Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran in Congress!” the Tingog nominee said.

TINGOG PARTY LIST is pushing for the industrialization of Eastern Visayas, saying this is the only way to generate more jobs and uplift the region from poverty.

“We need more productive jobs in the region. This means getting our industrialization policy back on track. But we need an industrialization policy that is both responsive to our current needs and attentive to our ecological realities,” said Philip Jude Acidre, the second nominee of Tingog.

“Tingog is committed to support the expansion of Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) into the proposed Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone (LEIZ), an integrated special economic zone that covers the municipalities of Palompon and Isabel and Ormoc City,” Acidre added.

Established in 1980s, LIDE was among the first special economic zones in the Philippines and the centerpiece of the country’s industrialization plan.

LIDE is home to Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (Pasar), a copper smelting and refinery plant; Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation (Philphos), once the largest fertilizer production and processing plant in the country; and Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, then a strong player in the minerals industry.

Lepanto has since then ceased operations while Philphos has yet to resume full operations after the Super Typhoon Yolanda. Meanwhile, Pasar is operating at half the capacity it did before the typhoon.

According to Acidre, no additional industrial locators have moved into the industrial estate.

“There were no initiatives to attract new locators or even upgrade the facilities located at LIDE. Despite the decline in manufacturing activities in LIDE, the economic benefits that came with the industries remain,” Acidre said.

Acidre added that despite the modest gains, it cannot be denied that objectives that were envisioned for LIDE were not fully realized.

“Almost three decades after, we have yet realize our vision of a competitive regional economy. That is why we need not only to bring more industrial locators to LIDE, but also engage with light-to-medium industries that could benefit from the infrastructure that is already in place,” Acidre said on the rationale of LEIZ. “Did you know that the total copper output of Pasar is more than half our country’s entire copper industry output – which we can even double if we develop further our copper industry’s downstream? Did you know that one of the by- products of copper processing is gold and silver – which can lead to the development of a local jewelry industry?” Acidre asked.

Tingog Party List Profile: What is Tingog?

TINGOG is a regional political party based in Eastern Visayas that aims to be a champion for regional development.

As the name of our party suggests, our mission is to be the voice of the people of the islands of Samar, Leyte and Biliran - one that will amplify their often unheard hopes for inclusive progress and sustainable change, through meaningful political participation especially through the party-list system of representation in the House of Representatives. With more than 200, 000 active party members from 143 city and municipal chapters in Eastern Visayas, we are committed to play a dynamic role in building a truly caring, prosperous and democratic Filipino society.

What does TINGOG means?

The Visayan word “tingog” literally means “voice When was TINGOG founded?

TINGOG was first founded in 2 October 2012 as Tingog Leytehon, a provincial political party based in the province of Leyte. Through a Resolution promulgated on 19 August 2015, it was officially accredited by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as a party-list organization qualified to run under the party-list elections beginning with the 9 May 2016 National and Local Elections.

The first party chairman of TINGOG was former Leyte Governor Edgardo Enerlan and the first party president was former Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez. The current leadership is composed of former Mayor Mark Gimenez as party chairperson, former Kabataan Barangay stalwart Glenn Capucion as party president and Rachel Rodeles-Santiago, as party secretary-general.

Who are the nominees of TINGOG? Last October 12, 2018, the Party Leadership Plenum selected the following nominees: Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, incumbent Representative of the First District of Leyte, registered nurse from Tacloban City, as First Nominee Jude A. Acidre, former youth leader, community volunteer and political consultant from Barugo, Leyte, as Sec-

ond Nominee Jaime “Boy” Go, entrepreneur and community volunteer from Javier, Leyte, as Third Nominee Alexis V. Yu, pharmacist and community leader from Basey, Samar, as Fourth Nominee Jennifer C. Padual, community leader and human resource management professional from Guiuan, Eastern Samar, as Fifth Nominee.

What are the laws that TINGOG intends to pursue, once elected?

TINGOG intends to file and advocate for the following proposed legislation that will help further the development of Eastern Visayas: Intensify investments in infrastructure support especially in rural communities, strictly within standards and adhering to disaster-resilient designs.

Strengthen disaster governance and the capacity of the government to prepare, manage, and respond to natural disasters through the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience, push for the institutionalization of disaster management policies and methods anchored on community participation; propose relevant amendments to the government procurement system and the creation of national disaster evacuation plan.

Boost rural-based education through the creation of an alternative farm and trade school system in the countryside, with the goal of improving the quality, as well as expanding access to, basic education.

Institutionalize universal access to free healthcare through the service delivery network of healthcare facilities and rationalization of PhilHealth benefits.

Increase agricultural productivity and sustainability through the creation of agricultural growth centers in identified regions in the country, farm-tomarket facilitation, adoption of good agricultural practices, and provision of incentives to clusters of small and marginal producers.

Ensure greater economic parity among regions by providing performance - and needs-based economic

stimulus aid to the five poorest regions in the country.

Institutionalize the creation and implementation of post-disaster economic recovery plans for regions affected by natural calamities, including tax moratorium, financial assistance, and soft loans for affected business enterprises, as well as tax incentives for emerging labor-intensive enterprises.

Define stronger incentives for regions that host power-generation facilities.

Institute reforms leading to a more progressive and equitable income-tax system that will reduce the burden on lower- and middle-income and wage earners.

Institutionalize increased social protection for vulnerable sectors - especially the youth, women, and the elderly - through the creation of government bodies such as the Department of Culture, Sports, and Youth Development and the National Senior Citizens Commission.

Expand agricultural insurance, especially in expanding coverage of other crops, increasing capital stock, developing index-based insurance, among other developments.

Institutionalize of the integrated farming system including farm infrastructure, pre- and post-harvest machinery, equipment and facilities, production support and provision of credit support, soft loans and risk insurance.

Expand scholarship and research programs for agriculture and fishery students and training programs for farmers and farm workers.

Establish a quality assured national system for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on the standards of knowledge, skills and attitude acquired by learners and workers in the country through the institutionalization of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF).

Strengthen convergence to help the poor and vulnerable especially poor families enrolled in the Conditional Cash Transfer, become self-sufficient and self-reliant through sustainable livelihood program and linkages with

MORE TINGOG SUPPORT. Tingog Party List First Nominee and Leyte First District

Representative Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (center) and Ilocos Norte Second District Representative Imelda Marcos join with Tingog Party List leaders from National Capital Region after a short briefing at the Perez Hall in the House of Representatives on January 22. The NCR leaders vow to support the leadership of Rep. Romualdez.

other social development programs.

Expand PhilHealth packages through the different health financial programs of the government in order to increase benefit utilization and adjust case rates to ensure full coverage of medical care, particularly for the poor and those admitted in basic accommodation.

Establish mechanisms to cushion individuals and families from sudden loss of income through an establishment of unemployment insurance, enhancement of social protection for the informal sector, facilitation of workers’ transition from the informal to formal economy, and strengthening of mechanisms to ensure enrolment in the social security systems.

Intensify implementation of alternative and innovative solutions in addressing the housing needs of the lower income classes and vulnerable sector through innovative solutions.

Support the formulation of a Comprehensive Science and Technology Policy that will strengthen technology transfer and adoption, ensure integration of technology and innovation in enterprise development and establish technology business incubators to promote innovation, encourage start-ups, and provide other business develop-

ment services.

Launch a holistic program to combat illegal drugs through a sustained national anti-illegal drug strategy includes suppressing the flow of illegal drugs supply through sustained law enforcement operations and reducing consumer demand for drugs and other substances through drug rehabilitation and massive preventive education and awareness programs.

Improve transparency, participation and accountability in government institutions and processes through good housekeeping fundamentals of good governance are transparency, participation and accountability.

Support the establishment of Local Culture and Arts Councils with mandatory funding allocation similar to Gender and Development (GAD) Fund.

Empower barangay workers by ensuring a more adequate and stable compensation and benefit structure for long-serving barangay secretaries, treasurers, tanods, and health workers.

Strengthen and institutionalize the roles of Regional Development Councils and other similar bodies as active stakeholders in regional development.

32nd Anniversary

Corporate Philanthropy CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT

Reducing the effects of hazards, disasters

T

HE Philippines is no stranger to natural calamities. From the world’s strongest typhoons to our particularly fortunate (or unfortunate) situation in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country is at the mercy of the elements.

But this does not mean that people in the Philippines only rely on faith to get through any devastating “Act of God.” That’s why companies, and even local government units with the backing of the national government, have institutionalized Disaster Preparedness in their system. Some have even taken it by heart by implementing it in their Corporate Social Responsibility Programs.

Disaster Preparedness, or Emergency Management as it’s otherwise called, is the “organization and management of the resources and responsibilities” for dealing with “all humanitarian aspects of emergencies.” The aim of having these programs is to reduce the harmful effects of all hazards, including disasters.

Furthermore, this refers to measures taken to prepare for and some extent, predict and -- where possible -- prevent disasters, mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations, and respond to and effectively cope with their consequences, at local, national and international levels.

Disaster Preparedness is a continuous and integrated process resulting from a wide range of risk reduction activities and resources rather than from a distinct sectoral activity by itself.

It requires the contributions of many different areas -- ranging from training and logistics to health care, recovery, livelihood to institutional development, even telecommunications support and other basic emergency need.

Disaster Preparedness is also central to the work of the National Society and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, including the Philippine Red Cross, among many other institutions we shall tackle in the coming pages. Peter Paul Duran

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Promoting a healthy, balanced lifestyle

S

PORTS means so much more than just entertainment and a means for recreational enjoyment.

It takes a whole new meaning when fans and athlete share the same euphoria of a goal, a winning basket, or even a heart-breaking defeat.

Sports binds us together, however passionate we may be on both sides of the fence when it’s game time.

But sports goes beyond this even more, acting as a platform for companies to share their Corporate Social Responsibility values.

In truth, as an essential part of doing their business, companies reach out in ways they can do best, and with the tool they already have in their hands.

Health and Wellness as well as Sports Development campaigns, have no doubt come a long way in the promotion of a healthy and balanced lifestyle fit for the community they serve.

Companies, directly involved in the sports industry, put a conscious effort on improving consumers’ understanding of nutrition towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle, even advocating for environmental sustainability.

But this does not just stop there, as sports can also be an avenue for inspiring the next generation, especially those who are underprivileged.

Schools, for example, give out athletic scholarships for studentathletes. Private firms also do their part in giving our clinics for young athletes with potential in various sports disciplines.

In addition, professional and well-known athletes are heavily involved in campaigns to end bullying, for one, among many other thrusts. Read on to see how these inspiring programs. Peter Paul Duran

By Rhosedel Grace Gabac

T

HROUGH the years, the Philippine Red Cross proves that its commitment in providing quality, life-saving services that protect life and dignity, especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations, is more than just a philosophy but a way of life, making it the premier humanitarian organization in the country.

Community Health and Hygiene Promotion Project Last year of June 16, The Philippine Red Cross’ Health Services partnered with the PRC Cebu Chapter at the Ala Mercedes Gold Course, in Medellin, Cebu and launched the CHHP with the goal of improving access to public health service delivery for vulnerable communities, making them healthier, safer and resilient communities. This two-year developmental project is aiming for a total of 6,000 households from 15 barangays and 10,800 school children from 17 schools. The PRC Chapter Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, were joined by the Japanese Red Cross Society delegates, who supported and graced the project.

The Philippine Red Cross, running on its 67th year, has many ways of helping people. From initially providing blood to disaster-related activities, the Philippine Red Cross evolved into offering a wider array of humanitarian services, including preventive medicine and therapeutic counseling to youth leadership.

Traslacion 2019 Over 1,637 people, of whom 62 cases of individuals who suffered major injuries during the Traslacion, were attended to by over a thousand PRC volunteers on duty during the height of the said event. Their Traslacion operations consisted of 12 first-aid stations and an outdoor hospital, where 603 patients, who experienced minor complications such as fainting, puncture, abrasion, bruises, toothache, nosebleed, sprain, hypoglycemia, swelling, muscle spasm, and dizziness, were catered to.

“We are getting better every year.

PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

More than just a philosophy, but a way of life Our staff and volunteers are highly experienced, equipped, and trained. These trainings have resulted in saving the lives of devotees of the Black Nazarene,” said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon, who supervised the proceedings from the PRC Operations Center.

Established in 1947, the PRC has ever since forged a commitment to provide services related to life-saving Filipinos in helpless situations. PRC currently has six major services namely Blood, Disastermanagement, Safety, Health, Social, and Red Cross Youth and Volunteer Management services.

Tropical Depression Usman With support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, the PRC spearheaded humanitarian

assistance operations after the onslaught brought by Tropical Depression Usman, which affected eight provinces, especially hard-hit areas from Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Albay.

“We were first to respond in Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Albay, where we provided rescue, water, and hygiene facilities. We are now preparing mechanics for giving cash grants so our affected countrymen can start anew with dignity.

We have volunteers on the ground getting people out of harm’s way and retrieving those that can be saved,” Gordon said in an Al Jazeera interview.

The PRC Operations Center helped 289 families, who were still housed in 24 evacuation centers in Camarines Sur and Northern Samar, while the PRC National

Headquarters deployed three water tankers, a 6x6 and 10-wheeler truck housing 300 jerry cans, 300 hygiene kits, 2,400 capsules of Doxycycline, and 30 body bags for search and retrieval operations.

Blood drives Aside from humanitarian missions, PRC also collects blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors with donations roughly reaching 50% of the nation’s blood supply. All of the collected blood undergo blood testing before being used in transfusion operations. After being screened for diseases, all blood clear of anomalies are separated into three parts; red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. After the component processing, the specimens are stockpiled in a temperature-controlled blood bank refrigerator,

which can then be asked for by clients or patients with hospital/physician-issued blood request.

“PRC has indeed done us a great service by not only providing our citizens with disaster relief and healthcare services, but also by inspiring volunteerism in each and every Filipino,” President Rodrigo Duterte wrote in a letter at the unveiling of PRC’s dialysis center.

Guided and inspired by the values of fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – humanity, impartiality neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, all Red Cross staff and volunteers continue to provide their services to Filipinos, and to the Philippines.

PAG-ALALAY SA NASALANTA…

PAGKILALA SA ATLETA…

PAGKALINGA SA BATA…

PAGTULONG SA KOMUNIDAD…

Ang pagsugpo sa droga ay naisasagawa sa tulong din ng pondo mula sa PAGCOR. Sa bisa ng RA 9165, malaking bahagi ng kita ng PAGCOR ay napupunta sa Dangerous Drugs Board.

PAGTULONG SA MALING NAHATULAN...

Ang mga inosenteng nabilanggo ay tinutulungan ng PAGCOR. Sa bisa ng RA 7309, 1% mula sa kabuuang kita nito ay ibinibigay sa Board of Claims.

Mabilis na umaalalay sa mga nasalanta ng kalamidad ang PAGCOR. Bilang kabalikat ng Office of the President, batid nito ang mga pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan na dapat agarang matugunan.

Sa loob ng 16 taon, nagpondo ng P4.25 billion ang PAGCOR para sa kabataan, alinsunod sa “Early Years Act” (RA 10410).

Ang edukasyon at kalusugan ng kabataan ay malugod na itinataguyod ng PAGCOR.

Ang mga siyudad kung saan may sangay ang PAGCOR ay binibigyan ng pondo kada buwan para sa kanilang proyektong pang-komunidad, tulad ng “clean water programs.”

PROTEKTAHAN ANG LIPUNAN!

“HUSTISYA SA WALANG SALA!”

“SAGIPIN ANG PINOY!”

Mula pondo para sa pagensayo hanggang premyo kapag nanalo, sagot ng PAGCOR ang atletang Pinoy gaya ni Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz. Ito ay sa bisa ng RA 10699 (National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act) at RA 6847 (PSC).

“ITAGUYOD ANG KABATAAN!”

“ALAGAAN ANG KAPALIGIRAN!”

PAGSUGPO SA DROGA…

“GANTIMPALAAN ANG KAMPEON!”

PAGSILBI SA BAYAN… PAGCOR

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Unilab Foundation:

Doing well in doing good

By Julianne Edon Gabis

PHOLDING its mission of providing holistic healthcare products and services to enrich lives of the communities it serves, Unilab Corporation, the Philippines’ largest pharmaceutical company, continues its commitment to build a healthier nation through the Unilab Foundation.

U

As the corporate social responsibility arm of Unilab, Unilab Foundation, Inc. aspires to be the nation’s “leading foundation focused on health” and the most trusted choice for projects and advocacies related to the Filipino well-being.

Helping one child at a time Since its launch in 2011, the Unilab Foundation (ULF) has developed various programs and solutions to enable health and education access for communities that need them most.

Its first program, Play It Forward (PIF), took off in 2012 offering developmental and therapeutic play intervention for children in areas hit by a recent calamity.

In celebration of the National Children’s Month on November last year, Play It For-

ward, together with its partners-play champions, kicked off the Play Advocacy Week 2018 at The Mind Museum. The program is grounded on the belief that every child has the right to play, and it is a vital element for their mental health and holistic development.

In depressed areas disrupted by a disaster, child survivors are often deprived of an access to play. Play It Forward combines play spaces and curriculum to enhance the therapeutic benefits of child play with the help of psychonological experts, ensuring its effectiveness and sustainability.

ULF expanded its scope from the initial play space in a barangay in Cagayan de Oro City to address other regions with highly neglected healthcare services and help the pedi-

Unilab Foundation photo

Project Inclusion

atric patients and children devastated

by Tropical Storm Sendong. With 500 volunteers for this program, more than 10 thousand children have now been given access to play spaces and psychosocial support.

Project Inclusion Given the right conditions and opportunities, Persons with Disability can be valuable members of a workforce.

This is the belief that Project Inclusion advocates. Through providing accessto-work models and guides that help support the transition of employers and job-seekers, Project Inclusion proves that hiring PWDs is beneficial not only to the person but to the employer as well.

Since it kicked off in 2013, Project Inclusion has grown beyond its initial mission, engaging over 25 companies from different industries to hire Persons with Diability. Over 800 persons are given the opportunity to challenge the stigma in hiring PWDs, creating a

culture of inclusion in all our communities.

Cultivating young ideas Unilab Foundation is open to any innovative idea that may provide solutions towards a healthier Philippines.

Through Ideas Positive, now on its ninth run, it calls on the Filipino youth from all over the archipelago to engage into crafting groundbreaking ideas and implement measures to address specific health issues in communities.

Last year, a group of young health professionals who call themselves Team TeenPuyog, aimed to bring down the number of teenage pregnancy in a small town in Sarangani, where the highest number of teenage pregnancy incidents occurs.

For six months, the group conducted the program they called “IDOLescesnt Matter (Motivate, Advocate, Testify, Teach, Empower, Relate).” They also successfully persuaded the local government of the area to institutionalize

IDOLescent Matter.

With these achievements, Team TeenPuyog secured their position as the grand champion for the 8th run of Ideas Positive of the Unilab Foundation.

Heads Up PH Every Filipino deserves to be in an environment where mental health is given importance. This is what the Unilab Foundation firmly believes.

Through Heads Up PH, ULF aims for improvement of access to mental healthcare and psychosocial support especially for children in depressed communities or schools.

Corresponding to the big need of interventions that address mental health issues of young Filipinos in the country, EDUC+ equips members of the academe, parents, and other members of the community with module-based training activities to create an environment where mental health talk is mainstream and not stigmatized.

Corporate Philanthropy

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32nd Anniversary

CSR CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

Innovation:

Key to disaster risk management NSL Drone

MANILA HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UNILAB LEAD ‘DREAM TEAM’ TO PROVIDE MNCHN TO BRGY 105 RESIDENTS

Health fora are regularly conducted to intensify the campaign for healthy and safe pregnancies and deliveries.

It does take a village to raise a child. But when it comes to ensuring Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) in that village that is Barangay 105 in Tondo, it takes a dream team of organizations working together as one.

Such is the team put together by the Manila Health Department, UNILAB, Samaritan’s Purse, and Project Pearls, the collaboration of which was formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, and gave birth to the operationalization of a satellite clinic in Barangay 105.

“We have always believed in partnerships. Although we may have the resources, we know we cannot do it alone. The success of an endeavor is after all not about resources alone, but about expertise and field experience.

It is the real essence of “bayanihan” at play—sharing responsibilities for shared goals,” said Claire D. Papa, Head of Unilab’s External Affairs.

The public-private partnership for the establishment and operation of a satellite clinic at Barangay 105 was started a year ago. The fully-operational clinic provides sustainable, cost-effective approach in delivering maternal and childcare health services to the residents. Mothers and children below two years old are given access to quality health services.

Working hand-in-hand for health

The Manila Health Department (MHD) provides the medical staff who conducts prenatal, postpartum and newborn consultations once every week through Vitas Health Center headed by Dr. Mary Grace Aquino. They lead regular milk-letting activities, health education for the residents and capacity-building training sessions on maternal and newborn health for the other stakeholders.

MHD’s OIC Dr. Benjamin Yson announced that Manila City Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada himself supports the partnership’s efforts. “Our city mayor is very supportive and has given us the go-signal to utilize and share the government’s resources in carrying out our activities for our fellow Manilenyos.”

Project Pearls has served the area for eight years now. They built a clinic in 2015 after two boys were poisoned from eating “pagpag” (scavenged food). Their parents and neighbors did not have money to bring them to the hospital and one of the boys died. It compelled Project Pearls to build a Children’s Health Clinic.

“With the combined efforts of all the organizations in this partnership, we hope to lower the mortality rate of children and improve the health services for women especially the pregnant ones. We were always struggling to get doctors and medicines, but now we have partners,” said Melissa Villar, Founder of Project Pearls.

Barangay 105, a densely populated area where families subsist through scavenging, is one of the poorest communities in the Philippines. And according to Purse Philippines’ Country Director, Dr. Patrick Gitonga, Unilab could not have been more correct in identifying a needy community within the city.

Dr. Gitonga cited that when they came to Manila in 2015 and did an assessment of the city’s slum areas, they also identified Barangay 105 as a “most compelling community deserving of their services”.

Formally opened in May 2018, the clinic provides primary health services to Barangay 105’s mothers and children.

“Barangay 105 has an unbelievable population density—80,000 people per square kilometer; as a result, its health indicators in terms of maternal, child health and nutrition stand a lot of improvement. The residents literally rely on garbage for their livelihoods. For human beings to be reduced to this state, it speaks of how compelling and needy the situation in Barangay 105 is,” said Dr. Gitonga.

Based on the Philippine Health Agenda 2016-2022, the maternal mortality rate in the country was at 204 mothers dying per 100,000 live births in 2015.

This is linked to the child mortality rate of 20 infants dying per 1,000 live births, with half of the deaths of Filipino children under five happening during the first 28 days of life. In the UNICEF State of the World’s Children 2009 report, the Philippines is among 68 countries which contribute to 97 per cent of maternal, neonatal and child health deaths worldwide.

The partnership is determined to do its share in improving the state of MNCHN in the Philippines. Each stakeholder in the partnership fulfills tasks that are within its expertise.

Samaritan’s Purse manages and mobilizes the Barangay Health Volunteers (BHVs) assigned to ensure that target patients will avail themselves of the health services.

Project Pearls provides the daily operations, maintenance, and utilities of the satellite clinic. These include providing transportation for the patients as needed, maintaining and updating the patients’ records, and submitting a monthly report to the assigned Vitas Health Center personnel.

As the project lead of the program, Unilab assists in the capability-building of BHVs by providing resources for relevant MNCHN activities.

The beneficiary barangay, through its chairperson Elenita Reyes, is in charge of leading and encouraging the residents to access the healthcare services provided by the multi-organization partnership.

A partnership for change-making In May 2018, the clinic in Barangay 105 was formally opened to mothers and their children.“Every week, our medical team from the Vitas Health Center goes to Barangay 105 to do pre-natal check-ups and immunization. We do not wait and expect them to go to Vitas. Instead, kami na ang pumupunta sa kanila upang ilapit ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan,” shares Dr. Rosalina RoqueTan, Chief of the Division of Maternal and Child Health, MHD. Since the opening of the satellite clinic, close to a thousand individuals have been able to avail of the free check-ups and medicines. Breastfeeding mothers, children and even senior citizens have attended the regular feeding programs by Project Pearls. Pregnant women have had their regular check-ups in the satellite clinic, and mothers have availed of the post-natal check-ups and vaccination.

“This partnership has enabled us to slowly address the needs of a community through collaborative efforts. Kailangan din naming pakinggan at unawain ang sitwasyon ng mga tao para malaman namin kung ano ang dahilan kung bakit hindi lumalapit ang tao sa amin kahit libre na ang mga serbisyo at gamot,” Roque-Tan adds.

Mrs. Elenita Reyes, Barangay 105’s chairperson, expressed the entire community’s appreciation for the help and assistance. “Ang sabi nila, lahat na daw ng problema nasa barangay namin, dahil sa tulong ninyo, nabibigyan kami ng atensyon at nasosolusyunan ang mga problema.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Progression of Flight

By Carmela Martinez

T

HE Philippines is a magnet for storms, attracting about 20 typhoons each year, with five being rather destructive.

They all vary in strength and frequency, causing damage to people and property—which may or may not be restored.

As a result of this, Disaster Risk Reduction Programs have been implemented by the government and companies in order to achieve the goal “zero-casualty.”

Collaborating to make this possible are the Philippine Red Cross, Nokia, and Smart Communications through the genius use of drones.

A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle once used in war, that backfired terribly. People then thought that it was a lost cause, not knowing the unmanned aerial advantage of it. For one, drones can survey the surrounding areas to help in land titling, helping in surveying the situation in disaster areas that cannot be seen by the rescue team on the ground.

One very memorable use of drones in disasters was its help during typhoon Haiyan, more commonly known as Typhoon Yolanda, one of the strongest typhoons that ever graced the country.

Nokia Saves Lives is a corporate non-profit initiative that provides innovative communications technology and technical-expert assistance to emergency response teams. It is supported by GSMA –a global mobile group that selected NSL for its Disaster Response Innovation Fund.

Smart Communications is one of the three founding signatories of the GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter that aims to provide increased access to communication and information for those affected by calamities, helping reduce the loss of lives and contributing to humanitarian response.

Nokia Saves Lives developed a drone that can take real-time applications, like video streaming, gas sensing, mapping, speakers, heat

Nokia, PRC, Smart Drones for Disaster Relief

People Manning the Drone Station

signatures and analytics live that can be viewed in a monitor in a station near where the disaster happened. Aided by the towers of Smart, communication signals can reach even the farthest provinces during a disaster. Along with the expertise in rescue situations of the Philippine Red Cross, the partnership of the three has taken a huge leap in reducing casualty in disasters.

Drone Operation Station “This drone and network solution can help us gather accurate and up-to-date data on the status of lifelines in disaster situations. This, in turn, can provide us with information vital in the implementation of rescue and assistance to the affected areas,” said PRC Secretary General Elizabeth Zavalla.

The drone won UAE Drones for Good Award in which they showcased in the event how a fleet of drones can search for people in disaster areas.

The drones are faster when responding to surveying an area, helping rescue workers focus their efforts as the drones can direct them to where the victims are, safely coordinating rescue and response efforts and getting supplies to needed areas. One special feature of these drones by the NSL is the function that they can carry first-aid supplies to disaster risk areas or where rescue workers normally wouldn’t be able to go.

Meanwhile, Smart joined forces with the academe and local government units to help bring disaster preparedness closer to the youth.

Through its TNT brand, Smart brought its Tropang Ready disaster preparedness caravans to more state colleges and universities all over the country.

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United effort in rebuilding Marawi City

By Lorelee Antonette Yap

HE date May 23, 2017 will go down in infamy as it marked the beginning of the first-ever urban battle in the Philippines between government security forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups, leaving Marawi City in destruction and rubbles.

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For five months, Marawi residents lived in evacuation centers, while the fighting continued.

But on October 17, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the liberation of Marawi City.

Following the complete destruction of their city, the people of Marawi are starting from scratch in the aftermath of the battle. Good thing they have the government, along with nongovernment organizations, private companies, and foreign aids coming in to their aid to help them stand up on their feet.

Reviving Marawi It was June 28, 2017 when President Duterte created an interagency task force through Administrative Order No. 3 that will focus on all the concerns of Marawi City’s rehabilitation after the siege.

This is called Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), which consists of sub-committees focusing on different sectors, namely reconstruction, housing, health and social welfare, business and livelihood, and peace and order.

It was first headed by Defense

Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and co-chaired by Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.

With members from various departments of the government, TFBM’s task was to work with them hand in hand and be the government’s solution to guide, supervise and rebuild the city of Marawi.

Through Administrative Order no. 9 that was made by President Duterte on October 27, 2017, the Secretary of Defense was replaced by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman, while the two heads became the vice-chairpersons of the TFBM. Helping the government’s efforts, NGOs inside and outside of our country also created ways to reach out and raise funds to support their cause. The NGOs are the following, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that aims to provide shelter and humanitarian assistance to the displaced families; Sinagtala Center for Women and Children in

The construction of houses and schools all the way to addressing the concerns in education, health, and livelihood and even fixing the water and electricity connection in the city were some of the efforts and pledges that many private companies promised.

Conflict (TALA PH), an organization that aids women, children and displaced persons by providing workshops like weaving and therapy sessions; Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBP Movement), a group that has a mission to assist people and children to learn and improve their knowledge, skills, and positive values in order to create a culture of peace.

Others pitching their support were the Maranao People Development Center (MARADECA), Duyog Marawi, Red Cross Philippines, Balay Mindanaw and Youth

Peer Education Network (Y-PEER Pilipinas).

When the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Makati Business Club, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and CODE NGO organized a summit in 2017 for the United for Marawi consortium, several companies extended their assistance to the displaced families in Marawi City.

The construction of houses and schools all the way to addressing the concerns in education, health,

and livelihood and even fixing the water and electricity connection in the city were some of the efforts and pledges that these private companies promised. The companies were PLDT Smart Voyager, Udenna Corporation, Front Learners Inc., FF Cruz and Co. Inc., Pacific Global One Aviation, Aboitiz, Jollibee Foods Corp, BFBCI, Pepsi Cola Philippines, World Vision, Cebuana Lhuilier, Ayala Foundation, Gabay Guro of PLDT, Meralco, Coca-cola, Manila Water, Maynilad, LBC Foundation, SM Foundation, Ox-

fam, US Philippine Society, San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners, Bangsamoro Business Council, Community and Financial Services International, and ASSURE. On the other hand, foreign aids poured into the rehabilitation of Marawi. In a Department of Finance (DOF) report last November, 2018, the country received P35.1 billion worth of pledges from countries such as the United States, Australia, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Spain and also the United Nations (UN).

The United States Government committed in 2017 a sum of P3.2 billion to aid Marawi City through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which assisted the Philippine Government to improve the situations and conditions of the affected people.

USAID also helped installing water and sanitation amenities, provided health clinics with supplies that aimed to solve the problems of tuberculosis (TB) and also gave support to those with maternal, newborn, and child health needs. They also improved the livelihood and economic situations of Marawi folks, along with the health and education systems in the city, while encouraging peaceful talks, and restoring the water and electricity services.

In addition, to secure food requirements of the families affected in Marawi, USAID partnered with the World Food Programme to donate at least 4 million pounds of rice that can cater up to 45,000 people in four months.

It is still a long way to go before Marawi City can reclaim its lost glory. But the rehabilitation has been fast-paced and the healing, noble. For now, that is all you could ask for.

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MANILA STANDARD’S LOYALTY AWARDEES Allianz’s Project Sanlahi Brings New Hope to Aeta Youth It started with an initiative to bring financial education to students of Villa Maria Integrated School in the mountains of Porac, Pampanga. Today, Allianz PNB Life is bringing hope to the community through Project Sanlahi, a social inclusion project that aims to empower the youth through education and sports.

Jacob King, 21, wishes to continue his college education at the University of the Philippines (UP), but his family cannot afford to send him to college.

"Gusto kong makatapos ng college sa UP. Nakatapos na ako ng high school sa Villa Maria Integrated School.

Hindi na kaya ng mga magulang ko na mapag-aral ako ng college kaya natigil ako," King said.

Another Aeta youth, 18-year-old Reyna Baclay, dreams of becoming a computer programmer or an information technology specialist.

But while their dreams have to wait for now, King and Baclay were in the meantime given a unique platform to showcase their competitive skills.

Alex Grenz, Allianz PNB Life chief operating officer, with his race partner Aeta youth Jacob King.

They were among the 20 Aeta students from Villa Maria, who participated in Allianz PNB Life's Conquer Challenge, a 10-kilometer obstacle course race (OCR), held in December last year in Clark Global City.

In a country arguably dominated by mainstream sports like basketball and volleyball, it is indeed refreshing to see other sports getting the spotlight.

OCR is a foot sport requiring impeccable physical and mental strength-- as the race features various physical obstacles like climbing walls and carrying heavy objects.

"OCR is an up-and-coming sport. It is gaining popularity in the Philippines. Allianz as a company uses sports to connect with communities. The Aetas from Villa Maria is one of the communities that Allianz here in the Philippines has chosen to support," said Allianz PNB Life chief marketing officer Gae Martinez.

By Charles Dantes and Angelica Villanueva

ONESTY and loyalty are the keys to success in the workplace.

The Manila Standard, which is celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year, is proud to have both--honest and loyal workers, who have stood with the company through thick and thin, and highs and lows.

Three decades of passion, love, and loyalty

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan If you hear the editorial department laughing and see a lanky and well-dressed man joking around while taking a look at every page of the newspaper layout, you have probably seen Ramonchito Tomeldan, the down-toearth managing editor of the Manila Standard.

One of the four loyalty awardees this year (30 years in service), Tomeldan, or Sir Mon, has jumped around different publishing companies before finally getting his niche at the Manila Standard.

“Back in the late 1980s, I was looking for job as a journalist. I worked from broadsheets after broadsheets, but I always find myself looking for more. And then came the offer from Manila Standard, where I worked as a business reporter. Then 30 years after, I am a managing editor,” said Tomeldan, who started as a hungry and passionate writer looking for the “holy grail” of the job.

“I was once asked by my editor to write a piece about how business journalists like me cope with the cutthroat competition, given the advent of fax machines and computers during that time, and the deadline pressure considering that most of us had to travel from the beat to the office. The piece saw print in one of the Manila Standard’s anniversary issues sometime between 2003 and 2004. I gave it the title ‘In search of journalism’s holy grail,’ which was about how reporters strive hard to scoop one another and get exclusive stories. Reporters strive hard to scoop one another and get exclusive stories, truly in pursuit of a passion, and the triumphant ones became the toast of the town. I myself had delivered scoops for the company, and stood out as a ‘true-blue newsman,’ in the words of a colleague,” he reminisced.

Rudyn B. Hapiz For Rudyn Hapiz, providing for his family is his main goal and lasting for three decades in the company is just a bonus.

“My job helps me provide my family their needs, I am just happy that I was able to give my kids the proper education and that’s all that matters to me,” he said.

Hapiz started working for Manila Standard on Dec. 1, 1988, and one of the things he loves the most is the camaraderie in the office, where he has officemates, who treat each other like a family.

“It’s happy to see some of my fellow employees last this long. Others have left, but still some remained and that is the thing I cherish the most,” he said.

He wishes the company good luck and to continue striving for improvement.

"This is in line with our advocacy to promote social inclusion, one of the pillars of our company's Corporate Citizenship Strategy," she added.

"We recognize the strength of the Aetas. So, aside from educating them with the basics of personal finance through our financial literacy program, we would like to impart to them the value of committing to achieve goals that they have to set. Letting them participate in OCR will teach them important life lessons of overcoming obstacles. We want to give them a fair chance of having employment opportunities in the future,” Martinez further explained.

Roberto S. Cabrera Chief of photographers Robert Cabrera has been working with Manila Standard since June 16, 1989. A former OFW, Cabrera started as a photographer outside the country, before working in a photo lab for the government.

Due to his dedication and brilliance in the field of photography, the newly-established Manila Standard then took him under its wings as a field photographer and the rest, as they say, is history.

With more than 20 years of field duty, Cabrera shared that being a photographer is never easy, saying that his life is always on the line in every coverage.

“I felt that danger is always around whenever I was on assignment in the field. I remember before, I had to cover in Mindanao during the heat of terror attacks, we almost got ambushed after our escorts received intel about a possible attack. Thankfully, nothing bad happened,” Cabrera said.

But that kind of danger never stopped him from continuing doing the job he loves the most.

“I did not realize that 30 years have passed by, because this is my passion. Photography helped me feed my family and give my children their needs,” said Cabrera.

Anita F. Grefal

Officer-in-Charge of Sales and Operations Anita F. Grefal, or simply called Ma’m Annie, handles the company’s finances, meeting with prospective advertisers and plotting the financial direction of the newspaper.

Despite having a family business, Annie asked her parents if she could work with a company. Her father let her, but on the condition that she must take good care of her family name and nourish her would-be company, as if like her own child.

With almost half of her life spent working for the Manila Standard, Grefal’s determination has been tested many times. Reaching her retirement age next year, the humble officerin-charge of the company believes that she has given her best for the company.

“My contributions for this company are, one, my loyalty. Two, I did my best for Manila Standard. And three, being true. Wherever I go, I fight for Manila Standard,” she said.

As an employee who offers her full dedication and commitment towards her work, Grefal is also a mother. Yet, she wasn’t forced to choose between the company and her family because while working for the Manila Standard, she has also fulfilled her greatest role—a mother.

“Manila Standard let me fulfill my role as a mother. The company gave me enough time to take care of my family. So while working, I was able to spend time with my daughter given that my husband was a seaman. Despite being a solo parent, we were able to survive that kind of set up and to support her studies,” she explained in Filipino.

Finding the silver lining

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MANILA STANDARD’S LOYALTY AWARDEES Guillerson Alanguilan Just like the Manila Standard, 25-year Loyalty Awardee Guillerson or Sonny to peers, has conquered a great extent of challenges along the way, yet he never stopped to accomplish more than the things he was tasked to do.

Sonny started as an encoder for the company for months before being transferred to the editorial department as a layout artist. Years later, he was asked to be part of the IT-MIS Department as a web developer during the implementation of Manila Standard’s digital version and website, manilastandard.net.

Aside from his dedication towards his work, Alanguilan is that kind of colleague who does not have any bad blood with his coworkers. In other words, he is loved by everyone.

Somehow, if there is an award called as ‘Friend of Everyone,’ Sonny will be that person, as the website administrator is also known for his incomparable kindness to people around him.

“Staying with this company gives me the feeling of fulfillment and the excitement that the job gives everyday. Somehow, once the foundation of friendship is built, you get to know them (officemates) and you become part of one’s family,” said Sonny.

Twenty years of friendship and love

Luzviminda E. Jimenez Spending her 20th year anniversary with the company, Luz, as called by her colleagues, recalled her most memorable memories.

“Before, I told myself when I applied here, ‘I would be just here for two years.’ Yet, here I am, celebrating my 20th year,” said the jolly layout artist, who has stayed with the company when many of her peers have jumped ship.

With the good camaraderie among the people behind the newspaper—from the publisher up to its news gatherers— many employees have decided to remain.

“The comradeship. You won’t feel that there’s a boss. Everyone treats everyone an equal. What we have here is a family—brotherhood and sisterhood. You can joke around with them and talk to them. In other other companies, you can’t do that,” she added.

Maria Victoria R. Ayeng

“I still love you, Manila Standard.”

This is Vicky’s opening shot as she excitingly tells one of the reasons why she has remained loyal to the newspaper for the past 20 years.

The former encoder is now assigned to design the pages of the business section and sometimes, other pages that needed to be done.

With her 20 years of service, the fun of working with officemates who have become friends is enough of a reason to stay. Challenges have come, but opportunities have opened up for her. During her free time in the morning, she is able to tend to her other sideline, without affecting and letting go her of her job at the Manila Standard.

“Manila Standard is hard to let go. I have found a family here. I believe that ‘Tough times never last, but people do.’ Yes, there are struggles, but those 20 years are not just struggles, most of them are memories—fun memories,” explained Ayeng.

Edelyn R. Elamparo

When she entered the field of the publishing industry, just like her ‘batchmates’ Vicky and Luz, Edelyn was added to the roster of encoders of the editorial department.

“I have established myself to become a marketing officer now, even though I graduated Computer Science, which is far from what I do today. After 15 years, I have learned there’s something more than I could offer, that I can contribute to the company,” said Elamparo.

“In Manila Standard, even if you are a newly-hired employee, you won’t feel that you do not belong. The environment we have here in the company is far from other workplaces. You will feel the warm welcome from each employee,” she said.

Elvin D. Clarete Circulation Supervisor Elvin Clarete began working for the company since February 16, 1999. And as he reaches his 20th year, Clarete recalled his early years at the Manila Standard.

“Aside from being accustomed to my tasks here at the circulation department, we have good camaraderie and I have good colleagues here—even the supervisor. Maybe, that’s what pushes me to stay,” said Clarete.

The timid young man before has turned into a confident supervisor as he has gone to different places across the country to speak with people as part of his job.

“I have learned to converse with other people. My social skills improved, because here (circulation department), you get to meet and encounter different types of people from all walks of life,” he said.

Alena Mae S. Flores Doing the same job for 20 years can force an employee to look for another field of work for a change in scenery. But for business reporter Alena Mae Flores, she sees it as a challenge given by her journalistic passion.

“There is a saying that goes, time flies when you’re having fun. I love working as a journalist because each day offers a different challenge. I love meeting new people from all walks of life, learning valuable lessons from them,” said Flores.

She shared that being with the company for

two decades surprised even her, recollecting how she applied for the position.

“It surprised me that it has been 20 years. I vividly recall walking into the office of the Manila Standard in 1998, hoping that I get the job as a business reporter, yet not knowing exactly what I was getting into. But through the years, I was able to hone my craft with the help of my business editors,” she recalled.

Rochelle V. Campos Just like Alena Mae Flores, fellow business reporter Rochelle Campos or Othel to her colleagues, feels that 20 years have been a long journey. Rather than jumping to other companies or jobs, Campos chose to stay.

“Though I’ve searched and rocked my brains asking myself why have I ever lasted this long in this company, all I can come up with is that I’m such a tenacious being or a creature of habit, getting used to is something I excel in,” she explained.

Her love for journalism keeps her grinding her gears to continue hustling every day looking for the right story.

“I painstakingly go to every event, forum, meetings, interviews, company visits, record and transcribe every bit of information I need before finally taking a seat to write my stories. To do so, I have to wake up at dawn to catch the earliest ride from my place—the hinterlands of Cavite—to wherever there is news in Manila,” said Flores.

With the exhausting life of a reporter, Campos has chosen to stay and as she puts it, she is still ‘Fighting!’

A steady decade and a half

Julito G. Rada The business reporter has been giving service for the Manila Standard since May 27, 2004. Of his 15-year tenure with the newspaper, July said six years of them was covering the monetary authority of the Philippines—Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas—which he considers as one of his greatest achievements.

But unlike Othel and Alena, Rada was once a proofreader for six years before he was thrust into the business field.

“It just shows how I value the company through thick and thin. In times of distress, I am proud to say that I did not ‘abandon the ship,” he said.

Rada shared that despite others’ opinion about the future of the newspaper industry due to the existence of online news agencies, he still believes that the newspaper will be able to compete in the future.

“I have heard it from competitors so many times in the past and even at present--that the newspaper will likely fold up because of some problems here and there. They are wrong because we are still here. Because of that, I salute all the people in the Manila Standard for doing their job all these years,” he ended.

A decade of a comeback

Romel J. Mendez Home, that is how Romel Mendez or ‘Ismit,’ describes Manila Standard. He was a returning employee a decade ago, now he is the art director, in charge of the style of layout and the daily editorial cartoon.

Mendez shared that had he never left the company, he would have been a 25-Year Loyalty Awardee, too. But his artistic calling made him venture to another field to expand his arsenal and knowledge in visual designs.

“Manila Standard became a home to me, this is where I started working and this where I had the chance to put my skill into a real test. Sadly, after a few years I felt that I needed a change and try new things. Then I decided to go find a job about digital designs,” said Mendez.

But one day, it hit him that he missed the newspapering job.

Mendez returned without hesitating and Manila Standard welcomed him with open arms.

“I missed the challenge in the newspaper of creating something new every day. It made me think of an innovative design to create a uniform and appealing representation of our paper, which I am truly proud of,” said Mendez.

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Editorial Department headed by Rolando Estabillo-Publisher and Ramon Tomeldan-Managing Editor

HR Department headed

by Anita Grefal Kagitingan Printing Press headed by Alfonso Constantino

Advertising Department headed by Anita Grefal and Baldwin Felipe

LWUA extends helping hand with Buhay KYUT

By Julianne Edon Gabis

massive impacts to our environment such as controlling soil erosion, producing oxygen, conserving The original goal was to enrich lives of Filipinos and make better biodiversity, and regulating water communities through the provision level in watersheds.

During the celebration of World of safe, clean, and potable water.

Environment Day back in 2017, However, the mission grew to an LWUA Chief Jeci A. Lapus expressed even bigger environmental project his commitment and full support to that promotes sustainability and the country’s bamboo planting and awareness within the communities it propagation efforts. serves.

As part of the country’s National As part of its info campaign and Greening Program (NGP), LWUA has corporate social responsibility agenda, once again enjoined water districts Local Water Utilities Administration all around the country into a project (LWUA) gathers several government that includes bamboo in the list of agencies, private partners, nonpreferred species for planting and government organizations (NGOs), propagation. local government units (LGUs), and Recently, LWUA held a planting different Water Districts nationwide to activity in Murcia, Negros Occidental implement Buhay KYUT (Kalusugang with the theme, “Safe Water is Our Yaman Ugnay sa Tubig) that aims to Legacy, Protect Our Watersheds” last teach and share social-awareness to November 2018 with the aim of the community of the importance of involving the youth in protecting and water conservation and the virtue of conserving the environment to ease drinking clean water. climate change.

Buhay KYUT goes to school At the break of dawn, more than Children can be quite a handful 300 students from the Philippine to manage especially when they Central Adventist School (PCAS), are in their most active mood. They together with Murcia Water District explore every nook and turn of their (MWD), representatives from the surroundings and it becomes a little Region 6 WDs, DENR- PENRO, Dept. of difficult to keep them clean and free Administrator Jeci A. Lapus with LWUA official mascot TAP Trade & Industry (DTI), farmers group from illnesses all the time. and people’s organizations have gathered to plant a goal of According to the World Health Organization, nearly a 1,000 bamboo trees. Lectures were also given to the students thousand children die everyday due to diarrheal diseases that on how to plant bamboos as well as its uses and benefits to are linked to poor hygiene. Which is why LWUA partnering with protecting water resources. educational institutions in teaching kids the proper hygiene This isn’t the first project LWUA has launched that is focused routine is a truly valuable helping hand in keeping these children on the propagation of bamboo trees. In 2016, LWUA together healthy and free from sickness. with Palayan City Water District (PCWD) launched “Kawayan Para Also, by sharing the ways of different beneficial livelihood sa Palayan” at Aulo Dam, Brgy. Mapaet, Palayan City. activities that will sustain awareness in the community, LWUA The goal is to impart knowledge to the community of the embarks on a journey to teach women and children of water opportunities of making it a livelihood of planting, maintaining, conservation and taking care of the surroundings. harvesting and processing of bamboos- a complete victory for At the end of 2018, almost 200 students of Pascual O. Cruz both the environment and the community.

Memorial Elementary School were taught of proper hand- Humble efforts, big smiles washing. This is part of the Bisita Eskwela of Calumpit Water Even in the darkest of times that challenged the resilience of District (CWD). In partnership with Rotary Club- Calumpit, Filipinos, Buhay KYUT continued to strive in uplifting spirits by the CWD donated a hand washing facility for the school as an serving the people. In 2014 when Super typhoon Yolanda struck initiative to promote a healthy habit of proper hygiene and the Philippines, millions were devastated by the unprecedented drinking safe and potable water. fury.

In the last semester of 2018, more than 1,500 school children, LWUA provided relief goods to school children that have parents, teachers, and community representatives from several fallen victim to nature’s outrage. The act may be small compared municipalities have benefitted and received education about to the magnitude of damage the typhoon has inflicted on them, proper water conservation and environmental protection. the effort has made a massive effect that manifested in the Through instructional, education, and communication smiles of the people that has fallen victim to the devastation of materials prepared by LWUA to enhance the learning experience our mother nature. of students, they are rewarded with health kits to encourage them on the essentials of health care while the school receives educational materials to serve as aid in imparting the mission of Buhay KYUT. LWUA goes to school and broaden their scope with several reach-out programs laid all throughout the archipelago in places such as Bataan, Davao Oriental, General Santos City, Negros Occidental, and Bulacan among others.

Together with the Water Districts, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR), the LGUs and other partner advocates are promoting health and hygiene, proper uses of water, care for the environment, waste recycling, and even the importance of bamboo planting and production and livelihood program to schools and communities nationwide.

Saving watersheds one bamboo tree at a time Importance of bamboo trees in the conservation of the ecosystem is often overlooked.The truth is bamboo forests have

Circulation Department headed by Edgar Valmorida

Accounting & Credit and Collection Department headed by Mario Policarpio and Anita Grefal

MIS Department headed by Feliciano Buscas

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Share shoes at the SM Store

The Pebble at Acqua Private Residences A COUNTRY CLUB BY THE WATER Artist’s rendition of the Acqua Private Residences with The Pebble in front of the six-tower masterplan

The Play Area at the ground floor and second level of The Pebble

The Café and Juice Bar at the third level of The Pebble

SM Shoppers can purchase these new shoes from The SM Store Shoes Department and donate these to this year’s “Share Shoes” campaign.

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IVE the less fortunate children and families a gift of new shoes this year with The SM Store’s “Share Shoes” campaign.

Shoes are essential in our life’s journey. And for less fortunate children, a new pair of shoes will allow them to walk safely as they perform their daily chores and go from home to school. Good shoes also inspire us to work hard because with new shoes, we can start taking little steps towards achieving our dreams.

In this joint project of The SM Store and SM Shoes Department, booths have been set up in all The SM Store branches nationwide. Shoppers can now have the chance to donate pre-loved and brand new pairs of shoes from February 15- April 15, 2019.

Each donation entitles a customer with a Php 50 discount coupon which can be redeemed for every minimum Php 500 single-receipt purchase of any regular-priced shoes or footwear from The SM Store. Coupons are valid until April 15, 2020 All donated shoes will be for the benefit of Caritas and SM Foundation beneficiaries.

Share Shoes is one of the ways The SM Store and its customers work together to share blessings to the less fortunate. These donations will certainly bring hope and smiles to all beneficiaries nationwide.

Other upcoming projects are Donate-A-Book; Give the Gift of Wellness and Share-AToy 2019.

Imagine living in an urban oasis, in a tropical, rainforest-infused setting while being a few steps away from all that you love about the city. That’s Acqua Private Residences, a sixtower community by the historic Pasig River at a point where Makati and Mandaluyong cities meet. At the core of this award-winning development of top property developer Century Properties is an impressive central amenity called The Pebble, Acqua’s fourstorey waterfront clubhouse and the visual focal point of the entire development.

The Pebble is a gleaming white, modern interpretation of a smooth river stone with a large cutout in front providing an almost window-like vista. It features three iconic waterfalls that seemingly flow into the mighty river below.

The Pebble houses the state-of-the-art total health, wellness and fitness center, a 25-meter glass lap pool with jacuzzi, café and juice bar, locker rooms, function rooms, expansive lobby, kids’ wall climbing and play area,

The sprawling fitness center at the fourth level

sophisticated movie room, kids’ playroom and a mini library.

Outside the Pebble is The Eden, a relaxing garden that spans the 6th level podium of all Acqua towers with lush tropical greens, koi ponds, waterways and mini playground for kids. There is a basketball court for enthusiasts and an outdoor lagoon pool and kiddie pool with waterfalls for families who simply wish to relax and bask in the lovely sunshine.

Five out of six towers in Acqua – Niagara, Sutherland, Detiffoss and Iguazu – are already complete, while the last one, Novotel Suites Manila, is scheduled for completion this year.

Acqua Private Residences sits on a 2.4-hectare prime property in Coronado Street, Brgy.

Hulo, Mandaluyong City. It is accessible via the Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge making it accessible to Makati’s top attractions. Visit http://www.acqua.com.ph/ and https://www. century-properties.com/.

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Aboitiz underscores ‘culture of innovation’ at annual leadership conference Over 100 Aboitiz team leaders converged at the Aboitiz Leaders Conference (LeadCon) 2019 with the theme “Future-Proof Aboitiz: Driving a Culture of Innovation.”

DepEd Meralco_Edited 7x40 (FC)

Meralco, DepEd deepen partnership in electrification of off-grid schools

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UMAGUETE CITY — More than 70,000 students in far-flung, off-grid public schools in the Philippines are now able to use electricity and technology in class, thanks to an advocacy led by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).

Launched in 2012, the school electrification advocacy program of the Philippines’ largest electric distributor provides remote public schools with access to electricity, particularly solar power. This is implemented through the company’s corporate foundation and social development arm, One Meralco Foundation (OMF).

OMF installs between 1 to 3 kilowatt-peak solar photovoltaic equipment in schools that pass its criteria for electrification.

“There are thousands ONE Meralco Foundation engineers install solar panels atop the roof of a classroom of public schools in Apo Elementary School, Apo Island (Dauin), Negros Oriental. nationwide which need “When you talk a laptop computer and a printer-scanneraccess to electricity about 21st Century photocopier machine to each of the newly a nd we c a n o n l y e d u c a t i o n , energized school. These were donated by energize so much with e l e c t r i c i t y i s employees of Meralco through their monthly the resources we have indispensable; you contributions to the Meralco Employee’s each year. And so, we cannot move forward Fund for Charity, Inc. (MEFCI), a non-profit prioritize those that really without electricity. institution founded by Meralco employees for need the intervention the We are catching up in charitable purposes. most,” explained Jeffrey O. science and technology “In the name of the Department of Education, Tarayao, president of OMF. and in ICT systems, we’re we would like to express our gratitude and our “Those schools that have more teaching our children with a appreciation for helping us electrify, bring light than 300 students, located in communities that are completely DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones. lot of skills so that they can to as many of our schools as possible, especially enter the world of work, or in areas which are far from sources of education unenergized or still with no respective electric cooperatives in the next five go on to university studies — and this will not and development,” the secretary said. years and are not a recipient of any government- be possible without electrical connections,” Pioneering Energy Education initiated electrification project, are at the top of explained Briones in an interview during the event. “Technology changes or reforms even OMF has also been working with DepEd our list for electrification,” he added.

To date, 223 schools have benefited from the production of teaching materials. We need to promote energy safety, efficiency and sustainable use through energy education. the program — 102 in Luzon, 64 in the Visayas electricity for that,” she added.

The secretary also emphasized that while In partnership with a non-profit organization, and 57 in Mindanao. This includes eight in Negros Oriental energized last year namely, Apo the government provides the resources required Coalition for Better Education (CBE), OMF Elementary School in Apo Island, Dauin; Bago- by the department to improve the quality of developed localized learning resources on Bago Elementary, Kanggabok Elementary School education in the country, the private sector is energy and related topics with the help of teachers selected from various public schools and Pedro R. Abul Memorial High School in Sta. also welcome to participate in this endeavor.

“Of course education is not the exclusive nationwide. These were compiled into a Catalina; Salingkubong Elementary School in Siaton; and San Isidro Elementary School and responsibility or mandate of the public sector. flashcard kit — called Energy Ed kit — which The Constitution is very clear on this issue. was mass-produced and distributed to close to Palay Elementary School in Manjuyod.

It talks about complementarity between the 900 public schools nationwide. public and private sector on matters related Each kit contains 200 flashcards that are Education: to education. Especially on the matter of aligned with DepEd’s K to 12 curriculum and a shared responsibility On Sunday, August 6, 2018, OMF and DepEd electrification, of course we have agencies that may be used in various subjects especially officially announced the electrification of the are concentrating on electrifying the entire Science. These are now being used by over Negros Oriental schools in a lighting ceremony country but we have 7,000 islands to take care half a million students, grades 4 to 10, all over led by DepEd secretary Leonor Magtolis- of. We have more than 40,000 classrooms, 29 the country.

To make the materials more accessible to Briones. It was held at the department’s sub- million learners to teach, and electricity plays all schools — public or private — OMF launched regional office in Dumaguete City, and was a very important part here,” said Briones.

Apart from the solar photovoltaic an online portal, www.energyed.ph, where attended by representatives from Meralco, One Meralco Foundation, local government units and equipment, OMF also turned over multimedia teachers may register and download individual packages consisting of a 49-inch LED TV, flashcards or the entire package, free of charge. the beneficiary schools.

EIGHT off-grid public schools in Negros Oriental energized by One Meralco Foundation using solar photovoltaic systems also received multimedia packages donated by Meralco employees. They are among the 223 public schools that have benefited from the program since 2012.

T

HE Aboitiz Group believes having a culture of innovation will play an important role in the conglomerate’s continued growth and expansion both in the domestic and international arenas.

Amid the company’s group-wide digital transformation, over 100 Aboitiz team leaders converged at the Aboitiz Leaders Conference (LeadCon) 2019 with the theme “Future-Proof Aboitiz: Driving a Culture of Innovation.” It was held last Jan. 17 at Bonifacio Global City.

Annually, Aboitiz leaders undergo executive leadership development programs designed to impart knowledge and sharpen competencies in the six Aboitiz leadership dimensions: mentoring and developing, fostering teamwork, courageous authenticity, achieving results, sustainable growth, and integrity.

“How can Aboitiz remain evergreen and continue to be competitive in a volatile world of disruptive trends of globalization, technological advancement, changing models, and data explosion?”

Erramon I. Aboitiz, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) President and Chief Executive Officer challenged the company’s leaders.

“To my mind, it is by driving a culture of innovation,” Aboitiz stressed.

Explaining further, Aboitiz said, “Our business will continue to evolve and expand beyond our borders. It will be important for us to retain the best of a successful past 100 years while making adjustments in what we do and how we do it to future-proof Aboitiz to thrive in a VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) world.”

In recent years, the Aboitiz Group has embarked on a digital transformation journey via a number of innovative initiatives. These are the Aboitiz Corporate Center’s agile workplaces, the Aboitiz Innovation Laboratory (a.Lab), the Aboitiz Group Online Resource Application (AGORA), UnionBank’s fullydigital The ARK branches, rooftop solar panels for AboitizLand’s The Outlets, and the Weather Solutions mobile application, just to name a few.

This year, the Aboitiz LeadCon featured distinguished academic Prof. Gregory La Blanc, chair of the Berkeley-Haas Professional Faculty at the University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business. La Blanc discussed the innovation process--origination, evaluation, and execution.

He also tackled the four roles of a leader: planned work, unplanned work, optimizing/incremental improvements and exploring.

“Innovation is about taking risks, nipping things at the bud before it costs too much pain. Promote constructive conflict, foster more disagreement, create systematic processes to resolve disagreement through data and information,” La Blanc said.

During the conference, two Aboitiz executives also showcased their respective business unit’s (BU’s) innovative strategies.

UnionBank Chief Technology & Operations Officer Henry R. Aguda described the bank’s commitment to its core (trust) and how the bank is “hand-holding customers in a digital world.” Meanwhile, Pilmico Chief Operating Officer Tristan R. Aboitiz shared how the firm’s digital journey put emphasis on having an agile workplace and digitized processes in place -- “Innovation 2.0.”

GMA Kapuso Foundation:

An organization that keeps on giving

GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), a recognized leader in public service in the country, turned over seven newly constructed classrooms at the Mandulog Elementary School in Barangay Mandulog, Iligan City in line with its long-term rehabilitation program for the victims of typhoon Sendong.

By Kyle Ureta

T

HE television network known as GMA Network Inc. can be traced all the way back in 1950s as a humble radio station. The network grew and evolved, and in 1991 founded the organization that will eventually be known as the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Founded by GMA News Anchor Carmela “Mel” Tiangco, GMA Kapuso Foundation had spent the last 27 years providing aid and helping the Filipino people in various and impactful ways.

Since it was built, the organization’s collected efforts both with and without several partners have provided free medical services, started feeding programs, planted trees and built schools

By Ram Christian Agustin

O

NE Meralco Foundation continues to support Filipino children through different sports programs that help kids learn the true value of friendship, teamwork and sportsmanship.

The programs were held in different parts of the country, especially in marginalized areas which the foundation tends to focus on.

The Meralco Basketboys Program is one of the many programs of the One Meralco Foundation that focuses on sports, consisting of a basketball and values’ integration that can help kids develop their physical and social relationship within the community. The chosen beneficiary of this program was the Nayon ng Kabataan, a shelter run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the socially disadvantage youth in Mandaluyong.

Jeffrey Tarayao, President of One Meralco Foundation and Chief CSR officer of Meralco, said they want to use sports as their main platform to regain the selfconfidence of this kids.

One Meralco Foundation also continued to extend its support to sports through Football for Peace, an advocacy started by Lt. Col. Stephen L. Cabanlet, commanding officer of the 1st Marine Battalion Landing Team stationed in Sulu and founder of the Philippine Marine Corps Football for Peace movement. The football clinic aims to help the children lessen their traumatic experiences caused by the armed conf licts in Mindanao. The event started from barangay-level tournaments between amateur teams trained

by Marine soldiers, and then later turned into an annual festival in Metro Manila, garnering support from different private sectors such as Meralco through its corporate social responsibility arm in the

One Meralco Foundation’s Football for Peace

and houses all over the country.

The organization began as a reliefproviding group known as Bisig Bayan Foundation, later on changing their name to GMA Foundation and finally GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Since its inception, the organization has grown, launching several projects including free housing, medical assistance, disaster relief, educational and environmental assistance, and many others.

Operation Bayanihan is the GMAKF disaster relief program, providing immediate assistance and basic needs to victims of natural and man-made disasters all over the country.

Their health programs give free health services to indigent Filipinos.

The Bisig Bayan Medical Assistance (BB), in particular, even have special health projects, most of which are in line with the monthly themes of the Department of Health. There is also the Kalusugan Karavan (KK), a continued medical mission into far-flung areas where basic health services are inaccessible.

The GMAKF also has the Give-AGift: Alay Sa Batang Pinoy Christmas Project, which has grown into four subprojects focusing on different and specific needs of children. The four sub-

ONE MERALCO FOUNDATION

projects are as follows; GAG: Feed A Child, GAG: Surgical, GAG: Kapuso Cancer Champions, and GAG: Distribution of Noche Buena Package.

Their education programs aim to provide means for students to have access to school supplies and schools themselves. Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan, for example, donates a complete set of school materials in a UHSK backpack to incoming kindergarten and Grade 1 students from public elementary schools nationwide.

Their Kapuso School Development Project, on the other hand, give classrooms and sanitation facilities to underserved public schools constructed through the “spirit of bayanihan” as shown by volunteers. Finally, the Kulayan ang Kinabukasan sub-project is involved in repainting, restoring and repairing said constructions.

Several Kapuso Village Projects have also been done by the foundation, constructing more than 500 houses in total at 5 Kapuso Villages nationwide. Most of the houses have been turned over to people whose homes were destroyed in major calamities.

One of their most recently started projects, the Kapuso Tulay Para Kaunlaran Project was launched in 2017, and aims to reconstruct demolished bridges to connect remote communities to trade and learning centers.

Most of these programs are an ongoing effort, garnering support and volunteers from different parts of the country and from various walks of life.

Most recently, the foundation had wrapped up their program Ngiting Kapuso for Oral Health Month this January, where they provide free dental check-ups and dentures to indigent Filipinos. They had also provided tons of donations under their GiveA-Gift: Alay Sa Batang Pinoy project to schools in Datu Anggal Midtimbang and Datu Odin Sinsuat, areas in Maguindanao under armed conflict.

The same program provided gifts to children in areas in Western and Northern Samar, which were affected

by Bagyong Usman last December.

The GMAKF is now preparing for their bi-annual bloodletting project in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross and the Ever Gotesco Mall/Go Tong Foundation.

A complete list of their programs can be found on the official GMA Kapuso Foundation website, as well as the options to either donate to or volunteer for their programs.

Sports as a platform for change form of One Meralco Foundation.

“We first learned about the PMC ‘Football for Peace’ in 2012. They were in need of training balls with which the children could hone their playing skills even at home. Inspired by the noble cause of the advocacy, we donated 400 soccer balls and partnered with Meralco’s Philippine Football League team, the FC Meralco Manila (formerly the Loyola Meralco Sparks Football Club), to come up with a regular football clinic program that would allow the kids to learn from the pros,” said Tarayao.

Aside from these two popular sports here in our country, One Meralco Foundation, together with the help of Meralco Chess Club, organized the first and second Meralco Tour Chess Workshops held at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao and Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Batasan, Quezon City, respectively. A total of 180 chess enthusiast students attended the workshop.

A recent campus workshop, included lectures by FIDE Instructor Let Bersamina, National Master Erwin Carag, FIDE Master Paulo Bersamina, Meralco Chess Club President Rolly Sol Cruz, and Meralco Chess Club members Ronnie Dellota and Bernard Templo. The foundation also turned over 10 sets of chess mats and pieces to each school.

“Apart from more popular sports such as basketball and football, we also see chess having a meaningful contribution to youth development. In addition to gaining values such as discipline and sportsmanship, a game of chess builds strategizing and problem-solving skills which we believe will significantly help them in their daily lives” said Tarayao.

Congratulations!

Manila Standard on your 32nd Anniversary

Speaker Arroyo upholds commitment to urban poor

By Paul Duran

F

IRST woman speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated her commitment to the urban poor as her intervention helped turnover a property from the Bases Conversion and Development Corporation (BCDA) to Parañaque residents recently.

Through former President and now Speaker GMA, BCDA conveyed its 1-hectare property in Paranaque City in favor of hundreds of urban poor housing beneficiaries.

This is the realization of the Speaker’s promise to the residents when she was still President, saying that with the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, there is now certainty that their titles would be given.

“Ngayon meron nang closure kasi noong ako’y pangulo binigyan ko sila ng katiyakan sa lupang tinitirikan pero noon bago mag-issue ng title, nawala yung mga papeles nila. Ngayong panahon na ni Mayor Duterte, meron katiyakan na bago matapos ang 2019, maibibigay na kanilang mga titulo,” she said.

Personally visiting more than 400 families in Seaside in Tambo, Paranaque, Speaker Arroyo brought with her officials from the BCDA and the National Housing Authority (NHA) that will pave the way to the issuance of their long-delayed titles over their respective lots by the end of the year.

Her announcement was met with jubilation by the residents of the former Camp Claudio who are the recipients of her Executive Order No. 116 issued in August 2002 when she was president which declared portions of Camp Claudio as socialized housing sites for

disposition to qualified occupants.

“I leave public service with the knowledge that the process will be completed and the residents will get their titles to their property,” she said, witnessing the event with Parananque Rep. Eric Olivarez and Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Ricardo Roxas, 61, one of the original settlers in the area expressed gratitude to Speaker Arroyo for her constant concern to their community. “Marami na po kaming presidente nilapitan pero si Pangulong GMA lang gumawa ng paraan para mabuhay kami dito ng maayos at legal,” Roxas said.

In another note, SGMA is set to create a new oversight committee on urban poor housing.

The Former President will create an Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of RA 9207 (National Government Center Housing and Land Utilization Act of 2003) or the law that facilitated urban poor housing in Quezon City.

She said this was to answer a lingering aspect of the law left unturned.

“When I was studying the law... nakita ko na meron pala oversight committee itong batas na ginawa noong panahon ko. Since meron pang nalalabing problema dito sabi ko dapat i-constitute ang oversight committee,” she said.

Speaking during her consultation with beneficiaries of RA 9207, a law she signed when she was President in 2003, at the NGC West in Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City recently, Speaker Arroyo said she will constitute an Oversight Committee on RA 9207 at the House of Representatives to make sure that the law is properly implemented.

Hundreds of urban poor families in NGC, Brgy. Holy Spirit in Quezon City were awarded by then President Arroyo their own land as a result of RA 9207.

While most of them had already been awarded their own titles, some problems still exist particularly reports of landgrabbing and failure in the reblocking of some properties.

Speaker Arroyo pointed out that her creation of a new oversight committee is consistent with her earlier pronouncement that the Lower House will hold its oversight functions in the remaining months of her speakership because they have already passed all the priority bills of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaker Arroyo has been going around the country to visit the urban poor housing beneficiaries during her administration. She signed more than 100 presidential proclamations, executive orders and laws that enabled thousands of urban poor families to acquire the land

they have long been occupying.

Under RA 9207, the Oversight Committee on RA 9207 will be chaired in the House by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chairman who is currently Cebu Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa.

Rep. Winnie Castelo of Quezon City will be a member of the committee and will chair the sub-committee on the concerns of Brgy.

Holy Spirit because he is the congressmen of the said area.

“This is very consistent with what I said when we left for the Christmas Holidays that we already passed many good laws including my own law in 2003 that’s why they are now owners of their property. But what is important now is to make sure that they are well implemented,” she said.

“So this is part of what I have been saying that that’s the task I think the House of Reps. should be doing for the next six months,” Speaker Arroyo added.

Families displaced by Manila Bay Rehab, Parola residents get helping hand from SGMA THANKS to the intervention of former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, more than 2,000 families to be displaced by the ongoing cleanup of Manila Bay had been assured of land by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

This came during the hearing of the Oversight Committee on Housing called

by Speaker Arroyo to address the delay in the release of titles to the recipients of urban poor housing proclamations she issued when she was president.

During the hearing it was revealed that more than 2,000 families living in a property owned by PPA in Isla Puting, Bato will be displaced because of the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay. This prompted Speaker Arroyo to inquire what arrange-

ments are being made in the transfer of the affected residents. She also asked the PPA to ensure that they would not be deprived of their source of livelihood.

PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago responded that the agency, which is the owner of the property, will be willing to give them five hectares of its property in a nearby area in Tondo. He also vowed to allot P1 million for the social preparation of the residents prior to the transfer.

The announcement was met with jubilation by Isla Puting Bato residents who had attended the hearing at the House of Representatives.

Mansor Utto, who is a long-time resident of Isla Puting Bato said they could not believe that they will be given a chance to

acquire their own land.

“Matagal na po naming pinapanalangin na mabigyan kami ng seguridad sa lupa at sobrang nabigla kami na ito ang matutupad na sa tulong ng ating Speaker GMA. Kung hindi sa kanya, baka kung saan na lang kami mapupunta dahil sa paglliinis sa Manila Bay,” Utto said.

Moreover, SGMA has also vowed to help more than 5,000 urban poor families in Parola, Manila get their land titles.

Speaking during the awarding ceremonies of Certificate of Land Awards to some 80 beneficiaries in Parola, Binondo, Speaker Arroyo said she will ask Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez to convene the Oversight Committee Housing which he heads to facilitate the awarding of titles to

the urban poor beneficiaries in Parola, both in Binondo and Tondo.

“Magpapa-convene tayo ng Oversight sa Committee on Housing kay Cong.

Benitez para maayos natin ang mga titulo ninyo,” she told residents.

Speaker Arroyo went to Parola recently to lead the awarding of CELAs to beneficiaries. It was the first time the first batch of CELAs were distributed to residents since 2004.

Speaker Arroyo first went to the house of Lucy Santos in Gate 15, Area D to see condition of the community. Santos was the resident who first talked to then President Arroyo in 2004 when asked for help to give housing security in their barangay.

As a result of her consultations with San-

tos and the homeowners’ organization in the area, she issued Presidential Proclamation 581 in March 2004 setting aside more than 5 hectares in Parola in Tondo and in Binondo for socialized housing for the informal settlers in the area.

But since she issued the proclamation, the giving of titles was delayed as several government agencies had laid their claims over the property.

Speaker Arroyo has since instructed Manila Rep. Yul Servo and Manuel Lopez to coordinate with Benitez to convene his Oversight Committee on Housing to summon the said government offices and other attached agencies to thresh out the issues with respect to the land titling in Parola.

Peter Paul Duran